《Deep Desire》


 CH 1

    At nine o¡¯clock in the morning, a business car parked outside the airport¡¯s private jet terminal, and ground service personnel were waiting at the entrance to receive them.


    Lu Jingshen stepped out of the car with long strides, without saying a word, and walked quickly into the building.


    The accompanying staff hurriedly followed.


    Secretary Liu Jie went to communicate with the ground service and learned that their plane was still refueling. She came over to inform Lu Jingshen.


    ¡°It will probably take another fifteen minutes.¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded and leaned back on the sofa, casually flipping through a magazine.


    Liu Jie continued to report to him, ¡°Also, Captain Deng fell ill and was hospitalized a few days ago. We don¡¯t know if he can continue flying in the future. The private jet company has arranged a replacement for him temporarily. They said the person just returned from abroad. If we are satisfied, we can directly request to have that person join us. I looked at the resume, and although young, the person has extensive flying experience and is also a captain. If it¡¯s possible, we can use him and avoid the need to hire someone else.¡±


    ¡°You handle it.¡±


    Lu Jingshen said indifferently, throwing out this sentence. He flipped another page of the magazine, and his gaze inadvertently fell on the ramp outside the glass wall in front of him, momentarily freezing.


    On the ramp, the senior captain had finished the aircraft inspection and boarded the plane, leaving Feng Si alone supervise the refueling.


    His hands were casually in his pockets, and a reflective vest covered his pilot uniform. He appeared relaxed, and the pilot cap covered his eyes, but the high bridge of his nose, extending down to his slightly thin lips, and the perfectly curved jawline were clearly visible.


    The corners of his mouth were also curved with a smile as he spoke to the beautiful flight attendants beside him.


    ¡°Captain Feng, will you be flying with us in the future?¡±


    The flight attendant¡¯s voice was overly sweet. Feng Si seemed pleased and smiled, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯d like to, but I still need the big boss to accept me.¡±


    Another flight attendant said, ¡°President Lu seems easy to talk to and generous with his actions. If you perform well, he will definitely choose you. Flying with him pays better than outside, and it¡¯s easier too. Besides, President Lu has a good temper, much easier to serve than those other big bosses.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s voice was light, with a playful tone. The two flight attendants chatting and joking didn¡¯t notice, nor did they see the fleeting light in his narrow eyes hidden under the brim of his pilot cap.


    The refueling of the aircraft was completed, and Lu Jingshen withdrew his gaze, his thoughts unknown. Seeing him seemingly lost in thought, Liu Jie hesitated and called out to him, ¡°Boss¡­¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°Give me his resume.¡±


    Liu Jie was momentarily stunned.


    Lu Jingshen raised his chin slightly, ¡°The resume of that captain, let me see it.¡±


    Liu Jie immediately regained her senses, opened the tablet, and brought up Feng Si¡¯s resume, handing it to Lu Jingshen.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze fell on it, and in the top right corner was the person¡¯s identification photo, wearing a white pilot shirt with four stripes on the shoulder. The person had a handsome face with a slightly mischievous curve to his lips. When those eyes looked at people, they seemed capable of captivating their hearts and souls.


    Feng Si, twenty-nine years old, British Chinese.


    Lu Jingshen stared at the photo quietly for a moment. Liu Jie thought he would say something, but in the end, he just handed the tablet back and stood up calmly when the ground service came to inform them that they could board the plane.


    Liu Jie glanced down at the tablet in her hand, sensing that Lu Jingshen¡¯s reaction was somewhat strange. However, she couldn¡¯t see anything special about that young captain. If anything, he had an exceptionally striking appearance, but her boss shouldn¡¯t be concerned about that.


    Lu Jingshen walked up the air stairs, and the crew members were waiting at the cabin door to greet them.


    The senior captain and two flight attendants stood in front, wearing smiles on their faces, while Feng Si stood alone behind them, still wearing his pilot cap. His tall stature made him stand out, and when he raised his gaze, his black and shining eyes stared directly at Lu Jingshen.


    Lu Jingshen nodded to the others, his gaze passing over Feng Si, and he walked directly into the cabin.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze followed his retreating figure, and a smile gradually curved on his lips.


    During the pre-flight preparations, Feng Si suddenly chuckled, and the senior captain next to him jokingly said, ¡°What are you laughing about? You seem so radiant. Could it be that Lin Ling and the others asked you to have dinner with them after getting off the plane?¡±


    He was referring to the two flight attendants. Feng Si calmly adjusted his earpiece and asked, ¡°Captain Chen, how long have you been flying with President Lu?¡±


    The senior captain casually replied, ¡°Not long. I heard that he still has other private jets in his family. This jet he bought last year is mostly for his personal use. But he can¡¯t fly it often, so we, old Deng, Lin Ling, and I, are all on a semi-contract with him. We fly with him regularly, and when he¡¯s not flying, we also take on other flight arrangements from the private jet company. How about you? I heard you¡¯ve flown for Middle Eastern tycoons before. Don¡¯t they pay even better?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± casually said Feng Si, ¡°the total annual salary is seven hundred thousand US dollars.¡±


    The senior captain exclaimed, ¡°Such a high salary! Why did you come back to China?¡±


    Feng Si smiled and replied, ¡°Who knows? Maybe I was bored.¡±


    In the cabin, the two flight attendants finished serving snacks and drinks to the passengers and glanced towards the rear bedroom, hesitating whether to knock on the door.


    Liu Jie reminded them, ¡°Mr. Lu said he wants to rest and doesn¡¯t want to eat. No need to disturb him.¡±


    They nodded and returned to the galley to prepare two cups of coffee. Lin Ling went to deliver the coffee to the cockpit.


    As she handed over the coffee, Feng Si suddenly asked, ¡°What does Mr. Lu eat?¡±


    Lin Ling smiled and winked, ¡°Captain Feng, are you trying to find out the boss¡¯s preferences? I don¡¯t think I should tell you, right?¡±


    Feng Si tilted his head, leaning closer to her side, and took a light sniff, saying, ¡°Hermes Orange C¨¦leste. It¡¯s quite sweet, and suits you well.¡±


    Lin Ling blushed slightly, surprised that Feng Si had correctly identified the perfume she was wearing. She playfully scolded him with a glance and said, ¡°Mr. Lu is resting and hasn¡¯t eaten anything.¡± Then she turned and left the cockpit.


    The senior captain marveled, ¡°Lin Ling isn¡¯t usually so friendly in front of others. It seems you¡¯re good at coaxing people. But you don¡¯t need to deliberately find out Mr. Lu¡¯s preferences or try to please him. Mr. Lu doesn¡¯t appreciate that approach. It¡¯s better to be straightforward. If it works, great. If not, look for other job opportunities.¡±


    Feng Si sipped his coffee slowly and chuckled, ¡°How will you know if you don¡¯t make an effort?¡±


    In the rear cabin, Lu Jingshen leaned against the sofa, attempting to read a book but hardly turning the page. He couldn¡¯t focus on anything, his mind repeatedly recalling the intense gaze from earlier near the cabin door.


    After a while, he seemingly gave up, tossed the book aside, lay down, and covered his eyes with his arm, forcing himself to clear his mind.


    When the plane was preparing to land, Lu Jingshen came out of the bedroom and sat down. He picked up the tablet to read some documents, but the resume of Feng Si popped up again.


    Lu Jingshen flicked his finger and scrolled down.


    Feng Si entered the Royal Air Force College in the UK at the age of sixteen to study aviation. After graduating, he served in the British Air Force for three years before choosing to retire early at the age of twenty-two. In the past seven years, he has been flying private and corporate jets, frequently changing jobs and locations, from Europe to the Americas, Australia, East Asia, South Asia, and even the Middle East. He always signed short-term contracts, changing places every six months or a year.


    Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows. Liu Jie, who was beside him, said, ¡°I heard he is skilled in flying, but he seems unpredictable. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll leave after a while, and it would be troublesome to replace him. Should I take another look? If not, we can find someone else.¡±


    Lu Jingshen dragged the resume back to the top and stared at the photo just like before, his gaze fixed on that image. He remained silent.


    Sensing the oddity in Lu Jingshen¡¯s reaction, Liu Jie wisely refrained from asking further.


    In the end, Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t express his decision on whether to hire Feng Si or not.


    At half-past eleven, the plane landed at Shanghai¡¯s airport.


    After walking a short distance, Lu Jingshen suddenly stopped and told Liu Jie, ¡°I left something on the plane.¡±


    Liu Jie quickly asked what it was and offered to retrieve it for him.


    ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go myself. You go with the others and wait outside.¡± Lu Jingshen dismissed them and turned back towards the plane.


    The flight attendants were tidying up the cabin when they saw Lu Jingshen returning, slightly surprised. ¡°Mr. Lu, did you forget something? Do you want us to help you find it?¡±


    Lu Jingshen asked, ¡°Have you entered the bedroom yet?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Lin Ling replied, ¡°we¡¯ll clean it once we finish here.¡±


    ¡°Good, clean it later.¡± Lu Jingshen instructed and then went into the bedroom alone.


    Inside, he had left a black leather strap on the sofa. He had worn that leather strap for seven years, and it had worn out and become shabby under his multi-million-dollar watch. It held no special meaning, just a habit of wearing it continuously.


    When he was absent-minded earlier, he took off the rope and later forgot to put it back on, only remembering when he was about to exit the plane.


    ¡°Mr. Lu hasn¡¯t left yet?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s voice unexpectedly resounded from behind. Lu Jingshen swiftly tucked the rope into his pocket and turned to look at him.


    The man leaning against the door seemed to smile mockingly. This time, he was hatless, his short hair neatly trimmed. His gaze locked onto Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes, seemingly harboring deeper intentions.


    Lu Jingshen shifted his gaze, avoiding eye contact.


    As he was about to leave, Feng Si blocked his way with one hand.


    Lu Jingshen halted, and Feng Si leaned forward, bringing his head closer, lowering his voice, ¡°Mr. Lu, don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡±


    Lu Jingshen glanced ahead, unable to see the flight attendants who were still tidying up in the front cabin due to the partition blocking his view.


    His eyes remained calm, and his voice was composed. ¡°If you¡¯re interested in applying with me, talk to my secretary.¡±


    Just that one sentence.


    A scoffing laughter echoed near his ear.


    ¡°So, you do understand Chinese and can speak Chinese after all?¡±

 CH 2

    Feng Si¡¯s mocking and amused voice pierced into Lu Jingshen¡¯s ears, causing a slight movement of his Adam¡¯s apple.


    ¡°Move aside.¡±


    Two words, devoid of any emotion.


    Feng Si stared at his calm and indifferent eyes for a moment, then withdrew his hand.


    Lu Jingshen walked away with large strides.


    Liu Jie was still waiting below the plane and saw Lu Jingshen coming down. She informed him that the pick-up car had just arrived. ¡°They asked if you want to go back to the hotel first or have dinner. Also, the Chongsheng side has already finalized the meeting time and place. Their CEO invites you to have lunch at the Far Mountain Villa tomorrow at noon.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen absentmindedly nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the hotel. If you want to have dinner, go ahead.¡±


    They got into the car at the airport, and Jing Shen maintained a cold expression throughout the journey. The General Manager of the subsidiary company who came to pick them up discreetly asked Liu Jie about the reason, but even Liu Jie herself was clueless. She couldn¡¯t gauge her boss¡¯s mood and didn¡¯t dare to speculate.


    Jing Shen silently gazed out of the car window as the scenery swiftly passed by in reverse. The mocking eyes of Feng Si lingered in his mind, causing him to feel inexplicably restless. He never expected to encounter that man again. The brief affair from seven years ago was an unexpected episode in his life, and the leather cord on his wrist, worn for seven years, held no significant meaning. It never did.


    Upon reaching the hotel, Jing Shen went straight to his room. He had to attend a work briefing at the subsidiary company in the afternoon, but it was still early.


    He glanced through some documents in the room, but the meal Liu Jie had ordered from room service had already gone cold. At one o¡¯clock, he went downstairs alone and ordered a fried rice dish at the hotel restaurant.


    After finishing his meal and leaving the restaurant to wash his hands, he unexpectedly ran into Feng Si leaning against the corridor wall, smoking.


    Whenever Jing Shen traveled, he would arrange accommodations and meals for the crew of his private jet. So, it wasn¡¯t unusual for Feng Si to be there, although Jing Shen didn¡¯t want to see him.


    After exhaling a puff of smoke, Feng Si¡¯s eyes, carrying a tinge of ridicule, remained fixed on Jing Shen, scrutinizing him.


    As they passed each other, Feng Si called out to him, ¡°Alex.¡±


    Jing Shen paused for a moment. Feng Si called him by his English name. Since Jing Shen returned to China after graduating from university and joined the company, nobody had called him by that name.


    During their chance encounter years ago, Jing Shen only revealed that name to Feng Si. He even pretended not to understand Chinese, letting Feng Si assume he wasn¡¯t Chinese. Throughout those three months, they communicated in English.


    Who he was and where he came from, Feng Si knew nothing about it.


    In that moment of hesitation, Jing Shen was forcefully grabbed and pushed against the wall by Feng Si.


    The man before him had a cigarette in his mouth, and the smoke blew directly into Jing Shen¡¯s face, causing him to furrow his brows. Feng Si¡¯s blatant gaze made him extremely uncomfortable, even giving him a sense of hair-raising anticipation. However, he didn¡¯t show it and returned a cold gaze.


    ¡°Do you plan to pretend you don¡¯t know me?¡± Feng Si asked in a suppressed voice.


    Jing Shen looked at him without speaking, and Feng Si taunted, ¡°Is General Jing afraid that others will find out about the things you¡¯ve done with men?¡±


    Seeing Jing Shen¡¯s expression darken, Feng Si knew he had hit the mark.


    His hand moved to Jing Shen¡¯s ass and lightly pinched it, clearly provoking him. Staring into Jing Shen¡¯s eyes with an explicit mock, Feng Si said, ¡°Alex, is this all it takes to scare you? You weren¡¯t so scared back then, were you?¡±


    Jing Shen still uttered the same words, ¡°back off.¡±


    Having enjoyed enough of Jing Shen¡¯s feigned composure, which was clearly uncomfortable for him, Feng Si took a step back. He put out his cigarette on an ashtray nearby, then focused his eyes on Jing Shen. ¡°Feng Si, my name.¡±


    Under the gaze of those purely black pupils, Jing Shen instinctively wanted to look away. Feng Si continued, ¡°Jing Shen, I¡¯ll remember this name.¡±


    Jing Shen turned and walked away.


    He walked quickly, and when he reached the exit of the restaurant, someone excitedly called out to him, ¡°General Jing!¡±


    Jing Shen halted and turned around. It was a slightly chubby middle-aged man with glasses. The man approached hastily and handed him a business card, introducing himself as Zhao Yuanping, the CEO of Xinfeng Technology. He had come there specifically to have a conversation with Jing Shen.


    ¡°It won¡¯t take much of your time, General Jing. Please give me a chance,¡± Zhao Yuanping pleaded, seemingly embarrassed and nervous.


    Jing Shen, resuming his impassive demeanor, held the business card between two fingers, glanced at it briefly, and declined, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have other matters to attend to. Let¡¯s schedule another meeting.¡±


    However, Zhao Yuanping refused to give up and blocked his path, anxiously saying, ¡°I know General Jing came here specifically to discuss the acquisition of Xinfeng Capital. Xinfeng Technology was founded by me, and I¡¯m also a shareholder. If you want to buy or sell, you can¡¯t leave me out¡­¡±


    Zhao Yuanping¡¯s voice grew louder, and in his desperation, he even wanted to grab Jing Shen¡¯s hand. Jing Shen couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows, showing signs of impatience.


    As Zhao Yuanping¡¯s hand was about to touch Jing Shen¡¯s sleeve, another hand reached over, firmly grasping his wrist and pushing him back.


    Surprised, Zhao Yuanping looked up, and Feng Si, with a hint of a smile on his lips, warned him with his eyes, ¡°I say, this isn¡¯t the right place for such tugging and pulling, is it?¡±


    Embarrassed, Zhao Yuanping retracted his hand, no longer daring to approach Jing Shen. However, he persisted in wanting to have a conversation with him.


    After two minutes, they entered a nearby caf¨¦ together.


    Jing Shen sat down on the couch, while Feng Si casually leaned against the armrest, resting his long legs. He assumed the position of Jing Shen¡¯s bodyguard, although if he were really Jing Shen¡¯s bodyguard, he would never be so casual and unrestrained.


    Jing Shen glanced at him but remained silent.


    On the opposite couch, Zhao Yuanping ran his hand through his hair and clenched his teeth as he spoke, ¡°Xinfeng Technology was founded by me, and I¡¯m also a shareholder. If Xinfeng Capital wants to sell their shares to you, I can oppose it. I have the right of first refusal.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± Jing Shen asked.


    Zhao Yuanping choked, seemingly unprepared for Jing Shen¡¯s indifferent attitude. While Jing Shen¡¯s face didn¡¯t display arrogance, it still gave off a sense of superiority, as if he were mocking Zhao Yuanping¡¯s current state of desperation.


    Zhao Yuanping forcefully suppressed his discontent and firmly said, ¡°That¡¯s why I will definitely buy back the shares of Xinfeng from Chongsheng. I won¡¯t hand over my hard work to anyone. You better drop the idea of acquiring Xinfeng and give up now!¡±


    Jing Shen looked at the struggling man in front of him, maintaining his usual composure without displaying any disdain or contempt. He calmly stated the facts, ¡°The price Shang Xin can afford is beyond your reach. Of course, you can try to raise more funds, but if there are any results, you wouldn¡¯t be here today.¡±


    Having been exposed by Jing Shen, Zhao Yuanping¡¯s expression turned extremely ugly in an instant.


    Compared to the massive Shang Xin Technology of the Jing family, his own company wasn¡¯t even worth mentioning. It was his stroke of luck that he managed to secure an investment from Chongsheng Capital, one of the top financial giants in the country. His company quickly rose to prominence as a result, and one of their communication software products even rivaled Shang Xin¡¯s in terms of market share. Just when he was ambitiously preparing to expand, Chongsheng Capital decided without any hesitation to sell their shares of Xinfeng. And to make matters worse, it was Shang Xin Technology that showed interest in taking over.


    Once Chongsheng¡¯s shares were sold to Shang Xin, Zhao Yuanping was well aware that, given Shang Xin¡¯s consistent style, he would completely lose control over the company. Staying on would mean he had to bend to the will of others. He did consider raising funds to bring in other shareholders, but as soon as he heard that Shang Xin Technology was interested in acquiring Xinfeng, no one was willing to get involved in a direct confrontation with Shang Xin. He truly had no other options, so he sought trouble from Jing Shen, naively hoping that the CEO of Shang Xin Technology would change his mind.


    Jing Shen didn¡¯t give him a chance to retort and continued, ¡°If you don¡¯t plan on selling your shares, then stay in Xinfeng. You come from a technical background, and the future of the company¡¯s technology will depend on you. Alternatively, you can sell your shares to us along with Chongsheng. The company you started with less than a million can be sold for billions in just a few years. It¡¯s a deal that won¡¯t leave you at a loss.¡±


    Either stay and be at the mercy of others or leave with money in hand. There was no room for negotiation. Zhao Yuanping understood Jing Shen¡¯s meaning and hated it to the core. His teeth trembled with anger, ¡°You know that I built this company from scratch with all my efforts. I treat Xinfeng as my own child, and making Xinfeng grow with my own hands is my dream!¡±


    Jing Shen remained unmoved, ¡°You have no choice.¡±


    That¡¯s how Jing Shen was, not arrogant but very resolute.


    No one could get any advantages from him, except for that person from seven years ago¡ªthe only exception.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze had been wandering on Jing Shen¡¯s face all along, listening to his interaction with the other person with great interest.


    However, Jing Shen¡¯s attitude clearly provoked Zhao Yuanping. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can send me away with money. Xinfeng belongs to me, and I won¡¯t give in to your wishes!¡±


    Zhao Yuanping suddenly stood up, grabbed the cup of hot coffee in front of him, and forcefully smashed it towards Jing Shen.


    Feng Si quickly reacted, extending his hand to block the cup. It hit his shoulder and fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.


    In Jing Shen¡¯s view, all he saw was the splashed coffee and Feng Si¡¯s body that had instantly blocked it.


    His eyelashes twitched slowly, and when his gaze refocused, the infuriated Zhao Yuanping had already been pressed onto the couch by Feng Si.


    Feng Si held Zhao Yuanping¡¯s head with one hand, his expression particularly fierce, and his white pilot shirt stained with coffee.


    Jing Shen stood up with a stern face and coldly signaled the hotel security who had rushed over, ¡°Call the police.¡±

 CH 3

    As they rode the elevator upstairs, Feng Si unbuttoned and loosened his pilot shirt, revealing his well-built upper body.


    Jing Shen frowned, and Feng Si smirked, pointing to his right shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s red.¡±


    The coffee was still hot, and Zhao Yuanping hadn¡¯t taken a sip. It had poured all over Feng Si, leaving a large red stain where the cup had hit his right shoulder.


    Jing Shen¡¯s gaze fell on it for two seconds before quickly shifting away.


    Feng Si let out a small chuckle.


    In the quiet space between the two of them, Jing Shen silently stared at the elevator door with his usual indifference.


    Feng Si leaned against the elevator wall, casually exposing his stained shirt. There was no sign of embarrassment or distress. He casually observed Jing Shen, his mouth still curved in a smile, as if he had locked onto something very amusing.


    The elevator arrived at Feng Si¡¯s floor first. Before exiting, Feng Si teasingly said, ¡°General Jing, I just helped you. Don¡¯t you have a word of thanks?¡±


    Before Jing Shen could respond, there were low exclamations from outside the elevator. It was the two flight attendants who were waiting to get on the elevator, planning to go out shopping. They were surprised to see Feng Si inside, accompanied by Jing Shen. They exclaimed in surprise.


    Sensing the strange atmosphere inside the elevator, the flight attendants immediately apologized and hesitated to enter.


    Feng Si smirked, walked out first, and as he passed by the two flight attendants, he winked at them playfully and reminded, ¡°This elevator is going up.¡±


    The flight attendants blushed slightly, and the elevator door closed in front of them.


    ¡­¡­¡­.


    Half an hour later, Liu Jie came up and informed Jing Shen of the outcome. Zhao Yuanping had already been taken to the police station and detained.


    Jing Shen¡¯s brows remained furrowed as he instructed Liu Jie to buy burn ointment and send it to Feng Si.


    Liu Jie couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°That Captain Feng is quite skilled. As a military man, if he¡¯s willing, it would be great if he could work as your bodyguard instead and save us the trouble of hiring someone else.¡±


    Jing Shen had a previous bodyguard who later joined his father after his father was hospitalized. Originally, he intended to hire someone else, but after the recent incident, Liu Jie suddenly thought that Feng Si would be suitable. They could sign a full contract with him, completely recruiting him from the private jet company. However, she didn¡¯t know if Feng Si would be willing or if he would resign after a while.


    Lu Jingshen was changing shirts, listening to Liu Jie¡¯s far-fetched idea without giving a definite response.


    Liu Jie cleared her throat. ¡°I was just throwing it out there. If you agree, I¡¯ll go talk to him.¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked at his flickering reflection in the mirror and frowned with disgust.


    After a moment, he closed his eyes and heard his own voice say, ¡°Go talk to him.¡±


    In the room downstairs, F¨¥ng S¨¬ absentmindedly played with the burn ointment that Liu Jie handed to him, listening to the purpose behind it.


    ¡°The base salary is two million, with various holiday bonuses, a fifteen-month annual bonus, twenty days of paid annual leave¡­ If you¡¯re interested, we need to sign a contract for at least one year,¡± Liu Jie listed the high salary and various benefits they offered. F¨¥ng S¨¬ listened but didn¡¯t respond. He only asked, ¡°Did he ask you to buy this burn ointment or did you buy it on his behalf?¡±


    Liu Jie was taken aback and explained, ¡°Lu Jingshen knew that you got burned and asked me to buy it.¡±


    F¨¥ng S¨¬ smiled and said, ¡°Is that so?¡±


    Liu Jie continued, ¡°What I said earlier¡­¡±


    ¡°To be a bodyguard, do I have to follow Lu Jingshen twenty-four hours a day?¡± F¨¥ng S¨¬ smiled with a hint of teasing. ¡°Is this your idea or his?¡±


    Liu Jie replied, ¡°I can tell you that it was my idea with Lu Jingshen¡¯s consent.¡±


    ¡°So it¡¯s your idea, and he didn¡¯t object,¡± F¨¥ng S¨¬ remarked.


    Liu Jie said, ¡°Captain F¨¥ng, we are very sincere in hiring you. The salary and benefits that Lu Jingshen can offer are top-notch in your field.¡±


    ¡°We?¡± F¨¥ng S¨¬ raised an eyebrow. ¡°Liu Secretary, are you and Lu Jingshen ¡®we¡¯?¡±


    He emphasized the last two words, his tone carrying a deeper meaning. Liu Jie felt a strange sensation, unable to put it into words. She felt that Feng Si was difficult to deal with. ¡°Captain F¨¥ng, please consider it.¡±


    F¨¥ng S¨¬¡¯s smile faded from his face. ¡°If you are sincere, let him tell me himself.¡±


    Liu Jie left slighty annoyed as her heels echoing as she walked out. Feng Si casually tossed the burn ointment onto the table, not intending to use it. He could just rinse his red shoulder with cold water. He didn¡¯t need Lu Jingshen¡¯s half-hearted concern.


    In the afternoon, Lu Jingshen went to the subsidiary company to listen to work reports. In the evening, he had dinner with the head of the subsidiary company. By the time he returned to the hotel, it was already past 9 p.m.


    After Liu Jie reported the next day¡¯s schedule to him, she remembered the arrogant attitude of Captain F¨¥ng that afternoon. With a determined mindset, she reluctantly conveyed F¨¥ng S¨¬¡¯s words to Lu Jingshen.


    Lu Jingshen listened without much of a reaction. When Liu Jie thought he had no intention of pursuing the matter further, he suddenly spoke again. ¡°Make a phone call and ask him to come over.¡±


    Liu Jie took out her phone and dialed F¨¥ng S¨¬¡¯s number from the contact list.


    She put it on speakerphone, and after three rings, F¨¥ng S¨¬ answered. The background noise was loud, like in a bar, mixed with F¨¥ng S¨¬¡¯s laughter and a woman¡¯s flirtatious voice. It was obvious that he was flirting with someone.


    Liu Jie¡¯s eyes rolled, so she switched to the earpiece and asked, ¡°Captain F¨¥ng, it¡¯s Liu Jie. Where are you? Are you free now?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Secretary Liu, I¡¯m busy at the moment. Can we talk tomorrow?¡± F¨¥ng S¨¬ said, then hung up the phone.


    Liu Jie helplessly looked at Lu Jingshen and explained, ¡°It¡¯s his break time, and F¨¥ng S¨¬ went out to relax. He¡¯s not in the hotel.¡±


    She knew that Lu Jingshen disliked that kind of reckless and irresponsible behavior. If  F¨¥ng S¨¬ was like that, Lu Jingshen probably wouldn¡¯t think highly of him and they would need to find someone else.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression turned slightly solemn, and he didn¡¯t say anything.


    ¡­¡­.


    F¨¥ng S¨¬ pressed the black screen of his phone and placed it on the counter. A seductive and beautiful woman leaned against him, lightly tapping his hand with her finger, her voice sultry. ¡°Shall we go to another place for drinks?¡±


    F¨¥ng S¨¬ slowly poured the last sip of wine from his glass into his mouth. ¡°Do you know why I came here to drink tonight?¡±


    The woman tilted her head. ¡°Why?¡±


    F¨¥ng S¨¬ swayed the empty glass, admiring the intricate patterns on it, and spoke in a light tone. ¡°Because today, I am a little happy and a little unhappy.¡±


    The woman didn¡¯t understand. She playfully asked, ¡°Why are you a little happy and a little unhappy? I¡¯m very happy to meet you tonight. Shall we go to another place for drinks? Let¡¯s keep the happiness going, okay?¡±


    F¨¥ng S¨¬ put down the glass, took back his hand from the woman¡¯s grasp, smiled, shook his head, and stood up.


    The woman paused. ¡°Hey!¡±


    F¨¥ng S¨¬ had already turned and left, waving his arm backward without looking back.


    The next morning, Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t have any other appointments. At 9am, he held a video conference with the people from the headquarters in his hotel room.


    Internally, everyone at Shangxin knew that Lu Jingshen was a workaholic. As long as he wasn¡¯t on a business trip, he was always the earliest to arrive at the company and the last to leave. Even when he was on a business trip, it was common for him to convene a video conference to receive work reports.


    The meeting ended at 10:30 a.m., and they had a lunch appointment with the CEO of Chongsheng, but there was no rush.


    Liu Jie took advantage of the available time and planned to have another discussion with F¨¥ng S¨¬. It was easy to talk about the bodyguard position, but finding a suitable private pilot wasn¡¯t so easy. Liu Jie was responsible for both tasks, so it would be best to handle them together. Of course, the condition however was Lu Jingshen¡¯s satisfaction.


    Before they left, Liu Jie mentioned it to Lu Jingshen again. If Lu Jingshen was dissatisfied with F¨¥ng S¨¬¡¯s behavior from the previous day, then there was no need for her to go to Feng Si.


    Lu Jingshen was reading documents and replied coldly, ¡°He may not be in the hotel.¡±


    Thinking back to the situation on the phone last night, it was true. F¨¥ng S¨¬ could be out enjoying himself somewhere, and who knew if he had returned in the evening. Liu Jie going downstairs to his room  might be a waste of time.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give him another call then.¡±


    The call went through, and it rang several times before it was answered.


    ¡°Hey,¡± F¨¥ng S¨¬¡¯s lazy voice came through, sounding hoarse as if he hadn¡¯t woken up yet.


    Liu Jie said, ¡°Captain F¨¥ng, are you still asleep? Are you at the hotel?¡±


    there was a casual ¡°hmm¡± in response. Liu Jie said she would go to his room to meet him, but was refused by Feng Si: ¡°Secretary Liu, have you forgotten what I said yesterday? Please have your boss, Mr. Lu, come personally. Just tell Mr. Lu that I¡¯m not here to make trouble, I just want to catch up with him.¡±


    When Liu Jie heard the first half of the sentence, she was already about to get angry, but when the last three words came out of Feng Si¡¯s mouth, she suddenly realized that Feng Si seemed to have known her boss before, and there might be some unresolved issues between them. That¡¯s why Lu Jing Shen¡¯s reaction had been so strange ever since they landed.


    Liu Jie immediately regretted suggesting hiring Feng Si, perhaps it was a bad idea.


    She could only relay Feng Si¡¯s words to Lu Jing Shen. After hearing it, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s face turned cold, and he quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s forget about it. I will talk to the private jet company and ask them not to arrange him for us next time. We¡¯ll find a suitable person as soon as possible.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Lu Jing Shen stood up.


    Liu Jie was momentarily surprised, and instinctively followed, but Lu Jing Shen stopped her at the door and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to come along.¡±


    Outside Feng Si¡¯s room, Lu Jing Shen pressed the doorbell once and stopped.


    After waiting for half a minute, the door opened from inside, revealing Feng Si¡¯s face that hadn¡¯t fully woken up yet.


    His hair was messy, there were stubbles on his chin, and he was wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt, but only a pair of shorts on the lower half of his body, as if he had just gotten up from bed.


    When Feng Si saw Lu Jing Shen, he seemed unsurprised and gestured for the cold-faced Lu Jing Shen to come in.


    Lu Jing Shen entered the room, and as soon as he stepped inside, the door ¡°thumped¡± shut. He stood by the door without moving, still maintaining a cold expression.


    Feng Si tilted his head towards the room and muttered, ¡°Are you planning to talk while standing here? Come in.¡±


    After a brief standoff, Lu Jing Shen walked in, and Feng Si leisurely followed.


    When Lu Jing Shen turned around to speak, his gaze suddenly paused.


    Feng Si¡¯s shorts were tightly pressed against his body, clearly revealing the shape underneath.


    Although Lu Jing Shen quickly averted his gaze, Feng Si¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t miss anything.


    ¡°Lu Jing Shen, where were you looking just now?¡±

 CH 4

    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s eyebrows twitched, but he didn¡¯t respond to Feng Si¡¯s question. He continued, ¡°If you agree to what Secretary Liu mentioned yesterday, I will have her prepare the contract for you to sign.¡±


    Feng Si smiled sarcastically, ¡°personally inviting me, and willing to come and talk to me, I know I asked you to come but I didn¡¯t think you actually would. So what¡¯s the reason?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen replied, ¡°The private jet company recommended you, and I don¡¯t want to spend more time looking for someone else.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take it as you don¡¯t want to bother finding a suitable pilot for the private jet. That¡¯s why you personally came to invite me,¡± Feng Si emphasized the words ¡°personally came to invite me¡± as if mocking him, ¡°What about the personal bodyguard position? You can afford it, there are plenty of people lining up to serve you, why do you have to find me?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t answer, and he looked at Feng Si with a cold gaze. Feng Si leaned in closer, his tall figure looming over him, and they locked eyes. ¡°Alex, which game are you playing this time?¡±


    Although he was smiling, there was a hint of anger hidden in his eyes and his tone carried a taunting tone.


    Lu Jing Shen, who was already quite tall, still felt the immense pressure from Feng Si¡¯s nearly two-meter tall stature. The room, without curtains or lights, was dimly lit. A dangerous and subtle atmosphere flowed between them as they breathed in each other¡¯s presence.


    Lu Jing Shen finally spoke, ¡°Can you disappear from my sight then?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s voice lowered, ¡°If I disappear, will everything from the past be completely wiped away?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s throat tightened, ¡°Since you refuse, then stay.¡±


    He despised the feeling of not being in control, and yet Feng Si was someone he couldn¡¯t control. If he couldn¡¯t make him disappear completely, then he would try to restrain him within his controllable range as much as possible.


    After a moment of silent confrontation, Feng Si sneered, not exposing Lu Jing Shen.


    He stood up straight and turned on the lights with a ¡°click,¡± returning to his carefree and casual demeanor, ¡± The Lu Jing Shen personally hiring me, if I still refuse, wouldn¡¯t that be disrespectful to you? But I also have one condition.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen quietly waited for him to continue, and Feng Si said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a place to stay in Beijing, nor do I plan to rent one. Since I¡¯ll be working as a bodyguard, let me fulfill my duties and protect you 24/7.¡±


    He deliberately elongated the last sentence, hinting at something ambiguous. Lu Jing Shen¡¯s eyes flickered imperceptibly, and then he calmly replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    With that settled, he left immediately. As he was walking out of the room, in the final glance, he saw Feng Si, who was about to take a shower, take off his T-shirt and shorts, revealing his completely naked body.


    He had healthy wheat-colored skin, broad shoulders, slim hips, muscular thighs, and a strong waist.


    When Feng Si turned his head to look at him, Lu Jing Shen had already averted his gaze.


    The gaze that fell upon him disappeared beyond the closed door. Feng Si seemed to have realized it and smiled playfully.


    At 11:30, Lu Jing Shen set off to a suburban resort for a meeting.


    Feng Si, the newly appointed intern bodyguard who hadn¡¯t officially signed the contract, accompanied him.


    In the car, Lu Jing Shen closed his eyes to rest, while Feng Si sat beside him, with his hands in his pockets, looking lazy and relaxed, not sitting properly.


    He casually asked Liu Jie, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, ¡°Secretary Liu, who are we going to meet?¡±


    Liu Jie glanced back at the closed-eyed Lu Jing Shen and, seeing that he didn¡¯t object, replied, ¡°We have an appointment with the CEO of Chongsheng Capital to discuss the acquisition of Xinfeng Technology.¡±


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow, ¡°Xinfeng Technology? The one who caused trouble for Mr. Lu yesterday?¡±


    ¡°That Zhao Yuanping is the founder and CEO of Xinfeng Technology, and the second-largest shareholder,¡± Liu Jie shook her head, ¡°He was too audacious. He even boasted that Xinfeng Technology would surpass Shangxin Corporation within a few years. He didn¡¯t realize his own position, and Mr. Lu directly dealt with him.¡±


    Feng Si laughed, ¡°Capitalists indeed don¡¯t regard others as human.¡±


    Liu Jie¡¯s smile froze for a moment. Although what Feng Si said was true, it was the first time someone said it so directly in front of Lu Jingchen.


    Feng Si dared to say it, but she didn¡¯t dare to respond, ¡°You can¡¯t say it like that. We offered a fair price for acquiring Xinfeng¡¯s shares. If he was smart, he could have gracefully taken the money and left. That Zhao Yuanping is indeed not suited for anything other than technology. If he had been willing to stay, the boss would have arranged the most suitable position for him. It¡¯s his own dissatisfaction that made him confront the boss.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s focus shifted, ¡°Boss, you call Lu Jingchen ¡®boss¡¯?¡±


    Liu Jie explained, ¡°Because there is not only one Lu Jingchen in the company, there is also Lu Jingchen¡¯s father and sister. Lu Jingchen¡¯s father is the chairman, and his sister is the president. To differentiate, everyone in the company calls Lu Jingchen ¡®boss,¡¯ you can also call him that.¡±


    Feng Si smiled, ¡°I see, but I don¡¯t really like that title.¡±


    Liu Jie remained silent, deciding not to say anything further to avoid getting entangled with that stubborn rogue Feng Si.


    As for Lu Jingchen, he kept his eyes closed and ignored them throughout. It wasn¡¯t clear whether he was sleeping or not.


    After forty minutes, the car arrived at a secluded resort hidden in the mountains. Lu Jingchen got off the car, and a middle-aged man in casual attire was waiting at the entrance, shaking hands with him warmly.


    Lu Jingchen had a perfectly timed, formal smile on his lips as he exchanged pleasantries.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze swept over his face, squinting his eyes slightly.


    It was the first time Feng Si had seen that poised and astute businessman image of Lu Jingchen. Compared to the fake smile he had put on earlier in front of him, this seemed more acceptable, though it still made him want to tear off Lu Jingchen¡¯s mask.


    After exchanging pleasantries, they entered the resort and took a tour around. Then they sat down for dinner.


    During the meal, the CEO of Chongsheng, Lin Wenhai, mentioned the incident that happened previously and asked about Lu Jingchen if he was okay. Lu Jingchen wasn¡¯t surprised that he knew about it, considering it happened within the jurisdiction of Shanghai, and Zhao Yuanping had been detained.


    Lu Jingchen replied casually, ¡°I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s just that my assistant got burned.¡±


    Feng Si ate his food without putting down his chopsticks like the others when Lu Jingchen and Lin Wenhai were talking.


    If Lu Jingchen said he was an assistant, then he was an assistant. It sounded better than a bodyguard anyway.


    Whether it was a personal assistant or a personal bodyguard, they were all the same.


    ¡°This Zhao Yuanping is becoming more and more hopeless. I¡¯ve talked to him several times before, but he never listens. It¡¯s good that he got detained for a few days. He needs to learn a lesson,¡± scolded Lin Wenhai. He didn¡¯t care much about an assistant getting burned. He was just going along with what Lu Jingchen said.


    Lu Jingchen wasn¡¯t interested in continuing the discussion, so he got straight to the point and presented their acquisition offer.


    Lin Wenhai pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Shangxin has shown sincerity in acquiring our shares of Xinfeng. We are naturally willing, but it seems there is still room for an increased price.¡±


    Lu Jingchen responded, ¡°This is already our third-round offer. If Mr. Lin is still unsatisfied, we might reconsider the acquisition.¡±


    He knew that Lin Wenhai would aim high even though their offer was already substantial.


    Shangxin¡¯s CFO nodded in agreement, indicating that they wouldn¡¯t raise the offer further.


    Lu Jingchen continued, ¡°If Zhao Yuanping insists on not selling his shares and continues to stay at Xinfeng, even if we marginalize him, given his personality, he is likely to cause trouble. My assistant didn¡¯t suffer any major harm from yesterday¡¯s incident, but we may not be so lucky next time. Taking that into consideration, we are somewhat hesitant.¡±


    While speaking, Lu Jingchen glanced at Feng Si, and all the eyes in the room followed. Feng Si smiled in response and jokingly said, ¡°It¡¯s my duty to risk my life for the boss. Next time, even if it¡¯s a knife, I¡¯ll still protect him.¡±


    Everyone at the table laughed, including Lin Wenhai. He didn¡¯t think that Lu Jingchen would be scared away from acquiring Xinfeng just because of a minor incident. But negotiations in the business world were like that¡ªeverything seemed both real and fake.


    Seeing that there was no room for further negotiation in terms of price, Lin Wenhai didn¡¯t insist. He mentioned that he would think about it and give them a reply later.


    After dinner, Lin Wenhai invited Lu Jingchen to play golf at the resort¡¯s golf course.


    Feng Si, the personal bodyguard and assistant, also worked as a caddy, handing golf clubs to Lu Jingchen on the side.


    Half an hour later, Lin Wenhai went to the side to take a phone call, leaving Lu Jingchen alone on the golf course. When Lu Jingchen heard Feng Si¡¯s suppressed laughter, he turned his head and glanced at him, their eyes meeting. Feng Si asked, ¡°Did you bring me here just to use me to negotiate with Mr. Lin?¡±


    Lu Jingchen ignored him and turned back, estimating the distance to his target ahead. He shifted his focus, aimed at the ball in front of him, and went through his swing. From start to finish, his eyes followed the ball¡¯s trajectory.


    Feng Si, on the other hand, openly stared at him, his gaze lingering on Lu Jingchen¡¯s waist as it moved with his swinging motion, as if it evoked some vulgar thoughts, a smile forming in his eyes.


    Lu Jingchen turned to face him again, raising his chin slightly, ¡°Do you want to give it a try?¡±


    Feng Si shrugged, ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m not interested in wasting time on things rich people do.¡±


    He continued, ¡°As for you, you¡¯re either busy reading documents and attending meetings all day or pretending to be someone else while negotiating business deals. And now you have to play this boring game with these people. Do you find it interesting?¡±


    In Feng Si¡¯s impression, Lu Jingchen wasn¡¯t that kind of person, or at least not back then.


    At that time, the person who dared to wander alone in Africa with a backpack, playing skydiving, bungee jumping, and deep-sea diving, how could he be the current Lu Jingchen, always dressed in suits and not prone to smiling?


    Lu Jingchen paused for a moment, his gaze falling back to the front, under the smiling eyes of Feng Si staring at him.


    He didn¡¯t say a word and once again struck the ball with force

 CH 5

    At eight the following morning, Lu Jingchen went downstairs to the restaurant for breakfast. Passing through the hotel lobby, he caught a glimpse of Feng Si sitting by the couch, chatting and laughing with two flight attendants.


    Feng Si, wearing a neat pilot uniform, stood with his flight bag at his feet, leaning his body against the wall, happily listening to the conversation around him, his face radiant.


    Liu Jie followed Lu Jingchen¡¯s gaze and coughed lightly, explaining, ¡°Captain Feng is going to the airport to make preparations. Shall I call him over?¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Lu Jingchen coldly replied, turned his eyes away, and walked straight towards the restaurant.


    Feng Si casually glanced at Lu Jingchen¡¯s back as he entered the restaurant and then shifted his gaze, his lips curved up with an extra three degrees of smile.


    Lin Ling asked him excitedly, ¡°Captain Feng, are you really going to fly with us in the future? Is it confirmed?¡±


    ¡°Mhmm,¡± Feng Si nodded nonchalantly, ¡°After I return, I¡¯ll sign the contract. I hope you¡¯ll take care of me.¡±


    The flight attendants smiled brightly, ¡°Captain Feng, it should be you taking care of us, right?¡±


    Lin Ling moved closer to him, wanting to take advantage of the situation and say something, but Feng Si stood up straight, reminding them with a smile, ¡°Captain Chen has arrived, let¡¯s go.¡±


    He skillfully avoided the body that was getting too close to him and maintained his smiling face, making people feel warm.


    Lin Ling was slightly taken aback, thinking that Feng Si¡¯s deliberate evasion was just her imagination.


    The plane landed in Beijing at noon. Before exiting, Liu Jie came to inform Feng Si that he could go home first and report to the company at 9am the next morning to sign the contract.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze flickered and he called out to Lu Jingchen, who was about to exit the plane, ¡°Where are you going now?¡±


    Lu Jingchen ignored him and walked down the gangway directly. Liu Jie helplessly said, ¡°It¡¯s only noon. so, we¡¯re going back to the company.¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°Secretary Liu, I¡¯ll start working today. No need to wait until tomorrow.¡±


    Lu Jingchen looked at Feng Si, who shamelessly squeezed onto the car with them, with cold eyes. Feng Si had a bright smile on his face as he explained to Lu Jingchen, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to go back, I just have nowhere to go.¡±


    Liu Jie, sitting in the front seat, turned back in surprise and asked him, ¡°Where were you staying before? And what about your luggage?¡±


    Feng Si casually replied, ¡°In a hotel. I don¡¯t have any luggage, just a few clothes in my flight bag.¡±


    Liu Jie: ¡°¡­¡±


    Did she hire someone with a questionable background?


    Lu Jingchen frowned, but didn¡¯t say anything.


    An hour later, the car stopped in front of Shangxin¡¯s headquarters building. Feng Si looked up at the towering structure in front of him and whistled.


    Lu Jingchen strode inside.


    For the rest of the afternoon, Lu Jingchen stayed in his office and didn¡¯t come out. People kept going in and out, reporting their work to him.


    Liu Jie arranged a position for Feng Si in the secretary¡¯s office, providing him with a computer and office supplies, allowing him to settle in as he pleased.


    Two hours later, Liu Jie¡¯s assistant came over with the prepared contract for Feng Si to sign. Feng Si casually flipped through a couple of pages and, seeing Liu Jie coincidentally coming out of Lu Jingchen¡¯s office, he called out to her, ¡°Secretary Liu.¡±


    Liu Jie walked over and asked, ¡°Have you finished reviewing the contract? Any questions?¡±


    Feng Si picked up the pen and directly signed his name on the last page without bothering to read it.


    Liu Jie¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to take a closer look?¡±


    ¡°No need. There are too many words, it¡¯s tiring to read,¡± Feng Si threw down the pen and gestured towards Lu Jingchen¡¯s office, ¡°Does your boss act like this every day?¡±


    Liu Jie replied, ¡°What did you expect?¡±


    Feng Si turned his Ipad screen towards her. It displayed a news article about Shangxin Technology¡¯s president, Lu Jingqing, delivering a speech at a digital summit the day before. The photo showed a young, capable, and confident female, attracting a lot of attention.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t your boss attend this kind of event?¡± Feng Si asked.


    Liu Jie glanced at it and said, ¡°The boss doesn¡¯t like to participate in such events. Usually, it¡¯s the president who goes.¡±


    In fact, even without Liu Jie¡¯s explanation, Feng Si had already guessed it. He searched through the online reports about Shangxin Technology and noticed that every time someone represented the company in public, it had always been the chairman, Lu Jingchen¡¯s father, in the past. Over the past two years, it had mostly been the female president, Lu Jingqing, who was Lu Jingchen¡¯s sister. As for Lu Jingchen, his name was rarely mentioned in the news reports, and there wasn¡¯t a single frontal photo of him.


    Because of this, people who didn¡¯t know would assume that Lu Jingqing was the only successor in Shangxin Technology, unaware that there was also Lu Jingchen behind the scenes.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t know this before. Lu Jingchen had hidden himself so well that even after digging deep, he could hardly uncover the truth.


    ¡°So, why is your boss the CEO while his sister is the president?¡± Feng Si asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s what the chairman decided,¡± Liu Jie shrugged.


    There was nothing surprising about that. Everyone in the company knew that Lu Jingchen and Lu Jingqing were fraternal twins who had followed the chairman to learn from him since they were teenagers. After graduating from university, they officially entered the company and worked their way up from middle management. They gradually gained a foothold in the company and gained the recognition of the board of directors. Then, two years ago, when the chairman, who had been serving as both CEO and president, wanted to delegate power and retire to the background due to health reasons, he arranged a competition between Lu Jingchen and Lu Jingqing to determine who would become the CEO and who would become the president.


    ¡°The chairman gave each of them a starting capital of 50 million and asked them to earn ten times that amount within six months,¡± Liu Jie explained.


    ¡°And what were the results?¡± Feng Si asked.


    ¡°Well, the boss didn¡¯t achieve it, but the president did,¡± Liu Jie replied.


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°But the one who eventually became CEO is your boss.¡±


    Liu Jie nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Initially, Lu Jingqing registered a company with money and swiftly acquired a poorly performing fertilizer plant on the brink of bankruptsy. They used Shangxin¡¯s name to make the outside world believe that Shangxin Technology was the one being acquired. They then released various favorable news about asset restructuring. The newly transformed company¡¯s stock price skyrocketed in the secondary market, attracting a frenzy of investment. They completed the mission ahead of schedule in just three months.


    As for Lu Jingshen, at that time, there was a hardware startup company urgently seeking investment. They had a chip that was on the verge of completion even before Shangxin. Lu Jingshen anticipated the market prospects of that chip and invested in them. After the chip was developed, they made a small profit from patent fees, far from tenfold, but the anticipated future earnings were much more than tenfold of his initial investment.


    ¡°Although the president completed the mission and the boss didn¡¯t, the chairman said that his judgment criteria were not based on that. Shangxin is not in finance, and the president¡¯s approach is not a long-term solution. In the end, the company has to rely on itself. Although the boss didn¡¯t complete the goal within the set time frame, the future looks promising. The fact proves that the boss¡¯s vision was accurate. The return on his initial investment has already exceeded tenfold,¡± Liu Jie said, showing admiration for Lu Jingshen.


    Feng Si closed the webpage, leaned back in his chair, rested his hands behind his head, and smiled at her. ¡°But if I were the president or someone close to her, I would definitely be envious. After all, she did complete the mission. Your boss was just lucky to come across such a profitable investment project. In the end, the chairman¡¯s approach is not favorable to the harmonious development of the company. On the contrary, it¡¯s sowing discord in the relationship between siblings.¡±


    Liu Jie¡¯s face stiffened. She shouldn¡¯t have discussed those things with someone so outspoken. If it were an ordinary assistant, she wouldn¡¯t have openly discussed those things. It¡¯s just that she noticed that Feng Si had a different relationship with Lu Jingshen, so she mentioned a few things. She just didn¡¯t expect Feng Si to come up with baseless remarks.


    Feng Si smiled and asked, ¡°Am I wrong? How is the relationship between your boss and her sister?¡±


    Liu Jie frowned, ¡°That¡¯s their private matter. You shouldn¡¯t be nosy about it.¡±


    ¡°Alright then,¡± Feng Si said indifferently, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the divisions within the company. I don¡¯t believe it doesn¡¯t exist. It¡¯s not good for the company¡¯s harmonious development, to say the least, and it¡¯s instigating a conflict between siblings, to put it lightly.¡±


    Of course, there were divisions, as Feng Si said. Lu Jingqing herself didn¡¯t react much when she heard her father¡¯s decision, but some of her trusted subordinates were indeed dissatisfied. Although Lu Jingshen¡¯s level was half a level higher than Lu Jingqing¡¯s, he wasn¡¯t the ultimate decision-maker. If they had differing opinions on matters, it would ultimately be up to the chairman to decide.


    As for personal relationships, Liu Jie replied with annoyance, ¡°You¡¯re only responsible for the boss¡¯s personal safety. Don¡¯t meddle in his private matters.¡±


    Feng Si disagreed, ¡°It¡¯s precisely because I¡¯m responsible for his personal safety that I need to ask a few more questions. What if someone has ulterior motives or there are people like Zhao Yuanping who are even more malicious? If something happens, can you take responsibility?¡±


    Liu Jie was instantly speechless.


    At 6:30, another person walked into Lu Jingshen¡¯s office. The office was still brightly lit, and everyone was still at their desks, with no intention of leaving work.


    Feng Si glanced at his watch, got up, and walked towards the door of Lu Jingshen¡¯s office. He knocked twice and then pushed the door open.


    Apart from Lu Jingshen, there were three or four other people, standing or sitting, reporting their work to Lu Jingshen. When Feng Si entered, they all stopped and turned their attention to him.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s face slightly darkened behind his desk, but Feng Si didn¡¯t feel awkward at all. He opened his mouth and said, ¡°Lu, you¡¯re a workaholic, but there¡¯s no need to drag the entire company along to work overtime with you, right?¡±


    As soon as the words were spoken, those few people wore a shocked expression. After a moment, Lu Jingshen coldly signaled, ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. You can all go back.¡±


    After everyone left, Feng Si approached as Lu Jingshen scolded him, ¡°know your place.¡±


    Feng Si directly went behind the desk and leaned against it, looking down at him from a higher position.


    Seeing Lu Jingshen¡¯s furrowed brow, Feng Si reached out and boldly touched his Adam¡¯s apple, speaking in a soft voice, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Lu Jingshen leaned back as if he had been burned by that touch, staring at Feng Si with flickering eyes.


    Feng Si¡¯s fingertip touched his Adam¡¯s apple, gently rubbing. It was a sensitive spot for Lu Jingshen, always has been.


    ¡°Let go,¡± Lu Jingshen squeezed out a voice through his teeth.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t listen, feeling the sensation of Lu Jingshen¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple rolling between his fingertips when he spoke. His gaze traveled inch by inch over his face.


    There was a small black mole on the edge of Lu Jingshen¡¯s left earlobe. It could only be seen up close. When he kissed that spot many times several years before, Lu Jingshen¡¯s body would always involuntarily tremble, accompanied by more alluring sounds. Unconsciously, his eyes would look at him, mixed with desire and filled with a seductive allure, just like now.


    Staring can be as teasing as flirting.


    Having appreciated enough and as Lu Jingshen showed signs of panic, pretending to be calm. Feng Si withdrew his hand meaningfully.


    Lu Jingshen clenched his fist tightly, suppressing the suppressed gasp.


    Feng Si smiled playfully.


    Stepping back, he casually took Lu Jingshen¡¯s suit jacket from the nearby hanger and handed it over. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s have dinner together.¡±

 CH 6

    Taking the jacket and walking out, Lu Jingshen remained silent throughout.


    When she saw Lu Jingshen come out, Liu Jie hurriedly caught up and asked in a whispering voice, ¡°Boss, are you going home now?¡±


    Lu Jingshen slightly nodded, and Feng Si pointed to the wall clock, reminding Liu Jie with a smile, ¡°Secretary Liu, it¡¯s almost seven o¡¯clock. You¡¯re also an employee. There¡¯s no need to work so hard. Let the others go too.¡±


    Lu Jingshen had already entered the elevator, and Feng Si stepped in with his long legs, pressing the close door button directly, blocking the stunned Liu Jie outside the door. He waved at her with a smile on his face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go too far,¡± Lu Jingshen said coldly, looking ahead as the elevator doors closed completely.


    ¡°Feng Si tilted his head unconcernedly and said, ¡®I¡¯m doing this for your own good. Being a workaholic won¡¯t yield good results. Even if you don¡¯t rest, you should let others strike a balance between work and leisure.¡¯


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡®Overtime is voluntary, and there¡¯s overtime pay.¡¯


    Feng Si applauded and said, ¡®Then you¡¯re a kind-hearted workaholic.¡¯


    Lu Jingshen remained silent.


    The conversation ended there. The elevator stopped on the first floor, and Lu Jingshen¡¯s driver had already pulled the car out and was waiting outside the building.


    Before getting into the car, Feng Si tapped on the driver¡¯s side window. The driver lowered the window, and Feng Si raised his chin and said, ¡®It¡¯s time for you to finish work too. Get out, and I¡¯ll take the car.¡¯


    The driver refused to comply. He wouldn¡¯t leave until he had dropped off Lu Jingshen.


    Feng Si turned back and smiled at the expressionless Lu Jingshen behind him. ¡®What do you say?¡¯


    Their eyes met, and Feng Si raised an eyebrow. Lu Jingshen looked away and calmly instructed the driver, ¡®You can go home now.¡¯


    Only then did the driver get out of the car. Feng Si took the driver¡¯s seat, patted the passenger seat, and gestured to Lu Jingshen, saying, ¡®Sit here.¡¯


    After a brief hesitation, Lu Jingshen moved to the passenger seat.


    Once he fastened his seatbelt, Feng Si treated the Maybach like a sports car. He accelerated forcefully, paying no attention to the rearview mirror, overtaking other cars in the traffic without care. Lu Jingshen¡¯s brows furrowed tighter and tighter, and he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, speaking up, ¡®Feng Si.¡¯


    Feng Si turned his head and glanced at him, slowing down the car.


    ¡®Where do you want to eat?¡¯ Feng Si asked.


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡®Let¡¯s go back.¡¯


    After being on a business trip for three days and working a whole day afterward, fatigue was visible on his face.


    Feng Si said, ¡®You insist on working even when you¡¯re exhausted. If I didn¡¯t drag you away, how late were you planning to work?¡¯


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t want to engage with him and leaned back in the seat, closing his eyes.


    As the car stopped at a red light at the intersection, Feng Si¡¯s phone screen lit up briefly. He picked it up and glanced at the new WeChat message, a voice message. He casually played it.


    ¡®Hello, are you free tonight? Would you like to go out for a drink? Waiting for you.¡¯


    It was a young man¡¯s voice, speaking in a high-pitched and seductive manner that made one¡¯s skin crawl.


    Feng Si thought for a moment. It was probably someone he casually added at the bar a few nights ago when he was bored. He didn¡¯t feel like responding, so he deleted the person¡¯s contact.


    A cold and stern voice came from beside him. ¡®I don¡¯t care about your personal life, but since you¡¯re now my assistant, at least have some self-restraint. Don¡¯t engage in such things during work hours.¡¯


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze shifted, and Lu Jingshen, who had a cold expression, remained closed-eyed. His brow furrowed slightly, and there was no further response.


    Staring at him for a few seconds, Feng Si scoffed, ¡®Alex, it seems like it¡¯s already past my work hours, right? If someone casually invites me for a drink, it¡¯s none of your business ,Is It?¡¯


    The traffic light turned green, and Feng Si pressed the accelerator again. The person next to him, who had been silent for a while, spoke softly, ¡®Your working hours are twenty-four hours.¡¯


    Feng Si¡¯s expression paused, and his gaze returned to him. Lu Jingshen still hadn¡¯t opened his eyes, and that statement seemed like his imagination.


    Narrowing his eyes and thinking for a moment, Feng Si pulled over and said to Lu Jingshen, ¡®give me a second.¡¯ He pushed the door and got out.


    A few minutes later, Feng Si returned from a nearby convenience store and casually tossed the items he bought into the back seat.


    Lu Jingshen maintained the same posture as if he had fallen asleep. Feng Si glanced at him for a moment, then reached over and lightly brushed his lips with his thumb. He withdrew his hand, caressed his finger, and smiled, starting the car again.


    Half an hour later, the car entered the underground parking lot of Mingyue Bay. When Lu Jingshen woke up, the person beside him had opened the window and was smoking, without waking him.


    Lu Jingshen slowly opened his eyes. The first thing that came into his view was Feng Si¡¯s somewhat blurred profile, covered in smoke. His narrowed eyes were deep and filled with hidden emotions.


    Lu Jingshen had a momentary daze, as if he had experienced a similar scene many years ago. He woke up from a daze and saw the side profile of the person smoking next to him. At that time, they were strangers who had met by chance, indulged in a wild affair, and then separated to return to reality.


    ¡®Awake?¡¯


    Feng Si turned his head towards him, taking another drag of his cigarette.


    Lu Jingshen closed his eyes and asked in a hoarse voice, ¡®What time is it?¡¯


    Feng Si replied, ¡®Almost nine o¡¯clock.¡¯


    Upon hearing this, Lu Jingshen furrowed his brow. He had slept for so long in the car. Hearing the laughter from the person beside him, Lu Jingshen asked, ¡®What are you laughing at?¡¯


    Feng Si shook his head. ¡®Nothing.¡¯


    He just felt that Lu Jingshen had automatically put on a mask and became guarded as soon as he woke up, which was quite boring.


    It would have been more pleasant if he had stayed asleep, appearing more real and human.


    Feng Si said there was nothing, but Lu Jingshen could sense the hint of mockery in his tone and didn¡¯t want to dampen the mood further.


    Feng Si threw a cigarette to him. ¡®Do you want one?¡¯


    Lu Jingshen reached out and accepted it. Feng Si flicked open the lighter and helped him light it. Lu Jingshen took a slow drag and leaned back in his seat.


    Lu Jingshen had always been a highly disciplined person. Except for occasional social occasions, he rarely smoked. However, during those previous years of indulgence, he had shared the same cigarette with the person beside him, and the smoke carried their intertwined breaths as they kissed and made love, disregarding everything to satisfy their desires.


    ¡®What are you thinking?¡¯


    Feng Si¡¯s voice came closer to his ear, and Lu Jingshen¡¯s thoughts snapped back. He instinctively turned his head.


    Feng Si smiled and stared at him, his gaze teasing, as if he had already seen through him.


    Lu Jingshen glanced away, concealing the slight turmoil in his heart, and took two more puffs before putting out the cigarette.


    As he withdrew his hand, his gaze paused for a moment, noticing the items Feng Si had bought and tossed in the backseat.


    It was condoms and lubricant.


    Feng Si casually took the items and stuffed them into his pocket. Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°Why did you buy these?¡±


    ¡°Since Mr Lu doesn¡¯t care about my personal life, I don¡¯t need to explain to you, right? I don¡¯t recall doing anything inappropriate during work hours either,¡± Feng Si directly countered his question.


    After a brief silence, Lu Jingshen pushed open the car door and got out.


    Feng Si followed and called out to him, ¡°Hey.¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned back, and Feng Si smiled, ¡°Mr Lu, I¡¯m a person who values principles. I can use these myself¡ªclean and convenient. Of course, but if you don¡¯t mind, I can also help you out.¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned away and walked off.


    As they rode the elevator, Lu Jingshen remained silent with a cold expression, while Feng Si stared at him intently, lost in thought.


    Upon entering the apartment, Lu Jingshen pressed his fingerprint on the lock to allow Feng Si to register his own as well.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t move and blocked him as Lu Jingshen reached for the door. ¡°Did your former bodyguard also live here?¡±


    Lu Jingshen glanced at him, his voice cold, ¡°No.¡±


    Feng Si smiled and stepped aside, allowing Lu Jingshen to enter first.


    Once Feng Si finished registering his fingerprint and entered, Lu Jingshen had already gone into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and grabbed a sandwich, tossing it into the microwave. He calmly reminded Feng Si, ¡°There¡¯s food in the refrigerator and the cabinet next to it. Take whatever you want.¡±


    Feng Si casually replied, ¡°but I want what you are having¡±


    Lu Jingshen said nothing further and added another sandwich to the microwave.


    As Lu Jingshen brewed coffee, Feng Si leaned against the kitchen counter and watched him, his gaze fixed on Lu Jingshen¡¯s every move, his eyes filled with a hint of playfulness.


    After a few minutes, Lu Jingshen finished his sandwich and coffee, then instructed Feng Si, ¡°You can stay in the guest bedroom. Don¡¯t bother me unless necessary. Wake up at 7 a.m. every day and prepare breakfast. If you don¡¯t know how to cook, you can order takeout.¡±


    After giving those instructions, Lu Jingshen was about to return to his room when Feng Si suddenly reached out, grabbing his arm and pinning him against the kitchen counter. Before Lu Jingshen could frown, Feng Si asked him, ¡°With a work schedule of twenty-four hours, what am I supposed to do now?¡±


    Feng Si seemed to exert little force, and Lu Jingshen was completely restrained. Feng Si¡¯s hand tantalizingly grazed his waist through the fabric of his shirt, almost sensing the real touch of the skin beneath.


    Feng Si¡¯s voice became huskier as he asked again, ¡°What else do I need to do?¡±


    Lu Jingshen composed himself and calmly replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t you read the contract before signing?¡±


    Feng Si retorted, ¡°Does the contract mention how I should serve you at night?¡±


    ¡°No need for that,¡± Lu Jingshen said, ¡°Just don¡¯t deviate from your duties.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze shifted across his face, while Lu Jingshen maintained his composure and met his eyes. In his seemingly calm and unruffled demeanor, there was a hint of indescribable emotion, unintentionally alluring.


    After a moment, Feng Si clicked his tongue and released him.


    Lu Jingshen was still the same as before, seemingly unattainable, keeping others at a distance, yet harboring a hidden fire within. However, Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t want to be easily provoked anymore.


    He returned to his room and went straight into the bathroom to take a shower.


    There seemed to be a lingering sensation from Feng Si¡¯s touch, and no matter how the hot water poured down, it couldn¡¯t wash it away.


    With closed eyes, images that couldn¡¯t be erased flashed through his mind¡ªFeng Si¡¯s blatant gaze just moments ago, and the naked figure he glimpsed that day in the hotel.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand moved downward as he leaned against the shower glass, breathing heavily, suppressing the sounds beneath the noise of the water.


    When a sudden burst of light exploded in his mind, all the images shattered, and Lu Jingshen abruptly opened his eyes.


    Breathing heavily, he remained stunned for a moment, his eyes gradually ridding of the desire that had overwhelmed him.


    He touched his hand, coldly observing as the marks were washed away by the water, leaving not a trace behind.

 CH 7

    Lu Jingshen woke up at 7 a.m., exercised for half an hour, and then went down to have breakfast.


    Feng Si toasted bread, fried eggs and sausages, and heated milk¡ªall laid out on the kitchen counter. However, he himself was nowhere to be seen.


    Lu Jingshen glanced at the food on the counter and sat down.


    When he was almost finished with breakfast, he heard the sound of the door opening from the entrance hall. It was Feng Si back from his morning jog.


    Feng Si greeted him with a smile and went to the bathroom to take a shower.


    When he came back from his room, Lu Jingshen had already changed clothes and was ready to leave.


    Feng Si stopped him. ¡°It¡¯s not even 8 o¡¯clock yet, and you¡¯re going to the office?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied with three words, ¡°Afraid of traffic.¡±


    Feng Si approached, adjusting the slightly crooked knot of Lu Jingshen¡¯s tie. Lu Jingshen remained expressionless, watching him.


    Feng Si smirked, thought for a moment, then loosened the tie knot and tied it again in a different style.


    ¡°Is it fun?¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s voice was cold.


    Feng Si skillfully adjusted the tie with his slender fingers, occasionally touching Lu Jingshen¡¯s skin with his fingertips, seemingly intentional, as he spoke slowly, ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so rigid and conventional. Sometimes, you can change things up a bit.¡±


    Finally finishing Lu Jingshen¡¯s tie, Feng Si raised his eyes and met Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze, seeing his own reflection in those deep black eyes. The smile on his face deepened. ¡± Lu Jingshen, if you keep staring at me like this, I¡¯ll think you¡¯re seducing me.¡±


    Lu Jingshen averted his gaze and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    He walked out first, and Feng Si followed, grabbing a jacket as he rushed to catch up.


    The driver was already waiting downstairs. They arrived at the company in forty minutes, just before 8:30 a.m., half an hour before official working hours.


    As they entered the elevator, Feng Si glanced at his wristwatch and stretched lazily.


    Lu Jingshen gave him a brief glance. Feng Si was dressed too casually, not at all like someone coming to work. The secretarial department had stricter dress requirements than other departments, and someone should have briefed him about it, but apparently, Feng Si turned a deaf ear.


    Liu Jie saw Feng Si in the office and came over to say a few words to him. Feng Si casually replied, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not used to wearing formal attire. Besides, I¡¯m just Mr Lu¡¯s personal assistant and bodyguard, not an official employee of your company. There¡¯s no need to have so many expectations and besides Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t say anything either.¡±


    Liu Jie was very surprised.


    Lu Jing Shen was known for his strict requirements for employees, yet he let Feng Si, who was so relaxed and unserious, get away with such an attitude on his first official day of work?


    Feng Si ignored Liu Jie and took the opportunity when nobody was paying attention to knock on Lu Jing Shen¡¯s office door.


    Lu Jing Shen was in his office, going through the backlog of documents from the past few days. He had a meeting scheduled later. When Feng Si entered, he only glanced at him briefly before lowering his head to continue working.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t bother him and went to a nearby bookshelf to randomly pick a book, sitting down on the sofa to pass the time.


    At ten o¡¯clock, Liu Jie came in to remind Lu Jing Shen about the meeting. Seeing Feng Si sprawled on the sofa, her face showed a hint of confusion about how to react.


    Lu Jing Shen nodded to indicate his understanding and asked her to leave first. As he got up, he casually asked Feng Si on the sofa, ¡°Do you find this job interesting?¡±


    Feng Si removed the book covering his face and looked at him teasingly, countering with a question, ¡°And what about you? Do you find your own job interesting?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen calmly replied, ¡°Sitting in the office all day from morning till night, you¡¯ll get tired of it within three days.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen knew Feng Si¡¯s personality well. He was a free-spirited person who didn¡¯t like to be held down. He wasn¡¯t even willing to wear formal attire, so how could he tolerate being in the office all day, dealing with people and things that held little interest?


    Feng Si sneered, ¡°You knew I¡¯ll get tired of it. Yet you still made me sign the contract. Were you hoping I would try it and then give up halfway?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t deny it, saying, ¡°You don¡¯t need to waste your time here with me.¡±


    Feng Si silently watched him for a moment before saying, ¡°It¡¯s indeed boring, but what can I do? I¡¯m very interested in you and don¡¯t want to let go just like that.¡±


    After a brief standoff, Lu Jing Shen averted his gaze first and calmly said, ¡°Do as you please.¡±


    He went to the meeting room, and Feng Si followed. That day was an internal working meeting for the company¡¯s top management. When they entered, Feng Si casually glanced around and noticed Lu Jing Shen¡¯s elder sister, Lu Jing Qing, talking to someone.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze swept over her, taking in her appearance. Although she bore some resemblance to Lu Jing Shen, their personalities were completely different. Lu Jing Shen might have a hard time controlling her.


    Lu Jing Qing seemed to sense something and looked over. Her gaze passed Lu Jing Shen and quickly noticed Feng Si, furrowing her brows.


    Feng Si paid no attention and took a seat at the back of the room, playing with his phone to kill time.


    The next hour was filled with dull and uninteresting agenda items. Towards the end, Lu Jing Shen mentioned the ongoing acquisition of Xinfeng Technology. The confirmation from Chongsheng Capital had already been received in the morning, stating their willingness to transfer all the Xinfeng Technology shares held by them according to their third round of offers. Zhao Yuanping had also been convinced to sell his shares, allowing them to take over completely.


    That should have been good news, but someone found fault with it. A director mentioned that the acquisition of Xinfeng required too much money, which would impact the investment in other subsequent projects. Before Lu Jing Shen could speak, someone immediately defended him. The discussion quickly escalated, becoming quite controversial.


    Feng Si listened casually for a while and asked Liu Jie¡¯s assistant next to him, ¡°Who is that?¡±


    He was referring to the person who openly challenged Lu Jing Shen. The assistant explained in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Li is a long-time employee of the company. He has a straightforward and quick-witted personality. He isn¡¯t afraid of openly challenging the boss.¡±


    Feng Si sneered, ¡°Leaning on seniority.¡±


    Ultimately, the argument didn¡¯t escalate. Lu Jing Qing interrupted the dispute with a smile, calming both sides down with a few words. Lu Jing Shen ended it with a nonchalant ¡°Adjourned.¡±


    Back in the office, Lu Jing Shen returned to his desk to continue reviewing documents. Feng Si walked over and leaned against the desk, asking, ¡°Are you angry?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s gaze remained on the documents, and he replied calmly, ¡°No.¡±


    Feng Si smiled but didn¡¯t expose him.


    When Lu Jing Qing came to knock on the door, Feng Si was urging Lu Jing Shen to go out for lunch with him.


    Lu Jing Qing entered and immediately noticed Feng Si leaning beside Lu Jing Shen. Her gaze lingered on him for two seconds before turning to Lu Jing Shen. ¡°Ah Shen, I want to talk to you.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen gestured to Feng Si and said, ¡°give us a moment.¡±


    Feng Si stood up nonchalantly, glanced at Lu Jing Qing, and leisurely walked out.


    As he left, he heard Lu Jing Qing ask, ¡°Is he your new assistant?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded slightly, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lu Jing Qing expressed surprise, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to hire someone so unprofessional.¡±


    She also noticed that Lu Jing Shen¡¯s tie was tied using a currently popular method, which was typically favored by fashionable men. It was not a choice that someone with Lu Jing Shen¡¯s personality would make. He wouldn¡¯t even know about those trends.


    Lu Jing Shen immediately changed the topic, ¡°Is there something you need?¡±


    Lu Jing Qing said, ¡°Regarding the comments made by Uncle Wen during the meeting, don¡¯t take it to heart. That¡¯s just how he is¡ªwhatever comes to mind, he says it. He wasn¡¯t directly targeting you.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± replied Lu Jing Shen with a calm expression.


    Lu Jing Qing smiled, ¡°You sure?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded again, seeming unwilling to discuss the matter further.


    Realizing this, Lu Jing Qing tactfully refrained from mentioning it further. She mentioned hearing about Lu Jing Shen getting into trouble in Shanghai. She asked if everything was okay.


    ¡°It was just a minor issue, and it has been resolved,¡± Lu Jing Shen answered.


    Lu Jing Qing said, ¡°That¡¯s good. Tomorrow is Saturday. Do you have time? It¡¯s mom¡¯s birthday, remember to come home.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± replied Lu Jing Shen.


    They exchanged a few more words, and Lu Jing Qing reminded him not to focus solely on work and to remember to have lunch before leaving.


    As she walked out of Lu Jingshen¡¯s office, she saw Feng Si standing right outside the door. He had one leg crossed over the other and was leaning against the wall, casually playing with his phone.


    Upon hearing footsteps, Feng Si looked up at Lu Jing Qing, who furrowed her brows slightly. She noticed that his demeanor was far from that of a typical assistant.


    Lu Jing Qing stopped in her tracks, closed the door behind her, and coldly asked him, ¡°Were you eavesdropping just now?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°I was listening openly.¡±


    Lu Jing Qing¡¯s expression turned slightly stern as she asked, ¡°What is your relationship with Ah Shen?¡±


    Feng Si casually replied, ¡° I¡¯m his newly hired personal assistant and bodyguard, as well as his private pilot for the personal jet.¡±


    Lu Jing Qing appeared somewhat surprised and asked, ¡°You¡¯re a pilot?¡±


    Feng Si nodded casually, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Lu Jing Qing found it somewhat strange and observed him a bit longer before Feng Si responded with a smile.


    However, that smile made her very uncomfortable. She averted her gaze, leaving a remark, ¡°Be more respectful in front of Ah Shen in the future. Don¡¯t cause him trouble,¡± and she walked away quickly.


    Feng Si paid no mind to it, smiled, and pushed the door open again.


    Lu Jingshen had already stood up, seemingly having changed his mind about going out to eat.


    Feng Si jokingly asked him, ¡°Lu Jingshen, what¡¯s your relationship like with the company¡¯s president ?¡±


    Lu Jingshen responded, ¡°Is that something you should be asking?¡±


    Feng Si changed the title, ¡°Then, Alex, how¡¯s your relationship with your sister?¡±


    Lu Jingshen averted his eyes from Feng Si¡¯s teasing and said after a pause, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡±


    Feng Si remarked, ¡°What do you think I¡¯m thinking? Do you think I believe that you two don¡¯t get along?¡±


    Lu Jingshen ignored him and walked out first.


    Feng Si followed, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go. I saw some good restaurants nearby that have high ratings online.¡±


    Liu Jie saw Lu Jingshen come out and was about to ask if he was going out when she heard Feng Si¡¯s remark. She silently withdrew her leg, which was about to step forward.


    The two of them entered the elevator, with Lu Jingshen in front and Feng Si behind.


    Previously, unless it was necessary for socializing, Lu Jingshen never went out to eat, not even at the company¡¯s own cafeteria. Every day, he would have his meals ordered and arranged to be delivered to him in the office.


    Liu Jie suddenly thought that maybe she could finally meet her boyfriend for lunch that day.


    As the elevator descended, Feng Si suddenly chuckled.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze shifted towards him, seemingly unclear about what he found funny all of a sudden.


    Feng Si said, ¡°Liu Secretary is quite an interesting person. Did you see the way she looked at you earlier?¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned his gaze away, uninterested in Feng Si¡¯s joke.


    Feng Si looked at him, his eyes filled with even more delight.


    ¡°Ah Shen.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression slightly froze, and Feng Si continued, ¡°Your sister calls you that, right?¡±


    Lu Jingshen frowned, reminding him, ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡±


    Feng Si paused for a while still observing him and reluctantly said, ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t call you that.¡±


    But subtly, that name still lingered in his mind.


    Ah Shen.

 CH 8

    As the car left the company¡¯s underground parking lot, Feng Si looked at the navigation on his phone and asked Lu Jingshen, who was in the passenger seat, ¡°What do you want to eat?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied calmly, ¡°Anything.¡±


    Feng Si glanced at him and casually opened a restaurant review app, handing the phone to Lu Jingshen for him to choose.


    After a couple of minutes, Lu Jingshen handed the phone back, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go to this one.¡±


    Feng Si took a look; it was a Southeast Asian restaurant, nothing special, and quite far away. It would take at least twenty minutes to drive there.


    He smiled and didn¡¯t ask any further questions, entering the destination in the navigation system.


    ¡­¡­¡­.


    While Lu Jingshen looked at the menu, Feng Si occasionally took a sip of mint water and kept his gaze on the slightly lowered face across from him, subtly studying him with his eyes.


    Lu Jingshen raised his eyes, unexpectedly meeting Feng Si¡¯s intense gaze. He paused for a moment.


    Feng Si¡¯s eyes carried a hint of adoration as he stared at him, becoming more obvious.


    Lu Jingshen shifted his gaze away, picked up his own glass, and took a sip of water.


    When the dishes arrived, Lu Jingshen silently ate, even though the food was ordinary. His elegance made him appear extra refined.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze remained on him, and he reminisced of the past.


    During those three months they spent together seven years ago, they had wandered aimlessly together in Africa, traveling through unfamiliar countries, cities, and vast deserts. They were used to roughing it, and elegance was nearly an impossibility.


    Those were the happiest times, but unfortunately, they only lasted for those three months.


    ¡°Why did we come here to eat?¡± Feng Si asked.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t raise his eyes and replied, ¡°I just chose randomly.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°Afraid of being seen? If we chose a restaurant near the company, perhaps some employees would recognize you while eating. Alex, what are you ashamed of?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand holding the chopsticks paused slightly as he looked at Feng Si, who was smiling again. Feng Si¡¯s tone was mocking and unserious, ¡°I said not to stare at me like that, or I might think you¡¯re trying to seduce me.¡±


    From that point on until they finished the meal, Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t respond to Feng Si¡¯s teasing.


    As they were driving back, Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze fell on a large billboard outside the building, and he earnestly looked at it for a while. Feng Si noticed and followed his gaze. It was a jewelry advertisement featuring a young male celebrity in his twenties. His smile was enchanting, exuding a boldness that seemed almost supernatural, shamelessly radiating hormones.


    Feng Si chuckled, ¡°So, Lu Jingshen, you¡¯re interested in this type of young boys?¡±


    Lu Jingshen averted his gaze, ¡°He¡¯s my younger brother.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Perplexed, Feng Si didn¡¯t understand.


    Lu Jingshen calmly repeated, ¡°The one in the poster, he¡¯s my younger brother.¡±


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow in surprise, ¡°Your biological brother?¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Besides your sister, you also have a biological brother?¡±


    Feng Si looked back at the poster, examining it for a moment. The person in the poster didn¡¯t resemble Lu Jingshen much, and their personalities were likely very different. The person in the poster exuded a somewhat arrogant aura, like a pampered child from a wealthy family.


    He asked Lu Jingshen, ¡°Do you have any other siblings besides your sister and brother?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°No.¡±


    Feng Si laughed, ¡°Should I consider myself honored then? You are willing to share personal family matters with me.¡±


    Lu Jingshen ignored his comment and continued facing forward.


    Feng Si lightly tapped the steering wheel with his fingers, ¡°It seems like your family is quite open-minded. They even allowed your brother to enter the entertainment industry and become a public figure. I guess he¡¯s living a more comfortable life than you.¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t want to continue the conversation and simply said, ¡°I don¡¯t approve, but it¡¯s what he likes,¡± putting an end to the topic.


    Feng Si smiled and stepped on the accelerator, driving away and leaving the large poster behind.


    In the afternoon, Liu Jie assigned some tasks to Pheng Si, asking him to organize Lu Jingshen¡¯s schedule for the next two weeks and coordinate the timings to prevent him from being idle and bothering Lu Jingshen.


    Feng Si looked at the densely packed schedule in his hands and clicked his tongue, ¡°Do you want to kill your boss with this? Can¡¯t you cancel some of these unimportant appointments? And can¡¯t we avoid repeating some of these meetings to save time?¡±


    Liu Jie replied irritably, ¡°Who told you they¡¯re unimportant? These are all crucial appointments that have been approved by the boss himself.¡±


    Feng Si frowned slightly and didn¡¯t bother to respond. He sat down at the computer and started working.


    He delegated the tasks that could be delegated to others. With so many people in the company, there was no need for Lu Jingshen to shoulder all the responsibilities alone. The main objective was to ensure that Lu Jingshen could start work at 9 a.m., finish at 6 p.m., and attend no more than two social engagements per week.


    Next to him was a beautiful secretary. Feng Si occasionally asked her for advice, inquiring about the specific content of the tasks mentioned in the schedule. He made adjustments based on her input and his own judgment.


    The secretary had plenty of work to do herself, but she couldn¡¯t refuse Feng Si¡¯s inquiries when he spoke to her with a smile. She answered his questions promptly.


    Eventually, they started chatting. The secretary curiously asked, ¡°I heard that you are the private pilot for the boss¡¯s private plane. How come you¡¯re here as the boss¡¯s assistant?¡±


    Feng Si responded, ¡°Isn¡¯t it good to be the boss¡¯s personal assistant?¡±


    The secretary felt that his tone was a bit strange, but under his smiling gaze, she blushed and didn¡¯t have the heart to refuse. She continued, ¡°I can see that the boss treats you well.¡±


    Feng Si glanced in the direction of Lu Jingshen¡¯s office door, his smile deepening, ¡°I hope you¡¯re right.¡±


    At half-past five, when Lu Jingshen left his office, he passed by the secretary¡¯s office and caught sight of Feng Si slouching in his chair, engaged in a lively conversation with the secretary at the adjacent workstation.


    Hearing Liu Jie¡¯s discreet cough, the secretary turned around and met Lu Jingshen¡¯s cold and indifferent gaze. Startled, she quickly sat up straight, moved her chair back to her workstation, lowered her head, and resumed her work.


    Lu Jingshen had already walked away, and Feng Si calmly stood up, smiled at the embarrassed secretary, and blinked. Then he caught up with Lu Jingshen.


    Lu Jingshen had a dinner appointment to attend. As he sat in the car, Feng Si opened the tablet he had brought and displayed the streamlined schedule he had prepared in the afternoon, handing it to Lu Jingshen.


    ¡°Let¡¯s follow this schedule from now on. I¡¯ve delegated all the unnecessary tasks to others. We shouldn¡¯t burden you with all these responsibilities. The main goal is to ensure that you start work at nine and finish at six every day, with no more than two social engagements per week.¡±


    Feng Si stated it matter-of-factly, without doubting his own judgment or worrying about delaying Lu Jingshen¡¯s matters.


    On the passenger seat, Liu Jie turned to Lu Jingshen and quickly explained that it wasn¡¯t her idea, but rather Feng Si¡¯s own initiative. She also gave Feng Si a stern look, but Feng Si acted as if he hadn¡¯t noticed.


    Lu Jingshen examined the concise and clear schedule in front of him. At first, he frowned, but then his gaze focused on it, and he remained motionless for a while.


    Feng Si¡¯s intuition was sharp. He had sorted out which tasks were important and needed Lu Jingshen¡¯s personal attention, and which tasks were less important and could be delegated. There were hardly any mistakes, and even for the tasks that were delegated, he had provided his opinions in the notes.


    ¡°Alright then.¡±


    Lu Jingshen handed the tablet back to Feng Si. Turning to Liu Jie, who looked surprised, he said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s see if we can improve work efficiency with this.¡±


    Liu Jie swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth and nodded, ¡°Okay, I understand.¡±


    Feng Si remarked, ¡°It seems that I have finally done something that pleases the boss.¡±


    In a deep voice, Lu Jingshen reminded him, ¡°Don¡¯t make decisions on your own next time.¡±


    Feng Si smirked and smiled, leaving the next time for future consideration.


    By the time they returned home after finishing their social engagement, it was already past 9 p.m. Upon entering the apartment, Lu Jingshen went straight to the bathroom, leaned over the sink, and vomited all the alcohol he had consumed.


    Feng Si followed him and stood by the door, watching him.


    At the dinner table, Lu Jingshen had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol in front of government officials. He had pretended as if everything was fine, drinking one glass after another. Now, he was paying the price for it.


    After vomiting, Lu Jingshen rinsed his mouth directly from the tap, splashing water all over his face.


    Feng Si reached out and firmly grabbed his arm, pulling him up.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s wet hair hung in front of his forehead, his eyes hazy, his upturned eyes reddened. He looked at Feng Si dazedly.


    Feng Si lifted his hand and patted his face, ¡°Do you still recognize who I am?¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked at him without saying a word. His eyes flickered, revealing a subtle emotion.


    Leaning against the bathroom door, Feng Si calmly looked back at him. His hand, which had been pressed against Lu Jingshen¡¯s ear, slowly moved down to the back of his neck, reminiscent of how he played with a beautiful glass during lunch.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyelashes trembled, but he still didn¡¯t speak. Feng Si¡¯s fingers turned forward and caressed his unconscious Adam¡¯s apple.


    Moving downward, he undid the tie that Lu Jingshen had personally tied earlier that morning.


    Lu Jingshen let out a low breath, his voice clear in the quiet bathroom.


    Feng Si pressed him against the wall, leaning closer until their breaths intertwined, their eyes locked. The emotions in Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes could no longer be concealed.


    It was an intensely suppressed, burning desire.


    Intoxication made Lu Jingshen somewhat unsteady on his feet. Back pressed against the wall, he slid down slowly. Feng Si held onto his waist, casually removing his bothersome suit jacket and tossing it aside. With a knee pressed in between his legs, Feng Si prevented his body from sliding completely.


    Lu Jingshen was trapped in that position, at once familiar and unfamiliar, with an intoxicating scent lingering at his nostrils, stimulating his nerves and awakening the desires that had been suppressed within him for years, yet instinctively resisting.


    Feng Si¡¯s deep voice sounded near his ear, ¡°Alex, you¡¯re hard.¡±

 CH 9

    Lu Jingshen was indeed drunk, but not to the extent of being unable to recognize the person in front of him, whose words were flirty and behavior despicable. Being trapped within Feng Si¡¯s grasp, every breath he took was filled with the scorching heat emanating from the other man. Lu Jingshen felt uncomfortable, as his body screamed for release, defying his will and even trembling at the slightest touch from Feng Si¡¯s fingers.


    However, Feng Si simply smiled and enjoyed the sight of Lu Jingshen¡¯s exposed emotions. His hand, touching Lu Jingshen¡¯s crotch through the fabric, teased lightly, as if everything was under his control. He was composed and relaxed, completely at ease.


    Lu Jingshen tilted his head back, his body pressed against the wall. As Feng Si¡¯s hand lifted his shirt, flesh against flesh, his breathing escaped his lips, unable to be suppressed any longer.


    The hand that had held guns and flown planes was now pressing against Lu Jingshen¡¯s side. It caressed him without restraint, as if touching a cherished collectible.


    Lu Jingshen felt hot, unsure if it was due to the warmth in Feng Si¡¯s palm or the fire igniting within his body.


    He heard the metallic sound of Feng Si undoing his belt.


    In public, Lu Jingshen was always well-dressed, serious, and strict. The suit he wore concealed the restlessness and desires within his body. But now, Feng Si was personally removing it from him.


    The wrinkled shirt, left hanging on him, had all its buttons undone, revealing an even more seductive and pleasing sight, perfectly aligned with Feng Si¡¯s despicable intentions.


    When Feng Si grasped him and continued stroking his crotch, Lu Jingshen¡¯s breathing suddenly intensified. With reddened eyes, he stared at Feng Si, who was smiling with increasing mockery. But in return, he received even more shameless actions.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s mind went blank. The stimulation his body experienced exceeded his limits. He tightly covered his mouth with one hand, barely managing to suppress the unbearable sounds.


    Feng Si¡¯s eyes fixed on his, full of interest and a mix of desire and fury, causing a layer of mist to cover Lu Jingshen¡¯s black pupils. The corner of his eyes revealed a captivating and provocative meaning.


    It was those very eyes that had Feng Si hooked. But just as he had grown addicted, that person left him.


    There would be no second chance for him.


    Lu Jingshen had completely surrendered to his desires, almost stripped bare and helpless. Yet, Feng Si remained calm from beginning to end, with his clothes still intact on his body.


    At the moment of release, Lu Jingshen bit down on his own hand with force and closed his eyes, unwilling to look at him anymore.


    The person who caressed him all over stepped back, and Lu Jingshen took deep breaths, listening to the sound of running water.


    His eyelashes trembled slowly, and as he opened his eyes, he saw Feng Si leaning against the sink, turning on the water.


    The water flowed, gently washing over Feng Si¡¯s slender fingers, taking away the traces of their encounter. Lu Jingshen could only glance at it for a moment before feeling a burning sensation, causing him to avert his gaze.


    After a while, the sound of water ceased. Lu Jingshen looked up and saw Feng Si turning around, smiling at him with an ambiguous expression.


    Though his rational self felt disgust, it couldn¡¯t suppress the instinctive response of his body. He had tasted a hint of pleasure, but it was far from satisfying. It wasn¡¯t enough.


    ¡­¡­..


    The next day was Saturday, and Lu Jingshen woke up promptly at 7 a.m.


    He went to the gym first thing in the morning, and when Feng Si arrived, Lu Jingshen was already jogging on the treadmill. He didn¡¯t turn around at the sound of footsteps.


    Feng Si stopped behind him, his gaze tracing the shape of Lu Jingshen¡¯s ass. It wasn¡¯t until Lu Jingshen stepped down from the treadmill that Feng Si lazily spoke, ¡°Getting up early on a Saturday too?¡±


    Lu Jingshen only responded with, ¡°What about you?.¡±


    He originally had a social engagement scheduled for that morning, but after Feng Si helped him organize his schedule and canceled it directly, he was fortunate enough to have a completely free weekend.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s attitude seemed even more distant, avoiding mentioning what happened last night.


    Feng S¨¬ didn¡¯t say much either, just reminding him to have breakfast.


    While eating, Feng S¨¬ casually asked if Lu Jingshen was going out later but he replied indifferently, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear yesterday?¡±


    Feng S¨¬ asked, ¡°Are you going to your parents¡¯ house?¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded, ¡°You can take the day off today.¡±


    Feng S¨¬ smiled, ¡°Take a day off? Isn¡¯t my job 24/7?¡±


    Lu Jingshen frowned instinctively, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you hated workaholics?.¡±


    Feng S¨¬ teased, ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Since I have nothing to do, why don¡¯t you take me along for a free meal, Mr. Lu?¡±


    ¡°My mom is celebrating her birthday, and it¡¯s not convenient to bring outsiders.¡±


    After saying this, Lu Jingshen lowered his head and continued eating.


    Feng S¨¬ looked at him, the smile fading from his face, but he didn¡¯t dwell on the matter further.


    After breakfast, Lu Jingshen went back to his room to read, but his mind wasn¡¯t focused. Hearing the sound of the door closing from the entrance, he glanced at his watch¡ªit was just 9 o¡¯clock in the morning.


    Feng S¨¬ had already left ahead of him. While changing clothes, Lu Jingshen got lost in thought for a moment. In the end, he also left early and drove to his mom¡¯s house alone.


    Lu¡¯s villa was located in the central area near the lake, a quiet place amidst the busy city. However, the three siblings had all moved out to live on their own, and they only returned home for a meal on weekends.


    It took him half an hour to drive there. When he got out of the car, he saw his younger brother, Lu Chixie, in the front yard, giving a bath to the dog their mother raised. He was with his boyfriend.


    Lu Chixie rolled up his sleeves, squatting on the ground. He looked up and was somewhat surprised to see Lu Jingshen. He raised two fingers and waved playfully, greeting him, ¡°Big busy man, you came early today.¡±


    His boyfriend, Ling Zhuo, stood up and respectfully called Lu Jingshen, ¡°Brother Shen.¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded lightly, then went inside.


    An Xin was arranging flowers in the living room. When she saw her eldest son return, she smiled and said, ¡°You rarely come back earlier than your sister.¡±


    Lu Jingshen walked over and sat down, asking her, ¡°How is Dad¡¯s health?¡±


    An Xin replied, ¡°The same as usual. Just constantly tired.¡±


    Since Lu Fu underwent heart surgery two years ago, his health had declined. Although he still held the position of chairman in the company, he rarely got involved unless it was a major issue. He left most of the company matters to Lu Jingshen and his sister.


    Lu Jingshen also reminded An Xin, ¡°You should also take more rest.¡±


    An Xin smiled, acknowledging her son¡¯s concern. Among her three children, Lu Jingshen was the most introverted, but when it came to thoughtfulness and attentiveness, Lu Jingqing and Lu Chixie were no match for him.


    ¡°Shen, you should also take care of yourself. Don¡¯t always overwork. Find time to date. You¡¯re the only one still single at home¡± An Xin teased her son, but Lu Jingshen changed the subject directly, ¡°Is Dad in the study? I want to talk to him about something.¡±


    After Lu Jingshen left, An Xin shook her head helplessly. She hoped that Lu Jingshen would become more open to people, but it seemed difficult for him.


    At half-past eleven, Lu Jingqing arrived with her boyfriend, and Lu Jingshen and Lu Fu came out of the study. Lu Jingqing, who was in the middle of talking to An Xin, paused for a moment, her gaze shifting between Lu Jingshen and Lu Fu, lost in thought.


    Just then, Lu Chixie entered and asked, ¡°Can we start eating now that everyone is here?¡±


    An Xin smiled and said, ¡°Yes, let¡¯s sit down.¡±


    Although it was a birthday celebration, it was only their immediate family.


    Lu Jingqing¡¯s boyfriend was an elite investment banker, a talented graduate from a prestigious university with an average family background. He relied on his own abilities to achieve success and met Lu Jingqing in the business field. They ended up being together. He was good looking and had a pleasant personality¡ªgentle, humble, and low-key. Lu Fu adored him.


    Lu Chixie and his boyfriend, Ling Zhuo, both worked in the entertainment industry. Their family had no bias against this since An Xin herself was a famous actress back then. However, they were public figures and their relationship was not publicly announced, being a same-sex couple. But An Xin liked Ling Zhuo, and their whole family had accepted their relationship.


    Although Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t approve of it.


    Subconsciously, Lu Jingshen believed that such a relationship was unstable, extremely troublesome, and would have negative effects on both of them.


    Therefore, he didn¡¯t support their relationship, although he wouldn¡¯t interfere directly.


    As for himself, he couldn¡¯t control his base desires, but rationally, he didn¡¯t want to accept himself in this way.


    Everyone at the dining table was cheerful and lively, except for Lu Jingshen, who hardly spoke. It was only when Lu Chixie suddenly asked him, ¡°Brother, can I borrow your private jet for a few days?¡±


    He smiled and pointed to himself and Ling Zhuo, saying, ¡°We¡¯re starting our vacation in a couple of days and plan to go to an island nation in the South Pacific.¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Lu Jingqing spontaneously asked, ¡°Can your new assistant fly them too? Isn¡¯t he the pilot of your private jet?¡±


    ¡°What new assistant?¡± Lu Chixie was curious. ¡°Your pilot is your assistant?¡± Lu Jingqing teased, ¡°Brother, are you being stingy? How can one person serve two roles?¡±


    Lu Jingqing continued jokingly, ¡°If you keep talking like this, Shen will think twice about lending you the plane.¡±


    They bantered back and forth, and Lu Jingshen finally said, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him about it.¡±


    With that, the conversation moved on, and there was no further mention of Feng S¨¬. It was evident that Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t intend to discuss the matter with his family.


    Lu Jingshen spent the whole day there. After dinner and a cup of tea with Lu Fu, he drove back to Mingyue Bay.


    There was no one in the house, and Feng S¨¬ hadn¡¯t returned yet.


    He took a shower and looked at some documents on his laptop for a while. When it was past 11 o¡¯clock and he was about to go to sleep, he felt thirsty and got up to pour a glass of water from the dining room¡¯s water dispenser.


    As he turned around, he heard some movement from the entrance¡ªthe sound of Feng S¨¬ opening the door and entering.


    Even without turning on the lights, Lu Jingshen could tell it was Feng S¨¬ getting in. In the darkness, he had a mix of cigarette, alcohol, and perfume scents. He walked towards the dining area.


    The light from outside briefly illuminated the ceiling and walls before disappearing. Feng S¨¬ had already spotted the person standing by the water dispenser, squinting his eyes.


    He walked over, approaching Lu Jingshen in the darkness, and chuckled lightly, ¡°What are you doing here in the middle of the night? Trying to catch someone in the act?¡±


    Lu Jingshen ignored him, coldly remarking, ¡°Don¡¯t mess up the house,¡± before turning and going back to his room.

 CH 10

    On Sunday morning, when Lu Jingshen woke up, Feng Si was on the balcony talking on the phone.


    Feng Si¡¯s tone was gentle, as if coaxing someone. His gaze caught sight of Lu Jingshen coming out, and he smiled, saying, ¡°I have to hang up. It¡¯s time for me to work.¡±


    Lu Jingshen glanced at him briefly and went straight to the dining room to have breakfast.


    Feng Si followed him. He had already taken a shower, and there was a refreshing scent of mint shower gel on him, replacing the unpleasant alcohol odor from the previous night.


    ¡°No workout today?¡± Feng Si sat on a high stool and casually asked the person sitting across from him, who was earnestly eating.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t lift his gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll play basketball later.¡±


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    While Lu Jingshen was halfway through his meal, he suddenly seemed to remember something and asked Feng Si, ¡°Have you done the pre-employment medical examination?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°I did it last month when I joined the private jet company. Do I still need to do it?¡±


    Lu Jingshen furrowed his brow. ¡°Does it include an STD check?¡±


    Feng Si responded, ¡°You mean that? you think I have a questionable personal life and you¡¯re afraid I might have some dirty disease that might be passed on to you?¡±


    Lu Jingshen maintained his composure. ¡°Do you have any?¡±


    Feng Si almost burst out laughing. ¡± you¡¯re worrying too much. I¡¯m perfectly healthy. I didn¡¯t know having a drink or going out with someone could give you a dirty disease.¡±


    He tilted his head, looking at Lu Jingshen with a meaningful gaze. ¡°If you say these things, I might think you¡¯re actually jealous.¡±


    Lu Jingshen ignored him, put down his chopsticks, and changed the subject directly. ¡°After eating, put the utensils in the dishwasher.¡±


    After saying this, he stood up to leave but was stopped as Feng Si grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Feng Si remained seated on the high stool, his long legs casually draped over it. He looked up at Lu Jingshen with a smile. ¡°Did I hit the mark?¡±


    Lu Jingshen calmly asked in return, ¡°Why would I be jealous?¡±


    His eyes were calm and composed, completely different from his almost submissive appearance that night when he was pushed to the extreme.


    Feng Si assessed him, unable to help but wonder how genuine or fake Lu Jingshen¡¯s words were.


    After a brief standoff, Feng Si let go of his hand and mocked, ¡°Oh, so I¡¯m just being delusional.¡±


    Lu Jingshen walked away with large strides.


    At 8:30 a.m., they left together to go to a nearby fitness club. Lu Jingshen often went there when he had free time, but that day was the first time he brought someone along.


    Lu Jingshen played squash while Feng Si sat against the wall behind him, seemingly disinterested.


    As it turned out, when Lu Jingshen said he was going to play basketball, he meant the kind of solo energy release through squash. It didn¡¯t seem strange at all. For Lu Jingshen, perhaps enjoying the time playing squash was the most relaxing time for him.


    Lost in his thoughts, Feng Si considered that Lu Jingshen might have always been like this. Those three months in which he had been involved were probably just an unexpected derailment from his well-planned life.


    ¡°Bang!¡± The ball made a sound as it rebounded and landed. Lu Jingshen bent down, supporting his knees and gasping for breath.


    Feng Si snapped out of his wandering thoughts and looked ahead. Lu Jingshen¡¯s sports shorts clung tightly to him due to his movements, accentuating his alluring waist and hip curves. His legs were straight, with tense calf muscles, showing some slight tremors.


    Feng Si smiled and approached, tapping the ground with his racket, casually teasing, ¡°Is that it? Alex, your stamina seems lacking?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t respond. He walked to the side, drank half a bottle of mineral water, wiped his sweat with a towel, and then walked back.


    Feng Si swung his racket, gesturing towards him. ¡°Shall we play together?¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s start.¡±


    Feng Si served first. He hit the ball forcefully towards the front wall, and it quickly rebounded back. Lu Jingshen reacted swiftly, stepping forward to hit it back with strength. The ball grazed Feng Si¡¯s hand and fell to the ground, but he didn¡¯t catch it.


    Feng Si shrugged. ¡°My hand slipped¡±


    Lu Jingshen remained composed. It was only when Feng Si became serious that he no longer underestimated the person beside him. They played another round.


    They went back and forth, a total of twenty shots.


    Feng Si¡¯s movements were fast and fierce, with tricky angles, as if he intentionally wanted to toy with Lu Jingshen. But LuJingshen calmly received the shots and countered. His skills were slightly better, causing some trouble for Feng S¨¬.


    Both of them were drenched in sweat but still couldn¡¯t determine a winner. In the end, Feng S¨¬ threw his racket, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s stop here and take a break.¡±


    Lu Jingshen returned to the sidelines to get another towel to wipe off his sweat. Feng Si swiftly took a step forward and grabbed the towel from Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand, helping him wipe the damp hair behind his ears.


    Lu Jingshen was momentarily stunned, and Feng Si had succeeded in his little scheme.


    They were standing too close, and the heat radiating from their bodies after the intense exercise was hard to ignore, not to mention Feng Si¡¯s restless hand now gripping Lu Jingshen¡¯s earlobe.


    Feng Si smiled, rose to his feet, and casually remarked, ¡°We¡¯ve been playing for two hours. Shall we go take a shower?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°Hmm.¡±


    There were only three shower stalls in the bathroom, and the innermost one was already occupied. Lu Jingshen took off his shirt and walked into the outermost one. Just as he was about to close the door, Feng Si squeezed in and explained with a smile before Lu Jingshen could furrow his brow, ¡°The middle showerhead is broken.¡±


    Lu Jingshen coldly stated, ¡°You can wait until the other stall is free.¡±


    Feng Si lowered his voice and whispered in his ear, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be finished in a short while. Listen.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s ears suddenly itched, and he was about to push the person away when he suddenly heard other sounds¡ªintense impacts and intermittent gasps and moans¡ªcovered by the sound of water.


    Understanding what it was, Lu Jingshen was instantly speechless.


    By the time he snapped out of it, Feng Si had already locked the shower room door and turned on the water.


    Lu Jingshen leaned against the wall, his whole body soaked, while Feng Si still whispered in his ear, laughing softly, ¡°Alex, would you like to give it a try?¡±


    Lu Jingshen gritted his teeth, devoid of any grace, ¡°Get out.¡±


    But Feng Si wouldn¡¯t listen to him; he forced him to indulge in those vulgar thoughts.


    He grabbed Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand and asked the same question as when they were playing squash, ¡°Do you want to play together?¡±


    Through the mist of water, it was hard to discern Feng Si¡¯s emotions, but Lu Jingshen instinctively felt the danger. Yet, it was as if he had been enchanted. From earlier until now, Feng Si could easily ignite the fire within his body.


    Finally, he mumbled out the same word as before, ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s hand slowly caressed down his toned chest.


    The nearby sounds had stopped at some point, and then footsteps gradually moved away.


    The two of them had no time to spare as they succumbed to their instincts, descending into the abyss of desire.


    It was already noon when they left the club, and they went to a nearby restaurant for lunch.


    While Feng Si was looking at the menu, Lu Jingshen became absent-minded, looking at his own hand. It seemed that the sensation from before still lingered in his palm, furrowing his brows involuntarily.


    Feng Si noticed his actions when he raised his eyes and taunted him, ¡°What are you staring at your hand for? Can you make a flower appear by just staring?¡±


    Lu Jingshen immediately tightened his fingers, but the person across from him still had his gaze fixed on the menu, as if he had made a casual joke.


    Lu Jingshen ignored him, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and gradually calmed his emotions.


    This time, he couldn¡¯t use being drunk as an excuse. Feng Si pleased him, and he pleased Feng Si. He could have refused, but he didn¡¯t. He succumbed to his bodily desires, and perhaps Feng Si did too. They didn¡¯t kiss, and there were no other intimate actions beyond helping each other release. That was all.


    Lu Jingshen lowered his head and looked at his phone. Lu Chi Xie had just sent a message, reminding him about the plane. They were going to use it the day after tomorrow.


    After replying to Lu Chi Xie, Lan Jingshen calmly explained the situation to Feng Si. Feng Si had already finished ordering the dishes and leisurely took a sip of water before speaking again, ¡°you¡¯re lending the plane to someone else and also lending me out?¡±


    Lu Jingshen said indifferently, ¡°Lu Chi Xie and the others are going out to have fun as part of their vacation, and it seems to suit your liking. After all, you also like to have fun.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°It seems like I can¡¯t refuse?¡±


    Lan Jingshen replied, ¡°You can¡¯t.¡±


    Feng Si sneered, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll serve whoever Mr Lu wants me to serve. After all, I¡¯m receiving such a high salary from you.¡±


    Since he had agreed, Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t say anything further. The dishes had been served, so he picked up his chopsticks.


    Feng Si looked at him and suddenly asked, ¡°You just said that the person your younger brother is going out with is his boyfriend? So, your younger brother found a man?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s chopsticks paused, and his voice became muted, ¡°Their relationship has nothing to do with you.¡±


    ¡°It has nothing to do with me, but does it have something to do with you?¡± Feng Si smiled ambiguously. ¡°Your younger brother dares to find a man, why don¡¯t you?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s face turned cold, ¡°My affairs also have nothing to do with you.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°If your affairs have nothing to do with me, then what about us? Are you planning to pretend to be oblivious about what happened in the past?¡±


    That wasn¡¯t the first time Feng Si brought up the past, and Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t avoid answering any longer.


    ¡°¡­ If you insist on bringing up the past, then I¡¯ll make it clear. I didn¡¯t want to tell you my real name and background back then. I thought we were just chance acquaintances, a fleeting encounter. That couldn¡¯t even be considered as breaking up, so there was no need to mention it. I thought someone as carefree as you wouldn¡¯t cling to the past, and you didn¡¯t seem like someone who would still be hung up on the same person after seven years. Bringing up the past now serves no purpose.¡±


    Lu Jingshen spoke more words than usual, but his voice lacked warmth. Feng Si¡¯s eyes turned cold as well, and even a hint of anger appeared in his eyes.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve had a few casual encounters since then?¡±


    Hearing his ambiguous tone, Lu Jingshen became annoyed, ¡°No.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°In the past, it was a casual encounter. What about now? What do we call it now? Friends with benefits?¡±


    After a moment of silence, Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°Think whatever you want.¡±


    Feng Si sneered, ¡°The kind of person who sneaks around in secret and kicks me away when you get bored, is that what you are?¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°What exactly do you want to say?¡±


    ¡°Lu Jingshen,¡± Feng Si pronounced his full name, ¡°I won¡¯t play the same game with you a second time. I will be the one to determine the rules of this game this time.¡±

 CH 11

    The waiter brought the food, and the topic ended there.


    Lu Jingshen frowned, and Feng Si, noticing his reaction, lightly smirked, ¡°What are you so nervous about?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t respond. Since the day he met him again, he had a feeling that Feng Si would cause trouble. He had thought that keeping him by his side would keep him under control, but it turned out that he had overestimated himself and underestimated Feng Si.


    Lu Jingshen vaguely regretted it. His relationship with Feng Si seemed to be sliding in an uncontrollable direction, but he was powerless to stop it.


    Once it stuck to you, you couldn¡¯t shake it off. In fact, he should have realized it from the beginning.


    As if seeing through his thoughts, Feng Si spoke while eating, neither salty nor bland, ¡°No need to be nervous. I don¡¯t have three heads and six arms. I won¡¯t harm you.¡±


    Lu Jingshen blurted out the question he had asked before, ¡°Can you walk out of my life and disappear forever?¡±


    Without waiting for him to regret, Feng Si looked at his thin lips parting and lightly uttered two words, ¡°I can¡¯t.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was completely speechless, lowered his head, and silently ate his food.


    After they finished their meal, Feng Si received a phone call. It was another invitation to go out, and he casually accepted it. After hanging up, he said to Lu Jingshen, ¡°Are you going back home directly ? Is my job done for today? Well, I can see that you¡¯re annoyed by me, so I¡¯ll leave on my own.¡±


    Lu Jingshen hesitated for a moment and asked him, ¡°You¡¯ve only been here for a little over a month, and you already have so many friends?¡±


    ¡°Alex, is this you showing concern for my personal life?¡± Feng Si responded nonchalantly, ¡°How hard is it to make friends? Even if they¡¯re unreliable friends, as long as they can entertain and pass the time, isn¡¯t that enough? Or does Mr Lu think everyone is like you?¡±


    He stood up, and before leaving, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be back before ten tonight.¡±


    Feng Si left, and even after his figure had left the restaurant, Lu Jingshen was still in a daze, inexplicably thinking about Feng Si¡¯s tone and expression when he was talking on the balcony earlier that morning, which furrowed his brows.


    The next day, on Monday morning, Feng Si followed Lu Jingshen to the company as usual and helped with some odd jobs. He left before noon, only saying a quick goodbye to Liu Jie and mentioning that he had something to do in the afternoon and needed time off.


    When Liu Jie entered Lu Jingshen¡¯s office to report on her work, she also reported on Feng Si, mentioning that Feng Si left without waiting for approval after requesting time off. It was the first time Liu Jie had encountered such behavior.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t say a word.


    After the secretary left, Lu Jingshen picked up his phone. Feng Si had sent him a message twenty minutes ago, explaining the reason for his time off. He mentioned that he had to handle some paperwork at the private jet company and also buy some things.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t reply and put down his phone, forcing himself to cast aside those inexplicable thoughts.


    At seven in the evening, Lu Jingshen returned to Mingyue Bay. As soon as he entered, he smelled a pleasant aroma. Feng Si was humming a song in the kitchen, preparing dinner.


    An hour earlier, Lu Jingshen had received another WeChat message from Feng Si, asking him to come back from work on time to have dinner. He didn¡¯t want to respond and ended up being delayed by twenty minutes at the office, but in the end, he came back.


    ¡°Come eat hot pot.¡± Feng Si raised his chin toward Lu Jingshen.


    Lu Jingshen took off his suit jacket and walked over, seeing the steaming hot pot and a table full of ingredients. He asked curiously, ¡°You were born in the UK, how do you know how to make these?¡±


    Feng Si placed the last dish on the table and casually said, ¡°I¡¯m a fake foreigner. Thanks to my mother, I have a Chinese stomach. Unlike you who, after going abroad to a place where no one knows you, insists on pretending to be a real foreigner and even pretends not to understand Chinese.¡±


    Lu Jingshen sat down at the dining table and responded to his grudge with silence.


    Feng Si asked, ¡°Can you eat spicy hot pot? I remember you can handle spice.¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded, and Feng Si casually opened a beer bottle and handed it to him, saying, ¡°Drink this.¡±


    He took a bottle of cola for himself. ¡°I won¡¯t drink. Tomorrow, I have to fly your younger brother.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze paused for a moment, and Feng Si smiled as he handed him the beer can. Lu Jingshen took a sip from it and picked up his chopsticks.


    Afterward, Feng Si set up the projector and randomly chose a movie. They ate while watching the movie, occasionally exchanging a few words, and the atmosphere was relatively harmonious.


    When they finished eating, it was almost nine o¡¯clock. They cleaned up the table together, put the pots and bowls in the dishwasher, and Lu Jingshen prepared to go back to his room to take a shower. But as he turned around, Feng Si grabbed his wrist.


    Feng Si looked at him playfully and said, ¡°Alex, your younger brother and his friends are going out for a week, right? What will you do alone when I¡¯m not here?¡±


    The word ¡°do¡± in his sentence naturally implied something, and Lu Jingshen immediately understood.


    ¡°Do you want me to also help you tonight?¡± Feng Si asked with a smile.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze flickered for a moment, but before he could answer, Feng Si continued, ¡°If you¡¯re not interested, then forget it.¡±


    He let go of Lu Jingshen, deliberately leaving him hanging. ¡°In any case, I know you will always find a way to handle it. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m indispensable.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was taken aback, and Feng Si nonchalantly went to do something else.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze lingered on him for a moment, then turned around and went back to his room.


    Twenty minutes later, Lu Jingshen finished showering and came out to drink water. Feng Si was squatting in the living room, packing his suitcase.


    As Lu Jingshen passed by him, Feng Si suddenly raised his hand, blocking his path and looking up at him from that angle. Lu Jingshen¡¯s brows were slightly furrowed, and with his wet hair hanging down after the shower, he had an unusually gentle appearance. Feng Si chuckled softly.


    Lu Jingshen frowned. ¡°What are you laughing at again?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Feng Si shook his head slightly.


    Before Lu Jingshen could say anything else, Feng Si reached out and grabbed his ankle, which was right in front of his eyes. In that instant, Lu Jingshen¡¯s body tensed, and his calf muscles tightened involuntarily, causing him to tremble. Feng Si¡¯s restless hand began to caress.


    ¡°Let go,¡± Lu Jingshen said in a low voice.


    Feng Si¡¯s fingers pressed against his calf with a not-too-light, not-too-heavy force. He was satisfied to hear Lu Jingshen¡¯s intensified breath and then released him with an air of triumph.


    ¡°You¡¯re still as sensitive as before. Just a casual touch and you look like you are about to give in. Does anyone know how easily you can be taken advantage of?¡± Feng Si said, then raised his hands in surrender before Lu Jingshen could change his expression. ¡°I¡¯m just joking.¡±


    After a brief laugh, he earnestly asked, ¡°Alex, I¡¯ll be leaving tomorrow. Don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡±


    Lu Jingshen asked in return, ¡°What do you want me to say?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°Wish me a safe journey, an early return, or maybe tell me that you¡¯ll miss me¡­¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze shifted around before landing on the sofa, interrupting him. ¡°You dropped your gloves.¡±


    Feng Si glanced at them and said indifferently, ¡°They¡¯re old. I don¡¯t need them anymore. I just bought a new pair today.¡±


    ¡°Well, take your time to pack,¡± Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t say anything more and went to pour himself some water before returning to his room.


    The next morning, when Lu Jingshen got up, Feng Si had prepared breakfast as usual and placed it on the kitchen counter, but he wasn¡¯t there. Lu Jingshen stood in the empty dining room, lost in thought for a moment, and then realized that he had loaned Feng Si out and wouldn¡¯t be back for a week.


    After having breakfast, Lu Jingshen changed his clothes. As he was tying his tie and about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to the living room.


    He stood in front of the mirror, attempting to tie the intricate knot that Feng Si had helped him with the other day. He tried several times but couldn¡¯t get it right.


    Lu Jingshen looked at his slightly unfamiliar self in the mirror and stopped his actions.


    After a while, he closed his eyes and tied his tie back into a simple and orthodox knot.


    When he turned to leave, he saw the pair of gloves lying on the sofa. Lu Jingshen picked them up out of impulse. The dark gray leather gloves were heavily worn and indeed very old.


    Before throwing them in the trash bin, a thought crossed his mind. He involuntarily clenched the gloves in his hand, stood still for two seconds, and then returned to his room, putting the gloves into the bedside table drawer.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    At half-past nine, Feng Si stood by the cabin door with the others to welcome the guests.


    Before the guests arrived, Lin Ling and the others had already excitedly looked outside three or four times. Feng Si chuckled and said, ¡°I must say, isn¡¯t this a bit exaggerated? Haven¡¯t you ever seen Lu Second Young Master before?¡±


    Lin Ling exclaimed, ¡°No! Lu General¡¯s family has other private jets, but this is the first time they have loaned this one to his younger brother. And it¡¯s not just Lu Chixie, but also Lingzuo! It¡¯s Lingzuo!¡±


    The nearby senior pilot couldn¡¯t keep up with the conversation of the young ones. Feng Si tilted his head and thought, ¡°A viral star?¡±


    As soon as Lin Ling finished speaking, the two esteemed guests arrived. The other three immediately stood straight, maintaining a good demeanor and welcoming the guests on board with a smile.


    Only Feng Si, who stood at the back, remained casual, observing the two approaching figures with great interest.


    Amidst the enthusiastic greetings from the flight attendants, Lingzuo politely nodded to them, while Lu Chixie¡¯s gaze directly locked onto Feng Si.


    Feng Si calmly met his gaze, and Lu Chixie gave him a quick once-over, seemingly lost in thought.


    They entered the cabin, and Lu Chixie kept his hand on Lingzuo¡¯s back, not trying to hide their relationship.


    Feng Si shifted his gaze away, feeling even more amused.


    Those two brothers had completely opposite personalities, yet they were blood-related?


    After they sat down, Lingzuo asked Lu Chixie in a low voice, ¡°That young co-pilot from earlier, the one Sister Jingqing mentioned, Lu Jingshen¡¯s new assistant, right? Sister Jingqing specifically asked you to pay attention to him. What did she mean by that?¡±


    Lu Chixie narrowed his eyes for a moment and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s quite interesting.¡±


    At 6:30 PM, Lu Jingshen¡¯s car was still stuck in the busy street during rush hour. He picked up his phone, and ten minutes ago, Lu Chixie sent a WeChat message saying they had arrived and just landed.


    ¡°Bro, that co-pilot of yours, he¡¯s impressive. We went to the cockpit for a visit, and he actually switched to manual mode and flew the plane like a fighter jet. It almost scared the senior pilot next to him to death. But thanks to him, we arrived early and even have time for a late-night snack.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze paused at the words ¡°that co-pilot of yours¡± for a moment, and he didn¡¯t reply.


    Feng Si¡¯s message followed, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived. Finished work. Let¡¯s chat later.¡±


    Lu Jingshen glanced at the time.


    Realizing his own actions, he hesitated for a moment and then pressed his finger.


    In the midst of his exhaustion and irritation, Lu Jingshen put down his phone, closed his eyes, and leaned back in his seat.

 CH 12

    When Feng Si¡¯s WeChat message came in again, Lu Jingshen had just finished showering and came out of the bathroom. He saw the new message that popped up and paused in the middle of drying his hair with a towel.


    Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Lu Jingshen slowly opened the chat interface, only two words: ¡°Sleeping?¡±


    He blankly stared at the screen for a moment, then a sudden video request popped up. Without thinking, he instinctively declined it.


    The other side immediately sent another request. Lu Jingshen hesitated for a moment, then finally accepted it. The screen displayed Feng Si¡¯s carefree and wandering smile. It seemed like he had been drinking, with a noisy and dim bar environment behind him.


    Lu Jingshen furrowed his brow and was about to end the call, but Feng Si said, ¡°Don¡¯t hang up,¡± and turned to speak to someone off the screen in English, ¡°See? I didn¡¯t lie to you. This is my boyfriend.¡±


    Then, a woman¡¯s voice of complaint, mixed with a hint of annoyance, came through. Feng Si laughed softly, and the phone screen shook as he walked out of the bar.


    Lu Jingshen coldly watched him, as Feng Si casually loosened his shirt collar, exuding a more debauched appearance. In a lowered voice with a hint of intoxication, he said, ¡°Are you angry?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your brother,¡± he lazily explained, walking towards the direction of the hotel. ¡°I had dinner with them tonight and then went to the bar for a drink. But they ran away, leaving me alone to deal with those troublesome women. So, I had no choice but to pretend to call my boyfriend. Anyway, they don¡¯t even know you.¡±


    Lu Jingshen remained unmoved. ¡°Are you done talking?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t hang up,¡± Feng Si casually interrupted him. ¡°Alex, your brother and his friend are quite interesting. They spent the whole evening investigating me. They dug into my background, past relationships, everything. What do they want?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t tell them,¡± Feng Si lightly blinked his eyes. ¡°Unless you personally ask me to.¡±


    Lu Jingshen furrowed his brow but didn¡¯t respond to his words.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t mind. ¡°Well, then let me ask you, Alex. Your brother said you¡¯re homophobic. Is that true?¡±


    The person on the screen narrowed his eyes, and Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression darkened slightly.


    Feng Si chuckled softly, ¡°Homophobic, I see. Alright, let¡¯s leave it at that.¡±


    His laughter pierced through the airwaves, gently striking Lu Jingshen¡¯s eardrums. Feng Si was probably really drunk, his gaze a bit blurry, staring straight at him through the phone screen.


    Lu Jingshen was a bit dry-mouthed as he was being stared at by him. Feng Si had already returned to the hotel and entered his room. When he closed the door, his hoarse voice became even more ambiguous: ¡°Alex, did you just take a bath?¡±


    Lu Jingshen was wrapped in a bathrobe, his hair half-dried. There was a hint of sensuality on his handsome face after the hot steam, although he himself was ignorant and unaware.


    He still didn¡¯t speak, and the red hang-up button remained untouched.


    Feng Si walked into the bathroom and began to undress. One by one, he unbuttoned his shirt, and the camera could see his exposed chest. Lu Jingshen watched, and an unconscious lump formed in his throat. He heard the person on the other side call his name.


    ¡°Alex, it¡¯s one in the morning.¡±


    One in the morning, they had once watched the stars together in the desolate wilderness of Africa, using a car engine cover as their seat, indulging in an intimate cuddle.


    Distant memories surfaced clearly in his mind, like an implicit hint. Lu Jingshen mumbled vaguely, ¡°Hmm.¡±


    He could hear the other person¡¯s panting, low and seductive, teasing his nerves relentlessly.


    Although he couldn¡¯t see it, he knew what Feng Si was doing. Feng Si didn¡¯t have a shred of restraint, his drunken eyes fixed on him. The muscles of his shoulders and arms moved, indicating his actions.


    He was still smiling, a smile full of seductive implications. ¡°Alex, do you want to join me?¡±


    Lu Jingshen leaned against the head of the bed, facing the black and shiny eyes filled with intense desire on the phone screen. He also saw himself in the small window next to it, confused and sinking, with the same expression as Feng Si, instinctively unable to look a second time.


    Feng Si¡¯s voice continued to tempt him, ¡°If you want to do it, nobody will know.¡±


    Lu Jingshen swallowed again, slowly opening the bedside drawer next to him and taking out a glove he had put in there in the morning.


    The leather glove was filled with Feng Si¡¯s scent, lingering at his nostrils. Lu Jingshen sensed an unusual excitement in his body, even his fingertips trembled with excitement. His palms were slightly sweaty with warmth as he put the leather glove on his right hand and reached down.


    He didn¡¯t let Feng Si on the other side of the camera see anything from start to finish. When he firmly grasped it, Lu Jingshen let out a heavy gasp, closed his eyes, and tilted his head back.


    The heavy breathing and panting from both ends of the phone gradually intertwined.


    When the video call ended, it had lasted for an hour and a half. From the moment Feng Si left the bar until Lu Jingshen took a second shower.


    In the last frame, Feng Si¡¯s face showed an even more satisfied and pleased expression, along with the rare tenderness of ¡°good night.¡±


    The call was cut off on that end.


    Lu Jingshen was stunned for a moment, then put down the hot phone.


    In the following week, Feng Si occasionally sent one or two messages to Lu Jingshen, saying various things.


    Lu Jingshen never replied, and he didn¡¯t make another call.


    Lu Chixie also sent WeChat messages to Lu Jingshen from time to time, and every sentence was related to Feng Si.


    ¡°Captain Feng went fishing at sea with two beautiful flight attendants today. It¡¯s past sunset and they haven¡¯t come back yet. I guess they¡¯re enjoying a sunset dinner on a yacht.¡±


    ¡°At noon, we ran into Captain Feng at the restaurant. He flirted with three or four female college students on vacation from Europe and made them all fight to pay for him.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s quite impressive. He can talk eloquently about the perfumes, lipsticks, and cosmetics that women use. How many girlfriends has he had in the past?¡±


    ¡°Feng Si went surfing again today and invited a handsome blond guy along. It¡¯s obvious that he likes men, and he¡¯s very enthusiastic about him.¡±


    ¡°He went to a bar to drink with that handsome guy in the evening. I don¡¯t know when they¡¯ll come back.¡±


    ¡­


    ¡­


    Messages like these came almost every day, but Lu Jingshen ignored them all.


    However, Liu Jie keenly noticed that her boss seemed to be in a bad mood recently, and he had started working overtime in the company going home late at night.


    As for the reason, when she walked out of Lu Jingshen¡¯s office and saw the empty desk in the secretary¡¯s office, Liu Jie suddenly realized that it might be related to that person.


    When Lu Chixie sent another message, Lu Jingshen was at a social event. He casually glanced at the phone screen. This time it was a video.


    Five minutes later, he splashed cold water on his face in the restroom and didn¡¯t immediately return to the dining table. He walked into the empty stairwell to catch his breath, took out his phone, hesitated, and then clicked on that video.


    On a makeshift music stage by the seaside, Feng Si was playing the electric guitar.


    He  casually sat on a high stool, plucking the guitar strings absentmindedly. His lazy voice exuded a hint of playfulness and casualness as he sang a song he had sung to Lu Jingshen years ago.


    ¡°Just let me fall


    In your arms like I am a leaf¡±


    That was also in the vast and boundless wilderness of Africa, on a starry midnight. Feng Si held a borrowed old guitar and lightly plucked the strings, using his slightly hoarse voice that had been passionate and lingering to sing it over and over again for him.


    The slightly intoxicated eyes, the lingering murmurs, were like enchanting poppies, tempting him to sink and unable to free himself.


    Lu Jingshen recalled the past, becoming somewhat absent-minded for a moment.


    The thirty-second video quickly finished playing, and Lu Chixie sent another voice message, jokingly saying, ¡°Bro, Lingzhuo says that if Captain Feng decides to switch to the entertainment industry, both of us might end up unemployed.¡±


    He also attached a photo, a candid shot of Feng Si with a teasing look in his eyes. Although his gaze only grazed the camera, it gave Lu Jingshen the feeling of being locked onto.


    Lu Jingshen stared at it blankly, then clicked on the previous video once again.


    After Lu Chixie sent the voice message and casually put down his phone, Lingzhuo nudged him, ¡°Why do you always tease Lu Jingshen about Captain Feng? Did he respond to you? he probably thinks you¡¯re crazy.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Lingzhuo smiled and said, ¡°My brother has a bunch of rules, he¡¯s fussy and a perfectionist. If I told him I want to stay at his place, he might even book a hotel for me and tell me to leave quickly. But Captain Feng, he has smoothly moved into my brother¡¯s single apartment under the guise of being a personal assistant. Why do you think that is? I heard he¡¯s especially audacious in front of my brother. With his personality, my brother is actually willing to keep him by his side, even let him stay at home. Isn¡¯t that unusual?¡±


    Lingzhuo looked doubtful, ¡°Really? So, Lu Jingshen and Captain F¨¥ng, are they really¡­?¡±


    Lu Chixie shrugged and smiled, ¡°Who knows?¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Feng Si¡¯s voice sounded behind them.


    Both Lingzhuo and Lu Chixie turned around, and the charismatic captain stood there with his hands in his pockets. There were lipstick marks on the collar of his shirt, where a woman had seemingly kissed him when he got off stage. He didn¡¯t pay it any mind and asked them again, ¡°What did you guys say about me and Mr Lu?¡±


    Lingzhuo felt a bit embarrassed, while Lu Chixie crossed his arms and playfully asked him, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be asking you that? So, Captain Feng, tell us, what¡¯s the real relationship between you and my brother?¡±


    Feng Si pretended to ponder, looked up at the sparkling night sky, and mysteriously said, ¡°The stars here are quite bright.¡±


    The colors of the starry sky reflected in his eyes, but the brilliance only remained on the surface, while beneath it seemed fleeting and melancholic.


    Lingzhuo noticed it and was slightly surprised, ¡°Captain Feng, you¡­¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze returned to them, still wearing a nonchalant expression, ¡°As for this question, I don¡¯t have the final say. You¡¯ll have to ask your brother.¡±


    As the video played for the third time, Lu Jingshen stood in the dimly lit stairwell, looking at his elongated shadow on the ground, feeling an urge to smoke.


    He reached into his pocket and realized that he had left the cigarette he took on the dining table. After standing there for a moment, he heard Liu Jie¡¯s voice calling for him from the corridor outside. Lu Jingshen snapped back to reality, forced himself to gather his scattered thoughts, and pushed the door open.

 CH 13

    The office.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s coffee had turned cold as he absentmindedly scrolled through his phone. An hour ago, Feng Si sent a message saying ¡°I¡¯ve landed,¡± but there was no follow-up.


    Across from him, the director¡¯s face looked unpleasant as he glared at the documents placed in front of him, remaining silent for a while.


    Lu Jingshen put down his phone, and the coldness in his expression indicated his diminishing patience. ¡°Uncle Wen Zhong, sign the papers. At your age, it¡¯s better to retire and enjoy your later years at home. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that.¡±


    Li Wen Zhong replied sternly, ¡°If you want me to go home, the chairman himself should come and tell me himself.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s voice remained calm, ¡°He hasn¡¯t been feeling well these past few days and needs rest. It¡¯s inconvenient for him to meet people.¡±


    ¡°Do I have to sign this today? What if I refuse?¡±


    Lu Jingshen remained unmoved, ¡°Uncle Wen Zhong, you¡¯ve made enough money selling company assets these past two years. It¡¯s enough for you to live comfortably in your later years. Let¡¯s leave it at that. There¡¯s no need to make it ugly.¡±


    In an instant, Li Wen Zhong¡¯s face turned pale, and Lu Jingshen nodded lightly. ¡°That¡¯s it then.¡±


    After a brief standoff, Li Wen Zhong finally took a step forward, bent down to pick up the pen, quickly signed his name at the end of the document, and then threw the pen down with resentment, gritting his teeth.


    Lu Jingshen signaled to Liu Jie to confirm his signature and ordered, ¡°show Uncle Wen Zhong out.¡±


    Feng Si, dressed in his pilot uniform, appeared at the office door. Liu Jie saw him and looked surprised. Feng Si had just flown back to the country after nearly ten hours on a flight, and yet he came straight to the company without even changing his clothes.


    Feng Si glanced over at Li Wen Zhong¡¯s retreating figure and gestured to Liu Jie, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°The boss made Mr. Li retire early,¡± Liu Jie didn¡¯t go into details and didn¡¯t bother to explain further, busying herself with her own tasks.


    Feng Si furrowed his brows, thinking for a moment. When Li Wen Zhong walked out, he had a clearly visible, gnashing hatred on his face, without any attempt to conceal it.


    Turning around, he pushed the door open and entered. Lu Jingshen was reading through documents, and when he heard the sound, he looked up and saw Feng Si. Without saying a word, Lu Jingshen lowered his gaze back to the papers in his hands.


    Feng Si approached and glanced at the empty coffee cup on his desk, then leaned against the edge of the table, reaching out his hand towards Lu Jingshen.


    Lu Jingshen paused for a moment, and when Feng Si moved his hand away, Lu Jingshen¡¯s right cuff had an additional cufflink, a shimmering and pure blue sapphire.


    ¡°This is for you,¡± Feng S¨¬ said.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze lingered on the cufflink for two seconds before asking him, ¡°Haven¡¯t you gone back home to rest?¡±


    When Feng S¨¬¡¯s body leaned slightly towards Lu Jingshen, he bent over and leisurely fastened another cufflink on the left cuff of Lu Jingshen¡¯s shirt.


    They were standing too close, and Feng S¨¬¡¯s distinct cold aura wafted over, causing Lu Jingshen to feel a slight difficulty in breathing and the urge to avert his gaze.


    However, Feng Si looked up, and their eyes met. The distance between their lips was mere inches, as if their breaths were entwined.


    Lu Jingshen felt as if he were frozen in place, his mind blank, unable to say anything. The air around them seemed to solidify. After a long while, he saw Feng Si smirk and ask, ¡°Alex, why are you staring at me like that?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s throat rolled, and he struggled to regain his voice, ¡°You¡¯re too audacious.¡±


    Feng Si tilted his head, speaking casually, ¡°Is that so?¡±


    But he didn¡¯t move away; his gaze continued to wander audaciously on Lu Jingshen¡¯s face.


    His voice contained a hint of amusement, ¡°Why do you have such a dissatisfied look? Haven¡¯t you taken care of yourself since that night?¡±


    Lu Jingshen frowned. He didn¡¯t want to discuss that topic in the office during broad daylight, but Feng Si wouldn¡¯t let him off the hook, ¡°Alex, did you miss me?¡±


    Seeing Lu Jingshen¡¯s furrowed brows, Feng Si sighed, ¡°I missed you quite a bit.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s tone was firm, ¡°weren¡¯t you busy having dinner and going out to sea with women, and surfing and going to bars with men?¡±


    Feng Si looked slightly surprised, then burst into laughter, ¡°How do you know? Oh, did Young Master Lu tell you? So, you sent someone to monitor me, huh?¡±


    Lu Jingshen moved his eyes indifferently and regained his cold and frosty demeanor.


    Feng Si stared at him for a moment, shrugged casually, and stood up straight.


    Half an hour later, Liu Jie knocked on the door and entered, reminding Lu Jingshen that there was a business cocktail party in the evening and they should leave early to avoid traffic.


    Feng Si flipped through a magazine while leaning on the sofa. After Liu Jie left, he glanced at Lu Jingshen and asked, ¡°Do you have a social engagement tonight?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied coldly, ¡°You can go back first.¡±


    Feng Si responded, ¡°That won¡¯t do. In such a gathering, I must accompany you.¡±


    He threw the magazine aside, lazily got up, and followed Lu Jingshen into the dressing room.


    Lu Jingshen changed into a high-end suit, and Feng Si¡¯s gaze lingered around his waist. He walked up and extended his hands from behind, circling them around Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist. Looking at Lu Jingshen¡¯s displeased face in the mirror, he smirked and used his slender fingers to button up the front buttons of his suit.


    ¡°Wearing such a well-tailored outfit, but in the end, it has to be taken off.¡± He whispered in Lu Jingshen¡¯s ear.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyelashes twitched but he ignored him.


    At half-past five, the car left the company. Feng Si casually asked Liu Jie, ¡°When will the cocktail party end?¡±


    She replied, ¡°It¡¯s hard to say, at least after eight o¡¯clock.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s mouth curled slightly, lacking enthusiasm.


    The venue for the cocktail party was a five-star hotel located a forty-minute drive away. Due to traffic, they arrived at around six-thirty.


    Luxurious cars were frequently entering and leaving the hotel entrance. As soon as they got out of the car, waiters greeted them and led them inside.


    The brightly lit banquet hall was filled with fragrance, and people in elegant attire were mingling and toasting with each other. Men and women held their wine glasses, greeting and toasting to those they knew or wanted to know, engaging in small conversations. By clinking glasses, they established potential business connections.


    Lu Jingshen was one of them. Most of the time, others approached him, and he always maintained a formulaic smile on his face. Neither overly enthusiastic nor cold, he effortlessly handled such occasions.


    Feng Si had been following Lu Jingshen, wearing his pilot uniform with a flight jacket over it. He didn¡¯t fit into that kind of gathering, but he didn¡¯t mind, and no one paid attention to him either.


    Until someone called Lu Jingshen¡¯s name, ¡°Jingshen.¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked at the person approaching him, with a subtly displeased expression.


    Feng Si noticed it and impolitely examined the person. He had a handsome face, wearing a suit similar to Lu Jingshen¡¯s,  a smiling young man.


    He referred to Lu Jingshen as ¡°Jingshen.¡±


    The person stood in front of Lu Jingshen, staring at him intently. ¡°Jingshen, I heard that Shang Xin recently successfully acquired Xinfeng Technology. Congratulations.¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded lightly without much interest. He raised his wine glass, took a sip, shifted his gaze, and focused on something else.


    If the person had any sense, they would read the room and leave.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s gaze stopped at the cuff of Lu Jingshen¡¯s shirt, where a dazzling sapphire cufflink caught his attention.


    It wasn¡¯t Lu Jingshen¡¯s style. Lu Jingshen was always restrained and wouldn¡¯t use such flashy accessories.


    In Jiang Heng¡¯s momentary distraction, a direct voice interrupted his thoughts, ¡°Excuse me, would you step aside, please?¡±


    Only then did Jiang Heng divert some attention to the person beside Lu Jingshen, a person who looked calm, relaxed, and full of warning in his eyes. However, he couldn¡¯t be mistaken for a mere assistant or bodyguard.


    Feng Si stood behind Lu Jingshen, looking at Jiang Heng without smiling, ¡°Do I have to say it again?¡±


    Jiang Heng frowned slightly, showing his displeasure.


    He asked Lu Jingshen, ¡°Jingshen, can I talk to you privately?¡±


    Lu Jingshen ignored him, turned his head to discuss something with Liu Jie. After an awkward silence, he quietly said, ¡°Sorry,¡± and finally left.


    Shortly after, another group of people came to toast Lu Jingshen. Feng Si pulled Liu Jie back a step and asked, ¡°Who was that just now?¡±


    Liu Jie coughed lightly, ¡°He¡¯s the CEO of Chuanrong Electronics, named Jiang Heng.¡±


    Feng Si questioned, ¡°What¡¯s the relationship between him and your boss?¡±


    Liu Jie shook her head slightly, clearly indicating that she didn¡¯t intend to say.


    Feng Si said, ¡°He publicly declared his feelings for your boss, making it difficult for your boss to face him. Did they break off their friendship afterward?¡±


    Liu Jie was shocked, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    Of course, it was disclosed by Lu Chixia.


    That day, Lu Chixia mentioned that his brother was disgusted by homosexuality. He casually mentioned that there was a childhood friend who suddenly confessed his feelings to his brother when they were together, and everyone around them started teasing. His brother¡¯s face turned cold on the spot, and he left directly. Not only did he break off contact with that friend, but he also never attended any gatherings of that circle afterward.


    Liu Jie knew all that because Jiang Heng had come to apologize several times afterwards. But Lu Jingshen insisted on cutting ties with him, and Liu Jie accidentally overheard that information.


    ¡°So, my brother really dislikes gay people. He even opposed it when I was with Ling Zuo.¡±


    That¡¯s what Lu Chixia said.


    ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t entertain any improper thoughts towards our boss. Be careful not to get kicked out.¡± Liu Jie said, almost biting her tongue.


    Feng Si remarked, ¡°So, Lu Jingshen also has social interactions apart from business engagements?¡±


    Liu Jie replied irritably, ¡°Our boss doesn¡¯t live in a vacuum!¡±


    Feng Si didn¡¯t bother with her anymore. His gaze fell on Lu Jingshen, who was conversing with others, his lips slowly opening and closing.


    As he spoke, he occasionally took a sip of wine, and the deep red liquid stained his lips, entering his mouth and slowly sliding down along the movement of his Adam¡¯s apple.


    Not only his lips, but also the corners of his eyes and eyebrows seemed to be tainted with the intoxicating color of wine.


    Feng Si watched intently and also raised his wine glass, pouring the same wine as Lu Jingshen¡¯s into his mouth.


    He swallowed slowly, along with the sweetness and intoxication.

 CH 14

    At eight-thirty, as the cocktail party was coming to an end, Lu Jingshen glanced at his wristwatch and decided to leave.


    Before leaving, he went to the restroom while Feng Si waited in the corridor outside, diligently fulfilling his duty as a personal bodyguard.


    As long as he didn¡¯t casually light a cigarette and his posture leaning against the wall wasn¡¯t overly casual.


    When the CEO of Chuanrong Electronics appeared within Feng Si¡¯s field of vision, he had just placed the cigarette in his mouth.


    Jiang Heng¡¯s gaze fell upon him, but Feng Si casually averted his eyes, unwilling to engage. However, Jiang Heng walked over and asked him, ¡°Is Mr. Lu in the restroom?¡±


    Feng Si took two puffs of his cigarette, flicking off the ash, and a flicker of fire danced upon it. He casually put it out  in the nearby ashtray, nonchalantly replying, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Jiang Heng frowned, displeased with his attitude. ¡°Are you Mr. Lu¡¯s assistant or bodyguard?¡±


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow as he looked at Jiang Heng, a hint of ambiguity in his smile. ¡°If you must know, both. The kind that stays by his side for twenty-four hours.¡±


    Jiang Heng¡¯s face stiffened slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that Mr. Lu dislikes the smell of smoke? Especially when someone smokes around him, other than during formal occasions?¡±


    Feng Si leisurely responded, ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡±


    Lu Jingshen had already come out of the restroom, but he pretended not to see Jiang Heng¡¯s presence and gestured to Feng Si, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Jingshen,¡± Jiang Heng called him, repeating the words he had said earlier at the venue, ¡°Can we speak privately?¡±


    Lu Jingshen stopped in his tracks and coldly replied, ¡°If you have something to say, say it here.¡±


    Jiang Heng looked at Feng Si, and Feng Si crossed his arms, saying, ¡°Sorry, being by his side means not leaving his side. If the boss doesn¡¯t leave, I won¡¯t leave either.¡±


    He was being audacious and overbearing, but Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t stop him. Jiang Heng¡¯s expression turned ugly, and he could only muster the courage to speak, ¡°I didn¡¯t consider it well during that incident. I shouldn¡¯t have deceived you and publicly said those things, nor should I have arranged such a grand scene for everyone to tease you, embarrassing you. I¡­¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to say these things,¡± Lu Jingshen interrupted him. ¡°I understand you¡¯re sorry, no need to repeat it. The previous incident won¡¯t affect the cooperation between Shang Xin and Chuanrong.¡±


    Jiang Heng asked, ¡°And what about our relationship? Are we still friends?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied calmly, ¡°In business matters, I still rely on Chairman Jiang.¡±


    As for private matters, Lu Jingshen had made up his mind to draw clear boundaries and wouldn¡¯t change his mind.


    After finishing his words, he turned his head towards Feng Si and gestured, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Feng Si cast one last glance at the lost and dejected Jiang Heng before turning and following behind.


    When they returned to Mingyue Bay, while riding the elevator upstairs, Feng Si suddenly raised his hand and lightly tapped the elevator wall.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze lightly swept over him, and Feng Si casually asked, ¡°So, Mr. Lu has gotten confession from men before, huh?¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned his gaze away and didn¡¯t respond to his words.


    Feng Si lowered his eyes and smiled, a self-deprecating expression on his face.


    Lu Jingshen allowed him to stay by his side probably because he was nothing more than a former sexual partner. If it came to a real emotional connection, Lu Jingshen would probably immediately disown him, just like with Jiang Heng.


    As soon as they entered the apartment, without waiting for Lu Jingshen to turn on the lights, Feng Si reached out and forcefully pulled him.


    Caught off guard, Lu Jingshen was pushed against the wall, and Feng Si¡¯s breath approached, gripping his right wrist and caressing the cufflink. Then his touch reached the sensitive veins on the inner side of Lu Jingshen¡¯s wrist, stroking back and forth.


    In the faint light coming from the living room, Lu Jingshen could clearly see Feng Si¡¯s eyes fixed on him. Under his playful and mocking demeanor, there was a strong possessiveness that made him feel alarmed, surging within the depths of Feng Si¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Stop¡­¡±


    He had barely uttered this word when the following sound turned into an uncontrollable gasp. Lu Jingshen stared at Feng Si, astonished that this bastard had pressed down on him through his suit pants, directly touching him.


    Feng Si¡¯s breath fell close to his ear, asking the same question he had asked in the afternoon, ¡°Alex, did you touch yourself while I was away this week?¡±


    Lu Jingshen closed his eyes with difficulty, refusing to answer him. But in response, Feng Si¡¯s actions became even more intense.


    Lu Jingshen tried to capture that wandering hand, but Feng Si didn¡¯t allow it. He casually removed Lu Jingshen¡¯s tie and bound his wrists together.


    Before Lu Jingshen could react, Feng Si bent down and lifted him onto his shoulder.


    Although Lu Jingshen was 184 cm tall, he had a slender figure with low body fat and was relatively lightweight. Feng Si carried him almost effortlessly.


    Throwing Lu Jingshen onto the sofa in the living room, before Lu Jingshen could struggle to sit up, Feng Si had pounced on him, forcefully parting his legs with his knees and pressing Lu Jingshen¡¯s bound hands against his head, looking down at him.


    Although Lu Jingshen might have been a little angry, his furrowed brows betrayed him. However, the evident bulge in his pants couldn¡¯t be ignored, leaving him caught between ice and fire.


    Being so unrestrainedly tied up by Feng Si, exposing all his vulnerabilities to him, Lu Jingshen felt extremely embarrassed.


    This embarrassment was far worse than being publicly teased and confessed to. However, Feng Si who dominated him had already known his body inside and out seven years ago. In front of Feng Si, he couldn¡¯t possibly hide any instinctive reactions.


    When Feng Si restrained him again, Lu Jingshen gasped heavily. Struggling to raise his head, he found himself unable to move it forward, but his eyes, clouded by desire, reflected the neon lights coming in from outside, causing dizziness. His hands, still bound together, unconsciously pulled on Feng Si¡¯s hair.


    He paused and looked up at him. Lu Jingshen deepened his gaze, his hands already around his neck, looking back at him eagerly.


    Feng Si curved his lips and asked, ¡°Do you want it?¡±


    He then whispered next to his ear, ¡°You satisfy me first.¡±


    At half past ten, Feng Si cooked supper shirtless in the kitchen. Lu Jingshen leaned against the wall by the kitchen counter, looking at him, lost in thought.


    The scent of desire in the air was gradually covered by the aroma of noodles. Lu Jingshen deep breathed a sigh of relief, his tense body slowly relaxing.


    Just a while ago, he succumbed to the instincts of his body. Feng Si used his hands, and he was forced to use his legs. Feng Si did it intentionally, tearing off his disguise in this way, effortlessly.


    In Lu Jingshen¡¯s previous gaze, the loosened tie had slipped from his wrist and swayed around Feng Si¡¯s waist. He closed his eyes and dared not look anymore.


    His legs still trembled slightly, and he could only lean against the wall, struggling to stay steady.


    Lu Jingshen closed his eyes again, unable to shake off the hot sensation. The heat in his body didn¡¯t diminish much; instead, it intensified. The man clearly knew it but had no intention of giving him what he wanted.


    Feng Si came over with two bowls of cooked noodles and called out to him, ¡°Alex, what are you daydreaming about?¡±


    Lu Jingshen opened his eyes, facing Feng Si¡¯s teasing gaze.


    He was the only one feeling embarrassed and conflicted.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I satisfy you just now?¡± Feng Si asked with a suggestive tone, implying something. Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t want to answer him and walked to the side of the kitchen counter.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t mind. It was deliberate on his part. Lu Jingshen wanted more, but he withheld. Unless Lu Jingshen took the initiative to ask him.


    Lu Jingshen sat down and silently ate his food.


    Feng Si picked at his noodles absentmindedly, his gaze always on him. Suddenly, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t you dislike people smoking around you?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand holding the chopsticks twitched slightly, then he casually replied, ¡°No.¡±


    While speaking, he never lifted his eyes to look at Feng Si, seemingly focused on eating.


    Feng Si narrowed his eyes and thought seriously about how it used to be. Every time he smoked, Lu Jingshen never said he disliked it. Instead, he would stare at him with an alluring gaze, and many times he would put out the cigarette and lean in to kiss Lu Jingshen.


    Three confusing and indulgent months, he wondered how much Lu Jingshen still remembered.


    Lu Jingshen finished his last bite and looked up, meeting Feng Si¡¯s intense gaze fixed on him. Instinctively, he avoided it and said, ¡°Take your time to eat.¡±


    Just as he was about to get up, Feng Si nodded towards his seat with his chin. ¡°It¡¯s still early, sit down and finish eating with me. After all, I made supper.¡±


    Lu Jingshen hesitated for a moment but eventually sat back down.


    Feng Si ate his food, making small talk. ¡°Are the noodles I cooked delicious?¡±


    Lu Jing deep mumbled, ¡°Mm.¡±


    Feng Si helplessly said, ¡°Lu, even if you say a few nice words to praise me, what difference would it make?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t know what to say, so he remained silent. Feng Si sighed, ¡°Well, I¡¯m just being presumptuous again.¡±


    Lu Jingshen just ignored him and lowered his head to look at his phone.


    After finishing supper and returning to the room, Lu Jingshen picked up his scattered suit and shirt from the floor of the living room without saying a word and went into his room.


    A few minutes later, Feng Si knocked on the door. Lu Jingshen was planning to take a shower and asked impatiently, ¡°Is there something else you want?¡±


    Feng Si clicked his tongue. ¡°You change your attitude so quickly after having fun.¡±


    He  looked at him and said, ¡°Just say what you want.¡±


    Feng Si shook the thing in his hand and said, ¡°I bought this aromatherapy from abroad. I sense you have trouble sleeping Give it a try.¡±


    Lu Jingshen reached out to take it and was about to close the door when Feng Si stopped it with his hand. ¡°Let me open it for you.¡±


    His tone was unusually serious, and there was a hint of tenderness. He pushed Lu Jingshen into the room.


    When Lu Jingshen snapped back to reality, Feng Si was already standing by his bedside, opening the aromatherapy box and lighting it on the nightstand.


    After doing all this, Feng Si¡¯s gaze suddenly paused as he noticed the pair of old gloves next to him. He raised an eyebrow unexpectedly and asked Lu Jingshen, ¡°What are you doing with the gloves I threw out?¡±


    Lu Jingshen calmly explained, ¡°You left them on the sofa outside, and the cleaning staff thought they were mine, so they put them here for me.¡±


    Feng Si smiled and said, ¡°Oh.¡±


    But his expression clearly indicated disbelief.


    ¡°Since they¡¯re here, just keep them for yourself, Alex.¡±


    The aroma of the aromatherapy had already filled the room. The sweet fragrance of flowers carried a hint of an intriguing and ambiguous atmosphere in the silent air.


    Lu Jingshen avoided Feng Si¡¯s gaze.


    Although he pretended to be calm, the unease in his eyes didn¡¯t escape Feng Si¡¯s eyes. Feng Si just smiled and didn¡¯t expose him. ¡°Go take a shower. I won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡±


    Once Feng Si left, Lu Jingshen locked the door again, returned to the bedside, smelled the faint fragrance, and picked up the pair of gloves.


    After tightening his grip for a moment and briefly losing himself, he opened the drawer and put the gloves back inside.

 CH 15

    The next day, Lu Jingshen unusually woke up late and opened his eyes after half past seven.


    Feng Si came over and knocked on the door, then directly entered the closet and helped him choose a tie while he was changing.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t sleep well last night?¡± Feng Si asked, his brows furrowed. His gaze glanced over, and he said, ¡°Alex, can¡¯t you handle it? Isn¡¯t it a fact that one sleeps better after releasing their sexual tension? Why are you experiencing insomnia instead?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied calmly, ¡°Your aromatherapy doesn¡¯t work.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s my fault,¡± Feng Si walked over and stood behind him. He compared a chosen tie in front of him and said satisfied, ¡°This one will do.¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked up and met his eyes in the mirror. Feng Si smiled and threw a flirtatious look at his reflection.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze flickered slightly as Feng Si quickly tied his tie for him.


    That day, Feng Si used a different knotting method, not as fancy but something Lu Jingshen had never tried before.


    In the end, Feng Si placed both hands on his shoulders, looking at their reflection in the mirror and curving his lips.


    The somewhat intimate atmosphere made Lu Jingshen feel uncomfortable. He turned away and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    In the office, Liu Jie, as usual, had someone bring coffee to Lu Jingshen. Feng Si, who came along, saw it and reached out to take it. ¡°I¡¯ll have this instead. Our boss has trouble sleeping, so don¡¯t give him coffee anymore.¡±


    Seeing that Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t object, Liu Jie couldn¡¯t be bothered to say anything either. After all, their boss always indulged Feng Si in particular.


    Liu Jie reported on the day¡¯s work to Lu Jingshen, mentioning an invitation letter for a technology cooperation and investment trade negotiation meeting in Northern Europe next Thursday. She asked Lu Jingshen if he would personally attend or send someone else.


    Lu Jingshen pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±


    Liu Jie nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll make the arrangements.¡±


    After she left, Feng Si walked over to Lu Jingshen¡¯s side and casually asked, ¡°Going to Europe next week?¡±


    Lu Jingshen responded, ¡°Yes, you should prepare as well.¡±


    Feng Si didn¡¯t have much to prepare. Flying a plane was as easy as eating for him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired? Do you want to go on vacation?¡±


    Lu Jingshen frowned, ¡°You just came back from vacation, and now you want to go on another one?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m talking about you,¡± Feng Si reminded him. ¡°You rely on coffee every day to keep going, and then you can¡¯t sleep at night. Is that a healthy way to live? Why not take a vacation in Europe and relax? What¡¯s wrong with that?¡±


    With his hands clasped together behind his desk, Lu Jingshen absentmindedly rubbed his fingers, hesitating.


    Feng Si leaned forward and lightly touched his long, dark lashes, feeling their constant trembling. ¡°I heard that you go on vacation alone in Europe for a week every year?¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned his face away in annoyance. ¡°Who told you that?¡±


    Feng Si withdrew his hand. ¡°Well, I heard it. I thought you never took a break throughout the year. So you do give yourself a vacation. How about taking me with you this time?¡±


    Lu Jingshen asked irritably, ¡°Why should I take you with me?¡±


    ¡°In that case, let me put it differently,¡± Feng Si said nonchalantly. ¡°You go on vacation, and I, as your personal bodyguard, accompany you to fulfill my duties. How about that?¡±


    There was a moment of silence before Lu Jingshen said, ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡±


    The topic ended there, and Feng Si stayed in Lu Jingshen¡¯s office for half an hour. When people came to report work to Lu Jingshen one after another, he would leave the office and pass the time in the secretary¡¯s office.


    Around ten o¡¯clock, Lu Qing hurriedly arrived, ignoring everyone else and going straight into Lu Jingshen¡¯s office. Feng Si saw her hurried figure and followed after her.


    Lu Qing entered, and Lu Jingshen raised his head from the documents. expressionless, he asked her, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Lu Qing approached his desk in anger and asked, ¡°Did you force Uncle Wen Zhong to retire early? Specifically, choosing those two days when I was away on a business trip?¡±


    ¡°Dad knows,¡± Lu Jingshen explained. ¡°I talked to him, and he agreed.¡±


    ¡°Was it on Mom¡¯s birthday? You came back early just to tell Dad about this?¡±


    Lu Qing almost immediately realized and became more angry. ¡°You all knew, and you kept it from me?¡±


    Lu Jingshen handed her a document, containing evidence of the illegal profits made by Li Wen Zhong over the years in the company. It took several months to investigate and gather all the evidence.


    ¡°I originally wanted to report it to the police, but Dad said to let it go because of his past contributions. It¡¯s better not to make it a big deal.¡±


    Lu Qing stopped flipping through the document after two pages. ¡°What I¡¯m asking is why you didn¡¯t tell me. Do you think I¡¯m not trustworthy, that I would favor him and stop you?¡±


    Lu Jingshen explained earnestly, ¡°I was worried that he would use you and didn¡¯t want you to get involved.¡±


    Lu Qing felt both angry and helpless. ¡°You just don¡¯t believe in me. Although I¡¯m closer to him, we¡¯re still family, aren¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that,¡± Lu Jingshen shook his head slightly.


    After Lu Qing left, Feng Si followed her as before, standing outside the office.


    Lu Qing didn¡¯t want to pay attention to him, but Feng Si took the initiative to stop her. ¡°President, I think Mr Lu doesn¡¯t distrust you. There¡¯s no need to be angry with him.¡±


    Lu Qing was somewhat annoyed. ¡°How do you know? Did he tell you?¡±


    Feng Si smiled. ¡°Just a gut feeling.¡±


    ¡°Intuition?¡±


    Feng Si nodded. ¡°Yes, he loves you as his sister. President, don¡¯t misunderstand him.¡±


    Lu Qing scrutinized him and suddenly asked, ¡°Do you think you know him so well?¡±


    ¡°Rather than knowing him, I trust my intuition.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s arrogant tone made Lu Qing very displeased. Remembering what she saw in her brother¡¯s office just now, Lu Jingshen wore the tie their mother gave him for his last birthday, a dazzling rose red. It should have been his first time wearing it, and he tied it in a different way.


    Although she came to question him, she noticed the changes in Lu Jingshen, which could only be because of Feng Si in front of her, his cohabitant.


    Lu Qing¡¯s expression darkened slightly, and she warned him, ¡°Remember your place and don¡¯t have any inappropriate thoughts towards Ah Shen.¡±


    Feng Si felt more amused. The siblings were truly like twins, even their words were the same.


    After Lu Qing left, he turned around and went to find Liu Jie in the secretary¡¯s office.


    ¡°How many days is the boss¡¯ trip to Europe for the conference?¡±


    Liu Jie was instructing her assistant to plan the itinerary and casually replied, ¡°It will take about four or five days, plus the travel time, so at least a week.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°Give me a copy of his schedule for the second half of the month. Any work that can be postponed should be postponed, and for the ones that can¡¯t, you figure out a solution. Don¡¯t assign any work to him until the end of the month.¡±


    Liu Jie: ¡°Huh?¡±


    Feng Si: ¡°the boss plans to take a vacation over there. He won¡¯t be back until the end of the month.¡±


    Liu Jie couldn¡¯t believe it. Going on vacation at this time?


    It was true that Lu Jingshen would take a week off for himself every year, but it wasn¡¯t usually at the busiest time. And every time, he would plan the work in advance, never suddenly deciding to push everything aside and be away for half a month.


    Liu Jie¡¯s head was spinning. ¡°But with so many things, how can I handle them without the boss being here?¡±


    ¡°Liu Secretary,¡± Feng Si patted her shoulder. ¡°I heard you wanted to be transferred to a subsidiary company as a general manager and come back for a promotion. Now it¡¯s time to show your work capabilities.¡±


    Liu Jie immediately stopped complaining. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll see what I¡¯ll do. I will handle it.¡±


    Feng Si reminded her with a smile, ¡°For matters you can¡¯t decide, you can discuss them with the president.¡±


    Before Liu Jie could frown, Feng Si continued, ¡°It¡¯s all for the company and the boss won¡¯t have any objections. You still haven¡¯t grasped your boss¡¯s thoughts well enough. Keep working hard.¡±


    Liu Jie widened her eyes, and after Feng Si finished his instructions, he waved his hand and returned to Lu Jingshen¡¯s office.


    As he pushed the door open, Lu Jingshen lifted his gaze upon hearing the footsteps.


    ¡°Just had an argument with your sister?¡± Feng Si walked up to him.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t respond and glanced at the time. He put away the documents in his hand, and when he stood up, perhaps due to the aftermath of last night, his legs trembled for a moment. Subconsciously, he leaned on the desk for support.


    Feng Si approached him, extending his hand to support him.


    Feng Si pushed him back into his seat and leaned against the desk, looking at him. ¡°Do you know what the president said to me before leaving?¡±


    Lu Jingshen raised his chin slightly, signaling him to speak directly.


    ¡°She said,¡± Feng Si¡¯s lips curled up with a playful smile, ¡°to remember my place and not have any inappropriate thoughts about you.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression stiffened slightly, but Feng Si acted as if he hadn¡¯t seen it. ¡°Alex, why is it that your sister and your secretary both think I have ulterior motives toward you?¡±


    Lu Jingshen coldly replied, ¡°I should be asking you that¡±


    ¡°Well, I admit I do,¡± Feng Si candidly admitted, ¡°but I¡¯m curious. Your younger brother talks about his boyfriend, and your sister approves of it. Why does your sister look so guarded when it comes to you?¡±


    Lu Jingshen tensed his face and didn¡¯t want to answer that question.


    Feng Si asked, ¡°Are you angry?¡±


    Seeing Lu Jingshen frown again, he said, ¡°Give me your hand.¡±


    He didn¡¯t move, but Feng Si directly grabbed his right hand, pressing their palms together and quickly rubbing past it.


    A fleeting surprise flashed in Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes as a rose appeared in his hand, seemingly conjured out of nowhere by Feng Si.


    ¡°The secretary outside received flowers from her boyfriend, so I asked her to give me one.¡±


    Feng Si explained with a smile.


    ¡°¡­ Were you doing magic just now?¡± Lu Jingshen asked somewhat uncertainly.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a little trick,¡± Feng Si proudly said. ¡°Is it interesting?¡±


    Lu Jingshen was somewhat absent-minded. He knew Feng Si could do these things. It was the same in the past. He always unexpectedly pulled out some small gadgets to amuse him, satisfying himself when he saw Lu Jingshen¡¯s surprised expression.


    Returning to his senses, he stood up and inserted the rose back into Feng Si¡¯s chest pocket. Feng Si¡¯s composed gaze showed a slight ripple, seemingly surprised as well.


    Lu Jingshen said casually, ¡°Keep the gifts given to you by others for yourself.¡±


    After saying that, he left first and went to the meeting outside.


    Feng Si lowered his gaze to the vibrant red rose in his pocket, smiled, and then turned around to follow.

 CH 16

    On the way to the airport, Lu Jingshen took the schedule for his trip to Europe after flipping through the flat panel. When he saw the blank space for the next half of the month, he furrowed his brow slightly, not remembering what was planned.


    The vacation was Feng Si¡¯s idea. Afterward, Liu Jie came to consult Lu Jingshen, and in the end, he didn¡¯t object, so it was decided.


    During the following week, Lu Jingshen had been coordinating and arranging the work for the future. Although he didn¡¯t show much on his usually serious face, Liu Jie keenly noticed that her boss had been in a good mood lately.


    In the past, when Lu Jingshen went on vacation each year, he never seemed this happy.


    He always traveled alone, not allowing anyone to accompany him, but this time he brought an assistant.


    Liu Jie shook her head. No matter how much she thought, she couldn¡¯t figure it out. It was her boss¡¯s private matter, and it was better not to expend too much effort trying to pry into it.


    Twenty minutes later, Lu Jingshen sat in the lounge of the executive terminal, seeing Feng Si who had come to the airport an hour earlier to make preparations.


    Just like the previous time, he supervised the refueling process alone on the tarmac, unaffected by the wind that blew up his pilot¡¯s shirt, his posture lazy and carefree.


    With a pen cap between his teeth, he took the refueling receipt handed to him by the ground crew, signed his name with a quick stroke.


    Returning the refueling receipt, Feng Si looked up and thanked the personnel. As he took the pen back and put it in his pocket, his gaze unconsciously swept toward the direction of the terminal building.


    Although he knew that the people outside couldn¡¯t see through the glass curtain wall, Lu Jingshen still instinctively avoided his gaze.


    After takeoff, Lu Jingshen ate something casually and rested in the bedroom.


    In the early morning hours, he had another bout of insomnia. He came out to ask Liu Jie for the flat panel to pass the time by looking at some documents.


    Ten minutes later, a flight attendant knocked on the door and quietly told him that Captain Feng invited him to the cockpit.


    Lu Jingshen appeared, and Feng Si turned back and smiled at him, gesturing for him to sit behind himself.


    ¡°Look outside.¡±


    Lu Jingshen raised his eyes and saw the splendid and magnificent colors ahead, bursting freely under the infinite black backdrop. The colors were vibrant and ever-changing, reflecting in his slightly astonished eyes.


    It was the aurora, pouring like a galaxy, exquisitely beautiful.


    Their plane was like a flat boat, meandering below, with endless glaciers beneath.


    Lu Jingshen stared for a moment, then heard Feng Si¡¯s voice asking, ¡°Is it beautiful?¡±


    He withdrew his gaze, and Feng Si was looking back at him with a smile, with the colors of the aurora reflected in their eyes.


    Lu Jingshen quietly looked back, feeling a subtle touch in his heart, and remained silent for a while.


    The old captain on the side sighed casually, ¡°It¡¯s been so many years since I last saw the aurora. We rarely fly the Arctic route.¡±


    ¡°I used to see it quite often,¡± Feng Si said, ¡°I spent half a year on this side of Northern Europe before.¡±


    The old captain curiously asked him, ¡°Did you fly planes for the Nordic people?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°Yes, because someone said they wanted to come here to see the aurora.¡±


    He had a carefree smile on his face and didn¡¯t even look back at Lu Jingshen when he said this.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyelashes trembled slightly. He knew the person Feng Si was referring to was him.


    He did say before that if he had time, he wanted to see the aurora.


    In the end, it came true, but it was seven years later.


    Lu Jingshen stood up, and Feng Si called out to him, ¡°Don¡¯t want to look anymore?¡±


    Lu Jingshen shook his head slightly.


    ¡°It¡¯s only seven o¡¯clock in the morning local time in Norway, still early,¡± Feng Si reminded him, ¡°Go back to sleep for a while, we¡¯ll arrive soon.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze lingered on his face for a moment, and Feng Si smiled again before he turned.


    The plane landed at the capital airport in Norway at ten in the morning.


    Lu Jingshen ended up sleeping for another two hours. He still felt a bit groggy.


    As he exited, Feng Si, standing by the cabin door, reached out and supported his waist, whispering in his ear, ¡°Mr Lu, watch your step and don¡¯t fall asleep while walking.¡±


    Lu Jingshen ignored him and quickly stepped off the plane.


    After arriving at the hotel, Liu Jie asked Lu Jingshen if he wanted to eat something. Lu Jingshen declined and asked not to be disturbed, going straight to his room.


    He wanted to sleep some more, but lying on the bed, he couldn¡¯t find sleep. Half an hour later, someone knocked on the door. It was not surprising that it was Feng Si.


    Feng Si arrived half an hour late from the airport, went to the hotel, asked Liu Jie for Lu Jingshen¡¯s room number, and came up directly, completely ignoring Liu Jie¡¯s words ¡°Don¡¯t disturb the boss.¡±


    ¡°I knew you couldn¡¯t sleep, so I¡¯m here to keep you company.¡± Without waiting for Lu Jingshen¡¯s refusal, he had already squeezed into the room.


    The room was well-heated, and Feng Si took off his flight jacket and casually threw it on the sofa, then gestured to Lu Jingshen, ¡°You go back to sleep inside, I¡¯ll lie here on the sofa for a while.¡±


    ¡°You can go to your own room.¡± Lu Jingshen frowned.


    Feng Si replied, ¡°The heating is broken.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep much on the plane either.¡±


    He sat down on the sofa, lying down directly, with one arm over his eyes, clearly showing signs of exhaustion.


    As for the excuse he used, only he knew if it was true or false.


    Lu Jingshen hesitated whether to urge him to leave, but Feng Si¡¯s other hand reached out and grabbed his wrist.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t move, still covering his eyes with his hand, and didn¡¯t let go of Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go inside, you can stay here and sleep with me.¡±


    ¡°Do you have to sleep here?¡± Lu Jingshen asked.


    Feng Si turned his head, his arm moved to his forehead, and he looked at him from the corner of his eye, saying, ¡°why? do you want to invite me to sleep with you in your bedroom?¡±


    As he spoke, his thumb stopped on a vein on the inner side of Lu Jingshen¡¯s wrist, gently rubbing it.


    Lu Jingshen withdrew his hand, threw out the words ¡°You can sleep here but don¡¯t disturb me,¡± and went back to his room.


    Feng Si¡¯s arm returned to covering his eyes, a smile appeared on the corner of his lips, and he chuckled silently.


    Lu Jingshen closed the bedroom door, lay back on the bed, and the tension in his mind gradually relaxed, finally falling asleep.


    He woke up at two in the afternoon, and the person on the sofa in the living room was no longer there.


    While getting ready, he saw a WeChat message from Feng Si half an hour ago.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go downstairs to the restaurant first, get some food, and bring some back for you.¡±


    Ten minutes later, Lu Jingshen walked into the restaurant and saw Feng Si first. He was lazily leaning back in his chair, eating and chatting with someone.


    The person sitting across from him was one of the flight attendants from Lu Jingshen¡¯s private plane.


    Lu Jingshen thought for a moment but couldn¡¯t remember her name.


    Feng Si glanced up and his gaze fell on Lu Jingshen. Lu Jingshen walked over, and Feng Si smiled and asked, ¡°Up already? Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯ll bring the food up for you? Why did you come down on your own? Have a seat.¡±


    As he spoke, he pulled out the seat next to him.


    Lin Ling vaguely felt that Feng Si¡¯s tone was somewhat ambiguous, and her gaze met Lu Jingshen¡¯s cold expression. She felt that she might have been overthinking and sat up straight, feeling a bit restrained. It was her first time having a meal with Lu Jingshen.


    Fortunately, Lu Jingshen¡¯s attention was not focused on her at all. He sat down, ordered his meal, and didn¡¯t say a word.


    Feng Si seemed to be completely indifferent to the presence of the boss by his side. He leisurely ate his food and continued chatting with Lin Ling.


    Lin Ling hesitated for a moment, and then continued the interrupted conversation, ¡°There will be a music festival here tonight. I asked my friends here to reserve tickets in advance. Feng Captain, do you have time to go together?¡±


    Feng Si curiously asked her, ¡°I heard that tickets for that music festival are quite difficult to get. Even the locals can¡¯t necessarily buy them, right?¡±


    Lin Ling nodded, ¡°My friend happened to have a connection and managed to get two tickets. Do you want to go?¡±


    ¡°I do want to go,¡± Feng Si smiled and turned to ask Lu Jingshen, ¡°Will Mr Lu allow me to go?¡±


    Lu Jingshen paused for a moment, seeing the mischievousness in Feng Si¡¯s eyes.


    After a moment of silence, he said, ¡°The organizers have arranged a welcome reception tonight.¡±


    Feng Si seemed quite regretful and apologized to Lin Ling, ¡°Sorry, the boss gave the order, and I have to work, so I can¡¯t go.¡±


    Lin Ling felt a bit awkward and said, ¡°Well, forget it. I¡¯ll find someone else to go with.¡±


    She finished her own meal and left first.


    Lu Jingshen silently cut his fish steak, while Feng Si drank water and kept looking at him.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, then don¡¯t flirt around,¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s voice was cold and he didn¡¯t look up, ¡°It¡¯s easy to give people the wrong impression.¡±


    ¡°Who would misunderstand? You?¡± Feng Si asked.


    Lu Jingshen raised an eyebrow slightly, without waiting for him to say more, Feng Si calmly explained, ¡± I was just eating here alone, and she happened to come over and sit with me. She specially asked someone to buy tickets and invited me to the music festival. If I had directly refused, wouldn¡¯t it make things awkward? So, reluctantly, I made you the bad guy.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze finally fell on him.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, then it seems like it has nothing to do with whether others misunderstand or not, right?¡±


    After saying that, Feng Si smiled again, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Lu Jingshen pursed his lips lightly and didn¡¯t answer.


    When he didn¡¯t want to answer a question, no matter how much Feng Si said, it was useless.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t continue the topic either and called the waiter to order a dessert.


    A chocolate lava cake was brought to the table, and Feng Si cut it in half with a small knife and handed one half to Lu Jingshen, saying, ¡°Try this.¡±


    Lu Jingshen instinctively refused; he never ate desserts.


    ¡°you don¡¯t like sweet things, relying only on bitter coffee to survive, no wonder you live such a bitter and vengeful life,¡± Feng Si commented as he tasted the dessert, making sarcastic remarks.


    Only he dared to be so sarcastic in front of Lu Jingshen.


    Lu Jingshen remained calm and said, ¡°You have a good understanding of idioms.¡±


    Feng Si laughed, ¡°Do you think a foreigner like me wouldn¡¯t know about them?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Since you agree, then eat this,¡± Feng Si reminded him.


    Lu Jingshen frowned as he looked at the half of the cake in front of him. The cut revealed the oozing liquid chocolate, which didn¡¯t really stimulate his appetite.


    But with Feng Si¡¯s gaze fixed on him, he finally picked up the spoon and took a small bite.


    The sweet and greasy taste exploded on his taste buds, making Lu Jingshen feel a tingling sensation. He reluctantly swallowed the cake.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze followed his actions.


    Lu Jingshen glanced at him, took a sip of water, and slowly said, ¡°Chocolate is also bitter.¡±


    It¡¯s just that the bitterness was mixed with too much sweetness, making it difficult for him to like it.


    ¡°Clearly it¡¯s a good thing,¡± Feng Si asked, ¡°Lu, is this you being too stubborn?¡±


    The taste of the lemon water diluted the sweetness. Lu Jingshen put down his cup and calmly said, ¡°We¡¯re done eating, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Feng Si looked at him and suddenly leaned over.


    Before Lu Jingshen could react, his fingers quickly wiped his lips.


    Lu Jingshen was taken aback, and Feng Si smiled and explained, ¡°You had something on your lips.¡±

 CH 17

    In the following days, Lu Jingshen attended business negotiations during the day and dealt with various evening banquets and party invitations. He didn¡¯t stop for a moment.


    He initially thought Feng Si wouldn¡¯t be able to stand the loneliness and would go out to have fun, but he didn¡¯t.


    Feng Si not only stuck by his side every day, but also took on a large part of Liu Jie¡¯s work, organizing everything for Lu Jingshen both externally and internally.


    ¡°I wonder if I¡¯ve impressed boss Lu with my performance as his personal assistant?¡± Feng Si asked with a smile as he personally tied Lu Jingshen¡¯s tie.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze went past his shoulder and looked at himself in the mirror ahead. He had just dozed off on the couch for a while, and he still looked exhausted.


    He hadn¡¯t fully adjusted to the time difference since he arrived, and he had been constantly busy for four days. Sometimes he felt too tired to speak, but he still had to make an effort to socialize with people. Liu Jie and the others were capable, but many things required his approval. Without him initiating, others wouldn¡¯t dare to act, so in the end, it still fell on him.


    But Feng Si was different. He  seemed oblivious to the meaning of not crossing the line. He dared to interfere in billion-dollar businesses without permission, and he came up with ideas for Lu Jingshen without any hesitation.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Feng Si had one hand in his pocket and used the other to straighten Lu Jingshen¡¯s shirt collar.


    Lu Jingshen closed his eyes, and in front of him was Feng Si¡¯s calm face. It seemed Feng Si was always so composed, effortlessly finding his weak spots.


    Facing Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze, which seemed absent-minded and yet fixed on him, Feng Si raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Are you sleeping with your eyes open?¡±


    Lu Jingshen snapped back to reality, uninterested in Feng Si¡¯s sarcastic remark.


    Feng Si adjusted his tie and said, ¡°Your schedule is packed every day. You come back to the hotel and stay up late reviewing documents. Is it necessary to push yourself so hard?¡±


    Lu Jingshen asked, ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re asking me how I know that you stay up every night?¡± Feng Si said with a smile, ¡°Look at your eyes, you have dark circles.¡±


    He reminded Lu Jingshen, ¡°If you really trust your sister, then give her more responsibility. Why do you need to take on everything yourself?¡±


    Lu Jingshen explained in a calm voice, ¡°There have been personnel changes at the senior level of the company, and I¡¯m afraid someone might take advantage of the situation.¡±


    Actually, he knew it was not a  good time to go on vacation. He should have attended the business trip and returned immediately, but somehow, he indulged in Fengsi¡¯s self-will.


    ¡°Even if someone takes advantage of the situation, can¡¯t the president handle it?¡± Fengsi shrugged.Among the three siblings, I think you¡¯re the one who¡¯s most tired, right? Being so tense every day, isn¡¯t it uncomfortable?¡±


    Lu Jing¡¯s expression darkened, and Fengsi clicked his tongue. ¡°You¡¯re frowning again.¡±


    He raised his finger and grazed Lu Jingshen¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple, satisfied with the momentary panic that flashed in his eyes.


    The more Lu Jingshen restrained himself in front of others, the more people wanted to ravage him, to see that craving and lack of self-control that only emerged when he was immersed in desire.


    Lu Jingshen turned his face away, avoiding his touch. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±


    Fengsi smirked and withdrew his hand.


    In the evening, Lu Jingshen attended a private dance party, accompanied only by Fengsi.


    Enthusiastic Gregorian waltzes, bright crystal chandeliers, the revolving patterns of light on the dance floor, swaying skirts, whispered conversations, the long and cold night secluded outside. Not all Scandinavians were as unsociable as Lu Jingshen thought.


    That kind of occasion wasn¡¯t suitable for Lu Jingshen, but the person who sent the invitation had just concluded a big deal with him, and it was difficult to refuse. So he had to attend.


    Except for greeting the host upon arrival, Lu Jingshen stood on the sidelines throughout the event, holding a glass of red wine, taking occasional sips, and planning to leave when the time was right.


    Fortunately, not many people there recognized him. Occasionally, someone friendly would pass by and exchange a few words, which wasn¡¯t difficult to handle.


    Fengsi leaned against him, casually throwing chocolates into his mouth. That kind of event suited him, but he had to stick by Lu Jingshen¡¯s side, fulfilling his duty.


    A lady in a formal dress approached, inviting Lu Jingshen to dance in English. Lu Jingshen apologetically replied, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t know how to.¡±


    The lady looked slightly disappointed and offered to teach him, but Lu Jingshen still refused.


    Fengsi stood up straight and subtly blocked Lu Jingshen. He smiled at the lady, bowed, and extended his right hand in a classic British gentleman¡¯s dance invitation, despite his mismatched attire.


    ¡°May I have this dance with you?¡±


    The lady raised her head and her gaze fell on Fengsi¡¯s handsome face. She didn¡¯t like pretentious British men, but the oriental features of the person in front of her attracted her. Reluctantly, she reached out her hand and placed it in Fengsi¡¯s palm.


    The waltz continued, grand and magnificent. The music, laughter, the spinning figures in the dance floor, the scent of perfume and flowers in the air¡ªeverything made Lu Jingshen uncomfortable.


    He stood alone in the corner of the dance floor, with only himself left. Whether it was the effect of alcohol or the dazzling lights above, he felt dizzy.


    The surroundings gradually turned into flowing illusions, but the smiling eyes of the person in the middle of his vision remained fixed on him.


    As the drink slid down his throat, Lu Jingshen felt even dizzier. Those eyes that had been smiling all along started to merge with a scene from his memory.


    On the third day of his adventurous journey, his belongings were stolen, and he tried to borrow money to rent a car to the next big city, but no one paid attention to him except for the dusty Hummer that stopped in front of him. The man in the car had a cigarette in his mouth, leaning against the door, and his smiling eyes shamelessly scrutinized him.


    ¡°A naive young master dares to come here alone. Do you want to come with me?¡±


    That¡¯s what the person said. He thought Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t understand, but Lu Jingshen understood and followed that person.


    ¡°Do you want to come with me?¡±


    Fengsi¡¯s voice interrupted, and Lu Jingshen¡¯s pupils slightly contracted as he snapped out of his reminiscence, looking at the person who had returned to his side without knowing when.


    Fengsi smiled and asked, ¡°What were you just thinking? You look startled.¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to come with me?¡± Fengsi said and pointed at his wristwatch. ¡°It¡¯s about time. Shall we go?¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to realize something, and the smile in his eyes deepened. ¡°Is there something wrong with that sentence?¡±


    Lu Jingshen quickly composed himself and calmly said, ¡°No, let¡¯s go.¡±


    They left the dance party, and it was 11 p.m., a quiet late night with only a few lights around.


    Their car was parked outside, and this time, Fengsi didn¡¯t open the car door for Lu Jingshen as before. Instead, he suggested, ¡°The hotel isn¡¯t far from here. Shall we walk back?¡±


    Lu Jingshen was reluctant, but Fengsi grabbed his wrist and gestured to the driver, speaking a few words in Norwegian. The driver nodded and drove away alone.


    Lu Jingshen knew that Fengsi could speak Norwegian. In the past few days, he had translated for them more than once. He suddenly wondered if Fengsi had learned the language during the six months he spent there.


    Fengsi released his hand, triumphant. ¡°Now you can only walk back with me.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s hands were in his coat pockets, feeling a bit cold. Fortunately, he could tolerate it. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Fengsi casually took off his scarf and threw it to him. ¡°Take it.¡±


    Lu Jingshen instinctively reached out and accepted it. Before he could refuse, Fengsi had already taken a step forward. Looking up, Lu Jingshen saw the broad and straight shoulders under the person¡¯s leather jacket. After hesitating for a moment, he wrapped the scarf, which carried Fengsi¡¯s scent, around his neck.


    ¡°Next time, wear more layers when going out. It¡¯s cold here in winter.¡± Fengsi said when he saw Lu Jingshen catching up.


    Lu Jingshen hesitated and asked, ¡°Did you learn Norwegian while working here for six months?¡±


    Fengsi casually nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve had many different jobs before.¡±


    Fengsi turned his head. ¡°Are you interested in knowing the reason?¡±


    His eyes were even more vivid and bright in the darkness, carrying an indescribable meaning. Lu Jingshen avoided his gaze. ¡°Never mind.¡±


    Fengsi let out a faint sneer, and Lu Jingshen lowered his head, walking forward in silence.


    As he walked, he watched his elongated shadow on the ground under the streetlights until Feng Si behind him grabbed his arm. ¡°Look ahead.¡±


    Lu Jingshen paused, raising his eyes to follow Fengsi¡¯s line of sight. In the distant horizon, a faint green light appeared, like a floating jade ribbon or a gentle flowing river. Soon, it transformed into various vibrant colors, vividly painting the night sky.


    It was the aurora borealis, not as bright and distinct as seen from an airplane, but like a magical show under the night sky.


    As Lu Jingshen became entranced by the sight, he heard a laughter close to his ear. ¡°You¡¯re really lucky. It¡¯s not always possible to see the aurora here. I¡¯ve been here for half a year, and this is the first time I¡¯ve witnessed it.¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned his head to look at him.


    Under the aurora and the starry night, Fengsi¡¯s gaze was tender and affectionate, easily pulling Lu Jingshen in.


    ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡± Fengsi¡¯s voice brought Lu Jingshen back to reality. Unconsciously, he licked his slightly dry lips. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    As they rode the elevator upstairs, Fengsi glanced at Lu Jingshen, who seemed slightly uncomfortable. Suddenly, he said, ¡°you left something with me. Do you want to retrieve it?¡±


    His tone sounded casual, but it carried a certain implication.


    The elevator doors opened, and Lu Jingshen silently followed him out.


    As soon as they entered the room, Fengsi pushed Lu Jing inside and forcefully closed the door, leaving the lights off.


    In the darkness, he pressed Lu Jingshen against the wall, leaning in close and asking, ¡°How far do you plan to go tonight?¡±


    Lu Jingshen felt embarrassed. ¡°Let go.¡±


    ¡°You want to run after coming here?¡± Fengsi reminded him. ¡°Lu Jingshen, you walked right into this yourself.¡±


    There wasn¡¯t a trace of light in the room, and Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t see the mockery on Fengsi¡¯s face. Only through his voice could he imagine the expression he had while saying those words.


    But indeed, he had walked right into that himself.


    They silently confronted each other. Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t bring himself to say the words he wanted Fengsi to do to him. In the past, a single glance from him would make Fengsi understand his intentions.


    But Feng Si now said that unless he spoke up, he wouldn¡¯t get what he wanted.


    Fengsi heard Lu Jingshen¡¯s intensified breathing, and his hand, pressed against Lu Jingshen¡¯s lower back, wickedly said, ¡°If you don¡¯t speak, I won¡¯t do anything, I need you to voice out what you want.¡±


    After a brief standoff, Lu Jingshen raised his hand and forcefully pulled at Fengsi¡¯s collar, imitating what Fengsi had done earlier, and fiercely bit down on his Adam¡¯s apple.


    Fengsi was pulled forward and stumbled a step, with their lower bodies almost pressed together. Despite having a physical reaction himself, Fengsi remained composed and controlled the rhythm.


    Lu Jingshen resolutely couldn¡¯t bring himself to say that he wanted Fengsi to take him. His good manners prevented him from cursing, but Fengsi¡¯s mischievous hand shifted forward. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to say it, forget it. Let¡¯s do as we did before.¡±


    In the end, they used their mouths.


    As Lu Jingshen fell onto the bed, his body was completely out of control. In the darkness, he couldn¡¯t find a focal point for his gaze, so he relied on his senses to touch the other person¡¯s body. It was ambiguous and eager, enough to burn away his reason.


    When the lights came on, Lu Jingshen struggled to blink his eyes. In his blurry vision, he gradually saw Fengsi¡¯s lowered eyes, which were different from his smiling expression at the dance party hours ago. Those dark eyes contained a brewing storm, as if they were about to engulf him.


    But it lasted only a few moments.


    Lu Jingshen regained his senses. Fengsi wiped off parts of Lu Jingshen that had stained his lips and reminded him, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. Lu Jingshen, do as you please.¡±


    Lu Jingshen subconsciously grabbed his arm, and Fengsi calmly looked back. ¡°Is there something else?¡±


    His breathing was still somewhat unsteady, and he tightened his grip on Fengsi¡¯s arm. Despite being on the verge of speaking, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything under Fengsi¡¯s composed gaze.


    Fengsi nonchalantly brushed his hand away and decisively headed into the bathroom.


    Lu Jingshen lay on the bed, closed his eyes, and struggled to sit up. Unconsciously licking his lips, he tasted a flavor that made him furrow his brows. But the more he felt this way, the harder it became for him to express his true desires.


    Sitting on the edge of the bed, Lu Jingshen was lost in thought for a moment. He heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom and reluctantly snapped back to reality. He grabbed a tissue and wiped himself, then redressed in the disheveled clothes. Silently, he left the room.


    Back in the room, he didn¡¯t turn on the lights and stood in the darkness for a while. He walked towards the sofa in the dark and rummaged through his suitcase, finding what he was looking for in the innermost layer.


    It was a sex toy that he had put in before coming here when he packed his luggage. Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t remember what he was thinking at the time, maybe it was a stroke of fate, or perhaps he had anticipated that he would need it.


    He pressed the switch, feeling the frequency of the vibrations warming his palm. He rarely used such things and had a psychological aversion to them. He didn¡¯t want to admit that he needed it to experience true pleasure, but now he didn¡¯t care about that anymore.


    Closing his eyes, he leaned back into the sofa. Lu Jingshen tremblingly reached down and slowly pulled down the zipper of his trousers.

 CH 18

    The next morning, Liu Jie and the others who had finished their business went back to their home country ahead of Lu Jingshen.


    Lu Jingshen was accustomed to waking up early, even though he didn¡¯t sleep well.


    Feeling restless, he walked out of the hotel. Originally intending to take a walk alone nearby, when he reached the end of the street, he saw Fengsi buying postcards at a bookstore across the street, chatting and laughing with the vendor.


    Lu Jingshen stopped by the side of the street, quietly observing him without moving for a while.


    It was only when his phone rang, a call from Lu Qing, that Lu Jingshen pressed the answer button. His sister asked if he planned to go on vacation, mentioning that he hadn¡¯t heard him mention it before. Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze remained on Fengsi the whole time as he absentmindedly answered, ¡°It was a last-minute decision. I happened to come here for a business meeting.¡±


    Lu Qing fell silent for a moment before asking again, ¡°Ah Shen, are you going on vacation at this time? And for two weeks, with your assistant?¡±


    Lu Jingshen vaguely replied, ¡°Hmm,¡± and Lu Qing reminded him, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, but I thought you disliked that kind of relationship.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s brows slightly furrowed, and he instinctively said, ¡°It¡¯s not like that between me and him.¡±


    Lu Qing said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to deny it to me. What¡¯s important is what you truly feel inside. I¡¯m just concerned about you. Regarding what happened in the past¡­¡±


    Lu Jingshen interrupted her, ¡°Sis, please take care of the company matters. I¡¯ll rest for a while and then come back.¡±


    He rarely called Lu Qing ¡°sis.¡± After all, they were born less than half an hour apart. But whenever he called her that way, Lu Qing knew he was sincerely pleading.


    ¡°Alright, as long as you know what you¡¯re doing. Take a good rest. I¡¯ll take care of the company.¡±


    After hanging up the call, Lu Jingshen let out a sigh of relief. Without realizing it, he turned his head to the person across the street, and their eyes met.


    Before Lu Jingshen could react, Fengsi, with a cigarette in his mouth, had already crossed the street and walked towards him. ¡°Why are you standing here?¡±


    Without waiting for Lu Jingshen to speak, Fengsi smiled mischievously and said, ¡°Good morning, Alex.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was slightly taken aback. During those three months back then, every morning when he woke up, Fengsi would smile and say the same words to him. He remembered, and Fengsi remembered too.


    Lu Jingshen regained his senses and asked him, ¡°You¡¯re smoking early in the morning. Are you that addicted?¡±


    Fengsi casually put out the cigarette. ¡°Just bored. Why did you come out so early?¡±


    ¡°Just came out for a walk.¡± Lu Jingshen seemed a bit uneasy.


    Fengsi shook the postcard in his hand. ¡°Do you want it? Rare chance to be here.¡±


    Lu Jingshen wasn¡¯t interested. His family had traveled all over the world, so he didn¡¯t need postcards. Besides, he didn¡¯t have any friends close enough to send postcards to.


    Seeing through him, Fengsi said, ¡°Forget it. Pretend I didn¡¯t ask.¡±


    They returned to the hotel together and had breakfast at the restaurant. Fengsi took out a pen and started writing postcards.


    Sitting across from him, Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t see what he was writing. His attention was focused on the pen in his hand. It was the same one Fengsi had bitten the cap off when they signed the refueling form at the airport on the day they arrived.


    After finishing writing, Fengsi looked up and saw Lu Jingshen staring at his pen. ¡°This pen is a limited-edition commemorative version. I bought it in the Middle East last year. Do you want it?¡±


    Lu Jingshen hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the pen. As he put it away, his fingers unconsciously lightly rubbed the pen cap.


    After writing the postcards, Fengsi asked Lu Jingshen if he had any plans for where to go. ¡°I heard from your brother that you go to France every year and even bought a vineyard there?¡±


    Lu Jingshen responded nonchalantly, ¡°It¡¯s peaceful there.¡±


    ¡°So, your idea of a vacation is finding a secluded place to hide from the world,¡± Fengsi joked with a smile. ¡°Can you take me to see it?¡±


    Lu Jingshen was about to refuse when he saw Fengsi¡¯s bright and smiling gaze. He changed his mind and said, ¡°If you want to go, then go.¡±


    After breakfast, Fengsi went to mail the postcards.


    There was a mailbox on the opposite side of the street from the hotel. Lu Jingshen stood there waiting for him, and his gaze inadvertently fell on the stones by the roadside.


    ¡°Were you secretly watching me just now?¡± Fengsi suddenly asked.


    Lu Jingshen furrowed his brow, and Fengsi continued, ¡°Curious about who I¡¯m sending the postcards to?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze returned to him, and he seemed hesitant to speak.


    ¡°The postcards are for,¡± Fengsi dragged out his words, smiling as he stared into his eyes, ¡°I don¡¯t want to tell you.¡±


    Realizing that he was being played, Lu Jingshen¡¯s face slightly stiffened, and his voice became colder. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Just as he turned around, Fengsi grabbed his arm and pulled him back. ¡°If you want to know, just ask directly. Is it fun to be so coy?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to know,¡± Lu Jingshen replied.


    He was indeed curious before, but Fengsi¡¯s attitude, as if he could control everything, made him very uncomfortable. It was the case last night, and it was the case today. He¡¯d rather not know.


    Fengsi let go of his hand. ¡°Alright, forget it then.¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned and started walking away.


    Fengsi followed, tilting his head and staring at his face. ¡°Are you angry?¡±


    He added, ¡°Lu, you have quite a temper. Just a few words and you¡¯re angry.¡±


    Lu Jingshen stopped in his tracks, turned to face him, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t try to provoke me. I¡¯m not falling for it.¡±


    Fengsi laughed. ¡°Alex, I¡¯ve realized that you¡¯re actually quite interesting.¡±


    It was probably the first time in his life that someone called him interesting. Although Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t like it, he responded along with his words, ¡°You¡¯re not bad either.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a given. I¡¯m glad to receive such a compliment from you,¡± Fengsi said with a thick-skinned face. Before Lu Jingshen could react, Fengsi wrapped his arm around his shoulder. ¡°Come on, let me take you around.¡±

 CH 19

    During lunchtime, Fengsi took Lu Jingshen to a restaurant at the harbor.


    When they entered, Fengsi greeted the restaurant owner as if they were very familiar with each other.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t find it strange. Someone with Fengsi¡¯s personality, as he himself had said, made friends easily.


    They chose a seat with a good view. Lu Jingshen looked outside, and the sea shimmered with silver light under the sunlight. Occasionally, a gentle breeze blew, causing ripples in the water.


    The salty scent of the sea mixed with a faint floral fragrance, allowing him to relax completely.


    Fengsi ordered the food, occasionally looking up at Lu Jingshen. ¡°How do you like the scenery here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nice,¡± Lu Jingshen casually replied, his gaze still fixed on the sea ahead.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s nice too,¡± Fengsi smiled. ¡°I used to live nearby, and every time I came back from work, I could see this sea. Sometimes I thought it wouldn¡¯t be bad to stay here forever.¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned his gaze towards Fengsi and hesitated. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why did you change jobs?¡±


    Fengsi pondered for a moment before answering, ¡°Maybe because I didn¡¯t wait for the person I wanted to wait for.¡±


    His tone was half serious and half joking. Lu Jingshen fell silent for a moment and took a sip of the mint water in his glass. Then his gaze returned to the sea.


    The dishes that Fengsi ordered arrived one after another, mainly local seafood specialties.


    ¡°Try them. It would be a waste to come here and not eat these,¡± Fengsi enthusiastically said as he introduced the dishes to Lu Jingshen. Although Lu Jingshen had little appetite, he still picked up his knife and fork and went along with it.


    Towards the end of the meal, the restaurant owner came over and asked how their dishes were.


    He spoke in English, possibly to accommodate Lu Jingshen¡¯s understanding. Fengsi offered some improvement suggestions, and when it was Lu Jingshen¡¯s turn to answer, he nodded lightly and thanked the owner.


    The restaurant owner was very cheerful and talkative, chatting with Fengsi for a while. When they were about to leave, he asked Fengsi something in Norwegian.


    Fengsi glanced at Lu Jingshen and replied with a smile in Norwegian.


    After the owner left, Fengsi told Lu Jingshen that the question was whether he was his boyfriend or not.


    ¡°I said yes,¡± Fengsi said.


    Lu Jingshen instinctively frowned.


    Fengsi said, ¡°Well, he doesn¡¯t know you anyway. If I said no, I would have to explain our relationship. It¡¯s easier to say yes and avoid all the unnecessary details. What do you think?¡±


    Although it sounded like a question, Fengsi¡¯s attitude was overly confident. Lu Jingshen felt slightly uncomfortable. ¡°Don¡¯t say that to people so casually next time.¡±


    Fengsi shrugged indifferently. ¡°Alright.¡±


    As they left the restaurant, they walked along the harbor promenade.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t say much along the way, silently enjoying the scenery.


    Fengsi called out to him, ¡°Alex, let¡¯s take a picture.¡±


    His  first reaction was to refuse. Besides passport photos, he rarely took any other pictures.


    Fengsi had already taken out his phone and opened the camera, asking a passerby for help. With one hand around Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist, he reminded him, ¡°Just one picture, look ahead.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s body slightly stiffened. The passerby raised the phone, capturing a photo of them with the sea and sky as the background.


    The phone was handed back to Fengsi, who thanked the person and looked at the photo they had just taken.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s lips were pressed together, his expression tense, and there was no trace of a smile on his face. Even so, it was their first photo together.


    ¡°Why is it so difficult to make you smile?¡± Fengsi said helplessly.


    Fengsi held the phone screen in front of Lu Jingshen and let him see it for himself. Lu Jingshen awkwardly explained, ¡°I¡¯m not used to taking pictures.¡±


    Fengsi asked, ¡°Can I post the photo on my social media?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyebrows furrowed again. He had seen Fengsi¡¯s social media, which had photos of him with various men and women. Fengsi¡¯s life was too colorful and diverse, a world that he distanced himself from and had no interest in.


    ¡°No,¡± Lu Jing firmly rejected.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Fengsi asked.


    Lu Jingshen shook his head. ¡°If you insist on posting it, then delete it now.¡±


    Fengsi stared into his eyes, but Lu Jingshen persisted, saying, ¡°Either delete it or don¡¯t post it.¡±


    Fengsi¡¯s lips curved into an ambiguous smile as he put away his phone. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t post it then.¡±


    They wandered around the city all afternoon.


    Lu jingShen was absent-minded the whole time, and before 4 o¡¯clock, he suggested going back to the hotel.


    They had dinner in the hotel room, and when Feng Si knocked on the door, Lu jingShen was busy with work related to domestic affairs. His laptop and planner were open together, and he was so busy that he only ate half of his dinner, which had already gone cold.


    ¡°You¡¯re on vacation now, do you have to work so hard?¡± Feng Si helped him close the laptop casually, ¡°Didn¡¯t Secretary Liu take all your work-related stuff when she left?¡±


    Before Lujing Shen could stop him, Feng Si took his laptop and planner and put them aside, saying, ¡°Confiscated.¡±


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Lujing Shen asked.


    ¡°I came to check if you¡¯re still working. Just as I expected,¡± Feng Si¡¯s voice suddenly paused, noticing the suitcase opened on the floor.


    Lujing Shen followed his gaze, his expression changing slightly, and he strode forward and forcefully closed the suitcase with a loud ¡°thud.¡±


    But Feng Si had already seen what was hidden in the net pocket of his suitcase.


    He walked over and bent down, trying to lift the lid, but Lujing Shen pressed down on it, his tightly clenched fingers trembling slightly.


    Feng Si glanced at him and playfully challenged, ¡°Is there something hidden in this suitcase that you don¡¯t want others to see?¡±


    Lujing Shen tried to maintain composure, ¡°These are my personal belongings, and you have no right to snoop.¡±


    Seeing the panic in his eyes, Feng Si withdrew his hand, saying, ¡°Alright then.¡±


    Lujing Shen quickly zipped up the suitcase, locked it with a password, and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower and sleep. You can leave.¡±


    Feng Si refused, ¡°You go ahead and shower; I¡¯ll stay here for a while.¡±


    Lujing Shen knew that he couldn¡¯t easily get rid of him, and he didn¡¯t have the energy to deal with him either. Ignoring him, he turned and went into the bathroom.


    After twenty minutes, when Lujing Shen came out of the shower, Feng Si was still there, sitting on the living room sofa, watching TV.


    Hearing the noise, Feng Si patted the spot next to him and looked over, ¡°Come, sit for a while. Your hair is still wet. It¡¯s not that late yet; you don¡¯t have to sleep so early, right?¡±


    Lujing Shen hesitated for a moment, then walked over and reminded him again, ¡°You should leave now.¡±


    Feng Si reached out to grab him and pulled him down to sit, not waiting for Lujing Shen to frown; he leaned in and looked at him straight in the eye, lowering his voice, ¡°After you came back last night, did you please yourself?¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s face tensed up again, and Feng Si smirked, ¡°Did you do it in the front or the back?¡±


    He placed a hand on Lujing Shen¡¯s waist and lightly pressed, causing Lujing Shen¡¯s voice to catch in his throat, glaring at him.


    Feng Si¡¯s voice got even closer, ¡°Did you get enough last night, or are you still not satisfied? Do you need to use toys specifically?¡±


    Embarrassed and flustered, Lujing Shen¡¯s eyes once again revealed panic. Feng Si deliberately teased, ¡°I saw it.¡±


    His fingers circled and pressed on Lujing Shen¡¯s waist, and with an almost breathless tone, he said, ¡°Can toys satisfy you?¡±


    As if stripped naked and exposed his most embarrassing side, Lujing Shen couldn¡¯t bear it, closing his eyes and refusing to answer.


    Feng Si¡¯s lips pressed against his earlobe, gently kissing the small mole there. He felt Lu Jingshen  in his arms trembling slightly and leaned down, evilly smiling, ¡°Last night, you released yourself, but still not satisfied? huh?¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s face reddened, and with a trembling voice, he said, ¡°You¡­ leave.¡±


    Feng Si forcefully pushed him down, and Lujing Shen¡¯s red eyes glared back at him, unable to resist his instincts. His gaze gradually became unfocused, and his voice changed tone.


    Feng Si played with him like a puppet, his movements skillfully controlling the pace. Whenever Lujing Shen was about to reach his limit, he stopped, not letting him have an easy time.


    His other hand moved slowly from Lujing Shen¡¯s waist down along the spine, and Lujing Shen felt the vibration and touch. He widened his eyes in shock, and Feng Si leaned down, teasingly saying, ¡°Were you too hasty just now? The password lock wasn¡¯t on. What¡¯s the fun in doing it alone? Let me help you.¡±


    Lujing Shen desperately bit his own hand, as Feng Si touched him and teased him all over, forced to the extreme, the overwhelming pleasure and humiliation made him completely collapse.


    In a daze, he heard the sound of a camera shutter. Struggling to clear his vision, he saw Feng Si holding his phone and taking pictures of him in his vulnerable state.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s mind went blank, subconsciously wanting to snatch the phone, but Feng Si didn¡¯t let him, casually throwing it onto the nearby carpet.


    Lujing Shen tried his best to reach for the phone, but Feng Si pressed him back onto the sofa. He struggled intensely, as if he had lost his sanity.


    Lujing Shen trembled all over and said with a quivering voice, ¡°Delete the photos.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t take any,¡± Feng Si held his hand, trying to calm him down, ¡°I was just teasing you. I didn¡¯t take any photos.¡±


    Feng Si picked up the phone and opened the album to show Lujing Shen. It turned out that he had used the front camera, and the photo was of his own face.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the picture, not reacting for a long time.


    Feng Si swiped back, and the next picture was a group photo they took in the afternoon, proving that he didn¡¯t deceive Lujing Shen.


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t take any.¡±


    Lujing Shen closed his eyes, slumping back on the sofa.


    Feng Si frowned and leaned over again.


    Lujing Shen turned his face away, and Feng Si¡¯s fingers lightly brushed against his eye corner. ¡°I won¡¯t play this kind of joke again next time. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    After waiting for a moment, he sighed, ¡°Rest now; I won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡±


    The sound of the door closing woke Lujing Shen up slowly.


    Feng Si had already cleaned up the mess under him. Lujing Shen sat up and picked up the wet and embarrassing thing that made him feel extremely embarrassed. He forcefully threw it into the trash can.

 CH 20

    At 8 o¡¯clock in the morning, Feng Si went upstairs to knock on Lujing Shen¡¯s door, but there was no response.


    He dialed his phone, and after several rings, Lujing Shen¡¯s hoarse voice with a heavy nasal tone answered, asking what he wanted.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you up yet?¡± Feng Si glanced at his watch to confirm the time, ¡°Why is your voice so hoarse? Are you sick? Let me in.¡±


    After waiting for five or six minutes, the door slowly opened from the inside, revealing Lujing Shen¡¯s tired face.


    He frowned, still dressed in his pajamas, and his face had an abnormal flush. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Feng Si pushed the door open without giving Lujing Shen a chance to refuse and insisted on guiding him inside the room.


    ¡°nothing,¡± Lujing Shen said impatiently, ¡°I just need to sleep, you can go and enjoy your time.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± Feng Si pushed him back onto the bed, ¡°You go on sleeping, I¡¯ll stay here and watch over you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need¡­¡± Lujing Shen was about to refuse, but Feng Si sat down by the bedside, and his movement interrupted Lujing Shen¡¯s incomplete words.


    Feng Si¡¯s face approached him, almost sticking to Lujing Shen¡¯s face, staring into his eyes. ¡°Your face is all flushed, and you¡¯re still pretending to be strong. Do you plan on suffering alone here?¡±


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t want to deal with him and turned his head away.


    Feng Si raised his hand and touched his burning face, sighing.


    After working hard and staying up late for so many days, it was no wonder he fell sick suddenly. Perhaps he caught a cold last night, coupled with the emotional ups and downs, getting sick was not surprising.


    If he thought about it carefully, he was also partly to blame.


    ¡°It¡¯s too cold here, and it¡¯s normal that you¡¯re not used to it. If the fever subsides tomorrow, let¡¯s go directly to France,¡± Feng Si suggested, not knowing if Lujing Shen was really listening or not. He closed his eyes and fell asleep again quickly.


    Feng Si sat there, quietly watching him for a while, before finally leaving the room.


    Lujing Shen woke up again close to noon.


    Feng Si was sitting on the carpet by the bed, looking at his phone. He noticed the movement behind him and turned to look at him. Lujing Shen was still somewhat dazed, his eyes lost and confused. Feng Si was amused by his appearance, ¡°Awake now? Don¡¯t recognize me? Lujing Shen, you¡¯re still so cute when you¡¯re half asleep.¡±


    His presence always tempted people to bully him, even though it seemed unethical to bully a sick person.


    Lujing Shen gradually regained his senses, and Feng Si reached over, placing a digital thermometer on his forehead. ¡°37.5 degrees, it seems the fever has subsided a bit.¡±


    Lujing Shen propped up his weak body and hesitantly asked him, ¡°Have you been here the whole time?¡±


    ¡°I went to the supermarket and brought back a thermometer and medicine,¡± Feng Si poured out the antipyretic medicine and handed it to Lujing Shen along with warm water. ¡°I guessed you probably didn¡¯t prepare these, so take them.¡±


    Lujing Shen seemed absent-minded and didn¡¯t reach out to take the medicine.


    Feng Si said, ¡°What are you staring blankly at? Do you want me to feed you?¡±


    Seeing him teasingly staring at him, Lujing Shen came to his senses and took the medicine, quickly swallowing it.


    Feng Si asked with a smile, ¡°Do you want to eat something? I made some porridge.¡±


    Seeing Lujing Shen not responding, Feng Si stood up and lightly patted his face. ¡°Why are you spacing out again? Go wash up.¡±


    Feng Si walked out of the bedroom, and Lujing Shen closed his eyes, sitting there in a daze for a while before getting up and going into the bathroom.


    When he came out after taking a shower, Feng Si had just poured the cooked porridge out of the pot.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s room was a suite with a small kitchen. Feng Si had bought the pot, utensils, and ingredients from the supermarket earlier. A simple porridge with shrimp and lean meat was placed on the dining table. Feng Si gestured to him, ¡°Come over.¡±


    But Lujing Shen¡¯s gaze was fixed on the trash can next to the sofa, and Feng Si noticed his fleeting eyes and calmly said, ¡°Don¡¯t look anymore; the housekeeping service just came and cleaned it up.¡±


    Lujing Shen turned his eyes away and walked to the dining table to sit down.


    Feng Si pulled out a chair next to him and sat down, watching him eat. ¡°What time did you stay up until last night?¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s expression faltered slightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡±


    He didn¡¯t admit it, but last night, he indeed spent half the night tossing and turning. Thinking about this person in front of him, who made him angry and uncomfortable but still unable to completely cut ties with him, it was no wonder he couldn¡¯t fall asleep..


    He couldn¡¯t remember if he fell asleep at three or four in the morning, but he knew that when he woke up, he felt weak and feverish, falling sick and becoming a laughingstock in front of this person.


    ¡°As for that toy, I just threw it away. You won¡¯t need it anymore?¡±


    Lujing Shen said unhappily, ¡°Aren¡¯t you being too nosy?¡±


    ¡°I thought it was also the job responsibility of a personal assistant,¡± Feng Si pointed at the bowl of porridge in front of him, ¡°dig in.¡±


    Lujing Shen wasn¡¯t in the mood to argue with him and hesitated for a moment before picking up the spoon again.


    After finishing the meal, Feng Si still refused to leave and kept lingering in Lujing Shen¡¯s room. He pulled open the curtains and looked outside. ¡°The weather is clear today. Originally, I wanted to take you around the nearby mountains, but forget it; there will be other chances.¡±


    The dazzling sunlight shone into the living room, and Lujing Shen instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes.


    Feng Si turned around and saw his action, smiling as he reminded him, ¡°Don¡¯t you think your health is too poor? You should go out more and bask in the sun.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember being overbearing being part of your job responsibilities?¡± Lujing Shen put down his hand and asked coldly.


    Feng Si remained calm and said, ¡°I¡¯ve never been an assistant before, so if I¡¯m not doing well, Lujing Shen, you should be more understanding.¡±


    Lujing Shen ignored him and went back to his bedroom.


    In the afternoon, Lujing Shen continued to doze off, his high fever fluctuating back and forth. He was soaked in sweat and felt weaker with each passing moment. At around six o¡¯clock, Feng Si woke him up and he felt even more lethargic.


    For dinner, he only managed to have half a bowl of porridge before lying back down on the bed.


    Feng Si made him take the medicine again, checked his temperature once more; it was 37.8 degrees. He bent down, touched his forehead, and murmured, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the fever gone down? If it¡¯s still like this tomorrow, we¡¯ll have to go to the hospital.¡±


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t have the strength to resist, and he closed his eyes, saying, ¡°why are you still here?.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving. I¡¯ll stay here, and you can sleep,¡± Feng Si replied firmly.


    Lujing Shen had already slept for the whole day, and his mind was still in a haze. However, he couldn¡¯t fall asleep anymore, so he shook his head slightly.


    ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± Feng Si removed his outer clothes and sat on the bed. ¡°If you can¡¯t sleep, then shall I keep you company? Alex, what happened to you last night?¡±


    Lujing Shen remained silent and refused to answer. Feng Si helplessly said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, then I won¡¯t ask.¡±


    Lujing Shen mumbled, ¡°¡­you¡¯re too noisy.¡±


    Feng Si leaned close to him and asked, ¡°Am I bothering you?¡±


    Lujing Shen opened his eyes and looked at Feng Si¡¯s face for a moment before turning away. He glared at the ceiling and Feng Si¡¯s hand lightly touched his face. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep, huh?¡±


    Lujing Shen nodded slowly.


    Feng Si moved closer to him and said, ¡°If you can¡¯t sleep, then let¡¯s do something else.¡±


    Due to the fever, Lujing Shen¡¯s reactions were somewhat sluggish, and he looked puzzled. Feng Si squinted his eyes; although it was unethical to bully a sick person, Lujing Shen¡¯s appearance was indeed quite tempting.


    Lujing Shen took a deep breath, looking at him in disbelief. Feng Si¡¯s unruly hand was already pressing down on him. His body had become more sensitive after the fever, and Lujing Shen instinctively closed his legs, trembling slightly.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± He asked through gritted teeth.


    Feng Si whispered next to his ear, ¡°I¡¯ll help you get off, maybe you¡¯ll feel more comfortable, and your fever might go down. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t overdo it while you¡¯re sick.¡±


    ¡°No¡­,¡± Lujing Shen instinctively refused.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t give him a chance.


    Lujing Shen, while sick, was indeed easier to bully. A light touch on his body made him completely soft, his eyes filled with mist, his eyes and nose becoming red from the heat. He clung to his lips and still had a sweet and hard-to-decipher voice coming out from the corner of his mouth. The conflicting gaze in his eyes, full of desire and resistance, made him even more irresistible.


    Feng Si somewhat regretted it. The toy he had used on him last night was indeed quite good. If he used it on Lujing Shen now, his reaction would surely be even more alluring.


    After he was satisfied, Lujing Shen forcefully bit Feng Si¡¯s shoulder, his chest heaving, covered in sweat.


    Feng Si kissed away the beads of sweat on his forehead and asked, ¡°Feeling better now?¡±


    Lujing Shen opened his mouth and leaned his forehead against Feng Si¡¯s shoulder, breathing heavily.


    After a while, he closed his eyes and said hoarsely, ¡°Let go of me. I want to take a shower.¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Feng Si pulled out some tissues and helped him wipe himself, ¡°Sleep now; we can talk once you wake up.¡±


    Restraining him in his embrace, Feng Si made up his mind not to let him get up. Lujing Shen felt uncomfortable all over, but the warmth enveloping him made him somewhat attached to it in his haze. In the end, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.


    Sensing that the person in his arms gradually calmed down, Feng Si looked at his phone; it was just 8 o¡¯clock.


    He slowly sat up, being careful not to wake Lujing Shen, and got out of bed, headed into the bathroom and took a cold shower.


    Closing his eyes, images of Lujing Shen¡¯s seductive state earlier flashed in his mind as he slowly reached down.


    Leaning against the wall, he wasn¡¯t in a hurry, and he could even calmly focus on his thoughts.


    That contest between him and Lujing Shen was reaching its conclusion. One of them was about to give in.


    Half an hour later, Feng Si returned to the bedroom, only turning on the bedside lamp. He stood silently by the bed, looking at the sleeping figure curled up under the covers.


    His fingers gently touched Lujing Shen¡¯s face, and a faint glimmer of determination appeared in Feng Si¡¯s eyes.


    He wouldn¡¯t let him go this time, absolutely not.

 CH 21

    Lujing Shen slept unusually well and woke up the next morning with the fever completely gone.


    Feng Si checked his temperature one last time and put his mind at ease. ¡°36.5 degrees, it seems my method worked.¡±


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t want to talk to him. In any case, their vacation plan hadn¡¯t been ruined because of that small incident, and the next day, they flew to France.


    On the plane, Lin Ling brought the meals to the cockpit, and the senior pilot asked Feng Si about his plans after arriving there, whether he was interested in renting a car and going on a road trip.


    Feng Si took off his earphones and said casually, ¡°I am interested, but I already have plans.¡±


    When Lin Ling left after delivering the coffee, she also asked him, ¡°Captain Feng, do you have friends over in France?¡±


    Feng Si smiled and blinked, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lin Ling lightly bit her lip and wished him a pleasant meal before leaving the cockpit.


    The senior pilot was curious and asked, ¡°Do you have a girlfriend you made plans with?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°Boyfriend.¡±


    Seeing the senior pilot¡¯s surprise, Feng Si added, ¡°Next time I have a chance, I¡¯ll introduce him to you, Captain Chen.¡±


    The plane landed in Paris at noon. On the way to the hotel, Feng Si asked Lujing Shen about the reason for coming to Paris: ¡°I thought you would fly directly to the south of France.¡±


    Lujing Shen replied calmly, ¡°There¡¯s an elder from my family settled here, and before coming, my mom asked me to bring some gifts.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°Can I accompany you?¡±


    Lujing Shen replied, ¡°No need.¡±


    Feng Si was not surprised by that response. Lujing Shen always kept him away from his private matters. Even though he was now openly living in Lujing Shen¡¯s place, Lujing Shen never allowed him to get involved in his personal affairs.


    If he insisted on going along, Lujing Shen might get angry.


    ¡°Well, take care and come back soon,¡± Feng Si said.


    After reaching the hotel, Lujing Shen called a car and left alone, only returning in the evening.


    As he walked upstairs to his room, passing Feng Si¡¯s room on the same floor, he stopped.


    The door of the room was not closed, and the female flight attendant, Lin Ling, sat on the sofa facing the door, seemingly crying. Feng Si was standing by the wall, occasionally passing her tissues.


    Sensing Lujing Shen¡¯s gaze, Feng Si looked over, but Lujing Shen averted his eyes and walked away.


    A while later, Feng Si knocked on Lujing Shen¡¯s door. Lujing Shen was preparing to go out for dinner.


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t respond and went back inside to change his clothes.


    Feng Si followed, asking, ¡°You went to visit your elder, and they didn¡¯t invite you for dinner?¡±


    Lujing Shen still ignored him.


    Feng Si squinted, as if he thought of something, and smiled gently, ¡°Lujing, don¡¯t get me wrong. Lin Ling just invited me again. After you advised me last time not to lead her on if I¡¯m not interested, I learned my lesson. I explained to her that I like men, and she was probably a bit hurt, which led to her crying. Well, it¡¯s my fault for making a girl cry.¡±


    Finally, Lujing Shen¡¯s gaze shifted toward him. ¡°Are you pleased with yourself?¡±


    ¡°No, not at all,¡± Feng Si replied, dropping the joking tone and explaining seriously, ¡°After all, we are colleagues, and complicating the relationship isn¡¯t good.¡±


    Lujing Shen finished changing his clothes, walked past him, and said, ¡°Be more careful next time,¡± before leaving the room. Feng Si sighed and followed him.


    After dinner, as the sky darkened, the nightlife of the city was just beginning. Feng Si took Lujing Shen to a bar, though Lujing Shen didn¡¯t want to go. But at that hour, going back to the hotel would be dull and boring, so he found himself following Feng Si to the bar¡¯s entrance.


    Feng Si held his wrist and led him inside.


    Soon, Lujing Shen regretted it.


    The music was loud, the lights dim, and the air filled with the smell of smoke and alcohol. The crowd was raucous, and the atmosphere made him uncomfortable.


    On the center stage, a man wearing only tight briefs was performing pole dancing, surrounded by excited male spectators.


    The nature of that bar was evident.


    As Lujing Shen realized this, his expression turned unpleasant, and he turned to leave, but Feng Si held his arm and pulled him back.


    ¡°Want to have a drink?¡± Feng Si asked.


    Lujing Shen frowned, and Feng Si led him to the bar counter.


    Feng Si sat on a high stool, and when the bartender turned to him, he first looked stunned, then delighted and greeted him warmly.


    They spoke in French, which Lujing Shen could understand, but he wasn¡¯t in the mood to listen.


    ¡°Feng, long time no see. Are you working in Paris again?¡±


    ¡°Just here on vacation, leaving tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a shame. Without you, the business here is not as good as before.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see it. We were almost squeezed out just now.¡±


    ¡°How could that be? After all, we started a bet on who could win you first, but unfortunately, before we succeeded, you left. It¡¯s really sad.¡±


    ¡°I can see that you enjoyed the gambling winnings.¡±


    ¡°So, is this person next to you the little sweetheart you¡¯ve been looking for?¡±


    ¡°Does he look like my little sweetheart?¡±


    Feng Si bantered casually, received a cocktail from the bartender, and handed one to Lujing Shen.


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t take it and looked around coldly. All he saw was chaos, filth, and a bizarre scene. Everyone was indulging in a wild party, kissing one person and then flirting with another without any restraint.


    Perhaps Feng Si had been part of that before, embracing one blurred face after another in this place.


    It made Lujing Shen nauseous.


    Feng Si tilted his head, the wine glass now in front of him. ¡°Care for a drink?¡±


    Lujing Shen turned to look at him, his eyes filled with coldness. Feng Si seemed to hesitate, but before he could say anything, Lujing Shen turned and walked away quickly.


    Feng Si put down the wine glass, ignoring the bartender¡¯s calls behind him, and caught up with him.


    The bar was too crowded, and it was hard to move. Lujing Shen pushed through the crowd, brushing against people as he walked. Some even pinched him.


    The nauseating smell of alcohol, smoke, and perfume invaded his senses, making him more uncomfortable.


    Finally, when they left the bar and he could breathe fresh air, acid surged in his stomach, and he leaned against the railing on the side of the road, retching.


    Feng Si came forward, pulling him up forcefully. ¡°Alex!¡±


    Lujing Shen looked up, the redness in his eyes blending with the thick darkness of the night, showing a touch of pity.


    Feng Si stared at him with a complex expression. ¡°Is it really that hard to accept?¡±


    ¡°Let go of me,¡± Lujing Shen said.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze darkened, and he raised his hand, pressing gently at the corner of his eye.


    Lowering his head, he captured his lips.


    Lujing Shen reacted with a delay of two seconds, trying to push him away desperately, but Feng Si didn¡¯t give him a chance.


    He embraced Lujing Shen and fiercely bit his lips, pushing his tongue into his mouth, ravaging it.


    The overwhelming scent of Feng Si almost drove Lujing Shen to the brink of collapse. The more he resisted, the more fiercely Feng Si kissed him, leaving him with no chance to escape.


    As a bus slowly passed behind them, its headlights sweeping over them, Lujing Shen opened his eyes, and in that moment of light, he saw Feng Si staring at him with a calm yet crazy look.


    The kiss turned into a tug of war, one refusing to let go, the other unwilling to release.


    The long kiss continued until the group of people joking outside the bar changed. Finally, Feng Si let go of Lujing Shen¡¯s lips, his breath also unsteady. ¡°Do you find this disgusting?¡± he asked.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°yes.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Feng Si inquired.


    ¡°I just do,¡± Lujing Shen emphasized, gritting his teeth, ¡°I¡¯m not like you people.¡±


    Feng Si responded, ¡°If you¡¯re referring to sexual orientation, you willingly kissed and slept with me back then. It wasn¡¯t me forcing you; you volunteered. So you and I are the same. And if you¡¯re talking about their lifestyle, I¡¯m not the same as those people either.¡±


    ¡°Alex, I¡¯m quite selective. I don¡¯t just take anyone.¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s mind was a mess, and he couldn¡¯t fully grasp what Feng Si was saying, or perhaps he didn¡¯t believe it at all.


    Seeing that he couldn¡¯t force Lujing Shen any further, Feng Si placed a hand on his shoulder, attempting to calm him down. ¡°Look at me.¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s eyes were even redder now, and Feng Si sighed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, you don¡¯t like it here. Let¡¯s find another place to drink.¡±


    Twenty minutes later, Feng Si bought a dozen beers and sat with Lujing Shen on the steps outside a nearby church.


    Opening a can, foam splashed all over his hand, but he didn¡¯t mind and handed it to Lujing Shen. ¡°Can you drink this?¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s mood had settled a bit, replaced by an inexplicable mix of emotions. He looked at the beer offered to him for a moment before reaching out to take it.


    He held the beer can in his hand but didn¡¯t drink. He watched as Feng Si opened another can and brought it to his lips. The liquid slid down his throat as he drank, and he casually licked the foam from his lips.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s gaze flickered, and his mind drifted back to the previous kiss.


    The feeling of their lips still lingered, and Lujing Shen couldn¡¯t describe how he felt. The scenes from the bar still made him uncomfortable, but he couldn¡¯t deny that he didn¡¯t feel repulsed by Feng Si¡¯s kiss and touch.


    After seven years, one kiss, and he was completely affected.


    Seeing Lujing Shen lost in thought, Feng Si¡¯s hand moved, and the icy beer can touched his face. Lujing Shen instinctively turned his head away, his brows slightly furrowed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t always look so bitter,¡± Feng Si said, drinking his beer and nonchalantly reminding him, ¡°You¡¯re always so rigid, and that¡¯s why you can never have fun.¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s tone was cold. ¡°I don¡¯t need your advice.¡±


    Feng Si looked at him and asked, ¡°Are you so afraid of people knowing that you¡¯re gay? Is being gay something to be ashamed of?¡±


    After a moment of silence, Lujing Shen stood up. Feng Si reached out to pull him back down. ¡°Don¡¯t leave. If you don¡¯t want to listen to me, fine. Let¡¯s just drink.¡±


    Lujing Shen asked, ¡°Do we have to drink here?¡±


    ¡°Then where should we drink?¡± Feng Si moved closer and smiled at him, returning to his unserious self. ¡°Should we go back to your hotel room, Lujing? Drink there?¡±


    His gaze fell to Lujing Shen¡¯s lips, and he couldn¡¯t help but recall the previous kiss, feeling a bit regretful that he let him go so easily.


    With their faces so close, Lujing Shen could almost feel Feng Si¡¯s breath. Even his unfiltered thoughts were clear.


    Turning his head, Feng Si¡¯s lips brushed against his ear. ¡°What were you thinking when you were staring at me just now?¡±

 CH 22

    Back at the hotel, Lujing Shen silently swiped his card to open the door, and Feng Si, with his hands in his pockets, observed his actions. As the door opened, Feng Si pulled him back.


    Lujing Shen turned around. ¡°Is there something else?¡±


    Feng Si tilted his head slightly. ¡°Are you really upset with me tonight?¡±


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t want to talk about it and shook his head slightly.


    Feng Si said, ¡°If you¡¯re upset, just say so. I won¡¯t take you to such places again. Let me apologize.¡±


    Lujing Shen was taken aback, not expecting him to say that.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that expression? Are you surprised I said sorry?¡± Feng Si said, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry i took you to such a place. I shouldn¡¯t have taken you there and made you uncomfortable. There won¡¯t be a next time.¡±


    Seeing that Lujing Shen didn¡¯t respond, Feng Si added, ¡°Do you also want to firmly draw a line between us?¡±


    Lujing Shen said, ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­You can go rest now.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°So, you¡¯re not angry anymore?¡±


    Lujing Shen retorted, ¡°Does it matter if I¡¯m angry or not? Just go back.¡±


    The more he pretended to be calm, the itchier Feng Si felt. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? It¡¯s not that late. Besides, you being angry with me makes me so sad, Lujing, and it takes so much effort to satisfy you.¡±


    Lujing Shen couldn¡¯t help but frown, and Feng Si called him by his name. ¡°Alex, you still haven¡¯t answered me. What were you thinking when you were staring at me?¡±


    Lujing Shen was a little annoyed. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel shameless?¡±


    Feng Si pondered for a moment, then said with thick-skinned confidence, ¡°If you mean me kissing you, well, we¡¯ve done it countless times before, so it¡¯s not like it¡¯s the first time. You never rejected me before.¡±


    Lujing Shen wasn¡¯t interested in continuing the conversation. As he closed the door, Feng Si reached out to stop him, grabbing his arm.


    Staring into Lujing Shen¡¯s eyes, Feng Si suddenly turned serious. ¡°Please Alex, it¡¯s your vacation, just two weeks. Can you temporarily forget your identity and become the person you used to be?¡±


    Lujing Shen was instantly speechless.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t speak, I¡¯ll take it as you agreeing,¡± Feng Si said as he took a step forward, pushing Lujing Shen against the wall by the door and did what he had wanted to do again since earlier ¨C he leaned over and kissed him.


    Skillfully parting Lujing Shen¡¯s lips, Feng Si indulged in a passionate tongue kiss without any reservations. Lujing Shen couldn¡¯t muster the strength to refuse, and he realized that Feng Si had gotten his way again without him even realizing it.


    Feng Si held one of his wrists and used the other hand to roam his waist and ass, touching all his sensitive spots.


    Lujing Shen couldn¡¯t take it anymore and tried to push him away, but Feng Si held him tighter and intensified the kiss.


    Every part of their lips and tongues was explored, and Feng Si forcefully teased his mouth, leaving him no chance to catch his breath or struggle.


    The kiss didn¡¯t last long, and when it ended, Feng Si slightly pulled away, gazing at Lujing Shen¡¯s dazed eyes. He lightly brushed his lips and asked, ¡°Alex, are you enjoying it?¡±


    The serious person from a moment ago now started talking nonsense again. Feng Si patted Lujing Shen¡¯s asscheeks and asked in a crude manner, ¡°Do you want it here?¡±


    Lujing Shen took a breath and gradually regained his composure, responding in a hoarse voice, ¡°Enough.¡±


    Feng Si let go of him with a satisfied grin. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll leave. Rest well and good night.¡±


    He turned and left decisively, leaving Lujing Shen standing alone in place. He closed the door with force as he entered the room.


    However, that night, Lujing Shen still couldn¡¯t sleep well. He kept dreaming throughout the night, and the same scene played in his dreams ¨C he hugged, kissed, and made love to the same man over and over again.


    It was always him and Feng Si, even the scenes that made him particularly uncomfortable in his dreams featured him, unabashedly indulging in passion without any restraint.


    He was drowning in desire, unable to wake up.


    When Lujing Shen opened his eyes, it was still before six in the morning. The scenes from his dreams lingered in his mind, and he could remember every detail clearly.


    He covered his eyes with his arm and thought despairingly that he really was unsatisfied, he had been all along.


    Even the toys he brought with him and threw away by himself couldn¡¯t satisfy the increasingly restless desire inside him. Since the day he met Feng Si again, it seemed that this day was destined to come.


    At the airport tarmac, Feng Si was conducting pre-flight checks under the aircraft.


    Lin Ling approached him, going up and down the aircraft stairs before joining him.


    Feng Si turned around and casually greeted her.


    Lin Ling seemed a bit embarrassed, her eyes were still a bit swollen from crying yesterday, concealed under dark eye makeup. She asked Feng Si, ¡°Captain Feng, you didn¡¯t tell me you were gay just to reject me, did you?¡±


    Feng Si was helpless. ¡°How could that be? Do you think I need to lie about something like that?¡±


    Lin Ling looked him up and down, as if she understood something. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to be interested in pursuing Mr Lu, right?¡±


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow. ¡°Is it that obvious?¡±


    Lin Ling replied, ¡°¡­¡±


    The girl¡¯s expression was hard to explain in words, and after a while, she said, ¡°So that¡¯s it. I must have been blind. I thought I was the one taking on a challenging task, but it turns out you were the one all along. Well then, I wish you success.¡±


    Feng Si smiled. ¡°Thanks for the good wishes.¡±


    When Lujing Shen came over, he witnessed that friendly scene of them chatting and laughing.


    Feng Si saw him first and reminded Lin Ling, ¡°The boss is here.¡±


    Lin Ling hadn¡¯t expected Lujing Shen to arrive early, so she quickly put away her joking attitude and went to meet him at the aircraft exit.


    Lujing Shen walked over and gestured to her, ¡°You go ahead.¡±


    Lin Ling glanced at Feng Si, seeing that he had a smile only for the two of them, she couldn¡¯t stand that sticky affection and quickly boarded the plane.


    Feng Si waved the inspection sheet in his hand and said to Lujing Shen, ¡°Mr Lu, I haven¡¯t finished my work yet.¡±


    Lujing Shen calmly said, ¡°Carry on with your work.¡±


    Feng Si continued with the remaining checks, and Lujing Shen accompanied him. When they walked to the rear of the aircraft, they avoided the sight of the maintenance crew. Feng Si turned around, and his gaze fell on Lujing Shen.


    That day, Lujing Shen was dressed in a casual suit with the wind blowing open the jacket, revealing the waistline wrapped in a dark gray shirt.


    Feng Si stepped closer, raised his hand to button up his jacket, and stared into his eyes. ¡°Did you not sleep well last night? Why are there dark circles?¡±


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t avoid Feng Si¡¯s gaze. ¡°I agreed to your proposal last night.¡±


    His voice was soft, covered by the sound of the wind, and Feng Si almost thought he misheard.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Lujing Shen raised his chin slightly. ¡°Just for these two weeks.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°Oh?¡±


    After Lujing Shen said this, he seemed to relax and let Feng Si continue his work. He boarded the plane first.


    Feng Si raised his eyes and watched Lujing Shen gradually disappearing into the cabin through the gangway. The narrow eyes under the pilot¡¯s cap narrowed slightly, showing a faint smile.


    They would land in Southern France in two hours. As he said goodbye to the others, Feng Si added, ¡°See you in two weeks.¡±


    The open-minded senior captain teased him with a smile, ¡°Have a pleasant vacation!¡±


    Lin Ling also smiled and said, ¡°Captain Feng, I wish you all the best and have fun.¡±


    Feng Si didn¡¯t even blush. ¡°Same to you.¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    Lujing Shen was waiting for him outside when he got off the plane. Feng Si approached him, and Lujing Shen was standing at the airport exit, lost in thought.


    Feng Si asked him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you call for a car to pick us up?¡±


    Lujing Shen replied, ¡°I forgot.¡±


    In fact, he hadn¡¯t forgotten. Before coming there, he hadn¡¯t decided if he really wanted to take Feng Si with him, so he hadn¡¯t arranged for someone to pick them up.


    The private jet airport was in a remote location, and they could only ask for ground services to arrange a car to take them to their destination. Feng Si thought for a moment and suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we borrow a car from the airport and drive ourselves there?¡±


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t mind and said, ¡°You decide.¡±


    Feng Si went to communicate with the ground services, and Lujing Shen followed him. His gaze swept over and noticed a contraceptive and adult product stand in a corner.


    With a slight hesitation, he walked over to take a look. The items displayed in the showcase were not many, but they had a complete variety.


    Lujing Shen glanced over the rows of products and didn¡¯t expect to find a stand specifically selling those items at a small private jet airport. Perhaps it was because they were in France, a country known for its liberal and open-minded culture.


    He inserted a coin, and without much thought, he picked something up and casually stuffed it into his luggage.


    When Feng Si came back and saw his actions, a barely noticeable smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. ¡°The car is ready. Shall we go now?¡±


    Lujing Shen nodded.


    The car Feng Si borrowed was a convertible. As he got in the car, he wanted to smoke and asked Lujing Shen, ¡°Do you mind if I smoke?¡±


    Lujing Shen took off his suit jacket, unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, and rolled up the sleeves a bit, finally looking more relaxed.


    The weather in late October in Southern France was still warm enough, and nearing noon, the sunlight was scorching. It shone on Lujing Shen¡¯s face, creating a halo around the upturned corners of his eyes. He turned to look at Feng Si and paused, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Feng Si smirked and lit a cigarette, starting the car.


    The sports car drove along the coastal road, and the azure coastline stretched out before them. French folk songs filled the car¡¯s speakers, and even the breeze that brushed past them seemed to carry the growing warmth of their emotions, becoming especially enchanting.


    Lujing Shen leaned back in his seat, his gaze shifting from the scenery outside to the person beside him. Feng Si was driving with a cigarette in his mouth, displaying a carefree demeanor that matched his personality.


    ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡± Feng Si glanced at him with a teasing smile.


    After a moment of silence, Lujing Shen said, ¡°Give me one too.¡±


    Feng Si held the half-smoked cigarette between his fingers and handed it over to him.


    Lujing Shen hesitated for a moment but reached out to take it. As he brought the cigarette to his lips and took a slow drag, he choked a little.


    The taste was stimulating, and it seemed to be the same brand as the one Feng Si used to smoke years ago. At that time, he was often choked by that smell but also became infatuated with it. Whenever Feng Si approached him with the smell of tobacco on him, it would stir up the suppressed desires in his body, rendering him unable to resist.


    And now, he was experiencing that scent again, still brought to him by Feng Si.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s fingers trembled slightly as he bit down on the end of the cigarette that Feng Si had been holding. He closed his eyes and let his mind wander, immersed in the moment.

 CH 23

    Passing by a small town, Feng Si stopped the car and asked Lujing Shen to wait inside as he went to buy cigarettes.


    ¡°Just had the last one,¡± he reminded Lujing Shen. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon. Stay here.¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s gaze followed him as he turned and saw Feng Si casually chatting and laughing with someone inside the cigarette shop. Five minutes later, when he came out, he had not only bought a pack of cigarettes but also two bottles of mineral water.


    He threw one bottle to Lujing Shen, sat back in the car, twisted open the cap of the mineral water bottle with one hand, and skillfully unwrapped the cigarette pack with the other.


    ¡°Do you want more cigarettes?¡± he asked with a smile while looking at the person who had been staring at him.


    Lujing Shen asked, ¡°Do you know the people here too?¡±


    ¡°kinda,¡± Feng Si said nonchalantly, ¡°I came here once two years ago with some friends on a road trip. We passed by this town and bought cigarettes at this shop. At the time, I didn¡¯t have enough change, so I bought a lottery ticket. I didn¡¯t take it with me and gave it to the shop owner. He just told me that the lottery ticket won him a hundred thousand euros. So, he remembered me. He recognized me as soon as I walked in, and the cigarettes and mineral water are his treat, free of charge.¡±


    Lujing Shen looked at him, seemingly not entirely convinced. Feng Si casually lit a cigarette and flicked the ash off. ¡°It¡¯s true. Do you think I¡¯m making up stories to amuse you?¡±


    ¡°A hundred thousand euros¡­ and you gave it away?¡± Lujing Shen¡¯s tone sounded like he couldn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°At the time, I didn¡¯t know it would win,¡± Feng Si said dismissively. ¡°It was just a hundred thousand euros.¡±


    ¡°And also,¡± he continued, ¡°a person¡¯s luck is conserved. If I receive a windfall and give it away, maybe I¡¯ll get some other good luck from elsewhere.¡±


    He said that cryptically, and Lujing Shen pondered for a moment but couldn¡¯t figure out what he was hinting at. He was too lazy to ask again, redirected Feng Si, and instructed him to continue driving forward.


    Twenty minutes later, the car entered a sprawling estate nestled among green hills and clear waters.


    Vast vineyards could be seen, and workers were busy with the final stages of the harvest. Further ahead was a European-style castle, hidden at the foot of the mountain and out of sight.


    When they got out of the car, Feng Si looked around. Without someone to guide them, they would hardly have found their way there.


    After Lujing Shen explained some matters to the estate steward who came to greet them, he left, and Feng Si called him back, ¡°Alex, in the past, what month did you usually come here for vacation?¡±


    Lujing Shen hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Early March.¡±


    After the Spring Festival, the company had the least amount of work, so he had time to travel there. Also, during March, there were fewer workers on that side of the estate, unlike in the last two months, when people were everywhere for the grape harvest season.


    But what Feng Si was thinking about was something else: two years ago, he also passed through that small town in early March.


    Perhaps that was the moment when he was closest to Lujing Shen in over seven years.


    Not finding him,he spent another two years, circling half the globe, before finally reaching this point.


    If it weren¡¯t for a bit of luck, he didn¡¯t know how many more years he would have to travel.


    ¡°It seems like we¡¯ve come at the wrong time,¡± Feng Si smiled and said, ¡°I hope we won¡¯t be interrupting anyone¡¯s work.¡±


    Lujing Shen said lightly, ¡°It will be over in a few days, and the vineyards and winery are on the outskirts of the estate. No one will come here.¡±


    Even the steward and the maids cleaning the castle had just taken their time off.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Feng Si¡¯s smile held a deeper meaning. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you show me around and give me a tour?¡±


    Lujing Shen turned around. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    They descended along the spiral staircase, leading to the underground wine cellar. The aroma of wine mixed with a cool breeze greeted them.


    Feng Si¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of the cellar, which contained at least tens of thousands of bottles of fine wine.


    He casually picked up a bottle from the wine rack, looked at the origin and year, and asked Lujing Shen, ¡°With so much wine, you can¡¯t possibly drink it all by yourself?¡±


    ¡°It can be air freighted back to the country; there are many places it can be used,¡± Lujing Shen explained absentmindedly, showing little interest in discussing the topic further.


    Feng Si asked, ¡°How did you come up with the idea of buying this winery?¡±


    Lujing Shen fell silent for a moment, not answering.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t press him, saying, ¡°Shall we open two bottles and try them?¡±


    Lujing Shen nodded slightly.


    Feng Si selected a few bottles and skillfully opened and aired them. ¡°Every time you come here, you don¡¯t bring a friend to enjoy the wine together. Isn¡¯t it more enjoyable to share it with someone?¡±


    Lujing Shen remained silent, and Feng Si handed him a glass of wine. ¡°Please.¡±


    As if he were the owner of that wine cellar.


    Lujing Shen accepted it, avoiding his overly focused gaze, and took a sip.


    ¡°Why are you in such a hurry, Mr Lu?¡± Feng Si leaned against the wall, looking at him with a smile, holding his wine glass out for a light touch. ¡°Let¡¯s drink together.¡±


    Lujing Shen hesitated for a moment, then looked back at him and brought the wine to his lips again. The red wine flowed into his mouth, its rich and mellow aroma even more intoxicating than before.


    For the rest of the afternoon, they continued to taste the wines in the cellar.


    Lujing Shen was knowledgeable in that area, and he could discern even the most subtle differences in wine quality. As a result, he was quite picky.


    Feng Si, on the other hand, didn¡¯t pay much attention to such details, relying entirely on his intuition to pick wines from the shelf. Surprisingly, each wine he chose satisfied Lujing Shen.


    In a way, they did indeed have a natural understanding of each other.


    After drinking a bit too much wine, Lujing Shen felt a little dizzy and sleepy. He returned to his room on the third floor and quickly fell asleep. Seeing how soundly he was sleeping, Feng Si didn¡¯t disturb him and walked to the window to pull back the curtains.


    In front of them lay a vast sunflower field, basking in the sunlight and stretching towards the distant lake.


    Feng Si squinted his eyes and looked for a while before reminiscing about something from the past.


    When they first set out on their journey, they had driven past a sunflower field just like the one before them. They got out of the car and wandered among the flowers, enjoying the afterglow of the sunset. Naturally, they embraced, kissed, and made love in that field of flowers.


    It was their first time together, just one week after they had met as strangers.


    When Lujing Shen woke up, Feng Si was sitting on the couch playing with his phone. Hearing some movement, he turned his head and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Awake?¡±


    Lujing Shen was a bit dazed for a moment, then nodded and got up to wash his face in the bathroom.


    Feng Si followed him and leaned against the door. ¡°What do you want for dinner? Since you¡¯ve given the staff time off, we¡¯ll have to cook for ourselves.¡±


    Lujing Shen splashed some cold water on his face and shook his head. ¡°Anything is fine. The kitchen has everything you need; you decide.¡±


    ¡°I have to say,¡± Feng Si pulled him up and looked at his face, water droplets and shimmering eyes. He chuckled, ¡°You seem a bit off today, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Lujing Shen allowed him to hand him a towel to wipe his face, and he closed his eyes lightly.


    Feng Si had a faint sense that since Lujing Shen had agreed to his proposal earlier in the day, there had been a subtle change in the atmosphere between them.


    Lujing Shen had agreed, and there was no hint of regret.


    Feng Si curved his lips and gently pressed at the corner of his eyes.


    After going downstairs to the kitchen, Feng Si rummaged around casually. All the ingredients were there, already prepared by the steward in advance. It wouldn¡¯t be a problem even if they were isolated there for two months.


    He rolled up his sleeves. ¡°Let¡¯s cook dinner together.Let¡¯s give it a try. Don¡¯t judge me too harshly if it doesn¡¯t turn out well, Mr Lu.¡±


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t object and came forward after taking off his jacket to help him.


    Feng Si looked at him with a smile and didn¡¯t say anything.


    After making dinner together, as the evening descended, they walked out from the back of the castle and strolled through the sunflower field.


    Lujing Shen remained silent all the way, and Feng Si turned back to ask him, ¡°Did you have someone plant these?¡±


    Lujing Shen replied, ¡°This sunflower field was already here when I bought the winery.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Feng Si¡¯s tone sounded somewhat regretful. ¡°I thought there was some special meaning behind it.¡±


    Lujing Shen knew what Feng Si was referring to. When he bought the winery, he was immediately drawn to that field of flowers. Perhaps there was some special meaning, or perhaps not, but only there, he could find a moment of relaxation and peace.


    He had never imagined that one day he would bring Feng Si there.


    ¡°The sun is setting soon,¡± Feng Si suddenly said.


    Lujing Shen snapped out of his thoughts and followed Feng Si¡¯s gaze. The twilight was beautiful, the setting sun cast a warm glow, and the clouds on the horizon merged with the dusky sky.


    The bells from the church on the mountain rang out, faintly carried by the wind.


    Lost in thought for a moment, Lujing Shen turned his gaze back to Feng Si. ¡°What is it, Alex?¡±


    Feng Si took a step forward, his tall figure casting a shadow over Lujing Shen, forcing him to meet his gaze. ¡°Were you daydreaming again just now?¡±


    Lujing Shen replied, ¡°¡­No.¡±


    Feng Si came almost face to face with him and said, ¡°You were definitely daydreaming. You seem really off today, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Being too close, Lujing Shen¡¯s breathing became slightly uneasy. He was drawn to Feng Si¡¯s intense gaze, those black and bright eyes captivating him. After a moment, he finally spoke, ¡°No.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°With you acting like this, I feel like kissing you.¡±


    Before Lujing Shen could react, Feng Si pulled him closer by the waist and leaned in to kiss him naturally.


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t refuse.


    Sensing his compliance, Feng Si pulled him even closer, and their kisses became more and more lingering.


    A quiet and prolonged kiss, and when they parted, not only Lujing Shen but even Feng Si¡¯s breath was in disarray.


    Feng Si¡¯s fingers lightly brushed against Lujing Shen¡¯s lips, a smile appearing in his eyes. ¡°Do you want to go back?¡±


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t answer, staring at him in a daze.


    Feng Si withdrew his hand. ¡°Then let¡¯s go back.¡±


    As Feng Si turned around, Lujing Shen reached out and grabbed his arm.


    Feng Si turned back, raising an eyebrow.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s fingers tightened, and he struggled to speak, ¡°I accept your proposal.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°I know?¡±


    His throat rolled, and he finally said, ¡°So make love to me like you used to, take me.¡±

 CH 24

    Tumbling into the flower field, Feng Si¡¯s fingers lightly traced Lujing Shen¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple, slowly moving to his ear, feeling the warmth of his touch. He gazed down at the person beneath him, who was breathing heavily, struggling to focus his gaze. Even though nothing had happened yet, Feng Si¡¯s focused stare was enough to make him excited.


    Passion surged within them, choking their breath, and he felt the same unrestrained heat coming from Feng Si¡¯s body, causing him to go weak all over.


    Feng Si¡¯s kisses landed on the mole next to his ear, making Lujing Shen unable to resist moaning. He placed his hand on Feng Si¡¯s arm and absentmindedly caressed it.


    Feng Si pressed down his hand and whispered into Lujing Shen¡¯s ear, ¡°Are you in a hurry?¡±


    He himself was at the edge of his patience, but facing Lujing Shen finally revealing his true desire, he deliberately teased him, ¡°Can¡¯t handle it anymore?¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s breaths grew heavier, and he turned his head. The glaring light from the setting sun made him instinctively blink, and in his hazy vision, he saw Feng Si¡¯s teasing eyes.


    His throat rolled unconsciously, and he raised his hand, forcefully pulling down Feng Si¡¯s collar, and then he leaned up to kiss him.


    Their kiss was much more intense than before, their lips and tongues dancing and their breaths intertwining. Lujing Shen eagerly swallowed the taste of the other person, wanting more desperately. His hands haphazardly tore open Feng Si¡¯s shirt buttons, hooking under his shoulders, and pressing himself against him.


    Feng Si embraced Lujing Shen¡¯s waist, soothing his sensitive lower back.


    The clothes were in a mess, and Lujing Shen¡¯s body was fully exposed. Feng Si¡¯s hand moved from behind to the front, rubbing against his crotch, lightly pinching the below his pelvis, and he couldn¡¯t stop caressing, causing Lu Jingshen beneath him to tremble uncontrollably.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s voice was low and hoarse, ¡°The stuff is in my clothes pocket.¡±


    He even refused Feng Si¡¯s intention to help him first, grabbing Feng Si¡¯s hand, and looking at him with eager eyes.


    Feng Si felt confident enough in his self-control, but he was still tempted by Lujing Shen¡¯s gaze .It was the same back then. No matter how restrained he was in ordinary times, when it came to intimate situations, he had a way of seducing others, easily hooking them in.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s legs were wrapped around his waist, and at this point, Feng Si had no intention of holding back.


    The fragrance of sunflowers lingered in the air, mixed with another scent, strong and fiery, the smell of desire entwined, making them intoxicated, unable to extricate themselves.


    The shadows cast by the setting sun cut them off from the real world. On one side, it was the hazy twilight and the quiet surroundings, while on the other side, desire filled the air, passion difficult to restrain.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s rationality had long been burned away, leaving only instinctual moans and gasps. Sweat streamed down his forehead, but his whole body felt like it was walking on clouds, brought to the peak again and again by Feng Si embracing him.


    Feng Si left one deep and heavy mark after another on him. The pain and pleasure mixed together, but Lujing Shen could bear it. He even enjoyed it, truly feeling that he was being possessed by Feng Si.


    Feng Si pressed him down and flipped him over. He kissed down his spine, even lit a cigarette, and the ashes shook off onto Lujing Shen¡¯s back, making him flinch slightly from the heat. This kind of stimulation, however, made Lujing Shen even more excited, and his waist trembled incessantly. The deepest desires hidden within his body were stirred, surging like a tidal wave, causing him to drown completely in them.


    Every aspect of Lujing Shen¡¯s emotions fell into Feng Si¡¯s eyes, and he also lost control. He bent down and fiercely bit Lujing Shen¡¯s neck.


    It was like the complete marking and possession between wild beasts.


    The last trace of twilight on the horizon disappeared, and night fell.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s body was drenched in sweat, as if he had been pulled out from water. Feng Si carried him back and they had another round of passion in the bathroom.


    When it was all over, the sky had turned completely dark.


    Feng Si pushed open the terrace door, lit another cigarette, his upper body bare. The night temperature dropped, but he seemed unfazed by the cold.


    Lujing Shen followed, wrapped in a bathrobe. The part from his neck to his collarbone was exposed, covered in shallow and deep marks.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze lingered on him, and the faint spark on the cigarette end reflected in his eyes, flashing intermittently.


    Lujing Shen took a cigarette from the cigarette box he casually threw on the terrace table, bit into it, and leaned towards him.


    Feng Si remained motionless, staring at the person in front of him.


    Lujing Shen lowered his eyes slightly, his eyelashes trembling gently. The end of his cigarette approached Feng Si¡¯s, and as the flames flickered, his cigarette was lit.


    Feng Si chuckled softly.


    Lujing Shen looked up at him.


    As Lujing Shen put out the cigarette from his hand, Feng Si also put out the one in his mouth. His empty hand wrapped around Lujing Shen¡¯s neck and kissed him.


    Their lips and tongues entangled, and the taste of the cigarette flowed between their teeth.


    It was a kiss without any desire, and it lasted a long time until the cigarette in Feng Si¡¯s hand burned down to his fingers, and he finally withdrew.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s eyes appeared particularly bright in the night, as if he was gazing intently at Feng Si.


    Feng Si teased him, ¡°Alex, the way you¡¯re looking at me, It¡¯s driving me so crazy right now¡±


    As he spoke, he pinched Lujing Shen¡¯s ass.


    Lujing Shen fell silent for a moment, turned his eyes away, and bit the cigarette back into his mouth.


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow, ¡°I haven¡¯t satisfied you enough yet?¡±


    Lujing Shen felt a bit embarrassed and still fixed his gaze out to the night.


    After suppressing his desires for so long, he finally experienced physical satisfaction, but the emptiness in his heart remained, and he still felt unsatisfied.


    Feng Si casually took away the half-smoked cigarette from him, and extinguished it in the ashtray with his own.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s cook some supper.¡±


    They went downstairs to the kitchen, and Feng Si found some ingredients from the fridge to make pasta.


    During their previous dinner, both of them were hiding their intentions, so they ate only half-heartedly. After such a wild encounter, not to mention Feng Si, even Lujing Shen was a bit hungry.


    As Feng Si prepared supper, Lujing Shen stood by and his gaze unintentionally fell on the marks on Feng Si¡¯s back ¨C several red scratch marks from their passionate sex earlier.


    The arousing scenes replayed in his mind, and Lujing Shen became absent-minded for a moment.


    Feng Si turned to see his strange expression and playfully teased, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    Lujing Shen returned to his senses and said unconsciously, licking his lips, ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Feng Si smiled and brushed his hand in front of Lujing Shen, ¡°If you still want more, just say it. Maybe I Didn¡¯t perform well . If you want, I can do better.¡±


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t want to respond to him.


    His legs were still trembling slightly, and he felt weak in the waist. He didn¡¯t want another round.


    A gust of wind blew in from outside, and Feng Si reached over to close the window. Lujing Shen¡¯s gaze followed his movement, landing on Feng Si¡¯s waist.


    The stretching movement revealed Feng Si¡¯s strong waistline without any doubt. Just like before, Lujing Shen had experienced the strength of that waist again. Not only did it not lose to the past, but because it now carried the meaning of retribution, Feng Si¡¯s movements were even rougher and more forceful. Lujing Shen could only passively endure.


    However, the more this happened, the more intense Lujing Shen¡¯s feelings became. It was something his hands and toys could never replace.


    Feng Si turned his head and saw him staring blankly, ¡°Are you sleepy? Didn¡¯t you nap well?¡±


    Lujing Shen frowned slightly, hiding his discomfort. His gaze became evasive, ¡°Go put on some clothes.¡±


    Feng Si noticed his reaction and asked, ¡± Didn¡¯t you help me take them off earlier?¡±


    Lujing Shen replied, ¡°¡­Aren¡¯t you cold?¡±


    Feng Si shrugged indifferently, ¡°not really.¡±


    Lujing Shen almost said something but stopped himself. He knew better than to argue with a rogue.


    After finishing supper, Lujing Shen went upstairs to his room. Before entering, Feng Si called him, ¡°Where am I sleeping?¡±


    Lujing Shen said, ¡°There are many rooms, just pick one. We cleaned them all before coming here.¡±


    ¡°This place feels empty and desolate,¡± Feng Si propped open the bedroom door and went in, ¡°Let¡¯s just sleep in the same room. It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t done it before.¡±


    Lujing Shen hesitated. His personality made him not adapt well to overly intimate relationships with others. Many times, he preferred and enjoyed being alone.


    Feng Si was an exception to him.


    During those three months in Africa, they had indeed slept together day and night, starting from the first day.


    Lost in thought, Lujing Shen followed Feng Si into the bathroom.


    After Feng Si finished brushing his teeth, he leaned close to Lujing Shen¡¯s ear, who was still in a daze, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you. Be quick.¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s eyes flickered, and Feng Si smiled and blinked at himself in the mirror before leaving first.


    When Lujing Shen came out, Feng Si was already sitting on the bed. Lujing Shen walked over, and Feng Si grabbed his hand unexpectedly, causing him to stumble and kneel on Feng Si¡¯s body.


    Feng Si held onto his waist with both hands, looking at him calmly.


    In that moment of meeting Feng Si¡¯s gaze, Lujing Shen¡¯s thoughts were pulled back to the scenes in the sunflower field, where he was held by Feng Si, sinking into the abyss of desire.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lujing Shen¡¯s voice was slightly unsteady, and his breath quickened.


    Feng Si noticed the red mark above his left collarbone, which he had left there earlier. He gently rubbed it with his finger and then kissed the spot.


    Lujing Shen gasped, raising his hand to grab Feng Si¡¯s hair.


    Feng Si¡¯s warm and wet tongue teased and licked his collarbone. He tore off Lujing Shen¡¯s bathrobe, and Lujing Shen couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, pushing him away.


    ¡°don¡¯t.¡±


    Feng Si chuckled, and raising his head, he propped one hand on the back of his head, pulling Lujing Shen down, ¡°Then let¡¯s just sleep.¡±


    Lujing Shen wanted to put on his pajamas, but Feng Si held him tight, ¡°Sleep like this, It¡¯s more comfortable.¡±


    Lujing Shen wasn¡¯t used to sleeping naked, but it wasn¡¯t the first time sleeping next to Feng Si like that either.


    He quietly lay down, feeling the warmth and breath of another person beside him, impossible to ignore.


    It wasn¡¯t the same as that day when he was sick and delirious, unable to refuse. He could clearly feel who was lying next to him now.


    No disgust, at least at that moment, he¡¯s willing to indulge himself.


    Feng Si lightly patted his back, ¡°Go to sleep, good night.¡±


    Lujing Shen closed his eyes and finally relaxed his mind, drifting off to sleep.

 CH 25

    When Fengsi opened his eyes, Lu Jingshen was still sound asleep, facing away from him. The blanket had slipped down, revealing a large mark on his exposed shoulder and back. Without the cover of darkness, the marks looked even clearer than they did last night.


    Fengsi reached out, gently caressing the spot on Lu Jingshen¡¯s shoulder blade with his fingers.


    He couldn¡¯t get enough, as if he was admiring and playing with a rare treasure that pleased him.


    Under this teasing touch, Lu Jingshen¡¯s body moved, and he slowly opened his eyes.


    The sensation of their skin touching was exceptionally vivid. Even in his half-awake state, he could feel the warmth emanating from behind him, causing him to tense up and stop moving.


    Fengsi leaned in and kissed the slightly raised shoulder blade.


    Almost instinctively, Lu Jingshen shrank back and turned to look at the person behind him.


    ¡°Good morning, Alex,¡± Fengsi murmured softly.


    The displeasure instantly dissipated, and Fengsi leaned closer, affectionately rubbing his nose against Lu Jingshen¡¯s.


    Lu Jingshen wasn¡¯t used to such intimacy. Even back then, Feng Si didn¡¯t seem so clingy. But as he placed his hand on Fengsi¡¯s shoulder, he didn¡¯t push him away.


    Their lower bodies pressed together, caressing and touching, and some reactions couldn¡¯t be concealed at all.


    Both Fengsi and Lu Jingshen were aware of it.


    Fengsi casually picked up the box from the bedside table and emptied its contents. ¡°Thi is the last one,¡± he said with obvious playfulness, as if deliberately teasing Lu Jingshen, ¡°What should we do? You bought too few. There were only five in a box, and we used four last night. This won¡¯t be enough.¡±


    Lu Jingshen closed his eyes, refusing to engage in that conversation.


    ¡°We are out,¡± Fengsi said close to his ear, ¡°It¡¯s alright, I don¡¯t mind going raw.¡±


    Lu Jingshen frowned and finally spoke, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to buy some?¡±


    When he looked back in Fengsi¡¯s eyes, Lu Jingshen realized he was being played again and pushed him away, ¡°Get up.¡±


    Fengsi calmly and forcefully pressed his hand down again, placing the last one in his hand, ¡°Help me put it on.¡±


    Lu Jingshen lightly licked his lips, pinched the item in his hand, and slowly tore open the packaging.


    Fengsi knelt upright, watching his movements.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s fingers trembled slightly as he reached out.


    As he pressed down, his hands touched Fengsi¡¯s toned chest, and he hesitantly wrapped his arms around him.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    At nine in the morning, the sunlight extended from the foot of the bed to the headboard. Lu Jingshen finally got out of bed, his feet feeling weak as they touched the carpet, and his calves still trembling.


    Fengsi reached out and supported his waist. ¡°Can you walk?¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned around to look at him, and Fengsi playfully stared back, his palm lightly rubbing his sore waist.


    Lu Jingshen brushed away his hand and headed into the bathroom.


    Fengsi smiled and followed.


    Before leaving, he reminded Lu Jingshen, ¡°It¡¯s a bit colder today than yesterday. Wear something warmer.¡±


    Lu Jingshen took a coat, and Fengsi said helplessly, ¡°You don¡¯t have anything else less formal to wear? Do you always wear this?¡±


    He had asked Liu Jie before, and according to her, Lu Jingshen seemed to always wear suits with shirts, just varying in thickness. In winter, he might add a coat, but even for a private vacation, he would wear casual suits in various shades of dark gray, black, or blue¡ªtedious and monotonous.


    However, Fengsi still remembered how Lu Jingshen looked when he was in his early twenties, wearing a simple T-shirt and long pants, carrying a travel bag, na?ve and innocent, like a student who had just walked out of the school gate. He could easily deceive him into getting into his car.


    Lu Jingshen hesitated, and Fengsi stepped forward, taking the coat from his hand and tossing it on the sofa. He then helped him remove the bothersome suit from his body and put on his own flight jacket, covering him with it. ¡°Wear this, it¡¯s just the right thickness.¡±


    Lu Jingshen lowered his head and caught a whiff of the mixture of tobacco and perfume on the clothes. For a moment, he felt stunned but didn¡¯t refuse.


    Fengsi was very satisfied, smiling brightly, ¡°You look much more vibrant like this. Young people shouldn¡¯t live their lives like a gloomy old man.¡±


    Lu Jingshen felt slightly uneasy, avoiding his gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    It was Fengsi¡¯s suggestion to visit the vineyard, and Lu Jingshen took him there.


    That day would be the last day of the grape harvest, and the workers were busy with the final rush. They walked around without disturbing anyone, eventually making their way deep into the vineyard.


    Layers of grapes climbed up the vines and extended in all directions, creating an endless sea of green. Fengsi picked one casually, threw it into his mouth, and tasted the faint sweetness and slight sourness. The taste wasn¡¯t particularly good.


    ¡°These are wine grapes,¡± Lu Jingshen reminded him, ¡°they¡¯re not the same variety as the eating grapes. They don¡¯t taste good. Don¡¯t eat them.¡±


    Fengsi picked one more and threw it into his mouth. ¡°I think it¡¯s not bad. Do you want to try?¡±


    Lu Jingshen shook his head, and Fengsi leaned closer, pushing him against the grape arbor.


    Their breaths entwined, and Fengsi stopped his movements, just looking at him in that position.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze flickered, almost holding his breath. Fengsi didn¡¯t make any further moves, his eyes gradually filled with a smile, as if he found Lu Jingshen¡¯s reaction amusing.


    Lu Jingshen felt a little annoyed, so he reached out, grabbing Fengsi¡¯s collar, and pulled him closer, taking the initiative to kiss him.


    Their teeth clashed, causing Lu Jingshen¡¯s brows to furrow due to the pain. However, he persisted without pulling away, using the kiss to vent his dissatisfaction with Fengsi¡¯s constant teasing.


    Fengsi allowed him to take the lead, his hand gently caressing Lu Jingshen¡¯s back as if to soothe him.


    After a while, Lu Jingshen¡¯s emotions gradually calmed down. When he tried to retreat, Fengsi wouldn¡¯t let him go. He caught up and, with a hot and wet tongue, hooked his lips and lightly bit his lower lip, pushing into his mouth, taking control.


    Different from Lu Jingshen¡¯s aggressive and overbearing kissing style, Fengsi¡¯s kiss was exceptionally gentle and affectionate. His tongue lightly swept over the soft flesh of Lu Jingshen¡¯s upper palate, teasing his sensitive nerves, and then engaging in a lingering dance with his tongue.


    That tenderness made it even harder for Lu Jingshen to resist. The tingling sensation spread from where Fengsi had kissed him to his throat, and further down to his heart.


    Breathing became difficult, and Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. He gasped, and Fengsi finally withdrew his lips from his mouth, still smiling with lips touching lips.


    Lu Jingshen regained his composure, feeling a bit embarrassed by his smile. He caught sight of some workers coming their way and pushed Fengsi away.


    Fengsi followed his gaze and casually pulled the corners of his mouth down, pulling Lu Jingshen to the other side, where the workers couldn¡¯t see them.


    Before Lu Jingshen could react, Fengsi turned his head and kissed him again.


    The workers stopped not far from them, talking and laughing while working.


    Lu Jingshen resisted the urge to push him away, but Fengsi forcefully pressed him against the grape arbor, causing his back to ache from the impact. The more Lu Jingshen resisted, the more fiercely Fengsi kissed him, not giving him any chance to refuse.


    Eventually, Lu Jingshen gave in and let Fengsi kiss him.


    After a long kiss, Fengsi pulled back slightly, his fingers caressing Lu Jingshen¡¯s swollen lips from his relentless kissing. ¡°Why hide?¡± Fengsi asked in a low voice, and Lu Jingshen was out of breath and didn¡¯t want to answer.


    ¡°Those workers probably don¡¯t recognize you, right? They definitely don¡¯t know me. Even if they see us, what does it matter?¡± Fengsi reminded him gently, ¡°Alex, relax a little, don¡¯t overthink it.¡±


    Lu Jingshen lowered his eyes, remaining silent for a moment before he twitched his lips, ¡°You¡¯re being cheeky cause I let you get away with this.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Fengsi laughed, ¡°Then what am I getting away with?¡±


    Lu Jingshen straightened up, tightly tugging at Fengsi¡¯s open jacket, ¡°Just be quiet.¡±


    He turned and walked away, with Fengsi following, ¡°Hey, when are you going to stop running away whenever you can¡¯t win an argument?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t respond.


    That morning, they continued to wander around the area, visiting the vineyard and taking a tour of the nearby winery. As it approached noon, they drove to the small town they passed through yesterday to have lunch and do some shopping.


    Entering a supermarket on the street, Fengsi grabbed a pile of snacks and drinks. Finally, he squatted in front of a shelf selling adult products, picking and choosing.


    Lu Jingshen stood next to him, feeling uneasy. That was the only relatively large supermarket in the small town, and it was Saturday, so there were quite a few people shopping. From time to time, people pushing carts passed by them, and perhaps it was just his imagination, but Lu Jingshen felt that those people were casting glances at them.


    Fengsi seemed completely unaware, or maybe he just didn¡¯t care, focusing on studying the various types and uses of the adult products.


    Lu Jingshen hesitated and thought of walking away, but Fengsi suddenly reached out and pulled him close, showing him something in his hand, ¡°This spray, do you want to try it?¡±


    Lu Jingshen glanced at it; it was a product used to enhance desire. He instinctively refused and directly put it back on the shelf.


    Fengsi, however, looked very eager, ¡°Buy one. I heard it¡¯s quite potent.¡±


    Lu Jingshen blurted out, ¡°Have you tried it?¡±


    ¡°I heard,¡± Fengsi reminded him, ¡°I heard from others, don¡¯t be jealous .¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t know if he was angry or embarrassed, his face looked quite unnatural, and his voice was not friendly, ¡°Why do you want to buy this? Are you not capable anymore and need to use this stuff?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re asking me?¡± Fengsi dragged his voice, ¡°i¡¯m sure you know if I¡¯m capable or not?¡±


    Lu Jingshen knew, and since last night until this morning, he had already experienced it deeply.


    He turned his face away, and there was a hint of blush on his ears, ¡°It¡¯s up to you.¡±


    ¡°I was just teasing you. Why would I buy something like this?,¡± Fengsi said with a smile, earning him a glare from Lu Jingshen.


    The expression was much more interesting than his usual icy demeanor, and Fengsi was very pleased to accept it, ¡°But if you really want to try it, buying a bottle isn¡¯t a big deal.¡±


    Lu Jingshen told him to ¡°try it if you want¡± and got up to grab some beer from another shelf.


    After five minutes, Fengsi wandered over with only essential items but holding five boxes of condoms, each containing five.


    Lu Jingshen tightened his grip on the beer can and averted his gaze, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±

 CH 26

    After a couple of absurd days, Feng Si finally let go of his grudge and suggested going somewhere farther away.


    They set off early in the morning, and when they got in the car, Lu Jingchen still seemed a bit sleepy, wrapped in Feng Si¡¯s flight jacket, leaning in the seat without moving.


    A bottle of ice-cold mineral water was pressed against his face, and Lu Jingchen turned his head to look at Feng Si, who was in the driver¡¯s seat, smiling at him. ¡°Didn¡¯t sleep well again? Do you want some water?¡±


    Lu Jingchen was a bit speechless.


    He slept around two or three in the morning last night; he wasn¡¯t entirely sure. It was rare to have a vacation, and yet he couldn¡¯t sleep well, all thanks to the person next to him.


    And he actually had the nerve to ask.


    Taking the water and unscrewing the cap, Lu Jingchen frowned. ¡°Just focus on driving¡±


    Feng Si stared at the bobbing Adam¡¯s apple and raised his gaze to Lu Jingchen¡¯s lips, slowly moistened by the water.


    He leaned closer, capturing Lu Jingchen¡¯s breath.


    Since that kiss outside the nightclub in Paris that night, Feng Si no longer hid his feelings. He always acted on his impulses without warning, coming close to kiss or doing more. Most of the time, Lu Jingchen would cooperate.


    But even if he didn¡¯t, it wouldn¡¯t stop Feng Si. He would be forceful if necessary, not willing to let him go.


    Tasting Lu Jingchen¡¯s lips slowly, Feng Si gazed into his eyes, and Lu Jingchen calmly met his gaze, as if intentionally challenging him.


    Lips pressed against lips, Feng Si chuckled softly. In the next second, his tongue forcefully invaded Lu Jingchen¡¯s mouth, turning the gentle intimacy into a dominant and aggressive conquest.


    As the kiss ended, Lu Jingchen leaned back against the seat, breathing unsteadily, and his voice struggled to come out. ¡°Can you drive now?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Feng Si started the car, still with a smile in his eyes.


    It was precisely because Lu Jingchen refused to back down that it made Feng Si want to tease him even more.


    Unfortunately, they had to go out; otherwise, he would have carried Lu Jingchen back to the house with him.


    As the car entered the coastal city, Lu Jingchen¡¯s eyes were drawn to the seagulls soaring along the coastline ahead. He was captivated by the sight for a moment.


    Feng Si next to him asked, ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    Lu Jingchen returned to his senses. ¡°The sea here looks bluer compared to the one in Norway, and it¡¯s not as desolate.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Feng Si looked at him and suddenly asked, ¡°How about the sea in Africa?¡±


    Lu Jingchen¡¯s expression flickered. ¡°¡­They¡¯re different.¡±


    Back then, they had only caught a glimpse of it.


    Feng Si smiled and turned his gaze back to the road, continuing to drive.


    They spent the morning touring the city and as it was approaching noon, Feng Si drove around the streets and alleys, looking for a place to eat.


    ¡°I was planning to have you recommend something, but you said you¡¯ve never been here, so in the end, I have to decide. Let¡¯s get off here.¡±


    Their car stopped at the bottom of a steep slope, with restaurants, bars, and cafes lining both sides of the road. Feng Si led Lu Jingchen up the slope, saying there was a local restaurant with authentic cuisine up ahead, so they went there.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here before?¡± Lu Jingchen asked with a hint of uncertainty, and Feng Si casually nodded, ¡°A few times.¡±


    ¡°Curious about who I came here with?¡± he tilted his head and asked.


    Lu Jingchen sensed his tone and seemed to anticipate that he might say, ¡°I won¡¯t tell you.¡± So, he calmly replied, ¡°i¡¯m not.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°If you¡¯re curious, just ask. If you ask me, I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    Lu Jingchen shook his head slightly, not allowing him to succeed.


    Feng Si¡¯s chosen restaurant was in the middle section of the slope, and the tables and chairs were set up directly along the street under the shade of umbrellas.


    As they sat down, Feng Si browsed the menu, and Lu Jingchen¡¯s gaze turned to the blue sky at the top of the slope, with a church¡¯s golden spire below. The scene was ordinary yet calming, and it brought him a rare sense of ease.


    Feng Si ordered for both of them, then said he would go to the restroom. Lu Jingchen nodded, content to sit alone for a while.


    Taking a sip of water, a white dove landed near his feet. Lu Jingchen looked down, and the dove raised its head as if gazing back at him.


    He picked up a piece of bread from the table and tried to flick it down to the dove. The greedy creature came close, attempting to snatch it directly from his hand. But in the process, it pecked his palm, causing a fleeting look of surprise in Lu Jingchen¡¯s eyes, captured by a shutter sound.


    Looking up, he saw Feng Si, who had returned without him noticing, holding a phone and smiling. ¡°Is it okay to take a picture of this?¡±


    Lu Jingchen pulled back his hand, and the dove didn¡¯t get the food, flapping its wings and flying away.


    Feng Si sat back down and handed him the photo he had just taken.


    Lu Jingchen, appearing a little silly in the picture, felt a bit uncomfortable. At that moment, Feng Si even thought that the seven years had not left any trace on him.


    It was just for that moment.


    Looking at himself in the photo, Lu Jingchen felt a bit awkward. ¡°Can you delete it?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°Why delete it? I¡¯ll keep it for myself. So i can look at it when we are not together¡±


    Hearing his reluctant tone, Lu Jingchen fell silent for a moment and changed his mind. ¡°As you wish.¡±


    Feng Si restrained his smile. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    After finishing their meal, they didn¡¯t go back to get the car. Instead, they continued walking up the slope.


    Feng Si had a cigarette in his mouth and spotted a small shop selling ice cream on the side of the street. He held onto Lu Jingchen and said, ¡°Let¡¯s try that.¡±


    Lu Jingchen¡¯s first reaction was to refuse, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just have dessert?¡±


    Feng Si went into the shop and came out five minutes later, holding a cone of creamy ice cream in one hand and an unextinguished cigarette in the other.


    Casually, he walked back to Lu Jingchen and alternated between taking a drag from the cigarette and a bite of the ice cream. It was an oddly mismatched combination, but somehow, it gave a strangely harmonious feeling.


    Lu Jingchen watched him approach, and Feng Si swallowed the smoke before him. ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    Lu Jingchen asked, ¡°¡­Are you smoking or eating ice cream?¡±


    Feng Si took a bite of the ice cream and offered it to Lu Jingchen. ¡°Want to taste?¡±


    The word ¡°no¡± was on Lu Jingchen¡¯s lips, but for some reason, he swallowed it back.


    He lowered his head and cautiously took a bite of the ice cream from Feng Si¡¯s hand. Subconsciously, he licked his lips, finding the taste too sweet and making him slightly uncomfortable.


    Feng Si¡¯s fingers made a circular motion, staring directly into Lu Jingchen¡¯s eyes. Following where Lu Jingchen had just licked, his tongue traced the same path.


    Lu Jingchen¡¯s breath hitched slightly, feeling the intense heat in Feng Si¡¯s gaze. The action of licking the ice cream seemed like a straightforward suggestion, igniting a surge of desire within him, making his palms even sweaty.


    The ice cream was offered to him again, and Feng Si asked, ¡°Want more?¡±


    With his eyes downcast, Lu Jingchen slowly licked it once more.


    Feng Si¡¯s eyes filled with amusement.


    They shared the ice cream together, and Lu Jingchen remained quiet, not looking at Feng Si again.


    Feng Si placed the cigarette back in his mouth, and his gaze darkened with the smoke.


    The ice cream quickly vanished, and just as Feng Si was considering whether to bring Lu Jingchen back to the car, Lu Jingchen spoke first, ¡°We¡¯re done, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Feng Si abandoned the idea; it was still a bit too early to do that.


    As they reached the top of the slope, they entered a church for a visit. Spotting a piano in the corner, Feng Si walked over and casually tapped a few keys. Lu Jingchen frowned, ¡°If you can¡¯t play, then don¡¯t touch it.¡±


    ¡°Do you know how?¡± Feng Si raised an eyebrow and motioned for him to sit down. ¡°Play something for me.¡±


    Lu Jingchen hesitated and played a brief tune.


    Feng Si leaned against the piano, watching him attentively.


    Lu Jingchen might not be a professional, but just sitting in front of the piano, he exuded an elegant air, resembling a true nobleman and captivating anyone who looked at him.


    ¡°Did you take lessons?¡± Feng Si asked.


    ¡°My mother taught me,¡± Lu Jingchen replied, shaking his head slightly. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I played.¡±


    Feng Si chuckled, ¡°I¡¯ve seen interviews with your mother before. Are you really her biological son? Your personalities are completely different. If you had even half of her open-mindedness and liveliness, your life would be much more colorful than it is now.¡±


    Lu Jingchen responded, ¡°If you¡¯re dissatisfied, you can find someone open-minded and lively. You don¡¯t have to stick with me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Feng Si bent down, getting close to him, and said, ¡°If I find someone else, what will you do? Will you be heartbroken?¡±


    His tone was playful, like a joke with no real intent.


    Suddenly feeling a bit uncomfortable, Lu Jingchen stood up and said with a cold voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    As they walked out of the church, someone called Feng Si¡¯s name.


    Lu Jingchen turned to look, and it was a young Asian girl smiling as she rushed over and jumped onto Feng Si¡¯s back. ¡°Why are you here? I thought I saw wrong. How come you didn¡¯t tell me you were coming here?¡±


    Feng Si held onto her with both hands, still smiling. ¡°Stop it, get down.¡±


    The girl coquettishly complained for a few more sentences before finally getting down from Feng Si¡¯s back. He ruffled her hair and put his arm around her shoulder, facing Lu Jingchen. ¡°Say hello.¡±


    Seeing Lu Jingchen, the girl¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Brother-in-law¡­¡±


    ¡°Call him Brother Shen,¡± Feng Si reminded her.


    The words ¡°Brother Shen¡± came sweetly from the girl¡¯s mouth, and Lu Jingchen¡¯s mind slowly rebooted. He mumbled, ¡°Hello.¡±


    The girl was about to say something, but Feng Si sent her to the nearby caf¨¦ first. ¡°We¡¯ll be there in five minutes.¡±


    After the girl left, Feng Si raised his hand and waved it in front of Lu Jingchen. ¡°Back to reality now? What were you thinking about?¡±


    Lu Jingchen silently looked at him, his emotions complicated.


    Feng Si clicked his tongue. ¡°You tell me to find someone else, yet you still get jealous even of my own sister?¡±

 CH 27

    At the caf¨¦:


    Feng Ting cautiously glanced at Lu Jingchen, while Feng Si was teasing her, ¡°Don¡¯t keep staring; it¡¯s not like he¡¯s yours.¡±


    ¡°¡­,¡± the girl pouted and asked Lu Jingchen with a smile, ¡°Brother Shen, what¡¯s your relationship with my brother?¡±


    ¡°Friends.¡±


    ¡°Boyfriend.¡±


    Lu Jingchen and Feng Si practically said it in unison. After saying it, Lu Jingchen¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment. Feng Si glanced at him and changed his words, ¡°I¡¯m just kidding; he¡¯s my boss.¡±


    The girl exclaimed, ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Lu Jingchen lightly pressed his lips and insisted, ¡°We¡¯re friends.¡±


    The girl didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment, and Feng Si laughed, ¡°Alright, what the boss says is true; we¡¯re friends. To be friends with the boss, I couldn¡¯t ask for more.¡±


    Lu Jingchen¡¯s brows slightly furrowed, and he fell silent.


    Feng Si took the opportunity to lecture his sister, ¡°Next time when you see me, don¡¯t jump onto me without even saying hello, and don¡¯t call me directly by my name; it can easily lead people to misunderstand our relationship.¡±


    The girl made a face at him, and Feng Si introduced her to Lu Jingchen, ¡°She¡¯s studying at the university here, majoring in music, so I¡¯ve been to this city several times before. If you had asked me earlier, I would have told you.¡±


    Feeling dissatisfied, the girl complained, ¡°Brother, you came here to have a vacation with your friend and didn¡¯t tell me. Just now, when I saw you at the church entrance, I thought I was mistaken. Are you afraid that I¡¯ll disturb your private time?¡±


    ¡°You know it¡¯s just a friend,¡± Feng Si said with a smile.


    The girl retorted, ¡°I thought you find me annoying. I don¡¯t even want to see you.¡±


    It seemed that both siblings were confusing the distinction between friend and boyfriend, perhaps unintentionally. Lu Jingchen couldn¡¯t get a word in, so he let it be.


    He discreetly sized up the girl. There was indeed some resemblance between her and Feng Si; the same restrained and narrow eyes on Feng Si¡¯s face appeared lively and spirited on her, which was quite fascinating.


    Suddenly, Lu Jingchen remembered a morning when he overheard Feng Si speaking tenderly and smiling on the balcony during a phone call. He had never known who was on the other end of the line, but now he was almost certain it must have been his sister.


    Thinking about this, Lu Jingchen felt a subtle and indescribable feeling, as if a trivial doubt that had been bothering him was silently resolved, making him feel inexplicably relieved.


    Curious, Feng Ting asked, ¡°I heard someone playing the piano outside the church just now, and then I saw you both coming out. It must have been Brother, not you, playing the piano, right?¡±


    Feng Si nodded, ¡°Yes, it was him.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± The girl looked at Lu Jingchen with admiration. ¡°Brother Shen, you play so well. Are you also studying music?¡±


    Feng Si reminded her, ¡°I¡¯ve already said he¡¯s my boss, the CEO of a big company. He doesn¡¯t have time to study music.¡±


    Lu Jingchen explained, ¡°It was just a coincidence. My skills are not good; I only learned for a short time before I stopped.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± Feng Ting disagreed. ¡°Brother Shen, you don¡¯t have to be modest. Skills are secondary; the key is spiritual expression, which comes from talent. I feel that the music you played had a lot of spirit. If my mentor heard it, he would say the same and regret that you didn¡¯t pursue it further.¡±


    Lu Jingchen didn¡¯t know how to respond to such direct praise from a girl who seemed to have no ulterior motive, especially when she was Feng Si¡¯s sister. It made the situation quite tricky for him.


    Seeing Lu Jingchen¡¯s confusion, Feng Si intervened to rescue him, changing the topic to talk about other things with his sister, asking if she had received the postcards. Feng Ting happily nodded and took out the postcards Feng Si had sent her, saying she thought she wouldn¡¯t be able to complete the set, but luckily he bought the missing one during his trip to Northern Europe.


    Feng Si casually said, ¡°I happened to come across it and bought it to save you from worrying.¡±


    Lu Jingchen¡¯s gaze fell on the postcard she showed him, one of the two postcards Feng Si bought that day at the restaurant.


    Feng Ting then took out another postcard and handed it to Lu Jingchen, saying, ¡°Brother Shen, could you write a good luck message for me? Write it on this postcard.¡±


    ¡°Write a good luck message?¡± Lu Jingchen asked.


    Feng Ting folded her hands together and pleaded, ¡°I¡¯m going to have exams soon, so I want to collect good luck messages to help me pass.¡±


    Although Lu Jingchen couldn¡¯t fully understand her somewhat superstitious mindset, he didn¡¯t refuse. He looked at the postcard, on which Feng Si had drawn a smiley face. He remembered that day at the restaurant; the person seemed to have written for quite a while, but on a different postcard.


    ¡°Write it in English,¡± Feng Ting reminded him.


    Lu Jingchen took out a pen and started writing on the postcard. Feng Ting noticed the pen in his hand and asked curiously, ¡°Is this my brother¡¯s pen? I asked him for it before, but he said it¡¯s hard to find and refused to give it to me. Did he give it to you?¡±


    Lu Jingchen lightly grasped the pen cap and handed the pen along with the completed postcard to her, saying calmly, ¡°If you want it, take it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, how can I accept it? Are you really giving it to me?¡± Feng Ting asked in disbelief.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, take it,¡± Lu Jingchen replied.


    Feng Ting didn¡¯t refuse further and thanked him with a smile, taking the postcard.


    Her brother had been looking for the owner of that handwriting for seven years since he returned from Africa, where someone had written a page of travel notes in his notebook.


    As she had expected, her brother had finally found the person he was looking for.


    Feng Ting asked casually, ¡°How did you and my brother meet, Brother Shen?¡±


    Lu Jingchen took a sip of coffee and replied calmly, ¡°He is the captain of my private plane.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± She put the postcard away and didn¡¯t ask further.


    Feng Si, who had gone to buy cake, came back with the cake, he interrupted their somewhat awkward conversation.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Seeing the pen on Feng Ting¡¯s table, he reached out and took it, and Feng Ting tried to grab it back. ¡°Brother Shen said he¡¯s giving it to me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t agree,¡± Feng Si said, putting the pen in his own pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it then.¡±


    Feng Ting exclaimed, ¡°You¡¯re so petty! It¡¯s just a pen; what¡¯s the big deal about giving it to me?¡±


    Feng Si ignored her and was resolute that he wouldn¡¯t give her the pen, no matter what.


    Feng Ting sought help from Lu Jing Shen, ¡°brother Shen, please talk to him. You were the one who said you¡¯d give me the pen.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen hesitated, glancing at Feng Si, but before he could speak, Feng Si interrupted, ¡°I won¡¯t give it.¡±


    His smile seemed even more indifferent than before. Lu Jing Shen fell silent for a moment, and lowered his head to look at the coffee cup in his hand.


    After having coffee, guided by Feng Ting, they continued exploring the city.


    Lu Jing Shen seemed absent-minded, while Feng Si kept chatting and laughing with his sister along the way. Although he didn¡¯t give her the pen, he bought her various treats and gifts, making the young girl very happy.


    After dinner, they dropped Feng Ting off at her place and left in the car.


    With no one else in the car, Feng Si drove rapidly and didn¡¯t say a word. Lu Jing Shen glanced at him several times and hesitated before saying, ¡°Are you angry? Is it because I gave away the pen you gave me to someone else? Or is it because I didn¡¯t tell the truth when your sister asked about our relationship? Do you think it¡¯s necessary to make our relationship public?¡±


    ¡°What relationship do we have?¡± Feng Si retorted nonchalantly.


    Lu Jing Shen fell silent immediately.


    Twenty minutes later, Feng Si parked the car in a hotel parking lot and gestured around him, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s stay here for the night.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t bother asking why they wouldn¡¯t go back. He quietly followed Feng Si out of the car, into the hotel, and upstairs to the room.


    As they entered the room, Lu Jing Shen still looked troubled. Feng Si took off his coat and called out to him, ¡°Alex.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen looked up and saw Feng Si leaning towards him in a relaxed manner, returning to his usual playful demeanor. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± he asked.


    Lu Jing Shen was speechless. Feng Si put the pen back into his shirt pocket and patted it lightly, saying, ¡°Here, I returned it to you. Keep it well and stop giving things away just because someone mentions they want it.¡±


    ¡°But wasn¡¯t it for your sister?¡± Lu Jing Shen reminded him.


    Feng Si chuckled, ¡°So what? Does my sister deserve special treatment from you? I didn¡¯t realize you cared so much about her.¡±


    As he teased, he continued, ¡°Alright, no need for that. Just be good to me, and don¡¯t worry about others.¡±


    Though it sounded like a joke, Lu Jing Shen felt a bit suffocated.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze fell to the side of his neck, where there were marks he had left the night before, and he could see them when Lu Jing Shen slightly tilted his head.


    He squinted his eyes, watching for a moment before reaching out and gently touching the area.


    The ticklish sensation made Lu Jing Shen turn his head away, his brows furrowing even more.


    Feng Si withdrew his hand and casually rubbed his fingers together.


    Suddenly, Lu Jing Shen approached, and his breath stopped just inches from Feng Si.


    Their eyes met, and Feng Si calmly asked, ¡°What do you want to do?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen replied impatiently. ¡°Since it¡¯s part of your job, it¡¯s not quitting time yet.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Feng Si raised an eyebrow and circled one arm around his waist, lifting him up and sitting him on the table. Then, with agile fingers, he started unfastening Lu Jing Shen¡¯s belt.


    While he pressed against him, Feng Si said, ¡°Remember to pay me overtime.¡±

 CH 28

    Feng Si¡¯s movements were unhurried as he observed Lu Jing Shen¡¯s reactions. When he pinched him slightly, Lu Jing Shen bit his lip and made a muffled moan, but it wasn¡¯t enough to satisfy Feng Si. He kept teasing, leaving Lu Jing Shen feeling rather uncomfortable and struggling to conceal his arousal .Lu Jing Shen¡¯s voice carried a hint of coldness, ¡°stop teasing me and fuck me already¡±


    Feng Si leaned in and bit his earlobe, gently licking it, provoking more soft moans from the man he held in his arms. He reminded him, ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, I don¡¯t respond to provocations like this.¡±


    The palm of his hand, a bit rough, rubbed against Lu Jing Shen¡¯s crotch. Feng Si remained in control, skillfully igniting desire in him, thoroughly shattering Lu Jing Shen¡¯s composure until he could only surrender to him.


    Only when Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t even pretend to resist did Feng Si finally show mercy and grant him satisfaction.


    As desire flooded in, Lu Jing Shen nearly collapsed.


    He knew that Feng Si was doing it intentionally, trying to gain control over him, but he willingly fell into his trap.


    The old sofa creaked and wobbled under their weight, and in Lu Jing Shen¡¯s fractured vision, he saw Feng Si¡¯s eyes holding something deeper than mere desire¡ªa madness concealed beneath his composed exterior.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s heart clenched as he was locked into those eyes, his chest rising and falling. He couldn¡¯t avoid it; he could only passively let Feng Si drag him into a free fall, descending together into an endless abyss.


    At the peak of intensity, the phone rang, and Lu Jing Shen opened his eyes in a daze, subconsciously struggling. Feng Si held him down with one hand, lifting his wriggling legs onto his shoulder and putting the call on speaker.


    It was Feng Ting¡¯s voice, asking Feng Si if her wallet was left in their car and requesting them to check if her things were still there.


    ¡°My identification cards are also in it. Brother, please help me check if they are inside. It¡¯ll be unfortunate if it¡¯s lost.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen tried to suppress his voice, biting his hand at the knuckles, his fingertips twitching as the leg on Feng Si¡¯s shoulder trembled.


    Feng Si¡¯s fingers moved up, kneading Lu Jing Shen¡¯s calf, and although he was enduring it as well, his eyes held a playful smile as he relished Lu Jing Shen¡¯s current state of embarrassment.


    Lu Jing Shen glared fiercely at him, a blush spreading across his cheeks.


    On the other end of the call, Feng Ting continued to grumble and complain, her voice becoming the only background noise in the silent atmosphere.


    Feng Si¡¯s hand moved from Lu Jing Shen¡¯s calf to the root of his thigh, using extremely provocative and lascivious movements. Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t make a sound, so he desperately bit his hand, completely on the verge of collapse.


    Feng Si¡¯s forehead also started to sweat, as the pressure was too intense and uncomfortable for him as well.


    Without hearing Feng Si¡¯s voice all this time, Feng Ting called out to him again, ¡°Brother, are you even listening? Why are you not saying anything? What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°We have something to do; I¡¯ll hang up now and talk tomorrow,¡± Feng Si said before decisively hanging up the phone.


    He bent down and pulled Lu Jing Shen¡¯s hand, which was nearly bitten bloody, away from his mouth. Lu Jing Shen felt like he had been saved from suffocation and gasped for breath, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. Feng Si kissed his lips.


    It was their first kiss of the night, and though their desire hadn¡¯t yet subsided, this kiss unexpectedly carried a hint of tenderness.


    Their lips and tongues gently entwined, and Lu Jing Shen¡¯s teary eyelashes fluttered as he was gradually soothed, slowly relaxing.


    Feng Si couldn¡¯t bear to restrain himself any longer and indulged freely.


    Afterward, Lu Jing Shen was covered in sweat and felt somewhat exhausted. Feng Si picked him up and asked, ¡°Do you want me to carry you to the shower?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen closed his eyes for a moment and forced himself to regain his strength. He slightly pushed Feng Si away and stood up silently, heading for the bathroom.


    Feng Si followed him and held him back at the bathroom door, asking, ¡°Are you angry?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s voice was hoarse as he said, ¡°Are you mentally ill? Fucking me and broadcasting it to your sister?¡±


    ¡°Did she hear it?¡± Feng Si sneered, ¡°And besides, you seemed to enjoy it.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t want to talk to him anymore and forcefully closed the bathroom door.


    Despite the seemingly high-end appearance of the hotel, it was actually quite old, and even the bathroom door was broken. The lock couldn¡¯t be fastened properly, so Feng Si easily pushed it open.


    Lu Jing Shen stood under the shower, facing away from Feng Si, and closed his eyes as he let the water run over him, paying no attention to him.


    Feng Si approached and stepped into the shower, through the mist. Lu Jing Shen lifted his head, his brows furrowed tightly.


    Feng Si in front of him leaned against the wall behind him, locking eyes with him. ¡°How much longer will you be angry?¡± Feng Si asked.


    Lu Jing Shen retorted, ¡°Wasn¡¯t that the question I asked you first?¡±


    Earlier, on their way there in the car, he had asked Feng Si if he was angry. At that time, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure about the word ¡°friend¡± and the casual pen gift. But now, he was almost certain that Feng Si  had decided to retaliate against him.


    And he chose to do it in such a petty way, embarrassing him.


    Feng Si reached out and touched the new mark he had just bitten on Lu Jing Shen¡¯s neck. ¡°Then it¡¯s my fault, I¡¯m sorry ¡± he said, sounding as if it didn¡¯t matter, leaving Lu Jing Shen feeling helpless, as if he had punched cotton.


    ¡°Is it settled now?¡± Feng Si asked. ¡°Is it really that embarrassing?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen turned his face away, and Feng Si¡¯s restless hand began to wander on his chest. In the end, he gave up the argument.


    In the bathroom, they had another round. Feng Si tore open the packaging of the second item, and his eyes stared unblinkingly at Lu Jing Shen. Lu Jing Shen¡¯s legs went weak, and he couldn¡¯t refuse, and couldn¡¯t utter the word ¡°no.¡±


    After being pushed against the wall, he closed his eyes, clearing his mind of any thoughts, and once again chose to indulge.


    At 9:30, Feng Si put on slippers, getting ready to go out and help Feng Ting find her wallet downstairs.


    As he walked to the door, he turned back and pulled Lu Jing Shen, who was planning to lie down and sleep, saying, ¡°Come with me; we¡¯ll go downstairs and be back soon.¡±


    Before Lu Jing Shen could frown, Feng Si helped him put on a jacket and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, and while we¡¯re down there, we¡¯ll buy a few bottles of water from the convenience store, as there¡¯s none in the room.¡±


    Whether it was finding the wallet or buying water, Feng Si could easily do it alone. Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t figure out what Feng Si was up to or why he insisted on dragging him along.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t say much and forcefully pulled him along to go out.


    In the elevator, Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t be bothered to think too much, and he closed his eyes wearily.


    He used to suffer from insomnia, unable to sleep. But recently, he seemed to be heading towards sleep deprivation due to indulging too much with Feng Si.


    Seeing his appearance, Feng Si smiled but was thinking about something else.


    The reason he insisted on bringing Lu Jing Shen along was that he suddenly thought of how Lu Jing Shen disappeared back then.


    7 years ago after their passionate night together, when he went out to buy something and returned, the person who should have been sleeping on the bed was nowhere to be found. All that was left was a simple farewell from the hotel staff, nothing more.


    He thought it was just a joke Lu Jing Shen played on him. He waited for him in the same place for a month, but eventually gave up, resigned to carrying a hopeless hope and searching for him all over the world.


    He knew better than Lu Jing Shen that the original meaning of ¡°goodbye¡± was not to meet again, but to bid farewell forever.


    When Lu Jing Shen left back then, he had decided not to see him again.


    Stepping out of the elevator, Feng Si hooked his arm around Lu Jing Shen¡¯s waist, his voice close to his ear as he reminded, ¡°Are you planning to walk with your eyes closed?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen regained some consciousness and replied, ¡°¡­ I can walk by myself.¡±


    Feng Si didn¡¯t let go of his hand and led him towards their car.


    This posture made Lu Jing Shen slightly uncomfortable, and Feng Si reminded him again, ¡°Watch your step, look at the road. If I let go, you might stumble.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen had no choice but to let him be.


    As expected, Feng Ting¡¯s wallet was found under the back seat. Feng Si picked it up and turned back to see Lu Jing Shen still squinting, finding it somewhat amusing. He playfully tapped Lu Jing Shen¡¯s face with the wallet and asked, ¡°Are you really that tired?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen subconsciously avoided it. Feng Si knew he had a germophobia and couldn¡¯t stand touching something that wasn¡¯t particularly clean and had picked up some dust. However, with a certain hidden intention, he felt an impulse to dirty him.


    Next time, maybe he could try putting something on his face..


    Thinking of this, Feng Si¡¯s smile became even more pleasant.


    Lu Jing Shen was a bit puzzled, asking, ¡°What are you smiling about?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Feng Si replied, holding his wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s go buy water and then go back to sleep.¡±

 CH 29

    When the sunlight shone on his bare back, Lu Jing Shen gradually woke up.


    Feng Si was sitting by the bed, looking down at him, his fingers gently stroking and teasing his back as if brushing it with a feather. Lu Jing Shen felt a slight itch and furrowed his brows. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Get up now that you¡¯re awake. We¡¯re going out,¡± Feng Si reminded him.


    Lu Jing Shen went into the bathroom to freshen up, and Feng Si followed him, leaning against the door while waiting for him. Lu Jing Shen saw his slightly tired face in the mirror and closed his eyes for a moment to fully wake up.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost ten o¡¯clock, and you¡¯re getting up later and later. Will you be able to adapt to the high-intensity work every day when we go back?¡± Feng Si teased casually. Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t want to respond to him, so he turned around after finishing his morning routine and was grabbed by Feng Si¡¯s arm.


    Feng Si¡¯s figure loomed over him, casting a shadow before him. He sealed Lu Jing Shen¡¯s lips with his own.


    The teasing kiss was slow and gentle, with his tongue lightly exploring the gaps between Lu Jing Shen¡¯s lips and teeth without diving deeper.


    After a while, Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t stand the slow pace of the kiss and pulled Feng Si¡¯s collar towards him, deepening the kiss actively.


    Their lips pressed together, and Feng Si chuckled softly. Just as Lu Jing Shen was about to frown, a sudden noise came from outside the window. The sound of cheers and laughter from the crowd, along with the thunderous roar of fireworks, echoed continuously.


    Lu Jing Shen was somewhat puzzled, and Feng Si urged him, ¡°Go change clothes, and let¡¯s go down.¡±


    A quarter of an hour later, they left the hotel and the parade had already passed, leaving behind a vibrant atmosphere.


    ¡°They¡¯re heading to the central square; let¡¯s go there too,¡± Feng Si suggested.


    He led Lu Jing Shen on a shortcut and arrived at the city¡¯s largest central square after about fifteen minutes. There were tens of thousands of people gathered there.


    Rainbow flags fluttered in the wind, and men and women dressed in bright and fancy costumes were joyfully singing and dancing, immersed in the moment of celebration.


    All the couples were of the same gender, men with men and women with women, freely exchanging affectionate kisses without any reservation, releasing the overflowing passion in their bodies.


    When Lu Jing Shen finally reacted, he found himself amidst them, with Feng Si leading him into the crowd.


    His nerves tensed up reflexively, his breathing became unsmooth, and he wanted to leave.


    Feng Si held him back and softly whispered in his ear, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. It¡¯s daytime, just treat it as watching a spectacle.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s face turned ugly, and he could barely speak from between his teeth, ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze slowly swept over his face, and Lu Jing Shen¡¯s reaction was as he expected. He lifted his hand, placing his palm on Lu Jing Shen¡¯s back, offering a soothing warmth, ¡°Relax.¡±


    The harsh sunlight shone down on them, and the man¡¯s eyes were calm and deep. In the midst of his daze, Lu Jing Shen gradually regained his composure, taking a deep breath, and heard his voice ask again, ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡±


    ¡°Alex, avoiding it is not a solution,¡± Feng Si reminded him. ¡°No matter how much you dislike these people here, you can¡¯t deny that you, I, and all of us are the same. We all love the same gender.¡±


    No, no, that¡¯s not true!


    Lu Jing Shen wanted to retort, but it felt like someone was choking his throat, and he couldn¡¯t produce any sound.


    He didn¡¯t like the same gender, and he loathed forming intimate connections and contacts with others. Only Feng Si, only him¡­


    ¡°Today is the LGBTQ+ carnival gathering. I brought you here specifically to see it.


    Feng Si explained, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. Nobody here knows you, and they won¡¯t notice you. Let¡¯s watch for a while and then leave.¡±


    His tone was unusually gentle, something rare. Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t say anything harsh, even if he felt uncomfortable.


    Feng Si held his shoulders and made him turn around to look around. Lu Jing Shen¡¯s breathing intensified as he forced himself to open his eyes.


    Everyone was smiling, enjoying themselves without reserve. They were sincerely happy, not embarrassed by being different in their sexual orientation. They dared to stand in broad daylight, disregarding the judgment of the world.


    Lu Jing Shen simply didn¡¯t want to admit it, but Feng Si kept forcing him to face reality. They hugged, kissed, and got in bed together, and because Feng Si was a man, that made Lu Jing Shen also gay.


    There was no difference between them and the people there.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s fingers trembled slightly, unconsciously clenching and struggling to resist.


    The bell rang in the square, and the revelers stopped and embraced each other, indulging in passionate kisses amidst the continuous chime.


    When Feng Si leaned over, Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t bring himself to refuse.


    Just like everyone else around them, under the fluttering rainbow flags, they shared a quiet and prolonged kiss.


    The surrounding noise gradually faded away, and the moving crowd became blurry shadows. In front of Lu Jing Shen, there was only Feng Si, with a devoted and serious look as he kissed him.


    His eyelashes trembled, and he slowly closed his eyes.


    As the noise grew louder, Lu Jing Shen vaguely sensed someone staring at them. He pushed Feng Si slightly and turned to look.


    As his gaze swept over, all he saw were couples hugging each other. The odd feeling from just a moment ago seemed like his imagination.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Feng Si asked him.


    Lu Jing Shen came back to his senses and shook his head slightly. ¡°Nothing, I must have seen it wrong.¡±


    Feng Si stared at him firmly, and Lu Jing Shen licked his lips that were slightly numb from the kiss. ¡°Let¡¯s go now.¡±


    Feng Si smiled and took his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go, then.¡±


    Later, they went to Feng Ting¡¯s place, returned the wallet, and took her out for lunch. Since it was still early, Feng Si drove to the mall first and bought a bunch of cosmetics and perfumes, handing them to Feng Ting. ¡°Christmas is in two months. When the time comes, you can go home and give these gifts to everyone.¡±


    Feng Ting complained unhappily, ¡°Can¡¯t you do it yourself? Why do I have to do it for you?¡±


    Although she said that, she quickly accepted the items. Lu Jing Shen glanced at her from the passenger seat, and Feng Ting noticed his gaze, smiling and explaining to him, ¡°These are all gifts my brother wants me to bring back. They¡¯re for my mother, my mom¡¯s sisters, and my godmothers and god-sisters.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen: ¡°¡­¡±


    He didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Feng Si scolded his sister with a laugh, ¡°Shut up, you talk too much.¡±


    Feng Ting then asked him, ¡°Brother, what about that pen? Did you give it back to Lu Jing Shen?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded and hesitated, thinking of a reason to refuse if she asked for it again.


    Feng Ting said, ¡°Just keep it then. Don¡¯t give it to anyone casually. Although my brother looks carefree, he¡¯s actually quite possessive. Don¡¯t make him unhappy just because of me.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen: ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡±


    Feng Ting eased her mind. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen hesitated and asked her, ¡°Is that pen special to him?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Feng Ting shook her head. ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask my brother about that.¡±


    Her gaze swept over Lu Jing Shen¡¯s neck, paused, and a blush appeared on her face as she seemed to understand something.


    During the meal, Lu Jing Shen went to the restroom, and Feng Si followed him. He had just finished washing his hands when Feng Si grabbed him.


    Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Why is your smoking habit so strong?¡±


    Feng Si smoked slowly and asked, ¡°Why were you standing there in a daze when I came in? What were you thinking about?¡±


    Under his gaze, Lu Jing Shen finally asked the question that had been on his mind since yesterday, ¡°Is that pen special to you?¡±


    Feng Si put out the cigarette butt on the ashtray, not minding as he said, ¡°Curious?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen rarely nodded honestly.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Feng Si said nonchalantly, ¡°I¡¯m just not used to using other people¡¯s things. I didn¡¯t want to use the pens provided by the hotel when signing, so I bought my own.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen looked into his eyes, and they clearly wrote that he didn¡¯t believe it.


    Feng Si continued, ¡°Really, it¡¯s just a pen. There¡¯s no special meaning to it. I didn¡¯t give it to Tingting because whenever she sees something nice, she wants it. I need to cure her of this habit. And, although I don¡¯t mind giving it to you, it¡¯s still a gift. You didn¡¯t even let me know when you gave it away to someone else. Can¡¯t I feel hurt? Alex, you really hurt my feelings like this.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen suddenly had nothing to say. After all, he was the one in the wrong.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to think too much about it,¡± Feng Si reached over and patted his ass, continuing before Lu Jing Shen frowned, ¡°But if you want to give that pen some special meaning, then that¡¯s okay too.¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t quite understand: ¡°What?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s hand paused and he gave Lu Jingshen¡¯s ass another pat, saying in a crude manner, ¡°No more teasing and the same old naughty play, Want to try something else? I noticed you keep playing with the cap of that pen, how about we try something fresh?¡±


    Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t keep up with his erratic thoughts. He didn¡¯t expect Feng Si to suddenly act so shamelessly.


    ¡°Too much detail.¡±


    After a few seconds of stiffness, Lu Jingshen said expressionlessly and turned to leave.


    Feng Si laughed and threw his cigarette, catching up with him.

 CH 30

    At five in the afternoon, the car drove out of the estate.


    Lu Jingshen fastened his seatbelt and turned to the Feng Si, asking, ¡°Where are we going at this hour?¡±


    ¡°Just going out for a spin,¡± Feng Si said casually.


    Since they returned that day, they hadn¡¯t gone out again for the past two or three days. Half of their two-week vacation had already passed, and it was that day that Feng Si suddenly suggested going out for a drive.


    Lu Jingshen was about to say that it was almost dark, but then he saw several new messages in his WeChat, all wishing him a happy birthday.


    Lu Jingshen was taken aback and belatedly remembered that the next day was his birthday, and it was already past midnight in his home country.


    ¡°Happy birthday,¡± Feng Si said with a smile.


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°¡­You knew?¡±


    Feng Si chuckled, ¡°I didn¡¯t know originally. I asked your younger brother.¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t know what to say. Feng Si smirked and said, ¡°I was too much of a gentleman back then, never bothered to check your identity, and ended up being deceived by you for so long.¡±


    ¡°If I had noticed the color of the passport you were holding, I wouldn¡¯t have been fooled for so long.¡±


    ¡°You and the word ¡®gentleman¡¯ have nothing to do with each other,¡± Lu Jingshen retorted, feeling a bit embarrassed after cracking a lame joke, and muttered a quiet ¡°Thank you¡± while lowering his head to look at his phone.


    Feng Si laughed heartily; this time, it was genuine laughter that came from deep within, resonating with joy.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s attention returned to the screen of his phone. Most of the birthday greetings came from his family.


    Lu Chixie inquired through WeChat if he was having a good time there. Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t want to reply. When he was about to close the conversation, he paused for a moment and sent a message: ¡°Don¡¯t casually talk about me to others next time.¡±


    Lu Chixie quickly replied, ¡°Bro, don¡¯t misunderstand. I haven¡¯t told anyone except Captain Feng. And i don¡¯t see the big deal in letting him know your birthday.¡±


    ¡°Anyway , I¡¯m going to bed now. Have fun with Captain Feng over there, and happy birthday.¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned off his phone screen.


    Feng Si reached over, took his phone, switched it off, and put it in his pocket, saying, ¡°When you¡¯re with me, don¡¯t be busy looking at your phone. Just focus on me.¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t argue with him and asked, ¡°Where are we going now?¡±


    ¡°The airport,¡± Feng Si replied.


    The airport he mentioned was a small private airport only half an hour¡¯s drive from the vineyard.


    Three or four light general aviation aircraft were parked, and a brown-haired, blue-eyed man in a floral shirt and low-rise jeans was waiting for them.


    Seeing Feng Si, the man greeted him with a smiling face and was about to give him a kiss on the cheek, but Feng Si refused, ¡°I¡¯ve told you so many times, I¡¯m an Easterner, let it go.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re obviously British,¡± the man exposed him mercilessly and took the opportunity to touch his chest, making good on his intentions.


    Lu Jingshen frowned and nodded slightly when Feng Si introduced them.


    That seemingly flamboyant Frenchman was actually a high-level executive of a multinational corporation there, Feng Si¡¯s former employer when he worked there, and the airport and planes there were his.


    If they had met in a different setting, Lu Jingshen might have been interested in exchanging some words and perhaps exploring the possibility of future business cooperation. However, seeing the man¡¯s blatant attitude towards Feng Si, he lost any such thoughts.


    The man also unabashedly scrutinized him, teasing Feng Si, ¡°Is this your sweetheart?¡±


    Feng Si waved his finger and said, ¡°If you say that, he¡¯ll get angry. He¡¯s my current boss.¡±


    They spoke in French, and Lu Jingshen understood it. Feeling increasingly displeased, he said coldly, ¡°Boyfriend.¡±


    In the surprised gaze of the Frenchman, Lu Jingshen repeated in French, ¡°I am his boyfriend.¡±


    Feng Si smiled again, this time genuinely, and it was a smile that came from his heart, shaking his chest as if he were very happy.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s frown didn¡¯t ease, and he felt unhappy.


    Feng Si leaned over and threw an earphone to him, saying to the Frenchman, ¡°You¡¯re getting the plane back in two hours, thanks.¡±


    The man waved his hand with a regretful look and wished them a good time before leaving.


    Feng Si turned his gaze back to Lu Jingshen. Unhappy, Lu Jingshen asked, ¡°It¡¯s getting dark soon. Where are we flying the plane to?¡±


    ¡°To watch the sunset,¡± Feng Si replied with a smile.


    Lu Jingshen pushed his hand away and got on the plane ahead of him.


    Feng Si followed, closing the cabin door behind him. He turned his head towards Lu Jingshen and asked, ¡°Am I your boyfriend now?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°Will that make him leave?¡±


    Feng Si laughed again, threw the earphones back to him, and piloted the plane towards the sea.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze fell outside the window. In the suddenly open view, there was the vast ocean, and the blue waves were surging. The plane skimmed over the surface of the sea, and the waves splashed, almost right beneath their feet.


    The evening sun was gradually retracting, as if a watercolor painting was preparing to collect the last brilliant colors. They were an unexpected presence, adding a more graceful stroke to the richly-colored scene.


    ¡°Flying this small plane low is perfect for sightseeing,¡± Feng Si said slowly. ¡°I wanted to bring you here to see it earlier, but it was difficult to borrow the plane.¡±


    Lu Jingshen asked, ¡°Why do we need to see it?¡±


    Feng Si helplessly explained, ¡°Lu Jingshen, you should have some romantic cells. Watching the sunset and the sea up close on a plane is an opportunity not many people get. So, consider it my birthday gift to you.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze returned to the window. Their plane was gracefully gliding amidst the evening glow and dusk, everything within arm¡¯s reach.


    Seeing Lu Jingshen engrossed in the view, Feng Si¡¯s lips curved up slightly.


    ¡°Do you want to try something more exciting?¡± Feng Si asked instinctively.


    ¡°What kind of exciting?¡± Lu Jingshen asked out of curiosity.


    ¡°Fasten your seatbelt,¡± Feng Si reminded him and whistled, adjusting the controls to ascend.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t understand what was happening. The sea below him gradually moved away, leaving only the vast twilight.


    He was about to speak when suddenly a piercing stall warning sounded in his ears. Feng Si quickly steered the plane, and Lu Jingshen felt a sudden spiral motion, with the plane tilting towards a steep dive.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s heart raced to his throat, and the sensation of weightlessness caused his adrenaline to surge. He caught a glimpse of Feng Si, calmly and confidently controlling the steering wheel with a smile on his face.


    That was the excitement that Feng Si was talking about ¨C it was deliberate.


    Each turn amplified the speed of the descent, and the angle of the dive increased. After the fourth round, the plane was almost in a vertical dive.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s mind went blank, and his blood seemed to freeze. He wanted to scream, but no sound came out. His heart raced in his ears.


    After the fourth round, Feng Si calmly started making recovery maneuvers. After a few minutes, the plane returned to level flight, and the stall warning ceased. Lu Jingshen¡¯s brain slowly rebooted, and he clenched his fist tightly.


    Feng Si asked him, ¡°Was it fun?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, and he replied, ¡°Do you think it was fun?¡±


    ¡°It was alright,¡± Feng Si said calmly. ¡°It¡¯s a mandatory lesson for flight trainees. I¡¯ve done it hundreds of times; to pass, you must maintain a heart rate that doesn¡¯t accelerate. But for you, it was indeed thrilling.¡±


    ¡°When doing extreme sports, the body¡¯s endorphins, not just adrenaline, are released, causing a feeling of falling in love. Alex, do you have that feeling?¡±


    Lu Jingshen thought for a moment and answered, ¡°As you said, it¡¯s just a feeling.¡±


    ¡°You really don¡¯t understand romance at all,¡± Feng Si sighed with a smile. ¡°Alright, maybe it was just my imagination.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Lu Jingshen said, ¡°Do you think this feeling is a good thing? Isn¡¯t it more like an excuse to escape responsibility afterward?¡±


    Feng Si looked at him, asking, ¡°Are you talking about yourself?¡±


    Lu Jingshen fell silent once again.


    He knew what Feng Si was referring to. The person who left after spending the night was indeed him. Perhaps it was indeed the influence of endorphins that led to an unexpected derailment, but at least he had never deceived Feng Si in the name of love.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Lu Jingshen hesitated and finally said.


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are you apologizing to me?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°¡­If you¡¯ve been bothered by what happened back then, then I apologize. It was my fault to leave without saying a word.¡±


    He didn¡¯t look at Feng Si while speaking, and his voice was low, concealed beneath the roar of the engine, making it difficult to discern his emotions.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your apology,¡± Feng Si said slowly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean much to me now.¡±


    He reminded Lu Jingshen, ¡°Look ahead.¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked up, and the setting sun had already sunk below the horizon, leaving only the lingering afterglow of warm colors.


    As time passed, the sky darkened, and the last remnants of twilight vanished, gradually replaced by a cold blue.


    The coastline lit up with sparkling lights, and the night had fallen.


    On their way back, Feng Si deliberately took the plane past the city they visited a few days ago. From above, they could see a vast expanse of flickering orange lights, interweaving into a dazzling display of lights, stars, and a colorful sea.


    Lu Jingshen suddenly remembered that that day was Halloween, and the city was hosting a pumpkin lantern festival.


    ¡°I know you don¡¯t like crowded places, just take a look; it¡¯s quite interesting,¡± Feng Si said.


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°If you want to go and experience the excitement, you don¡¯t have to take me with you.¡±


    Feng Si turned his head and glanced at him, saying, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me taking you with me? Isn¡¯t it your birthday?¡±


    Seeing Lu Jingshen¡¯s uneasy expression, Feng Si smiled and said, ¡°Are you still thinking about what happened earlier?¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked up and met his teasing gaze, feeling somewhat speechless. Feng Si continued, ¡°I¡¯m quite surprised that you actually apologized to me. Alright, I¡¯ll give you some face and accept it.¡±


    Lu Jingshen wanted to say something but felt that nothing he said would be appropriate.


    They returned to the airport, parked the plane, and it was already past 8 o¡¯clock.


    The control tower confirmed their return, then promptly cut off communication. The entire airport was quiet, with only the approach lights on the runway still lit; the terminal building was pitch-black.


    The Frenchman had reminded them earlier that airport ground services and maintenance would clock off at 8 o¡¯clock, and they were on their own.


    Feng Si took off his earphones and looked at Lu Jingshen, who seemed a bit absent-minded.


    ¡°Are you satisfied with this birthday gift?¡± Feng Si asked.


    Lu Jingshen nodded gently and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°You¡¯ve said ¡®thank you¡¯ twice today. Do you need to be so polite?¡±


    He reached over and slowly played with the zipper of Lu Jingshen¡¯s coat, his eyes flickering with a dark light.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes flickered as well, and he could clearly hear his own heartbeat. Feng Si¡¯s hand slid down to his waist, pulling him closer with force.


    Lu Jingshen was guided to sit face-to-face on Feng Si¡¯s lap.


    Feng Si leaned against the backrest of the seat, tilting his head back, a playful smile in his eyes. ¡°Do you want any other birthday gift?¡±


    Feeling the warmth and friction of their bodies pressed together, Lu Jingshen¡¯s throat rolled as he asked, ¡°What?¡±


    Their eyes met, and Feng Si drawled, ¡°Me.¡±


    Lu Jingshen placed his hands on Feng Si¡¯s shoulders, gazing at him in confusion.


    His mind went blank, and he lost the ability to think. Dopamine was being released like crazy.


    He didn¡¯t say anything more, just turned his head and, following his instincts, kissed Feng Si on the lips.

 CH 31

    Their lips gently rubbed against each other. Feng Si¡¯s lips were thin and dry, tinged with the smell of tobacco, mixed with a hint of strawberry gum. Even with his eyes closed, Lu Jingshen could clearly perceive who he was kissing.


    It was just a simple rubbing of their lips, but the heat in his body continued to rise, and his heartbeat pounded in his chest, almost reaching a trembling level.


    He paused and pressed his forehead against Feng Si¡¯s, struggling to catch his breath, too afraid to look at him.


    That was too abnormal, Lu Jingshen thought. That night, in that small, enclosed aircraft cockpit, he was seated on Feng Si¡¯s lap in the most embarrassing posture. Their bodies were close, and their breaths entwined, as if some illusion had indeed formed. His heart was beating faster and faster, and he couldn¡¯t control it.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to continue?¡± Feng Si¡¯s voice slipped into his ears as he raised his hand to caress Lu Jingshen¡¯s earlobe, like a caress, gently playing with it. His agile fingers brushed against the stray hairs behind his ear, slid down his neck, and not too lightly, not too heavily, teased the red mark on his collarbone.


    If he were to unbutton his shirt, he would see more of those marks, extending down his chest, hidden beneath his clothing, overlapping deeply and shallowly.


    Feng Si narrowed his eyes slightly, unconsciously exerting more force with his hand.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s heavy breathing grew more pronounced, and every touch from Feng Si felt like setting him on fire. He instinctively pressed forward, their bodies colliding, clearly feeling the strength of Feng Si¡¯s muscular legs supporting him. His throat felt dry, and he unconsciously made swallowing motions.


    ¡°Open your eyes and look at me,¡± Feng Si¡¯s voice was low and hoarse but unusually firm. He slightly pulled away, forcing Lu Jingshen to open his eyes and meet his gaze.


    Breathing heavily, with a rapid pace, Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes were red at the corners, looking into Feng Si¡¯s deep eyes, hesitating in his words.


    Feng Si looked at him for a moment, and his fingers traced Lu Jingshen¡¯s lips, outlining their shape, back and forth. Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t take it for long and accidentally brushed Feng Si¡¯s fingertip with his tongue. Feng Si¡¯s eyes darkened, and he put his finger into Lu Jingshen¡¯s mouth, gently holding his soft tongue and skillfully toying with it.


    It was a more explicit and suggestive action than a kiss, and Feng Si stared into his deep eyes with an undisguised desire. Lu Jingshen¡¯s body exuded a thin layer of sweat, and just being looked at that way made him weak, not to mention the finger in his mouth that kept stirring, teasing his sensitive nerves, making him unconsciously release excessively sweet moans.


    Feng Si pulled back his hand and covered Lu Jingshen¡¯s lips with his own, engaging in a passionate and lingering hot kiss.


    His tongue entwined with Lu Jingshen¡¯s, licking and teasing, before he took it into his mouth to suckle freely, making lewd squelching sounds that echoed in their ears.


    Lu Jingshen soon couldn¡¯t bear the heat and took off his jacket. He wanted to unbutton his shirt, but Feng Si held his hand and kissed him, reminding him, ¡°Don¡¯t take it off. What if someone comes over and sees?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s body tensed, not daring to make any more moves. ¡°Let¡¯s go home then.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Feng Si insisted, not planning to let him off that easily. He picked up Lu Jingshen¡¯s jacket and covered their lower bodies, skillfully unfastened his belt, and slowly pulled down the zipper.


    Lu Jingshen tried to resist, but his glare had no strength. Feng Si held his hand and passed something to him, his muffled voice sounding in his ear, ¡°Help me put this on.¡±


    It was as if he had prepared for it in advance.


    Lu Jingshen took deep breaths, and Feng Si watched him, patiently waiting for his compliance.


    In the end, trembling hands reached over.


    The space in the two-seater aircraft was too narrow, and Lu Jingshen struggled to sit on Feng Si¡¯s lap, twisting his body into a contorted arc. His weak waist collapsed, but Feng Si forcefully held it up, their eyes filled with desire, and the sweat on his forehead slid down as his throat gasped heavily, looking incredibly sensual.


    Lu Jingshen could feel his whole body igniting like fire just from watching him, and his heart rate stalled once again.


    Embraced even tighter, he could barely withstand it. Lu Jingshen closed his eyes, and his hands, separated by Feng Si¡¯s shirt, repeatedly touched and caressed him. It seemed that only by doing this could he slightly ease the perpetual unsatisfied desire inside him.


    Feng Si¡¯s hands roamed and massaged his ass. Lu Jingshen was too excited that day, so he controlled the pace. Sensing that Lu Jingshen was nearing his limit, he stopped and comforted him with a kiss.


    ¡°Hold on a bit,¡± the voice, tinged with a smile, came close to Lu Jingshen¡¯s ear, ¡°It¡¯s someone else¡¯s plane; don¡¯t make a mess.¡±


    Lu Jingshen clenched his lips tightly, his body trembling, and his fingertips, slightly pale from tension or excitement, pressed against Feng Si. His entire weight leaned on him, and he could only be held by Feng Si, barely managing to breathe amidst the impending drowning sensation.


    As he walked down the plane with weak legs, Lu Jingshen still felt as if he couldn¡¯t touch the ground.


    Glancing at his wristwatch, it was already past nine in the evening.


    The night breeze blew, and he shivered unconsciously. He couldn¡¯t put on the coat again as it was covered in the mess they had made,trying not to dirty someone else¡¯s plane.


    Feng Si, who came down a step later, saw his dazed look and couldn¡¯t help but ask with a suppressed laugh, ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    Lu Jingshen snapped back to reality, facing the person he had just been so intimately close with, and he was a bit hesitant to look at him. He mumbled, ¡°¡­nothing.¡±


    Feng Si noticed his embarrassed expression, curved his lips, and took off his own coat, tossing it over to him. ¡°Wear mine if you¡¯re cold.¡±


    Tossing the coat to Lu Jingshen, he casually hooked his arm around Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist with one hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Holding the slightly uncomfortable Lu Jingshen, they walked outside the airport. Feng Si turned his head towards Lu Jingshen¡¯s ear and asked, ¡°Did you have fun tonight?¡±


    Lu Jingshen mumbled, ¡°Mm.¡±


    Feng Si chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s a shame that it was someone else¡¯ plane, it wasn¡¯t very convenient, and your plane has too many people, not convenient either.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze flickered, seemingly seriously considering what Feng Si said.


    Instead of driving straight back to the vineyard after leaving the airport, Feng Si made a turn and headed towards a nearby mountain.


    Lu Jingshen was tired and leaned against the seat, not wanting to move. When the car stopped at the mountain top, he realized they weren¡¯t taking the way back. He turned with confusion in his eyes, and Feng Si explained, ¡°The weather is nice today; let¡¯s enjoy the night view for a while before heading back.¡±


    He opened the car roof.


    Lu Jingshen looked up; the night was vast, with stars shimmering, and all was quiet.


    Gradually, his fluctuating emotions calmed down, and the person beside him lit a cigarette, smoking with little thought. Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze fell on him, motionless.


    ¡°Not watching the night view, just staring at me?¡± Feng Si turned his head towards him, not waiting for Lu Jingshen¡¯s response, he put out the cigarette and leaned over to kiss him, as he had done many times before.


    Unlike the confusion and indulgence on the plane, that kiss was devoid of desire, exceptionally gentle and affectionate.


    Like the intimate comfort between lovers.


    After the kiss, Feng Si swept his lips over Lu Jingshen¡¯s and gazed into his dark eyes. ¡°Alex, what will you do after the two weeks are over?¡±


    Lu Jingshen was slightly taken aback.


    He hadn¡¯t thought about it.


    ¡°What am I to you?¡± Feng Si asked in a deep voice.


    Lu Jingshen felt his heartbeat quickening again, and his heart clenched. He felt uncomfortable, and his hands tightly gripped Feng Si¡¯s collar, kissing him again.


    Lips and tongues collided, and Feng Si looked at him with a calm and unchanged gaze.


    After a while, Lu Jingshen withdrew somewhat defeated, lowered his head to catch his breath, and said in a strained voice, ¡°You can interpret it however you want. There¡¯s no one else here, so whatever you want is fine.¡±


    Feng Si reached out, his fingers caressing Lu Jingshen¡¯s chin. ¡°No one else here, so whatever I want?¡±


    Lu Jingshen closed his eyes. That was the biggest compromise he could make. If Feng Si still wasn¡¯t satisfied¡­


    ¡°Okay,¡± Feng Si said, his tone somewhat indistinct with emotions, ¡°just do as you said.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s tense expression relaxed abruptly, and he leaned his forehead against Feng Si¡¯s shoulder, unable to say anything else.


    Feng Si¡¯s hand caressed his back, smiling. ¡°Are you playing hard to get with me?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t move, muttering, ¡°No, and don¡¯t say such nauseating things.¡±


    Feng Si finished laughing and let go of him, pushing the car door open. ¡°You stay here.¡±


    He went to the boot of the car and took something out¡ªa cake box. Lu Jingshen frowned upon seeing it and looked unwilling.


    Sitting back in the car, Feng Si insisted on taking out the cake and lighting the candle.


    ¡°Make a wish.¡±


    Lu Jingshen: ¡°¡­¡±


    Although unwilling, he had just said ¡°whatever you want,¡± and it wouldn¡¯t be good to go back on his word. Reluctantly, he stared at the candle for a few seconds and said, ¡± okay.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°What did you wish for?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t it bad luck to say birthday wishes aloud?¡±


    His wish was actually quite simple: he hoped for fewer troublesome things in the future. Although he wasn¡¯t sure if it would come true, at least, facing this troublesome man whom he didn¡¯t want to push away, he felt calm, and that was enough.


    Since Lu Jingshen refused to say, Feng Si didn¡¯t insist and said, ¡°Blow the candle.¡±


    Meeting his eyes filled with a smile, Lu Jingshen suddenly had an indescribable feeling.


    Before he turned twenty, he had always celebrated his birthday with Lu Jingqing, with their family celebrating together. Later, when he went abroad to study and returned to work at the company, he hadn¡¯t celebrated his birthday properly for over a decade. But today, on his twenty-ninth birthday, this man before him, who was usually carefree and never serious, not only gave him a special birthday gift but also prepared a birthday cake and candles for him. It made him speechless.


    Blowing out the candle, Feng Si said again, ¡°Happy birthday.¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded slightly, and the words ¡°thank you¡± almost came out but he knew Feng Si didn¡¯t like to hear them, so he kept quiet.


    Feng Si cut a small piece of cake for him, and Lu Jingshen quietly ate it. It was the first time he felt that excessively sweet food wasn¡¯t bad.


    Feng Si watched him chew slowly and wanted to say something, but just then, the roaring sound of a car motor came from behind.


    The bright headlights swept towards them, and Feng Si squinted his eyes and turned to look. Two unmarked black sedans appeared in their view¡ªone stopped behind them, and the other circled around to the front.


    Four or five tall, foreign men got out of the cars and approached them.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s face changed slightly. As they approached, Feng Si leaned over to him and asked calmly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    The man leaning against the car bent down and glanced at Lu Jingshen, gesturing to them. ¡°Get out of the car.¡±


    In his hand was a gun.


    Feng Si made as if to pull the car door, but in the next second, his hand flashed, and he swiftly reached out of the car window, grabbing the man¡¯s gun hand and twisting it forcefully. Amid the man¡¯s screams, he swiftly and decisively took the gun away.


    The other men saw that the situation was not in their favor and moved to action. They forcefully kicked and pulled the car door, and there was a loud bang as someone fired a shot into the car.


    Lu Jingshen felt his eardrums intensely shake, and a spider web-like crack appeared on the windshield in front of him.


    Without waiting for his response, Feng Si stepped on the gas pedal, forcefully knocking away the people surrounding the car. He quickly turned the car around and sped away down the mountain road.

 CH 32

    Feng Si continued to accelerate, pressing down on the gas pedal as they raced down the mountain road.


    Lu Jingshen looked back, and the two cars behind them were quickly catching up, following closely behind them.


    ¡°Unbuckle your seatbelt and come help me steady the steering wheel,¡± Feng Si suddenly said.


    He picked up the gun they had taken earlier, reminding Lu Jingshen, ¡°hurry.¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t hesitate, instinctively trusting him. He followed Feng Si¡¯s instructions, unbuckling his seatbelt and leaning over to steady the steering wheel, even though the position was quite challenging for him.


    Feng Si said, ¡°Don¡¯t turn around; just keep driving forward.¡± With one foot still on the gas pedal, he pushed open his side¡¯s car door, leaned out, and quickly fired two shots towards the back.


    The deafening noise was even more intense this time, and Lu Jingshen¡¯s mind went blank. He could do nothing but focus on keeping the steering wheel steady.


    Shortly after, he heard the screeching sound of tires and the sound of impact as the two cars collided, veered towards the right-side mountain wall, and flipped over in the middle of the mountain road.


    Lu Jingshen relaxed slightly, and Feng Si threw his phone over, reminding him, ¡°Call the police.¡±


    After a moment, their car stopped on the side of the road at the foot of the mountain, waiting for the police. Lu Jingshen still felt a bit weak, his brows tightly furrowed.


    Feng Si reached out and tapped his ear. ¡°Does it hurt? Can you still hear?¡±


    Lu Jingshen felt a bit uncomfortable and tilted his head slightly. The gunshots had indeed caused some pain in his eardrums, but it wasn¡¯t too bad. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Feng Si nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ve had professional training. Don¡¯t forget, I served in the air force for three years before. I can definitely handle guns.¡±


    Lu Jingshen understood. No wonder he could shoot so accurately and with such confidence.


    As his emotions gradually calmed down, Lu Jingshen wanted to say something, but he caught a faint scent of blood in the air, and his expression froze slightly.


    He turned on the car¡¯s interior light and saw that Feng Si¡¯s left arm was bleeding, and his shirt sleeve was a mess.


    Seeing the shock in Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes, Feng Si casually explained, ¡°The bullet just grazed my arm on the mountain. It¡¯s okay, just a scratch.¡±


    Lu Jingshen asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything earlier?¡±


    His brows furrowed again, and he took hold of Feng Si¡¯s hand, carefully rolling up his shirt sleeve. The wound on his forearm was quite extensive, and it was still bleeding profusely. It was far from being ¡°just a scratch.¡±


    ¡°We need to go to the hospital now,¡± Lu Jingshen said with a stern face.


    Feng Si replied, ¡°The police haven¡¯t arrived yet. We need to figure out who those people are. It seems like they were after you.¡±


    ¡°to the hospital,now ¡± Lu Jingshen insisted.


    Feng Si felt helpless, but he needed to deal with his wound quickly. After hesitating for a moment, he didn¡¯t object and made a phone call.


    Lu Jingshen felt restless and didn¡¯t pay much attention to whom Feng Si called. As Feng Si prepared to start the car, Lu Jingshen pushed open the door and said, ¡°Switch places with me. I¡¯ll drive.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°Do you have a driver¡¯s license in this country?¡±


    Lu Jingshen had already moved to the driver¡¯s seat, opened Feng Si¡¯s car door, and said firmly, ¡°Get out.¡±


    Feng Si thought that Lu Jingshen probably had a driver¡¯s license since he came here for vacation every year, so he didn¡¯t insist and switched sides with him.


    Lu Jingshen followed the route on the navigation and drove the car at a high speed, his expression tense, and he didn¡¯t say a word.


    Feng Si glanced at him several times, but he held back from speaking. Lu Jingshen seemed genuinely worried about him, so it wasn¡¯t the right time to tease him.


    Half an hour later, in the emergency room of the hospital, a doctor was treating Feng Si¡¯s wound. Lu Jingshen looked at his arm covered in blood and felt uncomfortable. He stood up and went to the corridor outside to catch his breath.


    As soon as he stepped outside, someone greeted him. Lu Jingshen turned around and saw the French man who had lent them the plane earlier. Feng Si had mentioned his name was Ron.


    ¡°Feng called me just now and said you encountered armed robbers. He asked me to call the police. How is he?¡± The man asked, glancing at the emergency room. Seeing Feng Si still lively and chatting with the medical staff, he relaxed a bit.


    He looked at Lu Jingshen, who seemed absent-minded, and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going in to see him?¡±


    Lu Jingshen forced himself to find his voice. ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡±


    Ron sighed, ¡°I can tell you mean a lot to Feng Si.¡±


    Lu Jingshen furrowed his brows and didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°I¡¯m just speculating,¡± the man smiled, ¡°previously I thought Feng and I are the same type of person at first glance. He seemed easy to get close to, so I thought he would be an easy hook-up, but he kept rejecting me and only wanted to be friends. Later, after I bothered him too much, he finally told me that he came here to work because the person he was looking for could understand French, and he wanted to try his luck.¡±


    The other person kept their gaze on Lu Jingshen¡¯s face as they confirmed their guess, ¡°The person he was talking about should be you, right?¡±


    Lu Jingshen was taken aback. He had chosen to study French as his second foreign language during college, and many people from African countries spoke French. During his time in Africa, he often used French to ask for directions, and although Feng Si seemed indifferent, he remembered it all.


    While Lu Jingshen was lost in thought, Ron received a phone call.


    Lu Jingshen stood by the door, looking down at the shadow cast by the night at his feet, feeling a bit absent-minded.


    Feng Si came out and called out to him, ¡°Why are you standing there with your head down? Falling asleep?¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked up, and Feng Si¡¯s wound had already been treated, bandaged up. This person was injured, yet he didn¡¯t seem serious about it, smiling carefreely, his gaze fixed on Lu Jingshen.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes fell on Feng Si¡¯s arm, and he hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Is it taken care of? What did the doctor say?¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°They gave me an anti-inflammatory injection, stitched up the wound, and applied medicine. It¡¯s not a big deal, but I have to be careful for the next few days and avoid getting it wet.¡±


    He turned to Ron and asked, ¡°What did the police say?¡±


    ¡°They arrived just as those people were getting out of the car, trying to escape. They caught all of them. They said they were after you because they thought you were rich and wanted to rob you,¡± Ron conveyed the information he had just received.


    Feng Si¡¯s expression became serious, and he said, ¡°No, their attention was on Alex. They were definitely after him. The guns they were carrying weren¡¯t ordinary either. They chased us relentlessly. It¡¯s definitely not just a simple robbery. I also have the gun; can you help me take it to the police station and inform them?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a problem,¡± Ron replied, ¡°I already told them, and I asked them to investigate thoroughly. They won¡¯t let it go easily. You might have to go to the police station to give a statement in person later.¡±


    Feng Si nodded, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    On the way back, Lu Jingshen was still driving. When Feng Si got in the car, he saw a piece of cake that had only been eaten a few bites, lying under the passenger seat. He picked it up and casually threw it into a nearby trash bin, saying somewhat regretfully, ¡°Your birthday turned out to be quite thrilling.¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°When we get back, I¡¯ll increase your pay.¡±


    Feng Si looked surprised at him and then laughed, ¡°Would you also include compensation for medical expenses, nutrition, and psychological damages?¡±


    Lu Jingshen felt a bit frustrated. Apart from giving money, he really didn¡¯t know how else to express his gratitude to Feng Si, who seemed to have no shortage of money.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need to worry about that now. Let¡¯s go back first,¡± Feng Si reminded him with a smile.


    Lu Jingshen silently started the car.


    Feng Si lit a cigarette and opened his window. His uninjured right arm rested on the window, occasionally taking a puff. The terrifying experience just now didn¡¯t seem to bother him at all.


    ¡°Your hand is injured; smoke less,¡± Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t help but remind him.


    Feng Si glanced at him and said, ¡°my injured arm is not a big deal relax Alex¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t say much and focused on driving. The patterns on the windshield, caused by the impact earlier, were reflected in his eyes, seemingly shattering something frozen.


    They arrived back at the vineyard, and it was already past midnight. Feng Si took off his blood-stained shirt as soon as he entered, planning to take a shower.


    Lu Jingshen held him back, ¡°Your wound shouldn¡¯t get wet.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? It¡¯s just on my left hand. I¡¯ll be careful not to get it wet,¡± Feng Si said, teasing him, ¡°Or should I ask you to take a shower with me?¡±


    After saying that, he prepared himself to be rejected by Lu Jingshen. But to his surprise, Lu Jingshen nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow, not expecting that response, ¡°really?¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°As long as there¡¯s no one else around, anything is fine¡­ This statement has always been valid.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°Oh?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand touched the bandage on Feng Si¡¯s arm, gently massaging it with a focused expression. He didn¡¯t give Feng Si a chance to regret, ¡°I just don¡¯t want others to know. If you agree, we¡¯ll keep it this way.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°Not let others know?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°yes.¡±


    ¡°Do I have any other choice but to agree?¡± Feng Si said indifferently, ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll do as you please.¡±


    He withdrew his hand and went into the bathroom.


    Lu Jingshen was slightly stunned and had a feeling that Feng Si was a bit mad. But besides this, he really didn¡¯t know what else he could do.


    As Lu Jingshen followed Feng Si into the bathroom, Feng Si had already taken off all his clothes and was about to turn on the water.


    Lu Jingshen strode forward and grabbed his hand, frowning, ¡°Step back.¡±


    Feng Si found it somewhat amusing. Lu Jingshen looked nervous, which was quite rare and interesting.


    Feng Si cooperated and stepped back. Lu Jingshen took down the showerhead and turned on the water towards the wall.


    Suddenly, Feng Si behind him took a step forward, and an arm hooked around his waist, his breath near his ear, ¡°Anything is fine if no one else is around, do you mean it?¡±


    The word ¡°yes¡± was on Lu Jingshen¡¯s lips, but he had a vague sense of danger. ¡°What do you want to do?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s restless hand rubbed his waist and asked, ¡°Did you enjoy yourself on the plane earlier?¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°No, you also got an anti-inflammatory shot. Not tonight.¡±


    ¡°Come on¡± Feng Si persisted.


    He turned Lu Jingshen around to face him, raising his hand, and his fingers caressed Lu Jingshen¡¯s lips, gently stroking along the edges.


    Lu Jingshen glared at him but remained silent.


    Originally, he had planned to listen to Lu Jingshen and tone down, but seeing him now, so enticing and unaware of it, Feng Si couldn¡¯t help but want to tease him.


    With his fingertip against Lu Jingshen¡¯s slightly parted lips, Feng Si asked, ¡°Is it okay to use this?¡±

 CH 33

    Lu Jingshen¡¯s body tensed slightly. Feng Si¡¯s fingertip was still resting against his lips, and if if he were to push his tongue out a little, he would touch it.


    Feng Si laughed wickedly and asked again, ¡°Is it okay?¡±


    Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t help but swallow nervously and trembled as he replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do it.¡±


    Indeed, he didn¡¯t know how to do it. That was something that only Feng Si had done to him before, but it happened very rarely. They both preferred a more direct approach.


    Feng Si¡¯s smile deepened, ¡°If you don¡¯t know, I can teach you.¡±


    With a struggling expression, Lu Jingshen hesitated but didn¡¯t say anything.


    The hot water continued to flow, and steam filled the bathroom, bringing up the heated atmosphere. Amidst the ambiguous tension, silence reigned.


    After a moment of silence, Feng Si withdrew his hand, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, we don¡¯t have to¡­¡±


    Lu Jingshen reached out and grabbed Feng Si¡¯s uninjured arm, tightening his fingers slightly, ¡°then teach me.¡±


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow, and Lu Jingshen hesitantly  knelt in front of Feng Si.


    Though it was extremely challenging, he didn¡¯t back down. Feng Si looked at him, and a complex emotion gradually replaced the smile in his eyes. He placed his hand on the back of Lu Jingshen¡¯s head and said slowly, ¡°If you really don¡¯t want to, we don¡¯t have to.¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked at Feng Si¡¯s crotch in front of him and swallowed nervously once more. His breathing intensified as he leaned closer.


    Feng Si leaned against the wall, his eyes half-closed. Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes were misty, and his eye corners and nose were flushed. Though his actions were awkward, his expression was incredibly earnest.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t feel too comfortable. Lu Jingshen was inexperienced and made him feel a bit of pain at times. But at the same time, he found a kind of pleasure close to indulgence.


    His hand slid to the back of Lu Jingshen¡¯s neck and gently caressed. Whenever Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t bear it and stopped, Feng Si would apply more pressure to the sensitive spot on the back of his neck, pressing him closer. When he sensed that Lu Jingshen was struggling to breathe, he would ease the restraints slightly.


    In that way, Feng Si silently and forcefully taught Lu Jingshen.


    Though Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t be called a quick learner, he was determined. Even though tears were forced out of his eyes, he persisted.


    The more he struggled, the more Feng Si wanted to tease him.


    As he approached climax, Feng Si gripped his head and pulled Lu Jingshen¡¯s hair a bit, moving his body forcefully.


    Finally, at the crucial moment, their eyes met¡ªLu Jingshen¡¯s eyes were watery and red. Feng Si¡¯s rationality returned slightly, and he held back, withdrawing.


    Even though he wanted to make Lu Jingshen¡¯s face red, Feng Si knew when to stop.


    He couldn¡¯t go too far in one go.


    Lu Jingshen fell to the ground, some of it still on his lips. Unconsciously, he licked his lips, unable to recover for a moment.


    Feng Si reached out, and Lu Jingshen struggled to lift his head. Feng Si raised his chin and looked at him, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s mouth was also red. He looked at Feng Si, and there was a faint redness on his lips. The scene made Feng Si¡¯s eyes darken slightly, ¡°Was it uncomfortable just now?¡±


    Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak. It wasn¡¯t good, but it wasn¡¯t too bad either. He thought he wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it, but it turned out he could.


    Feng Si¡¯s hand moved to his throat, and he pulled Lu Jingshen towards him, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Are you embarrassed?¡±


    The strange feeling and taste still lingered on his tongue, and Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t feel like talking much. Feng Si leaned in and kissed him.


    The handheld showerhead fell to the ground.


    In the end, they had their second round in the bathroom that night.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t dare to grab Feng Si¡¯s arm; he was extremely cautious throughout.


    Feng Si lowered his head and bit his Adam¡¯s apple, pressing his waist to forcefully bring him closer. Lu Jingshen could barely stand, and he threw back his slender neck, unable to suppress his loud moans.


    ¡­¡­..


    He fell asleep without knowing the time, and when he woke up, it was almost ten o¡¯clock in the morning. Feng Si was right; if things continued like this, he might indeed find it hard to adapt to the work rhythm back in his home country.


    Lu Jingshen sat up in bed, and the part beside him was already empty. He sat there in a daze for a moment, then heard Feng Si¡¯s voice coming from the balcony. Feng Si was on a call with someone.


    Lu Jingshen got out of bed, picked up a bathrobe lying on the nearby sofa, wrapped it around himself, and walked towards the balcony.


    Feng Si had put the call on speaker, and it was Ron¡¯s voice from the other end, laughing playfully, ¡°Your little sweetheart looks so serious. Can he satisfy you in bed? If he can¡¯t, I can always be at your service.¡±


    Feng Si looked somewhat nonchalant. When he saw Lu Jingshen coming out, he also smiled. Without waiting for Feng Si to speak, Lu Jingshen came forward, took the phone from his hand, and hung up the call directly.


    Seeing that Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t look too happy, Feng Si explained with a smile, ¡°He was just playing around.¡±


    ¡°He asked if I can satisfy you in bed, and if I can¡¯t, he¡¯s offering to replace me? That¡¯s considered playing around?¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s tone was somewhat cold.


    Feng Si sighed helplessly, ¡°It was just a joke. He¡¯s always like that, always talking nonsense. I was planning to scold him, but you snatched my phone away.¡±


    Feng Si knew how jealous Lu Jingshen could be, probably because he couldn¡¯t stand anyone else getting involved with anything that belonged to him, including people.


    Feng Si said seriously, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in sharing our bedroom affairs with anyone. Believe me?¡±


    Lu Jingshen threw the phone back to him, picked up a cigarette box from the nearby table, and took out a cigarette.


    He lit the cigarette and felt somewhat uneasy. It wasn¡¯t just because someone made fun of him and Feng Si¡¯s intimate moments, but that phrase ¡°at your service¡± bothered him, even though he knew it was just a joke, and Feng Si wouldn¡¯t agree to it.


    Lu Jingshen frowned but didn¡¯t argue with him. ¡°What did he tell you?¡±


    ¡°Those people from last night, it turns out they were hired to kidnap you for money.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s eyes turned cold as he spoke, ¡°There¡¯s a group here that specializes in this kind of business. Ron figured they were connected to them, and he happened to know their boss personally, so they made a deal he would release the people from last night. In exchange, they were to give the employer¡¯s information. The contact was made through a foreign mailbox, and the money went through several transactions before reaching them. However, tracking the mailing address allowed them to trace it back to China.¡±


    Lu Jingshen understood, ¡°What did they really want? To kidnap me for ransom or to make me disappear from this world?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°Both.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Do you have the mailbox address? I¡¯ll have someone look into it,¡± Lu Jingshen said.


    Feng Si handed over the note he had just written, ¡°Do you have an idea?¡±


    ¡°I have a general idea, but I need to confirm,¡± Lu Jingshen replied.


    Feng Si assured him, ¡°Ron said they wouldn¡¯t pull that stunt again. Let¡¯s rest assured, but we still need to be cautious.¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded absentmindedly.


    Feng Si tapped his face with the cigarette box, ¡°Alex, what kind of life are you living? Getting coffee spilled on you during a business meeting and almost getting kidnapped while on vacation. Is that fun?¡±


    Lu Jingshen was annoyed, ¡°What do you want me to do then? Why don¡¯t you just do your job?¡±


    Feng Si laughed, ¡°Now you know I¡¯m useful? Will you still run away from me like before?¡±


    The tone was playful, but the question might also be something he genuinely wanted to know.


    Lu Jingshen fell silent for a moment and replied, ¡°Where would I run to now?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze lingered on the corner of his mouth. Perhaps Lu Jingshen¡¯s skin was too sensitive, as the mark from last night hadn¡¯t completely faded yet, but he seemed unaware of it.


    Feng Si reached out, pulled his bathrobe slightly open, revealing the intriguing marks all over his body that had been repeatedly deepened last night, making them hard to fade.


    Feng Si¡¯s fingers caressed, ¡°True, you can¡¯t run away from me now, looking like this.¡±


    Lu Jingshen pulled away his hand and turned back into the room.


    ¡­¡­¡­


    At half past ten, they finished breakfast and went out.


    They changed to a new car with a driver. Feng Si noticed and asked Lu Jingshen, ¡°Didn¡¯t you give everyone time off?¡±


    ¡°I called him back at the last minute,¡± Lu Jingshen calmly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have a driver¡¯s license here.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s expression was speechless.


    Lu Jingshen opened the car door and sat in the back seat. Feng Si followed, ¡°You don¡¯t have a driver¡¯s license, but you dared to drive me last night?¡±


    ¡°You were losing too much blood,¡± Lu Jingshen replied.


    When he saw the wound on Feng Si¡¯s arm, he was indeed a little anxious, which led to him doing something that was not like his usual self.


    Not wanting Feng Si to keep asking, Lu Jingshen looked out of the window.


    Feng Si lightly tapped his knee and moved closer to him.


    Lu Jingshen furrowed his brows, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Feng Si smiled at him, took his hand, and interlocked their fingers, lazily leaning against the seat, ¡°Nothing, you can keep enjoying the scenery.¡±


    Holding hands like that, Lu Jingshen felt a somewhat subtle sensation. Besides in bed, they had never had such an intimate action without any hint of desire.


    He didn¡¯t see a need to break away, as he felt the warmth of Feng Si¡¯s hand in his palm and the touch of the thin calluses on his fingers. He gradually relaxed.


    After forty minutes, they arrived at the hospital for follow-up treatment and to change the bandages.


    The bandage on Feng Si¡¯s arm was removed, revealing scars that were not as horrifying as last night, but still not pretty.


    Lu Jingshen only glanced at it briefly and looked away, regretting staying.


    In Lu Jingshen¡¯s absent-mindedness, Feng Si had already finished applying the medicine and rebandaging the wound, standing up.


    ¡°Alex, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Lu Jingshen snapped out of it and silently followed him out.


    When they left, Feng Si held him back, ¡°What were you thinking just now?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze stayed on his face for two seconds, and he reached out and lightly poked at the arm that Feng Si had just bandaged. Expressionless, he asked, ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    Feng Si inserted his hands into his pockets and stared into his eyes, dragging out his words, ¡°It hurts¡­¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°How old are you still acting cute?¡±


    Feng Si burst into laughter.


    If Lu Jingshen fell for this, it wouldn¡¯t be so bad.

 CH 34

    After leaving the hospital, they went to the police station and finished recording their statements. It was already noon when they were done.


    They had lunch at a nearby restaurant, and when they were leaving, Feng Si mentioned that there was a flea market nearby and asked if Lu Jingshen wanted to take a look.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been there once before, and there are quite a few interesting things. Do you want to go see?


    Lu Jingshen, in fact, didn¡¯t care much. When Feng Si wanted to go, he simply followed him.


    The flea market was in a nearby square, with scattered stalls selling various items. People moved through the market, and the voices of bargaining and conversations were endless.


    It was a typical local market.


    Although that scene was rare for Lu Jing Shen, it wasn¡¯t unfamiliar. He had been to similar places before, following Feng Si when they were in Africa, passing through a certain city where they stumbled upon such a gathering. They decided to take a look around and bought a bunch of local specialties, including the leather strap he had been wearing on his wrist for all those years.


    It was made of a special rhino leather handcrafted by the locals, and the sellers claimed that wearing it would bring good luck. It was very cheap, and both Lu Jing Shen and Feng Si bought one each.


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t know if the leather strap really brought good luck, but he hadn¡¯t taken it off since Feng Si casually put it on his wrist all those years ago. It was only when he reunited with Feng Si suddenly that he decided to take it off and put it away, perhaps feeling guilty for leaving without saying a word back then.


    While Lu Jing Shen was lost in thought, Feng Si leaned in and asked, ¡°Daydreaming again?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen instinctively wanted to turn away as Feng Si¡¯s breath got closer, but Feng Si reached out and gently held his cheek, preventing him from doing so.


    Lu Jing Shen shifted his gaze to him and asked, ¡°What do you want to buy?¡±


    ¡°Just looking,¡± Feng Si replied, hooking his waist and leading him forward.


    Being so intimate in public made Lu Jing Shen feel a bit uncomfortable, and Feng Si¡¯s voice sounded near him. ¡°Let¡¯s go this way. It¡¯s too crowded here. We might get separated or run into some troublesome people.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen was convinced and stopped resisting. Feng Si was in high spirits and occasionally stopped at various stalls to haggle with the sellers.


    Lu Jing Shen wasn¡¯t particularly interested in the things being sold. Instead, he occasionally glanced at Feng Si, paying attention to the curve of his lips and the color of his eyes under the afternoon sun.


    After the whole round of shopping, Feng Si showed restraint that day and only bought a few items, but they were unexpected choices.


    A vintage record player, two vinyl records, and a poetry collection published in the last century.


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t know what to say and asked, ¡°You bought these?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t I?¡± Feng Si smiled and raised an eyebrow.


    Lu Jing Shen replied, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like your style.¡±


    Feng Si questioned him, ¡°So what¡¯s my style? unserious? Rascally? Carefree?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen had nothing to say; Feng Si had already described himself. ¡°Actually, I get serious occasionally too,¡± Feng Si said, ¡°Don¡¯t you think so?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen had nothing more to say, so he asked, ¡°Do you still want to look around, or should we head back?¡±


    Feng Si casually nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s go back then.¡±


    After the incident last night, he didn¡¯t want to stay outside for too long.


    However, when they got back, Feng Si realized that he had been tricked; the vintage record player he bought couldn¡¯t actually be used.


    Seeing the mocking expression on Lu Jing Shen¡¯s face, as if teasing him for his mess up, Feng Si wasn¡¯t bothered. Instead, he found Lu Jing Shen¡¯s animated expression intriguing, so he pulled him into his arms and gave him a long cheek kiss.


    Feng Si released Lu Jing Shen and in a hoarse voice, he said, ¡°We¡¯ll settle this later tonight.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s eyes flickered, and he replied, ¡°First, you should fix the record player; otherwise, it¡¯s just a wasted purchase.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°That¡¯s simple.¡±


    However, the rest of the afternoon Feng Si was busy fixing the record player.


    Lu Jing Shen had no intention of helping; he couldn¡¯t be of any help anyway.


    In the evening, he received a reply regarding the owner of that email account. It was confirmed that the person was an assistant to Li Wenzhong, who had been forced into retirement by Lu Jing Shen the previous month.


    During his half-month absence abroad, there were indeed some significant changes within the company. His sister had been hiding everything, not wanting to disturb his rest, so she didn¡¯t inform him about it.


    Lu Jing Shen directly called Lu Jing Qing¡¯s phone number.


    While Feng Si, who was fixing things, glanced at him but didn¡¯t say anything.


    After the call was connected, Lu Jing Shen quickly explained what happened last night. Lu Jing Qing, who was originally a bit groggy, instantly woke up and anxiously asked, ¡°Are you okay? Did you get hurt? Did they catch those thugs? Are you alright? Should I come over?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. The people have all been locked up by the police. One of Feng¡¯s friends had some connections with them, so they won¡¯t be doing this business anymore.¡± Lu Jing Shen explained simply.


    Still concerned, Lu Jing Qing said, ¡°But you still can¡¯t take it lightly. Come back home soon. If it¡¯s really Li Wenzhong who¡¯s behind this, I¡¯ll report it to the police immediately.¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t work,¡± Lu Jing Shen reminded her, ¡°Ww don¡¯t have solid evidence, also,it happened overseas, and you can¡¯t do anything to him. Hasn¡¯t he been secretly contacting other shareholders and directors recently?¡±


    Lu Jing Qing admitted, ¡°You know about that too. He indeed hasn¡¯t given up and wants to return to the company. I thought he was just causing a little trouble, but I didn¡¯t expect him to be so audacious.¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken,¡± Lu Jing Shen continued, ¡°when news of my kidnapping and disappearance reaches the country, he will quickly arrange for a board meeting to elect new directors. Dad¡¯s health is not good, and they might try to push you into the chairman position to control the company through you.¡±


    Lu Jing Qing coldly smiled, ¡°they will never succeed. A-Shen, I¡¯ve said before that we are family. No matter how close I was with Li Wenzhong before, I would never agree to let him harm you like this. Don¡¯t you trust me?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t told anyone else about this, except for you,¡± Lu Jing Shen said calmly. ¡°I plan to stay abroad for a while longer. I can only pass these matters to you.¡±


    Lu Jing Qing understood, ¡°Are you planning to turn the tables and confront them during the board meeting?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t deny it.


    Lu Jing Qing readily agreed, ¡°Alright, I know what to do. Be careful over there. Don¡¯t go out casually, even if you have bodyguards. Leave the company matters to me,I¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen also reminded her to take care of herself and hung up the phone.


    Feng Si approached, took Lu Jing Shen¡¯s phone, opened WeChat, and sent a ¡°thank you¡± message to Lu Jing Qing.


    ¡°Requesting someone¡¯s help should be polite. ¡®Thank you¡¯ is the bare minimum,¡± he lectured Lu Jing Shen.


    Lu Jing Shen frowned, and Feng Si handed the phone back to him. ¡°You didn¡¯t hesitate to tell your sister everything. Do you really trust her that much?¡±


    ¡°Do you not trust Feng Ting?¡± Lu Jing Shen asked in return.


    Feng Si laughed, ¡°I really don¡¯t trust that little brat. As long as she doesn¡¯t cause me trouble, that¡¯s good enough. How could I trust her?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen ignored his playful words and explained, ¡°My father¡¯s health is not good, my mother and brother don¡¯t handle company matters, so we can only trust each other.¡±


    That was perhaps the first time Lu Jing Shen willingly talked to Feng Si about his family, even though it was only a few brief sentences.


    Feng Si asked, ¡°Your family seems to have a good relationship. Can I meet them?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s expression stiffened, and he avoided eye contact, saying, ¡°¡­let¡¯s talk about it later.¡±


    Feng Si popped a mint candy into his mouth, chewed it slowly, and looked at him intently.


    Lu Jing Shen felt somewhat uneasy under his gaze but remained tight-lipped.


    After a brief silence, Feng Si changed the topic, ¡°Did your vacation get extended? Isn¡¯t that a blessing in disguise? What are your plans next? Do you want to travel somewhere else? How about the UK? Come to my place.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s tone made it sound like a casual suggestion.


    Lu Jing Shen lightly pursed his lips.


    ¡°Forget it, your sister is worried about you going out casually. Just stay here..at least it¡¯s safe,¡± Feng Si said, standing up to continue dealing with the record player.


    Lu Jing Shen was taken aback for a moment, but he followed him. Feng Si dismantled the parts and sat on the floor, slowly cleaning the gears.


    Lu Jing Shen hesitated and squatted beside him, but Feng Si glanced at him, and he didn¡¯t move.


    Lu Jing Shen asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you what you¡¯re doing?¡± Feng Si sighed helplessly and with amusement. ¡°Lu Jing Shen, you¡¯re blocking the light.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen felt a bit embarrassed and shifted to the side.


    He looked like someone who had done something wrong, wanting to please someone intentionally but awkwardly unable to do it right.


    Feng Si said, ¡°Don¡¯t move; the more you move, the less I feel like doing it. Come over here and stay still.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen felt slightly relieved and moved to his other side. ¡°Do you want me to help?¡±


    ¡°You weren¡¯t planning to help before?¡± Feng Si teased him. ¡°What can you do anyway? Can you tell what is what?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen looked slightly embarrassed, and Feng Si raised his chin towards him, ¡°Go get me a bottle of water.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen said, ¡°Okay,¡± and stood up.


    He returned five minutes later, holding a bottle of mineral water, and handed it to Feng Si.


    Seeing that Lu Jing Shen was so easy-going, Feng Si playfully toyed with him, ¡°I¡¯m feeling a little hungry now. Can you get me a sandwich?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen gave him a look, turned around, and went downstairs.


    The third time, Feng Si said he needed tissues, and Lu Jing Shen still went to get them.


    ¡°Is there anything else you need?¡± Lu Jing Shen had probably figured out that Feng Si was playing with him, but he still had a good temper as that was the only way he could help.


    Feng Si saw that Lu Jing Shen was being so agreeable and stretched out his hand to pull him down. ¡°No need; aren¡¯t you tired running around? Just stay here.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t say anything more and squatted beside him, picking up a poetry collection nearby.


    He flipped through a few pages and put it back down.


    That kind of thing didn¡¯t interest him much, and he didn¡¯t think Feng Si would like it either.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s gaze returned to the person beside him, quietly watching him work.


    Half an hour later, after putting back the last piece, Feng Si clapped his hands. ¡°It should be fixed now. Want to try it?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded.


    Feng Si moved the record player to the table, placed one of the vinyl records they bought on it, and gently turned the handle.


    The fine quality voice of the song came through, flowing slowly with the frequency of the rotating vinyl.


    ¡°Return to me.


    For my heart wants you only.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen listened quietly for a moment, feeling slightly lost.


    Feng Si¡¯s breath approached from behind, and his warm and moist breath fell on Lu Jing Shen¡¯s ear, humming softly along with the song.


    ¡°Return to me


    For my heart wants you only.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen felt a slight itchiness, as Feng Si¡¯s voice lightly struck his eardrums, making his heart tremble.


    ¡°Return to me.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen turned around and hugged Feng Si¡¯s neck, drawing closer to him.


    he hugged him tightly.


    sealing away more words that he couldn¡¯t bear to express.


    1¡°Return to me¡± ¨C Dean Martin

 CH 35

    For the next half month, Lu Jing Shen and Feng Si rarely left the vineyard, except occasionally going to nearby towns to buy things. During this time, Ron came to the vineyard for a meal, and Lu Jing Shen orally negotiated a business deal with him. If it eventually went through, their company could use Ron¡¯s company¡¯s assistance to expand their presence in the European market. Lu Jing Shen would return to the country with this achievement, hopefully silencing the board of directors for good.


    Of course, Ron also benefits from this. Although that French man looked even less serious than Feng Si, he was very cautious and sharp when it came to business, not easy to handle.


    After the serious business talk, Ron didn¡¯t hesitate to enjoy some of Lu Jing Shen¡¯s good wine. He even mentioned that he also wanted to buy a vineyard. When he got drunk, he babbled about regretting not being able to sleep with Feng Si. He tried to get close to Feng Si under the influence of alcohol, but Feng Si easily pushed him away.


    ¡°Sorry not available,¡± Feng Si said playfully, with a carefree smile but a firm attitude.


    Ron grumbled a few curses, and Lu Jing Shen arranged for the driver to send him away with a cold face.


    Before leaving, Ron noticed the record player that Feng Si bought and murmured, ¡°You Eastern people like these subtle romantics. I still prefer the music in bars; that¡¯s more suitable for young people. You are both behaving like old men.¡±


    Feng Si just smiled but didn¡¯t explain. Ron lost interest and finally left.


    With the peace restored, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s expression still didn¡¯t look good. Feng Si leaned towards him and asked, ¡°why the long face? Aren¡¯t you happy after successfully negotiating a big deal?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen responded coldly, ¡°I¡¯ll be happy after we sign the contract.¡±


    Feng Si thought that was Lu Jing Shen being unhappy. He rolled up his shirt sleeves, which had been pulled out of shape by Ron, and couldn¡¯t help but feel wronged.


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t pay him any more attention and made a call to Lu Jing Qing. They had been in touch during this time, and news of his kidnapping and disappearance had already reached the country. Only his family knew the truth, and the company was in chaos with many people trying to take advantage of the situation.


    Lu Jing Shen had long wanted to rectify the company¡¯s long-standing problems, and now he had the perfect opportunity.


    Lu Jing Qing informed him that those people were ready, and the board meeting would be held next Monday.


    ¡°Come back before that.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen agreed, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll arrange it.¡±


    After hanging up, he informed Feng Si, ¡°I¡¯ll return to the country the day after tomorrow.¡±


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded.


    That¡¯s settled then.


    Feng Si said, ¡°The vacation is over.¡±


    The vacation is over. What would their relationship be like now?


    That thought flashed through Lu Jing Shen¡¯s mind for a moment, and then he forced himself not to think about it.


    They had agreed to remain casual, and Feng Si had also agreed. There was no need for him to overthink it.


    Two days later, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s private plane took off for his return to the country.


    Feng Si¡¯s hand stitches had just been removed, and he couldn¡¯t fly the plane, so the private jet company sent someone over to temporarily replace him.


    He boarded the plane with Lu Jing Shen, and Lin Ling and the others were waiting under the plane early on to welcome them. Feng Si smiled brightly, looking full of joy.


    Lu Jing Shen entered the cabin first, and Lin Ling and the others only knew that Feng Si had injured his hand. They surrounded him, asking about his condition, and Feng Si casually said he was fine. After the others left to make preparations, only Lin Ling was left. She smiled and blinked at him, ¡°Captain Feng, you seem so pleased. Did everything go as you wished?¡±


    Feng Si shook his finger, smiling as he reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t be nosy about the boss¡¯s private affairs, or he might deduct your salary.¡±


    After some banter, he went into the cabin where Lu Jing Shen was already sitting, leaning against the seat with his eyes closed.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze fell on the side of his neck, where the mark was much lighter than before. Lu Jing Shen had insisted that he not leave any obvious marks during those two days. However, as a punishment, the hidden parts of his body were covered in more and deeper marks, made by Feng Si himself.


    Feng Si reached out and gently touched the small shadow below his collar that extended to his neck. Lu Jing Shen frowned lightly, opening his eyes to look at him.


    ¡°Stop it.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s hand froze in place, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s here, be careful,¡± Lu Jing Shen reminded him impatiently.


    The other pilots had already entered the cockpit, and Lin Ling and another stewardess were busy in the galley, likely to come over at any moment.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t care, but he also didn¡¯t say anything. When he withdrew his hand, he lightly flicked Lu Jing Shen¡¯s face with his fingers.


    Lu Jing Shen turned his face away.


    Feng Si squinted his eyes, hesitated for a few seconds, and then went to sit in the adjacent seat.


    Lu Jing Shen realized that he had been too harsh with his tone just now and regretted it slightly. After hesitating, he said, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep well last night, and I have a slight headache.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze turned to him.


    So, his attitude just now was unintentional, but he found it difficult to ask Lu Jing Shen to apologize like this.


    Feng Si clicked his tongue, got up, and went to the galley.


    Five minutes later, he came back, holding a cup of warm honey water in his hand, which Lu Jing Shen had left half-drunk earlier. He handed it to Lu Jing Shen and said, ¡°I know you don¡¯t like sweet things, but try drinking this. It will help you feel better.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen took the cup and held it gently, saying a soft thank you.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me.¡±


    After saying that, Feng Si sat back down, picked up the magazine that Lu Jing Shen was reading earlier, flipped through a couple of pages, and then put it down. He had no interest in those financial magazines.


    Lu Jing Shen drank about half of the honey water, relaxed, and leaned back in his seat again.


    After the plane took off and entered cruising altitude, Lu Jing Shen unbuckled his seatbelt, got up, and went to the bedroom at the back.


    Feng Si followed him, and when Lu Jing Shen glanced back, Feng Si had already closed the door, locked it, and was standing by the door, holding the half-cup of honey water Lu Jing Shen had left earlier. He slowly drank it.


    As the cup approached his lips, Feng Si¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple slid slowly. His gaze was fixed on Lu Jing Shen the whole time.


    ¡°Are you planning to sleep?¡± he asked.


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t feel like talking and just nodded.


    Feng Si approached him and made him lie face down on the bed


    He then applied a massage with moderate pressure, starting from his temples and moving slowly to the back of his head. His technique was good, and Lu Jing Shen felt slightly more comfortable, so he didn¡¯t resist and let Feng Si do as he pleased.


    However, he became aware that something was amiss when Feng Si¡¯s hand slid down to the back of his neck, and his touch changed.


    Lu Jing Shen opened his eyes, and Feng Si¡¯s voice was even lower than before, with some emotion in it. ¡°Alex, are you feeling better?.¡± he then flipped him and made him lie on his back


    Lu Jing Shen wanted to protest, but Feng Si didn¡¯t give him the chance. His other hand unbuttoned Lu Jing Shen¡¯s shirt and slipped inside, touching his skin.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this,¡± Lu Jing Shen frowned and refused.


    His body was uncomfortable, they were on a flight, and someone could knock on the door at any moment.


    But Feng Si didn¡¯t let him go. ¡°Just relax and enjoy it,¡± he insisted.


    His restless hands wandered around Lu Jing Shen¡¯s chest, igniting sparks and touching the various overlapping marks on his body. It felt like feathers brushing against him, tickling and teasing his desires.


    Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t stand it for long and asked him to stop, but Feng Si was not as easy to dismiss.. He swiftly positioned himself and sat down on the bed, trapping Lu Jing Shen between his legs.


    Lu Jing Shen was restrained and unable to struggle.


    Feng Si continued his advances, forcefully removing Lu Jing Shen¡¯s clothes. His gaze explored every inch of Lu Jing Shen¡¯s body as if admiring a perfect work of art. He used his hands to feel, touch, and deepen the memory of Lu Jingshen in his mind.


    Lu Jing Shen had a slim figure with a thin layer of muscles that made him look attractive. His fair skin was sensitive, and even the slightest touch left vivid red marks on him.


    Feng Si seemed almost obsessed with touching his body.


    The teasing went on for a long time, and Lu Jing Shen¡¯s emotions were kept in suspense, unable to move forward or retreat.


    Being scrutinized in such an intimate way made Lu Jing Shen feel uncomfortable. He couldn¡¯t break free and had to close his eyes, trying not to look.


    Feng Si picked up the remaining half-cup of honey water and held it over Lu Jing Shen¡¯s chest, pouring it slowly.


    The sticky syrup spread over his chest, adding a hint of sensuality. Although it had lost its warmth, Lu Jing Shen felt as if he had been burned, and his body trembled involuntarily.


    Then he felt the weight of Feng Si pressing down on him, and Feng Si¡¯s tongue licked him.


    He was merely licking away the honey water on his body, but it felt more arousing than ever. The passionate sucking and grinding made it even harder for him to bear. Moans escaped his lips, and at the same time, there was a knock on the door.


    It was the voice of the flight attendant outside, asking if they needed meals.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t stop his actions and didn¡¯t bother with the attendant. He continued to lick and kiss Lu Jing Shen¡¯s sweetened body. The flight attendant asked again, ¡°Mr. Lu, Captain Feng, should I serve you your meals?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen bit his lip hard, trying to control his breathing and replied in as calm a voice as possible, ¡°No need, we¡¯ll have it later.¡±


    As the footsteps of the flight attendant moved away, Lu Jing Shen finally relaxed, feeling like he had released a breath he had been holding. He grabbed Feng Si¡¯s hair.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t mind and raised his head, touching Lu Jing Shen¡¯s face with his hand.


    After a brief touch, Feng Si got up and maintained a half-kneeling position, staring at him.


    Lu Jing Shen frowned, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s black eyes had a deep and bright light as they silently met Lu Jing Shen¡¯s gaze.


    For a moment, Feng Si bent down and held Lu Jing Shen¡¯s hand, pressing his lips to it and gently and affectionately kissing each finger.


    His attention was focused, serious, and devoted, as if the most loyal knight was kissing his king.


    As Lu Jing Shen felt the moist and warm touch on his fingers, he had never been treated with such tender care, as if cherished, making it difficult for him to pull his hand away, feeling almost paralyzed.


    In the end, the last kiss landed on his palm, and Lu Jing Shen¡¯s heart trembled, suddenly awakened.


    Feng Si raised his head, softly whispering his name, ¡°A Shen.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen was stunned, looking at him in disbelief.


    A smile returned to Feng Si¡¯s eyes. He took off his own coat and draped it over Lu Jing Shen¡¯s bare chest.


    The warmth with Feng Si¡¯s scent settled on him made Lu Jing Shen finally fully come to his senses, subconsciously avoiding his gaze and pulling at his clothes.


    Feng Si leaned closer, his voice dropping to his ear, ¡°Is your headache still aching?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen sat up feeling a bit embarrassed.


    Feng Si chuckled softly, ¡°Want me to go with you to shower?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen closed his eyes for a moment, the slight anger he had felt earlier seemed to dissipate without him realizing it. He didn¡¯t know what to say.


    ¡°No need,¡± he replied, avoiding Feng Si¡¯s teasing gaze. He got up and quickly walked into the bathroom.

 CH 36

    The plane landed in Beijing at 5 pm, and outside, the first snow of the winter was falling.


    Coming from a warm place to the chill of winter, Lu Jing Shen felt a bit uncomfortable. He wrapped his coat tightly around himself as he walked down the walkway. When he turned around, he saw Feng Si saying goodbye to others with a smile. The fog from his breath made his face blurry. Lu Jing Shen watched him like that, and his emotions gradually calmed down.


    Feng Si turned around and saw that Lu Jing Shen hadn¡¯t left yet; he was still standing beneath the plane waiting for him. Surprisingly, Feng Si hurried down and his eyes gleamed, ¡°Waiting for me?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s hands were in his coat pockets as he turned around, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Feng Si caught up with him, teasingly said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home then.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s heart trembled slightly, but he didn¡¯t say anything.


    The car that came to pick them up arrived half an hour ago, waiting outside.


    Liu Jie was also in the car. Except for family members, only a few trusted individuals knew about Lu Jing Shen¡¯s safe return to the country.


    Sitting in the car, Liu Jie immediately started reporting work to him. There were so many things that happened in the company in the past month that it was impossible to summarize them briefly.


    Most of what Lu Jing Shen needed to know was already told to him on the phone by Lu Jing Qing. Liu Jie added more details.


    Lu Jing Shen listened quietly, and the development of the situation was as he expected. After the board meeting the day after tomorrow, he would remove the stumbling blocks in the company and truly take control.


    Lu Jing Shen was not a person without ambition. After so many years of dedication to the company, his goal was exactly that.


    Liu Jie talked all the way, and when they returned to Mingyue Bay, she still wanted to continue reporting the work to him.


    Feng Si stopped her, ¡°Alright, Secretary Liu, we just flew for ten hours, and we haven¡¯t adjusted to the time difference. We haven¡¯t even had dinner yet.¡±


    Liu Jie looked embarrassed, and Feng Si directly concluded, ¡°That¡¯s it for today. Come again tomorrow.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen glanced at Feng Si but didn¡¯t object, seeming to quietly accept his suggestion.


    Liu Jie realized it wasn¡¯t appropriate to continue and awkwardly said she¡¯d come back the next day, then hurriedly left.


    Feng Si turned back and teased Lu Jing Shen, ¡°After not seeing each other for over a month, Secretary Liu is even more impatient.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen turned and entered the elevator first, and Feng Si followed. He took out his phone and checked the food delivery app, asking Lu Jing Shen what he wanted to eat.


    Lu Jing Shen casually replied, ¡°You decide.¡±


    Feng Si put away his phone, ¡°Then let¡¯s eat out, there¡¯s a newly opened restaurant just across the neighborhood.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded.


    After going upstairs to put down their luggage, they went out again.


    The restaurant Feng Si mentioned was just a ten-minute walk from the neighborhood gate. The snow was still falling, and he opened an umbrella, wrapping his arm around Lu Jing Shen¡¯s shoulder. Lu Jing Shen looked up and hesitated, ¡°You should get another umbrella.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say that earlier?¡± Feng Si lazily said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to now; let¡¯s just use this.¡±


    As night fell, the snow fell even heavier, and the city lights looked hazy and desolate. Feng Si held him close, walking into the snow haze.


    Lu Jing Shen focused on the path ahead, and the cold wind made his ears slightly red. Feng Si turned his head and, seeing this, asked near his ear, ¡°Have you ever watched the night snow with someone else before?¡±


    His lips brushed against Lu Jing Shen¡¯s earlobe almost imperceptibly, making Lu Jing Shen slightly shiver. He furrowed his brows lightly, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°I have,¡± Feng Si whispered, ¡°One year in New York, also the first snow, I walked with someone like this, sharing an umbrella.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen subconsciously asked, ¡°Who?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°A man.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s hand, in his coat pocket, unconsciously tightened, ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    ¡°Where else? We booked a hotel room,¡± Feng Si said casually.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s fingertips dug into his palm, and he remained silent for a while.


    ¡°Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t happen in the end,¡± Feng Si smiled, ¡°We drank too much, so we gave up.¡±


    That time, Feng Si attended a party, got drunk, and as he was leaving, someone approached him and asked if he wanted to go to a hotel. He didn¡¯t remember what the person looked like; all he could recall were the eyes, which were very similar to Lu Jing Shen¡¯s. That person, or rather, that young man, said he was a student studying abroad in New York and that it was his first time attending a party. He hadn¡¯t expected to be infatuated with another man at first sight.


    As the night wind blew away Feng Si¡¯s tipsiness, he realized he wasn¡¯t truly drunk. At the hotel entrance, he lit a cigarette and smoked quietly. When the young man hesitantly asked if they should go in, Feng Si looked at him.


    Without the influence of alcohol, his clouded mind became extraordinarily clear and sober.


    It was different.


    They looked similar, but their essence was different. The person he liked wouldn¡¯t look at him with that kind of seemingly pleasing gaze, wouldn¡¯t show a similar shy and awkward expression, and definitely wouldn¡¯t be so straightforward and tell him they liked him.


    In this world, there might be countless people who looked like him, but none of them was him.


    After crushing the cigarette butt, he called a car for the young man and sent him away without any attachment. Then he left without looking back.


    Until he completely forgets that person, he will keep searching.


    Feng suddenly remembered that old story, not because there was anything particularly worth remembering about that boy back then, but because it was after that moment that his attitude changed.


    No longer holding expectations, there won¡¯t be disappointments. Considering the process of searching as a form of enjoyment, more than a struggle


    And in the end, he found him, didn¡¯t he?


    Lujing Shen stopped walking, turned to face him, stayed silent for a moment, and then lifted his hands to grab his collar.


    In the future¡­ don¡¯t casually book a room with someone else.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s voice trembled slightly, probably even he lacked confidence while saying those words.


    Feng Si smirked and teased him, ¡®Lujing, you¡¯re quite domineering. You know''¡±


    Lujing Shen replied, ¡®You got yourself into it. You know I don¡¯t like sharing¡­ both things and people.''¡±


    In the end, those last words were somewhat unclear, but Feng Si heard them clearly.¡±


    ¡°¡®Alex, am I your person?''¡± he asked.


    ¡°Lujing Shen persisted, ¡®Aren¡¯t you?''¡±


    Feng¡¯s eyes showed emotions that Lujing Shen couldn¡¯t understand. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, ¡®Yes, I am.''¡±


    Lujing Shen felt relieved, and his hands released their grip.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t say anything more, just embraced him again, saying, ¡®Let¡¯s go.''¡±


    After finishing dinner, it was already past 8 PM.


    When they got back home, Feng Si moved all the piled-up packages outside the door inside. Those were all things he bought since Lujing Shen never shopped online. The house was cold and empty, but with Feng Si , it finally started to feel a bit like a home.¡±


    Lujing Shen noticed a long-unused mailbox on the wall with a piece of paper inside. It turned out to be a postcard. He took it down but didn¡¯t have time to look at it as Feng Si called him from inside the room.


    Lujing Shen absentmindedly stuffed the postcard into his coat pocket and entered the room.


    After taking a shower, it was not yet 9 PM. Lujing Shen sat at his desk and opened his notebook, intending to pass the time by reading the documents Liu Jie had sent him.


    But inattentive, he remembered the postcard he just brought in. He took it out from the coat hanging on the rack and sat back down at the desk.


    The postcard had a red background with a large fiery red rose. It was another postcard that Feng Si sent from Oslo, Norway, along with the two he sent before.


    Lujing Shen was slightly startled. He turned the postcard over, and in the blank space on the back, there was a message written by Feng Si¡¯s own hand.


    ¡°¡®Alex,


    I wrote this postcard in Oslo, Norway, where you were also present. The morning sunlight was beautiful, and we had breakfast together in a restaurant. It felt strange, like I had been waiting for this day for too long.


    We agreed to come here together to see the Northern Lights, and this time, it finally became possible. They say you can see the Northern Lights in this city at night, a symbol of good luck. Last night, we saw it together. Does it mean that good luck has come to both of us?


    I hope so.


    I know you must be curious about whom I¡¯m sending this postcard to. If you ask me directly, I¡¯ll tell you, it¡¯s for you.


    It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve sent a postcard to you, and I¡¯m glad.


    I look forward to you receiving this postcard and being as happy as I am.


    Feng


    October 19, 2022¡ä¡±


    Lujing Shen stared at those lines, his mind blank. His world fell silent because of those words.


    Only the sound of his heartbeat, strong and overwhelming, drowned out everything else, resonating throughout his chest.


    He turned the postcard back over, and next to the red rose, there was a line of English poetry.


    ¡®You are the last rose in my barren land.¡¯


    The intense and unadorned affection was the essence of that poem.


    When Feng Si chose this postcard, he must have seen that line as well.


    Lujing Shen bent down, resting his forehead on his elbow, tightly gripping the postcard in his hand, motionless.


    In the bathroom, Feng Si was showering when suddenly the light went out.


    He turned off the water, held his breath, and listened for a moment before turning it back on.


    The sound of water covered the footsteps and the chaotic heartbeat. The warmth of the body pressed against him, and an extended arm wrapped around his waist.


    Feng Si turned around, feeling Lujing Shen¡¯s wet bathrobe. He helped him take it off and asked, ¡®Didn¡¯t you just shower? What are you doing here?''¡±


    The darkness concealed the expression in Lujing Shen¡¯s eyes at that moment. He leaned toward Feng Si and passionately kissed him.


    His tongue eagerly explored Feng Si¡¯s mouth, entwining with him passionately.


    The entangled lips and teeth couldn¡¯t fully convey the turbulent emotions and desires in Lujing Shen¡¯s heart. The more he kissed, the more he felt unsatisfied. That level was far from enough to fulfill his inner yearning.


    His desire for this man was never just physical.


    Even though he had never admitted it.


    The long kiss ended, and Lujing Shen pressed his lips against Feng Si¡¯s, breathing heavily and erratically.


    Feng Si chuckled softly, ¡®What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re being overly enthusiastic tonight. I haven¡¯t finished showering yet.''¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s voice was slightly hoarse, ¡®Isn¡¯t a little enthusiasm good?''¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, it¡¯s more than good.¡±


    Feng Si was pleased, ¡®Do you want to continue?''¡±


    Lujing Shen handed him something he brought in especially. Rarely so proactive, Feng Si graciously accepted it, and his strong arms encircled Lujing Shen¡¯s waist, swapping positions and pressing him against the wall. His thighs firmly nestled between Lujing Shen¡¯s legs.


    With Lujing Shen being so tall, Feng completely supported him, lifting his feet off the ground. That position made Lujing Shen feel a bit uneasy, so he could only hold onto Feng¡¯s shoulders, fully surrendering himself to him.


    In the enclosed darkness, only the sound of water and the intertwined breaths could be heard, concealing everything else beneath.


    Feng Si got closer, and his breath fell on Lujing Shen¡¯s lips, whispering, ¡®Alex, become mine too, i want you all for myself.''¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s response was another eager kiss that covered his lips.

 CH 37

    At 9 AM, the car parked outside the Lujing family mansion.


    Lujing Shen got out of the car and asked Feng Si and Liu Jie to wait inside while he went into the mansion alone.


    Feng Si glanced outside the car window, taking in the surroundings. That was the most prestigious upscale residential area in the city, Lujing Shen¡¯s original home.


    He turned to Liu Jie in the back seat and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the chairman like?¡±


    Liu Jie replied, ¡°¡­ Do you think it¡¯s appropriate to ask such a question?¡±


    ¡°Just curious,¡± Feng Si said nonchalantly, ¡°Forget it if you don¡¯t want to tell me.¡±


    He pushed the car door open, and Liu Jie warned, ¡°Where are you going? The boss said we should wait here.¡±


    ¡°Relax ,¡± Feng chuckled, ¡°Can¡¯t I go out to smoke a cigarette?¡±


    When Lujing Shen¡¯s parents came out with him, Feng Si was leaning against the car door and was lighting a cigarette to smoke.


    Seeing Lujing Shen¡¯s frown, he casually threw the cigarette butt away and crushed it with his foot.


    Lujing Shen glanced at him and then accompanied his parents to the car behind to see them off.


    Feng Si¡¯s attention turned to Lujing Shen¡¯s father and his wife.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s father did look a bit weary, but he still stood tall with an imposing presence and no signs of aging. His wife appeared younger, with a gentle smile, and Lujing Shen looked a bit submissive in her presence.


    A very strange family.


    An Xin, on the other hand, gave Feng Si a closer look. When she got into the car, she asked her son, ¡°Is that your new assistant?¡±


    Lujing Shen nodded, not wanting to say much, and closed the car door for them.


    An Xin looked at him before the car drove off, and noticed the assistant Feng Si helped Lu Jingshen open the back door. It seemed like the assistant whispered something in his ear, making An Xin thoughtful.


    What Feng Si said was, ¡°Your dad looks quite serious. And you resemble him a lot, will you turn into that kind of person when you¡¯re in your fifties?¡±


    Lujing Shen entered the car without saying a word and closed the door, keeping Feng Si¡¯s teasing outside.


    Liu Jie was somewhat speechless. Was Feng Si flirting with their boss?


    Forty minutes later, their car arrived outside the Shangxin Building, and someone who received the message hurried out to greet them.


    The company¡¯s top executives were holding a board meeting, and the chairman, who hadn¡¯t appeared in the company for a long time, suddenly appeared. Along with him was Lujing Shen, who had been rumored to be missing overseas. Everyone was surprised.


    The group quickly entered the building and took the special elevator to the top floor.


    The conference room door was open, and Lujing Shen walked in with his father. Everyone turned their heads to look at them, their faces showing various expressions of surprise, excitement, astonishment, and confusion.


    The meeting¡¯s host, Lujing Qing, stood up first and gave up her seat.


    Lujing¡¯s father took the seat and scanned the people around him, asking, ¡°I heard that you all think I¡¯m incapable and want me to step down?¡±


    Feng Si didn¡¯t follow them in; he bought a can of Coke from the vending machine in the corridor and drank it absentmindedly.


    Forty minutes later, plainclothes police officers came up and entered the conference room. When they came out, they were escorting Li Wenzhong, who had been handcuffed.


    Although that man was forced into retirement by Lujing Shen, he was still a shareholder in the company. He attended that day¡¯s meeting under the pretense of being an observer. They had no evidence of him hiring someone to kidnap Lujing Shen, but they could still hold him accountable for embezzling company assets.


    As Li Wenzhong passed by, Feng Si called out to him, ¡°Hey.¡±


    Li Wenzhong¡¯s cold gaze turned toward him, and Feng Si tilted his head, saying, ¡°I heard you have a spendthrift son at home?¡±


    Recognizing him as Lujing Shen¡¯s new assistant, Li Wenzhong gritted his teeth, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Feng Si said disdainfully. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do anything illegal like hiring someone to kidnap you. But leading someone astray, I¡¯m pretty good at that. I wonder if the remaining assets you left will be enough for your son to squander in the future.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Li Wenzhong fumed.


    The plainclothes police officers frowned and quickly took him away.


    Lujing Qing came out afterward and had a few words with Li Wenzhong.


    When she came back, her face didn¡¯t look good, and it turned even colder when she saw Feng Si.


    Feng Si took the initiative to speak, ¡°What did the chairman say to him just now? I guess it was about asking him why he wanted to kidnap Lujing.¡±


    ¡°You like to be so clever?¡± Lujing Qing, on guard, scolded him. ¡°As his assistant, you shouldn¡¯t be so presumptuous when speaking about your boss.¡±


    Feng shrugged indifferently, ¡°Okay, my bad. But I¡¯m just a little curious. Many of the people Lujing Shen is dealing with today are your confidants. Why are you cooperating so generously with him?¡±


    ¡°People who don¡¯t listen to me are useless to keep around.¡± Lujing Qing sneered. ¡°Those who truly obey me have already settled down under my guidance. The rest are just trying to target Lujing under my name, and their intentions are malicious.¡±


    After saying this, Lu Jingqing directly returned to the conference room.


    Feng Si smiled and remained at the door.


    Through the gaps in the blinds, one could vaguely see inside. The person in the main seat had changed to Lu Jingshen, with his father sitting behind him, and Lu Jingqing was on his left side.


    Lu Jingshen was saying something, looking serious, with his brow furrowed.


    Feng Si thought that appearance was really unpleasant. In about twenty years, Lu Jingshen would probably become a cunning old fox in the business world, showing no emotions on his face, which would be really boring.


    As the meeting was nearing its end, An Xin, who had been waiting in the lounge, came over. Feng Si, who had been lazily playing with his phone against the wall, stood straight and nodded to her, signaling acknowledgment: ¡°Madam.¡±


    An Xin looked at him and kindly asked, ¡°I heard that you saved Ah Shen from the kidnappers and helped him escape safely. You also got injured in the process. How are you now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m all better. It was just a graze from a bullet. Thank you for your concern, Madam,¡± Feng Si replied seriously.


    An Xin said, ¡°Regardless, I am Ah Shen¡¯s mother, and I should thank you for helping him.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my duty,¡± Feng Si replied earnestly. ¡°Helping him is something I should do, no need to thank me.¡±


    An Xin felt that his words sounded strange and was about to say something more, but the meeting was announced to be over.


    People started coming out one after another, some excited and thrilled, while others looked defeated.


    A variety of emotions on display.


    Feng Si looked at Lu Jingshen, who was still talking to someone in the conference room, his head tilted, and his brow slightly furrowed ¨C his usual demeanor at the company.


    The three members of the Lu family finally came out ¨C Lu Jingshen, his father, and Lu Jingqing. An Xin went over to support Lu¡¯s father¡¯s arm, and Lu Jingshen stepped aside, catching sight of Feng Si. He pursed his lips, said nothing, and sent his parents to the elevator.


    Lu Jingqing accompanied the two elders downstairs. When she came out, she saw An Xin talking to Feng Si. After the elevator door closed, she casually asked, ¡°Mom, what were you talking to Feng Si about just now?¡±


    ¡°I asked him about his arm injury,¡± An Xin explained. ¡°Because of Ah Shen, we should properly thank him.¡±


    Lu Jingqing dismissed it, saying, ¡°That¡¯s his duty. He takes Ah Shen¡¯s salary, and it¡¯s only natural for him to protect Ah Shen from danger.¡±


    An Xin disagreed, ¡°He did save Ah Shen, so showing gratitude is only right. Besides, you¡¯ve been saying sharp and sarcastic things. Why do you treat Ah Shen¡¯s assistant that way?¡±


    Lu Jingqing shook her head, not wanting to talk more about it. ¡°It has nothing to do with Ah Shen.¡±


    She simply felt that the man laid out all his intentions towards Lu Jingshen on his face, but was he really reliable?


    Lu Jingshen went back to his office, and Feng Si followed.


    After being away for over a month, coupled with the recent turmoil in the company and the upcoming major personnel changes, there was a mountain of work waiting for him to handle.


    Feng Si glanced at his watch. ¡°It¡¯s noon. Shall we go eat?¡±


    Lu Jingshen was going through some documents and didn¡¯t look up. ¡°If I go out now, who will handle these tasks for me?¡±


    ¡°I can do it,¡± Feng Si readily agreed.


    Lu Jingshen tossed a file at him without looking up. ¡°See if you can understand that.¡±


    Feng Si flipped through a couple of pages. It¡¯s not that he couldn¡¯t understand, but there were too many Chinese characters, and it made him tired.


    ¡°Looks like my only use as an assistant is to keep my boss warm. Not much else,¡± Feng Si teased, pursing his lips.


    Lu Jingshen finally looked at him directly. Although he had known Feng Si¡¯s character for a long time, he still couldn¡¯t resist being defeated by his shameless cheekiness.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? Am I wrong?¡± Feng Si said without a hint of embarrassment.


    Lu Jingshen thought for a moment and said, ¡°You have other uses.¡±


    ¡°Such as?¡± Feng Si asked.


    What Lu Jingshen had in mind was that Feng Si¡¯s presence, though troublesome and difficult to control, did fill a void in his heart. It gave him something else to think about besides work.


    He had been reluctant to admit this before, but now he had no choice but to acknowledge it.


    But he didn¡¯t say it out loud. Psychological barriers weren¡¯t easily overcome.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t press the matter and leaned against the table, saying casually, ¡°I¡¯ve met your family members, and they are all quite different in character. You are most like your father, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Lu Jingshen remained silent. Feng Si continued, ¡°If your father hadn¡¯t come today, I¡¯m afraid things wouldn¡¯t have gone so smoothly. When he sat at the table, I could see the others getting flustered. Your father is indeed impressive. Even if his health isn¡¯t great, his presence commands respect and keeps people from defying him.¡±


    ¡°So, are you going to become like him in the future?¡± Feng Si¡¯s last sentence was spoken as he leaned closer to Lu Jingshen, asking, ¡°Will you really become like your father when you¡¯re fifty?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s eyes contained a teasing glint, like he was just joking.


    What Lu Jingshen thought about was, when he turns fifty, there are still twenty years to go. What kind of person will he become by then? Will the person in front of him still be interested in him?


    He was uncertain, lacked confidence, and couldn¡¯t give an answer.


    But before the words could escape his lips, seeing a hint of disappointment in Feng Si¡¯s eyes, Lu Jingshen changed his response, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it when I¡¯m fifty.¡±


    Feng Si chuckled softly, ¡°It¡¯s probably better not to. I don¡¯t really like someone like your father.¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°My mom likes him.¡±


    Sometimes, Lu Jingshen unexpectedly said something humorous, and Feng Si¡¯s smile deepened, ¡°Well, different people have different preferences. I can¡¯t force someone not to like what I don¡¯t like.¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°¡­Just don¡¯t be as inappropriate as you are now when you¡¯re fifty. At that time, it¡¯ll be called disrespecting the elderly.¡±


    Feng Si nodded in acceptance, ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to improve.¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t really believe he would change, but with Feng Si¡¯s playful interruption, he lost all interest in working.


    Lu Jingshen simply closed the documents in his hand and stood up. ¡®Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s have a meal.¡¯

 CH 38

    In the following month, Lu Jingshen began working overtime every day, dealing with the company¡¯s chaos and the busy year-end tasks.


    The good news was that the project that he had discussed with Ron was officially confirmed. Because of this, those who had previously criticized his extreme actions against the company¡¯s veterans fell silent, and he finally passed that hurdle.


    He was indeed very tired. After spending an absurd one-month holiday, his body was wound up again, highly tense. That feeling was far from good.


    Fortunately, Feng Si was always around him, despite his overbearing, dominant, and unreasonable nature, which annoyed Lu Jingshen. However, that annoyance was sometimes a vent for his emotions.


    When they finished working late at night and got into the car to go home together, it was much better than being alone.


    In the office.


    After listening to the work report from his subordinates, Lu Jingshen sent them away and looked at the time, then continued going through the documents.


    Feng Si walked in without even bothering to greet him. He didn¡¯t disturb Lu Jingshen and simply sat on the sofa, flipping through magazines.


    Lu Jingshen glanced at him, retracted his gaze, and continued working.


    Twenty minutes later, Feng Si¡¯s phone rang, and he casually placed it on the coffee table and pressed the speakerphone button.


    It was Ron¡¯s voice, asking him about his plans for New Year¡¯s Eve and inviting him to fly to him if he felt lonely and empty.


    Feng Si nonchalantly turned a page of the magazine. ¡°Forget it. I already have plans. If you feel lonely, find someone else to keep you company.¡±


    The person on the other end complained persistently, but Feng Si couldn¡¯t be bothered and treated the voice as background noise.


    Half a minute later, another well-defined hand reached over and took Feng Si¡¯s phone, hanging up the call directly.


    Feng Si looked up, and Lu Jingshen frowned a bit displeased. Amused, Feng Si said, ¡°Alex, this is the second time you¡¯ve hung up a call for me, right? Are bosses supposed to interfere with who their employees talk to?¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked at him and asked, ¡°What plans do you have?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Feng Si lazily leaned back on the sofa. ¡°Whether I have plans or not depends on whether you are willing to spare some time for me.¡±


    Seeing that Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t respond, Feng Si continued to tempt him, ¡°Tomorrow is a holiday. Are you still planning to work overtime? I saw your brother¡¯s friend circle; he went out on vacation with his boyfriend again, right? And your sister, when she just got off work, I saw her all radiant, getting into a man¡¯s car. They are all going out on a date. What about you? Do you want to stay here all alone?¡±


    Feng Si pointed to his wristwatch. ¡°It¡¯s already seven o¡¯clock, Alexl. Let¡¯s leave work.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Lu Jingshen stood up, took off the coat hanging on the hanger, and gestured for Feng Si to follow. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Apparently not expecting him to be so agreeable, when they walked out of the office, Feng Si smiled and asked, ¡°Are you really going home now?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t answer and instructed Liu Jie, who had followed him immediately after seeing him come out, ¡°Let everyone else leave work, and you can go home too.¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned and headed to the elevator. Feng Si turned back to Liu Jie and waved, ¡°Secretary Liu, it¡¯s the holiday. If you don¡¯t go out on a date with your boyfriend, feel free but be careful not to get dumped.¡±


    Liu Jie: ¡°¡­ What does that have to do with you?¡±


    After dismissing the driver downstairs, Feng Si drove Lu Jingshen away from the Shangxin building.


    The direction Lu Jingshen pointed out was completely different from the way home. Feng Si raised an eyebrow, ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°Keep going forward. You¡¯ll see when we get there.¡±


    Along the way, Ron called again. Feng Si tossed his phone to Lu Jingshen, ¡°You answer it for me.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was unwilling, but the person on the other end was persistent. He had no choice but to answer.


    Ron  was complaining about Feng Si hanging up on him earlier, but Lu Jingshen coldly said, ¡°He has plans. Don¡¯t call again.¡±


    The person on the other end laughed aloud, ¡°So, you hung up on my call. You¡¯re really stingy. Okay, never mind, I¡¯ll let it go for the sake of the deal we just closed.¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t want to deal with him any further, so he hung up again and tossed the phone back to Feng Si.


    ¡°You deal with this kind of romantic problem yourself next time.¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s tone was displeased.


    Feng Si smiled, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Lu Jingshen took him to a private resort their family developed in the outskirts of the city. It was located in a quiet forest area with the mountain on one side and the water on the other, covering a large area.


    When they entered, Feng Si whistled, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect there would be such a place outside the city. It truly is a paradise for the rich. I didn¡¯t realize you were such a fan of luxury.¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°I rarely come here. When I do, it¡¯s usually for social events.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s evaluation of the place was succinct, ¡°A waste of resources.¡±


    Lu Jingshen retorted, ¡°Your idioms are quite good, but you¡¯re not using this word properly.¡±


    ¡°Foolish praise, Alex,¡± Feng Si ignored the second part and treated Lu Jingshen¡¯s sarcasm as a compliment.


    Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t argue with him, so he simply stayed quiet.


    The car continued driving into the resort.


    In that resort, Lu Jingshen had a standalone small villa where he always stayed whenever he came. That day was the first time he brought a friend to stay overnight privately.


    Even they couldn¡¯t convince themselves to define the relationship between them as friends.


    Feng Si poured the wine and enjoyed the night view on the terrace outside the room.


    The place was indeed nice. There was no severe light pollution like in the city, and one could see the sparse moonlight and a few faint stars casting shimmering reflections on the lake in front.


    It was a relaxing sight to behold.


    Lu Jingshen finished his shower and came out. He took the remaining half of the wine from Feng Si¡¯s glass and drank it himself.


    Feng Si leaned against the railing and watched him. He hooked his finger on Lu Jingshen¡¯s bathrobe¡¯s front, saying, ¡°Is there anyone here other than us? The workers are probably on  holiday during the New Year, right?¡±


    ¡°What difference does it make?¡± Lu Jing Shen asked back.


    ¡°No, just being able to come here with you, I¡¯m already happy,¡± replied Feng Si.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t expose him. If there were others around, Lu Jing Shen probably wouldn¡¯t have brought him here.


    His fingers lingered at the hollow of Lu Jing Shen¡¯s collarbone, and Feng Si squinted his eyes, lost in thought.


    Lu Jing Shen put down his wine glass, leaned in, and hugged him.


    Their lips met, and Feng Si asked, ¡°Can¡¯t wait, huh?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s lips and tongue responded.


    They shared a passionate and lingering kiss.


    After the kiss, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s throat tightened, and he asked in a low voice, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to take a shower?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t feel like it. Later,¡± Feng Si replied.


    Since they would do it again later.


    Although Lu Jing Shen had a cleanliness obsession, he indulged Feng Si, ¡°okay.¡±


    Being pushed down on the bed, Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t resist. He lay there panting lightly, his fingers tightening, grasping the bed sheets beneath him.


    The person behind him pressed down on his waist with force, and even bit his earlobe, breathing heavily.


    ¡­¡­..


    ¡°A Shen? Are you inside?¡± Lu Jing Shen¡¯s mother¡¯s voice came from outside, knocking on the door.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s heart jumped to his throat, and his body stiffened.


    It was indeed his mother¡¯s voice. The second knock came, ¡°A Shen?¡±


    Sweating profusely, Lu Jing Shen suppressed his panic and replied in a calm voice, ¡°Just a moment.¡±


    He didn¡¯t have much time to think. He got off the bed and pushed Feng Si into the bathroom, telling him, ¡°Don¡¯t come out,¡± without waiting for Feng Si¡¯s response, he immediately closed the door.


    Then he forcefully opened the floor-to-ceiling window leading to the balcony, allowing the cold air to rush in and dilute the strong scent in the room. Quickly putting on his bathrobe and hiding the scattered clothes behind the curtain, he threw the used condom into the trash bin, making sure nothing was left behind. After taking a deep breath, he opened the door.


    Outside the door was indeed An Xin. She looked at her son with a puzzled expression, ¡°I just came with your father, planning to stay here for a few days. I saw your car downstairs and guessed you were also here. Were you sleeping?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded and vaguely said, ¡°I was just about to go to bed.¡±


    An Xin felt even more strange. It was only a little past nine o¡¯clock, ¡°Why do you look like this? Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen immediately replied, ¡°No.¡±


    An Xin glanced into the room and saw the wide-open floor-to-ceiling door. She reminded Lu Jing Shen, ¡°Don¡¯t leave the window open when you sleep at night. It¡¯s cold, and the temperature drops during the night. Be careful not to catch a cold.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Lu Jing Shen said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast together tomorrow morning at our place,¡± An Xin reminded, then turned to leave. However, she seemed to have thought of something and hesitated before asking Lu Jing Shen, ¡°Did you come alone?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lu Jing Shen answered.


    An Xin glanced into the room again, seeing nothing out of the ordinary, and retracted her gaze. ¡°Then, I won¡¯t disturb you. Get some rest.¡±


    She thought that if Lu Jing Shen had a girlfriend and brought her along, he wouldn¡¯t need to hide. Perhaps she was just being suspicious.


    Moreover, knowing her eldest son¡¯s personality, it would probably be difficult for him to have a girlfriend.


    Forget it, maybe she was overthinking things.


    After closing the door and locking it, Lu Jing Shen leaned against it, almost unable to stand. He realized that he hadn¡¯t locked the door earlier. If his mother had a slightly worse temper and directly pushed the door open, she would have seen what he was doing.


    He and another man were on the bed. If someone saw it, if someone saw¡­


    The thought was enough to make Lu Jing Shen tremble all over. He couldn¡¯t accept it, even now, he still couldn¡¯t accept the fact that he was gay.


    Closing and opening his eyes abruptly, Lu Jing Shen was drenched in sweat and almost unable to breathe.


    After a few minutes, the phone on the sofa suddenly rang, snapping him back to reality.


    Forcing his heartbeat to calm down, he picked up the phone, but it was just an unimportant call. He didn¡¯t answer it and simply turned off the phone.


    Holding the phone, lost in thought for a moment, Lu Jing Shen finally woke up as if from a dream and remembered the person he had pushed into the bathroom.


    In a panic, he hurriedly opened the door, and Feng Si was leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette.


    The movements were deliberate, but the look in his eyes was cold.

 CH 39

    Lu Jing Shen hesitantly approached, and in the quiet space, only his breathing could be heard.


    Feng Si¡¯s eyes were pitch-black and calm, coldly staring at him, silent and almost repressed.


    Lu Jing Shen clenched his fists tightly.


    He felt uneasy, so uneasy that he felt like vomiting.


    Whether it was the panic and helplessness outside just now, or the current situation with Feng Si¡¯s cold gaze, it made him feel suffocated and unable to escape, even terrified.


    With difficulty, he managed to speak, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Feng Si looked at him, raised his hand, and touched his face, the cigarette between his fingers stopped by his side, his expression obscure and indistinct, ¡°And what are you doing?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t find the words. He wanted to explain, but he didn¡¯t know what to say. In the end, all he could manage was two words, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°You apologize to me?¡± Feng Si sneered lightly, ¡°Are you feeling guilty? In your eyes, am I someone who needs to be hidden away and can¡¯t see the light of day?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen replied, ¡°My mom suddenly knocked on the door just now¡­ what did you want me to do? I just didn¡¯t want her to see us like that.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t want her to see what? Don¡¯t want her to see us on the bed, or don¡¯t want her to see me?¡± Feng Si asked, and he had already gotten the answer from Lu Jing Shen¡¯s expression. Even if they hadn¡¯t done anything just now, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s instinctive reaction was still to hide him and not let his family find out about their relationship.


    ¡°Why do you keep avoiding this issue?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s fingers pinched Lu Jing Shen¡¯s chin, forcing him to face him, ¡°What are you afraid of?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen was stunned for a while before he reacted. His gaze flickered, and he knelt down in front of Feng Si and leaned in slowly.


    Being held by Feng Si at the back of his neck, Lu Jing Shen looked up at him and said in a hoarse voice, ¡± you don¡¯t need to do anything, just relax.¡±


    After a brief standoff, Feng Si released his hand and leaned back against the wall, staring at him.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s eyelashes trembled. He persisted and leaned closer.


    The second time Lu Jingshen sucked off Feng Si, his skills were still far from good. It was still clumsy, and that night, due to his fluctuating emotions, he was intentionally trying to soothe and please Feng Si in this way, making him more forceful and impatient, which led to him being even more at a loss.


    Feng Si frowned in annoyance several times, and he placed his hand on the back of Lu Jing Shen¡¯s head, attempting to guide and teach him again.


    ¡°It¡¯s still not right,¡± Feng Si said unintentionally, but Lu Jing Shen was stunned by those words.


    He stopped his movements and tried to breathe, but his face turned red from the lack of air, and he started coughing. The taste in his mouth made him uncomfortable, and his eyes were tearful, but he struggled to keep going, feeling embarrassed and helpless. Feng Si¡¯s hand grasped the back of his neck again, and he had no choice but to continue.


    A sense of frustration surged up. He wanted Feng Si to feel good, but he always managed to ruin the atmosphere, and even with something like this, the only feedback he received was ¡°can¡¯t do it well.¡±


    That feeling made him feel particularly powerless. With his eyes closed, he could only instinctively try to please the other person. Even so, it still didn¡¯t satisfy Feng Si.


    Feng Si had been watching him from beginning to end, allowing Lu Jing Shen to take the initiative. The light of his cigarette flickered, and the ash fell from time to time.


    Feeling rather uncomfortable, but seeing Lu Jing Shen¡¯s red eyes and submissive look, he felt a sense of satisfaction that had been suppressed in his body rising again.


    Taking a deep drag of the cigarette, at the last moment, he deliberately didn¡¯t back away and did what he had wanted to do for a long time.


    Lu Jing Shen slumped to the ground, coughing uncontrollably.


    The excessive stimulation left him dazed for a while. His eyes seemed unfocused, unable to focus, and even his eyelashes were moistened by the tears, making him look particularly disheveled. That added a touch of indescribable allure to his originally rugged and handsome face.


    Seeing this appearance, the desire that had just subsided in Feng Si¡¯s body surged up again.


    He pulled the seemingly lost Lu Jing Shen up, turned his head, and forcefully bit down on his Adam¡¯s apple.


    He elicited a helpless groan from Lu Jing Shen, and unabashedly left a clear red mark on a prominent spot beside his Adam¡¯s apple. He then kissed his way up, sucking Lu Jing Shen¡¯s lips.


    Lu Jing Shen resisted a little, not liking the taste that spread in his mouth. Feng Si¡¯s tongue intruded, pushing and stirring in his mouth, forcing him to swallow his own breath.


    However, when he met Feng Si¡¯s exceptionally deep gaze so close to him, as if he could be swallowed up by the hidden emotions at any time, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s struggling ceased.


    After a few seconds of stiffening, he closed his eyes and chose to yield.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­


    They left the resort at eleven o¡¯clock at night, as Feng Si suggested.


    After coming out of the bathroom, he put on his clothes and turned back to tell Lu Jing Shen, ¡°Or do you plan to keep me hidden here and deal with your parents¡¯ unexpected visits at any time?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen looked embarrassed, but Feng Si didn¡¯t care and said, ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s more convinient to go back to your place.¡±


    Sitting in the car, Lu Jing Shen sent a WeChat message to An Xin, explaining that he had something to do and had to return home early. After locking the screen of his phone, he looked at Feng Si again and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t like to hear apologies anyway, so save it,¡± Feng Si interrupted him.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s lips moved, not knowing what else to say, so he could only remain silent. He leaned back in his seat, sighing heavily.


    They rode in silence. When they reached a traffic light, Lu Jing Shen attempted to break the silence, ¡°Are you hungry? Let¡¯s go have some late-night snacks.¡±


    Feng Si turned to look at him, ¡°Late-night snacks, are you sure?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded, ¡°What do you want to eat?¡±


    Feng Si didn¡¯t really mind, and since Lu Jing Shen suggested it, he agreed.


    He drove to a nearby street food stall recommended by a friend. It was a noisy place with a vibrant atmosphere. After parking the car, he pointed to the stall with a garish, unpretentious signboard, ¡°Let¡¯s eat here,¡±


    Lujing Shen did not oppose and followed him out of the car.


    After five minutes, they sat in a greasy and smoky diner.


    On the table were greasy disposable tablecloths and utensils wrapped in plastic film. Around them, late-night diners were eating and drinking while boasting loudly. The atmosphere made Lujing Shen feel uncomfortable, but he saw that F¨¥ngs¨¬ opened the utensils and ordered food with ease. Clutching the paper cup in his hand, he sipped some hot water, forcing himself to blend in.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ looked somewhat relaxed, ordered the hot water to sterilize the utensils, and casually ordered a cigarette. In a place like that, there were many others puffing away on cigarettes.


    Lujing Shen gazed at the blurred eyes behind the smoke and recalled the cold gaze he received earlier. It made him feel uncomfortable and suffocated.


    Passing a bowl and plate that had been sterilized, F¨¥ngs¨¬ handed them to him and raised an eyebrow when he noticed Lujing Shen¡¯s unease. ¡°Isn¡¯t it your idea to come for a late-night snack? Why do you look so restless?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lujing Shen put down his cup and asked him, ¡°Do you want to drink?¡±


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ replied, ¡°I¡¯m driving us Alex¡±


    Lujing Shen said, ¡°I¡¯ll call a driver.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ snapped his fingers and called the waiter, who brought them half a dozen beers.


    As the dishes arrived one after another, F¨¥ngs¨¬ picked up his chopsticks and gestured to Lujing Shen, ¡°Try it. The food here is pretty good. I¡¯ve been here before.¡±


    Lujing Shen hesitated and asked, ¡°You were born and raised abroad. Are you used to this kind of roadside diner?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ flicked the ash and put out the cigarette. ¡°I actually think this is much better than Western food.¡±


    ¡°Have you been to China before?¡± Lujing Shen asked, and then felt like he was grasping at straws. What he really wanted to ask was how long Feng Si intended to stay here.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ poured him a drink, calmly explaining, ¡°I¡¯ve been here many times when I was young. My parents are from the south and went to study in the UK early on. They got citizenship there, and when my grandparents were still alive, they used to come back to visit every two years.¡±


    But the last time he came back was over ten years ago when his grandmother passed away, and he attended the funeral.


    In the past seven years, he searched the world for someone. He went to East Asia and even other Southeast Asian countries, but he couldn¡¯t find the person he was looking for.


    Finally, he found Lujing Shen by a fortunate coincidence. At the beginning of the year, he went to the Middle East and took a short-term contract for a local tycoon. One of the employer¡¯s friends had been doing business in East Asia and had connections with wealthy people in China. They had a party on the plane, and that person showed the photos he took when attending a business reception in China. F¨¥ngs¨¬ raised a glass to toast with a beverage and happened to catch a glimpse of the corner of the photo¡ªa person who had been missing for over seven years.


    At that moment, the excitement was followed by an indescribable bitterness. He finally realized that Lu Jingshen had been hiding from him from the very beginning and wouldn¡¯t reveal a single detail about his background.


    But he still wanted an answer, at least to see Lujing Shen again, so he quit his job in the Middle East and returned here, applying to work for a private jet company.


    After that, he took the initiative to help Lujing Shen pilot the plane and reunited with him on a bright morning.


    It was Lujing Shen who suggested eating late-night snacks, but he had little appetite. He didn¡¯t eat much, but he drank quite a lot.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ didn¡¯t stop him, and several times, he looked at him unintentionally, observing how Lujing Shen brought the drink to his lips, just like how he had helped him swallow it earlier.


    ¡°Are you upset?¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ poured him more wine and casually placed some food in his bowl.


    ¡°Are you feeling good?¡± Lujing Shen asked in return, his voice somewhat lacking in confidence.


    ¡°I was feeling fine before,¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ smiled, ¡°Your family¡¯s vacation resort is really nice. I didn¡¯t get a chance to explore it properly. I was hoping to have some fun these days, but it didn¡¯t work out.¡±


    Lujing Shen replied, ¡°If you want, we can go there again next time.¡±


    ¡°Pick a time when your parents aren¡¯t around?¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ sneered, ¡°Or forget it. Maybe next time it won¡¯t be your parents, but your sister, or your brother, or someone else from your family, and we¡¯ll have to leave in the middle of the night.¡±


    He sounded like he was joking, but there was obvious sarcasm in his tone.


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t know what to say and changed the subject, ¡°During these days off, where else do you want to go? I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ thought for a moment and said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. You only want to go to places with few people or even no one, which is pretty boring.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve always been like that,¡± Lujing Shen replied.


    ¡°Okay,¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ said.


    Seeing that he wasn¡¯t interested, Lujing Shen could only give up. The feeling of discomfort in his heart grew stronger, and he held the cup, continuing to pour himself more wine.


    They finished half a dozen beers, then ordered another half dozen, and finally, after finishing their late-night meal, it was almost one o¡¯clock in the morning.


    As they walked out of the restaurant, F¨¥ngs¨¬ looked up at the sky and suddenly said, ¡°You can¡¯t see a single star at one o¡¯clock in the morning here.¡±


    Lujing Shen understood his meaning, but he didn¡¯t know what to say.


    The designated driver parked the car on the side of the road. F¨¥ngs¨¬ walked over and opened the door, getting into the car first.


    It was the first time he didn¡¯t wait for Lujing Shen and got into the car first. Lujing Shen was slightly startled, but followed and sat in the back seat.


    The car raced through the deserted streets in the dead of night. F¨¥ngs¨¬ leaned back in his seat and absentmindedly sent messages to someone, all in English.


    Lujing Shen had no intention of peeking, so he quickly looked away.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ sent the last message, put away his phone, and rested one hand behind his head, gazing out of the window.


    Lujing Shen wanted to say something, but there was a stranger in the car, so the words never left his lips.


    The car entered the underground parking lot of Mingyue Bay. The driver took the money and returned the keys before leaving.


    When F¨¥ngs¨¬ was about to push open the car door, the person next to him leaned over, and a warm breath fell near him.


    ¡°Are you still angry?¡± Lujing Shen¡¯s voice sounded hoarse as he gripped F¨¥ngs¨¬ tightly. It was the third time he apologized that night. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ turned to look at him, and Lujing Shen¡¯s eyes seemed a bit unfocused, likely due to the alcohol.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ playfully stared at him for a while, then embraced Lujing Shen by the waist and lifted him to sit on his lap, face to face.


    ¡°Are you drunk?¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ leaned back against the seat and looked up at him.


    Lujing Shen closed his eyes for a moment and said slowly, ¡°a little.¡±


    ¡°If you can¡¯t handle it, don¡¯t drink so much in one go,¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ said with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t make it look like I bullied you.¡±


    Lujing Shen couldn¡¯t find the words to respond, he just shook his head.


    Seeing him like this, F¨¥ngs¨¬ thought of how confused and helpless he looked when he was being teased earlier, and it made him feel a tightness in his chest.


    Okay, he did tease him quite a bit that night.


    Even though Lujing Shen brought it upon himself.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ asked, ¡°What are you doing now? Apologizing to me or being playful?¡±


    Lujing Shen shook his head again.  ¡°How can I make you not angry?¡±


    ¡°Alex, I¡¯ve said it before. I don¡¯t need an apology. If you really think you did something wrong, just don¡¯t repeat it next time.¡±


    F¨¥ngs¨¬¡¯s voice lightly resonated in Lujing Shen¡¯s ears, making his heart continuously tighten. After a long silence, he finally said with effort, ¡°¡­ I just need some time.¡±


    As if afraid that F¨¥ngs¨¬ wouldn¡¯t agree, he added, ¡°just a bit longer.¡±


    ¡°Alright, but my patience has its limits,¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ reminded him. ¡°I can¡¯t wait forever.¡±

 CH 40

    The next day was a holiday. When Lujing Shen got up, F¨¥ngs¨¬ had already left. He received a WeChat message from him saying he had made plans with friends and would be back till later.


    Lujing Shen held his phone, feeling a bit conflicted.


    Last night, he asked F¨¥ngs¨¬ if he wanted to go somewhere else to spend the night, but F¨¥ngs¨¬ said he wasn¡¯t interested. Maybe he found it boring to hang out with him.


    But he was just that kind of person, unable to live as colorfully as others.


    After hesitating, he replied to the message, asking when he would be back.


    Half an hour later, F¨¥ngs¨¬ replied with just two words: ¡°not sure.¡±


    Lujing Shen locked his phone and didn¡¯t reply further.


    In the end, he went out alone, heading to the nearby fitness club where he had taken F¨¥ngs¨¬ once before, and played squash by himself.


    In fact, he wasn¡¯t really into it. He hit the ball harder and harder against the wall each time, but he couldn¡¯t calm down. In his mind, he couldn¡¯t get rid of the shadow of that person.


    He played for a full two hours until he was exhausted, then he threw away the racket, bent over, and leaned on his knees, panting heavily. Sweat covered his face, and he felt both tired and embarrassed.


    He went to the shower room but was stopped at the entrance.


    It was a very tall and muscular man who asked him for his contact information.


    Lujing Shen ignored him, but the man persisted and grabbed his arm. ¡°You¡¯re gay, right? I¡¯ve been observing you for a long time, and I can tell that you and I are definitely the same. Can we get to know each other more?¡±


    Lujing Shen shook off his hand with a cold expression. ¡°Get lost.¡±


    The man said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to give it, then fine. There¡¯s no need to react so strongly.¡±


    Without taking a shower, Lujing Shen grabbed his things and walked away.


    Breathing in the fresh air outside, the nauseating feeling of suffocation eased a bit. He took out his car keys and tried to open the car door, but the key slipped from his hand and rolled under the car.


    He became annoyed and impulsively kicked the car tire.


    Before noon, Lujing Shen returned home. He cooked a simple instant noodle dish and spent the afternoon watching movies on the projection screen at home.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ returned in the evening, holding two big bags of groceries, with a phone on his shoulder as he talked to someone. ¡°I¡¯m not going anymore. It¡¯ll just be at home drinking. Boring right?¡±


    ¡°Next time, let¡¯s make plans again. Have fun with your friends.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really going home this time. Why would I lie to you? What else can I do at home? Maybe spend time with my wife.¡±


    Hearing this, Lujing Shen blinked and then turned his gaze back to the movie screen.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ hung up the call, went to the kitchen to put away the groceries, and called him, ¡°I bought some ingredients. We¡¯ll have hotpot for dinner. Come and help me set it up.¡±


    Lujing Shen took his time before getting up and walking over, watching F¨¥ngs¨¬ work.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ threw all the ingredients into the sink, turned around, and held a cigarette pack, tapping it on Lujing Shen¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve been home all day? Why do you still look so down?¡±


    Lujing Shen frowned and evaded his touch. ¡°I went to play squash in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Playing squash alone again?¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ clicked his tongue. ¡°Is that fun?¡±


    Indeed, it wasn¡¯t fun, especially since he encountered something unpleasant.


    ¡°You find it fun to go out with other people?¡± Lujing Shen said unhappily.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ smiled and corrected him, ¡°How can you call it ¡®going out¡¯ when it¡¯s just friends gathering? We didn¡¯t do anything inappropriate. In the morning, we went for a car race, had lunch together, played billiards and board games in the afternoon, and in the evening, they wanted to go to a bar. I didn¡¯t feel like going, and I knew you don¡¯t like that kind of activity, so I didn¡¯t invite you.¡±


    Seeing Lujing Shen remain silent, F¨¥ngs¨¬¡¯s gaze stopped on his face. ¡°I mean, don¡¯t you have any friends you get along with? Besides work and business interactions, don¡¯t you have any other social activities? Isn¡¯t that a bit too much?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t need them.¡±


    He indeed didn¡¯t need the kind of social activities F¨¥ngs¨¬ was always enthusiastic about.


    Lujing Shen coldly threw out that sentence, rolled up his sleeves, and started to help.


    When the food was served, Lujing Qing called Lujing Shen to tell him something.


    Li Wenzhong¡¯s wife had gone to see her and said that their only son went to Macau for gambling the previous week and was now missing. They only received news last night that he owed a huge gambling debt and was detained at the casino. The casino demanded a ransom of billions in cash.


    ¡°She said Li Wenzhong¡¯s and her own assets and shares have been frozen. She asked me to lend her money to rescue their son. If I hadn¡¯t stopped her, she might have gone directly to bother our parents.¡±


    Lujing Shen asked, ¡°What do you think we should do?¡±


    ¡°Definitely can¡¯t let her bother our parents. I¡¯ll deal with her for now,¡± Lujing Qing replied irritably. ¡°But Li Wenzhong kidnapped you to kill you. Why should we lend him money to save his son? Li Wenzhong is in jail now, and his wife is clueless. With me watching her, she won¡¯t cause any trouble for the time being.¡±


    Lujing Shen was still contemplating when F¨¥ngs¨¬ walked over and chimed in, ¡°The people at the casino only want money. At most, they¡¯ll give him a beating. They won¡¯t take his life. That young master has plenty of flesh on him; a few days of hardship would be like losing weight. Don¡¯t bother too much about him.¡±


    Lujing Shen gave him a skeptical look and thought for a moment. He instructed Lujing Qing, ¡°Inform Li Wenzhong¡¯s lawyer about the situation and have him notify Li Wenzhong. If they want to save their son quickly, they shouldn¡¯t stubbornly refuse to admit their guilt. Confessing the crime and quickly resolving the case will unfreeze their assets and shares. After repaying the company¡¯s debts, they can sell the rest to save their son.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Lujing Shen asked F¨¥ngs¨¬ straightforwardly, ¡°How did you know about this?¡±


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ sat down at the table and casually squeezed Lujing Shen¡¯s hand. ¡°Eat your food.¡±


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t touch the chopsticks and stared at him, expecting an explanation. F¨¥ngs¨¬ smiled and said, ¡°relax. It just happens that I have a friend who is in charge of a casino there. The Li family¡¯s prodigal son likes to gamble there, so I asked him to take care of it. If we don¡¯t do it this way, his father won¡¯t accept his guilt and return the money he stole.¡±


    ¡°Did you know about the message Li¡¯s family received last night?¡± Lujing Shen furrowed his brows, recalling F¨¥ngs¨¬ using English to communicate with someone in the car last night.


    ¡°Ah,¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ casually nodded. Seeing Lujing Shen frowning, he lifted his chin and teased, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m meddling too much?¡±


    Those borderline barbaric methods were indeed not Lujing Shen¡¯s way of solving problems. Even if someone else did it to help him, he wouldn¡¯t be pleased.


    But the one doing it was F¨¥ngs¨¬, and somehow, it didn¡¯t seem surprising. F¨¥ngs¨¬ was just that kind of person.


    ¡°No, thanks you did what was needed,¡± Lujing Shen said. After that, he picked up his chopsticks and no longer dwelled on the matter.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ was somewhat surprised; he thought Lujing Shen would still put on a serious face and reprimand him for using extreme measures. But after hesitating and wrestling with it, Lujing Shen surprisingly relaxed and thanked him.


    Huh?


    Lujing Shen raised his eyes with a calm expression. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat?¡±


    The one making a fuss turned out to be himself, which amused F¨¥ngs¨¬. He poured him some wine and said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡±


    While eating, F¨¥ngs¨¬ casually asked, ¡°Other than playing squash and watching movies, did you do anything else while at home?¡±


    ¡°I took a nap at noon,¡± Lujing Shen replied dully.


    ¡°Are you mad because I went out without telling you?¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ laughed and asked.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Lujing Shen denied.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ dragged his voice, ¡°Oh.¡±


    He didn¡¯t look like he believed Lujing Shen¡¯s tangled appearance, but it was too fun to watch.


    After dinner, they continued to watch the movie.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ lazily leaned on the sofa, crossing his long legs on the coffee table. He randomly picked a romantic movie and pulled Lujing Shen to sit down with him.


    Lujing Shen was used to his relaxed sitting posture, and he couldn¡¯t be bothered to correct him at home. He wasn¡¯t interested in romantic movies and brought out his laptop to review some documents to pass the time.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬¡¯s head moved closer, glancing at his laptop screen. ¡°When I came back this afternoon, you were also watching a movie alone. Why is it only when I¡¯m here that you¡¯re trying to distract yourself with something else? Are you doing it on purpose?¡±


    Lujing Shen stared at the computer screen without turning his eyes away. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in romantic movies.¡±


    ¡°Not interested in romantic movies, but are you interested in me?¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ said with a smirk.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s fingers resting on the laptop keyboard paused for a moment. F¨¥ngs¨¬ murmured, ¡°A fine man like me here with you yet you only focused on work.¡±


    With that said, F¨¥ngs¨¬ leaned back, returning to his previous position, and his gaze fell back on the projection screen in front.


    After half an hour, Lujing Shen put away his laptop and sat back on the sofa, trying to focus on the contents of the movie screen.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ watched his movements and smiled at the corner of his lips.


    They sat very close, their arms touching, and the heat from their bodies rubbing through their clothing.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s mind was somewhat distracted, unable to concentrate.


    On the other hand, F¨¥ngs¨¬ who refused to let Lujing Shen use his laptop, was using his phone, exchanging WeChat messages with people.


    All of them were his friends, inviting him to go out with them on New Year¡¯s Eve.


    Lujing Shen had no intention of peeking, but F¨¥ngs¨¬ didn¡¯t hide it from him either. The chat window was almost right below Lujing Shen¡¯s eyelids, and he could see it by just shifting his gaze.


    One person¡¯s avatar, which was sending WeChat messages, was that of a coquettish-looking guy, and in the chat logs, he was calling F¨¥ngs¨¬ ¡°Brother F¨¥ng ¡± in a particularly enthusiastic manner.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s face darkened slightly.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ glanced at him lazily and said nonchalantly, ¡°Calling me ¡®brother¡¯ won¡¯t work. I don¡¯t like them too young.¡±


    Lujing Shen couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, ¡°Is this all you do every day, chatting with people about these things?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? It¡¯s just for fun,¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ put away his phone nonchalantly and said, ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m in a committed relationship either. If I ever get into a serious relationship, I¡¯ll naturally delete these random people.¡±


    Lujing Shen almost blurted something out but stopped himself.


    The person who refused to acknowledge their relationship was him. He had no right to demand anything from F¨¥ngs¨¬.


    After a moment of silence, he said, ¡°If you won¡¯t let me use my laptop, then you shouldn¡¯t use your phone either.¡±


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ shrugged, ¡° okay.¡±


    He wrapped his arm around Lujing Shen¡¯s waist, and his gaze returned to the front.


    However, Lujing Shen couldn¡¯t calm down anymore. He thought about the conversations F¨¥ngs¨¬ had with others earlier, and that feeling in his heart kept vacillating, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬¡¯s hand was still kneading his waist, sometimes unintentionally, sometimes seemingly deliberate.


    Lujing Shen felt increasingly restless, and finally, he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. He pushed himself up and forcefully grabbed F¨¥ngs¨¬¡¯s collar, filled with anger.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ calmly looked at him, showing no change in expression, ¡°What are you doing, Alex?¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s chest rose and fell, and F¨¥ngs¨¬¡¯s calm demeanor only made him angrier, ¡°Delete those random people.¡±


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    Lujing Shen replied, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before; I dislike my employees having  inappropriate private lives.¡±


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t delete them,¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ said distinctly, reminding him, ¡°Alex, on what grounds do you have the right to manage my private affairs? There doesn¡¯t seem to be such a clause in the contract?¡±


    Lujing Shen said, ¡°You promised me to keep things like this¡­¡±


    ¡°Sleeping with you and fulfilling your physical desires, I agreed to that. But as for the rest, I don¡¯t recall making any promises,¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ retorted with a rogue smirk, and Lujing Shen found nothing to refute in his words.


    His palms began to sweat, and he released F¨¥ngs¨¬¡¯s collar.


    As Lujing Shen moved away, F¨¥ngs¨¬ caught his wrist, ¡°Giving up just like that?¡±


    Lujing Shen closed his eyes, not wanting to continue that conversation.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ leaned closer, his breath falling on Lujing Shen¡¯s neck, and his voice was laden with a teasing tone, ¡°If you want me to delete them, there¡¯s another simpler option. Call me ¡®brother,¡¯ and I¡¯ll delete them.¡±


    Lujing Shen restrained himself and said, ¡°Deleting or not is up to you, just do as you wish.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, since you don¡¯t care, I won¡¯t delete them; it¡¯s quite amusing,¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ said with a nonchalant attitude.


    Lujing Shen hung his head in silence for a moment, suppressing the emotions he revealed earlier. He stood up, intending to go back to his room, but F¨¥ngs¨¬ stopped him again.


    ¡°It¡¯s not even midnight yet, are you going to sleep? It¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve; at least wait till midnight,¡± F¨¥ngs¨¬ reminded with a smile.


    Lujing Shen looked at him, and F¨¥ngs¨¬¡¯s voice softened, ¡°Sit down, please.¡±


    After a moment of stalemate, Lujing Shen sat back down.


    He couldn¡¯t focus on the movie¡¯s sound in the background at all. The feeling of defeat, even stronger than last night, made him feel powerless.


    He couldn¡¯t control F¨¥ngs¨¬ at all, and this man had a way of trapping him. After losing control of his body, even his heart began to succumb.

 CH 41

    Lujing Shen¡¯s breathing became more rapid. F¨¥ngs¨¬ held the back of his neck and caressed it slightly.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬ lightly chuckled, ¡°you look cute when jealous Alex¡±


    He kissed Lujing Shen, first gently licking and rubbing his lips, then forcefully invading through the slightly parted lips, exploring every soft spot in his mouth.


    F¨¥ngs¨¬¡¯s kisses were always aggressive, and his breath and scent spread in Lujing Shen¡¯s mouth, reaching deep into his throat.


    That kind of kiss was like a raging fire, easily igniting Lujing Shen.


    Between kisses, Lujing Shen struggled to open his eyes and stared at the pair of nearly close and slightly drooping narrow eyes in front of him, his heart pounding like a drum.


    Suddenly, he recalled their first kiss. It was the same way back then, when Feng Si put out the cigarette and came over, catching him off guard. By the time he snapped back to reality, Feng Si¡¯s bittersweet tobacco-scented breath had already invaded his nostrils.


    Forceful and domineering, there was no room for him to refuse.


    Back then, he willingly indulged himself, but now it was beyond his control.


    ¡°Are you daydreaming?¡±


    Feng Si stopped and pulled back, licking his lips. ¡± Thinking about some other wild guy?¡±


    Lu Jingshen deeply furrowed his brows. He didn¡¯t quite like such jokes.


    Besides Feng Si, he strongly rejected any form of romantic relationships with other men, so even if it was with childhood friends, he could cut them off mercilessly.


    And with strangers, like the person who approached him at the sports club, he would just firmly reject them and walk away.


    Even if it was teasing, he didn¡¯t like Feng Si saying such things.


    He reached out and pulled Feng Si closer, passionately kissing him again.


    This time, it progressed further than before, mixing desire into their lip and teeth collisions, and the heat within their bodies kept rising.


    Feng Si kneaded Lu Jingshen¡¯s earlobe, sliding down to his ear and gently caressing his neck. Lu Jingshen let out a low gasp, his hands wandering on Feng Si¡¯s chest, skillfully unbuttoning his shirt.


    Then came the sound of metal clashing, the belt hitting the floor, and one piece of clothing after another being stripped away.


    Sitting face to face on Feng Si¡¯s lap, Lu Jingshen held his face with both hands, fingers gently caressing his cheek. That position made them even more intimate.


    That position was what they used on their last night in Africa. It was initiated by Lu Jingshen. That evening, he had turned on his phone after three months and received a message from Lu Jingqing, asking when he would come back and if he wanted to see a doctor.


    That was when he finally realized that even  a psychologist couldn¡¯t help him; he was unequivocally homosexual, but he didn¡¯t want to admit it or accept it.


    Before he fell completely into it, he had to leave Feng Si, so he chose to quietly escape.


    For the past seven years, he had lived peacefully. Occasionally, in the dead of night, he would think of those three months and Feng Si.


    The shadows and nightmares from the past no longer haunted him, and even when his younger brother brought a boy home, though he found it hard to accept, he remained silent.


    Other people¡¯s affairs had nothing to do with him, as long as he himself wasn¡¯t involved.


    But Feng Si appeared in his life again, and his self-deception proved to be futile.


    He also knew that if he couldn¡¯t overcome his psychological barriers, Feng Si¡¯s patience would eventually run out.


    Just a little more time, that¡¯s all he asked for¡­


    Lu Jingshen clung to Feng Si¡¯s neck, feeling his heat, his vision constantly shifting, keenly aware that he was being embraced and possessed.


    If only this could continue.


    He yearned for Feng Si with all his heart and soul, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to admit it with a clear conscience. He loathed himself and despised this side of him.


    He was a despicable person, and he had always known that, despite his proud and noble appearance, he had nothing but a despicable soul inside.


    ¡°Alex¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s kisses trailed up his neck, nipping at his chin before returning to his lips. ¡°Stop daydreaming at times like this, just look at me.¡±


    Sweat trickled down Lu Jingshen¡¯s forehead, and Feng Si licked it away. Lu Jingshen stared at the man before him stunned, his eyes shining.


    ¡°Do you want it gentle or intense?¡± Feng Si¡¯s voice was hoarse, the pause making it hard for him to endure.


    Lu Jingshen struggled to speak, ¡°whichever you want.¡±


    ¡°No, you have to choose.¡± Feng Si tempted him. ¡°You have to tell me what you want.¡±


    Lu Jingshen responded with another kiss, no longer suppressing his desires. ¡°Intense.¡±


    Even if it hurt, it didn¡¯t matter. He liked being treated rough by Feng Si. Pain brought him more pleasure, and he wanted to feel dominated and possessed by him. He enjoyed that feeling.


    Feng Si tightened his grip on Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist, his voice tinged with raspiness. ¡°Hold onto me.¡±


    Lu Jingshen gasped tightly, clinging to Feng Si. Any other sounds he wanted to make all turned into fragmented moans.


    Midnight had passed, and the still image on the projection screen had frozen long ago. Faint noises from outside the window could be heard.


    Feng Si picked up his phone and checked the time, then turned to the soaked Lu Jingshen, smoothing his sweaty forehead, kissing his forehead, eyes, and nose, their lips meeting in a soft whisper, ¡°Happy New Year.¡±


    That was the first New Year they welcomed together.


    Lu Jingshen was stunned for a moment and instinctively asked, ¡°Is it midnight already?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s midnight.¡±


    Seeing the brightness in Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes, he also said, ¡°Happy New Year.¡±


    Feng Si leaned down, rubbing their cheeks together. It was a rare moment without desire, and it felt pretty good.


    Being with another person as they welcome the New Year was something Lu Jingshen had never thought of before, but today, it became a reality.


    And that person was Feng Si.


    After cherishing the moment, Lu Jingshen¡¯s leg still hung around Feng Si¡¯s waist. He rubbed against his waist and whispered hoarsely, ¡°I want to take a shower.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Feng Si pressed him down again, his hands becoming restless. ¡°It¡¯s still early.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s breath was unsteady, and the blush on his face hadn¡¯t receded. ¡°It¡¯s enough.¡±


    It had already happened three times; doing it again would be too much.


    Feng Si pinched his calf a few times, chuckled for a while, and finally let him go.


    Lu Jingshen propped himself up and didn¡¯t rush back to the bathroom. He picked up his phone and sent a WeChat message to Lu Chiexie.


    Feng Si asked casually, ¡°Is it your brother¡¯s birthday today?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Lu Jingshen nodded, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°He posted it on his Moments,¡± Feng Si replied, showing Lu Jingshen the Moments Lu Chiexie had just posted. ¡°Your brother is quite interesting. Both he and his boyfriend are big stars, and they dare to flaunt their love so openly on Moments. They¡¯re not afraid of it getting out and being exposed by the paparazzi. They just came out of the closet directly.¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°¡­It¡¯s just his nature, carefree and not concerned about others¡¯ opinions.¡±


    Feng Si looked at him and said, ¡°Really? Why are you and your brother so different? If you were just half as carefree as him, it would be great.¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t know how to respond, but Feng Si continued, ¡°Never mind, you don¡¯t need to be like others. You¡¯re fine just the way you are.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was taken aback, and the light from his phone screen suddenly brought his thoughts back. It was a reply from Lu Chiexie: ¡°Bro, you¡¯re still awake at this hour. Did you have a change of heart? Mom said you went to the resort last night and ran away again overnight. What are you up to?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t feel like replying, but Feng Si took his phone and sent a voice message on his behalf: ¡°Your brother isn¡¯t up to anything. Mind your own business.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression changed slightly, and Feng Si handed the phone back to him. ¡°I took the liberty, sorry if that bothers you.¡±


    Feng Si seemed to be unbothered by any possible repercussions, leaving Lu Jingshen with no way to deal with him.


    Lu jingshen simply walked away leaving Feng Si behind and heading back to the bathroom, with Feng Si following.


    ¡°Alex, do you have any new year¡¯s wishes?¡± Feng Si asked as they entered.


    Lu Jingshen was brushing his teeth and glanced at him through the mirror before spitting out the toothpaste. He slowly said, ¡°To make more money.¡±


    Feng Si chuckled, ¡°Is that all? Your wishes are really practical and unpretentious, just like a capitalist.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡± Lu Jingshen asked.


    Feng Si thought for a moment and said, ¡°To find a wife.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a joke.


    He meant it sincerely.


    Lu Jingshen finished rinsing his mouth and turned around to peck Feng Si on the lips, saying earnestly, ¡°I wish your wish comes true.¡±


    As he turned to leave, Feng Si held him back and said, ¡°Alex, you have to work a little harder for my wish to come true.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze was unusually sincere, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes. Lu Jingshen felt a bit uneasy under his stare and mumbled a vague ¡°Mm.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s appearance always had a way of intriguing Lu Jingshen. He unconsciously said things that were both serious and flirtatious, doing things that unintentionally made his heart flutter. Amidst his seriousness, he exuded charm that made him unforgettable.


    That was why Feng Si had been searching for this person for seven years, not just out of simple obsession but genuine affection. He really liked him, very much.


    Pulling Lu Jingshen closer, Feng Si tilted his head and kissed his cheek hard.


    ¡­¡­.


    The next day, Lu Jingshen got up early, finding himself alone in the house once again. The living room, which had been a mess last night, was now tidy, except for his laptop left on the coffee table.


    Lu Jingshen looked around and realized belatedly that Feng Si had left without saying a word.


    He picked up his phone and noticed that there were no new messages, not even a WeChat message.


    ¡°Where did you go?¡± he messaged Feng Si, but before he could decide whether to send it, Feng Si¡¯s call came in.


    Feng Si¡¯s smiling voice came through, ¡°Up already? You¡¯re earlier than I thought. Looks like last night didn¡¯t tire you out too much.¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied in a deep voice, ¡°You¡¯re quite energetic too, going out for a ¡®friend gathering¡¯ so early.¡±


    After Lu Jingshen finished speaking, there was laughter from the other end of the phone. ¡°Your words are so sour, Lu Jingshen.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± Lu Jingshen retorted, glancing at the snow outside, ¡°Even the snow can¡¯t stop you from going out.¡±


    ¡°If you want to come with me, just say so. No need to indirectly jab at me,¡± Feng Si said. Then he joked, ¡°Just kidding, I only went out for a short run and to grab some breakfast.¡±


    Lu Jingshen hesitated and was about to hang up the phone when Feng Si asked, ¡°What do you want for breakfast? Buns, steamed buns, pan-fried dumplings, youtiao, or noodles and soup?¡±


    ¡°Whatever, it¡¯s up to you,¡± Lu Jingshen said vaguely.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be so indifferent everyday,¡± Feng Si reminded him, ¡°Don¡¯t always say ¡®whatever¡¯ to me. When I actually ask you what you want, you are always reluctant. Just pick what you want to eat.¡±


    Lu Jingshen seemed to be deliberately difficult, ¡°Then buy everything.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°Can you eat so much?¡±


    ¡°You asked me to choose, so I did,¡± Lu Jingshen replied.


    ¡°Okay, the boss¡¯s word is final,¡± Feng Si said, no longer bantering with him. He hung up the phone and went into the breakfast shop to get some takeout.


    As he came out, he saw a nearby flower shop that had opened early in the morning. He went over and casually bought a red rose.


    Giving flowers between two men was actually a bit strange. Last time, he had offered flowers and was rejected by Lu Jingshen. But Feng Si felt that Lu Jingshen¡¯s rejection wasn¡¯t because of the act of giving flowers itself.


    Most likely, it was because the flower he had given last time was borrowed from someone else.


    The shop owner chuckled, ¡°Young man, you¡¯re just buying one flower? How are you going to impress your girlfriend like that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not for a girlfriend, it¡¯s for my wife,¡± Feng Si said with a cigarette in his mouth. ¡°One is enough.¡±


    Lu Jingshen returned to the room after showering, and when he noticed that Feng Si hadn¡¯t returned yet, he took his laptop.


    New emails popped up in his inbox, which they received last night after going to bed.


    Lu Jingshen drank his coffee and absentmindedly clicked on the email.


    The photos slowly loaded, and they were taken secretly during the gay pride parade in France. It captured the moment when he and Feng Si were kissing in the crowd.


    With a ¡°clap,¡± the coffee cup in Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand fell to the ground, splashing the hot brown liquid all over, even spilling onto his leg.


    Lu Jingshen was unaware, staring fixedly at the photo, his heart stopping abruptly.

 CH 42

    When Feng Si came in, Lu Jingshen was still staring at the photo, his fingers pressed on the laptop keyboard, the back of his hand showing prominent blue veins.


    Feng Si walked over, placing the breakfast he bought on the table. He casually put the flower into the vase on the table and then noticed the spilled coffee near Lu Jingshen¡¯s feet.


    ¡°You¡­¡± he started to say, but seeing Lu Jingshen¡¯s troubled expression, he stepped forward and held him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Without thinking, Lu Jingshen forcefully closed the laptop screen.


    Feng Si reached out but was stopped by Lu Jingshen, who pressed the lid shut. They struggled for a moment, but when Feng Si saw the frown on Lu Jingshen¡¯s face, he asserted, ¡°Let go.¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked at him with a complicated expression.


    Feng Si lifted his chin, gesturing again, ¡°Release your hand.¡±


    After a moment of hesitation, Lu Jingshen gave up and let go. Feng Si reopened the laptop and lit up the screen.


    The photo of them kissing under the rainbow flag was displayed again. Feng Si raised an eyebrow and scrolled down. The email only contained one sentence.


    ¡°Don¡¯t want this photo to go viral? Pay me one million.¡±


    There was an overseas bank account attached.


    Feng Si sneered, ¡°Trying to extort a million with this kind of photo? Quite ambitious. Why doesn¡¯t he just rob a bank? Who sent this photo?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s voice was cold.


    Feng Si checked the email address, and it was also from a foreign mailbox. There was probably no way to trace anything.


    He didn¡¯t take it seriously. ¡°Forget it, ignore him. This kind of photo isn¡¯t anything to be ashamed of.¡±


    Lu Jingshen remained silent, and after calming down, he thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Contact Ron and ask for his help. Gather as many photos of us taken that day at the gathering as possible, and do it quickly.¡±


    ¡°Why do you need those photos?¡± Feng Si asked.


    ¡°I want to see if I can find the person who took this photo and blackmailed me. It should be someone I know,¡± Lu Jingshen replied.


    Feng Si looked deeply at him, took out his phone, and sent a message to Ron.


    Ron was a night owl, and it was past 2 or 3 AM on the other side, but he still replied immediately.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t elaborate on the reasons and casually chatted with him for a few sentences before Ron readily agreed to help.


    After putting down the phone, seeing that Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t improved, Feng Si pouted at him. ¡°Your feet are all red. Don¡¯t you feel it?¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked down and couldn¡¯t help but frown, seemingly just noticing what happened.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t say anything more. He pressed Lu Jingshen to sit down and went back to get the burn cream he hadn¡¯t used.


    As he applied the ointment, Feng Si looked at the bright red on Lu Jingshen¡¯s calf and clicked his tongue. ¡°It¡¯s just a photo, and it scared you like this? You didn¡¯t even react to the burn.¡±


    Lu Jingshen made a muffled sound, ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then stop spacing out. Quickly apply the cream and have some breakfast. Eat a little more since I bought so much. Don¡¯t just drink coffee,¡± Feng Si said, handing him the cream and then going to clean up the mess on the floor.


    Lu Jingshen had no appetite.


    Feng Si had bought seven or eight items, but he only took a bowl of plain porridge, drinking it tastelessly, taking only a few sips.


    As his gaze flickered, he noticed a vase on the table with a strikingly beautiful rose. He paused for a moment.


    Feng Si finished the remaining food, casually explaining, ¡°I bought the flower on a whim when I got back.¡±


    A faint voice from Lu Jingshen, ¡°You were only supposed to buy breakfast.¡±


    ¡°I originally wanted to buy a flower to make you happy,¡± Feng Si said with a wry smile, ¡°but it seems unnecessary now. You don¡¯t seem to like flowers.¡±


    After a moment of hesitation, Lu Jingshen said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Feng Si put down his chopsticks, ¡°I¡¯m full. I¡¯ll take a shower. You take care of the rest and eat a bit more. I bought so much, and you shouldn¡¯t just have porridge.¡±


    As he got up, he suddenly stopped, leaned forward, and plucked the rose from the vase, casually trimming the overly long stem before inserting it into the buttonhole on Lu Jingshen¡¯s shirt.


    With just one red rose, Lu Jingshen¡¯s complexion looked much better.


    Feng Si was somewhat satisfied and smiled at him, ¡°Relax, the sky hasn¡¯t fallen.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s throat tightened, slowly nodding.


    Despite that, for the rest of the day, Lu Jingshen remained restless. He stayed in the study, trying to distract himself with work.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t bother to say much and spent his rare vacation time playing games to pass the time.


    In the evening, Ron replied to Feng Si¡¯s message, saying that everything had been taken care of.


    The photos from the gathering were easy to find as they were all over the internet. Ron had them organized and sent to Feng Si¡¯s mailbox, totaling over a thousand pictures.


    Feng Si casually asked, ¡°Are there any pictures of me and Alex in there?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Ron replied. ¡°I specifically had someone pay attention, but I didn¡¯t seem to see any.¡±


    Feng Si downloaded the photos and flipped through them one by one, with Lu Jingshen joining him.


    Feng Si turned his head and asked him, ¡®Do you think this will help us find the person who¡¯s blackmailing you?¡¯


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡®We have to give it a try.¡¯


    Feng Si said, ¡®Alright, then let¡¯s get to work.¡¯


    They spent four hours going through a thousand photos, from dusk till nightfall.


    Feng Si kept clicking on the next photo absentmindedly.


    As a photo passed by, his hand holding the mouse suddenly stopped and he scrolled back.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need to look further, I found him.¡¯


    Lu Jingshen looked over, and Feng Si pointed to the lower-left corner of the photo on the screen and said, ¡®he¡¯s the one.¡¯


    It was a slightly chubby middle-aged man wearing glasses, holding a camera in his hand.


    Though only half of his face was visible, it was enough for them to recognize him.


    He was Zhao Yuanping, the former CEO of Xinfeng Technology, who was forced to give up his shares after Lu Jingshen acquired the company but was unwilling to quit. Zhao Yuanping and his entire family had emigrated to France. Lu Jingshen had almost forgotten about him, but now he was surprised to see that Zhao Yuanping was still pursuing trouble.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression turned cold, and Feng Si reminded him, ¡®If this is really him, I suggest you ignore him. He made several billion from selling his shares, so he doesn¡¯t need money. He¡¯s just trying to give you a hard time. If you get involved with him, you¡¯ll be playing right into his hands.¡¯


    After a moment of silence, Lu Jingshen calmly picked up his phone and sent a message to Liu Jie, asking her to transfer one million to the private account provided in the email.


    Feng Si couldn¡¯t stop him in time, and the message was already sent.


    ¡®Hey, are you serious? Just because someone threatened you casually, you readily give away one million?¡¯ Feng Si frowned, unable to understand why Lu Jingshen acted so impulsively.


    ¡®It¡¯s to ward off future troubles,¡¯ Lu Jingshen replied with an unusually calm tone. To him, one million was like a hundred bucks to an ordinary person; he didn¡¯t care.


    Feng Si lowered his voice, ¡®Are you so afraid of people knowing about our relationship? Are you willing to give away one million just to shut anyone up? Moreover, how can you be sure there won¡¯t be a next time? If the other party finds you easy to manipulate and gets a taste of the benefits, they might ask for five million, ten million, or even more next time. Are you planning to give in every time?¡¯


    ¡®Just this once. The people who tried to kidnap me last time have significant influence over there. I asked Ron to mediate, and I hired them to teach Zhao Yuanping a lesson. I told him that the money I gave him is a one-time deal. If he¡¯s sensible, he¡¯ll take the money and delete the photos. If he wants to live a peaceful life over there, he should stop using this photo against me,¡¯ Lu Jingshen explained.


    Feng Si almost chuckled with frustration. ¡®Alex, are you really like this? When I asked a friend to deal with that spoiled kid from the Li family, you thanked me verbally, but deep down,I know you didn¡¯t agree with that approach. Why are you doing the same now? Just because Zhao Yuanping has a photo of us kissing in public?It¡¯s just an intimate photo taken in a public place; there¡¯s nothing inappropriate about it. I even think it looks good. I wish he had taken more shots. Are you really overreacting to this?¡¯


    Lu Jingshen disagreed. Just the thought of being labeled as homosexual, treated as an outsider, and potentially pursued by other men was suffocating him.


    He thought he could take this step, but apparently, he couldn¡¯t.


    Feng Si reached out and pinched his chin. ¡®Alex, your expression doesn¡¯t look right. What exactly are you afraid of?¡¯


    Lu Jingshen shook his head, insisting, ¡®I don¡¯t want this photo to spread.¡¯


    Feng Si said, ¡®You promised me last night that you¡¯d try your best, but is this your idea of trying? You can¡¯t even face a single photo?¡¯


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡®¡­ Give me a little more time.¡¯


    It was the same phrase again. Hearing it so many times, not only Feng Si but even Lu Jingshen himself seemed uncertain.


    Sweat started to form on his forehead, showing how uncomfortable he was.


    Feng Si stared at him, contemplating something.


    When he finally withdrew his hand, all he said was, ¡®Do as you wish.¡¯


    Although Lu Jingshen persisted in doing this, Feng Si didn¡¯t bother saying anything more. He arranged everything as Lu Jingshen requested and contacted the other side through Ron. The other party accepted Lu Jingshen¡¯s offer and promised to handle it quickly.


    Lu Jingshen did feel a sense of relief, even though he knew Feng Si was probably disappointed in him again.


    Feng Si closed his notebook. ¡®The matter is resolved. Let¡¯s go to bed.¡¯


    As he stood up, Lu Jingshen reached out to grab him.


    Feng Si looked at him, asking, ¡®What¡¯s wrong?¡¯


    Lu Jingshen hesitated for a moment, then held Feng Si¡¯s hand. However, Feng Si gently pulled his hand back, brushing his face instead. ¡®Planning to use that trick again?¡¯


    Lu Jingshen had a habit of trying to compensate Feng Si by being intimate with him whenever he sensed Feng Si¡¯s dissatisfaction.


    It was fun once or twice, but Feng Si wasn¡¯t always up for it.


    ¡®Forget it, let¡¯s just go to sleep,¡¯ Feng Si reminded him, ¡®If you¡¯re not in the mood, I might not be either. No need to force it.¡¯


    Being rejected so straightforwardly, Lu Jingshen felt embarrassed. Feng Si released his hand and returned to his room.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was stunned for a moment, supporting his forehead and wearily closing his eyes.


    On the last day of the New Year holiday, they were immersed in a subtle mood resembling a cold war, or at least that¡¯s what Lu Jingshen thought.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t seem any different from before, still being aloof and speaking in an uncoordinated manner. However, Lu Jingshen vaguely felt that Feng Si¡¯s dissatisfaction with him was gradually accumulating. Maybe it started after that night when they returned from the resort, or maybe even earlier, possibly dating back to seven years ago when he disappeared without any explanation.


    The person who made the first mistake was him, so he had no reason to blame Feng Si.


    ¡­¡­..


    On their first day back to work, Lu Jingshen arrived at the office at 8:30 in the morning, as usual.


    Ten minutes later, Feng Si entered the room, exchanged Lu Jingshen¡¯s coffee for milk, and sat down on the nearby sofa to flip through a magazine.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze lingered on him for a moment, but he withdrew it. Soon, more people would be coming in and out of the office, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say what was on his mind.


    Feng Si picked up his phone and glanced at it; Ron had just sent a new message.


    They had found Zhao Yuanping. He was indeed responsible for the incident, and with a little pressure, he spilled everything.


    ¡°He saw you guys on the street that day and took photos of you. He didn¡¯t plan on doing anything at first, but after drinking that night, he remembered the past and felt resentful. So, fueled by alcohol, he sent that photo to blackmail you. He has already handed over the camera¡¯s memory card and backups. However, he mentioned that he had sent the photos to someone else earlier, a friend of his in China.¡±


    Feng Si frowned but was about to explain to Lu Jingshen when Liu Jie hurriedly knocked on the door and entered.


    As Liu Jie walked in, she glanced at Feng Si sitting on the sofa, looking particularly odd. With a stiff expression, she approached Lu Jingshen and said, ¡°Boss, something has happened.¡±


    Lu Jingshen raised his head, and Liu Jie handed him the opened laptop.


    It showed the same email interface, Liu Jie¡¯s personal company¡¯s internal mailbox, with a new email received just two minutes ago, containing the kissing photo of Lu Jingshen and Feng Si.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s face darkened.


    Liu Jie cautiously observed his expression and asked, ¡°Is this photo fake, Boss?¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded, trying to calm his racing heart and pretending to be composed. ¡°I don¡¯t know where this photo came from, but it¡¯s definitely meant to cause trouble. Whoever got access to all the employees¡¯ internal email addresses can¡¯t be an outsider. Have the security department investigate, and if they find out who did it, report it to the police immediately. Quickly draft a statement to dispel the rumors and shift everyone¡¯s attention away from this matter.¡±


    Liu Jie said, ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll do it right away.¡±


    Lu Jingshen gave a few more instructions, and Liu Jie nodded in response.


    Seeing Lu Jingshen¡¯s nervous state, Liu Jie didn¡¯t dare to ask further questions. Although she felt that, based on her experience, the photo didn¡¯t seem to be Photoshopped,but if the boss said it was fake, then it must be fake.


    Before leaving, Liu Jie reminded Lu Jingshen that there would be a meeting in ten minutes.


    After Liu Jie left, Lu Jingshen¡¯s internal phone rang.


    He hesitated for a moment before picking it up. It was Lu Jingqing, evidently having received the same email, asking him what was going on.


    Lu Jingshen calmly replied, ¡°The photo is fake, and I will report it to the police.¡±


    The person on the other end of the line fell silent for a moment, then asked, ¡°Is it really fake?¡±


    Lu Jingshen responded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s fake.¡±


    ¡°Good. Using such means against you is despicable. Don¡¯t worry about it; it¡¯s not a big deal. Once clarified, it will be fine,¡± Lu Jingqing seemed relieved.


    Lu Jingshen reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t tell Mom and Dad; there¡¯s no need to trouble them with this.¡±


    ¡°I know, I¡¯ll keep it from them,¡± Lu Jingqing promised.


    After a few more words, they hung up the phone. Lu Jingshen still didn¡¯t look at Feng Si, quickly tidied up the messy files on his desk, and left for the meeting.


    As he walked out, he felt as if he was about to collapse, with cold sweat all over his back.


    For a full half-minute, he leaned against the wall, feeling a heavy discomfort, before he took a deep breath to calm himself. He caught a glimpse of his disheveled reflection on the glass wall and closed his eyes tightly.


    After ensuring that his heartbeat was back under control, he stepped forward into the crowd¡¯s view. Liu Jie followed him, coming out of her own office.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t say a word and walked quickly toward the meeting room.


    The employees around were busy as usual, and perhaps some were looking at him, while others weren¡¯t. Knowing they wouldn¡¯t dare to show their curiosity on their faces, Lu Jingshen still felt a heavy unease, and he quickened his pace even more.


    In the eyes of others, their boss seemed to be in a bad mood that day, with a tense face showing no expression. That might be a prelude to someone¡¯s bad luck.

 CH 43

    In the meeting room, most of the senior executives from various departments had arrived.


    Before the meeting officially started, people were chatting in twos and threes, discussing the email from earlier.


    They didn¡¯t want to openly gossip about whether Lu Jingshen was really gay, so they started speculating about who was so bored to intentionally spread such rumors about him in the company.


    It wasn¡¯t hard to guess that those people were the ones who were dissatisfied with Lu Jingshen lately, those who had followed Li Wenzhong in their attempt to ¡°revolt.¡± Whether it was venting frustration or tarnishing Lu Jingshen¡¯s reputation, although that incident didn¡¯t have any substantial impact on him, it didn¡¯t sound good if the matter spread.


    When Lu Jingqing entered, someone immediately coughed loudly, and everyone fell silent.


    Lu Jingqing took her seat and calmly said, ¡°I know what you¡¯re curious about. The photo is fake, and Ah Shen will report it to the police. When you go back, remind the people below not to waste time on these baseless rumors.¡±


    Everyone naturally agreed with her statement, and even though they had doubts, no one would be foolish enough to speak up in front of her.


    When Lu Jingshen came in, the topic had already changed.


    Some people still discreetly observed him, but apart from a slightly colder expression, they couldn¡¯t see anything else.


    Lu Jingshen took his seat, and with only one word, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s start the meeting.¡±


    The originally scheduled one-and-a-half-hour work meeting continued until noon.


    Lu Jingshen seemed particularly severe that day, scrutinizing minor details and offering no mercy in criticizing others.


    Others thought his sternness was due to the morning incident, but Lu Jingqing occasionally observed Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression, feeling somewhat worried. Seeing that it was almost noon, she interrupted the ongoing report and said to Lu Jingshen, ¡°Ah Shen, let¡¯s have lunch first and continue in the afternoon.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s brow remained furrowed, and when their gazes met, Lu Jingqing nodded.


    He finally compromised, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s adjourn for now.¡±


    After everyone had left, leaving only the two of them, Lu Jingqing asked Liu Jie and her secretary to leave as well. She stopped Lu Jingshen, who was about to get up, and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s voice was hoarse, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°If you can¡¯t handle it, just go home first,¡± Lu Jingqing reminded him, ¡°You look terrible.¡±


    Lu Jingshen insisted, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    He said he was fine, but it was all self-deception.


    Lu Jingqing continued, ¡°That photo¡­¡±


    ¡°I said it¡¯s fake!¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s voice involuntarily rose, his brows furrowing deeply, and his face changed.


    Lu Jingqing looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and then said gently, ¡°If you can get through this yourself, just like how Chixie and they did, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem. I don¡¯t think Mom and Dad would object either.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Lu Jingshen interrupted firmly, ¡°I don¡¯t need to.¡±


    Lu Jingqing said, ¡°The resistance you face comes from within yourself. If you really are¡­ try to face it. You have to take that step sooner or later.¡±


    Lu Jingshen stood up and cut her off, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go back to my office.¡±


    As he left the meeting room, Lu Jingqing called him again, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to admit it, don¡¯t keep people around you. Otherwise, it will give others ammunition and cause you more trouble. You¡¯re not an indecisive person, so it¡¯s better to face it head-on.¡±


    Lu Jingshen left quickly.


    Before returning to his office, he went to Liu Jie¡¯s place first. Liu Jie had just hung up the phone and stood up when she saw Lu Jingshen approaching.


    ¡°Did you find anything?¡± Lu Jingshen asked directly.


    Liu Jie replied, ¡°We¡¯ve got some leads. Someone in the company has been working overtime these days and used the internal mailbox to export the entire contact list. The only one with such privileges is an intern in the logistics department. The security department has already gone to question him.¡±


    Their internal mailbox system was developed in-house, and the highest-level administrators could see all users¡¯ operation records. Although the email came from an external mailbox, in order to send it to the entire company, they must have obtained the internal contact list first. By checking the email usage records of everyone one by one, they could eventually identify the culprit.


    ¡°An intern?¡± Lu Jingshen frowned. ¡°Who hired him?¡±


    ¡°Not long ago, the HR department had called to tell me that you hired him for the company two months ago while you were overseas. The HR department was a mess at that time, thanks to Li Wenzhong and the others. They brought in a lot of random people to the company.¡±


    Lu Jingshen understood. Although Li Wenzhong was in jail, it didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t do anything. If he thought that his son was detained because of Lu Jingshen, he might have planned to retaliate and make things difficult for him in any way possible.


    That exhausted and powerless sense of irritation surged again. Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t ask further and said, ¡°I got it. You keep an eye on them and find out everything. Let me know when you have results.¡±


    In the office, Feng Si was leaning on the sofa, a magazine covering his face as he rested with his eyes closed.


    He had been there all morning and hadn¡¯t gone out. Hearing footsteps, he lazily put down the magazine and looked at Lu Jingshen, who had just entered.


    Lu Jingshen approached, staring at him for a moment with a complicated expression, and then relayed what Liu Jie had said to him.


    Feng Si listened without any surprise. Although Zhao Yuanping had always been at odds with Shang Xin, they were still in the same industry. It wasn¡¯t strange for him to be involved with Li Wenzhong, and the photo eventually ending up in Li Wenzhong¡¯s hands wasn¡¯t surprising either.


    ¡°Why are you telling me all of this? Do you think that by withholding his son, I caused Li Wenzhong to panic and resort to such despicable tactics against you?¡±


    Lu Jingshen remained silent, his face cold.


    Feng Si tugged at the corner of his mouth, knowing he hit the mark, ¡°you should blame me more for dragging you into that street kiss, Otherwise, those photos wouldn¡¯t have been taken, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°But Alex, the kiss was voluntary on your part, I didn¡¯t force you. Second, the things I did were meant to help you vent. Third, even if I hadn¡¯t done anything, do you think Zhao Yuanping would have just ignored that photo? He¡¯s always been despicable, ever since the day he tried to kidnap you, and you had to call the police to take him away from the company, there was no way you two could have gotten along well.¡±


    ¡°And besides, Li Wenzhong¡¯s son hasn¡¯t come back, and he dares to do such things. It shows that his son doesn¡¯t mean much to him, and he just wants to make you feel bad. Even if it had nothing to do with his son, I bet he would have found another way to attack you. If you really care so much about this, getting angry over a single photo plays right into his hands.¡±


    Lu Jingshen remained silent, unable to respond.


    He knew Feng Si was making sense, and the unreasonable one was himself. He shouldn¡¯t vent his anger on Feng Si, but he couldn¡¯t control himself.


    Lu Jingqing could easily cut through the mess, but he couldn¡¯t do the same.


    He hid himself in the closet and wanted to hide Feng Si in there too.


    He didn¡¯t want Feng Si to leave, but he also didn¡¯t want to take him out.


    That was his safe space, the only thing he could control.


    ¡°¡­You should take some time off for now and don¡¯t come to the company,¡± Lu Jingshen finally spoke and made a decision.


    Feng Si asked, ¡°How long is ¡®for now¡¯?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°Wait until the storm from today¡¯s incident passes.¡±


    Feng Si interpreted, ¡°So you don¡¯t know how long it will be. Alex are you firing me? Does the contract we signed before still count?¡±


    His tone made Lu Jingshen very uncomfortable. ¡°I just want you to temporarily stay away from the company, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°You want me to take your salary for doing nothing and freeload at your home?¡± Feng Si smiled ambiguously.


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°Do you have to say these things?¡±


    Feng Si stood up, his carefree appearance unchanged, ¡°Then what else should I say? Should I say, ¡®Thank you, boss, I¡¯ll go home now and never trouble you at the company again¡¯?¡±


    He leaned forward, staring into Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes, paused for two seconds, and then spoke softly.


    ¡°Alex, why don¡¯t you just blame the fact that we met back then? Wouldn¡¯t it have been better if we hadn¡¯t known each other?¡±


    Lu Jingshen was stunned.


    Feng Si stepped back, his hands in his pockets, and put on that nonchalant look. ¡°Alright, the boss has spoken. Why should I beg to work here if you don¡¯t want me here? I¡¯ll just go back.¡±


    With Feng Si gone, Lu Jingshen still stood there motionless.


    His heart kept tightening and even ached because of Feng Si¡¯s words and the way he looked at him when leaving¡ªdisappointed, cold, and nothing more.


    The person he wished would return had left, but he inexplicably panicked. What would happen next?


    As Feng Si returned to his desk, he picked up the coat he had thrown there in the morning.


    Aside from that, he didn¡¯t take anything else.


    The female secretary sitting nearby hesitated before asking him, ¡°Captain Feng, are you leaving?¡±


    Not only her, but everyone in the secretary¡¯s office pretended to casually glance at him. People are naturally curious, and they didn¡¯t dare ask the other protagonist of the photo incident, but they couldn¡¯t help but do so when facing Feng Si.


    Feng Si smiled at them, ¡°Yes, the boss gave me some time off.¡±


    The female secretary sounded somewhat regretful, ¡°About this morning¡­¡±


    Feng Si waved his finger, reminding her with a smile, ¡°The boss said the photos were fake. Don¡¯t let your curiosity get the better of you.¡±


    The female secretary didn¡¯t dare ask further, ¡°Then, Captain Feng, will you come back?¡±


    Feng Si glanced in the direction of Lu Jingshen¡¯s office, casually saying, ¡°That depends on your boss.¡±


    He didn¡¯t say much more and finally waved to them, ¡°Enough chatting, I¡¯m leaving.¡±

 CH 44

    The meeting continued in the afternoon, but Lu Jingshen remained distracted. He didn¡¯t push and challenge as aggressively as in the morning; instead, he became silent and absent-minded.


    At six o¡¯clock, Liu Jie knocked on his office door and asked what he wanted to eat for dinner, as she was ready to order.


    Lu Jingshen glanced at the time displayed on the computer screen, feeling tired, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day.¡±


    Liu Jie was a bit surprised but quickly responded, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll ask Wang to bring the car around.¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded, gesturing for Liu Jie to leave first.


    He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and let his thoughts wander. After a while, he opened his eyes again, tidied up his desk quickly, and then stood up to grab his coat hanging on the rack.


    Outside, it was already dusk, and a heavy snowfall had covered the streets. Lu Jingshen sat in the car, looking out the window. The snow continued to fall, and pedestrians hurriedly passed by, no one stopping for anyone.


    It was cold and desolate, making it hard to find any comfort.


    Before entering his home, he hesitated for a moment. As he placed his finger on the fingerprint lock, countless thoughts flashed through his mind.


    When he pushed the door open, the house was brightly lit, and Feng Si was in the kitchen, frying steaks while talking on the phone with his shoulder holding the phone.


    ¡°I¡¯ll talk to you later; Send me the address, and if I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll come have a drink.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s tense nerves suddenly relaxed.


    Feng Si hung up the phone, looked up at him, and raised his chin, ¡°You¡¯re back quite early today. Dinner is ready. Go wash your hands and let¡¯s eat.¡±


    Lujing Shen stepped forward and asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°Can¡¯t you see? I¡¯m frying steak.¡±


    He pointed to the side where other dishes were freshly made, all simple Western dishes.


    ¡°Have some.¡±


    Lujing Shen felt uneasy seeing Feng Si¡¯s calm expression. He didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Before entering, he had imagined countless possibilities, even prepared himself for the possibility that Feng Si wouldn¡¯t come back. However, he never expected Feng Si¡¯s attitude to be like this¡ªindifferent, avoiding the topic, as if nothing had happened in the morning.


    Seeing Lujing Shen standing still, Feng Si teasingly urged him, ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? I know you didn¡¯t get to eat at the company, right? Go wash your hands.¡±


    ¡°Have you been at home since noon?¡± Lujing Shen hesitated to ask.


    Feng Si replied, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s cold outside, and there¡¯s nowhere to go anyway.¡±


    Lujing Shen said, ¡°About this morning¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention that,¡± Feng Si interrupted him, ¡°It¡¯s pointless.¡±


    Lujing Shen pursed his lips and decided not to bring it up again. He turned and went to wash his hands.


    During the meal, Lujing Shen still said, ¡°Sorry¡± to Feng Si.


    Feng Si asked him, ¡°How many times are you planning to apologize to me? Lujing Shen, don¡¯t you have any other tactics?¡±


    Lujing Shen looked embarrassed and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say.¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t say anything.¡±


    Feng Si tossed that remark and calmly cut his steak, making it clear he didn¡¯t want to continue that conversation.


    Lujing Shen could only give up.


    He hadn¡¯t eaten anything for lunch, and he still didn¡¯t have much appetite now. He reluctantly ate a few bites of steak, and Feng Si already put down his knife and fork, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go take a shower.¡±


    As Feng Si was passing by, Lujing Shen reached out and stopped him, saying, ¡°Are you going out tonight? I just heard you making plans with someone¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah and?¡± Feng Si retorted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go,¡± Lujing Shen lifted his eyes, ¡°Can you just stay?¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°Alex, do you think your request is reasonable? Who am I to you? You don¡¯t want to acknowledge my existence, yet you want to restrict my freedom to make friends. Isn¡¯t that too domineering of you?¡±


    Lujing Shen was left speechless.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze slowly wandered over his face, pausing for a moment before he suddenly smiled and said, ¡°Enough with this distressed expression. It¡¯s as if you can¡¯t live without me. Lujing Shen, you may appear innocent, but you¡¯re actually quite adept at toying with people¡¯s hearts. There¡¯s no need for this act.¡±


    Though he was smiling, his eyes were cold, and every word he spoke was filled with sarcasm.


    Lujing Shen was indeed feeling uncomfortable, but he also knew that his current appearance was no different from pretending in Feng Si¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Do you want to?¡± Lujing Shen asked with difficulty.


    That was the only way he could think of; if Feng Si still refused, he truly didn¡¯t know what to do.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t answer immediately. He looked at Lujing Shen and, after a while, reached out to touch his constantly moving Adam¡¯s apple.


    Lujing Shen felt a bit nervous but didn¡¯t move, allowing Feng Si to do as he pleased.


    ¡°Are you nervous? Afraid that I¡¯ll reject you?¡± Feng Si saw right through him and sneered, ¡± Alright, I¡¯ll grant your wish.¡±


    After saying that, he reached over, pulled Lujing Shen¡¯s waist up, and held him in his arms.


    They got entangled on the sofa. Feng Si used his physical strength to overpower Lujing Shen, effortlessly removing the tie in front of Lujing Shen and tying his wrists.


    The ties were tight, making Lujing Shen uncomfortable, but he didn¡¯t refuse and let Feng Si tie him up.


    Feng Si held his chin, fingers slowly caressing the curve of his jaw, looking down at him. ¡°You are only well-behaved in moments like this huh?.¡±


    Lujing Shen gazed back at Feng Si with fervent eyes, full of love. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you want so as to make it up to you.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze grew deeper, complex emotions churning in his eyes. Lujing Shen felt a sudden panic, and without thinking, he raised his bound hands, pulled down Feng Si¡¯s collar, and kissed him.


    Feng Si watched his reaction without resisting or responding. He remained calm during the kiss, showing no desire and making no movements.


    Lujing Shen was hurt by his gaze, wanting to close his eyes, but Feng Si didn¡¯t allow it. He grabbed Lujing Shen¡¯s neck, forcing him to look at him. ¡°Even when there¡¯s no one else around, you still want to escape? Look at me.¡±


    Lujing Shen breathed heavily, but he didn¡¯t avoid Feng Si¡¯s gaze anymore.


    Feng Si¡¯s hand slid down his neck to the front, his fingertips gently touching Lujing Shen¡¯s slightly dry lips. ¡°Does it really make you uncomfortable?¡±


    Feng Si rubbed his lips until they gradually reddened and said slowly, ¡°But I feel even worse than you.¡±


    They kissed again, like wild animals biting and tearing at each other, gasping heavily, refusing to let go.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s clothes were stripped off, but Feng Si only unzipped his own pants. He held Lujing Shen¡¯s hand and said in a low voice by his ear, ¡°If we¡¯re doing this, let¡¯s do it directly. I don¡¯t want to use protection.¡±


    It was the first time Feng Si made such a request, showing his dominance that couldn¡¯t be refused.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s breathing became rapid. He struggled to nod and said hoarsely, ¡°Okay.¡±


    He must have been out of his mind to agree to let Feng Si go that far, but at the moment he met Feng Si¡¯s gaze, he had no choice but to nod.


    If that could make Feng Si satisfied and less annoyed with him, he was willing to do it.


    With no protection and overly clear sensations, Lujing Shen trembled from head to toe right from the start. A fiery turmoil raged within him, and he wanted to scream, but his voice was stuck in his throat, and not a word could be uttered.


    He couldn¡¯t even move; his hands were bound and pressed forcefully against his head, like a fish on a chopping board, completely under Feng Si¡¯s control and restraint.


    Whether it was pain or pleasure, every single feeling was magnified infinitely, all brought on by Feng Si.


    But with each swaying of his vision, he looked upon Feng Si¡¯s ever-calmer and rational black eyes. The warmth of their embrace couldn¡¯t fill the growing void in his heart. He tried to reach out and grasp something, holding on tightly to Feng Si¡¯s arm, but again and again, he futilely slipped away.


    Feng Si suddenly stopped, breathing heavily with his head lowered. His long and sweat-soaked fringe hung down, covering his eyes.


    Lujing Shen grasped his wrist, and the unease in his heart escalated rapidly. He struggled to speak with difficulty, ¡°Why did you stop?¡±


    A prolonged silence followed, and the only sounds were their heartbeats and breathing.


    Feng Si finally spoke, ¡°The day you left, I went to the train station, the airport, everywhere looking for you. Even when the last flight of that day took off, I still didn¡¯t see you. I could only go back to the hotel and repeatedly ask the waiter who brought me a message from you. I asked him what you said and did, but he said there was nothing, that you only left a ¡®goodbye¡¯ and took your luggage with you.¡±


    Lujing Shen¡¯s fingers suddenly tightened and trembled slightly. What Feng Si was telling him was about seven years ago, the past that he had always avoided.


    Feng Si¡¯s wrist turned, and he firmly pulled it out of Lujing Shen¡¯s grasp.


    ¡°At that time, I wondered if you were messing with me. Maybe you¡¯d be back in a day or two. I didn¡¯t dare leave and stayed in that city, that hotel, waiting for you. I waited for a whole month, but you still didn¡¯t return.¡±


    ¡°During that time, I kept trying to recall the details of our time together, where things went wrong. Was it my mistake, or did you misunderstand something? Only then did I realize that I didn¡¯t even know where you came from, what your real name was. I never saw any identification from you. Every time we checked into a hotel, I used my passport. When going through customs, you intentionally avoided showing me any information. Maybe I didn¡¯t care at first, so I didn¡¯t think much of it. But by the time I wanted to care, it was already too late.¡±


    ¡°You left, and I couldn¡¯t find you again.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s voice was calm, saying each sentence slowly and almost without inflection, as if talking about someone else¡¯s story.


    Lujing Shen couldn¡¯t see the eyes hidden behind Feng Si¡¯s wet hair, but just listening to those casually spoken words felt like his heart was being tightly grasped, making it hard for him to breathe.


    ¡°I waited for you for a month and still didn¡¯t see you, so I had to give up. After going back, I quit my job and came to Asia alone. While working on private planes for others, I kept looking for you. Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia¡­ I spent two full years going through the surrounding countries, but I never came here because on the day we first met, you pretended not to understand my Chinese.¡±


    ¡°I said you were so adept at playing with people¡¯s hearts. Weren¡¯t you angry with me for saying that? Who else could hear their mother tongue in a strange place and instinctively pretend not to understand?¡±


    ¡°I was too confident, thinking you had no reason to deceive me like that. But people are different. You always tried to shut yourself off, and your guard was too strong. I tried everything, but I couldn¡¯t break through your walls.¡±


    Lujing Shen wanted to argue, but from the moment Feng Si started speaking, he had lost his voice. His lips moved, but no words came out.


    Feng Si seemed to perceive his thoughts, raised his hand, and wiped the corners of Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes, sensing the faint dampness. He gently rubbed his fingers and asked, ¡°Are you crying?¡±


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t know. Perhaps the last time he truly shed tears was when he was a child.


    But he was indeed in so much pain. With every word Feng Si said, his heart clenched in pain, and the suffocating feeling of not being able to breathe brought him to the edge of collapse.


    But Feng Si said he was feeling worse than him.


    He might have sensed it; Feng Si¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t intense, but the disappointment within it was suffocating him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry,¡± Feng Si reminded him with a deep voice, ¡°I don¡¯t need your pity.¡±


    Lujing Shen continued shaking his head, gripping Feng Si¡¯s shirt sleeve tightly, wanting to say something, but the words couldn¡¯t come out no matter how hard he tried.


    ¡°Alex, am I making you suffer by clinging to you like this? If I let you go, would you be able to go back to living peacefully and comfortably like before?¡±


    ¡°Instead of all this pain, let¡¯s just put our relationship aside and go our separate ways.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s tone was both gentle and cruel, and Lujing Shen finally saw clearly his eyes, the light within them dimmed, devoid of any warmth or tenderness, cold and calm to the point of being terrifying.


    Feng Si carefully pried open the tightly clenched fingers that held onto him, helping Lujing Shen untie the tie that bound his wrists, and then he moved away.


    he no longer wanted to continue.


    His last words resonated in Lujing Shen¡¯s ears.


    ¡°It¡¯s over.¡±

 CH 45

    Lujing Shen sat on the couch with his messy and wrinkled suit jacket, trembling fingers holding a burning cigarette, struggling to keep it steady.


    The falling ash burned his foot, and he felt like waking from a dream. As he looked up, Feng Si had already come out of the room, carrying his luggage and draping a flight jacket over his arm. He spoke calmly, ¡°There¡¯s too much random stuff I bought here. I can¡¯t take it all, so you can just throw it away, Lujing Shen.¡±


    Lujing Shen swallowed hard, his voice hoarse, ¡°Do you really have to go?¡±


    Feng Si looked at him, his lips curling into a smile, ¡°Then what else? Do I have any reason to stay?¡±


    Feng Si was still his usual self, nonchalant and carefree. The more he acted like this, the worse Lujing Shen felt inside.


    It was like he was still immersed in the sudden shock of the change, unable to recover his senses, while the other person had already detached himself, returning to normal, leaving this matter behind and moving on without a glance back.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    He barely managed to say that one word when his phone rang, a call from Lu chixi¨¦.


    Lujing Shen didn¡¯t want to answer, but in his distracted state, he accidentally accepted the call. Lu chixi¨¦¡¯s voice came through, ¡°Bro, I heard people say that the photo of you kissing Captain Feng has spread around the company. What¡¯s going on? You¡¯ve really made people look at you in a different light.¡±


    Lujing Shen closed his eyes. If Lu chixi¨¦ knew about it, it meant their family elders probably knew too, but no one had called to ask him about it. It was probably Lujing Qing who blocked them from asking.


    Lu chixi¨¦ was curious and kept asking about what happened between him and Feng Si, but Lujing Shen didn¡¯t answer. He was feeling restless.


    Lu chixi¨¦¡¯s voice was not low, though it wasn¡¯t on speaker, Feng Si could still hear every word.


    Lujing Shen looked at him unconsciously, but Feng Si didn¡¯t seem to mind. He appeared indifferent, ¡°It¡¯s fake,¡± but the words ¡°It¡¯s fake¡± were once again stuck in Lujing Shen¡¯s throat.


    In the end, he casually responded to Lu chixi¨¦ and hung up the phone.


    Feng Si put the car key on the coffee table, ¡°Here¡¯s your key back, I¡¯m leaving now.¡±


    Saying that, he turned around with his luggage and walked away, looking carefree.


    Lujing Shen was stunned for two seconds, then quickly stood up and chased after him.


    Feng Si changed his shoes and was about to leave when Lujing Shen blurted out, ¡°Can you stay?¡±


    Feng Si turned to look at him, his gaze pausing on his face for two seconds, ¡°No.¡±


    Lujing Shen clenched his fists tightly, but Feng Si had already walked out, and without looking back, he got into the elevator.


    The sound of the descending elevator was particularly clear, and Lujing Shen stood still by the entrance, feeling his blood freeze, the coldness penetrating to his bones.


    When the sound completely disappeared, he turned around and looked at the now silent and empty apartment. It was just missing one person, and even though most of Feng Si¡¯s belongings were still there, everything felt different.


    The record player he brought back from the flea market in France was still there, prominently displayed in the living room. Lujing Shen walked over, put on a record, and tried to move the handle to produce some sound, but his attempts were in vain.


    The record player was broken again, and the person who could fix it had already left.


    He let go and stepped back, supporting himself against the wall, taking a deep and difficult breath, barely keeping himself from sinking to the floor.


    That person had left, and he only seemed to realize it now.


    ¡­¡­.


    Early the next morning, before 8 a.m., Lujing Shen was already at the company. He had hardly slept a wink the previous night. As soon as he arrived, he asked someone to make him coffee, forcing himself to stay alert and focused on his work.


    When Liu Jie saw the heavy dark circles under his eyes, she was taken aback. Lujing Shen¡¯s expression was tense, and he only talked about work-related matters.


    He used to be like this, but now he seemed even colder and more serious than before.


    From that day on, Lujing Shen reverted to being a workaholic. He was the first to arrive at the company and the last to leave. He took care of everything personally, involving himself in every detail. He even treated the office like his home and would rather sleep there than return to that desolate and empty house.


    As for the email incident, it was later proven to be related to Li Wenzhong and his gang. After reporting to the police, Lujing Shen didn¡¯t bother to inquire further. Li Wenzhong had embezzled company assets, the evidence was solid, and the amount involved was huge, so he was certain to go to jail. There was no need for him to give it another thought.


    Although the email and the photo caused quite a stir in the company,  Lujing Shen¡¯s strong and composed reaction, coupled with the official announcement, quickly quelled any gossip and speculations among the employees.


    When he received a message from An Xin, Lujing Shen was still working overtime in his office.


    An Xin reminded him to go home for dinner in two days. Lujing Shen glanced at the calendar and suddenly realized that the Spring Festival was approaching, and Feng Si had already been gone for almost half a month.


    Feeling exhausted, he leaned back in his chair. Staring at the bright incandescent light above his head, he remained lost in thought for a moment. When his eyes started to feel sore and teary, he picked up his phone and unconsciously opened the chat with Feng Si.


    Staring at that profile picture for a while, he then clicked into Feng Si¡¯s Moments.


    He had returned to the UK, occasionally updating his Moments with pictures of gatherings and parties with various friends.


    In those photos, Feng Si smiled even more happily, unrestrained and carefree. Regardless of who was around him, he always stood out in the crowd, the most eye-catching one, as if he was born with such charisma and charm.


    Yet, such a person was willing to let go, spending seven years searching for him, only to be disappointed in the end.


    Lu Jingshen sensed the throbbing in his heart, he bent down, clenched his fist, pressed it against his forehead, and leaned on the desk without moving for a while.


    It wasn¡¯t until the spring festival that Lu Jingshen finally went home early in the morning. After a simple cleanup and a change of clothes, he drove to his parents¡¯ house.


    When he parked the car, he saw Lu Chixie playing with his boyfriend in the yard, both of them laughing like children.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t immediately get out of the car. He quietly watched them for a moment until Lu Chixie noticed his car, walked over, and knocked on his car window.


    ¡°Brother, you¡¯re here. Why don¡¯t you get out?¡± Lu Chixie asked.


    Lu Jingshen withdrew his gaze, opened the car door.


    Lu Chixie chuckled and said, ¡°Oh, btw I heard that you broke up with that Captain Feng. He went back to England, right? It seems like he¡¯s living a lively and colorful life according to his social media. It looks like he didn¡¯t care about you at all. Did you two really break up?¡±


    Lu Jingshen knew that Lu Chixie was intentionally provoking him. Although he didn¡¯t object to Lu Chixie and Lingzhuo¡¯s relationship, he didn¡¯t exactly approve of it either. Lu Chixie had held that grudge and was intentionally trying to get back at him.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t feel like dealing with him. Just hearing Feng Si¡¯s name from someone else¡¯s mouth made him uncomfortable, and he didn¡¯t want to say much.


    He ignored Lu Chixie and went inside.


    Lingzhuo came over and criticized Lu Chixie in a low voice, ¡°Why do you always intentionally provoke your brother?¡±


    Lu Chixie smirked and said, ¡°I thought he would argue with me and say that he and Captain Feng were never a real couple. Looks like something happened between them¡±


    Regardless of everything, the atmosphere at the Lu family¡¯s reunion dinner was very pleasant. Both Lu Jingqing and Lu Chixie had brought their partners, and everyone was happily chatting at the dinner table, avoiding any unpleasant topics.


    Lu Jingqing mentioned that they were planning to get married next year. Lu Jingshen, who was usually quiet, glanced at her and her boyfriend.


    Lu Jingqing had always had a clear plan for her life. She said she would get married at thirty, and she had found the right person. In that regard, Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t compare to Lu Jingqing.


    Their parents were naturally overjoyed and kept expressing their happiness.


    Lu Chixie and Lingzhuo raised their glasses to congratulate Lu Jingqing. When it was Lu Jingshen¡¯s turn, he also raised his glass and sincerely said, ¡°Congratulations.¡±


    Lu Jingqing looked at him, but she held back the words that were about to come out of her mouth. She said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    After the meal, Lu Jingshen went outside to the yard alone to smoke.


    Recently, he had been smoking alot. During sleepless nights, he could only rely on smoking to relieve his overwhelming emotions. But it was just a temporary relief, or rather a vicious cycle.


    Leaning against the wall, he saw Lingzhuo coming out alone, bringing food for the dog their mother raised.


    Lingzhuo turned and noticed him, hesitated for a moment, and then came over.


    Lu Jingshen just nodded.


    In Lingzhuo¡¯s impression, he had hardly ever seen Lu Jingshen smile. He always seemed so serious, which made Lingzhuo somewhat apprehensive around him.


    After a brief exchange of greetings, Lingzhuo felt a strange awkwardness and said he would go inside. But Lu Jingshen stopped him and, with slightly blurred eyes behind the smoke, asked, ¡°I asked you before, how far can two men go without a marriage to sustain their relationship? You said it depended on the individuals. Now, do you still think the same way?¡±


    Lingzhuo recalled their awkward conversation when he formally met Lu¡¯s family for the first time. He felt embarrassed but admitted sincerely, ¡°My thoughts haven¡¯t changed. It¡¯s great that sister Jingqing can have a legal relationship with her partner openly. Although I and Lu Chixie can¡¯t be like them, it doesn¡¯t matter. I have confidence in myself and him, and that¡¯s enough. Besides, we plan to find a suitable time to come out publicly. There will surely be resistance, but we are both prepared for it.¡±


    Though embarrassed, he was able to admit his love openly. Lu Jingshen looked at him, feeling somewhat speechless.


    Lingzhuo noticed that he seemed off and said, ¡°Jingshen, smoke less. It¡¯s not good for your health. Lu Chixie already quit smoking, you know, I think you should do the same.¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°okay.¡±


    Just then, Lu Chixie called for Lingzhuo from inside, and Lingzhuo quickly went back in.


    Lu Jingshen unconsciously touched the cigarette box. There was only one pack left of what Feng Si left behind.


    He lit a cigarette and thought about how he wished he could be as open and carefree as Lu Chixie and Lingzhuo, but he wasn¡¯t like them.


    For him, it was difficult. Really difficult.


    ¡­¡­


    That night, In the middle of the night, he woke up from another nightmare. Lu Jingshen opened his eyes, his body covered in sweat. The scenes from the dream still haunted him, and the foul and decaying smell lingered in his nostrils, almost making him nauseous.


    After calming his fast-beating heart, Lu Jingshen reached for his phone on the nightstand and checked the time. It was 3 a.m. He had barely slept for three hours.


    He had thought coming back to his parents¡¯ house would allow him to sleep better, but it was still the same.


    His headache was severe, and his mind felt hazy, but he wasn¡¯t sleepy. Lu Jingshen propped himself up, leaned against the headboard, turned on a dim bedside lamp, and opened WeChat on his phone. He clicked on the profile picture he had been staring at repeatedly recently.


    Before he realized it, he had already sent a message saying, ¡°Hi.¡±


    His finger hovered over the delete button, hesitating for two seconds, before deciding against it.


    He had indeed hoped that Feng Si would reply to him, say something, even just one word.


    As dawn approached, Lu Jingshen¡¯s dry and bloodshot eyes were still fixed on the phone screen.


    Feng didn¡¯t reply.


    Lu Jing tightly gripped his phone, feeling unwilling, and sent another message, ¡°Our contract isn¡¯t over yet. come back¡±


    That was the only excuse he had now to contact Feng Si.


    Originally, the employment contract they signed was for one year, but from the time the contract was signed until Feng Si left, it had only been a little over three months.


    Three months again, like a curse, when the time is up, someone will always choose to leave first.


    ¡­¡­¡­


    Feng Si was playing mahjong with his family when new messages came in. He glanced at the phone screen lying on the table and casually threw the tiles without paying any attention.


    Feng Ting, sitting beside him, also leaned over to take a look and snatched the cigarette from him, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t smoke, it stinks. Your Favorite person sent you a message, aren¡¯t you going to reply?¡±


    Feng Si stuffed the phone back into his pocket and scolded Feng Ting, ¡°Mind your own business.¡±


    Feng¡¯s mother chimed in, ¡°Who? Did you really find someone, Feng Si? Why didn¡¯t you tell me before? Thank goodness! I¡¯ll tell your old man tomorrow. When are you bringing this ¡®favorite person¡¯ back for me to see?¡±


    Feng Ting sneered, ¡°seeing he came back on his own. Obviously, he got dumped.¡±


    Feng¡¯s mother looked incredulous, ¡°You got dumped again?¡±


    ¡°Nope .,¡± Feng Si said expressionlessly, as he ate the tile his mother threw out and declared a win. ¡°I¡¯m the one who dumped him.¡±


    With a dismissive ¡°I¡¯m going to the bathroom,¡± he got up and left.


    Outside on the terrace, Feng Si lit another cigarette and took out his phone, looking at the time the two WeChat messages were sent, squinting slightly.


    After a while, he typed with one hand and slowly replied, ¡°Then I¡¯ll consider it a breach of contract.¡±


    On the other side, the moment the screen lit up, Lu Jingshen immediately grabbed the phone, but there was only that one unenthusiastic reply.


    Indeed, it was in line with Feng Si¡¯s character, Lu Jingshen thought.


    Feng Si was unwilling to come back, even if it meant breaking the contract.


    He couldn¡¯t describe the feeling in his heart. Looking at Feng Si¡¯s reply, Lu Jingshen¡¯s mind kept echoing the words Feng Si said that night, ¡°I¡¯m even more upset than you,¡± causing his headache to split.


    Trying to type something back to Feng Si, he dropped the phone he couldn¡¯t grip well, and the screen shattered into pieces, blackening out.


    Lu Jingshen picked up the phone, but no matter how he pressed it, the phone was already dead.


    The heavy sense of powerlessness and frustration made him collapse back into bed, closing his eyes in defeat.

 CH 46

    The first day after the Chinese New Year holiday, Liu Jie received a business invitation from abroad and went to consult Lu Jingshen about it. ¡°Should I send one of the vice presidents instead? You don¡¯t need to go personally¡­¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand slightly paused when flipping through the invitation and asked Liu Jie, ¡°Is the location in London?¡±


    Liu Jie nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s in London.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes flickered as he stared at the invitation for a moment before making a decision, ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±


    Liu Jie reminded him that there were more important tasks scheduled for the next week, but Lu Jingshen instructed, ¡°reschedule the rest, i¡¯ll go deal with this business first.¡±


    Liu Jie couldn¡¯t persuade him further, so she complied.


    Before leaving his office, she suddenly thought of something and cautiously observed Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression before saying, ¡°Since Feng Si is not here, we need to ask the private jet company to send someone to replace him. Feng Si signed a one-year contract with us, and there¡¯s a clause about breach of contract. He left without any reason. Should we hold him accountable?¡±


    After a moment of silence, Lu Jingshen said, ¡± when we land in London, personally contact him and ask for his opinion on the matter.¡±


    Liu Jie nodded, ¡°Okay, noted.¡±


    Of course, she knew that Feng Si had returned to England. She had also added Feng Si¡¯s WeChat account and had seen the colorful life in his friend circle. It would be strange if she didn¡¯t know.


    On the day before the departure, Lu Jingshen finally made a rare visit home to pack his luggage.


    There wasn¡¯t much to pack; the necessary preparations would be done for him.


    As he picked up the wristwatch on the bedside table, he absentmindedly pulled open the drawer and saw the things inside, slightly stunned.


    The gloves Feng Si left, the pen he casually gave him, the sapphire cufflinks he bought when they were out, the postcard sent from Northern Europe, and the leather bracelet he had worn for seven years.


    All those things were left by Feng Si, and they were all there.


    Lu Jingshen took out the leather bracelet and rubbed it in his palm before putting it back on his wrist.


    ¡­¡­¡­..


    The plane landed in London early in the morning, with a gray and snowy sky.


    On the way to the hotel, Liu Jie recalled the matter regarding Feng Si and hesitated before asking Lu Jingshen in the backseat, ¡°The pilot who flew us here today seems to have quite a bit of experience. He also looks honest. The private jet company sent us his resume. If Feng Si really quits, can we let him take over?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s gaze remained fixed outside the car window, watching the rapidly receding street scenes: ¡°You should contact Feng Si first.¡±


    Liu Jie acknowledged and planned to contact Feng Si after reaching the hotel. However, Lu Jing Shen threw another line at her: ¡°Call him now.¡±


    Liu Jie reluctantly picked up her phone.


    She then sent a voice message on WeChat with the speakerphone on.


    She tried three times before Feng Si finally answered, his nasal voice carrying a hint of weariness: ¡°Hello, Secretary Liu, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Glancing at her watch, Liu Jie realized it was almost ten o¡¯clock in the morning, and Feng Si was still in bed?


    ¡°Feng Si, you¡¯ve been absent without leave for nearly a month. When do you plan to come back?¡±


    ¡°Feng Si: ¡°You boss didn¡¯t tell you? I don¡¯t intend to continue working for him.¡±


    Liu Jie glanced at Lu Jing Shen, who was still looking out the window, and reminded the person on the phone: ¡°Your contract includes a breach clause. If you unilaterally decide not to work without our consent, it¡¯s considered a breach.¡±


    Feng Si nonchalantly replied, ¡°I¡¯m aware, I¡¯m just planning to terminate the contract early. You didn¡¯t spend a dime on my training in the initial stage. Why should I pay millions for a breach? Where did you come up with this tyrannical clause?¡±


    Liu Jie said, ¡°It¡¯s clearly stated in the contract. I asked you to read it carefully at the beginning, but you said you didn¡¯t want to read it. Whether it¡¯s a tyrannical clause or not, it¡¯s up to the lawyers and the court to decide, not you.¡±


    Feng Si chuckled, ¡°right, then let¡¯s skip the court part. I have no intention of challenging your company¡¯s lawyers who can turn black into white. Fine, just give me the specific amount and account number for the penalty, and I¡¯ll transfer the breach fee in a couple of days. Goodbye, and please don¡¯t call me again.¡±


    After finishing speaking, Feng Si hung up the phone decisively.


    Liu Jie widened her eyes, surprised that Feng Si had so easily agreed to pay millions in penalties. She had first intended to create a pitfall in the contract, and while Feng Si had stepped into it, his attitude made it hard to feel any sense of satisfaction or victory.


    ¡°Feng Si¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it later.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen shook his head slightly, showing no real intention of making him pay the penalty.


    Liu Jie closed her mouth. Whatever the boss said, goes.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s schedule there was only three days, tightly packed with engagements. After dropping off his luggage at the hotel, he immediately headed to the business appointments. By the time he returned to the hotel on the first day, it was already 8 p.m.


    Finally able to catch his breath, after a tiring day combined with jet lag, his body signaled exhaustion. After taking a shower and lying on the bed, he tried to clear his mind and force himself to sleep, but to no avail.


    Rubbing his throbbing temples, Lu Jing Shen sat up, lost in thought. He absentmindedly picked up his phone and habitually checked Feng Si¡¯s social media.


    Only then did he realize that even in the same city, he didn¡¯t have Feng Si¡¯s address or any other contact information, making it difficult for him to meet the person he wanted to see.


    How did Feng Si manage to find him across the world during those seven years, enduring disappointment and despair again and again, just so he could find him?


    But he had still pushed him away, even after causing him disappointment and despair time and time again.


    His head throbbed with pain, and Lu Jing Shen struggled to catch his breath. He forced himself to scroll through Feng Si¡¯s social media feed, and suddenly, his finger paused.


    A few days ago, Feng Si had posted a location with his update. Clicking on it, the map showed that it wasn¡¯t too far from the current hotel.


    Without much hesitation, Lu Jing Shen got up and changed his clothes.


    Twenty minutes later, he was alone in the car, blending into the bustling city night.


    He had rented the car from the hotel. After returning from France, he had obtained an international driver¡¯s license. Although driving on the right-hand side was a bit unfamiliar, he wanted to avoid any disturbances, so he chose to drive himself.


    Thirty minutes later, he arrived at his destination. Lu Jing Shen parked the car by the roadside and looked out the window. It was a residential area, quiet in the dark night, and the snow had stopped.


    In the distance, the dome of a church was faintly visible under the night sky, almost identical to the angle in the photo Feng Si posted in his social media. He didn¡¯t know if this was Feng Si¡¯s residence, but apart from trying this, he couldn¡¯t think of any better way.


    Now that he was there, he hadn¡¯t really thought about what to say if he could see Feng Si.


    Lu Jing Shen licked his slightly dry lips and gripped the steering wheel tightly.


    It was 9:30 in the evening. He looked at the flickering lights outside and gradually felt calmer.


    At least, he didn¡¯t want it to be as tense as that night.


    ¡­¡­¡­


    Feng Si returned after eleven o¡¯clock. He passed by Lu Jing Shen¡¯s car, hands in his pockets, and took a few steps before stopping, turning around to look.


    The person who was sleeping on the steering wheel seemed to be Lu Jing Shen, not a hallucination.


    He walked back to the car door, raised his hand to knock on the window, then hesitated and changed his mind, leaning against the car and lighting a cigarette.


    Lu Jing Shen was sleeping soundly, with his arm propped against the steering wheel, and his long bangs covering his eyes.


    Seeing him fall asleep like this, it was evident that he had been enduring a lot of hardships recently.


    Feng Si stared at the person in the car through the flickering light and slowly traced the contours of his face with his gaze. He inhaled the smoke deeply, then exhaled slowly.


    Lu Jing Shen woke up in a daze after who knows how long. When he felt the numbness in his legs, he opened his eyes and turned his head to see Feng Si leaning against the car, smoking. For a moment, he even thought he was hallucinating.


    He hadn¡¯t expected to fall asleep there, and Feng Si actually came back at that time.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze shifted over, and through the car window and the smoke, Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t clearly discern his emotions. He was stunned for a moment, then quickly pushed open the car door and got out of the car.


    Feng Si leaned against the car and didn¡¯t move, holding a cigarette in his mouth as he observed him. In a nonchalant tone, he asked, ¡°Alex, why are you here?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen was also looking at him. It had been a month since they last met, and Feng Si¡¯s appearance seemed unchanged. If anything had changed, it was his attitude towards him, which had become much colder than before.


    He couldn¡¯t pretend not to feel uncomfortable; he had prepared himself mentally before coming, but he had still underestimated his own ability to endure the cold indifference in Feng Si¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I came here for work. I just arrived this morning,¡± he spoke honestly.


    ¡°Oh,¡± was Feng Si¡¯s nonchalant response.


    With Feng Si¡¯s attitude, Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t know what else to say. After a moment of silence, he tried to find something to talk about, ¡°Is this where you live?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Feng Si¡¯s reply was as brief as ever.


    Lu Jing Shen forced himself to continue, ¡°Can you come back?¡±


    ¡°Come back where?¡± Feng Si taunted, ¡°Why should I go back? To hide in your house and continue being your house-husband?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lu Jing Shen¡¯s voice sounded bitter, ¡°I know I was wrong. I was wrong back then, and I¡¯m still wrong now. Avoiding the issue won¡¯t solve anything. I admit¡­ I can¡¯t get past the psychological barrier, and I can¡¯t face our relationship. I want to change¡­ I¡¯ll see a therapist. Can you give me some more time, please? That¡¯s all I ask.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen struggled to get the words out, but Feng Si remained silent, looking at him calmly, occasionally exhaling a puff of smoke.


    Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t decipher the meaning behind his calm gaze, and he anxiously tightened his grip on his hand, feeling the sharp pain and the pulling sensation in his head that seemed to be constantly tearing at his nerves. He felt uneasy, gasping for breath, his voice trembling, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, can you give me more time? It won¡¯t be long. I promise¡­¡±


    ¡°Alex, look at me?¡± Feng Si furrowed his brows, interrupting him. He suddenly reached out and placed his hand on Lu Jing Shen¡¯s neck, reminding him, ¡°Take a deep breath and relax.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen closed and opened his eyes repeatedly, and gradually, his breathing began to stabilize.


    Feng Si let go of him, ¡°You don¡¯t look too good. What are you doing here alone in an unfamiliar place at this time of night? Just go back to your hotel.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen felt embarrassed, ¡°I wanted to see you.¡±


    That was probably the first time he had spoken so directly about his feelings to Feng Si, but Feng Si didn¡¯t seem impressed, ¡°You¡¯ve seen me, now you can go back.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen refused to leave and the situation remained tense.


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow, ¡°Alex, are you trying to act stubborn with me? Do you really think I still have to listen to you, I¡¯ve been through enough hell as it is just for you. I¡¯m exhausted¡±


    Lu Jing Shen just shook his head, he had no idea how to make Feng Si change his mind.


    Feng Si flicked the cigarette butt away and stepped on it with his foot. He turned to leave when his phone rang,his friends inviting him to a bar for drinks.


    Feng Si wasn¡¯t interested, he answered them, ¡°I¡¯m not going. I¡¯ll stay indoors tonight.¡±


    The person on the other end exaggeratedly complained that it was not even midnight yet, they still insisted he come over.


    Feng Si glanced at Lu Jing Shen, who was staring at him intently, and changed his mind, ¡°Alright, see you in a few.¡±


    After hanging up, he said to Lu Jing Shen, ¡°You heard that, I made plans with someone. You should go back.¡±


    Of course, Lu Jing Shen heard it. Feng Si spoke to the person in English, but he understood every word.


    His body reacted faster than his brain. He reached out and grabbed Feng Si¡¯s sleeve and blurted out, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    Feng Si turned to look at him, a teasing smile playing on his lips, ¡°I advise you not to. The bar I¡¯m going to is the same one I took you to in Paris last time. I know that¡¯s not your scene.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s face paled, and visible struggle appeared in his expression.


    Feng Si withdrew his arm, but just as he was about to turn around, Lu Jing Shen stepped forward and blocked his path, insisting with a trembling voice, ¡°I¡¯m going with you.¡±

 CH 47

    Sitting in Lu Jing Shen¡¯s car, Feng Si casually gave him directions.


    It didn¡¯t matter to him; if Lu Jing Shen wanted to follow, he¡¯d just take him along. If he couldn¡¯t stand it, Lu Jing Shen would leave on his own.


    Lu Jing Shen drove, feeling somewhat absent-minded. The atmosphere in the car was silent and awkward. He wanted to say something but hesitated, finally opening his mouth, ¡°Did you find a new job here?¡±


    Feng Si threw out only one word, ¡°Maybe.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen asked again, ¡°You are willing to pay millions rather than fulfill the contract?¡±


    Feng Si turned to look at him, smiling, ¡°Alex, cut the act. You don¡¯t care about this small sum of money at all. Others can easily demand a million from you just by showing you a photo but I worked for you for three months. Can¡¯t you let me off the hook?¡±


    Listening to his tone, Lu Jing Shen could clearly hear the sarcasm in his words. Feng Si was just using his words to provoke him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to pay me any money,¡± Lu Jing Shen said.


    Feng Si accepted it with an easygoing attitude, ¡°right.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t say anything more. There was no point in continuing that topic.


    When they arrived at their destination, Lu Jing Shen saw the neon sign of a nightclub in front of him, with a dazzling rainbow logo above it.


    The employees at the entrance were all dressed flamboyantly, intentionally showing off their robust muscles, and they greeted each customer with bright smiles.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s eyes flickered, and Feng Si unbuckled his seatbelt, opened the car door, and casually reminded him, ¡°It¡¯s not too late to regret and leave now.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s lips tightened into a thin line, and he didn¡¯t say anything.


    Feng Si continued, ¡®Although not everyone inside is gay, some just come to enjoy themselves, but as long as you are a guy, everyone assumes you are, and if someone approaches or even harasses you inside, you have no one to blame .¡¯


    Lu Jing Shen softly spoke, ¡®Let¡¯s get off.''¡±


    Feng Si gazed at the tense line of Lu Jing Shen¡¯s jaw and smirked, ¡®Then let¡¯s go.¡¯


    At the entrance, Feng Si greeted people with ease, as if he was a regular there.


    The muscular men cheerfully called him by name, and when their eyes fell on Lu Jing Shen beside him, someone whistled.


    While not many people wearing formal suits came to such places, it wasn¡¯t unheard of; after all, the abstinence style also had its market. Those people often got even more excited and played more freely. They naturally assumed Lu Jing Shen was one of them.


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t look around, forcing himself not to pay attention to the overly intense and lecherous gazes directed at him. His palms were already sweaty, and he followed closely behind Feng Si, finding each step exceptionally difficult.


    Once inside, the sight was filled with moving figures, wild dancing on the dance floor, waving their arms, twisting their waists, and shaking their hips. Above them were dazzling lights, and the music was deafening.


    On the stage, some men were performing a sensual dance, almost half-naked. One had only a tight triangle underwear and a tie around his neck, while another had strategically placed colorful silk fabric covering only key areas. The two imitated sexual movements closely, drawing cheers and screams from the audience.


    Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. The smell of cigarettes and alcohol was suffocating, and he instinctively moved closer to Feng Si.


    Feng Si¡¯s unique scent filled his nostrils, allowing him to breathe a little in that stifling place.


    Between his eardrums and the noisy world, it felt like an illusory space, isolating all the bizarre and flamboyant things happening around. All he could hear was his own heartbeat, and the only figure he could see was Feng Si.


    Feng Si leisurely admired the performance on stage for a while before moving towards a more crowded area.


    Lu Jing Shen immediately followed, struggling through the dimness and excessive crowd, occasionally being touched by reaching hands. He tried to catch Feng Si¡¯s arm.


    Feng Si turned back, watching his embarrassed state, and said, ¡®If you can¡¯t handle it, you can leave.¡¯


    Knowing Feng Si wanted him to leave, Lu Jing Shen indeed felt uncomfortable, but despite that, he shook his head when he met Feng Si¡¯s mocking eyes.


    Feng Si couldn¡¯t be bothered to say more and found his friends, walking over to them.


    Around six or seven people gathered around a table, drinking, chatting, and playing games. Some would take a break from the game and dance, while others who came back from the dance floor joined in.


    Seeing Feng Si approaching, everyone warmly greeted him. When they noticed Lu Jing Shen beside him, someone directly reached out and touched his abs, making exaggerated praising sounds.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s face turned pale, and he moved away vigorously. The person, having his hand pushed away by Lu Jing Shen¡¯s cold expression, whistled and jokingly asked Feng Si, ¡®Is this guy here for the first time? Is he straight?¡¯


    Feng Si replied, appearing to smile but not really, ¡®What do you think?¡¯


    All eyes fell on Lu Jing Shen, sizing him up. He felt embarrassed, and the discomfort was growing. He didn¡¯t want to stay for another second, yet there was another voice in his head forcing him to stay.


    He couldn¡¯t leave.


    Trying to suppress the anxious emotions, he attempted to calm down and say something, but Feng Si interrupted, ¡°He¡¯s my former boss. He¡¯s here on a business trip, and we happened to meet. I brought him for a drink, but he¡¯s not used to this environment. Just ignore him. No need to make any moves.¡± Feng Si¡¯s tone was light and casual, showing no hint of ambiguity when referring to his relationship with Lu Jing Shen.


    The others made a disapproving sound, but the allure of Lu Jing Shen, the proud and coldly handsome Eastern man, was undeniable. Feng Si brought him there but only allowed the others to look, not touch. Were they being teased?


    Feng Si apologized with a smile, and the attention shifted away from Lu Jing Shen. The group continued playing the dice game. The losers had to drink or perform intimate acts with their companions in public.


    No one seemed to have a problem with it. After all, in that place, everyone was there for fun.


    Feng Si played the game with a nonchalant attitude, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. When he tossed the dice, it was like showing off. However, luck wasn¡¯t on his side that day, and he kept losing, drinking one cup after another.


    Another round ended, and a loud cheer erupted from the crowd. Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t quite grasp what was happening until he saw Feng Si raise his eyebrows, indicating that he had lost again.


    But this time, Feng Si didn¡¯t pick up the glass. Everyone urged him to choose someone to kiss.


    ¡®Hey, why are you hesitating? You lost, so you have to accept it.¡¯


    ¡®No need to hesitate; I volunteer, how about that?¡¯


    Approaching Feng Si with a smile was a man with a bare chest, brown curly hair, and blue eyes. He blinked flirtatiously and reached out to touch Feng Si¡¯s chest, seductively asking, ¡®should we?¡¯


    Feng Si kept his hands in his pockets, looking at the person leaning against him with an amused gaze. He didn¡¯t show any signs of hesitation but didn¡¯t make a move either.


    The cheering around them grew louder, and for a few seconds, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s expression blanked. He finally realized what they were about to do.


    The man got closer, and as Feng Si leaned in, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist.


    Feng Si looked at him provocatively, and Lu Jing Shen¡¯s voice was drowned in the booming music and the noisy surroundings, ¡®Don¡¯t.¡¯


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze remained calm and steady as he looked at him. Lu Jing Shen tightly held his wrist and forcefully pulled him towards himself, tilting his head and kissing him.


    Once again, Lu Jing Shen kissed Feng Si¡¯s lips, mixed with the taste of alcohol and bitter tobacco. It was an unpleasant feeling for Lu Jing Shen; the murky and unpleasant air made him suffocate, and Feng Si¡¯s lips lacked warmth, serving as a constant reminder that their relationship had ended, that Feng Si had given up on him. That kiss from Feng Si didn¡¯t mean anything; it was just a punishment in the game, regardless of the person receiving it.


    The more clearly he understood this, the more unwilling he felt.


    Lu Jing Shen ground his lips, attempting to enter Feng Si¡¯s mouth with his tongue. The bitter taste spread in his mouth, even the taste on the tip of his heart was bitter.


    Feng Si¡¯s hands remained in his pockets, motionless, allowing Lu Jing Shen to kiss him without refusal or cooperation.


    He stared into the closed eyes, closed tightly, with quivering eyelashes. Even at that moment, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s brows were furrowed.


    The people around found it unsatisfying and someone loudly called, ¡°we want a show, something more exciting! What is this?¡±


    Feng Si smirked and not waiting for Lu Jing Shen¡¯s reaction, he pulled him over and sat him on his lap, one hand holding his waist, the other pressing on the back of his neck, and kissed him again, finally taking control.


    Different from Lu Jing Shen¡¯s cautious movements, Feng Si¡¯s kisses were fierce and aggressive, completely imprisoning Lu Jing Shen in his embrace. It felt like he was venting, playing around in his mouth, even his tongue almost reached his throat. Lu Jing Shen tasted pain, perhaps his oral muscle was damaged, and his tongue might have been bitten, as the taste of blood mixed with Feng Si¡¯s breath, colliding and entwining between their lips and tongues, soon making it hard for him to breathe.


    The hand on his waist slid under his suit jacket, pulling up his shirt and sensually kneading and caressing his bare skin.


    Lu Jing Shen trembled all over, being watched by so many people in such a public place. Even if he covered his ears and closed his eyes, he knew that everything he and Feng Si were doing was under the public¡¯s eyes, and some people even took out their phones to take pictures.


    But it was him who stopped Feng Si from kissing someone else, and it was him who took the initiative to kiss Feng Si. No matter how embarrassing it was, he couldn¡¯t back down.


    Feng Si¡¯s other hand, pressed against his neck, moved to the front, brushed over his Adam¡¯s apple, and slid down to start unbuttoning his shirt.


    One button, two buttons, by the third button, Lu Jing Shen finally couldn¡¯t bear it and stopped his hand, slowly opening his eyes.


    Meeting Feng Si¡¯s calm eyes devoid of any warmth, Lu Jing Shen felt hurt by his gaze, his eyes revealing a plea.


    He couldn¡¯t accept being undressed, exposing his body in front of so many people in that place.


    He was pleading with Feng Si not to do this.


    Feng Si¡¯s hand stopped on his chest, frozen for a moment, then eventually pulled back. He raised his chin at the others, ¡°Is this enough?¡±


    Whistles resounded.


    Lu Jing Shen lowered his head, awkwardly buttoning up his shirt. His previously neat suit had become a mess.


    As they walked outside, the cold wind blew, and he shivered, lifting his head to see Feng Si standing ahead, looking at him.


    The playfulness and joking in Feng Si¡¯s eyes had disappeared, just like the night he said those things to him and left without turning back, his gaze was the same.


    Lu Jing Shen panicked, quickly walking up to him, ¡°Are you going back? I¡¯ll drive you back.¡±


    Fengsi asked him, ¡®Can you accept what just happened?¡¯


    Lu Jingshen replied hesitantly, ¡®did we have to do it like that?¡¯


    ¡®If you don¡¯t like this kind of place, you don¡¯t have to come,¡¯ Fengsi sneered. ¡®But in such a place, if you can¡¯t truly accept yourself in the presence of like minded people, How confident are you in embracing your true self in the outside world?¡¯


    Lu Jingshen persisted, ¡®I know it¡¯s not that easy, but I followed you inside and stuck with it until the end. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡¯


    Fengsi remained unmoved, ¡®Why did you follow me inside? If losing a fuck buddy can make you so miserable and submissive, is that what you¡¯ve come to?¡¯


    ¡®It¡¯s not a fuck buddy,¡¯ Lu Jingshen interrupted firmly,¡¯


    Fengsi replied, ¡®Then what is it? Friends with benefits seem similar to what I just said.¡¯


    ¡®It¡¯s not!¡¯ Lu Jingshen raised his voice, his eyes turning red. Though he hadn¡¯t been drinking, he seemed intoxicated. ¡®I would never allow a fuck buddy to live in my home, to interfere with my work and life. No one else, never has anyone been like you.¡¯


    ¡®But Alex,¡¯ Fengsi reminded him, ¡®I want more than that. If you can¡¯t fulfill what I want, why come looking for me? You said you need time, how long is that? Do you even know?¡¯


    Lu Jingshen was stunned.


    Finally, Fengsi gently touched his cold face, and softened his tone, ¡®Go back, don¡¯t come to such places again in the future.¡¯


    Lu Jingshen was lost in thought, but Fengsi called for a taxi.


    As he opened the car door, Lu Jingshen called out to him, ¡®Let me give you a ride.¡¯


    ¡®No need,¡¯ Fengsi said, ¡®You go back to the hotel. It¡¯s so late, you don¡¯t need to make another trip.¡¯


    After Fengsi got into the car, he closed the door.


    Lu Jingshen stood there, watching the car drive away, feeling utterly lost in the deserted foreign street.


    In the car, Fengsi opened Liu Jie¡¯s WeChat and called her, waking her up from her sleep. Before Liu Jie could scold him, Fengsi immediately hung up, and sent an address and a message.


    ¡®Your boss is here now, keep an eye on him and make sure he goes back safely.¡¯


    He put away his phone and lazily leaned back in his seat.¡±

 CH 48

    After a three-day work trip that seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, the return trip to the country was scheduled for the next morning. When Liu Jie and Lu Jingshen discussed it, he hesitated for a moment but didn¡¯t immediately agree. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it later.¡±


    Liu Jie reminded him that he had other work commitments the following week, to which Lu Jingshen replied nonchalantly, ¡°I know.¡±


    As for how much later ¡°later¡± was, he didn¡¯t say, and Liu Jie decided not to ask.


    After finishing work late into the night, Lu Jingshen rented a car and aimlessly drove through the unfamiliar streets of the foreign city alone. Unconsciously, he arrived at the entrance of Fengsi¡¯s home.


    The car parked in the same spot as last time, and he checked his phone; it was only 9 o¡¯clock.


    Uncertain whether Fengsi was still outside or inside the house, he didn¡¯t want to give up and go back just like that.


    He lit a cigarette, holding it between his fingers, and looked at his tired, lifeless eyes in the rearview mirror, feeling somewhat annoyed.


    Forget Fengsi not being able to stand it; he was also disgusted by his own appearance.


    Time passed slowly, and even after midnight, there was still no sign of Fengsi.


    He couldn¡¯t be lucky enough to catch him every time. Lu Jingshen let out a sigh and hesitated before sending Fengsi a message.


    After waiting for half an hour without any reply, he rested his head on the steering wheel, and just like last time, he gradually fell asleep.


    Of course, it was impossible to sleep well in the car seat. Lu Jingshen drifted into another dream while in this half-awake state. He dreamt of a dark basement, with a foul and decaying stench, followed by blood and the odor of rotting corpses.


    Fear and gloom enveloped him, and the scene suddenly shifted.


    Tropical wind brushed against his cheeks, and the sky was clear with bright sunshine overhead. In front of him, there was a vast and wild desert, then a passionate and open wilderness. There was the warmth of another person beside him, during those short but vivid three months, repeatedly making him dizzy, lost, and becoming his salvation.


    However, he was ultimately swallowed by those shadows, and from then on, his world would no longer see the scorching sun, only endless cold rain and freezing chill.


    The chill seeping into his bones pulled Lu Jingshen back to reality. It was snowing outside, and only a little time had passed. Fengsi still hadn¡¯t replied to his message.


    As the sky was getting brighter, Lu Jingshen opened his eyes again and was awakened by someone knocking on the car window. Outside was a gentle-looking woman with an Eastern appearance, worriedly looking at him. She gestured for him to roll down the window.


    Lu Jingshen lowered the car window, and the woman asked in English, ¡°Sir, are you okay? I saw you sleeping here when I went out, and you¡¯re still here. Do you need help?¡±


    Lu Jingshen was a little dazed by the sudden wake-up call, but when he stared into the woman¡¯s eyes, they seemed familiar. For a moment, he forgot to respond.


    Thinking that he might not understand English, she tried switching to Chinese, ¡°Sir, can you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded, pushing open the car door and getting out of the car, thanking her, ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you.¡±


    Relieved, the woman reminded him, ¡°Don¡¯t sleep here; it¡¯s so cold. Be careful not to catch a cold.¡±


    Lu Jingshen blurted out, ¡°Do you know Fengsi?¡±


    She was momentarily taken aback and then smiled, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here to see Fengsi? I¡¯m his mother.¡±


    As expected.


    The woman in front of him had the same eyes as Fengsi and Feng Ting, almost identical. He hadn¡¯t made a mistake.


    ¡°I¡¯m his¡­ friend,¡± Lu Jingshen hesitated and said, ¡°Is he at home?¡±


    Fengsi¡¯s mother smiled and said, ¡°He went out with his friends last night and hasn¡¯t come back yet. He should be back soon. If you¡¯re bored, you can go into his room and see if there¡¯s any book to pass the time.¡±


    Lu Jingshen thanked her and followed her upstairs. Their home was in an old-fashioned apartment with a vintage feel. When walking on the wooden floor, you could still hear echoes. Fengsi¡¯s mother explained that their family had lived there for nearly thirty years, and they were used to that place, so they didn¡¯t want to move.


    ¡°Fengsi and his younger sister both grew up here. In the past, our family of four used to be lively, but as the children grew up, they went to work or study outside and only returned during holidays. My husband also passed away two years ago, so I¡¯m the only one left at home. I actually hope Fengsi can work in London so I can see him more, but he said he wanted to go back to China, and I support him. Maybe in the years to come, I¡¯ll also go back.¡±


    While talking, Fengsi¡¯s mother shifted her gaze seemingly unconsciously, and she took a good look at Lu Jingshen, who was listening intently. Then she continued, ¡°Fengsi has always been this way, indecisive and used to running all over the world. I¡¯m quite surprised that he wants to go back to China. After all, he only went back with me a few times when he was a child.¡±


    Lu Jingshen lightly pursed his lips. He saw the seemingly endless corridor and hallway in front of him, with fine dust dancing in the speckled light and shadow. The marks of time were carved there. He imagined that Fengsi had traveled back and forth countless times in this place, from childhood to now.


    They were two people from entirely different worlds. If it weren¡¯t for that fateful encounter, perhaps they would never have crossed paths in this lifetime. If it weren¡¯t for Fengsi¡¯s relentless pursuit for seven years, after the two lines of their lives had gradually drifted apart, they would eventually have become parallel.


    Thinking of that, a faint pain suddenly emerged in his heart, not fatal, but still making him uncomfortable.


    Entering the house, Fengsi¡¯s mother put down the things she just bought from the supermarket, including a bouquet of flowers, which she casually inserted into the vase on the cabinet by the entrance.


    She gestured for Lu Jingshen to sit down and went to make tea for him.


    With Feng Ting going back to France for school, and Fengsi still not returning, there was no one else at home. At that moment, Lu Jingshen felt a little uneasy. Fengsi¡¯s mother probably sensed it and came back with the tea, asking if he had eaten, ¡°I¡¯ll prepare something for you, and you can have it in a while. The room on the left is Fengsi¡¯s. If you¡¯re bored, you can go in and see if there¡¯s any book to pass the time.¡±


    Lu Jingshen thanked her.


    As she went to the kitchen, Lu Jingshen stood up and walked towards Fengsi¡¯s room. His hand stopped on the doorknob, and he paused for a moment before slowly pushing it open.


    Gradually, a completely different world from what Lu Jingshen had imagined appeared before his eyes. The most prominent items were books and various medals. He walked over to the bookshelf and looked at them; most of them were related to aviation. Although Feng Si seemed nonchalant, he treated his work with an attitude no less serious than others.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand brushed over the books that had been there for some years, and his heart felt heavy. He felt an indescribable emotion as if, only there in those books, he finally glimpsed a corner of Fengsi¡¯s past and reacquainted himself with him.


    His fingers suddenly paused as he noticed a stack of postcards hidden in the corner of the bookshelf. Lu Jingshen hesitated and reached out, taking the top one.


    Flipping it to the back, he found that the recipient was himself, and below it was a message written by Fengsi in English.


    ¡°Alex,


    I¡¯m going to Dubai. I don¡¯t even know how-many job changes I¡¯ve had in these seven years, I don¡¯t even remember anymore. Although it¡¯s a bit unrealistic, I heard there are many wealthy people there, so I want to try my luck. I don¡¯t know where the next stop will be or when I can stop.


    Feng


    2022.1.3¡å


    Lu Jingshen was stunned, then he took the second, third, and more postcards.


    ¡°Alex,


    This is Venice, Italy. The church bells are ringing, and some people are passing under the bridge on a gondola, kissing. I envy them. I hope next time I have a chance, I can come here with you.


    Feng


    2021.6.15¡å


    ¡°Alex,


    I¡¯m back home. My dad got sick and passed away. My mom seems to have aged a lot overnight. Thinking back to their loving days, a lifetime is only a short thirty years.


    I will keep looking for you.


    Feng


    2020.8.19¡å


    ¡°Alex,


    It¡¯s snowing in New York tonight, the first snow of the winter. I met someone who looks a lot like you; I really wanted to treat him as you, but he¡¯s not you. I can¡¯t deceive myself.


    Feng


    2019.11.28¡å


    ¡°Alex,


    This time, I¡¯m in France. The French people are too warm; even I find it hard to resist. Judging from your looks, you¡¯re definitely not from here, but you can speak French. When did you learn it?


    Feng


    2018.4.13¡å


    The paper of some of the postcards at the back had started to turn yellow.


    ¡°Alex,


    I¡¯ve traveled all over Asia, still haven¡¯t found you. I¡¯ve decided to try other places. Sometimes, I even doubt if you¡¯re the person I imagined during those three months. But I don¡¯t believe that; I can¡¯t accept not finding you.


    Feng


    2017.12.3¡å


    ¡°Alex,


    I always feel that you¡¯re East Asian, but you can¡¯t understand Chinese. Are you Japanese or Korean? Right now, I¡¯m on the streets of Shinjuku in Tokyo. There are so many people here, but not a single one is you. Where are you, really?


    Feng


    2016.2.12¡å


    ¡°Alex,


    It¡¯s been a month, and you still haven¡¯t come back. I thought things that aren¡¯t so important are actually essential. Perhaps the things you think aren¡¯t important are actually not important at all?


    I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m saying; maybe I¡¯m going crazy.


    I saw this postcard on the street just now. You wanted to buy the last one, but someone else took it before you. Today, I bought it for you, but I don¡¯t know where to send it.


    Feng


    2015.11.8¡å


    After going through dozens of postcards one by one, Lu Jingshen felt a tingling sensation in his eyes that was difficult to endure.


    Perhaps it was due to not getting enough sleep last night, or perhaps it was something else.


    His breathing was not smooth, and the acrid taste spread to his heart, making it ache.


    Startled, he heard the sound of the door opening and footsteps outside, followed by Fengsi¡¯s voice, ¡°Mom, do we have another guest?¡±


    Lu Jingshen quickly put away the stack of postcards and heard Fengsi¡¯s mother answer, ¡°It¡¯s your friend. I just met him downstairs when I returned from the supermarket. He came to look for you. I forgot to ask his name.¡±


    Lu Jingshen walked out, and Fengsi¡¯s gaze seemed indifferent when he saw him. He casually introduced him to his mother, ¡°Lu Jingshen is my boss from China.¡±


    He didn¡¯t pay extra attention to Lu Jingshen and went into the kitchen first to help his mother bring out the freshly made meal.


    Lu Jingshen felt a bit awkward and wanted to help but was coldly stopped by Fengsi outside the kitchen, ¡°relax over there; there¡¯s no reason for guests to help.¡±


    Lu Jingshen could only step back and silently follow him into the dining room.


    At the dining table, Fengsi¡¯s mother complained about her son, ¡°Where did you go all night? You didn¡¯t even tell me what time you were coming back.¡±


    ¡°I went to a friend¡¯s birthday party. My phone died, and seeing that it was cold and far away, I didn¡¯t feel like coming back. I just slept there for the night,¡± Fengsi patiently explained to his mother, then he glanced at Lu Jingshen and finally shifted his attention to him, ¡°Why did Mr. Lu come here so early in the morning?¡±


    Fengsi¡¯s mother said, ¡°He seemed to have arrived early. His car had been parked downstairs for a while. You really should stop making people wait too long for you.¡±


    The excuse ¡°I just happened to pass by¡± almost slipped out of Lu Jingshen¡¯s mouth but was swallowed back.


    Fengsi casually took a piece of bread and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if someone waits, they should. I¡¯ve also waited for others before.¡±


    Lu Jingshen remembered the last postcard he saw earlier. After he left, Fengsi had waited for him for a whole month in that city, in that hotel.


    He felt a bit uncomfortable and said softly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m the one intruding.¡±


    Fengsi¡¯s mother comforted him, ¡°Don¡¯t mind Fengsi. He shouldn¡¯t be running around outside all night, he¡¯s never even home most of the time.¡±


    Fengsi chuckled and said, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m thirty, not three. Also Tingting is not at home, so you don¡¯t have to nag me like this. Okay, okay, I know I¡¯m bothering you by staying here. I¡¯ve had enough time off work; I¡¯ll go back to work soon. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡±


    Lu Jingshen unconsciously looked at him, wanting to know where his work was. At the same time, Fengsi¡¯s mother also asked, ¡°Where are you going to work this time?¡±


    Fengsi: ¡°Well, it¡¯s not here anyway.¡±


    As for where it is, he didn¡¯t say, and Fengsi¡¯s mother didn¡¯t show any interest in asking further.


    After breakfast, Fengsi accompanied Lu Jingshen downstairs.


    In the empty corridor, there were only their footsteps. Two tall figures walked side by side, and the wooden floor beneath their feet creaked under the weight, breaking the silence between them.


    Lu Jingshen: ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°You should go back; there¡¯s no need to come here again.¡± Fengsi interrupted him, cutting off his words.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression changed slightly, and he stopped, standing at the end of the dim corridor, looking back at him, ¡°You really don¡¯t plan on coming back home with me, do you?¡±


    Fengsi: ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    Lu Jingshen felt the taste of blood surging up in his chest. The words ¡°no I don¡¯t¡± from Fengsi lingered in his mind, and he unconsciously nodded.


    Fengsi said, ¡°You really don¡¯t have to do this. It¡¯s so cold, why did you come here?¡±


    After a moment of silence, Lu Jingshen suddenly reached out and tightly held him, ¡°I¡¯ve seen those postcards you wrote, the ones addressed to me.¡±


    Fengsi responded with a casual ¡°Oh,¡± and said, ¡°I forgot about them; I used to write them for fun, knowing that I couldn¡¯t send them anyway.¡±


    ¡°But I saw them, and I can¡¯t pretend I haven¡¯t,¡± Lu Jingshen insisted.


    Fengsi ambiguously smiled and said, ¡°So what?¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked directly into his eyes and said, ¡°Give me a chance to make it up to you.¡±


    ¡°Make it up?¡± Fengsi slowly repeated the words and withdrew his hand to light a cigarette, exhaling smoke rings. ¡°How do you plan to make it up to me? I have enough money, so I don¡¯t need that. As for physical compensation, you¡¯ve done it many times before, and I¡¯m not interested now.¡±


    ¡°What if I compensate you with my heart? Would you accept it?¡± Lu Jingshen said this with difficulty, as if making a confession. He didn¡¯t dare admit that he had fallen in love with a man, but he loved Fengsi, and that feeling had taken root and sprouted in his heart, unable to be uprooted.


    Fengsi laughed ambiguously, ¡°are you confessing to me?¡±


    Lu Jingshen felt uncertain under his laughter and said in a strained voice, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Fengsi said, ¡°Alright then. What if I ask you to publicly acknowledge our relationship to others or tell your family. Can you do that?¡±


    Lu Jingshen hadn¡¯t had a chance to answer; his phone rang, and it was Lu Jingqing calling.


    Suppressing his emotions, he answered the call. Lu Jingqing informed him that she would arrive in London the day after tomorrow. Her best friend was getting married there, and she would be the bridesmaid.


    Lu Jingshen frowned, ¡°You didn¡¯t mention this before I left.¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t,¡± Lu Jingqing explained, ¡°The itinerary was already fixed. I originally wanted to tell you that I could attend this business invitation instead, which would fit the timing. But you insisted on going, so I didn¡¯t say anything. Your business trip should be over by now, right? When are you coming back?¡±


    Lu Jingqing¡¯s implication was clear, reminding him that he should return to China.


    The company had just experienced chaos, and they couldn¡¯t both stay abroad at the same time. At least one of them had to be at the company. Lu Jingshen could only comply, ¡°I¡¯ll be back tomorrow.¡±


    As footsteps behind him receded, he turned around to see Fengsi¡¯s figure going upstairs with slippers on.


    Holding his phone tightly, Lu Jingshen closed his eyes lightly.


    After hanging up the phone, he still stood motionless.


    Regarding Fengsi¡¯s question, he might not be able to give an answer that would Feng Si immediately, but he did want to try hard. Whether it was going back to see a psychologist or working overtime to finish his work early, he wanted to come back to find Fengsi next month or the month after that, to make an effort to try.


    The past couldn¡¯t be undone, but he had to take that step. He wouldn¡¯t run away anymore.

 CH 49

    Before the plane took off, Lu Jingshen sent a message to Fengsi.


    ¡°I¡¯m on a flight back to China, in two months at the most. I¡¯ll come back to London to see you again. If you¡¯re no longer here by then, please tell me where you¡¯ve gone? I¡¯ll come to find you.¡±


    After sending the message, he kept staring at the phone screen until the plane took off from the end of the runway, and there was still no reply from the other side.


    Fengsi had a cigarette in his mouth, casually dismissing the pop-up dropdown box, and narrowed his eyes as he slowly rubbed the screen, looking at the photo of Lu Jingshen¡¯s face.


    It was a photo he took of Lu Jingshen feeding a pigeon next to a roadside caf¨¦ in France.


    With just a few bread crumbs, one could easily lure cunning pigeons, but it wasn¡¯t as easy to lure the person who wanted to feed them.


    Lu Jingqing¡¯s plane landed in London at noon the next day. As soon as she arrived, she received a message from an unfamiliar local number.


    ¡°Can you spare some time to meet? ¨C Fengsi¡±


    Lu Jingqing furrowed her brows, not wanting to pay attention to it at first. But then, she seemed to think of something and replied, sending him an address of a cafe: ¡°Meet me at this caf¨¦ at 4:30 pm.¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­


    Lu Jingqing entered the caf¨¦, and Fengsi was already waiting at a table, leaning back in the chair and looking out of the floor-to-ceiling windows at the street scene. When he heard footsteps, he turned his gaze towards her and stood up very gentlemanly to welcome her to sit down.


    ¡°I heard that you prefer lattes. I just ordered one for you; please have a seat.¡± Fengsi said as Lu Jingqing sat down, not avoiding his direct gaze.


    She asked straightforwardly, ¡°How did you know I was coming to london? Who did you ask for my phone number? And who did you ask about my preferences?¡±


    Fengsi smiled, ¡°you are indeed more impatient than Mr Lu. Alright, I knew you were coming here because I overheard your phone conversation with Lu Jingshen that day.¡±


    ¡°As for the other two questions, the source was your younger brother,¡± he answered frankly, ¡°I get along well with him, so I asked him for your contact information, and he casually sent it to me.¡±


    Lu Jingqing remained expressionless, ¡°So, what do you want from me? Go straight to the point.¡±


    ¡°Regarding Lu Jingshen,¡± Fengsi didn¡¯t beat around the bush either, ¡°I think there are some things that he might not know, but you definitely do. The reason why he¡¯s so homophobic and even developed psychological issues.¡±


    Lu Jingqing¡¯s face darkened slightly, ¡°Who said he¡¯s homophobic? Even if he were, it¡¯s none of your business, right?¡±


    ¡°Anyone with eyes can see that he¡¯s homophobic,¡± Fengsi stated matter-of-factly, ¡°you don¡¯t need to bear such hostility towards me; I¡¯m only concerned about Lu Jingshen. As for our relationship, Lu Jingshen may deceive others, but I doubt he can deceive you. That photo isn¡¯t fake, and you should be well aware of that.¡±


    Lu Jingqing replied, ¡°What do you want with Ashen? Are you after him for money? I heard from Liu Jie and Chi Xie that you¡¯re constantly partying and indulging with different men and women. What right do  you have to sit here and ask me about Ashen?¡±


    Fengsi fell silent for a moment, then looked back at her seriously, no longer teasing, ¡°Do you think I spent seven years searching for him all over the world for some ulterior motive? I met him seven years ago in Africa, spent three months together, and then he disappeared without a word. He even refused to tell me about his background. I had no choice but to search everywhere he might be for seven long years before finally finding him.¡±


    A hint of surprise appeared in Lu Jingqing¡¯s eyes, ¡°You met him seven years ago in Africa?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any reason to lie about this,¡± Fengsi said.


    Lu Jingqing thought for a moment and said, ¡°Since he disappeared back then because he didn¡¯t want any relationship with you, why bother him now?¡±


    Fengsi asked her in return, ¡°Do you think he can be happy without my interference, given the way he¡¯s lived these seven years? You should know better than me what kind of life he had.¡±


    As he finished speaking, the screen of the phone placed on the table lit up; it was a new WeChat message from Lu Jingshen.


    ¡°I just arrived at the company and am preparing to start work. I have a meeting later; there¡¯s a lot to do, but I¡¯ll contact you later.¡±


    During the past couple of days, Lu Jingshen had sent him more than ten messages, and Fengsi hadn¡¯t replied to any of them. He didn¡¯t know if Lu Jingshen was feeling frustrated or not, but he certainly wasn¡¯t discouraged and kept sending new messages.


    Lu Jingqing caught a glimpse of their WeChat conversation and frowned, ¡°He¡¯s messaging you, why aren¡¯t you replying?¡±


    Fengsi put away his phone, ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    Lu Jingqing¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t pleasant, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why did you come to me and ask about him?¡±


    Fengsi said, ¡°let¡¯s talk sensibly. Back then, he left without a word, abandoning me. It took a lot of effort to find him, and when I did, he treated me as just a fuck buddy. He refused to acknowledge our relationship to others, and when the photo was exposed, I became the victim. He made me leave the company directly and denied my existence in front of everyone. Do you still expect me to ignore all that and accept him unconditionally?¡±


    Lu Jingqing asked in a stern tone, ¡°Did he come to London to find you?¡±


    Fengsi nodded, ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s thinking either. I stayed with him, but he was afraid and didn¡¯t want others to know about us. I left as he wished, but he still seemed dissatisfied, as if he were deeply upset. He repeatedly came to find me, saying he would see a psychologist. So, what¡¯s the reason? What could be so serious that he needs to see a psychologist?¡±


    Lu Jingqing held the coffee cup tightly, and her struggle became apparent in her expression. However, her guard gradually lowered as she continued, ¡°Are you serious about Ashen? If you¡¯re just playing around, then don¡¯t look for him anymore. It doesn¡¯t matter whether he has issues or not; it has nothing to do with you.¡±


    ¡°I want to know,¡± Fengsi persisted, staring into Lu Jingqing¡¯s eyes, ¡°please tell me.¡±


    His tone wasn¡¯t forceful, but Lu Jingqing felt a sense of oppression, making her uncomfortable. However, as she thought about Lu Jingshen¡¯s disoriented state during this period, it seemed like everything was repeating the situation from seven years ago when he returned from Africa. At that time, she simply believed it was a psychological issue for Lu Jingshen, but only today did she suddenly realize that there might be another man involved in the matter.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know that he would be interested in men before,¡± Lu Jingqing finally let go of her defenses, ¡°He does have a fear of homosexuals and significant psychological issues.¡±


    Fengsi asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    There was a fleeting darkness in Lu Jingqing¡¯s eyes, ¡°PTSD.¡±


    Fengsi¡¯s gaze flickered, and Lu Jingqing continued quickly, ¡°Both he and I attended universities in the United States, but in different states, as you are well aware. Although homosexuality is common in this era and Westerners keep spouting political correctness, conservative areas are still very conservative. Especially in the United States, different regions have vastly different views. The place where Ashen studied was more conservative. Many of his classmates were religious and held anti-homosexual views, but there were exceptions.¡±


    ¡°There was one male student secretly in a relationship with a man off-campus. He later contracted AIDS and was abandoned. Someone maliciously exposed his private life at school, and since then, everyone avoided him. Perhaps because Ashen is too easygoing, the professor arranged for that male student to study with him. At the time, Ashen¡¯s attitude toward homosexuality was that it didn¡¯t concern him; it was his nature not to openly discriminate like others did. He treated that male student like any other classmate, and because of this, that male student saw Ashen as a lifeline.¡±


    ¡°One day while Ashen was out shopping alone, that male student abducted him, locking him in a dark basement. He repeatedly poured out his grievances to Ashen, sharing his love and hatred for the other man, his lover, how the man infected him with the disease and then abandoned him. He wanted Ashen to understand and sympathize with him. At that time, he was already seriously ill and developed AIDS shortly after contracting it, and combined with constant drug use, his health had deteriorated significantly. His mental state was not good either, but Ashen didn¡¯t give him the reaction he wanted. He only wanted to leave, which drove him crazy. He injected Ashen with hallucinogens and kept him locked in the basement. He even recorded videos and took pictures of Ashen.¡±


    Lu Jingqing spoke quickly, and for her, that was also a memory she didn¡¯t want to revisit. The emotions in Feng Si¡¯s eyes gradually sank, transforming into a complex and indescribable gloominess. ¡°What happened next?¡±


    ¡°Later,¡± Lu Jingqing hesitated, as if she didn¡¯t want to continue, ¡°later, Ah Shen was rescued, but it was already two weeks later. The other guy had overdosed on drugs and died in the rental apartment. His body was discovered by the neighbors, and they called the police. When the police arrived, they found Ah Shen locked in the basement, barely alive. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything for nearly three days and was only surviving on half a bottle of mineral water.¡±


    ¡°When he was rescued, he saw the rotting and smelly body of the other guy, and he vomited on the spot because he hadn¡¯t eaten in so long. He vomited stomach acid and even coughed up blood. When I received the news and rushed over, he was already in the hospital, where he stayed for more than half a month. His physical injuries healed, but he was left with severe psychological trauma. For a period of time, he suffered from insomnia, nightmares, hallucinations, and almost couldn¡¯t continue his studies.¡±


    ¡°Only he and I knew about this incident. He didn¡¯t want our parents to worry and repeatedly asked me not to tell them. I helped him keep it a secret. After he was discharged from the hospital, I arranged for him to see a psychologist, but due to his fear and aversion, it had little effect. Eventually, he refused to go again. After graduation, he said he wanted to be alone and take a break and travel. I was worried and wanted to accompany him, but he didn¡¯t agree and insisted on going alone.¡±


    ¡°Afterward, I learned that he went to Africa. One day, he suddenly messaged me, saying he didn¡¯t plan to come back for a while and would stay there for a few months without contacting me. Then he turned off his phone. I couldn¡¯t reach him and worried for three months until he finally came back.¡±


    ¡°After that, he seemed like a different person. He was already not talkative before, but after that incident, he became even more closed off and isolated. I still wanted him to see a psychologist, but he refused. When he returned to the country and started working at the company, he seemed to have returned to normal on the surface, and I thought there was no need to make him face those painful memories again, so I didn¡¯t bring it up with him.¡±


    Lu Jingqing ended her account with a complex expression and looked directly at Feng Si. ¡°Do you understand? I don¡¯t want to pressure him, so I hope you won¡¯t pressure him either. He might have done some wrong things, both in the past and now, but if you can¡¯t accept it, there¡¯s no need to force him to completely let go of his fear of homosexuality. After going through such an experience, it¡¯s difficult for anyone to do that.¡±


    ¡°Do you really think he has returned to normal?¡± Feng Si asked calmly. ¡°Do you believe his current issues are only related to his fear of homosexuality and his unwillingness to accept himself as gay? Haven¡¯t you noticed that even his normal social interactions have become problematic?¡±


    Lu Jingqing immediately refuted, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. These years, he has dealt with family and work without any issues. What problems could there be?¡±


    Feng Si shook his head. ¡°Besides those, what about him? He may excel at being a perfect son and a good sibling, but has he really shared his true feelings with you or your family? Do you or your family really know what he¡¯s thinking? He may handle subordinates and business partners with ease, but does he have true friends? His so-called childhood friends only maintain the relationship for business cooperation. During weekends and holidays, apart from working overtime, his only entertainment is either going to the gym alone or watching movies at home. Don¡¯t you think there¡¯s something wrong with that?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I know that there are many people who prefer solitude and don¡¯t interact with others much, but why does Alex behave like this? It¡¯s because he hasn¡¯t fully recovered from the trauma of the past, and he fears opening up to others, so he chooses to isolate himself. You know this deep down, why deceive yourself and think there¡¯s no problem?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s voice was compelling, and Lu Jingqing¡¯s face turned cold, but she couldn¡¯t argue back, ¡°What about you then? What do you really want from Ah Shen? Do you plan to be with him for the long term?¡±


    Feng Si didn¡¯t answer immediately, remembering that late night when he returned home and saw Lu Jingshen waiting for him in the car.


    From the beginning, he never intended to truly let go and if Lu Jingshen came looking for him, he wouldn¡¯t let him go again.


    No matter the pain or difficulty, he would help ease Ah Shen¡¯s burdens.


    His seven years, the unwillingness and obsession, also required a final answer from Lu Jingqing.


    ¡°Your younger brother asked me before about the relationship between me and Alex,¡± Feng Si¡¯s voice paused slightly, meeting Lu Jingqing¡¯s gaze, and he calmly answered her, ¡°I told him my words don¡¯t count; only Alex¡¯s words matter. Now you¡¯re asking me, and it¡¯s still the same.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want him to see me as a lifeline before he truly understands himself. It¡¯s unfair to him and unfair to me.¡±


    ¡°When Alex truly comes out, then I will consider a long-term relationship with him.¡±

 CH 50

    After leaving the psychological therapy room, Lu Jing Shen stopped in a shaded area of the garden, wanting to smoke. However, he realized that he had already finished his last cigarette the previous day.


    Feeling somewhat exhausted, he sat down by the flowerbed, and the experiences of the past replayed in his mind during the deep hypnosis session just now. It was still very difficult to endure, and his back was covered in cold sweat.


    After sitting quietly for a moment, his emotions gradually settled, and he picked up his phone and checked it. The WeChat interface was still on the chat with Feng Si, the message he had sent earlier.


    He didn¡¯t know whether Feng Si hadn¡¯t seen it yet or simply didn¡¯t want to reply. Lu Jing Shen let out a sigh and turned off the phone screen; there was nothing he could do.


    These past few days, Feng Si would occasionally respond to his messages, chatting about random things. Perhaps he wasn¡¯t good at such conversations, and most of the things he said didn¡¯t have much meaning. Sometimes, the atmosphere would become inexplicably awkward.


    That made Lu Jing Shen feel frustrated, but he didn¡¯t want to give up either.


    As he was lost in thought, the phone screen lit up again, indicating a new message.


    Feng Si: ¡°Have you finished with the doctor? Come out quickly. I¡¯m waiting for you at the hospital¡¯s parking lot exit.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen was taken aback, immediately getting up, and without thinking about why Feng Si suddenly came back, he quickly walked towards the parking lot.


    As the car left the parking lot, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s gaze scanned the surroundings, and sure enough, he saw Feng Si standing on the side of the street.


    He was still the same, wearing a gray jacket and work pants, holding a cigarette in his hand.


    Seeing Lu Jing Shen¡¯s car come out, Feng Si put out the cigarette and threw it into the trash can before walking over and opening the passenger seat door.


    He brought in a chill with him, along with the familiar smell of cigarette.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s heart rate quickened as he tightly gripped the steering wheel, turning to ask him, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Someone who was abroad suddenly returned, casually waiting for him at the hospital entrance, getting in his car. Everything was beyond his expectations, leaving him pleasantly surprised, but also finding it hard to believe his own eyes.


    ¡°I just arrived at noon,¡± Feng Si said casually, ¡°You probably haven¡¯t had dinner yet. Let¡¯s go eat something.¡±


    Seeing Lu Jing Shen still looking dazed, Feng Si smiled and gestured ahead, urging him, ¡°Drive.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen finally came back to his senses and felt a bit awkward. He shifted his gaze back and stepped on the gas pedal.


    They chose a restaurant with few people, and several times during the meal, Lu Jing Shen wanted to ask, but Feng Si interrupted him each time.


    ¡°After eating, we¡¯ll talk. I haven¡¯t eaten much on the plane, so let me fill my stomach first,¡± Feng Si said.


    Seeing the exhaustion on Feng Si¡¯s face, the words that were about to reach Lu Jing Shen¡¯s mouth were swallowed back, and he quieted down.


    After dinner, Feng Si drove, taking Lu Jing Shen through the streets where the city lights were starting to come on. Finally, he parked the car by a quiet lake in the city and suggested going for a walk.


    ¡°It¡¯s still early. Let¡¯s take a walk outside,¡± he said.


    After speaking, Feng Si opened the car door and got out, and Lu Jing Shen followed him.


    The lake¡¯s surface reflected the night colors, with scattered light dots between them. Feeling the damp wind brushing against his face, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s mood gradually calmed down, and he finally asked, ¡°Why did you come back?¡±


    He thought Feng Si would casually say something like, ¡°Can¡¯t I come back?¡± or ¡°I wanted to go somewhere, so I came back.¡± But no, Feng Si even retracted the usual smile on his face and simply said, ¡°I found a job here.¡±


    ¡°Here?¡± Lu Jing Shen asked in surprise.


    Feng Si explained, ¡°I¡¯m going to be a flight instructor at Jinghang University, training aviation students. I¡¯ve signed a contract with them to work as an external hire, and I¡¯ll start next week. I thought about it and decided to come back to work. My mom is getting older, and she always talks about how fallen leaves return to their roots. Sooner or later, I had to come back here. Even Tingting is planning to come here after graduating from university.¡±


    He however didn¡¯t mention that that job wasn¡¯t decided on a whim. He had already decided to come back for work even before the New Year. After going back to England for the New Year, he would officially come back to start work when the new semester began.


    From the beginning, he never thought about leaving.


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t expect to hear that answer. Feng Si actually chose to teach at a university.


    But at least, he came back, that¡¯s what Lu Jinsgshen thought to himself. In the future, they would have more opportunities to meet.


    ¡°Being a teacher at a university doesn¡¯t pay much,¡± he blurted out, but as soon as he said it, Lu Jing Shen felt embarrassed. However, Feng Si responded, ¡°It¡¯s true; the pay isn¡¯t much, but it¡¯s not bad either. It¡¯s stable, less demanding, and doesn¡¯t require flying everywhere.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen inexplicably thought of the sentence Feng Si wrote on the postcard, feeling a bit bitter, ¡°It¡¯s not bad and a bit easier.¡±


    Feng Si looked into his eyes and changed the topic, ¡°Did the visit to the psychologist today have any effect?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s expression changed slightly, but Feng Si didn¡¯t give him a chance to evade. ¡°You haven¡¯t told me why you went to see a psychologist.¡±


    Indeed, he hadn¡¯t. Feng Si had asked him several times before, but every time the words reached his mouth, he didn¡¯t know how to say it. He didn¡¯t have the courage to reveal those painful memories, and if he hadn¡¯t walked into the psychological therapy room today, he wouldn¡¯t want to recall those things from the past.


    Seeing cold sweat on Lu Jing Shen¡¯s forehead, Feng Si lifted his hand and patted his shoulder, speaking gently, ¡°Relax.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen slowly relaxed his breathing, and Feng Si withdrew his hand, saying, ¡°When your sister came to London, I met her, and she told me everything.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen looked surprised and looked at Feng Si. Feng Si said, ¡°Can you tell me now about how you are feeling?¡±


    In Lu Jing Shen¡¯s expression, there was a struggle, but under Feng Si¡¯s gentle gaze, he slowly nodded.


    Feng Si: ¡°You were scared, fearful, and disgusted by the gay community. Is that why you had such a strong reaction when I first took you to a gay bar?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s hand rested on the railing by the lake, and he subconsciously tightened his grip, as he struggled to speak, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Feng Si: ¡°At that time, you said you weren¡¯t one of us because of the psychological rejection and hatred you felt, so you didn¡¯t want to acknowledge your own orientation as well?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen hesitated before saying, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then, before you met me, did you have any understanding of your sexuality?¡± Feng Si continued to ask.


    Lu Jing Shen fell into silence, and Feng Si didn¡¯t rush him, patiently waiting for his answer.


    After a while, he spoke again, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I never had feelings for anyone, neither men nor women.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°Not understanding your own sexuality and fearing and hating the community, why did you still get in my car alone on the day we first met in Africa?¡±


    To this question, Lu Jing Shen indeed couldn¡¯t give a clear answer.


    He went to Africa with the intention of finding a place far away from his familiar world, where no one knew him, to catch his breath. He maintained a high level of vigilance towards everyone he didn¡¯t know and avoided unnecessary conversations. But fate had other plans; he met Feng Si.


    Even though his instinctive self-preservation made him pretend not to understand Chinese, when caught by Feng Si¡¯s smiling eyes, he faintly heard another voice deep within himself, telling him that he wanted to get to know this person.


    Perhaps it was just that split second of decision, and his defense line had a tiny crack. He chose to follow the thoughts deep inside him and got into Feng Si¡¯s car.


    ¡°If I must say,¡± Lu Jing Shen struggled to organize his words, ¡°I think when I first saw you, I felt that you were different from others, at least for me¡­ I wanted to get to know you.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°So can I understand this as you being infatuated with me at first sight?¡±


    Though it sounded like flirting, his tone was unusually serious.


    Lu Jing Shen thought about it and nodded again.


    If, under extreme self-closure, one could still be attracted to someone and feel waves of emotions, perhaps it was indeed infatuation at first sight.


    He couldn¡¯t deny it.


    Feng Si continued, ¡°The group you used to despise and fear, you suddenly realized that you might also be a part of it. Is that distressing?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen clenched his hands tightly, and his jaw tensed. Seeing him like this, Feng Si remembered the night he first kissed him, and how nervous Lu Jing Shen was, trembling all over.


    At that time, he felt that Lu Jing Shen couldn¡¯t let go, and now he finally knew why.


    Lu Jing Shen said, ¡°¡­I can¡¯t accept it, but I don¡¯t want to push you away.¡±


    What he couldn¡¯t accept was his own sexuality, and what he didn¡¯t want to push away was Feng Si as a person.


    He knew that his emotions were conflicting, but it was precisely that contradictory feeling that kept pulling him back and forth, making him hesitant, indecisive, and eventually self-loathing.


    ¡°Your heart desires me, but you can¡¯t face the fact that you¡¯re gay. In your subconscious, these three words are linked to filth, decay, madness, and fear. So you reject accepting it, refuse to admit it, and fear others finding out, right?¡±


    Feng Si asked straightforwardly, and Lu Jing Shen felt embarrassed but could only nod.


    ¡°In that case, can you listen to what I have to say now?¡± Feng Si said.


    Lu Jing Shen looked up at him, and Feng Si¡¯s expression was unusually serious. ¡°Alex, indeed, there are many filthy, decayed, and shameful things within the gay community, but it¡¯s the people who are wrong, not the identity. Your classmate had a bad encounter, contracted a disease, and was abandoned, which led him to choose self-destruction and madness, using your kindness as a means to hurt you. The wrong was him, not his gay identity.¡±


    ¡°No group can be generalized. The friends of mine you¡¯ve met, some of them indeed lead wild lives, have messy personal lives, and low morals. You can despise such people if you want, but there are others who are not like that. They have stable partners, work hard in their lives, and occasionally go to those places to relax. They are just ordinary people and not something to be feared.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the same. I never told you before, but before I met you, I rarely went to those places. I had to study and work, and I had no spare energy. Because of my Asian appearance, whether at school or after joining the Air Force, there would always be people looking down on me openly or secretly. I wanted to prove myself, aiming for first place and excellence in everything. Heavy academics and various tasks burdened me, leaving me no time to play.¡±


    ¡°Later, to find you, I traveled all over the world. Every expectation ended in disappointment. I¡¯m just an ordinary person who can feel disappointed, sad, and lonely. Going back home alone without knowing where I¡¯d be the next day, that feeling is indeed unpleasant and led me to want to exile myself. But I have my limits. I just wanted to feel lively; I wouldn¡¯t use it as an excuse to fall into party life and promiscuity. When you said you didn¡¯t want me to be promiscuous or have casual encounters with others, I can tell you clearly that there¡¯s no one else, only you.¡±


    ¡°I wanted to find you again  because I like you. If I were like other people, always in bed with different partners every night due to loneliness, then my feelings for you wouldn¡¯t be worth mentioning, and my seven years of relentless search for one person would become a joke. I wouldn¡¯t do that.¡±


    ¡°So, you don¡¯t need to worry or be indecisive, nor feel that our relationship is dirty and disgraceful. You¡¯re not wrong, and I¡¯m not wrong. There¡¯s no need to put ourselves in chains and punish ourselves with the mistakes of others.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen slowly absorbed Feng Si¡¯s words, and various complex emotions intertwined, leaving him in a tangle of thoughts.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    Feng Si stared into his flickering eyes. ¡°No need to rush to give an answer. I know that psychological barriers cannot be easily eliminated with just a few words of comfort. You still need to see a doctor, and I¡¯ll go with you. No matter how difficult or painful it is, we¡¯ll get through it, not for my sake, but for your own.¡±


    ¡°As for what happened between us, I feel that every time, whether in the past or now, we started too fast. It¡¯s like the only thing between us is getting into bed together. I don¡¯t want it to be like this, and I believe you don¡¯t want that either. So, this time, let¡¯s try a different approach. It¡¯s not a game; it¡¯s about genuinely understanding and getting to know each other. Maybe we can start as friends. You don¡¯t have friends you can confide in and share your true feelings with, I¡¯m willing to be that person for you. You can tell me anything that makes you happy or unhappy, and I¡¯ll do the same. Let¡¯s be completely open with each other. Can we do that?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s eyes gradually brightened, and each word of Feng Si struck his heart.


    Once again, he nodded, but this time it felt like a huge burden had been lifted off his shoulders. ¡°Okay.¡±


    Feng Si was willing to give him time, and that was already enough. He wouldn¡¯t let Feng Si down again.


    Feng Si said, ¡°Then there¡¯s the contract we signed. I¡¯ll continue to fulfill it, but I just want to do my job as your assistant. When you go on business trips, I¡¯ll accompany you. But for other times when you need a bodyguard, let¡¯s hire someone else. I think we both need some private space. Being together 24/7 isn¡¯t necessarily a good thing.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Jing Shen agreed quickly this time.


    Feng Si adjusted his collar and relaxed. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll drive you back.¡±


    As they drove back, perhaps having said too much earlier, they didn¡¯t speak along the way. Lu Jing Shen leaned back in the seat, looking at the city night view outside the window, which now seemed to have warmth. He suddenly felt that the emptiness in the deepest part of his heart was gradually being filled, and a sense of relief was on the horizon.


    He slowly closed his eyes and relaxed, falling asleep.


    Although the drive to Mingyue Bay took less than an hour, Lu Jing Shen had a rare good sleep.


    When he woke up, Feng Si was waiting for him as usual, smoking with the window down. Seeing him open his eyes, Feng Si raised his hand and pointed at his wristwatch. ¡°It¡¯s almost ten. Go up, take a quick shower, and then get some rest. Don¡¯t overthink things. Clear your mind, and you¡¯ll fall asleep quickly.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen hesitated for a moment and asked, ¡°Where are you staying?¡±


    ¡°At a hotel. The school arranged a room for me, so I¡¯ll check it out tomorrow. If the conditions are good, I¡¯ll stay there. It¡¯ll be more convenient.¡± Feng Si explained casually.


    Lu Jing Shen wanted to ask him to stay, but then he felt it wasn¡¯t appropriate, as they had agreed not to start things in bed this time.


    Feng Si seemed amused by his conflicted expression and took out the car keys, throwing them to him. ¡°Go upstairs. I¡¯m going back to the hotel too.¡±


    He got out of the car, and Lu Jing Shen followed suit, now fully awake. He called after him, and Feng Si turned around.


    ¡°About being friends¡­ Can I still pursue you? You don¡¯t have to accept it .¡± Lu Jing Shen asked seriously.


    Feng Si inserted his hands into his pockets and put on that slightly mischievous expression again. ¡°I must say, Alex, you¡¯re really giving me a hard time.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen asked earnestly, ¡°Is it possible?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Feng Si laughed, and his smile blended into the warm night and he stepped forward to give him a goodnight hug.

 CH 51

    It was just past noon when Lu Jing Shen entered the university through a side gate.


    He slowed down the car, observing his surroundings. The tree-lined path on both sides was filled with energetic college students. He imagined that Feng Si might feel somewhat out of place in that environment.


    He parked the car by the roadside, got out, and sent Feng Si a message on WeChat. There was no immediate reply. After waiting for a while, he looked ahead and noticed a crowd gathered on the sports field. His gaze paused for a moment, and he walked towards the gathering.


    It was a group of boys playing basketball there, and there were quite a few onlookers. On the court, Lu Jing Shen saw a familiar figure¡ªFeng Si.


    He was wearing a V-neck sweater and casual pants, confidently dribbling the ball. With each bounce, it hit the ground, and when the opponent was off guard, he made a swift move to get past them and swiftly scored.


    The ball accurately went through the hoop, followed by cheers from the surrounding crowd.


    A few girls in front were holding their phones, following Feng Si and filming him. They were excited, their faces flushed, and occasionally, they let out squeals.


    Lu Jing Shen stood outside the crowd, feeling somewhat speechless. Feng Si blended in with that group of students, and surprisingly, he didn¡¯t appear out of place at all. He stood out, looking charismatic and attracting attention with his mature charm, tall stature, and handsome appearance.


    After a while, Lu Jing Shen approached the basketball court. Feng Si noticed him, raised an eyebrow, and said something to the students before tossing the ball away and walking over to him.


    ¡°Why are you here? Didn¡¯t we agree to meet at the hospital entrance?¡± Lu Jing Shen was scheduled for his second session of psychological treatment that afternoon, and he had made plans with the doctor at four o¡¯clock. Feng Si said he¡¯d accompany him, but he didn¡¯t expect him to come to the university.


    Lu Jing Shen replied, ¡°I just happened to be passing by.¡±


    With Feng Si¡¯s smiling gaze on him, his eyes drifted away for a moment, and he spoke the truth, ¡°I left the company at noon and had nothing to do, so I just came here.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s still early. Let¡¯s go to my dorm first.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve settled quite well. How does it feel to be a teacher?¡± Lu Jing Shen drove slowly and asked the person beside him.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite good,¡± Feng Si leaned back comfortably, directing him where to go, ¡°It¡¯s interesting to interact with these students. I feel like I¡¯m getting younger just by hanging around with them.¡±


    Lu Jingshen could see it clearly. It had only been a few days since the start of the school year, yet he had already connected with the students. Feng Si was just that kind of person ¨C wherever he went, he effortlessly blended in and won the favor of others.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite young yourself; no need to say such things,¡± remarked Lu Jingshen with a smile.


    Feng Si nodded and said, ¡°You too. We¡¯ve arrived, park right here.¡±


    Looking outside the car, Lu Jing Shen saw an older-style dormitory building, six or seven stories high, surrounded by tall Chinese parasol trees that blocked the harsh afternoon sunlight, creating a serene atmosphere.


    After they got out of the car, Lu Jing Shen took a cardboard box from the trunk, and it felt heavy in his hands.


    Feng Si asked, ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen replied, ¡°I¡¯ll show you when we get upstairs.¡±


    Feng Si took the box from him and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s place was on the fourth floor, a one-bedroom apartment, about forty square meters, a bit simple but tidy.


    Lu Jing Shen looked around and couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit dissatisfied, ¡°what do you like about this room.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s not to like?¡± Feng Si poured him some water and gestured for him to sit, ¡°I think it¡¯s quite nice. The cafeteria and supermarket are nearby, only a five-minute walk. It¡¯s very convenient, and the environment here is not bad.¡±


    He said that, and Lu Jing Shen refrained from saying anything further.


    Seeing that there were seven or eight suitcases piled up in the living room, Lu Jing Shen curiously asked, ¡°looks like you have a lot of luggage¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Feng Si took a sip of water and nodded, ¡°I brought almost everything from home, mostly books.¡±


    He said it casually, but Lu Jing Shen sensed the deeper meaning behind it.


    The first time Feng Si came to China, he had brought only a small suitcase and a few pieces of clothing. This time, he had moved all his belongings here, indicating that he intended to stay for a long time.


    A complex emotion welled up inside Lu Jing Shen. He thought about the things Feng Si had left behind at his place ¨C those things Feng Si said he could throw away, but Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t. They were still there.


    He hoped that one day Feng Si would come back with him.


    ¡°The postcards, did you bring them? Can you give them to me?¡± Lu Jing Shen asked.


    Feng Si put down his glass, glanced at him, and went into the bedroom to get the postcards. He brought out dozens of postcards, all neatly placed in a folder, and handed them to Lu Jing Shen, saying, ¡°Here, they were originally written for you anyway.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen accepted them and carefully placed them beside him.


    Feng Si then asked, ¡°What¡¯s in that box of yours?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen opened the box, feeling a bit embarrassed, and said with a forced smile, ¡°You mentioned a few days ago that you liked this, so I bought it as a gift for you.¡±


    Feng Si walked over, looked inside, and raised an eyebrow in surprise. It was unexpected.


    A few days ago, during a phone call with Lu Jing Shen, Feng Si casually mentioned that he used to love superheroes as a child. Once, he saved up his pocket money for two or three months to buy a figurine, only to find out that the store had already sold out. He was heartbroken and upset for a long time. Lu Jing Shen listened and didn¡¯t say much at the time, but now, he actually bought a whole box of them for him.


    Although Feng Si no longer played with such toys, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s clumsy and straightforward way of pursuing him made him chuckle.


    Lu Jing Shen nervously observed Feng Si¡¯s expression and asked, ¡°Do you want them?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Feng Si happily replied, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen finally relaxed and said, ¡°I¡¯m glad.¡±


    Feng Si smiled, ¡°Why don¡¯t you relax while I take a shower? I¡¯m all sweaty from playing basketball.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded.


    Feng Si went into the bathroom, and after twenty minutes, he came out with only a pair of shorts on, his upper body bare with a towel draped over his shoulder to dry his hair.


    Lu Jing Shen looked up from his phone screen, glanced at him, and looked away, saying, ¡°Put on some clothes. Aren¡¯t you afraid of catching a cold?¡±


    ¡°I turned on the heater, it¡¯s fine,¡± Feng Si nonchalantly replied. Seeing that it was still early, he went to get the box of figurines, intending to assemble and display them all.


    Lu Jing Shen wanted to help, but he wasn¡¯t good at it, so he gave up.


    Feeling a bit awkward just standing there, he casually picked up a paper and a pen from the coffee table, sat down on the side, and began sketching.


    He had learned a bit of sketching in his childhood, just like playing the piano ¨C he wasn¡¯t particularly good at it, but he hadn¡¯t touched it in many years. One time Feng Si asked him if he had any other interests or talents, he had to wrack his brain to remember that he used to learn sketching.


    Lost in his thoughts, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s gaze lingered on Feng Si¡¯s body. He noticed a water droplet rolling down from his slightly wet hair and landing on his broad shoulder before slowly sliding down.


    Unconsciously, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s gaze followed the droplet, appreciating Feng Si¡¯s well-proportioned body. His healthy wheat-colored skin, firm and powerful muscles without being overly bulky, clearly defined eight-pack abs, tapering down to the lower abdomen, where a V-shaped line led into his shorts, hinting at the dark hair beneath. A bulge was visible in front.


    Suddenly, Lu Jing Shen felt a bit dry-mouthed, and he lowered his head, quickly resuming his sketch.


    He was so focused on his drawing that he didn¡¯t notice Feng Si¡¯s warm breath approaching from behind, and his voice reached Lu Jing Shen¡¯s ears.


    ¡°Are you drawing me?¡±


    Startled, Lu Jing Shen turned around and met Feng Si¡¯s smiling eyes, just inches away from him. In that instant, his mind went blank, forgetting how to respond.


    Seeing Lu Jing Shen¡¯s dazed expression, Feng Si stepped back a bit with a playful smile and said, ¡°You draw pretty well.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen snapped out of it and turned his eyes away, feeling uncomfortable. ¡°I¡¯m just sketching casually.¡±


    Feng Si leaned against him again, admiring his artwork. ¡°You said you¡¯re not good at drawing, but you¡¯re being modest. I think it¡¯s pretty good. Can I have it when you¡¯re done?¡±


    They were standing too close, and Lu Jing Shen could clearly feel Feng Si¡¯s breath and the warmth emanating from his body. He quickly finished the last few strokes of the drawing and handed the sketch over, pretending to be calm, ¡°Here, it¡¯s for you.¡±


    Feng Si looked at the drawing in his hand, smiling with delight. Lu Jing Shen felt a bit embarrassed and glanced at the time, changing the subject, ¡°It¡¯s almost half past three, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Feng Si put the drawing away and stopped teasing him, ¡°I¡¯ll change my clothes.¡±


    For the second therapy session, Lu Jing Shen was still nervous. Before entering the room, Feng Si lightly held and then released his hand, speaking casually, ¡°Go on in. After you¡¯re done we can have dinner. The best restaurants will be crowded tonight, so it¡¯s better to go early.¡±


    Seeing Lu Jing Shen¡¯s confusion, Feng Si informed him, ¡°Today is the 14th of February.¡±


    February 14th, Valentine¡¯s Day.


    Lu Jing Shen felt a moment of touch in his heart. Distracted by Feng Si¡¯s remark, his nervousness eased a bit, and he relaxed, knocking on the door.


    Once Lu Jingshen went inside, Feng Si went to the garden outside and remembered the conversation with Lu Jing Qing before. Lu Jing Qing mentioned that Lu Jing Shen had developed a stronger smoking habit recently, and she was worried about him.


    Lu Jing Shen rarely smoked before, and the increase in his smoking habit seemed to have happened after he went to England.


    Feng Si casually threw the cigarette into the trash bin. He himself didn¡¯t smoke much before, but during those seven years, he had indeed developed some bad smoking habits.


    Oh well, he might as well quit and make Lu Jing Shen to quit with him.


    At half-past five, Lu Jing Shen walked out of the rehabilitation room, and Feng Si was waiting outside the door, handing him tissues. Lu Jing Shen frowned, ¡°I didn¡¯t cry.¡±


    Feng Si chuckled, ¡°When did I say you cried? It¡¯s for wiping off sweat.¡±


    In reality, the only time Lu Jing Shen had shed tears was during that night when Feng Si said he was leaving. Even then, he looked quite cute while crying.


    Feng Si had to admit that when facing Lu Jing Shen, he occasionally couldn¡¯t suppress the mischievous thoughts of teasing him. Even though he had just handed him tissues to tease him, his intentions were solely out of concern.


    Lu Jing Shen accepted the tissues and pressed them to his forehead, closing his eyes.


    Feng Si asked him, ¡°Are you feeling okay?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know but  it seems a little better than last time,¡± Lu Jing Shen pondered. The real difference was that when he walked out of the hospital this time, the first thing he saw was Feng Si, which made him feel much better.


    Suddenly, Feng Si reached out, hugged his shoulder gently, and quickly released him.


    Lu Jing Shen was startled.


    It was just a brief hug, more like comforting and encouraging between friends. Feng Si stepped back and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, let¡¯s go.¡±


    As they drove away from the hospital, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s nervousness had already reduced. Feng Si was driving, asking him where he wanted to have dinner.


    ¡°On this day, two people having dinner together outside are automatically assumed to be a couple. If you feel uncomfortable, choose a place with fewer people,¡± Feng Si reminded him.


    Lu Jing Shen hesitated for a moment and said, ¡± I don¡¯t mind, What do you feel like eating?¡±


    Feng Si turned to look at him, surprised, ¡°Really? It seems that the doctor was quite skillful.¡±


    Then he laughed, ¡°But we are just friends after all, we don¡¯t have to care about what others think.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen said, ¡°I guess I just haven¡¯t tried hard enough to win you over.¡±


    Feng Si burst into laughter.


    In the end, they went to a restaurant chosen by Feng Si, a smaller but charming Western-style restaurant with a fair number of people, but at least they didn¡¯t have to wait in line.


    When they entered, they noticed people glancing at them. Lu Jing Shen tried hard to ignore the stares, forcing himself not to care, and followed Feng Si inside.


    As they sat down, Feng Si reassured him, ¡°people are looking at us because we¡¯re both so handsome. Don¡¯t think too much about it.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded and tried to calm his nerves.


    Feng Si handed him the menu and asked him to order.


    Lu Jing Shen pushed back the menu to him and said, ¡°You order.¡±


    While they were halfway through their meal, a couple walked past them side by side. The girl accidentally brushed Lu Jing Shen¡¯s shoulder with the large bouquet of roses she was carrying. She immediately apologized, and Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t mind. Feng Si smiled at the girl and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    The girl was stunned by his smile and apologized again before leaving. When she walked out of the restaurant, she turned her head to look at them.


    Lu Jing Shen felt a bit helpless and said, ¡°Her boyfriend is right there. Can¡¯t you restrain yourself a bit?¡±


    Feng Si looked innocent, ¡°What did I do? I just said it¡¯s okay.¡±


    He really didn¡¯t mean anything else, but when he talked to people, a smile from him seemed to be alluring, attracting people. He did in fact look more attractive when he smiled.


    Lu Jing Shen thought about it and realized that he really wasn¡¯t in a place to say this, so he remained silent.


    Feng Si reached out and picked a rose petal that had fallen onto Lu Jing Shen¡¯s shoulder, rolling it between his fingers, and asked him, ¡°Alex, apart from me, has anyone ever given you flowers?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lu Jing Shen answered.


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow, ¡°Really? So, nobody has pursued you in all these years?¡±


    Of course, there were people who pursued Lu Jing Shen, but his personality was always so distant and aloof that he kept people at arm¡¯s length. Few had the courage to pursue him, and even fewer could persevere.


    ¡°I did receive flowers once,¡± Feng Si said slowly. ¡°The most memorable time was when I was in high school. There was a boy who wanted to pursue me, and he gave me a rose every day for three months.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s expression froze, and he subconsciously asked, ¡°What happened later?¡±


    Feng Si continued, ¡°During that time, I realized that I could actually accept men and seemed to be more interested in them. Although that boy wasn¡¯t my type, I wasn¡¯t heartless either. I was considering giving it a try, but three months later, his family moved to another city, and he transferred schools.¡±


    After listening, Lu Jing Shen remained silent for a moment and asked him, ¡°do you regret not giving him a chance earlier?¡±


    ¡°Not much to regret,¡± Feng Si shook his head, ¡°but I still have to thank him for making me discover my sexuality.¡±


    After dinner, they drove around the city streets after the nightfall, and finally, Lu Jing Shen insisted on dropping Feng Si back.


    On the way, he parked the car to the side and asked Feng Si to wait in the car while he walked into a nearby flower shop.


    When he came back, he had a red rose in his hand. Sitting back in the car, he handed the flower to Feng Si with a calm demeanor, ¡°For you, Happy Valentine¡¯s Day.¡±


    Feng Si could guess his thoughts and smiled as he took the rose, asking, ¡°Will there be more tomorrow?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen restarted the car, ¡°You¡¯ll just have to wait and see.¡±


    When they stopped in front of the dormitory, Feng Si also bid Lu Jing Shen farewell, ¡°Happy Valentine¡¯s Day.¡±


    Seeing the reluctance in Lu Jing Shen¡¯s eyes, Feng Si comforted him, ¡°I¡¯ll call you later.¡±


    Even if they didn¡¯t meet everyday, they would still contact each other through phone calls every night. They would talk about little things from their daily lives and reminisce about their past experiences, such as childhood and youth. At first, Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t say much, but with Feng Si¡¯s guidance, he gradually opened up.


    Every night, when he heard Lu Jing Shen¡¯s breathing gradually steady, Feng Si would hang up the phone, letting him sleep peacefully.


    Lu Jing Shen nodded and said goodbye.


    He watched Feng Si¡¯s figure enter the building and stayed there for a moment. Then he took out his phone, opened a delivery app, and ordered roses for the next day.


    Feeling more relaxed, he took one last look at Feng Si¡¯s room, which had the lights on, and then drove away.

 CH 52

    In the blink of an eye, it was Saturday. Lu Jing Shen woke up at exactly seven in the morning and immediately put his phone on the charger.


    During this time, he would chat with Feng Si every night and often fall asleep while talking. In the early morning, his phone would usually be out of power and automatically turned off.


    The advantage of this was that his sleep quality had improved a lot. He no longer felt tired and weak every day, relying on coffee and cigarettes to get by.


    After finishing his workout, he prepared a simple breakfast. While eating, Lu Jing Shen picked up his phone and saw a message from Feng Si saying that he had an impromptu meeting in the morning and it might end around ten o¡¯clock. He suggested that Lu Jing Shen come by a bit later.


    Lu Jing Shen replied with a ¡°Okay,¡± and looked at the time; it was only eight  o¡¯clock.


    Entering the study, he originally planned to read some documents to pass the time, but he couldn¡¯t help but pick up the postcard on the desk again.


    He had looked at those dozens of postcards countless times. Lu Jing Shen¡¯s gaze lingered on them for a moment before he picked up a pen.


    ¡­¡­¡­


    At ten-twenty, the meeting ended, and Feng Si walked out of the college¡¯s office building. Some colleagues invited him to have lunch together, but he declined, saying he had plans.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s car was parked across from the office building, and he happened to push the door open and get out of the car, meeting Feng Si¡¯s eyes.


    Feng Si nodded in Lu Jing Shen¡¯s direction, mouthing the words, ¡°See? A male friend.¡±


    He then waved goodbye to the others, leisurely strolling over to greet Lu Jing Shen. Lu Jing Shen gestured for him to get in the car, ¡°Are you going back to the dorm?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going back. Let¡¯s just go,¡± Feng Si exchanged positions with him, letting Lu Jing Shen sit in the passenger¡¯s seat while he took the wheel.


    As he got into the car, Lu Jing Shen noticed curious glances from others. He lowered his head and quickly closed the car door.


    Feng Si reminded him, ¡°No need to be nervous; they¡¯re probably just looking at your car. After all, it¡¯s a multi-million dollar sports car, and it¡¯s rare for them to get a chance to see one.¡±


    That day, they were going to a resort, which was Lu Jingshen¡¯s suggestion. Originally, Feng Si had planned for a short trip around the area, but Lu Jingshen suddenly mentioned wanting to go to his family¡¯s resort, saying that they didn¡¯t get to see much last time and felt a bit regretful.


    When they arrived at the destination, it was close to noon. Lu Jing Shen had contacted the villa¡¯s butler beforehand, and someone had already arranged lunch for them.


    As soon as they arrived at the villa, someone came to report to Lu Jing Shen about some matters. Feng Si wasn¡¯t interested in hearing it and casually put the rose he had just received into a vase by the door before going upstairs.


    When Lu Jing Shen came up, Feng Si was chewing gum and holding his phone to take photos of the lake and mountain scenery across from them.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to eat. Why are you chewing gum?¡± Lu Jing Shen asked him.


    Feng Si put away his phone and tossed a piece of gum to Lu Jing Shen, saying, ¡°This is nicotine gum for quitting smoking. Try it, it¡¯s a bit harder to quit smoking than you imagine, and maybe it¡¯ll be easier with both of us keeping each other in check.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen looked surprised, ¡°Are you planning to quit smoking?¡±


    ¡°How many cigarettes do you smoke every day now?¡± Feng Si asked in return.


    ¡°Three or four¡­,¡± Lu Jing Shen hesitated, not mentioning the time when he used to smoke even more.


    ¡°You used to smoke very rarely, only in necessary social situations, right?¡± Feng Si clicked his tongue, ¡°It seems I¡¯ve influenced you, and not necessarily in a good way.¡±


    ¡°No, I just wanted to smoke,¡± Lu Jing Shen quickly denied, not wanting to reveal his vulnerability.


    Feng Si said, ¡°Alright, whether it was my influence or you just wanted to smoke yourself, let¡¯s quit together, okay?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen actually liked the tobacco scent on Feng Si, but quitting smoking didn¡¯t have any downsides, and since Feng Si had made up his mind, so he naturally had no objections.


    ¡°But why do you suddenly want to quit smoking?¡±


    ¡°I just want to quit,¡± Feng Si said and reached out to touch Lu Jing Shen¡¯s face, ¡°so you don¡¯t have to rely on this as a remedy for your anxiety.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen was taken aback.


    Lunch had been delivered, and Feng Si withdrew his hand, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first.¡±


    In the afternoon, Lu Jing Shen took Feng Si to various places outside the villa, from a flower field farm, to a horse stable, then a ski resort, and finally a golf course.


    Feng Si took photos along the way, and he quite liked the place. It was a pity they only had one and a half days, so they couldn¡¯t fully enjoy everything.


    ¡°Do you find it more comfortable to find a quiet place to read or watch movies instead of coming to these fun places?¡± He turned his head to ask the person next to him.


    ¡°Do you find me boring?¡± Lu Jing Shen hesitated, not feeling very confident.


    Although they had known each other for over seven years, they had only spent three months together twice. His personality made it difficult for him to pursue someone in the typical way, even though he had tried to learn from others.


    He didn¡¯t want Feng Si to always accommodate him. Feng Si had been tolerant of him for seven years, and he really wanted to make it up to Feng Si, not willing to let him suffer any grievances again.


    ¡°I don¡¯t find you boring,¡± Feng Si smiled. ¡°Alex, you don¡¯t understand yourself enough. You are interesting to me. What I meant earlier was that you can also try other interests occasionally. When we were in Africa, I took you around, and you seemed to have a great time.¡±


    Mentioning Africa, Lu Jing Shen felt a bit regretful. He had left in a hurry back then, and their journey was not finished. There were still many places they hadn¡¯t visited. Unfortunately, last year was his first long vacation, and this year Lu Jing Qing was getting married, so he probably wouldn¡¯t have time to go out again. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to Africa next year, during the summer vacation. I¡¯ll prepare early, and we can spend at least a month there, finishing the journey we didn¡¯t complete back then.¡±


    Feng Si curved his lips, ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go together next year.¡±


    Later, they climbed up the hill behind the villa, and there was a construction site behind it.


    Feng Si glanced over and asked Lu Jing Shen, ¡°Is this also your family¡¯s property? Are they building an airport here?¡±


    Looking at the terrain layout, it did look like a runway for an airport, and the construction was already halfway done.


    ¡°We¡¯re building a small general aviation airport,¡± Lu Jing Shen explained. ¡°It has been approved, and the people from the construction unit came to report the progress before lunch.¡±


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow, ¡°are you the one personally overseeing it?¡±


    ¡°When it¡¯s finished, I¡¯ll bring you here to see,¡± Lu Jing Shen replied.


    Feng Si squinted his eyes, seemingly understanding something, and smiled, ¡°Really? Then I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡±


    When night fell, they were on the terrace of the villa, drinking. Lu Jing Shen seemed particularly excited that day, drinking one glass after another, all of them imported from a French winery and just arrived that morning.


    Feng Si looked at his face, which was gradually showing signs of drunkenness, and lightly swirled the wine glass. Drinking too much made his own thoughts a bit intoxicated as well. His finger reached out and lightly brushed Lu Jing Shen¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple, undoing one of the shirt buttons to let him breathe better.


    Lu Jing Shen¡¯s eyes were infatuated, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing, and the blush on his face spread to the corners of his eyes. The look in his eyes was so familiar to Feng Si, filled with eagerness.


    He was probably drunk and caught Feng Si¡¯s hand, slowly approaching him.


    All he could think about was the day he went to Feng Si¡¯s dormitory and saw him after a shower, the image he had painted of him.


    Feng Si remained motionless, gazing at Lu Jing Shen, and then slowly poured some wine into his mouth.


    It wasn¡¯t time yet.


    He did feel sorry for Lu Jing Shen, for his past experiences and the suppression and pain he had endured. However, that was separate from how he planned to handle their relationship now.


    Lu Jing Shen had a mental dependence and physical infatuation for him, but that was not enough.


    What Feng Si wanted was a purer love. Until Lu Jing Shen truly understood himself, Feng Si could accompany him, comfort him, and accept him, but he wouldn¡¯t cross that line again.


    Feng Si retracted his hand, and Lu Jing Shen froze.


    Feng Si turned his head and leaned towards his ear, ¡°Alex, don¡¯t try to seduce me like this. It¡¯s only been a few days since you started pursuing me.¡±


    A low and amused voice echoed in his ears, pulling him back from his confused thoughts. Closing his eyes, he shook his head. He didn¡¯t mean that just now. It was indeed the effect of the alcohol.


    He was serious about pursuing Feng Si and wouldn¡¯t give up halfway.


    Feng Si moved away, and Lu Jing Shen raised his hand to touch his throbbing temples. He couldn¡¯t drink any more.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze suddenly stopped and fell to Lu Jing Shen¡¯s wrist, pausing for a few seconds before he put down his wine glass and took Lu Jing Shen¡¯s hand again.


    Lu Jing Shen hadn¡¯t reacted yet, but Feng Si had already unfastened his watch strap.


    He removed the watch and placed it on the table, revealing a worn-out black leather bracelet beneath it, with almost indistinguishable original patterns.


    He hadn¡¯t seen it wrong earlier. The bracelet Lu Jing Shen was wearing on his wrist was indeed the lucky charm they bought seven years ago at a flea market in Africa.


    ¡°You still keep this?¡± Feng Si touched it, amusement flickering in his bright eyes. ¡°It¡¯s all worn out.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t expect it to be noticed, but now that it was, he calmly explained, ¡°I¡¯ve been wearing it. I got used to it. I took it off for a while before.¡±


    Feng Si knew without a doubt that during the three months they were together before, Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t have it on his hand. He probably started wearing it again after returning from England.


    But when Lu Jing Shen said ¡°always,¡± it meant that he had been wearing that bracelet for the past seven years.


    It was just an ordinary thing with no special meaning. They bought it for fun back then, and it wasn¡¯t valuable at all. Yet, Lu Jing Shen had kept wearing it for seven years.


    Feng Si thought that maybe over those seven years, it wasn¡¯t just his one-sided crush.


    ¡°It¡¯s a shame mine disappeared at some point,¡± Feng Si helped Lu Jing Shen put the watch back on, no longer pressing it against the leather bracelet. ¡°Just keep wearing it like this. If anyone asks, ignore them.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded, accepting his suggestion.


    After another glass of wine, Lu Jing Shen received a call from An Xin.


    It was quite unfortunate; his parents came over that day as well. They had just arrived and heard he was around, so An Xin said she would come over to his side for a while.


    Hanging up the phone, he ran into Feng Si¡¯s teasing eyes, feeling a bit embarrassed. Last time¡¯s incident was inevitably brought up. Feng Si asked, ¡°Should I leave?¡±


    ¡°No need. Come with me,¡± Lu Jing Shen replied.


    What wasn¡¯t said was that his parents would be there for half of the week. After agreeing to Feng Si¡¯s proposal last night, he was already mentally prepared to run into his parents there.


    An Xin came to deliver a cake to Lu Jing Shen. He didn¡¯t particularly like sweets, but since she made it herself, he would give face and take a bite.


    But unexpectedly, Lu Jing Shen wasn¡¯t alone this time. The man smiling and greeting her, An Xin recognized him at first sight. He was Lu Jing Shen¡¯s assistant and the other person in the photo.


    Although she had never asked Lu Jing Shen about the photo in person before.


    Feng Si rarely acted polite and serious, saying, ¡°Hello, Mrs. Lu.¡±


    An Xin smiled gently, ¡°Hello.¡±


    She turned to complain to her son, ¡°Ah Shen, why didn¡¯t you tell me you brought a friend? If I knew, I would have brought two more cakes. I made them at home and brought them specially.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen didn¡¯t want to say anything. As long as the cake was for Feng Si, it was enough; he had no interest.


    Seeing through Lu Jing Shen¡¯s thoughts, Feng Si flattered An Xin, ¡°Mrs. Lu, your cooking is excellent. This cake looks delicious. However, Lu General doesn¡¯t like sweets. If you bring two more, we might not be able to finish them and it¡¯ll be a waste.¡±


    ¡°In that case, can you eat sweets?¡± An Xin asked Feng Si with a smile. ¡°If you like it, I can make more tomorrow.¡±


    Feng Si nodded, ¡°I really like them. Thank you, Mrs. Lu, for your trouble.¡±


    ¡°No need to address me like that,¡± Lu Jing Shen suddenly interjected, reminding Feng Si, ¡°You can call her ¡®auntie.''¡±


    Feng Si looked at him somewhat surprised, but Lu Jing Shen remained composed, and An Xin added, ¡°Yes, you are Ah Shen¡¯s friend. There¡¯s no need to be so formal with me. You can call me ¡®auntie.''¡±


    Feng Si gracefully adapted, ¡°Thank you, Auntie.¡±


    After An Xin left, she noticed the rose in the vase by the door and asked Lu Jing Shen, ¡°Is this something you bought, or did someone give it to you? It¡¯s quite beautiful. Can you give it to me? I¡¯d like to see how they added the gold dust.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone buy some and send it over tomorrow.¡±


    An Xin sensed the refusal in his words and let it go. She reminded them to rest early and left.


    After she left, Feng Si picked up a fork and took a small piece of cake, tasting it. It indeed tasted very good.


    Then he brought it to Lu Jing Shen¡¯s lips and said, ¡°Open up.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen instinctively frowned, hesitating for a moment, and reluctantly opened his mouth.


    Feng Si took a bite himself and then fed a bite to Lu Jing Shen, sharing the same piece of cake.


    ¡°Your mother might have realized our relationship, right? When she asked for the flower, it seemed like she was testing you,¡± Feng Si said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Lu Jing Shen replied.


    His parents couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware of the photo incident. It was just that before, he turned a deaf ear to their remarks.


    Even if he couldn¡¯t immediately confess to his parents about his relationship with Feng Si, he would try his best to show them that he and Feng Si were serious and not just fooling around.


    ¡°I¡¯ll find a suitable opportunity to tell them,¡± Lu Jing Shen assured Feng Si so that he wouldn¡¯t misunderstand. ¡°I promise.¡±


    ¡°No rush,¡± Feng Si finished the last bite of cake and smiled to reassure him. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until you successfully win me over.¡±

 CH 53

    In the early morning, while having breakfast, Lu Jing Shen received another call from his mother, saying they were at the golf course and asked him and Feng Si to come over.


    After hanging up, Lu Jing Shen asked Feng Si if he wanted to go. ¡°If you feel awkward, I¡¯ll decline their invitation.¡±


    Feng Si chuckled, ¡°Let¡¯s go. If you¡¯re not awkward, why should I be?¡±


    Although he couldn¡¯t quite understand why rich people liked playing golf so much.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s Father indeed loved it. If his health allowed, he could spend the entire day on the golf course.


    Following Lu Jing Shen, Feng Si appeared in a natural manner and greeted the two elders. Lu Jingshen¡¯s Father was examining a golf club and nodded politely at him.


    Feng Si never felt nervous in situations like this. An Xin asked them to sit, and Feng Si graciously took a seat, also helping Lu Jing Shen pull out his chair. Despite having eaten breakfast, the elders prepared hot tea and snacks and fruits with their own hands, and Feng Si politely enjoyed them.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s Father rarely spoke, leaving most of the conversation to An Xin and Feng Si. She asked about his work, family, interests, and hobbies, and Feng Si answered each question.


    Lu Jing Shen occasionally chimed in, seemingly afraid that his mother¡¯s questions might make things awkward for Feng Si.


    Before coming here, Feng Si asked if this counted as meeting the parents. Their relationship hadn¡¯t been explicitly confirmed in front of Lu Jingshen¡¯s, but they both knew and understood each other well. Even if it wasn¡¯t a formal meeting, it wasn¡¯t far from it.


    After a brief chat, the two elders went to the court, while they remained seated by the sidelines, continuing to drink tea.


    Watching Lu Jing Shen¡¯s parents walk away, Feng Si tossed a piece of fruit into his mouth and looked at the person beside him, smiling teasingly, ¡°Alex, didn¡¯t you say your little brother¡¯s boyfriend easily passed the parent test the first time they met? How come when it¡¯s my turn, your mom seems to have so many questions and is particularly picky?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen lifted his teacup and took a sip, ¡°You¡¯re different.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°How am I different?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen avoided his gaze, ¡°Figure it out yourself.¡±


    Half an hour later, An Xin returned and asked Feng Si if he could accompany Lu Jingshen¡¯s Father for a while to play golf.


    Feng Si knew the matter wasn¡¯t over yet and stood up gracefully.


    After he left, An Xin sat down and poured half a cup of tea for Lu Jing Shen, ¡°I heard from your sister that you¡¯ve been in better spirits lately. It seems you¡¯re doing well, and your work isn¡¯t as busy as before, right?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    He had always been this way, not speaking much, brief with his words, even in front of his mother.


    An Xin felt a sudden sense of loss without any reason. After hesitating, she asked him, ¡°A Shen, did something happen to you before that you haven¡¯t told us about?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen sipped his tea slowly and said calmly, ¡°No, it¡¯s all fine now.¡±


    The past was in the past, and he hadn¡¯t told his family back then. Now, there was no need, and revealing it would only add to their worries.


    An Xin sighed; she realized she had been neglecting Lu Jing Shen. Lu Jing Qing was a girl, and Lu Chi Xie was the youngest, so they naturally received more attention from her. Lu Jing Shen, stuck in the middle, was always quiet, and she subconsciously overlooked him. By the time she noticed something might be wrong and wanted to care for him, it was already too late.


    She tried to comfort her son, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk about it, that¡¯s fine. But both your father and I hope you can live more freely, choose what you like, don¡¯t suppress yourself. Jing Qing and Chi Xie can, and you can too.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen nodded gently, ¡°I know, thank you.¡±


    On the other side, Lu Jingshen¡¯s Father estimated the distance to their target and asked Feng Si, who handed him the golf club, ¡°Young man, have you played golf before?¡±


    ¡°I have,¡± Feng Si replied truthfully, ¡°In my previous job, most of my employers liked playing golf, and I played with them. But I¡¯m not really interested in it.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s Father laughed, ¡°Many people beg for a chance to play golf with me, even if they don¡¯t like it or know anything about it. They would pretend to be very interested in front of me. You are the first one who directly said that you¡¯re not interested.¡±


    Feng Si didn¡¯t feel embarrassed at all, ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be meaningful if I lied to you.¡±


    Lu Father asked him, ¡°Do you think my elder son likes playing this?¡±


    Feng Si glanced at Lu Jing Shen, who was talking to his mother on the sidelines, and said, ¡°For socializing, even if he doesn¡¯t like it, he has to. He¡¯s always been like that.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s Father said, ¡°looks like you understand him well¡±


    ¡°Perhaps no one understands him better than I do,¡± Feng Si confidently stated.


    This confidence didn¡¯t make people dislike him. Even Lu Jingshen¡¯s Father, who had seen all kinds of people, felt somewhat favorable toward Feng Si.


    ¡°You¡¯re a pilot, right? Have you thought about switching careers?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Feng Si shook his head, ¡°I still prefer flying planes.¡±


    His gaze fell on Lu Jing Shen again, ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t think Alex would want me to change careers. He¡¯s planning to build a small airport over there in the back mountain, and only I can fly him as he travels.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen stood too high and had seen too many outstanding individuals. His gaze wouldn¡¯t easily fall upon someone. Just because he had a crush on someone didn¡¯t mean it would last forever. Why would he be attracted to Feng Si? At least Feng Si thought he could always bring something fresh and exciting to Lu Jing Shen.


    Whether it was the aurora above the sky or the adrenaline and dopamine rushing when rapidly descending or soaring.


    In the afternoon, the two of them went skiing.


    During those three months in Africa, Feng Si had taken Lu Jing Shen to experience many extreme sports, but they had never tried skiing.


    Rushing down the steep mountain path with a high slope, Feng Si also felt his adrenaline surge. He closed his eyes and heard Lu Jing Shen¡¯s anxious shouts from behind. A thought crossed his mind, and he opened his arms, shifting his body¡¯s center of gravity, not caring about anything as he quickly plunged into the snow pile during a sharp turn.


    At that moment, Lu Jing Shen¡¯s breath seemed to freeze, and his whole body felt paralyzed. He stumbled and ran over, shouting his name, ¡°Feng Si! Feng Si!¡±


    Feng Si lay on the snow, slowly opening his eyes. He saw the sunlight filtered through the brown goggles, giving him a surreal feeling of floating in the clouds. Then he saw Lu Jing Shen¡¯s face, slightly blurred behind the lenses, appearing distressed and almost distorted.


    Lu Jing Shen knelt on the ground, holding onto his clothes tightly, trembling hands, and calling his name repeatedly. The brief sensation of dizziness and deafness made it hard for Feng Si to hear what Lu Jing Shen was saying, but he silently observed the person in front of him. He raised his hand and lightly patted Lu Jing Shen¡¯s arm.


    Lu Jing Shen suddenly froze, pausing for a few seconds before slumping into his arms like a limp doll.


    Feng Si embraced him, and that surreal floating feeling remained. He heard the rapid beating of his own heart.


    This time, he was sure it was dopamine, but the feeling of love was not an illusion.


    Lu Jing Shen also held him, and his heart raced as if losing balance, even to the point where breathing became a bit difficult for him.


    During those few seconds when Feng Si lay motionless in the snow, countless desperate thoughts flashed through his mind.


    If something actually happened to Feng Si, his world might truly shatter completely.


    As they came down from the ski resort, Lu Jing Shen remained silent, walking back without acknowledging the people around him.


    Feng Si knew he was in the wrong; he had indeed gone too far with his prank on the ski slope. Thankfully, he wasn¡¯t injured in the end, just lucky.


    Upon entering the room, Lu Jing Shen picked up his clothes, intending to take a shower. However, when he turned, Feng Si grabbed his arm and pulled him into an embrace, holding him tightly.


    Lu Jing Shen closed his eyes and said hoarsely, ¡°Let me go.¡±


    ¡°Just for a moment,¡± Feng Si teased, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. I promise I won¡¯t play such jokes on you again.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen replied firmly, ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    They stayed quietly embraced for a moment, and Lu Jing Shen¡¯s emotions calmed down a bit, prompting him to step back.


    Feng Si gazed into his eyes, ¡°Are you that worried?¡±


    Lu Jing Shen shook his head, not wanting to admit his momentary loss of control. His voice lacked strength when he spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t scare me like that again.¡±


    Feng Si lifted his hand and gently touched his face, sincerely apologizing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Afterward, Lu Jing Shen went to take a shower while Feng Si went alone to the terrace outside.


    As twilight fell, the evening glow spread across the horizon, enveloping the nearby and distant mountain peaks.


    Feng Si popped a piece of chewing gum into his mouth, slowly chewing, recalling Lu Jing Shen¡¯s pale face and reddened eyes after he frightened him earlier.


    Although it was just a prank, he had indeed gone too far this time.


    Well, he should control some of his bad habits.


    After driving back to the city at night, Lu Jing Shen dropped Feng Si off at the universityl first.


    When he got out of the car, Feng Si checked the time; it was almost eight o¡¯clock.


    He bent down to wave at the person in the car, ¡°drive carefully.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen looked at him, deciding not to wait for him to go upstairs this time, ¡°I¡¯ll leave first.¡±


    Feng Si smiled and nodded, ¡°Sure, go ahead. We¡¯ll talk later.¡±


    Lu Jing Shen gripped the steering wheel tightly, suppressing the emotions of reluctance, and drove away.


    Feng Si stood in place, watching the taillights disappear into the distance, and smiled.


    When he was about to go upstairs, a call came in. His flowers for the day had arrived.


    As usual, they were roses delivered from outside. Feng Si couldn¡¯t help but chuckle; Lu Jing Shen really remembered this every day.


    As soon as the delivery guy left, another courier from the same city arrived, holding a paper document bag.


    Seeing Lu Jing Shen¡¯s name as the sender, Feng Si was a bit surprised and didn¡¯t know what it contained, so he signed for it first.


    After going upstairs, he placed the flowers on the coffee table and sat down to open the document bag.


    To his surprise, inside were the postcards that Lu Jing Shen had taken from him before. Each one had a handwritten response from Lu Jing Shen.


    Feng Si¡¯s heart stirred, and he began flipping through them one by one.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you would wait for me at the same spot for another month after I left. I never expected to meet you before going to Africa. Those three months were a miracle to me. I hurriedly left because I didn¡¯t want to get too attached to you cause I was afraid of what that meant . I thought I was unimportant to you, but in reality, it seems I was very important.¡±


    ¡°I only visited Tokyo later; when you came looking for me in Tokyo, I had just started working at the company, and I was very busy and tired with work. However, late at night, I still recalled the days in Africa. I don¡¯t know how to completely forget you, and maybe I will never be able to forget you in my lifetime.¡±


    ¡°Those three months were not fake, nor were they your imagination. I was despicable and cowardly, making you suffer so much. Thank you for never giving up on me.¡±


    ¡°I took a course in French during university. Every year in early March, I would go to France for a vacation and I bought that vineyard because of the sunflower fields there. When you asked if it had any special meaning, it actually does. Only there can I deceive myself and indulge in our brief past. Unfortunately, that place is too remote. Even if you traveled with friends and passed by there, we couldn¡¯t meet; it¡¯s all my fault.¡±


    ¡°That night when it snowed, when you brought up that incident, I didn¡¯t know it was like that. If there is someone else who can replace me and give you warmth, I would feel jealous, but I would also be happy for you. However, when you said that if you did that, your liking wouldn¡¯t be worth mentioning, I want to tell you that your liking is priceless to me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s very painful when family members pass away. Now, comforting you doesn¡¯t seem to have much effect, but a lifetime is not just thirty years. We are only thirty years old; even if we missed seven years, as long as we take care of ourselves, we can have another thirty years, fifty years, or even longer.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t been to Venice either, but I heard it¡¯s beautiful. If you still want to go, we can go together next vacation. Not just Venice, anywhere in the world, I want to go with you.¡±


    ¡°You have reached the next station in your life, and now you can rest. I¡¯m here, and I won¡¯t leave again.¡±


    The last postcard was the one written by Feng Si that morning in the restaurant in Norway. He wrote it in front of Lu Jingshen, and Lu Jing Shen replied to it in the same way.


    ¡°When you were writing this postcard, I was really curious about who you were writing it to. I was jealous of whoever could make you seriously write for such a long time. Later, I realized that I was actually being jealous of myself. If I have to say, it was only after seeing the aurora that night that I was truly the lucky one. Receiving your postcard also made me very happy.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze lingered on the postcards for a long time, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile genuinely.


    Although he wasn¡¯t good with words, Lu Jingshen had earnestly written those responses. When it came to emotions, Lu Jing Shen might be clumsy, slow, and not quick-witted, but he had always been trying.


    Lu Jingshen put in a lot of effort to comfort Feng Si over everything he had experienced in the past seven years.


    His disappointments and grievances finally received a response.


    Feng Si happened to call when Lu Jingshen had just entered his home.


    ¡°Where did you learn to be so good at coaxing people? You wrote me back and didn¡¯t even tell me. Alex, do you know that this is unfair?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s voice was full of laughter and amusement, and it was evident that he was genuinely happy.


    Although Lu Jingshen was a bit annoyed with him in the afternoon, he softened his heart again at that moment. ¡°I learned from you,¡± he said.


    ¡°Oh? When did I teach you?¡± Feng Si asked playfully.


    Lu Jingshen complimented him, ¡°You¡¯re a good teacher.¡±


    Feng Si sighed playfully, ¡°Hey, why do I feel like I¡¯m about to give in after just a week?¡±


    Lu Jingshen sipped water and looked at the record player in the living room. ¡°You left a lot of stuff here last time, and the record player is still broken. I can¡¯t fix it.¡±


    The hint in his words was clear, and Feng Si understood. ¡°I¡¯ll come to fix it next weekend.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s throat rolled slowly. ¡°Do we have to wait until next weekend?¡±


    Feng Si reminded him in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s raining outside.¡±


    Lu Jingshen went to the window and looked outside. It had been drizzling lightly when he came back, but now it was pouring.


    His hazy and feverish mind cleared slightly, and he said, ¡°okay, let¡¯s talk about it later. I won¡¯t give up on you. I will continue to pursue you¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°continue?¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°It¡¯s only been a week. Are you that easy to chase?¡±


    If others could do it for three months, he could too, and maybe even longer.


    He wanted Feng Si to feel more of his sincerity, not just a momentary impulse.


    Feng Si chuckled lightly, ¡°With this kind of provocation, I can only resist for too long¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s voice was hoarse, ¡°Don¡¯t be so soft-hearted towards me. I can do more for you.¡±


    ¡°Alex,¡± Feng Si stopped laughing, whispering his name, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait.¡±

 CH 54

    Three months later.


    After reading the report in his hand, the psychologist told Lu Jingshen, ¡°The assessment results this time are quite good. The first treatment of the therapy is considered finished, and the effect is within expectations. How do you feel?¡±


    Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t say for sure, but compared to three months ago, he no longer felt nervous and repulsed just stepping through this door. In that regard, he had indeed made a lot of progress.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s alright,¡± he replied.


    The doctor continued, ¡°Our goals before were to eliminate your reflexive fear of the past experiences and to alleviate the cognitive fear caused by those experiences. In terms of the former, you¡¯ve made significant progress, and I think you should feel it most clearly. As for the latter, the treatment effects vary from person to person, and it takes time. Your progress is also considerable. If you still feel that it¡¯s not enough, we can move on to the second stage of treatment later and target specific improvements.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself. I¡¯ve seen patients of all kinds, and Mr. Lu, you¡¯re one of the most cooperative. Achieving the expected results in such a short time is already a pleasant surprise.¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded and hesitated before asking, ¡°If I force myself to come out, does that mean I¡¯m cured?¡±


    The doctor replied, ¡°coming out is undoubtedly a significant improvement, but the key is that you no longer have negative emotions about it and can truly face and accept yourself. Only then can it be considered a cure.¡±


    Lu Jingshen breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°I understand.¡±


    After thanking the doctor, he got up and left.


    As usual, Feng Si was waiting for him outside the door.


    Facing the radiant smile of this man, Lu Jingshen felt a sense of relief. Being able to free himself from the nightmares that had troubled him for many years in just three months was undoubtedly thanks to the efficacy of psychological therapy, but more importantly, it was because of this person in front of him.


    If it weren¡¯t for Feng Si, he wouldn¡¯t have reached this point.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t ask anything and spoke in a relaxed tone, ¡°What do you want to eat for lunch?¡±


    Lu Jingshen thought for a moment, ¡°Congee sounds good. I heard there¡¯s a seafood congee restaurant nearby that¡¯s not bad.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°Sure.¡±


    During the meal, Feng Si mentioned that he had to leave after a while. One of his friends was getting married that day, and he had to go be the best man. ¡°Originally, I was supposed to help out in the morning, but I managed to push it to the afternoon.¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°You had told me earlier. I could have come alone.¡±


    ¡°Your issue is more important,¡± Feng Si didn¡¯t mind at all, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? I¡¯ll go after finishing my meal. I¡¯ll call you tonight.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye.¡± In the end, he helped Lu Jingshen adjust his suit jacket and waved as he called a taxi and left.


    Lu Jingshen could only accept it. After Feng Si¡¯s car had gone, he drove back to the company alone.


    Later that afternoon, until Lu Jingshen got off work and returned home, there was no further message from Feng Si.


    Knowing that he must be busy as the best man, Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t disturb him. His phone was placed in front of him as he absentmindedly read a book. At almost nine o¡¯clock, Feng Si¡¯s call came in, and he immediately answered.


    However, the voice on the other end was unfamiliar, ¡°Hello, is this Feng Si¡¯s family?¡±


    At 9:30, Lu Jingshen¡¯s car stopped in the hotel¡¯s underground parking lot. After getting out of the car, he quickly walked into the elevator.


    The wedding banquet was already over, and the guests had dispersed. Hotel staff were cleaning up the venue. Lu Jingshen pushed open the door of the rest area and saw Feng Si sitting on a chair against the wall.


    He was leaning his head down, eyes closed, and his face was visibly flushed from drinking.


    Lu Jingshen let out a sigh of relief and walked over.


    Someone came to apologize to him, a well-mannered man with glasses, explaining that Feng Si had been drinking on behalf of others during the wedding and got drunk.


    ¡°I¡¯m allergic to alcohol and can¡¯t drink, so it all relied on the groomsmen. I apologize; the relatives and friends were too enthusiastic, and he ended up drinking too much.¡±


    The call just now was made by this person. Lu Jingshen nodded coldly and speculated that he was probably the groom.


    The man apologized again, but Lu Jingshen ignored him and called out Feng Si¡¯s name in a low voice.


    Feng Si slowly opened his eyes, and his usually bright eyes seemed a bit confused. It took him a while to focus and see Lu Jingshen¡¯s figure. He mumbled, ¡°Alex, you¡¯re here.¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked at him and said, ¡°You¡¯re drunk.¡±


    Feng Si nodded and lifted his hand to loosen his shirt collar, saying, ¡°I drank too much¡­¡±


    Then, in the next moment, he leaned forward and hugged Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist, pressing himself against him and closing his eyes again.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s body stiffened for a moment, and he placed his hand on Feng Si¡¯s shoulder but didn¡¯t push him away. He forced himself to relax.


    Unable to move because of Feng Si¡¯s embrace, Lu Jingshen took the opportunity to look around the room.


    There were other people in the rest area. The groom returned to the sofa and was feeding water to another groomsman who was also drunk. Their actions seemed unusually intimate, even ambiguous.


    Lu Jingshen furrowed his eyebrows and glanced around, noticing the bride sitting in the other corner of the room, taking off her makeup. She seemed to be talking quietly with a bridesmaid, leaning their heads together and occasionally touching foreheads.


    The bride with the bridesmaid, and the groom with the groomsmen¡ªtwo clearly defined couples.


    Lu Jingshen seemed to understand something and lost interest in looking any further, withdrawing his gaze.


    Feng Si suddenly smiled, opening his eyes and looking up at Lu Jingshen. ¡°Are we leaving?¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded. ¡°Can you still walk?¡±


    Feng Si stood up, swaying unsteadily, and half of his body leaned against Lu Jingshen¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Then, let¡¯s go.¡±


    In the end, Lu Jingshen had to half-support, half-carry him into the elevator. The elevator doors closed, and Feng Si¡¯s body pressed against Lu Jingshen¡¯s back, and his voice, mixed with the smell of alcohol, penetrated his ear, ¡°Alex, why did you come?¡±


    Lu Jingshen pressed the button for the ground floor. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask someone to call me and come pick you up?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Feng Si pouted, ¡°Maybe he saw that most of the calls in my call log were from you, so he called you instead.¡±


    Lu Jingshen asked, ¡°What would you have done if I didn¡¯t come?¡±


    Feng Si teased him, ¡°How could you not come?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t say anything further. The elevator reached the ground floor, and he helped Feng Si into the car. The car drove straight back to Mingyue Bay.


    As they collapsed onto the sofa, Feng Si reached out and pulled Lu Jingshen down, who had been about to pour him some water, into a hug. He embraced him with one arm.


    Lu Jingshen fell into his arms, struggling to prop himself up. When he looked up, he saw that Feng Si¡¯s eyes were much clearer than before. He asked, ¡°Are you really drunk? How much did you drink tonight?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember,¡± Feng Si leaned against the sofa lazily, closing his eyes a few times, ¡°Red wine , white, beer¡­ They mixed several types of alcohol together, and I had at least a dozen drinks.¡±


    Lu Jingshen listened with some displeasure. ¡°Why did you drink so much? Don¡¯t be a groomsman next time.¡±


    Feng Si smirked, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be either. They begged me repeatedly, and I reluctantly agreed. Who knew it would be so troublesome.¡±


    Seeing that Feng Si¡¯s face was still red, Lu Jingshen unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt and saw a glimpse of his collarbone underneath. Suddenly, the dry and hot sensation surged again.


    He tried to change the subject, ¡°Are they in a sham marriage?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve figured it out too,¡± Feng Si scoffed lightly, ¡°To please their parents. I advised them not to do it like this, but they didn¡¯t listen. I¡¯ve seen many such sham marriages, and they usually end up in chaos. Anyway, it¡¯s not my business.¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for him being new here and the other person helping him out a little, he wouldn¡¯t want to meddle in their affairs. Today, he considered it returning a favor.


    Lu Jingshen lightly pursed his lips. He just suddenly thought that although this kind of behavior, pretending to be with someone else to hide one¡¯s true sexual orientation, might be done out of necessity, it could be quite complicated in the eyes of others.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do something like that,¡± he blurted out.


    Feng Si teased him, ¡°Why would you do it? You don¡¯t have to deal with family pressure, and besides, even if you wanted a sham marriage, you wouldn¡¯t be able to find a partner. With the way you are.¡±


    Lu Jingshen felt embarrassed. He had never even considered such a situation. It was just a spur-of-the-moment response, afraid that Feng Si would overthink things after tonight¡¯s encounter.


    ¡°Do you ever feel insecure?¡± Lu Jingshen asked hesitantly. The idea of security seemed out of place when associated with Feng Si, but Lu Jingshen wasn¡¯t sure. After all, he had made Feng Si search the world for seven years before finally admitting his feelings for him.


    Moreover, he still owed Feng Si a formal confession, and they hadn¡¯t publicly acknowledged their relationship yet.


    As he carefully observed the expression on Lu Jingshen¡¯s face, Feng Si¡¯s eyes deepened, fixedly gazing at him.


    Lu Jingshen felt a bit uneasy about this, and his voice sounded uncertain, ¡°do you think it will work?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°What if it does?¡±


    Lu Jingshen gently held his hand, interlocking their fingers, and leaned in, their foreheads touching.


    ¡°Teach me again, how can I make you satisfied?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s something I can¡¯t teach,¡± Feng Si reminded him, ¡°You have to figure it out on your own.¡±


    After a moment of contemplation, Lu Jingshen nodded. ¡°Alright.¡±


    ¡°Have you figured it out?¡± Feng Si raised an eyebrow.


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Feng Si smiled, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll wait and see.¡±


    Lu Jingshen let out a sigh of relief, got up to pour water for Feng Si, and asked, ¡°Do you want to stay here tonight? It¡¯s already late.¡±


    Taking the water cup, Feng Si stared at him, his gaze lingering on his face, ¡°Are you inviting me to sleep over?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t mean anything else.¡±


    He didn¡¯t mean anything else, but Feng Si started to have some wicked thoughts.


    Maybe it was the effect of alcohol, or maybe he had had enough fun teasing. He threw away all those stubborn notions about crossing the line and focused on the person in front of him, who wholeheartedly wanted to express his feelings. He felt an evil desire rising in him.


    Putting down the water glass, he reached out and pulled Lu Jingshen closer. Feng Si knelt up and changed positions with him, pressing him down.


    Before Lu Jingshen could react, Feng Si¡¯s kiss had already landed.


    Forcefully biting his lips, Feng Si¡¯s tongue intruded into the gap between his teeth, mixing with the taste of alcohol and Feng Si¡¯s breath. For a moment, Lu Jingshen was stunned before he hugged him tightly and passionately responded.


    After several days without a kiss, and with Feng Si being drunk, his actions were not gentle, nor did he show any grace. The kiss was fierce and urgent, roughly exploring Lu Jingshen¡¯s mouth, tongues entangling and teasing each other. Lu Jingshen was bitten to the point of discomfort, but he rubbed Feng Si¡¯s head, fingers running through his hair, trying to sooth him.


    Feng Si could see through Lu Jingshen¡¯s conflicted expression, but he didn¡¯t bother to explain.


    In fact, as a person with his nature, he wouldn¡¯t even consider something as elusive as ¡°security.¡± If he wanted this person, he would find a way to tie him down.


    But since Lu Jingshen misunderstood, he might as well let him continue to misunderstand.


    Feigning a look of grievance and helplessness, acting pitiful and coquettish with Lu Jingshen, was something he always enjoyed. Moreover, seeing Lu Jingshen¡¯s restrained appearance under him made him even more inclined to play tricks on him.


    Of course, this kind of teasing was limited to the bed; there was nothing more to it.


    At that moment, Feng Si was able to contemplate various things despite being under the influence of alcohol. He kissed Lu Jingshen while his hands continued to roam, brutally tearing open Lu Jingshen¡¯s shirt buttons.


    Lu Jingshen, who was trembling, hadn¡¯t touched himself in months. His body had become so sensitive that he couldn¡¯t handle it. When Feng Si touched him, a blazing heat erupted inside him, driving him almost insane.


    Before Lu Jingshen completely lost his breath, Feng Si finally released his lips. His kisses roamed from Lu Jingshen¡¯s chin down to his Adam¡¯s apple and then to the back of his neck. He firmly left a mark at the nape of his neck.


    Lu Jingshen felt like a fish on the verge of dehydration, barely able to open his mouth to breathe. He couldn¡¯t even moan.


    ¡­¡­


    In the early morning, Lu Jingshen woke up, and Feng Si had already left.


    He found a WeChat message on his phone saying that Feng Si had an early class and had returned to the university.


    Lu Jingshen sat dazed at the head of the bed for a while, then turned off his phone and went into the bathroom to take a shower.


    They hadn¡¯t gone all the way last night, stopping at just using their hands to satisfy each other, but it had still been an intense night.


    Under the hot shower, Lu Jingshen remembered Feng Si¡¯s actions after getting drunk last night and felt somewhat uneasy.


    After finishing the shower and coming out to stand in front of the mirror, he saw the numerous marks on his body, some faint and some darker. He couldn¡¯t help but frown.


    Luckily, they were all in places covered by clothes. However, when he turned his head and saw the reddish mark on the back of his neck partially exposed, he was instantly stunned.


    He tried to find something to cover it, but after half a minute, his hand dropped, and he chose to give up.


    Forget it, it should be what Feng Si wanted.


    Feng Si had no idea about Lu Jingshen¡¯s conflicted thoughts. At that moment, he was sitting happily in a taxi on his way back.


    The talkative driver chatted with him along the way, ¡°Young man, I¡¯ve never seen someone leaving for work in the morning with such a smile on their face. Sending a message to your wife? Young people these days are so affectionate, they can¡¯t bear to leave even after just stepping out.¡±


    Feng Si put away his phone and smiled, ¡°Can¡¯t help it, the one at home is too clingy. If I don¡¯t send him a message, he¡¯ll start overthinking when he wakes up and doesn¡¯t see me.¡±


    The driver gave him a thumbs-up, ¡°You know how to care for people.¡±


    When he left home, Lu Jingshen ordered roses for that day, and he checked the calendar on his phone.


    It had been three months since the day he started giving roses to Feng Si.


    ¡®Then today would be the day¡¯. Lu Jingshen thought to himself, he had to take this step eventually.

 CH 55

    At 8:30 a.m., Lu Jingshen arrived at the company, and Liu Jie, who had come five minutes earlier, was waiting for him at the entrance of the building to go up together.


    He walked briskly toward the elevator, and when Liu Jie saw the look in his eyes, the words she was about to say got stuck in her throat.


    Lu Jingshen tilted his head in confusion, looking at Liu Jie. Liu Jie quickly continued her previous words, ¡°At 1:30, there¡¯s a meeting¡­¡±


    While Lu Jingshen listened attentively, Liu Jie¡¯s gaze couldn¡¯t help but drift to the back of his neck, where a bright red mark stood out conspicuously at the left side of his hairline. It was particularly eye-catching.


    That morning, Lu Jingshen had been absent-minded all the time. He didn¡¯t want to change his mind, so he sent a message to An Xin on his phone, saying that he wanted to go home for dinner and asked her to invite Lu Jingqing and Lu Chixie to come home as well.


    Of course, An Xin was delighted when her son said he wanted to come home for dinner. She asked what he wanted to eat and made preparations.


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°Anything is fine. Just prepare a bit more food. I¡¯ll bring a friend along.¡±


    After informing his family, Lu Jingshen saw that it was already noon and directly called Feng Si.


    ¡°I just finished lunch at the canteen. Is there something you need?¡± Feng Si¡¯s cheerful voice came through the phone. ¡°Your flowers were just delivered, and they arrived right on time today.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s breath paused for a moment, and he asked, ¡°What time can you finish work today? Are you free tonight?¡±


    ¡°Probably around 5 o¡¯clock. Why? Do you want to go on a date with me?¡± Feng Si asked directly.


    With an ¡°um,¡± Lu Jingshen said, ¡°Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. I just made plans to have hot pot with my colleagues tonight. I missed the last time, so I can¡¯t bail on them this time, can I?¡± Feng Si¡¯s tone sounded like he was in a bit of a dilemma.


    Lu Jingshen persisted, ¡°Can you change the time with your colleagues? I want to see you tonight. There¡¯s something I want to talk to you about, and I also want to take you home for dinner with my family.¡±


    ¡°Dinner with your family?¡± Feng Si asked.


    Lu Jingshen explained, ¡°Yes, all my family members will be present.¡±


    ¡°So, Alex, you came prepared, huh? Then I guess I¡¯ll have to bail on my colleagues again,¡± Feng Si¡¯s laughter sounded even more pleasant, and Lu Jingshen asked again, ¡°Is that okay?¡±


    ¡°Dinner with you and your family, how can I say no?¡± Feng Si teased him intentionally. ¡°You¡¯re much more important. Let¡¯s meet tonight.¡±


    Lu Jingshen let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Okay, 5:30. I¡¯ll come to your place to pick you up.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Lu Jingshen still felt restless. He felt like there was something missing, but he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it.


    Shortly after, Lu Jingqing¡¯s message came on WeChat: ¡°Did you tell Mom to ask me and Chixie to go home together for dinner? And you said you are going to bring a friend?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°It¡¯s just a casual dinner. If you don¡¯t have anything important, try to make it.¡±


    The response on the other end showed ¡°typing,¡± and it took several minutes before a reply came: ¡°Okay then.¡±


    Putting down her phone, Lu Jingqing pouted at Lu Chixie, who was sitting next to her desk with a gossipy expression, ¡°Both your date and my date for tonight have been canceled.¡±


    Lu Chixie laughed, ¡°Why don¡¯t we bring them home together? It¡¯ll be more lively. Besides, he didn¡¯t say we can¡¯t do that. We¡¯re going to be one family soon, and we¡¯ll meet sooner or later.¡±


    Lu Jingqing said, ¡°Hmph.¡±


    Lu Chixie had gone to the company that day to film a program. Shang Xin¡¯s entertainment company recently launched a live streaming platform, and Lu Chixie was helping with promotion. That day, he was doing a live-streamed variety show called ¡°Me and My Siblings,¡± and he invited Lu Jingqing to join him. The live broadcast had been going on since the morning and would continue into the afternoon.


    ¡°Just now, the producer secretly asked if I could ask Lu Jingshen to appear on camera. Should I go and ask him? Do you think he¡¯ll agree?¡± Lu Chixie asked Lu Jingqing with wild thoughts, wanting to see some excitement.


    Lu Jingqing gestured, ¡°You can give it a try, but I¡¯m 99% sure he¡¯ll refuse.¡±


    Lu Chixie said, ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try anyway.¡±


    At 3:30, Lu Jingshen finished the meeting and returned to his office to continue working. Lu Chixie¡¯s call came in, and he asked, ¡°Brother, can I come to your office? I¡¯m doing a live-streamed variety show in the company. I¡¯ve been with my Lu Jingqing all day, and the audience, aware that I have an older brother, is strongly requesting for you to appear on camera.¡±


    Lu Jingshen furrowed his brows, and the refusal was already on the tip of his tongue, but Lu Chixie continued, ¡°It won¡¯t take up much of your time. Please say yes¡±


    After hesitating for a moment, Lu Jingshen changed his mind and said, ¡°Sure, come over.¡±


    If it were in the past, he would definitely not agree, but Feng Si said that he could try to relax a bit and should try to be less tense.


    He did want to make some changes.


    After hanging up the phone, Lu Jingshen called Liu Jie in and gave her some instructions. Liu Jie was almost dumbfounded when she heard what Lu Jingshen said. Their boss was always the most averse to appearing in public, yet that day, he actually agreed to be on a live-streamed show for his younger brother?


    But since Lu Jingshen said so, she could only comply. She quickly went out to remind the secretary to make all necessary preparations so that they wouldn¡¯t look bad if they were caught on camera later and tarnish the company¡¯s image.


    Twenty minutes later, Lu Chixie arrived with a group of staff, making Lu Jingshen¡¯s office lively for the first time.


    Dozens of cameras were pointed at him. Behind his desk, Lu Jingshen subconsciously tightened the pen in his hand and pretended to remain calm while looking at the documents in front of him.


    Lu Chixie approached him and introduced him to the camera. He then reminded him, ¡°Brother, say hello to the camera. Everyone is saying how handsome you are.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s frowning eyebrows remained, and he nodded toward the direction Lu Chixie pointed to, even though he did not greet the camera directly.


    Lu Chixie helplessly said to the camera, ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do. My brother has this kind of personality. Him appearing on camera is already doing me a huge favor.¡±


    ¡°Someone asked if my brother has a sister-in-law he wants to marry. Forget it, it¡¯s none of your business. What are you thinking?¡± Lu Chixie continued.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s single or what type he likes. Okay, fine, let me ask him.¡±


    Lu Chixie¡¯s gaze returned to Lu Jingshen, and with a mischievous smile, he said, ¡°The fans are too curious. Brother, say a few words.¡±


    Lu Jingshen asked calmly, ¡°What should I say?¡±


    Lu Chixie replied, ¡°Anything, it doesn¡¯t matter. They want to know what type of girl you like. One moment, they¡¯re saying they love me, and the next moment, they want to be with you.¡±


    Knowing that Lu Chixie was intentionally teasing him, Lu Jingshen still didn¡¯t like that kind of joke.


    Suddenly his closed-off heart seemed to open up in an instant. Wild thoughts broke free from their constraints and started to grow uncontrollably outward.


    Images of Feng Si¡¯s smiling eyes kept flashing before his eyes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like girls.¡±


    Before he even realized what he had said, those words were already clearly recorded, along with his slightly impatient expression, all captured honestly by the camera.


    Lu Chixie was surprised, raising an eyebrow. Although he intended to taunt Lu Jingshen, he didn¡¯t expect him to say that on live broadcast.


    Lu Jingshen was stunned for a moment after saying it himself. His heart was hanging high, and his heartbeat almost reached his throat.


    Lu Chixie cleared his throat, trying to change the topic, but Lu Jingshen looked at him and asked, ¡°is this broadcast public to everyone?¡±


    Lu Chixie nodded, ¡°As long as they enter the live broadcast room, they can watch it.¡±


    Lu Jingshen closed his eyes briefly, forcing himself to relax and not pay attention to the surprised gazes of others in the room. He looked towards the camera, where Lu Chixie had pointed before.


    ¡°I¡­,¡± his hands clasped together, his thumb gently rubbing the back of the other hand. As he spoke this word, he paused for a moment before continuing with an effort to maintain a calm tone, ¡°I don¡¯t like girls.¡±


    Behind  the camera, the program¡¯s producers sent pleading glances to Lu Chixie. They wanted the show to be exciting, but it seemed to have gone too far. They were afraid that the live broadcast would get them into trouble later.


    Some even thought about ending the live broadcast immediately, but Lu Chixie shook his head slightly, stepping back, not disturbing Lu Jingshen.


    Various complex emotions surged through Lu Jingshen. He had never imagined that he would reach this point, saying such things in front of the camera.


    But since he had said it, he couldn¡¯t take it back.


    ¡°I like men.¡±


    After laboriously uttering these words, Lu Jingshen suddenly felt like he had let go of all his strength.


    He couldn¡¯t see the barrage of comments on the live stream, nor did he know what others were saying. He forced himself not to think about it or look at the reactions of others in the room. He stared at the camera and continued, ¡°The person I love is a man. I am gay.¡±


    Saying the most embarrassing part seemed to break through a psychological barrier, making the following words easier to say.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s mind gradually regained clarity in the midst of the blankness. He took a deep breath and made an effort to organize his words, ¡°I owe someone an answer that¡¯s been seven years overdue. If he can see this live broadcast, I want to tell him.¡±


    His eyes flickered with sincerity, and even Lu Chixie had never seen Lu Jingshen like this before.


    ¡°Seven years ago, I met you in Africa. Those three months were the freest and happiest time of my life. You asked me if it was love at first sight for me, and I didn¡¯t know or understand at the time. But now I know, yes, it was love at first sight for me. No one else can compare to you. With just one glance, I couldn¡¯t forget you, and I dropped my guard to follow you.¡±


    ¡°But I was still too cowardly. I chose the worst and hurtful way to run away from you. Over these years, I often dreamed about you. The longer the time passed, the clearer the memories of that year became, and the harder it was to forget. When I saw you at the airport that day, I was genuinely surprised. I thought it was just another dream that I could wake up from at any moment. I couldn¡¯t believe it was really you. I dared to dream, and you were the one who could make dreams for me.¡±


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t know that you had been looking for me all this time. Changing jobs over and over again, traveling around the world, all just to find me. You always acted carefree as if nothing mattered to you, and you only mentioned once how sad and difficult it was for you. But I think the pain and torment you¡¯ve gone through all these years are no less than mine. You just didn¡¯t want to complain.¡±


    Lu Chixie moved away from the camera¡¯s view and looked at the barrage of comments. The densely packed words were almost indistinguishable, and the number of viewers was exponentially increasing. Although Lu Jingshen was not a celebrity in the entertainment industry and had been low-key all this time, he carried the aura of being Shang Xin¡¯s CEO and Lu Chixie¡¯s older brother. To publicly come out on a live-streamed variety show and confess to a man, this explosive topic was sure to attract people¡¯s attention.


    The producers were rubbing their hands together, excited, but also worried and anxious. Lu Chixie couldn¡¯t help but laugh when he saw them.


    He took out his phone and messaged Ling Zhuo, ¡°We haven¡¯t come out yet, but my brother just came out on my live stream.¡±


    Ling Zhuo replied instantly, ¡°I¡¯m watching. Brother Shen looks very handsome. Really admirable.¡±


    Lu Chixie: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yeah, he really was.


    Lu Jingshen gently rubbed the leather cord on his wrist and continued, ¡°You went through so much trouble to find me, and I knew I wanted you, but I refused to admit it. Selfishly, I kept you by my side as an assistant and bodyguard, enjoying your efforts without giving you anything in return. We were photographed kissing, and even though you were also a victim, I shifted the blame to you. I didn¡¯t care about your feelings and denied the authenticity of the photos, denying your existence. I know you were really angry that time, but even so, you were willing to give me time.¡±


    ¡°When I went overseas to find you, I didn¡¯t even think about what I should do. I could only rely on your face and attach myself to you shamelessly. Though you drove me away, you were still soft-hearted toward me. Clearly, I was wrong, but you still had to tolerate me in the end. I¡¯m really terrible.¡±


    ¡°You told me not to punish myself by holding onto others¡¯ mistakes, but I really did make mistakes. A psychological disorder is not an excuse to provoke and then escape. I can¡¯t avoid responsibility for what I did wrong. It¡¯s because you were willing to give me another chance that I can stand here today.¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­


    That afternoon, Feng Si had taken the students to a simulated flight training base. After the class ended, the students gathered in groups of two or three outside the convenience store, waiting for the school bus to pick them up.


    Feng Si also bought a bottle of mineral water and checked the time while unscrewing the cap. It was a little past 4 o¡¯clock. Lu Jingshen had said he would pick him up at 5:30, so he should be heading back to change his clothes by now.


    Casually drinking the water, Feng Si recalled Lu Jingshen¡¯s tone on the phone at noon, and a smile appeared on his lips.


    He knew what Lu Jingshen had planned. It had been exactly three months, and Lu Jingshen intended to take him to meet his family officially, no longer just as friends.


    That arrangement was perfect. Lu Jingshen¡¯s psychological issues needed gradual treatment, and there was no need to announce their relationship to the world. As long as he was willing to admit their relationship to his family, it was enough for Feng Si.


    As he was finishing the water, he faintly heard Lu Jingshen¡¯s name mentioned along with phrases like ¡°Lu Chixie¡¯s older brother,¡± ¡°live stream,¡± and ¡°coming out of the closet.¡±


    Two of the only four female flight students were standing outside the convenience store, looking at their phones while whispering. Occasionally, some male students curiously gathered around to watch, causing exclamations.


    Feng Si walked over and asked them, ¡°What are you watching?¡±


    The more lively girl grinned and said, ¡°Lu Chixie¡¯s live stream. His older brother is the CEO of Shang Xin Technology. He just came out of the closet on Lu Chixie¡¯s live stream and confessed to his boyfriend!¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s expression paused, ¡°Can I take a look?¡±


    The girl handed him her phone, and sure enough, the person on the screen was Lu Jingshen. He was sitting in his office, holding his hands together on the desk, clearly nervous to the point of being immobile. Feng Si felt his eyes welling up with tears.


    His heart skipped a beat as he focused on the screen, listening to Lu Jingshen¡¯s confession.


    ¡°You said someone once tried to pursue you and sent you roses for three months. You almost fell for him. I can do what others have done, not just for three months, but forever. I said I wanted to pursue you, but I didn¡¯t know how. Luckily, you were willing to teach me. You¡¯re a good teacher, and I want to be a good student. As long as you¡¯re willing to continue teaching me.¡±


    ¡°I want to make you happy, to stop you from wandering around, to give you a home to look forward to every day after work, to let you feel the warmth and happiness of being loved and adored.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you wait for so long. I¡¯ll make it up to you in the future.¡±


    ¡°And, the most important thing, I love you.¡±


    As the girls looked up, they witnessed the May sunshine blossoming on their instructor¡¯s face.


    Feng Si handed the phone back, said, ¡°You girls should go back to school. I¡¯ll leave first,¡± and without waiting for their reaction, he turned and rushed away.

 CH 56

    The live stream had almost reached the point where it couldn¡¯t be fast-forwarded anymore. Lu Jingshen was completely out of it. Lu Chixie was trying to talk to him, but he kept nodding and shaking his head, not really hearing what the other person was saying.


    Lu Chixie felt helpless, and seeing that the broadcast was almost over, he decided to let Lu Jingshen calm down on his own. He then left with the production staff.


    Before leaving, he reminded Liu Jie, ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone disturb my brother. Let him be alone for a while.¡±


    A few minutes later, the lively office became quiet. Lu Jingshen slumped into his seat, closed his eyes, and his back was covered in cold sweat.


    He had truly said it out loud, and it didn¡¯t seem as difficult as he had imagined. As for what he would face next, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to think about it at the moment.


    Closing his eyes to clear his mind, Lu Jingshen gradually calmed down. He got up and went to the restroom to wash his face, splashing ice-cold water on himself. He looked at his reflection in the mirror, and his eyes seemed to have a bright light, a gift from Feng Si.


    His lips slowly curled up, and he looked at himself in the mirror, laughing from the bottom of his heart for the first time.


    Feng Si arrived at the entrance of Shang Xin¡¯s building at five o¡¯clock, a little before the end of work hours. He called Lu Jingshen before getting off the car.


    Without saying anything else, he asked, ¡°I¡¯ll be at your company in a moment. Can I come up to your office?¡±


    ¡°Are you already here?¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s tone was the same as usual. ¡°You can come up yourself, or should I send someone down to pick you up?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°No need for that. I¡¯ll come up myself. Let¡¯s talk when I get there.¡±


    Hanging up the phone, Feng Si entered Shang Xin¡¯s building. He no longer had an employee card there, so he couldn¡¯t use the elevators directly. He went straight to the front desk.


    The girls at the front desk were huddled together, watching the recorded video of Lu Jingshen¡¯s live stream confession. Feng Si greeted them and asked, ¡°Excuse me¡­¡±


    The girls looked up, and their eyes widened in surprise as they saw the person who was just talked about in the live stream confession. One of them was so shocked that she almost dropped her phone. She quickly regained her composure and turned off the screen.


    Feng Si calmly asked, ¡°I don¡¯t have an employee card. Can I be allowed in?¡±


    Everyone in the building recognized Feng Si; after all, many people had secretly saved the group photo that was leaked previously.


    ¡°Of course you can!¡±


    The floor supervisor came out and led him to the elevator, helping him swipe his access card to unlock the floor.


    Feng Si smiled and thanked him before taking the elevator.


    Five minutes later, he entered Lu Jingshen¡¯s secretary¡¯s office, and countless pairs of eyes fell on him.


    The last time he had attracted so much attention was when the photo was exposed. After leaving Lu Jingshen¡¯s office in disappointment that day, he didn¡¯t expect to return after four months and find himself in the same situation again.


    This time was even more exaggerated than the last. After all, half an hour ago, Lu Jingshen had come out of the closet on a live stream in front of everyone.


    Although he didn¡¯t explicitly state who he was confessing to, everyone in that office knew it could only be Feng Si.


    Liu Jie greeted him and looked a little embarrassed seeing him, clearing her throat and saying, ¡°Boss is in his office.¡±


    Feng Si calmly greeted her, ¡°Secretary Liu, long time no see.¡±


    Liu Jie replied, ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    Indeed, it had been a while.


    Feng Si paid no attention to the curious gazes and walked confidently to Lu Jingshen¡¯s office, knocking on the door before entering.


    Lu Jingshen was still looking at some documents, and his expression was as usual. When he heard the sound, he glanced up at Feng Si and then returned to his work.


    Feng Si walked closer, circled around to the other side of the desk, and, just like many times before, leaned against the edge of the desk, looking at Lu Jingshen with his gaze slowly wandering over his face.


    ¡°I thought I would come in and find you regretting and brooding,¡± Feng Si teased.


    Lu Jingshen had already calmed down, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit embarrassed again after Feng Si¡¯s remark. ¡°You saw the live stream¡­¡±


    ¡°How could i not,¡± Feng Si said, ¡°Your brother said it¡¯s already on the headlines of various apps. Alex, you¡¯re a celebrity now.¡±


    Lu Jingshen frowned slightly, and Feng Si reached over and smoothed out the wrinkles on his forehead. ¡°Do you regret it? Saying all those things in the live stream, do you feel you were too impulsive? You could have just told me in person.¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked up, his tone a little rigid, ¡°I don¡¯t regret it.¡±


    Now that he had said it, he hadn¡¯t even thought about regretting it.


    Feng Si looked slightly surprised, ¡°You made such a big declaration today?¡±


    Although it was difficult for him, he couldn¡¯t help but like Lu Jingshen all the more, who went to such great lengths to give him a sense of security.


    Lu Jingshen asked, ¡°how do you feel about my public confession?¡±


    Feng Si appeased him, ¡°I¡¯m very happy, pleasantly surprised. I wish I could come over and give you a kiss right away.¡±


    He had indeed come over right away, but now that he saw him, he couldn¡¯t help but tease him instead.


    Closing the documents on his desk, Lu Jingshen reached out and tightly grabbed the collar of Feng Si¡¯s shirt.


    Feng Si stumbled forward a step, forced to bend down with his hands on the sides of Lu Jingshen¡¯s chair, but his smile remained unchanged.


    Lu Jingshen looked up, wanting to kiss him, but Feng Si had already taken the initiative and kissed him first.


    Their tongues intertwined and Lu Jingshen kissed him with an impatient intensity. Feeling this, Feng Si gently pressed the back of Lu Jingshen¡¯s head, entwining their tongues in a soothing and teasing manner, then pushed further into his mouth, intentionally stimulating the most sensitive areas between their lips and tongues.


    Gradually, Lu Jingshen¡¯s emotions stabilized, and the kiss changed from a simple venting to a tender and lingering moment. His hands wrapped around Feng Si¡¯s neck, pulling him closer.


    The position was a bit inconvenient for Feng Si, so he swept the documents off Lu Jingshen¡¯s desk without waiting for Lu Jingshen¡¯s reaction, then lifted him and placed him on the desk.


    Lu Jingshen frowned, some of the important documents on his desk were now scattered all over the place.


    ¡°Focus on me,¡± Feng Si said, his arms pressed on both sides of Lu Jingshen¡¯s body as he leaned down to kiss him again.


    With Feng Si¡¯s lips on his, Lu Jingshen¡¯s body involuntarily leaned backward, and he could only hold Feng Si¡¯s shoulders tightly to maintain his balance.


    The kiss became more intense, different from the wild and unrestrained way Feng Si kissed him last night when he was drunk. After completely expressing their feelings, they both couldn¡¯t help but be eager to release their emotions through this intimate act.


    But unfortunately, the location was not right. Feng Si didn¡¯t mind having some office play, but they didn¡¯t have enough time.


    Their lips pressed together, and Feng Si reminded Lu Jingshen, ¡°Say what you said before.¡±


    Lu Jingshen breathed heavily, asking, ¡°Which part?¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°The most important part.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s throat rolled, he stared into Feng Si¡¯s eyes, and finally said, ¡°I love you.¡±


    Feng Si smiled softly and continued kissing him.


    At half past five, Lu Jingshen left work early.


    As he walked out of the office, he kept his head up and walked quickly toward the elevator. Feng Si followed behind him, just like before, his hands in his pockets, looking relaxed and lazy, but intentionally walking on Lu Jingshen¡¯s right side, blocking those seemingly casual glances that were directed at him.


    Liu Jie also followed, but as usual, Feng Si stood in front of the elevator, blocking her from entering. ¡°Secretary Liu, it¡¯s Friday . Let everyone early, including yourself. Go home early and have a happy weekend with your boyfriend.¡±


    Liu Jie had nothing to say.


    The elevator door closed, and Feng Si put one hand on Lu Jingshen¡¯s back, reminding him, ¡°Take a deep breath and relax.¡±


    Lu Jingshen shook his head slightly, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Feng Si asked, ¡°Are you really okay?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°yes.¡±


    Feng Si patted his back lightly, ¡°alright.¡±


    Lu Jingshen relaxed, ¡°Hmm.¡±


    They had the driver leave work early too, and they drove back to Lu Jingshen¡¯s parents¡¯ house together.


    ¡°You said you had something to tell me before. Can you tell me now?¡± There was some traffic on the way, and Feng Si turned his head to smile and asked the person beside him.


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°I already said everything.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Feng Si raised an eyebrow, ¡°You don¡¯t have anything else to say?¡±


    Lu Jingshen thought for a moment and asked him, ¡°What¡¯s our relationship now?¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°It¡¯s up to you.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Lu Jingshen said without hesitation, ¡°You are my boyfriend. Now that I¡¯m taking you to meet my family, we can consider our relationship confirmed. Can you move in with me? My place is not far from the university, only about half an hour¡¯s drive away. Is that okay?¡±


    The cars that were stuck in traffic finally started moving, and Feng Si stepped on the accelerator. ¡°Go with me to the university tomorrow to move some things.¡±


    On their way, they passed a large shopping mall, and Feng Si drove the car into the ground parking lot. ¡°Let¡¯s buy something.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was puzzled, ¡°Buy what?¡±


    Feng Si unbuckled his seatbelt, ¡°It¡¯s my first official visit to your house. I can¡¯t go empty-handed, can I?¡±


    Lu Jingshen felt it was unnecessary, ¡°We have everything at home.¡±


    ¡°I know your family has everything,¡± Feng Si said, ¡°But Chinese people pay attention to these things, and it¡¯s customary to bring a gift when visiting someone¡¯s home.¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°¡­But you don¡¯t seem like a Chinese person.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°Even a fake foreigner should adapt to local customs.¡±


    In the end, he bought two bottles of good wine and some fruits. He decided against buying cigarettes since Lu Jingshen¡¯s father had health issues, and they were also trying to quit smoking.


    When Feng Si got back into the car with the wine, he smiled at Lu Jingshen, ¡°Do I look like someone going to propose?¡±


    Lu Jingshen glanced at him, ¡°If you propose like this, my dad might not agree.¡±


    Feng Si didn¡¯t believe it, ¡°Why? I think your dad was quite satisfied with me last time.¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°He prefers people like Chen Sen, who have a refined and scholarly personality.¡±


    He was talking about Lu Jingqing¡¯s boyfriend, who was elegant, scholarly, and the kind of son-in-law his father would prefer. A rogue like Feng Si was out of the question.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t care.¡± Well, okay, I may not fit the criteria, but I¡¯m not here to marry your sister. Your parents¡¯ requirements can¡¯t be that high, right?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t want to banter with him, so he said, ¡°I like you, that¡¯s all that matters. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Feng Si smirked, fastened his seatbelt again, and started the car.


    They weren¡¯t the first ones to arrive home. After Lu Chixie finished his live stream, he went straight to pick up Ling Zhuo, who was now with An Xin watching the recording of Lu Jingshen¡¯s afternoon live stream. They paused the video when they heard the footsteps of Lu Jingshen and Feng Si entering the house.


    Feng Si first greeted An Xin and brought the gifts. An Xin happily accepted them, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so polite. Just come and have a casual meal next time, no need to buy any gift.¡±


    Feng Si nodded with a smile, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes swept over the table, and Lu Chixie raised his chin at him, ¡°The trending topic about you has been suppressed, and the editors will cut out your part. However, the screen recording is all over the place, nothing can be done about it, but don¡¯t worry, the heat will die down in a few days.¡±


    Lu Jingshen thanked him.


    Lu Chixie waved his hand, ¡°No need to thank me. I did it all because of Feng Si. He was afraid people would gossip and talk bad about you.¡±


    However, Feng Si had also asked him for the high-definition recording of that segment, but Lu Chixie didn¡¯t bother to mention that.


    Lu Jingshen turned his head and looked at Feng Si, who winked at him.


    An Xin sighed, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that Ah Shen would say those things so openly. It¡¯s not easy.¡±


    Ling Zhuo chimed in, ¡°He looked really handsome when he said those things. Truly admirable.¡±


    ¡°You guys, stop it,¡± Lu Chixie chuckled, ¡°Or else, Ah Shen will dig a hole and bury himself.¡±


    Lu Jingshen still wasn¡¯t used to joking with his family and found an excuse to go outside.


    Feng Si followed him out and put a hand on his shoulder, ¡°You were quite eloquent in the afternoon. Are you feeling embarrassed after being teased by your family?¡±


    Lu Jingshen remained silent, and Feng Si held back a laugh, ¡°Alex, you¡¯re quite amusing.¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°¡­Not really.¡±


    ¡°You are,¡± Feng Si gently tapped his shoulder, ¡°You did great today, but you don¡¯t have to pretend to be calm and suave in front of me. If you feel uncomfortable, just say it. Even for an ordinary person, coming out in public like that is not easy. I know you don¡¯t regret it, but it can still be awkward. Don¡¯t force yourself. Though I¡¯m really happy, you don¡¯t need to pressure yourself. This is already good enough.¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked at him, his eyes shining brightly in the night.


    Feng Si continued, ¡°Seriously, just relax.¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded lightly, ¡°okay.¡±


    After Lu Jingqing arrived with her boyfriend, they all sat down to have dinner together.


    During the meal, Lu Jingshen introduced Feng Si formally again, and the phrase ¡°we are dating¡± was said by Feng Si. He was afraid Lu Jingshen would feel awkward saying it, so he said it for him.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s father remained calm and asked, ¡°What are your plans for the future?¡±


    Feng Si replied, ¡°I heard that Jingqing and her partner plan to get married this year. Alex and I are at the age when we should consider getting married as well.¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked at him, a fleeting surprise in his eyes.


    He didn¡¯t know that Feng Si had already considered taking this step, but he didn¡¯t object.


    Lu Chixie asked, ¡°¡­How will you get married?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s father also furrowed his brows; it seemed he had the same question.


    Feng Si explained, ¡°I have British nationality, so I can get married legally. At least, it will be legally binding for me.¡±


    An Xin smiled, ¡°Then that¡¯s good.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s wait until Jingqing¡¯s wedding is over. Alex is probably busy now and won¡¯t have time to go to the UK with me.¡±


    Lu Jingqing was speechless. Feng Si, stop calling me by my name so intimately.


    After leaving Lu¡¯s family villa, Lu Jingshen took over the driving.


    Feng Si counted the two red envelopes in his hand, ¡°Your parents are quite generous. We got red envelopes just for having dinner at their place.¡±


    One was for him, as a formal gift for meeting the family, and the other was for Lu Jingshen. It was a tradition in their family, a reward for being no longer single. He was the last among the three siblings to receive it.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t pay attention to him and was still thinking about what Feng Si had said about marriage at the dinner table.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Feng Si reached out and waved in front of his eyes. ¡°The traffic light is green.¡±


    Lu Jingshen came back to his senses and didn¡¯t say anything, stepping on the gas pedal again.


    Back at Mingyue Bay, Lu Jingshen remained silent even in the elevator until they entered the door.


    Before the room lights turned on, in the darkness, his hand touched Feng Si¡¯s chest, and his hot breath approached as he asked in a husky voice, ¡°What do you want to do?¡±

 CH 57

    When Lu Jingshen approached, Feng Si crossed his long legs and leaned against the wall without moving.


    In the dim light, he couldn¡¯t see Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression, but he could feel the warmth of the hands roaming on his chest.


    Fiery and sticky.


    ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s breath stopped at the edge of his lips.


    Feng Si lifted a hand and slowly unbuttoned the top button of Lu JIngshen¡¯s shirt, teasingly brushing his Adam¡¯s apple, sensing his breath becoming more rapid, and chuckled softly, ¡°Can¡¯t wait anymore?¡±


    Occasionally, Lu Jingshen really disliked Feng Si¡¯s casual attitude, always seeming to be in control, especially when he was so eager, his body craving for him, but Feng Si remained composed, as if intentionally teasing him.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t answer and silently took off his tie, unbuttoned his suit jacket, casually throwing it to the ground, and unbuttoned Feng Si¡¯s shirt one button after the other.


    As Lu Jingshen unbuttoned Feng Si¡¯s shirt, his hand moved to the zipper of his pants. Feng Si, who had been still, finally raised his hand, grabbed Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist, and switched their positions, pressing him against the wall with one leg between his.


    With a knee thrust upwards, Lu Jingshen let out a heavy breath, and Feng Si¡¯s voice fell near his ear, ¡°Okay, let me take charge.¡±


    Right there at the door, even without turning on the lights, clothes fell one by one, and their naked bodies entwined together.


    The sense of urgency was not only from Lu Jingshen.


    ¡°The stuff is in the room¡­¡± Lu Jingshen gasped, reminding Feng Si who was igniting his body with his hands.


    ¡°We won¡¯t need it,¡± Feng Si¡¯s voice was hoarse, ¡°you get wet so easily, you don¡¯t need lubricant at the moment.¡±


    The darkness covered Lu Jingshen¡¯s embarrassment. He was indeed very sensitive, from years ago until now, always easily aroused by Feng Si, overwhelming him..


    ¡°Don¡¯t be embarrassed,¡± as if seeing through his thoughts, Feng Si¡¯s voice was gentle, and his fingers gently stroked Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist, feeling the slight tremor of his body. He couldn¡¯t help but be infatuated, ¡°Your waist is so sensitive, just a touch makes you shiver. Such a wonderful body, not everyone has it. What¡¯s wrong with that? Besides, only I can enjoy it anyway.¡±


    Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t stand his explicit and vulgar words. His throat rolled, ¡°Stop talking¡­¡±


    Feng Si laughed and his restless hand moved to knead his firm and rounded ass cheeks, then lightly patted, ¡± so soft and round. I¡¯m afraid even women can¡¯t compare.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Lu Jingshen said as he hugged Feng Si¡¯s neck and kissed him to silence his never-ending words.


    Feng Si obediently opened his lips, exchanging a passionate and hot kiss with him.


    He lifted one of Lu Jingshen¡¯s legs, entwining it around his waist, their bodies pressing against each other.


    Lu Jingshen moaned, unable to control himself as he leaned his head back, his fingers digging deep into Feng Si¡¯s shoulders.


    The feeling he hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time, both painful and pleasurable, made him feel alive and on the verge of collapse; it was all brought on by Feng Si.


    There was no barrier between them now; he was completely possessed by this man.


    The man he relied on, loved, and was deeply in love with.


    Standing like this, they were soon covered in sweat all over, and when it became too intense to bear, Feng Si suddenly stopped, forcefully holding Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist and pressing his body closer.


    Sweat-soaked hair covered Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes, and he could only hear his own hoarse voice, ¡°Don¡¯t stop¡­¡±


    Feng Si bit his hot earlobe, his sexy voice falling into his ears one word at a time, ¡°Together.¡±


    From the hallway to the living room, then to the bedroom, and the bathroom, Lu Jingshen experienced a feeling of trembling and convulsion that affected even his soul.


    If tomorrow were the end of the world, he would willingly go together with the man who was embracing him at this moment.


    At midnight, Feng Si leaned against the head of the bed, lit a cigarette, and enjoyed the act of inhaling and exhaling with half-closed eyes.


    Lu Jingshen was too exhausted even to lift his fingers, lying on the bed quietly watching his profile. Feng Si¡¯s eyes and eyebrows carried a lazy contentment. Amidst the swirling smoke, there was an indescribable charm.


    ¡°You said you were going to quit smoking,¡± Lu Jingshen said.


    ¡°I did. It¡¯s just occasionally,¡± Feng Si glanced over at him, ¡°Do you want to try?¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded slowly, and Feng Si handed his cigarette to his lips. Lu Jingshen stared at the damp tip of the cigarette and gently bit it.


    The taste of smoke filled his lungs, mixed with the scent of the man beside him, and Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyelashes trembled. The desire that had just subsided seemed to rise again.


    His gaze fixed, he stared at Feng Si¡¯s deep eyes that were looking back at him. He couldn¡¯t say a word.


    Feng Si was also looking at him, the man who had just been lying on the bed after their intense encounter, his entire body seemed soaked in raw desire. His eyes unconsciously wandered around, matched with the redness at the corners of his eyes due to the smoke, innocent and seductive.


    Lu Jingshen was always like this, seemingly restrained and cold on the surface, but the passion and heat hidden beneath, only Feng Si knew, only he had tasted. That was why he couldn¡¯t resist, couldn¡¯t forget.


    Lu Jingshen took the cigarette from his mouth and put it out in the ashtray on the bedside table. Feng Si turned over and pressed his strong chest against Lu Jingshen¡¯s, and their fingers entwined as they exchanged a wet kiss with the taste of tobacco.


    ¡°Ah Shen¡­¡±


    Their lips were pressed together, and Feng Si murmured his name.


    Lu Jingshen felt a bit excited and mumbled a response, pulling him closer to continue kissing.


    Their bodies rubbed and collided, and the bed beneath them shook intensely as their passion continued to burn.


    The night was still young.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    The next morning, after finishing breakfast, they went out together to Feng Si¡¯s dormitory at the university and helped him move.


    Lu Jingshen hesitated when faced with the seven or eight suitcases. Feng Si was squatting on the side, packing his clothes, and casually said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ve called a moving company, and they will be here in half an hour to take these things away first.¡±


    Those suitcases had never been opened; it was as if Feng Si knew from the beginning that he wouldn¡¯t stay there for long.


    ¡°By the way, will you go with me to buy a car later?¡± Feng Si said.


    ¡°A car?¡± Lu Jingshen asked.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Feng Si nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t take a taxi every day after moving to your place. Also your cars are all too expensive, even the cheapest one is over two million. It¡¯s too flashy. I¡¯ll just buy a cheap car for daily use.¡±


    Since Feng Si said so, Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t object. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, ¡°Is your salary enough?¡±


    The relationship between them now was such that Feng Si still fulfilled his previous contract and tried to accompany Lu Jingshen on business trips whenever he could. But Feng Si had already told him not to pay him anymore, so the only income he had was from the university, which was definitely far less than what he earned from piloting private planes.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not enough? Will you sponsor me?¡± Feng Si joked with a raised eyebrow.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t know how to respond. In fact, he thought it was possible, but a man like Feng Si definitely wouldn¡¯t accept that. Getting another job was probably because he didn¡¯t want their relationship to involve money.


    Seeing Lu Jingshen¡¯s conflicted expression, Feng Si laughed and then said seriously, ¡°Alex, my current annual salary is over four hundred thousand, which is far less than before, and I can¡¯t compete with your lavish spending. But compared to ordinary people, it¡¯s still more than enough. It¡¯s not as bad as you think, and I also have some savings. I¡¯m planning to buy an apartment here in the future.¡±


    Lu Jingshen instinctively asked, ¡°You want to buy a house?¡±


    Feng Si explained, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t intend to live separately from you.  What I mean is, in a couple of years, Tingting will graduate from her postgraduate studies and come here to develop her career. My mom will also move here, so I plan to buy an apartment for them to live in.¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded. ¡°But your mom is from the south. Will she be able to adjust here?¡±


    ¡°She has been in London for thirty years. There¡¯s nothing she can¡¯t adjust to,¡± Feng Si said nonchalantly. ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. After all, her son married here.¡±


    Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t stand his nonsense and finally said after a long pause, ¡°Congratulations, your New Year¡¯s wish was fulfilled in the first half of the year.¡±


    Lu Jingshen joked about it on New Year¡¯s Day morning, and he didn¡¯t expect Lu Jingshen to remember it until now.


    Feng Si burst into laughter. ¡°Thank you for your cooperation, Alex.¡±


    Twenty minutes later, the moving company arrived, and they moved the larger items first.


    The rest of the things were loaded into Lu Jingshen¡¯s car and transported in two trips.


    When they were about to leave, they ran into one of Feng Si¡¯s colleagues who also lived in the dorms there. When the colleague heard that Feng Si was moving off-campus, he was a bit surprised, but Feng Si didn¡¯t explain much and chatted with the person for a few words before getting into the car.


    Lu Jingshen started the car and drove out. After a while, he hesitated and asked Feng Si, ¡°Will yesterday¡¯s live stream affect you in any way?¡±


    Feng Si smiled. ¡°Are you worried about that now? Weren¡¯t you quite talkative yesterday?¡±


    Lu Jingshen was indeed worried. After all, Feng Si was working in this environment, and exposure of his sexual orientation would be more troublesome than his.


    Feng Si had previously said that he really liked this job.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You didn¡¯t mention any names, so others won¡¯t know it¡¯s me. Besides, they¡¯re not the kind of people who are interested in gossip,¡± Feng Si said, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Just let things flow naturally.¡±


    Afterward, they went directly to a car dealership, chose a car model, and paid a deposit. The car would be ready for pickup in three days.


    As it was close to noon, they looked for a place to eat at a nearby mall. When they parked in the underground parking lot, they unexpectedly ran into someone they knew.


    It was Jiang Heng, the person who had publicly confessed his feelings to Lu Jingshen before and was rejected by him, leading to the end of their friendship.


    As they got out of the car, the person called out Lu Jingshen¡¯s name and approached them.


    Lu Jingshen frowned upon seeing him. Jiang Heng greeted him and then turned his gaze to Feng Si, who got out of the car a step later, his expression complex.


    ¡°What a coincidence. I didn¡¯t expect to meet you here. Are you here to eat? I¡¯ve also made plans with Song Ming and the others. Do you want to join us?¡± Jiang Heng said.


    He was referring to some other friends that Lu Jingshen also knew. Lu Jingshen directly declined, saying coldly, ¡°No need. I already have plans with someone else.¡±


    Jiang Heng blurted out, ¡°I saw your livestream yesterday.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s face froze for a moment but didn¡¯t respond.


    Jiang Heng continued, ¡°I was actually quite surprised. I always thought that after you rejected me and cut off ties with me, it was because you were repulsed and disgusted by such a relationship. I didn¡¯t expect that you were okay with it, but just not with me. It makes me feel dejected. Can you tell me the reason?¡±


    In fact, it wasn¡¯t the case. Lu Jingshen only accepted Feng Si and wouldn¡¯t accept anyone else.


    Lu Jingshen wasn¡¯t interested in standing there discussing his sexual orientation with someone, so Feng Si called out from the front of the car, ¡°Alex, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Lu Jingshen told Jiang Heng, ¡°I have to go. I¡¯ll leave first,¡± and quickly walked up to catch up with Feng Si.


    When they entered the elevator, Feng Si glanced back at Jiang Heng and pressed the door close button.


    As the elevator ascended, Lu Jingshen took the initiative to explain, ¡°Initially, I cut off ties with him because I was afraid of exposing my sexual orientation. Also, he didn¡¯t inform me beforehand and had so many people cheering him on when he confessed to me, which made me feel embarrassed.¡±


    Feng Si nodded, ¡°I see. And now?¡±


    Lu Jingshen thought for a moment and said, ¡°He has been rude to you, never looking at you directly. I know him pretty well; he¡¯s the type of person who looks down on others and thinks you¡¯re not rich enough to be part of their so-called circle.¡±


    Feng Si reminded him, ¡°Alex, is it appropriate to say you know other men while I¡¯m here?¡±


    Feng Si was always like this, bringing up irrelevant topics at any time. Lu Jingshen shook his head slightly, ¡°Is that all you want to focus on?¡±


    Feng Si smiled, ¡°I am playing with you. It¡¯s good that you also look down on someone who looks down on your man.¡±


    ¡°Alright, there¡¯s no need to bother with such a person,¡± Feng Si smiled but then said seriously, ¡°But Alex, besides me, you can also try making other friends. Next time, I¡¯ll go out with my friends. Would you like to come along? Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t be a chaotic place. I¡¯ve deleted all those random people as I promised.¡±


    He handed his phone to Lu Jingshen, ¡°Or you can check for yourself?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t take the phone, ¡°No need to check, I trust you.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to appear too concerned about those matters, even though he did care.


    People like Jiang Heng, and others like him didn¡¯t realize that Lu Jingshen who was wealthier than the vast majority of people in material terms, had been lacking in his love life, and only Feng Si¡¯s appearance was the only bright spot in it.


    The line of poetry on the postcard sent from Norway was the most appropriate expression for his state of mind.


    Feng Si was his last and only rose.


    No one could despise the person he loved. He had bravely confessed in front of the camera to give Feng Si a sense of security. But he knew that he was the one who needed that security, the approval of Feng Si, and the proof that Feng Si was his.


    From one extreme to another, such a crazy idea might be the beginning of another kind of mental illness, but he didn¡¯t care.


    With Feng Si in his world, it became sunny and evergreen. He would give his all to make Feng Si stay with him for a long time.


    ¡°Alex?¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s voice brought Lu Jingshen back to reality. The elevator door had opened, and Lu Jingshen smiled at him, ¡°Let¡¯s go, what do you want to eat?¡±


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow in surprise, ¡°You actually smiled?¡±


    It was the first time he had seen Lu Jingshen genuinely smile, not the perfunctory smile he showed to business partners but a warm, happy smile that was only for him.


    Lu Jingshen calmly replied, ¡°Is it not allowed?¡±


    Of course, it was allowed. If they weren¡¯t in public, Feng Si would have tightly hugged him.


    ¡°Alex, you look so sexy right now,¡± Feng Si teased, his tone full of laughter, like he was really happy.


    Lu Jingshen, still smiling, asked again, ¡°What do you want to eat?¡±


    ¡°Western cuisine, there¡¯s a place just ahead,¡± Feng Si casually pointed.


    Originally, he hadn¡¯t planned to choose that place, but now he just wanted to find a quiet, undisturbed private room to touch and hug the person beside him.


    Even a simple touch would do.


    Lu Jingshen nodded.


    Looking at the reflection of himself in Feng Si¡¯s smiling eyes, he slowly relaxed. He seemed to have learned another way to make Feng Si happy.


    He would work harder to make Feng Si look at him and only look at him

 CH 58

    Early in the morning, Lu Jingshen finished washing up and came out of the shower. Feng Si was buttoning up his shirt, preparing to go out.


    Lu Jingshen had to go on a business trip to the south that day, leaving on Friday and returning on Sunday to attend a technology expo over there. Feng Si specially swapped shifts with his colleagues to accompany him. Now he had to go to the airport to make preparations.


    Lu Jingshen walked up to him and picked up his tie to help him put it on.


    With his hands in his pockets, Feng Si smiled as he looked at him.


    Lu Jingshen focused on his task and, when he raised his eyes, met Feng Si¡¯s calm and smiling gaze, causing his hands to pause for a moment. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°It seems like you¡¯re becoming more considerate. Does everyone know that the commanding boss Lu can be like this in private?¡± Feng Si asked with a smile.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t want to entertain his irrelevant remarks, so after finishing tying the tie, he picked up Feng Si¡¯s pilot¡¯s uniform jacket and helped him put it on. Finally, he handed the pilot¡¯s cap over, saying, ¡°Be careful on the way.¡±


    Feng Si held back his playful thoughts and reminded him, ¡°Breakfast is ready, go eat something. I¡¯ll leave first.¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded.


    As Feng Si was about to leave, he suddenly turned back, pulled Lu Jingshen into his arms, and kissed him affectionately.


    When their lips separated, he whispered, ¡°See you at the airport later.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s breath was uneven. ¡°Hmm.¡±


    At 9 o¡¯clock, the business car stopped outside the private jet terminal at the airport. Lu Jingshen got out of the car and walked in with determined steps.


    On the tarmac outside the glass curtain wall, Feng Si was doing a pre-flight inspection. At the sight of him, Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze remained fixed on him and didn¡¯t move away.


    Liu Jie reported that day¡¯s schedule to Lu Jingshen and, seeing that he didn¡¯t respond, followed his line of sight and was instantly speechless.


    Lu Jingshen was watching Feng Si, and the scene seemed to overlap with a year ago.


    Back then, it was a mix of surprise, hesitation, and uncertainty. Now, all he felt was an overwhelming eagerness. He didn¡¯t dare to be too obvious, fearing he would become less like himself.


    Liu Jie silently stopped speaking, secretly relieved that the person outside was no longer working for their boss. Otherwise, their work efficiency would have decreased significantly with such a sight every day.


    Fifteen minutes later, Lu Jingshen boarded the jet, and Feng Si, along with others, greeted him at the cabin door.


    Underneath the pilot¡¯s cap, Feng Si¡¯s narrow eyes were filled with a bright and affectionate smile as he looked at Lu Jingshen. Lu Jingshen met his gaze and nodded slightly before walking into the cabin.


    Ling Ling¡¯s heartbeat accelerated inexplicably. It seemed as if she had just seen Lu Jingshen smile, but it might have been her imagination, it happened so quickly.


    Before takeoff, Feng Si made an announcement as the pilot.


    Private jets typically skipped this step, but he did it, reminding passengers to fasten their seatbelts and be prepared. His tone was light and gentle, like the tender murmurs between lovers.


    ¡°The weather is lovely today, with clear blue skies and no clouds. We¡¯ll be taking off soon. Remember to look out the window.¡±


    As the plane lifted off the runway, Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze turned to the window.


    The sky was clear, and he and the person in the cockpit saw the same scenery.


    The two-hour flight passed in the blink of an eye.


    After landing, they had a simple meal, and in the afternoon, Lu Jingshen had a business meeting with an investor from this side. The meeting was held at the investor¡¯s office.


    Originally, they planned for the negotiation to last for an hour, but it dragged on for the whole afternoon. The other party liked to beat around the bush, and his speech was full of vague references. Lu Jingshen was least patient with dealing with such people, but that business deal had been personally arranged by his father. Even if he was impatient, he had to sit there and listen.


    It was already past five o¡¯clock when they finally concluded. The other party invited them to have dinner together as a gesture of hospitality, and Lu Jingshen had no choice but to agree.


    The venue was a private club, and on the way there, Feng Si was bored, playing with his phone, and casually commented to Lu Jingshen and also those around him, ¡°Dealing with these so-called pseudo-intellectuals with half-baked knowledge is so boring, a waste of time.¡±


    The investor with the surname Huang liked to use quotes and allusions to showcase his vast knowledge, especially fond of making historical references. However, he had only a shallow understanding, and even Feng Si, who hadn¡¯t read many Chinese books, could easily spot the flaws in his arguments, not to mention others. Lu Jingshen¡¯s patience had almost run out after spending the whole afternoon with him, even though he had a good temper, his patience was limited.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about dealing with him, it¡¯s about dealing with the money,¡± Lu Jingshen replied calmly.


    Feng Si was surprised and laughed, ¡°Oh? That sounds like something boss Lu would say.¡±


    Lu Jingshen reminded him, ¡°If you find it annoying, It¡¯s okay to go back to the hotel and rest.¡±


    Feng Si refused, ¡°What would you do if I leave?¡±


    Without waiting for Lu Jingshen to answer, Feng Si continued, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what, those pseudo-intellectuals like Mr. Huang will reveal their true colors at the dinner table. You might have a harder time dealing with him later.¡±


    Lu Jingshen frowned, unsure whether to believe him or not.


    Liu Jie, who was in the front seat, didn¡¯t think much of it. She had been through thick and thin with Lu Jingshen and had seen much worse situations. She didn¡¯t believe that Mr. Huang could scare them.


    The ¡°true colors¡± Feng Si mentioned probably referred to Mr. Huang trying to keep forcing them to drink or telling vulgar jokes, things they had encountered many times before, and they were always able to handle them with ease.


    However, Liu Jie underestimated Mr. Huang¡¯s character this time. After downing three glasses of white wine, he became intoxicated and started making suggestive remarks. Even in that seemingly formal club, there were hostesses and male attendants for hire.


    He didn¡¯t give them a chance to refuse and directly called them in.


    Dressed up like dandies, those male attendants entered the room with smiles on their faces.


    Mr. Huang was evidently a regular there. He chatted and laughed with the hostess sitting next to him, feeling very comfortable and pleased.


    Sitting beside Lu Jingshen was one of the male attendants.


    The attendant raised his glass to toast him, trying to please him. Lu Jingshen¡¯s face immediately turned cold.


    In the past, when he attended social events, he had encountered situations like this, but that was the first time someone had arranged a man for him.


    His sexual orientation was now known to everyone, and although not many people would be rude enough to mention it to his face, there were always those who wanted to gossip or tease him. So, when arranging something like this, they probably thought they were being considerate to him.


    Seeing that Lu Jingshen remained silent with a cold expression, the male attendant carefully observed his reaction and tentatively approached him, saying, ¡± Mr Lu ¡­¡±


    The next second, Feng Si¡¯s hand clamped down on his wrist. The male attendant looked astonished as Lu Jingshen¡¯s companion, who was sitting beside him, gave him a half-smile and pushed his hand away lightly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr Lu can¡¯t handle your type of alcohol, and the perfume on you is too strong, affecting him.¡±


    The male attendant was taken aback for a moment and awkwardly backed away, not daring to approach Lu Jingshen again.


    Mr. Huang¡¯s cloudy eyes turned around and he asked Lu Jingshen, ¡°Do you not like him? How about I call a few more people for you to choose from?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied coldly, ¡°No need, it¡¯s not necessary.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Huang, let me toast you,¡± Feng Si said, pretending to offer a toast but didn¡¯t even stand up. He just tapped his glass on the table, gesturing to the other party, ¡°Mr Lu over here isn¡¯t feeling well these past two days, can¡¯t drink much. I¡¯ll drink on his behalf, I hope you understand.¡±


    Only then did the other party give Lu Jingshen¡¯s assistant a proper look. Squinting his eyes, he stared at Feng Si for a while, as if he understood something, and then smiled, ¡°It¡¯s my mistake, I should be the understanding one. I¡¯ll drink the wine, and if I¡¯ve upset Mr Lu, I¡¯ll punish myself with three more glasses.¡±


    The business dinner ended, and it was almost nine o¡¯clock when they left the club.


    Sitting in the car, Lu Jingshen loosened his tie and instructed Liu Jie, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see this person again in the future. Follow up on the deal, but if it doesn¡¯t work out, just forget it.¡±


    Liu Jie wanted to advise him, but she hesitated and didn¡¯t say anything more.


    Feng Si reached over, helped him loosen his tie, and unbuttoned a button on his shirt. He asked in a low voice, ¡°Alex, you said we¡¯re just dealing with money. Why did you change your mind so quickly?¡±


    Lu jing Shen leaned back in his seat, motionless, watching him without speaking.


    Feng si¡¯s fingers lightly teased and scraped along his face.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s gaze was alluring, but unfortunately, there were other people in the car, and they couldn¡¯t do anything.


    Liu Jie glanced at them, then quietly turned her head, pretending she didn¡¯t exist.


    After a while, Lujing Shen grabbed Feng si¡¯s hand and said slowly, ¡°Dealing with people who only rely on wine and women for business won¡¯t lead to any significant  progress. There¡¯s nothing to regret about not cooperating with such people.¡±


    Feng si chuckled softly, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right.¡±


    Back at the hotel, as soon as Lujing Shen entered the room, he intended to take a shower, but Feng si stopped him, reaching out to rub his face, ¡°Did you get drunk?¡±


    Lujing Shen had drunk a few glasses of strong white wine at the dinner table. The alcohol content was high, and his alcohol tolerance was only average.


    Lujing Shen shook his head slightly, leaning against the wall to catch his breath for a moment.


    Feng si¡¯s hand still rested against his face, ¡°I¡¯m curious, by any chance  when you¡¯ve gone out for business and negotiations, have you been embarrassed by others?¡±


    It had been a few months since the incident, and the employees and subordinates in the company dared not gossip about him to his face, but people outside might do so, and Feng si figured today¡¯s incident wasn¡¯t the only one, and there might be even more extreme cases.


    Lujing Shen replied, ¡°There haven¡¯t been any.¡±


    Feng si didn¡¯t believe him, ¡°I¡¯m sure there were. Your thin-skinned face must have felt uncomfortable, right?¡±


    Lujing Shen furrowed his brow, ¡°I said there weren¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be mad,¡± Feng si hugged him and patted his back to comfort him, ¡°Alex, remember what I said before? Tell me anything that makes you happy or unhappy. If I hadn¡¯t accompanied you on this business trip today, you would have kept it all to yourself.¡±


    ¡°I can manage,¡± Lujing Shen relaxed in Feng si¡¯s arms, ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as you think. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    Feng si asked, ¡°Really?¡±


    Lujing Shen nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Feng si looked at him with a lowered gaze, ¡°Then why are you so unhappy today?¡±


    Lujing Shen replied, ¡°¡­Others casually arranged someone for me, assuming that I would be interested just because he¡¯s a man. Do you think I should be happy about that?¡±


    Feng si laughed again, ¡°Really? I wasn¡¯t even jealous, But that Huang guy is really clueless. He arranged such a soft and weak little boy for you. It would be strange if you found him attractive.¡±


    Lujing Shen pushed him away impatiently, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡±


    ¡°It was just a joke,¡± Fengsi followed him into the bathroom and pressed him against the wall.


    Lujing Shen glared at him.


    Feng si couldn¡¯t resist the urge to do what he had wanted to do in the car and leaned over to kiss him.


    Not getting jealous was a lie. Feng si was even more displeased than Lujing Shen.


    The fact that he didn¡¯t beat that fat pig-headed Huang guy was because he had been getting better at controlling his temper lately.


    For the next two days, Lujing Shen attended the technology expo, and Feng si accompanied him the whole time. Lujing Shen¡¯s mood also improved with the change in weather.


    On Sunday evening, when they returned, Lujing Shen left early and went to the airport with Feng si.


    Feng si took care of the clearance bag, signed various electronic documents, supervised the aircraft¡¯s refueling, and did a thorough check of the plane. He stuck to Lujing Shen without leaving half a step.


    It was windy on the tarmac, and Lujing Shen¡¯s suit was blown back. Fengsi spoke to the ground crew for a few words, then turned around and helped him fix the collar and buttoned his cuff link that had come undone.


    Lujing Shen¡¯s gaze was fixed on him, almost greedily watching.


    Fengsi smirked, ¡°Why have you been staring at me all this time?¡±


    Lujing Shen coolly retorted, ¡°Can¡¯t I look?¡±


    Fengsi replied, ¡°Of course, I belong to Lujing Shen, you can look as much as you want.¡±


    Lujing Shen raised his chin slightly, ¡°Get to work faster. It¡¯s been taking too long.¡±


    Fengsi couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh, for some reason he recalled that morning when they left Paris for Southern France, also on the tarmac, Lujing Shen had come early and said in the same pretended casual and dignified tone that he agreed to his proposal, but only for two weeks.


    At that time, he didn¡¯t have any particular thoughts about it. To him, whether Lujing Shen agreed for two weeks or two months didn¡¯t make much difference, because he had never intended to let go of him again.


    It was just that Lujing Shen was hesitant back then, wanting it but afraid of being rejected, and trying to act nonchalant. Fengsi remembered it well, and every time he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t help but want to bully him a bit more.


    And now too, from the moment they left, Lujing Shen had been sticking to him and not wanting him to leave, but at the same time, he pretended to be calm and urged him to work faster.


    Lujing Shen was always like this, saying one thing but feeling another.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m slow,¡± Fengsi helplessly said, ¡°Lujing Shen, you¡¯re such an attractive person standing here, I can¡¯t concentrate on my work.¡±


    Under Fengsi¡¯s teasing gaze, Lujing Shen finally realized that he had indeed disturbed him at work, ¡°¡­.You can do your work, I¡¯ll go up.¡±


    When he turned around, Fengsi grabbed his arm again. Lujing Shen looked puzzled as he turned back, and Fengsi quickly hugged him.


    Lujing Shen was taken aback, and Fengsi had already let go of him, smiling as he lightly spanked him, ¡°Go upstairs.¡±


    Ten minutes later, after Fengsi finished his work and got on the plane, he went to the cabin first.


    Lujing Shen was drinking coffee and looking at his phone. Fengsi snapped his fingers in front of him, and Lujing Shen looked up. Fengsi bent down, tied his dropped cufflink back on for him, said, ¡°Drink less coffee,¡± and turned back to the cockpit.


    Even though it wasn¡¯t an overly affectionate gesture, and what he said was just a casual reminder, all the subordinates around them unconsciously turned their eyes away and inexplicably felt like they were watching something they shouldn¡¯t be.


    In the cockpit, the old pilot curiously asked Feng si, who was obviously in a good mood, ¡°What were you doing with Lujing Shen all this time? I didn¡¯t dare to go over. Don¡¯t you feel awkward?¡±


    Feng Si smiled, ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do. He¡¯s just like that, too clingy.¡±


    The old captain looked surprised, then slapped his forehead, finally realizing, ¡°The boyfriend you mentioned earlier, is it boss Lu?¡±


    Feng Si was a bit surprised by his reaction and raised an eyebrow with a smile. ¡°So, Captain Chen, you didn¡¯t know?¡±


    Indeed, the old captain didn¡¯t know. He had heard rumors about Lu Jing Shen coming out, but he never expected the person to be right there beside him; Feng Si.


    ¡°You¡¯re impressive,¡± the old captain gave a thumbs-up. ¡°But being in a relationship with the boss must be tough, right?¡±


    ¡°Not at all,¡± Feng Si put on his earpiece and fastened his seatbelt, his dark eyes shining in the morning light. ¡°I love every single moment of it.¡±

 CH 59

    Two days before the Qixi Festival, Feng Si¡¯s mother and Feng Ting arrived in the capital city specifically to attend Lu Jingqing¡¯s wedding.


    It was An Xin who personally sent them the invitation. Fortunately, Feng Ting was on summer vacation, so they gladly accepted the invitation.


    The plane arrived in the evening, and Lu Jingshen accompanied Feng Si to pick them up at the airport. Feng Si¡¯s family naturally accepted the development in their relationship, and no questions were asked.


    When they reached the hotel and got out of the car, Feng Si¡¯s mother kindly reminded Lu Jingshen with a playful tone, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t spoil Feng Si too much. When he gets too pleased with himself, he becomes arrogant. Be careful not to let him bully you.¡±


    Feng Ting nodded in agreement, ¡°Exactly, exactly. My brother has the worst personality. He just loves to bully people.¡±


    Feng Si, who was helping them with their luggage, couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Who¡¯s your son and brother? Why are you acting like you are trying to sell him to someone else?¡±


    Feng Ting stuck out her tongue at him.


    Lu Jingshen solemnly explained, ¡°Feng Si is very good to me. He¡¯s always the one tolerating me.¡±


    Feng Si instantly grinned ear to ear, genuinely proud of himself.


    Feng¡¯s mother had nothing more to say and instructed them to have some time for themselves for the next two days. They didn¡¯t need to waste their time accompanying her and Feng Ting.


    As the car drove away, Feng Si smiled and asked the now-relieved Lu Jingshen, ¡°Am I good?¡±


    Lu Jingshen replied, ¡°I can¡¯t say you¡¯re not good in front of your mother, right?¡±


    Feng Si persisted, ¡°So, am I good or not?¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded slowly, ¡°Yes you are good. ¡°


    He acknowledged it, but he probably felt a bit awkward saying it again.


    Teasing him, Feng Si said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so nervous in front of your future mother-in-law.¡±


    Lu Jingshen fell silent. His mother and sister were right; whenever he became too pleased with himself, he would reveal his true colors and start speaking nonsense.


    Lu Jingshen and Feng Si arrived a day earlier to help prepare for Lu Jingqing¡¯s wedding, which was scheduled on the day of the Qixi Festival. Due to Lu Jingshen¡¯s father¡¯s poor health, the wedding was held in their own family resort .


    Early in the morning, they changed into the haute couture outfits that had arrived the previous day. Feng Si looked at himself and Lu Jingshen in similar gray and white suits in the mirror and couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Why do I feel like it¡¯s our wedding?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t respond and picked up a bowtie. Feng Si took it from him and tied it for him, then Lu Jingshen tied one for him too.


    Focusing on the task at hand, Feng Si chuckled, ¡°But let¡¯s not go overboard with the guest list when we get married. There are too many guests invited.¡±


    Unexpectedly, Lu Jingshen retorted, ¡°Did I agree to marry you?¡±


    Astonished, Feng Si smirked at him, ¡°You didn¡¯t?¡±


    Lu Jingshen tied the bowtie and looked down silently for a couple of seconds before saying, ¡°There¡¯s no one else I¡¯d want to spend the rest of my life with.¡±


    Feng Si was satisfied with his answer, ¡°You¡¯re more likable when you speak the truth.¡±


    Lu Jingshen glanced at him and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The official wedding ceremony would take place in the evening, but guests had been arriving since early morning. Lu Jingshen was busy greeting the guests, and Feng Si, as a part of the Lu family, also helped.


    Unlike Lu Chixie, who openly flaunted his relationship with his boyfriend, they rarely displayed any intimacy in front of others. Yet, their silent communication and meaningful glances created an invisible barrier, making it difficult for others to intrude.


    Lu Jingshen had already learned to accept the teasing from others about him and Feng Si. He realized that his relationship with Feng Si was no different from Lu Chixie¡¯s relationship with Ling Zhuo or Lu Jingqing¡¯s relationship with her husband. Love was simply love, and there was no need to hide it.


    Feng Si¡¯s mother and Feng Ting also arrived early that day. They were received by An Xin, and the two elders hit it off immediately, talking and laughing together.


    Regarding her son¡¯s choice, they had also had doubts and worries as parents. However, as Feng Si said, there was no blanket answer to those things. As long as the person was right, their choices and commitments could be trusted.


    Before evening, Lu Jingshen went to the rest area alone to see Lu Jingqing. She had finished her makeup and had just changed into her wedding gown.


    ¡°Ah Shen, come and see, do you think this wedding gown looks good on me? You¡¯re the first one to see it,¡± Lu Jingqing said with a smile, blinking her eyes.


    lu Jingshen nodded sincerely and complimented her, ¡°It looks beautiful on you sis.¡±


    Lu Jingqing asked playfully, ¡°does it really? You never want to tell me the truth.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Lu Jingshen replied as he handed her the wedding gift he had prepared for her ¨C a whole set of ruby jewelry he bought for her at an auction in London.


    ¡°You are so generous,¡± Lu Jingqing said, pleased with the gift he gave her. She picked up the necklace and compared it on her neck, ¡°I¡¯ll wear this at the after-party.¡±


    After exchanging a few jokes, Lu Jingqing tied her hair that hung down and asked him, ¡°Feng Si¡¯s family is also here today, right? I think I saw them at noon.¡±


    Lu Jingshen responded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°When you mention him, your eyes light up,¡± Lu Jingqing teased, ¡°Where did this freak come from? He has such great skills to have you so hooked and mesmerized.¡±


    Lu Jingshen made a fist with his hand, coughed lightly, and attempted to change the subject, ¡°Today is your wedding, It¡¯s not about me.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Lu Jingqing didn¡¯t give him an escape route, ¡°I can¡¯t run away from the wedding now, so there¡¯s no point in not talking about you guys. So  let¡¯s talk about your man. Look at him, taking advantage of your absence to flirt with others.¡±


    Lu Jingshen followed her gaze, and not far outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was the lawn where the ceremony was about to take place. Guests had gathered there, drinking, snacking, chatting, and socializing.


    Feng Si was among them, holding a glass of red wine in one hand and the other casually in his pocket, adopting his usual lazy posture. He was surrounded by a few young women, laughing and chatting with them.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze rested on him and calmly said, ¡°He may appear a bit out of line, but that¡¯s not who he truly is.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I don¡¯t know him that well,¡± Lu Jingqing redirected her gaze, ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you earlier, but when I was in London, he took the initiative to ask me about you. The fact that he noticed your issues shows that he cares. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have mentioned anything to him. When I asked him about his feelings towards you, he said he didn¡¯t want you to see him as a last resort. He said he¡¯d wait for you to figure things out and then talk about a long-term future. He also said that he had already decided on you and had never thought of giving up.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was slightly taken aback.


    Lu Jingqing continued, ¡°To be honest, I was quite surprised. His words and actions seem to differ. If it were someone else saying these things, I would think it¡¯s just sweet talk, but since you believe him, I¡¯ll take it as he¡¯s telling the truth.¡±


    ¡°I trust him,¡± Lu Jingshen affirmed, ¡°He¡¯s good, you don¡¯t have to worry about me. I¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Lu Jingqing huffed, ¡°if you say he¡¯s good, then he must be good. But I still want to give you a piece of advice. ¡°love others a little less, and love yourself more, you come first.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Lu Jingshen nodded gently, ¡°I know.¡±


    Feng Si was still on the lawn, all by himself, leisurely enjoying the flowers that adorned the ground.


    Lu Jingshen walked over and picked up a rose, handing it to him, ¡°This is for you, today¡¯s flower.¡±


    Since the day he came out and confessed his feelings, he had promised to continue this tradition, and he hadn¡¯t broken it. He still gave Feng Si a rose every day, no matter where they were, no matter how busy or tired he was.


    Feng Si smiled, ¡°So casual today? You just picked one and gave it to me?¡±


    He then took the flower, shortened the stem, and casually inserted it into his suit pocket.


    Lu Jingshen watched his actions, his eyes full of adoration staring at Feng Si. Feng Si raised his chin, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be talking to the bride inside? Why are you staring at me?¡±


    Lu Jingshen took the glass from his hand, poured the last sip of red wine into his mouth, and said casually, ¡° you¡¯re just too eye-catching. The bride noticed you and reminded me to come look for you and see what you¡¯re up to.¡±


    ¡°So, what did you see me doing?¡± Feng Si laughed, explaining, ¡°A girl came to talk to me, wanting to exchange contact information. A few others were encouraging her. I told them I am Mr. Lu Jingshen¡¯s man, which surprised them, and they apologized and left.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Lu Jingshen responded.


    Feng Si noticed a vague smile in his eyes and raised an eyebrow, suddenly realizing that Lu Jingshen might indeed care a little bit, but more likely he was deliberately teasing him. He had fallen for it for the first time.


    Feng Si helplessly but amusedly said, ¡°Alex, you¡¯ve learned to be mischievous.¡±


    Lu Jingshen remained composed, ¡°I¡¯m learning from you.¡±


    As the twilight turned into night, the wedding ceremony began.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t go to the front and stood with Feng Si behind the crowd to witness the ceremony.


    Their Father led the gorgeously dressed Lu Jingqing down the red carpet and handed her over to the groom. Applause resounded all around.


    During the vows, Feng Si suddenly leaned over, his breath brushing against Lu Jingshen¡¯s ear as he whispered each word, ¡°For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.¡±


    In his charming British accent, Feng Si¡¯s voice recited the vows of the newlyweds, gently tapping on Lu Jingshen¡¯s eardrums and resonating with his heartbeat.


    Then came the laughter, low and lazy, enveloped in an intoxicating heat that was enough to set his soul on fire.


    After the wedding ceremony, the after-party was a wild celebration for the young guests.


    The bride and groom led the first dance, and the guests began to release their pent-up enthusiasm without restraint.


    Lu Jingshen saw Lu Chixie dancing with his boyfriend in the crowd, nearly going crazy with excitement. Feng Si noticed the direction of his gaze and asked with a smile, ¡°Jealous? Want to dance too?¡±


    Lu Jingshen retracted his gaze, drank half a glass of red wine, and inexplicably felt a bit dry in his mouth, ¡°I don¡¯t want to dance. Want to go somewhere else?¡±


    The afterglow of the evening sky had already faded, and the night had fallen, with sparkling stars lighting up the surroundings.


    The colors of the fire were reflected in Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes, and a surge of emotions washed over him.


    Feng Si understood and put down his wine glass with a soft smile, ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±


    They didn¡¯t go back to their room but headed towards the back of the mountain instead.


    Away from the noisy crowd, everything was quiet, and the sound of insects could even be heard.


    In that rare moment of tranquility, Lu Jingshen deliberately slowed down his pace, not in a hurry to show the carefully prepared gift to Feng Si.


    ¡°Actually, sometimes I come here alone, taking advantage of the time when my family is not around, to stay here for one or two nights. When I can¡¯t sleep, I come out to this mountain, listen to the sounds outside, and it helps me relax a lot.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s deep voice was calm and natural. He could now easily talk about his past troubles in front of Feng Si, as if it were an ordinary matter.


    Feng Si made him feel complete now, and he couldn¡¯t hide anything from him.


    Feng Si raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°When you are alone, do you just daydream and contemplate about life?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s voice paused, and he continued, ¡°I always think about you.¡±


    Feng Si chuckled, ¡°Should I say I¡¯m flattered then?¡±


    Lu Jingshen shook his head slightly; he was only regretful. He had indeed been too cowardly during those seven years when Feng Si was searching for him all over the world. He could only hide in this corner, this mountain and think about him. In the end, Feng Si finding him wasn¡¯t just luck for Feng Si; it was like prepaying all the good luck of this life and the next.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think too much,¡± Feng Si saw through his thoughts and comforted him, ¡°The past is past, and there is still the future. I already made my vows to you.¡±


    Thinking about Feng Si¡¯s recent declaration at someone else¡¯s wedding, Lu Jingshen felt speechless, ¡°Hmm.¡±


    They continued walking forward, bypassing the back mountain, and suddenly the view opened up to reveal a brand-new airport runway.


    Ever since they returned from France the previous year, Lu Jingshen had been planning this project. After almost a year of effort, the small airport was finally completed.


    Feng Si wasn¡¯t surprised, ¡°You brought me here to see this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your Qixi Festival gift . Go take a look,¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s tone was as if he casually gave a gift to a lover that wasn¡¯t well thought out. But in reality, he was referring to the row of various brands and models of small aircraft parked, totaling nearly twenty planes.


    Feng Si was slightly astonished. He thought there would be just one plane, but Lu Jingshen had actually bought a whole fleet of them?


    ¡°Seriously, Alex, do you have that much money to spend? Why did you buy so many planes all at once? Are you starting an aviation school?¡± Feng Si teased.


    Lu Jingshen explained, ¡°I didn¡¯t know which one was good, so I just bought them all. They weren¡¯t expensive.¡±


    For him, they were indeed not expensive. Those small planes could range from a few hundred thousand to a few million, which was cheaper than a car. Moreover, he had his own airport, so there wouldn¡¯t be a problem keeping the planes.


    Feng Si loved superheroes ever since he was young. He couldn¡¯t go back in time to collect the beloved action figures for the younger Feng Si, but he could collect the aircrafts he liked now.


    That was probably the second time that Feng Si felt so cherished. The first time was when Lu Jingshen openly confessed his feelings for him during the live broadcast.


    Lu Jingshen was always like this, quietly doing things that made Feng Si both happy and exasperated.


    ¡°Do you like it?¡± Lu Jingshen asked uncertainly, observing his expression.


    Feng Si teased, ¡°I love it, but what should I do? I don¡¯t know how to fly all these different models of planes.¡±


    Lu Jingshen thought for a moment and said, ¡°If you want to learn, you can learn. If you don¡¯t want to, we can just leave them here as a collection.¡±


    Feng Si leaned against one of the planes, smiling at him, and reached out to pull him closer.


    ¡°Is it because last time I said it was inconvenient to use other people¡¯s planes?¡± Feng Si¡¯s voice carried a hint of teasing. As his warm breath approached, Lu Jingshen felt a tingling sensation on his neck, recalling that passionate night in France.


    Lu Jingshen nodded, ¡°Mmm.¡±


    With lips pressed together, they slowly explored each other¡¯s mouths, the softened lips made more tender from the effects of alcohol, causing a dizzying feeling of intoxication.


    Their bodies quickly heated up, and Lu Jingshen loosened his tie, placing his hands on Feng Si¡¯s shoulders. He wasn¡¯t satisfied with just light touches; he wanted more, yearning for intimacy.


    The deep kiss went on for a long time until both of their breaths were no longer steady. They separated their lips, foreheads touching.


    As their gazes met, they smiled at each other. One of Feng Si¡¯s hands rested on Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist, pulling his suit jacket aside and slipping inside his shirt to caress his heated skin.


    Lu Jingshen let out a soft sigh, reminding him, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside the plane.¡±

 CH 60

    Feng Si smirked, effortlessly opened the cabin door behind him, propped himself up, and jumped up onto the plane. He then pulled Lu Jingshen by the waist, helping him up and closing the cabin door.


    Unexpectedly, Lu Jingshen fell onto Feng Si¡¯s lap, and the two-person cockpit space was cramped. He had to sit on Feng Si¡¯s legs in this somewhat distorted position.


    Feeling the strength of Feng Si¡¯s thighs, the heat spread from the base of Lu Jingshen¡¯s legs, and his breathing became even more hurried. He quickly took off his suit jacket and unbuttoned his shirt, leaning towards Feng Si, untying his tie and undoing his shirt buttons one by one.


    The intimate space provided a sense of security for Lu Jingshen, allowing him to be more open and unrestrained. He moved his body back and forth, pulling at Feng Si¡¯s clothes, sometimes even showing a bit of impatience.


    Feng Si gently patted his waist, trying to guide him, ¡°Take it slow, don¡¯t rush.¡±


    The rose pinned on Feng Si¡¯s chest was crushed, and its petals fell, landing inexplicably sensually on Lu Jingshen¡¯s bare chest.


    Feng Si¡¯s eyes darkened, and he lowered his head, sticking out his tongue to lick his neck.


    The sudden stimulation made Lu Jingshen unable to suppress his moans, he threw his long neck back, but Feng Si pressed him back with one hand.


    The sensation of the kiss was too vivid¡ªwet, hot, and sticky, teasing his vulnerable nerves, driving him almost crazy.


    Feng Si¡¯s hand was under his shirt, and his fingers pressed down his protruding spine one by one, as if playing a casual and passionate melody on his body.


    When his fingers pressed on his tailbone, Lu Jingshen¡¯s breathing became heavier, trembling against Feng Si¡¯s body, lost in ecstasy.


    Feng Si raised his head, whispering into Lu Jingshen¡¯s ear, ¡°Why are you so sensitive? Can¡¯t handle a few kisses and touches?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t resist even just this, and his body was even more sensitive and easily provoked than before¡ªall of which were the results of Feng Si¡¯s skills.


    This realization made Feng Si even more excited.


    The corners of Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes turned red, he opened his lips slightly, struggling to breathe, and stared fixedly at Feng Si, unable to speak.


    Feng Si gently caressed Lu Jingshen¡¯s slightly trembling waist, gazing at his unconscious and charming appearance, then his lips and tongue went back to work.


    The kisses turned from gentle to fiery and passionate. The sound of metal belt buckles colliding stimulated their hearing nerves, followed by the friction of fabric. Lu Jingshen closed his eyes, completely relaxing his body, and gave himself unreservedly to Feng Si who tightly held him.


    The lap sitting posture caused his knees to become numb repeatedly. As his body moved, his knees and the hard leather seat rubbed continuously. The slight sense of pain further stimulated Lu Jingshen¡¯s excitement.


    He pressed his entire weight against Feng Si, actively moving his body to please himself and to please Feng Si.


    No matter how strong Feng Si¡¯s self-control was, he was ignited by Lu Jingshen¡¯s actions. His eyes darkened, and his throat rolled with rough panting, gradually losing control.


    When he was bitten on the neck, Lu Jingshen moaned softly. The overwhelming pleasure rushed to his scalp; it was all brought by Feng Si. Feng Si regained control, pressing him tightly against himself, and his voice was hoarse like rubbing sandpaper, ¡°Let me take charge.¡±


    Holding Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist firmly, Feng Si began a fierce assault. The previous ¡°take it slow¡± was completely forgotten.


    He pressed Lu Jingshen onto the seat, pulling up his legs to wrap around his waist, and Feng Si leaned over him from above. He stopped his movements for a moment, and the strong affection for him and the desire to ravage him alternately pulled at his emotions, causing him to hesitate for a moment.


    Lu Jingshen raised his hazy eyes, looking at him through his sweat-soaked forehead, and called his name in a hoarse voice, ¡°Feng Si¡­¡±


    The intense warmth in his chest immediately overwhelmed everything else, and Feng Si leaned down, gently entwining their fingers, kissing his lips with tenderness and affection.


    It was already after nine o¡¯clock when it was over. The expensive high-end suits were messed up, especially Feng Si¡¯s suit, which was completely impossible to wear again.


    Feng Si casually hung his clothes over his arm, sighed with regret, ¡°Such expensive clothes ruined like this. Being with the boss makes me more and more extravagant.¡±


    Lu Jingshen caught sight of the stains on his suit jacket, and his cheeks turned hot. He turned away from Feng Si¡¯s provoking gaze.


    Afterward, they avoided the crowd still celebrating outside and returned to their place. Lu Jingshen went to take a shower while Feng Si called for late-night snacks to be delivered.


    Five minutes later, he entered the bathroom, and Lu Jingshen had already stood under the shower after taking off his clothes.


    Feng Si stopped in his tracks, leaning against the wall, watching him.


    The misty water vapor shrouded the naked body facing away from Feng Si. It couldn¡¯t be called strong, but it had broad shoulders, long legs, and tight muscle lines¡ªa mature man¡¯s body.


    The difference was that this body was more sensitive than an average man¡¯s¡ªplump buttocks, wet, hot, and tight.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze lingered slowly on him, recalling some of the details from before. He squinted slightly, his eyes deep.


    After a moment, he walked up and embraced this body from behind.


    Lu Jingshen took a deep breath, turned his head, their eyes met, and he pulled Feng Si¡¯s neck to exchange kisses again.


    The late-night snacks were delivered, but they didn¡¯t get a chance to eat them, and they got cold.


    Outside, fireworks were going off with music and laughter. In their little world, they indulged in passionate love, sinking into the sea of desire.


    At that moment, there was only two of them in the world.


    ¡­¡­¡­


    Early in the morning, Feng Si woke up first and got up to take a shower.


    When he came out, Lu Jingshen was still sleeping deeply, lying on his stomach in the same posture as before.


    The duvet slid down to his waist, revealing his body with ambiguous marks on one side.


    Feng Si walked up and bent down, gently scratching his back with his fingers. Lu Jingshen moved his head slightly with closed eyes but didn¡¯t wake up.


    It seemed that he really exhausted him last night.


    Feng Si smiled, not disturbing him anymore, and went to open the small curtain on the bed¡¯s edge, letting the sunlight in.


    After about ten minutes, someone knocked on the door.


    Feng Si, wrapped in a bathrobe and wearing slippers, went to open the door. Standing outside was Feng Ting, his sister.


    She had stayed in one of the hotel rooms with Feng Si¡¯s mother last night. An Xin specially arranged for them to stay there for a few days, providing them with separate accommodations. When she came over looking for Feng Si, she saw that there was no one on the first floor, so she came straight upstairs. However, she didn¡¯t expect to see her brother in such a relaxed state upon opening the door.


    Catching a glimpse of Lu Jingshen lying provocatively in the room, she quickly averted her gaze, feeling embarrassed for looking too long.


    Feng Si asked her, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Feng Ting grumbled, ¡°I came to call you both to have breakfast. It¡¯s already late. How come you are both still not up?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m awake, it¡¯s just your brother-in-law hasn¡¯t gotten up yet.¡± Feng Si corrected her with a smile.


    They both went downstairs, and Feng Si stretched lazily, asking Feng Ting if she had fun yesterday. Feng Ting nodded vigorously, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that Lu Chi Xie is Lu Jingshen¡¯s younger brother? Don¡¯t you know I¡¯m a big fan of Ling Zhuo?¡±


    Feng Si: ¡°Oh.¡±


    He forgot that his sister was a fan of Ling Zhuo.


    Feng Ting complained for a while and then talked about her main purpose for coming to see Feng Si: ¡°Lu Jingshen gave me a bunch of music scores yesterday, saying they were his previous collection and he had no use for them. Coincidentally, I¡¯m studying this, so he gave them to me.¡±


    Feng Si responded lazily, ¡°That¡¯s nice. He gave them to you, so just keep them. Did you thank him?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I did,¡± Feng Ting hurriedly said, ¡°but last night I checked, and some of them turned out to be original works handwritten by famous musicians. They are very valuable, and you can¡¯t buy them with money.¡±


    Feng Si didn¡¯t pay much attention, ¡°Then just keep them. Since he¡¯s willing to give them to you, just accept them. You¡¯re my sister, so you¡¯re his sister too. There¡¯s no need to be so formal with him.¡±


    Feng Ting hesitated, ¡°But they are really valuable, how can I accept them?¡±


    Feng Si smiled, ¡°If he wants you to have them, then you should take them. Alex also gave me nearly twenty small airplanes last night, saying I could keep them in my collection. Oh, he even built an airport for me over there on the back mountain.¡±


    There was uncontrollable pride in his expression, as if he was showing off. Feng Ting couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°You¡¯re shameless¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to be ashamed of?¡± Feng Si  happily said, ¡°This is Alex¡¯s heartfelt gift to me. If I don¡¯t accept it, I¡¯d be wasting his sincerity. He¡¯s already wealthy, and he wants to give me the best within his capabilities. What¡¯s wrong with that? I¡¯ll do the same for him within my capabilities.¡±


    ¡°Forget it, little girl, you don¡¯t understand these things.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like you understand either,¡± Feng Ting teased, ¡°men in love are truly amazing.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°No need to be jealous, just work hard, and you¡¯ll find a good man in the future too.¡±


    Feng Ting pouted, but seeing the genuine smile in her brother¡¯s eyes, she inexplicably felt a little emotional. She restrained her joking mood and asked him, ¡°Brother, are you really happy now?¡±


    Feng Si nodded with a smile, ¡°Yes.¡±


    She felt relieved; actually, she didn¡¯t need him to say it. She could feel it too.


    Eight years ago, or maybe seven years ago, on a deep autumn morning, when she opened the door and saw her brother sitting dejectedly at the doorstep, holding a travel bag, covered in dust and with a sad and dim look in his eyes, he said he had fallen in love with someone, but that person had abandoned him, and he couldn¡¯t find him.


    At that time, the teenage Feng Ting couldn¡¯t understand what kind of feeling it was, she just instinctively felt that her brother was very sad, a sadness she had never seen before, and all the light in his eyes had disappeared.


    In the seven years that followed, her brother searched the world for that person and almost never returned home. She had complained and felt dissatisfied, not understanding how someone could be so heartless, leaving without a word, making her brother so sad and disappointed.


    It was only as she grew older that she gradually began to understand that love was not something that could be fulfilled with one-sided persistence. Even if both sides loved each other, there were still many unsatisfactory things, and it might not always end well. In this world, those who could hold hands together until old age were always the survivors of some kind of statistical deviation.


    Fortunately, her brother¡¯s persistence finally paid off. The moment she saw Lu Jingshen, she knew that he was the one her brother had been looking for, and only he was worthy of her brother¡¯s unwavering love and deep affection.


    ¡°You feeling happy is enough,¡± Feng Ting sniffed, ¡°Seeing you like this, I¡¯m also very happy.¡±


    Feng Si gently raised his hand and rubbed her head, ¡°It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t worry. He and I will always be very happy together.¡±


    Feng  Ting went to have breakfast first, and Feng Si went back upstairs to the room. Lu Jing Sheng had already woken up and was sitting on the bed in a daze. When he saw Feng Si enter the room, he was startled for a moment before he came back to his senses. His voice was hoarse, ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    ¡°Ting Ting came to call us for breakfast. I asked her to go ahead,¡± Feng Si smiled, reminding him, ¡°Hurry up, your parents might send someone to come find us. It¡¯s almost nine o¡¯clock.¡±


    Lu Jing Sheng finally woke up and quickly pulled back the covers and got out of bed. But when his feet touched the floor, his legs couldn¡¯t help but tremble, almost causing him to lose his balance, but Feng Si reached out and steadied him.


    ¡°Still not able to walk?¡± There was a hint of teasing in Feng Si¡¯s voice.


    Lu Jing Sheng felt a little embarrassed. They had been quite passionate last night, and no matter which position they tried on the airplane, it was challenging, which made him sore all over now.


    Feeling awkward to continue that topic, Lu Jing Sheng quickly withdrew his hand and said, ¡°No need,¡± before going into the bathroom to take a shower.


    Half an hour later, they finished breakfast and went to the parents¡¯ side.


    After the wedding last night, all the guests who stayed at that resort were family and relatives. Lu Jing Qing came to introduce her husband to everyone, so An Xin asked Lu Jing Sheng and Lu Chi Xie to bring their respective partners to meet the relatives.


    Everyone smiled and flattered An Xin and Lu Jingshen¡¯s father, saying that they now had three more sons, which was great.


    Feng Si wasn¡¯t very interested in such occasions, but he had to keep up appearances. He greeted everyone and maintained a smile, looking relaxed.


    The main character that day was not him anyway; most people¡¯s attention was still on Chen Sen, the serious son-in-law. He and Lu Jing Sheng stood on the side as decorations.


    Finally, An Xin asked the cameraman to take a family portrait.


    Their parents sat on the sofa in the middle. Lu Jing Qing and her husband sat on either side, and behind them stood Lu Jing Sheng and Lu Chi Xie, each with their respective partners.


    When the shutter was pressed, Feng Si raised his hand and lightly hugged Lu Jing Sheng¡¯s waist, revealing a brilliant smile.


    Feng Si and Lu Jingshen left together, and Feng Si asked him if he wanted to go home.


    Lu Jingshen: ¡°Go home?¡±


    Feng Si nodded: ¡°There are too many people here, always being interrupted. Let¡¯s go back to our own home.¡±


    Lu Jingshen: ¡°I thought you liked lively places.¡±


    ¡°Fond of liveliness doesn¡¯t mean I enjoy being stared at and judged constantly. Your younger brothers left half an hour ago, let¡¯s go too.¡± Feng Si smiled.


    Lu Jingshen naturally had no objections. Lu Jingqing was going on her honeymoon next, and with the company¡¯s matters pressing down on him alone, he would be busy for the next month. So, he saw it best to enjoy some quality time together with Feng Si while the day was not over yet.


    As they drove away, Feng Si¡¯s lips curved up. He also had a carefully prepared gift to give to Lu Jingshen.


    He hoped he would like it.

 CH 61

    Before going home, they first went to the supermarket to buy some fresh ingredients. They planned to cook dinner at home by themselves.


    Feng Si also picked a bunch of scented candles, with more than a dozen different fragrances.


    Lately, he had been interested in them, especially since he bought one from abroad and gave it to Lu Jingshen. Lu Jingshen only used it once, but a few days ago, he accidentally found it again. While its sleep-enhancing effect was somewhat lacking, it added a touch of novelty and taste during lovemaking.


    Lu Jingshen looked at the things Feng Si threw into the shopping cart, and his gaze flickered for a moment. He averted his eyes calmly, pretending not to care.


    Originally, he wanted to remind Feng Si not to buy too many, but he decided against it. If they used them every night, they probably wouldn¡¯t last too long anyway.


    On the way back, Lu Jingshen, as usual, bought flowers for Feng Si.


    The previous day, he picked one up randomly at the wedding venue, but today he bought a carefully packaged one.


    It was almost 6 o¡¯clock when they arrived home. Lu Jingshen put away the things they bought, and Feng Si put the flower in the vase and casually flipped through the mail on the dining table.


    Most of the letters were not important, and Feng Si couldn¡¯t be bothered to open them. Until he reached the last letter, his eyes suddenly froze.


    The envelope bore the logo of the sender, which he recognized as an international rescue organization in East Africa.


    Back when he and Lu Jingshen were wandering in Africa, they passed by one of their bases. Their car had run out of fuel, so they stopped to refill. There, they saw a group of malnourished children, and they felt compassion. Together, they donated money to the organization.


    Feng Si recalled that he had indeed left his contact information with them, including his address in London.


    In the second year after returning home, the organization had sent him a thank-you letter. Unexpectedly, after seven or eight years, they sent another letter.


    Feng Si casually opened the envelope, and along with the letter, there was also a photo.


    He picked up the photo and turned it to the front, focusing his gaze.


    On top of a hill at dusk, he and Lu Jingshen stood facing each other, about half a meter apart, their gazes meeting. He was smiling, and Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes were calm and peaceful, with only him in their sight.


    Their figures were elongated by the evening sun.


    It was a photo of him and Lu Jingshen from years ago.


    Feng Si stared at the photo absentmindedly, listening to the sound of his own heartbeat, beating forcefully and ardently, repeatedly impacting his chest.


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Lu Jingshen curiously came over to ask.


    Feng Si snapped out of his trance, smiled at him, and handed him the photo. Lu Jingshen¡¯s gaze also froze when he saw it.


    Feng Si quickly read the contents of the letter. The photo was a candid shot taken by their staff. They found it while sorting through photo albums and decided to send it to him. The letter also asked him to convey thanks to Lu Jingshen for his support and assistance over the years.


    Feng Si was somewhat surprised. Seeing that Lu Jingshen kept staring at the photo, seemingly frozen in place, he reached out and lightly patted his shoulder, saying, ¡°Alex, come back to your senses.¡±


    Lu Jingshen raised his head, his gaze flickering, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to receive this photo.¡±


    Feng Si chuckled, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a pleasant surprise.¡±


    He had always regretted not taking even a single photo with Lu Jingshen back then. If they missed the opportunity when they were in their early twenties, it would be a total regret, and saying that he didn¡¯t feel any regret would be a lie.


    Unexpectedly, after all these years, such a surprise would come to them.


    Once his good luck arrived, it seemed to continue indefinitely.


    He handed the letter to Lu Jingshen to read, and asked him, ¡°Have you been donating to them over the years?¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded gently, ¡°Every year, I send a fixed amount of money to their donation account.¡±


    The signature he left was also under the name of Alex.


    Feng Si said, ¡°You never left them a contact, right?¡±


    Lu Jingshen pursed his lips lightly, ¡°No.¡±


    Feng Si had already guessed that. During those three months, Lu Jingshen was truly cautious and didn¡¯t leave any clues.


    He sighed and said, ¡°If I had gone to ask them, even if they didn¡¯t have your contact information, they could have traced where the money was coming from. Then I wouldn¡¯t have had to run around like a headless fly to find you.¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t know how to respond and fell silent for a moment. Then he moved closer, tugged at Feng Si¡¯s open jacket, and muttered softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I won¡¯t leave you again in the future.¡±


    Feng Si leaned against the table, placed his hand on Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist to pull him closer, and turned his head to lightly touch his lips, magnanimously saying, ¡°okay.¡±


    Afterward, they cooked dinner together, preparing simple Western dishes using their own cooking methods.


    As the night fell, they didn¡¯t turn on the lights in the house. Instead, Feng Si lit a scented candle that they had bought and placed it on the dining table.


    The flickering candlelight exuded a gentle and intoxicating fragrance.


    While waiting for the oven to work, Feng Si casually opened the old record player that had broken and been fixed several times. He put on a vinyl record and slowly turned the handle, filling the quiet space with soft and soothing music.


    Lu Jingshen opened a bottle of red wine and poured a glass for both of them. For Lu Jingqing¡¯s wedding, he had arranged for a large batch of fine wines to be airlifted from his French winery and specifically kept a few bottles for this occasion.


    Feng Si walked over and watched Lu Jingshen pouring the wine, giving him a gentle smile.


    ¡°Sometimes, I wonder,¡± sitting at the table, Feng Si raised his glass and lightly touched it with Lu Jingshen¡¯s, ¡°what it would be like if we had been together all these seven years.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was taken aback, and as he brought the wine glass to his lips, the liquid moistened his slightly dry lips. After taking a sip, he continued, ¡°Regrets do exist, even if we have many more seven years to come, it¡¯s still a pity that we missed the years from our early twenties.¡±


    Lu Jingshen said, ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    In truth, he was the one who regretted and lamented the most, but what¡¯s lost could never be regained.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize again,¡± Feng Si put down his wine glass and shook his head slightly, ¡°I¡¯m not blaming you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just a bit regretful, but looking at it from another perspective, if we were still together, maybe we would have been tired of each other by now, we were so young and inexperienced too.¡±


    As Feng Si continued to laugh, Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t feel good hearing this, and subconsciously said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t.¡±


    Feng Si chuckled more cheerfully, ¡°Really? You¡¯re that confident in us?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t like this topic, ¡°of course.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I probably wouldn¡¯t either,¡± Feng Si stopped smiling, focused on his food, and casually made a heartfelt confession, ¡°As long as you still want me, I will never tire of you.¡±


    At that moment, Lu Jingshen felt a sudden pang of pain and bitterness in his heart. As if making a promise, he solemnly said, ¡°I always will.¡±


    Feng Si picked up a piece of grilled beef and held it near Lu Jingshen¡¯s mouth, ¡°Open up.¡±


    Still immersed in his emotions from earlier, Lu Jingshen momentarily forgot to respond.


    Feng Si¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement, ¡°What are you thinking? Just try it, this beef is pretty tasty, well-marinated.¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked at him, feeling a bit relieved, and took the bite offered to him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it,¡± Feng Si withdrew his hand and continued dealing with the food on his plate, speaking calmly, ¡°Let¡¯s just go with the flow. We both have confidence in what we have, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡±


    Lu Jingshen took a sip of his wine and gradually relaxed, ¡°I know.¡±


    After dinner, Feng Si lit candles in various corners of the house. The flickering flames spread a tender glow in his affectionate eyes. He reached out to Lu Jingshen, ¡°Shall we dance?¡±


    He wanted to make up for the dance they missed yesterday.


    Lu Jingshen looked at him and extended his hand.


    The record player continued its soft hum, and they embraced each other as they danced.


    ¡°Do you remember I bought a poetry collection that time?¡±  Feng Si whispered to Lu Jingshen.


    Lu Jingshen replied with a soft ¡°Mm.¡± He remembered that during their trip to a flea market in France, Feng Si had not only picked up the record player but also a poetry collection published in the last century. Lu Jingshen thought it was just an impulsive buy and that Feng Si wasn¡¯t really interested in poetry.


    Feng Si chuckled softly, ¡°I¡¯ve finished reading the poetry collection. Can I recite one for you?¡±


    Lu Jingshen agreed, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s breath came closer, and he murmured softly into Lu Jingshen¡¯s ear.


    ¡°What can I hold you with?


    I offer you lean streets, desperate sunsets, the moon of the jagged suburbs.


    I offer you the bitterness of a man who has looked long and long at the lonely moon.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s heart trembled, and Feng Si turned his head, kissing the small mole on his earlobe.


    It felt like a gentle embrace and soothing touch.


    They continued to spin and dance to the melody.


    ¡°I offer you whatever insight my books may hold, whatever manliness or humor in my life.¡±


    ¡°I offer you that kernel of myself that I have saved somehow¡ªthe central heart that deals not in words, traffics not with dreams, and is untouched by time, by joy, by adversities.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s voice fell into Lu Jingshen¡¯s ears, a voice he had long been familiar with and that could touch his soul.


    ¡°I offer you the memory of a yellow rose seen at sunset, years before you were born.


    I offer you explanations of yourself, theories about yourself, authentic and surprising news of yourself.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s heart fluttered as Feng Si¡¯s voice wrapped around him like a warm embrace.


    They continued to dance to the music.


    ¡°I can give you my loneliness, my darkness, the hunger of my heart; I am trying to bribe you with uncertainty, with danger, with defeat.¡±


    Lu Jingshen understood. Feng Si was reciting a poem, and it resonated with the voice in his heart.


    In the flickering candlelight, he saw the focus and devotion in Feng Si¡¯s eyes, directed solely at him.


    ¡°I offer you the loyalty of a man who has never been loyal.¡±


    As the last word of the poem fell, Lu Jingshen noticed something slipping from the hand he held with Feng Si, settling on his ring finger.


    Lowering his gaze, he saw a silver plain ring shimmering in the firelight.


    That was what Feng Si intended to give him ¨C this poem and the ring.


    A fleeting surprise flashed in Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes.


    Feng Si¡¯s palm pressed against his, and the warm touch brought him back to his senses.


    He noticed that Feng Si had also put on a similar ring on his ring finger, just like the one he gave to him.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get married.¡±


    Feng Si said.


    Lu Jingshen asked, ¡°Are you proposing to me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I am proposing to you,¡± Feng Si¡¯s gaze was firm and sincere, ¡°Will you marry me?¡±


    Lu Jingshen looked at him steadily, his heart surging.


    Feng Si was frivolous and free-spirited, hiding behind these facades to deceive everyone around him.


    But it was also this man, Feng Si who pursued him with dedication, perseverance, and an unwillingness to give up, pulling him back from the abyss.


    He loved him so much, from the past to the future.


    A smile gradually spread in his eyes, and Lu Jingshen finally nodded.


    ¡°Yes , I will marry you.¡±

 CH 62

    At that time, they had just embarked on this journey not long ago.


    On the eleventh day of knowing Feng Si, Lu Jingshen sat in his off-road vehicle as they crossed the Sahara Desert.


    Outside the window stretched an endless road, with yellow sand swirling in the air as the wheels turned. Occasionally, other vehicles or travelers on camels passed by, but they were unrelated to them.


    Feng Si opened half of the car window, one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on the window sill, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He casually hummed along to the Arabian folk songs flowing from the speakers.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyelashes trembled lightly as he leaned back in his seat, his gaze fixed outside the window. However, his thoughts were unconsciously drawn to the person beside him¡ªtheir breath, their warmth, their voice.


    His senses suddenly became much sharper, easily stirred by the presence of the person beside him.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Feng Si¡¯s voice leaned in close, his breath brushing against Lu Jingshen¡¯s ear. Lu Jingshen closed his eyes lightly and turned to look at him. ¡°Nothing, have we arrived?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll stay here tonight.¡± Feng Si casually replied, noticing Lu Jingshen¡¯s slight discomfort in his eyes. He chuckled softly, reached out, and pinched his delicate earlobe before pushing open the car door and getting out first.


    Lu Jingshen watched his figure disappear into the twilight haze, his mind momentarily empty before following suit.


    Their lodging for tonight was a small town nearby, with buildings constructed entirely of gray stones like the rest of the structures in the area. The inn was not in great condition, but it was better than camping by the roadside.


    The inn also provided meals, but Lu Jingshen probably wasn¡¯t used to the food and had little appetite. He only took a few bites before setting down his knife and fork and returning to the room.


    Ten minutes later, Feng Si came in with bread and water for him.


    The cool mineral water bottle pressed against his face, and Lu Jingshen, who was sitting on the bed lost in thought, looked up dazedly to meet Feng Si¡¯s smiling eyes.


    ¡°Why do you always look so troubled?¡± Feng Si asked teasingly.


    Lu Jingshen took the items from him and murmured a vague thank you before unwrapping the food.


    Feng Si took a shower and came out, but Lu Jingshen had only eaten half of the bread by then. He remained in the same position as before, seemingly unchanged, gazing at the dimming dusk outside the window.


    Feng Si leaned against the wall behind him and watched him.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s deliberately straightened back seemed tense, and his shoulder blades protruded more prominently due to his thinness. His body, caught between adolescence and youth, would tremble slightly with nervousness and fear when pinned down by him, yet it would also tremble with excitement when reaching the peak of ecstasy.


    A strange contradiction.


    Suddenly, warmth encroached from behind, causing Lu Jingshen to stiffen for a moment. Feng Si¡¯s deep voice sounded near his ear, ¡°Tonight, is it okay?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t move, but Feng Si held his hand, pressing their palms together and intertwining their fingers to comfort him.


    Pushed onto the bed, their positions shifted to being intertwined. Lu Jingshen dared not look into the eyes that were fixed on him. His throat kept rolling, he closed his eyes, trying to relax, but couldn¡¯t suppress the trembling of his body, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.


    Four days ago, they made love for the first time in a deserted sunflower field. Ten days ago, they kissed for the first time, just one day after meeting each other.


    On the eleventh day of meeting this man, their relationship developed unexpectedly beyond Lu Jingshen¡¯s expectations but irresistibly.


    In this old inn rarely visited by anyone in the desert, in the dim and cramped room, they were about to make love for the second time.


    Feng Si¡¯s fingers gently stroked the redness at the corners of his eyes, forcing him to open them.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyelashes kept trembling as he looked up at the man who dominated him.


    He felt uncomfortable, so uncomfortable that he even had the urge to collapse and self-destruct. He was gay, and so was he. He couldn¡¯t refuse this man.


    He wanted him.


    ¡°Alex, where did you come from? Why do I feel that you¡¯re so different as soon as I see you? Clearly, there¡¯s nothing special about you, but it feels like everything about you is special. Are you my nemesis?¡±


    Feng Si murmured softly in Chinese, thinking that Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t understand.


    He was indeed puzzled. Someone like him never lacked admirers, yet he found himself attracted for the first time to this traveler he picked up on the journey.


    This person under him seemed aloof and arrogant on the surface, but in reality, he was timid and cautious. When his gaze met yours directly, it was like he was seeking and yearning, making it difficult to resist.


    Unintentional seduction was the most deadly.


    Feng Si thought, if this could be called falling in love, this feeling didn¡¯t seem bad at all.


    ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve never seen anyone like you.¡±


    ¡°Will you leave? How long can we continue this journey together?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s kind of funny, isn¡¯t it? I actually said something like that to someone. Forget it, anyway, you can¡¯t understand.¡±


    Whisper after whisper, Lu Jingshen¡¯s heart was entwined with countless threads, and the emotions hidden within it found no outlet. He could only tilt his head up and tremulously kiss the lips that uttered words of love.


    Feng Si pulled him into his arms, kissing him passionately regardless of everything else.


    Their bodies entwined, passion ignited, and Lu Jingshen once again experienced the intense pleasure that almost overwhelmed him.


    His body had gradually begun to adapt, and there was still pain, but compared to those overwhelming sensations, it was insignificant.


    The more this happened, the more he realized soberly that he was in bed with another man, that his body enjoyed this feeling, and that he longed for all of it.


    When the dawn broke, Lu Jingshen hazily opened his eyes, finding himself alone in the room. His muddled mind gradually restarted, and he pushed aside the covers to get out of bed. However, his movements were too abrupt, causing a twinge in his sore waist, and he fell off the bed directly.


    Feng Si came in through the door, having bought breakfast and brought a map. Seeing this, he quickly strode over to help him up, placing his hand on his lower back. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Lu Jingshen closed his eyes and shook his head.


    Feng Si seemed to understand something from his embarrassed expression and teased, ¡°Did you fall asleep and dream? How can you fall off the bed like this?¡±


    Indeed, they had been too passionate last night. Both Feng Si and Lu Jingshen had deliberately indulged themselves,


    Feeling increasingly embarrassed, Lu Jingshen muttered, ¡°No,¡± and withdrew his hand to go to the bathroom to freshen up.


    During breakfast, Feng Si looked at the map in his hand and casually suggested to Lu Jingshen, ¡°Shall we go to Guelb er Richat today?¡±


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t know what Feng Si was talking about, but nodded indifferently. He didn¡¯t have a destination in mind anyway, and Feng Si was the one leading the way.


    Looking at him, Feng Si asked, ¡°Can you handle hiking?¡±


    Lu Jingshen nodded while nibbling on his bread, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    Feng Si smiled, ¡°Good. If you can¡¯t, just say so. No need to force yourself.¡±


    After breakfast, they set off into the morning light. The rising sun cast a crimson glow over the vast desert, adding a bit of vitality to the barren land.


    Quietly observing, Lu Jingshen took out his camera and took a few photos.


    Turning to look at him, Feng Si saw the glow reflecting in Lu Jingshen¡¯s eyes and smiled. However, Lu Jingshen remained unaware of his own charm.


    At the end of the road, Feng Si stopped the car, gesturing to the person beside him, ¡°Let¡¯s get off here. The road ahead is impassable, we¡¯ll have to walk.¡±


    It was then that Lu Jingshen remembered to ask, ¡°Where is this?¡±


    ¡°The Eye of the Sahara,¡± Feng Si pointed to the Richat Structure marked on the map, ¡°One of the ten geological wonders of the world, a visual landmark for astronauts.¡±


    He led Lu Jingshen up to a high point to overlook the area.


    Layers of grayish-brown quartzite formed circles, creating the dark pupil of the Eye of the Sahara. Beyond that, the colors of the rock layers became thicker, resembling an iris, while the undulating mountains in the outermost circle formed the eyelids.


    Even standing here, they couldn¡¯t see the whole picture.


    Lu Jingshen was stunned by the scene before him. The wind on the mountain top brushed against his eardrums, mixing with the sound of laughter from the person beside him. ¡°It really looks like an eye. If we could borrow a plane to look from high above, it should be clearer. Some say this is a meteorite crater, while others say it¡¯s the result of wind erosion after geological uplift. But there¡¯s a more romantic explanation.¡±


    He paused, and Lu Jingshen looked at him puzzled. Feng Si smiled and continued, ¡°It¡¯s the Eye of the Earth. It gazes tenderly here, waiting for its lover hidden in the universe to return.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was slightly taken aback.


    When Feng Si spoke, there was a reflection of him in his dark, bright eyes, equally tender and affectionate.


    Like the Earth¡¯s eye, silent and waiting, amidst the vast wilderness.


    Descending from the mountain, it was still not yet noon when they returned to the small town where they had stayed the night before.


    At this time, there were more people in the town compared to yesterday evening. Men wearing white caps and women wrapped in headscarves sold handmade crafts, quietly waiting for customers to arrive.


    In the distance, the minaret of the mosque reflected the colors of the sunlight, peaceful and serene.


    Lu Jingshen thought, if he were alone, he might want to stay in this place for a few more days.


    He needed this rare tranquility.


    Feng Si¡¯s voice brought his thoughts back. He turned his head to see Feng Si squatting by the roadside bargaining with someone at a small stall.


    Casual and carefree, his lips curled up in a smile.


    As Lu Jingshen watched him, he suddenly realized that he was probably attracted to him because of this outgoing trait. The tranquility he craved clashed with the person in front of him, but Feng Si always managed to surprise him, creating new excitement. Yet, despite this, he still found himself irresistibly drawn to him.


    When Feng Si returned from shopping, he had bought a handmade blanket at a low price, brightly colored with intricate patterns, of excellent quality, and a great deal.


    ¡°Why did you buy this?¡± Lu Jingshen asked.


    Feng Si replied, ¡°You always fall asleep in the car, so I bought it for you.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was somewhat speechless.


    He gazed at Feng Si, who was also looking at him, with a smile in his deep black eyes.


    Lu Jingshen remembered the Eye of the Sahara he had seen on the mountain before, the eye of the earth, silently staring, waiting for the return of a lover.


    But the eyes before him were even more tender and affectionate, with added vivaciousness and unrestraint, giving him even more of a shock.


    ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡± Feng Si asked him.


    Lu Jingshen hesitated before saying, ¡°Your eyes are very beautiful.¡±


    Feng Si truly smiled this time. ¡°Really? Thanks for the compliment.¡±


    Lu Jingshen stared into those eyes, trying to remember the expression and warmth in them at this moment.


    For many years to come, what he would always remember and yearn for was the smile in those eyes.


    ¡°Shall we go?¡± Feng Si asked again, having already filled up the car with gas.


    It happened to be after the hottest time of the afternoon sun. Although they were hitting the road now, they didn¡¯t know where they would end up for the night. They would just keep moving forward.


    Lu Jingshen nodded.


    Sitting in the car, Feng Si turned on the air conditioning and tossed the blanket he had bought earlier to him. ¡°You can sleep if you want. You looked tired last night.¡±


    He said it casually, but Lu Jingshen held onto the blanket tightly, feeling a slight blush creeping up his neck.


    ¡°Where are we going now?¡± Lu Jingshen asked, trying to ease his discomfort.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, we¡¯ll see as we go,¡± Feng Si replied, glancing at the navigation on his phone before starting the car, taking a different route from the one they had taken in the morning.


    Their journey had just begun.

 CH 63

    Feng Si had been suffering from a toothache for almost a week.


    At first, it wasn¡¯t too serious, with occasional dull and intermittent pain. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, until one night when he suddenly woke up in pain. The kind of pain that spread from his mouth to his brain, pulling on his nerves, tormenting him all night. The usually lively Feng Si was completely subdued for the first time.


    When morning came, Lu Jingshen decisively called the dentist and made an appointment for him, taking him to the hospital.


    As expected, it was a wisdom tooth problem, and the position wasn¡¯t very good. They were afraid that if they didn¡¯t remove it soon, it would continue to grow crookedly and become more difficult to deal with.


    Pressing his face, Feng Si found it a bit unbelievable. ¡°I¡¯m thirty years old and I can still grow wisdom teeth?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not uncommon to grow wisdom teeth even at sixty,¡± the dentist replied calmly.


    Feng Si closed his mouth, leaning back on the treatment bed, furrowing his brows, feeling listless.


    Seeing him like this, Lu Jingshen found it unusual and reached out to touch his face, trying to comfort him. ¡°It¡¯s okay, once it¡¯s removed, you¡¯ll feel better.¡±


    When Lu Jingshen withdrew his hand, Feng Si grabbed it. His voice was weak. ¡°You can laugh if you want.¡±


    Lu Jingshen shook his head.


    Forty minutes later.


    When they walked out of the hospital, Feng Si still had cotton in his mouth, and his face was a bit swollen. Sitting in the car, Lu Jingshen asked him, ¡°Is it still painful?¡±


    Feng Si closed his eyes and leaned back in the seat, murmuring, ¡°Kiss me, and it won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡±


    If he could still flirt like this, it meant that he wasn¡¯t in pain anymore. Lu Jingshen relaxed and started the car.


    Today was Saturday, so he drove straight home and started to make porridge and soup as soon as he entered the house.


    Feng Si hadn¡¯t eaten much in the morning, and he could only eat soft food after having his tooth extracted, which was quite pitiful.


    After busying himself, Lu Jingshen went to the living room and saw Feng Si lying on the sofa, already asleep, with dark circles under his eyes.


    Lu Jingshen brought a blanket to cover him, then went to the study to work.


    When Feng Si woke up from his nap, it was almost noon. Lu Jingshen was sitting on the other side of the sofa, watching TV with the volume turned down low.


    Smelling the rich aroma of chicken soup in the air, Feng Si turned his head and finally felt a little more energetic.


    Lu Jingshen turned around. ¡°Are you awake?¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°The chicken soup smells so good.¡±


    ¡°How do you feel now?¡± Lu Jingshen sat next to him, wanting to check the wound in Feng Si¡¯s mouth. He held his chin.


    Feng Si cooperated and opened his mouth for him to see. There was a bloody hole deep in the left side of his gums, looking scary and daunting.


    Lu Jingshen frowned, but Feng Si suddenly leaned over and quickly kissed him on the lips.


    Lu Jingshen was taken aback, his brows furrowing even tighter. ¡°What are you doing? Aren¡¯t you afraid of infecting the wound with bacteria?¡±


    As he spoke, Feng Si kissed him several times in a row, laughing as he did so.


    Unable to bear it any longer, Lu Jingshen pushed him away. ¡°Behave yourself.¡±


    He got up and went to the kitchen to check on the fire. Feng Si leisurely followed, and Lu Jingshen tasted the soup. It was just right.


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze followed him, and when Lu Jingshen put down the spoon, he coughed lightly and said, ¡°You can only eat porridge and soup, don¡¯t eat the chicken. Remember to take the antibiotics half an hour after eating.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Feng Si nodded casually.


    He thought Lu Jingshen¡¯s excessive concern was quite cute, even though it was just a wisdom tooth extraction.


    Lu Jingshen went to serve the porridge and soup and his phone screen lit up on the table, indicating a new message.


    It was from the businessman he had met at the business dinner a while ago, who had come from the south. Because there was a possibility of further cooperation, they exchanged business cards, and the other party had contacted him several times afterwards. At first, they discussed business, but it gradually evolved into personal invitations. Lu Jingshen had gone once, but felt that the other party¡¯s attitude was too enthusiastic, so he made excuses to decline subsequent invitations.


    Today was no exception. The other party asked if he had time and sincerely invited him to go see an opera together.


    Feng Si glanced at the message and chuckled. ¡°Another person trying to make a move on you?¡±


    Since Lu Jingshen came out publicly, there had been no shortage of men expressing their fondness for him, both openly and subtly. Lu Jingshen had gone from embarrassment at first to now even being numb to it.


    Before, he wasn¡¯t sure. After all, invitations for tea, meals, and golf could all be considered normal social activities between business partners. But going to the opera?


    Lu Jingshen shook his head, not wanting to deal with it.


    Feng Si smirked. ¡°Let me handle it for you.¡±


    ¡°sure,¡± Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t care. As long as he could get rid of the trouble.


    Half a minute later, Feng Si handed his phone back, and Lu Jingshen glanced at it. His reply was, ¡°Sorry, something came up at home.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was somewhat surprised. This straightforward style of refusal was nothing like him at all.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± Feng Si said, ¡°It¡¯s done.¡±


    Lu Jingshen calmly put away his phone and said, ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡±


    Feng Si smiled again. ¡°Are you sure? Should I have done it differently?¡±


    ¡°The message has already been sent,¡± Lu Jingshen replied.


    In the afternoon, they watched a movie together at home with a projector.


    After the anesthesia wore off completely, there was still occasional pain. Feng Si slept for another while, and when he opened his eyes again, Lu Jingshen approached and touched his forehead with concern in his eyes. ¡°You have a fever,¡± he said.


    Feng Si closed his eyes and replied hoarsely, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Concerned, Lu Jingshen fetched a thermometer and tried it on him. It showed a temperature of over 37 degrees, indicating a slight fever.


    Feng Si leaned back on the couch, listening to Lu Jingshen talk to the doctor on the phone. Watching him frown and relax from time to time, Feng Si couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    After hanging up the phone, Lu Jingshen sighed in relief and told him, ¡°The doctor said it¡¯s a slight fever caused by the wisdom tooth extraction, a normal phenomenon. Just continue taking the antibiotics.¡±


    Feng Si reached out and pulled Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist closer, burying his head in his arms, feeling too lazy to move.


    It seemed like he was acting coquettely, but Feng Si did it naturally.


    It was rare for him to show such vulnerability. Lu Jingshen¡¯s fingers ran through his hair as he embraced him.


    In the evening, Feng Si still had no appetite. He only drank half a bowl of porridge, and Lu Jingshen measured his temperature again. It had risen to nearly 38 degrees.


    ¡°If the temperature rises further, do we need to go to the hospital?¡± Lu Jingshen¡¯s worries resurfaced.


    Feng Si didn¡¯t care much. ¡°It¡¯s not that high. The doctor said it¡¯s normal.¡±


    Lu Jingshen picked up his phone, intending to ask the doctor, but Feng Si stopped him. ¡°Forget it, they¡¯re off work already. Don¡¯t be so nervous. I¡¯m a grown adult; can pulling out a wisdom tooth cause me trouble?¡±


    Reflecting on it, Lu Jingshen felt that his reaction was indeed exaggerated. Anything involving Feng Si seemed to cloud his judgment.


    As he was about to put down his phone, the person who had invited him for lunch sent another message, this time with a photo of the opera scene.


    ¡°The performance was wonderful. It¡¯s a pity you couldn¡¯t make it. Hope we can meet next time.¡±


    Feng Si made a sound of disdain. Knowing that the person had a partner and still sent such ambiguous messages, he thought the person either had a problem with their brain or their character.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t reply; he simply deleted and blocked the person.


    Feng Si reminded him, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the person you said you were starting multi-billion deals with?¡±


    Lu Jingshen shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t do business with people whose brains or characters are questionable.¡±


    Feng Si said, ¡°¡­ Why do I feel like I¡¯m becoming a jinx around you? Can you still make money like this?¡±


    Lu Jingshen seemed to be becoming more impulsive. Last time, when someone tried to set him up as an escort, he refused to meet them again. Now, he directly deleted and blocked someone who was pursuing him.


    Looking at him, Feng Si asked, ¡°am I causing you trouble?¡±


    Feng Si smiled and leaned closer. ¡°Am I?¡±


    Caught in the gaze of those smiling eyes, Lu Jingshen suddenly couldn¡¯t speak.


    Actually, he was indeed affected. In matters related to Feng Si, rationality often failed to prevail.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Lu Jingshen said, trying to sound casual. ¡°Money is endless. I don¡¯t need to cater to anyone¡¯s whims.¡±


    ¡°Okay, as long as you¡¯re happy,¡± Feng Si said.


    ¡°Are you happy?¡± Lu Jingshen asked him. ¡°Were you feeling jealous just now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I was jealous,¡± Feng Si said with a smile, reaching out to touch his face before standing up. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡±


    Lu Jingshen stopped him. ¡°You still have a fever. Don¡¯t shower.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s gaze lingered on his face for a few seconds before sitting back down and pulling him closer, whispering in Lu Jingshen¡¯s ear, ¡°Alex, do you know the best way to reduce a fever? I taught you before.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s expression changed slightly. He remembered when he was sick and had a fever in Norway, what Feng Si did for him.


    At that time, Feng Si had said, ¡°You¡¯ll feel better once it¡¯s out,¡± and then pleased him with his hands. And indeed, he slept well afterward, and the fever was gone the next day.


    Turning his head, Lu Jingshen kissed Feng Si¡¯s cheek and pulled away when Feng Si tried to kiss him back. ¡°Don¡¯t kiss, there are bacteria.¡±


    Feng Si insisted, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Lu Jingshen avoided it, refusing to let Feng Si kiss him no matter what. His hands roamed over Feng Si¡¯s body, gradually pulling down his pants zipper.


    Feng Si gave in and leaned back on the couch, letting him take care of him.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s skills had improved a lot now. Whether with his hands or his mouth, everything was taught by Feng Si. But tonight, perhaps because Feng Si wasn¡¯t feeling well, even though Lu Jingshen was already working hard and using all his skills, he still felt that something was missing, and there was a slight sense of dissatisfaction.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t want to go too far, but in the end, he had no choice but to use his last resort and take the initiative.


    It was Feng Si who was uncomfortable, but Lu Jingshen ended up with a flushed face and sweating profusely, holding Feng Si¡¯s face and kissing his chin and cheeks repeatedly, still refusing to let Feng Si kiss him.


    Initially just a joke, Feng Si didn¡¯t expect Lu Jingshen to go this far.


    At first, he could endure it, but later, he was also drawn in by Lu Jingshen¡¯s seemingly sacrificial attitude, hugging his waist and pressing him closer, regaining control.


    Finally, they took a shower together. There was no other way; covered in sweat, they couldn¡¯t just sleep like that.


    After calming down, Lu Jingshen felt a bit regretful and worried if he had gone too far. He measured Feng Si¡¯s temperature again, and this time it had decreased slightly.


    Feng Si smirked and said, ¡°I told you this method works.¡±


    Lu Jingshen felt like he was being fooled, ¡°Is your toothache gone now?¡±


    Feng Si covered his face and made a sound, pretending to be in pain. He said, ¡°Ah, ah,¡± and then repeated, ¡°It won¡¯t hurt if you kiss me.¡±


    Lu Jingshen leaned over, quickly kissed his lips, and firmly stated, ¡°Just this one.¡±


    Feng Si laughed and collapsed onto the bed.


    Seeing him in such good spirits, Lu Jingshen finally relaxed completely, lying down with him and turning off the bedside lamp.


    Feng Si reached out, wrapped his arm around Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist, and snuggled close to his neck, whispering softly, ¡°Goodnight.¡±

 CH 64

    In the office.


    Lu Jingshen lifted his head from the mountain of documents, glanced at his wristwatch, and realized there were still two hours until the end of the workday. He felt somewhat absent-minded, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes for what seemed like ages.


    After work, he would head straight to the airport. It would take another two hours to fly there, and the earliest he could see Feng Si would be after nine o¡¯clock.


    But at least he would see him tonight.


    Feng Si had taken students to a training base in another city, a forty-day trip. It was the first time Lu Jingshen felt that the days were so difficult to endure. Coming back home at night without him, the quietness, almost terrifying in its intensity, threatened to drive him mad.


    Even though they had been apart for seven long years before, he had grown accustomed to darkness, solitude, and loneliness. But now, he couldn¡¯t bear even a single day without him.


    It was as if they hadn¡¯t seen each other for forty days straight. Every Friday after work, he would rush to the airport, fly to the city where Feng Si was, and go to the hotel where he was staying.


    Sometimes Lu Jingshen felt that his dependence on Feng Si was almost pathological, but he couldn¡¯t control himself. Despite maintaining a calm facade, he would still be completely disoriented upon seeing him.


    He realized that trying to control Feng Si in the past was a big mistake; he was the one who had always been led by Feng Si.


    And he was willingly so.


    Feng Si was in a taxi on his way to Lu Jingshen¡¯s company. He had returned a few days early without informing Lu Jingshen, planning to surprise him. Otherwise, Lu Jingshen would have rushed over to find him again today.


    A colleague messaged him: ¡°Why are you in such a hurry? Aren¡¯t you going back to the school first?¡±


    Feng Si replied: ¡°Let¡¯s go back tomorrow. Sorry, I¡¯m in a hurry to go back and accompany my man.¡±


    Lu Jingshen was always so busy, yet he flew over to see him without fail every weekend. This was something Feng Si hadn¡¯t expected at first.


    The first time he saw Lu Jingshen downstairs at the hotel, he could hardly believe his eyes.


    That night, he was having supper with his colleagues when Lu Jingshen messaged him, asking what he was doing. He casually replied, and after ten o¡¯clock, when he and his colleagues returned to the hotel, they saw Lu Jingshen waiting for him in the lobby, where he had been for over an hour.


    Lu Jingshen had come alone, specifically for him. He was willing to wait alone there for hours, rather than urging him to come back early.


    While Feng Si found it both amusing and heartwarming, he couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him.


    Lu Jingshen always seemed aloof and cold on the surface, but inside, he was passionate and warm-hearted. Although his initial hesitance had hurt Feng Si, there was a fierce determination to love him at all costs, which was both crazy and touching.


    Whether it was the initial public announcement of their relationship or flying thousands of miles to find him now, or even when he had let go of his guard and chosen to get into his car all those years ago, every impulsive act of Lu Jingshen was because of him.


    In the past month, they had met every weekend. Lu Jingshen usually went over on Friday nights and left on Sunday nights. Although it was tiring, he never seemed to tire of it.


    So when Feng Si came back early today, it was to see him and make him happy.


    He didn¡¯t tell Lu Jingshen when he arrived at the company. As usual, he asked the receptionist to help him open the elevator doors and accompanied the gesture with a bright smile.


    People in the secretary¡¯s office were already used to him appearing at the company. Shen Jie greeted him as she passed by, telling him that Lu Jingshen¡¯s office was empty and that he could go straight in. Then she went on with her own business.


    Feng Si walked over, knocked on the door twice, and casually pushed it open. Lu Jingshen thought it was one of the secretaries coming in to deliver documents and continued working without looking up.


    Feng Si curved his lips and approached, mimicking the tone of his secretary in a serious manner, ¡°Mr. Lu, can you leave on time today?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand holding the pen paused for a moment, and he looked up in disbelief, only to see Feng Si approaching with hands in his pockets and a habitual smile on his lips.


    Seeing the surprise and joy in his eyes, Feng Si¡¯s lips curved up even more, and he repeated, ¡°Mr. Lu, can you leave on time today?¡±


    This time, his tone was as mischievous as usual.


    ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± Lu Jingshen finally reacted belatedly, standing up.


    Feng Si walked over, leaned against his desk, reached out to embrace him, and pulled him close.


    Lu Jingshen stumbled a bit, falling directly into his arms.


    ¡°Missed you,¡± Feng Si said happily, holding him tightly.


    Lu Jingshen steadied himself by placing his hands on Feng Si¡¯s shoulders. Although Feng Si was joking around, seeing the person he had been thinking about, he couldn¡¯t care about these things, ¡°Why did you come back early? Why didn¡¯t you tell me first?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it good to come back early? I wanted to surprise you, take a page from your book,¡± Feng Si stared at his face, ¡°Haven¡¯t you not been sleeping well these days? Dark circles are showing.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lu Jingshen subconsciously didn¡¯t want to admit that when he wasn¡¯t there, every night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Even though he could hear his voice on the phone, not being able to touch him made it hard to endure.


    Feng Si¡¯s hand rested on his waist, slowly rubbing against it through his shirt, ¡°Then is it sexual frustration?¡±


    Lu Jingshen still said the same word: ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Come on, if you¡¯re sexually frustrated, there¡¯s nothing to be embarrassed about admitting it in front of me,¡± Feng Si said.


    Lu Jingshen was annoyed by his teasing and leaned over to kiss him, silencing him.


    Feng Si held him in place, parting his lips to deepen the kiss.


    As their lips and tongues intertwined, Lu Jingshen gradually relaxed, embracing Feng Si and passionately returning the kiss.


    The kiss lasted for a long time. When they finally separated, Feng Si had already pulled Lu Jingshen¡¯s shirt out of his pants, and his restless hands slipped inside, caressing his skin, ¡°Are you really not sexually frustrated?¡±


    Lu Jingshen held his hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early for you to leave work?¡± Feng Si¡¯s hand lingered on Lu Jingshen¡¯s waist, teasing him.


    Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t stand it and sighed softly, ¡°I want to leave early, let¡¯s go now.¡±


    In this state, he couldn¡¯t focus on work anymore.


    But Feng Si didn¡¯t agree with his wishes, ¡°Why go back so early? Mr. Lu, you can¡¯t set a bad example by leaving work early and neglecting your duties.¡±


    As he said these words, he even wanted to slip his hand into Lu Jingshen¡¯s pants, but Lu Jingshen caught his wrist.


    Lu Jingshen was a little annoyed, ¡°Do you have to be like this?¡±


    Feng Si stared into his eyes, ¡°I missed you.¡±


    Those three light words instantly rendered Lu Jingshen speechless.


    In a silent stare, after a moment of stiffness, he let go of Feng Si¡¯s hand, as if giving up, and gasped, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside.¡±


    Inside was the lounge, but Feng Si didn¡¯t listen to him. His warm palm continued to press against Lu Jingshen¡¯s butt, gently massaging back and forth.


    In such a place, Lu Jingshen seemed very nervous, unable to relax his body. Originally unwilling, but just because of his words ¡°I missed you,¡± he completely gave in.


    Feng Si¡¯s kisses became more passionate, and seeing Lu Jingshen like this made it hard for him not to love him more.


    Coming back early to the company was to see Lu Jingshen, not necessarily to do anything here, but seeing Lu Jingshen, who was so indulgent, aroused those desires in him.


    Wanting to love this person, physical needs were the most direct way to express it.


    As the kisses became more intense, Feng Si could still think clearly. Although he seemed calm and in control in front of Lu Jingshen, every move he made was also influenced by Lu Jingshen


    If a line could be drawn from their hearts, the other end would surely be in each other¡¯s hands, with the frequency of their beats always controlled by the other.


    Lifting Lu Jingshen onto the office desk, they switched positions, Feng Si leaned down to bite his Adam¡¯s apple.


    Lu Jingshen moaned softly, his hands gripping Feng Si¡¯s shoulders, unable to voice his refusal anymore.


    The sound of belts being unbuckled and zippers being pulled down was particularly clear, and Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t ignore it even when he closed his eyes.


    Documents scattered all over the floor, Lu Jingshen half lying on the spacious office desk, his shirt in disarray, his chest rising and falling continuously. Feng Si hooked his arms around his legs, spreading them apart and entwining them around his waist, leaning forward to gaze down at him.


    From his face to his body, every inch was scrutinized with his gaze, imprinting this scene deeply into his mind.


    Being stared at by Feng Si like this, especially in this place, made Lu Jingshen feel hot all over, and even a fingertip touch could make him shiver involuntarily.


    ¡°Your body is really beautiful,¡± Feng Si¡¯s fingers slowly rubbed his hip bone, sincerely praising, his eyes full of undisguised affection.


    Lu Jingshen struggled to speak: ¡°Stop talking¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you want me?¡± Feng Si lowered his gaze to meet his eyes.


    Feeling unable to withstand such a gaze, Lu Jingshen instinctively nodded.


    But Feng Si insisted on hearing him say it out loud: ¡°Do you want me?¡±


    Looking into his own eyes, dark and deep, but with eyes that were too intense, Lu Jingshen had a sensation of being about to melt, the fire igniting inside him almost consuming him.


    He finally couldn¡¯t resist anymore and surrendered: ¡°I want you, give yourself to me.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s response was to press against him, surrendering himself completely, satisfying all of his desires.


    Doing this on his own office desk made Lu Jingshen feel a sense of clandestine excitement, as if they were having an affair. Because of the nervousness, he felt excited, and because of the excitement, he became frenzied, easily reaching the peak.


    During this time, there were occasional phone calls and knocks on the door, but he couldn¡¯t focus enough to respond.


    When the office door was first knocked on, his heart raced so fast it almost exploded, his body instantly tensed up, and he bit his lip hard.


    Feeling the tightening in that moment, Feng Si let out a heavy breath, leaning close to his ear and saying, ¡°Relax, it¡¯s okay, I locked the door when I came in.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s body suddenly relaxed, and he leaned back as if releasing all the tension, biting Feng Si¡¯s lips like he was venting.


    Feng Si held his hand, interlocking their fingers tightly, their wedding rings touching.


    This frenzied madness continued until the end of their working hours and nightfall.


    Lu Jingshen noticed the time again, it was almost seven o¡¯clock, and he still couldn¡¯t leave on time.


    He took a shower in the lounge, looking at Feng Si, who was satisfied with himself, he didn¡¯t know what to say. He couldn¡¯t even get angry, after all, it was the result of his own indulgence.


    Seeing him lingering, Feng Si walked over and took a new shirt from the closet for him, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I already messaged Secretary Shen earlier, saying you weren¡¯t feeling well and resting, telling them not to disturb you.¡±


    Lu Jingshen: ¡°When did you send it?¡±


    Feng Si handed him the shirt and said slowly, ¡°Right after the first round ended, didn¡¯t you notice? After that, there were no more phone calls, and no one knocked on the door.¡±


    Lu Jingshen: ¡°¡­¡±


    The car left the company, it was already seven thirty.


    Feng Si drove with Lu Jingshen, leisurely wandering the streets looking for a place to eat.


    He hummed a song, in a good mood, Lu Jingshen glanced at him several times, infected by his mood, and a smile appeared on his lips.


    If you must say, it didn¡¯t feel that bad after all.


    If Feng Si liked it, occasionally doing it once was fine.


    As long as he liked it.

 CH 65

    Finally, there was time to go to London to register, which was in the middle of January next year.


    Feng Si¡¯s school was on winter break, while Lu Jingshen had already finished his work for the next month before the New Year. He left other matters to his secretary and his subordinates. After they registered, he and Feng Si planned to continue the journey they hadn¡¯t finished in Africa.


    In fact, more than a month ago, they took a weekend to fly to London to submit the registration application. They waited for a whole month before the results came out these past few days. The city hall there sent an email, notifying them that they could officially register for marriage.


    The night before departure, when packing their bags, the leather bracelet on Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand suddenly broke and slipped off his wrist.


    Frowning, he picked it up. The bracelet had been worn for over eight years, worn out and worn down. It was the least valuable thing on him and the thing he had worn for the longest time.


    Feng Si entered the room and walked over, calling out, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Then he saw the broken bracelet in Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand and understood, ¡°If it¡¯s broken, it¡¯s broken. You¡¯ve been wearing it for so many years. It¡¯s rare that it didn¡¯t break earlier.¡±


    Lu Jingshen: ¡°¡­Hmm.¡±


    Seeing his serious expression, Feng Si smiled with his arms crossed, ¡°I say, you¡¯re not superstitious, right? Do you think this is a bad omen?¡±


    Lu Jingshen hesitated. He wasn¡¯t a superstitious person, but the sudden breakage of the bracelet he had been wearing all along, especially just before they were about to register, did make him a little anxious.


    Feng Si comforted him, ¡°It might not necessarily be a bad omen. After my bracelet inexplicably fell off, I received news from you the next day. I think it¡¯s a sign that the old is gone and the new is coming.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Jingshen asked.


    Feng Si: ¡°Why would I lie to you? Of course it¡¯s true.¡±


    The bracelet he wore had also been worn for seven years.


    The night it disappeared, he went to attend a party and only discovered its absence when he returned late at night. He frantically searched along the way he had traveled, called everyone who had attended the party, and spent the whole night searching. It wasn¡¯t until dawn that he had to accept the fact that the bracelet was truly gone.


    However, the next day, at that airplane party, he saw a photo taken by his employer¡¯s friend, which happened to have Lu Jingshen in it.


    Losing and then gaining back, that¡¯s how things often worked out.


    A casual remark from Feng Si made Lu Jingshen feel uneasy.


    Every time Feng Si mentioned those seven years, his guilt and heartache deepened. Apologies in words were ultimately powerless, and saying sorry too many times was meaningless, so he wouldn¡¯t say sorry again.


    Putting the broken bracelet back into the bedside table drawer, Lu Jingshen looked up at Feng Si in front of him and said seriously, ¡°When we go to Africa, let¡¯s buy two more bracelets.¡±


    Feng Si nodded with a smile, ¡°Sure.¡±


    The day of departure was New Year¡¯s Eve. They had lunch at Lu Jingshen¡¯s parents¡¯ house at noon, and in the afternoon, they flew to London.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s father was in poor health and couldn¡¯t travel abroad for long distances. His mother had to stay to take care of him, while his sister had to stay in charge of the company. Lu Chi Xie planned to accompany Ling Zhuo back to his family for the Spring Festival. So, in the end, only they themselves went to London.


    They didn¡¯t plan to have a wedding ceremony, not even inviting anyone to witness the registration ceremony. This matter was originally their private affair and didn¡¯t need others to care about it.


    Feng Si performed his duties as a captain wholeheartedly. Lu Jingshen originally suggested letting someone else fly this time, but Feng Si refused.


    ¡°All these years, when I was searching for you around the world, I thought countless times that when I found you one day, I must personally pilot the plane to bring you back. Consider this as giving me a chance.¡±


    Saying this, Feng Si had already put on his neat pilot uniform and was adjusting the pilot cap on his head. The long, narrow eyes under the brim were filled with a smile.


    Lu Jingshen didn¡¯t persuade him anymore and picked up the tie to help him put it on.


    Before takeoff, Feng Si made the usual captain¡¯s announcement, even though there was only one passenger in the cabin, Lu Jingshen.


    After the routine information and safety briefing, the last sentence he said was, ¡°The plane will take off in five minutes. I¡¯m very happy to be able to bring you back this time. I hope you¡¯re happy too. Relax and enjoy this journey.¡±


    Lu Jingshen leaned back in his seat, smiling silently.


    When they landed in London, it was already dusk. They didn¡¯t stay in a hotel but went straight to Feng Si¡¯s house.


    There was no one else at home. Feng Si¡¯s mother had gone on a trip with friends, and Feng Ting hadn¡¯t started her vacation yet. They wouldn¡¯t come to witness their registration.


    This was just fine. At that moment, they only wanted to focus all their attention on each other.


    Outside the window, it was raining, and the mist obscured the lights of the night. Lu Jingshen stood by the window in Feng Si¡¯s room, looking at the lights below. The wooden window frame felt rough and hard in his palm, but his fluctuating mood became calm along with it.


    Perhaps Feng Si had also looked at the rainy night like this countless times before, feeling the traces of the years on these old windows.


    Being able to catch a glimpse of Feng Si¡¯s past in this way also made him feel at ease.


    Familiar breath enveloped him from behind, and Feng Si wrapped his arms around his waist, leaning down to his neck affectionately, ¡°The hot water is ready. Would you like to take a shower?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s raining.¡± Lu Jingshen still looked out the window, whispering softly.


    Feng Si chuckled softly, ¡°What¡¯s so strange about rain? When we come out after showering, maybe the rain will stop.¡±


    Lu Jingshen turned around, leaning his back against the window, and wrapped his arms around Feng Si¡¯s neck.


    Feng Si stared into his sparkling eyes and asked in a deep voice, ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Lu Jingshen thought for a moment and replied, ¡°I just feel a bit regretful that we don¡¯t have enough time. We still have to go to Africa. Otherwise, I¡¯d like to stay here with you for a few more days.¡±


    ¡°Here?¡± Feng Si was slightly surprised.


    ¡°Yeah, here,¡± Lu Jingshen confirmed.


    Looking around, Feng Si¡¯s home was nothing special, the house was old, and the space was small. If it weren¡¯t for his mother¡¯s sentimental attachment to this place, they would have moved out long ago.


    He asked, ¡°Why do you want to stay here?¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s hand caressed his face, slowly saying, ¡°I want to experience where you grew up, to know what you were like before.¡±


    Even though Feng Si had told him a lot about his youth, Lu Jingshen still felt regretful. They met late, and their real beginning was too late. He couldn¡¯t be a part of the years Feng Si had experienced before.


    Feng Si sensed his emotions from his gaze, reached out, lifted him up, and took a few steps to the nearby bed.


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s back sank into the soft bed, he looked up, and Feng Si had already leaned down, his hands supporting both sides of his head, staring at him intently.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Lu Jingshen began.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to keep regretting the past. We still have the future. You said it yourself, thirty years, fifty years, you can¡¯t go back on your word,¡± Feng Si interrupted.


    Feeling a sourness spreading from his heart to his eyes, Lu Jingshen nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Feng Si¡¯s fingers brushed against the corners of his eyes, ¡°We¡¯re getting married tomorrow, be a little happier.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lu Jingshen replied.


    Hot kisses descended, and he immediately opened his lips, eagerly entwining with the person on top of him.


    ¡°Alex,¡± in between kisses, Feng Si called his name, ¡°this bed has never had anyone else on it, you¡¯re the first. The bed is very old, it might not withstand too much movement. Please bear with it a bit.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s cheeks flushed, ¡°¡­Can you restrain yourself a bit?¡±


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t,¡± Feng Si replied nonchalantly.


    Lu Jingshen reminded him, ¡°We haven¡¯t showered yet.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll shower later,¡± Feng Si said indifferently, ¡°we¡¯ll probably need to shower again anyway.¡±


    Lu Jingshen couldn¡¯t find words to refuse anymore.


    This kind of worry about whether the bed would collapse at a time like this was something Lu Jingshen had never experienced before. He was so nervous that he couldn¡¯t relax, afraid to exert too much pressure.


    However, Feng Si was unusually excited tonight from the beginning and refused to hold back, his movements aggressive.


    The creaking of the old wooden bed continued into the late night.


    The next day was a bright sunny day. Despite not sleeping much, they were both energetic. After breakfast and changing into formal attire, they set off early and went to the city hall.


    After a short wait, it was their turn. They asked the staff there to be their witnesses, swore vows, exchanged rings, kissed, and finally signed the documents. The process was already familiar to them, and it didn¡¯t take them half an hour to complete it all.


    As they walked out of the city hall, they had already obtained the paper.


    Perhaps it should have been a more exciting and romantic moment, but they remained calm, as if they had been anticipating this day for too long, and when it finally arrived, all they needed to do was greet it with a smile.


    And this wasn¡¯t the end, it was just the beginning.


    Sitting in the car for a moment, Lu Jingshen received the flowers he had specially ordered to be delivered here yesterday. Today, it was a large bouquet, given to Feng Si.


    ¡°So many, is this an advance for the next month?¡± Feng Si smiled and asked him.


    Lu Jingshen nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    They were going to Africa next, and it wouldn¡¯t be easy to buy flowers in remote areas. He promised to send flowers to Feng Si every day and didn¡¯t want to interrupt this because of their trip.


    ¡°From today onwards, you¡¯re my legally wedded husband. I will cherish you and love you, no longer making you wait for me or tire yourself out for me. I will always hold you in my heart, prioritize your emotions and thoughts. If I do something wrong or not well, you can remind me, teach me, and I will gladly correct it. I won¡¯t push you away again, nor will I make you sad, never again.¡±


    Lu Jingshen¡¯s voice was low and sincere, staring into Feng Si¡¯s eyes, expressing the promise he truly wanted to give.


    Feng Si understood his meaning. The vows they had said before were provided by the city hall for them to choose from, but what Lu Jingshen was saying now was the voice in his heart.


    He put down the flowers, reached out, and embraced Lu Jingshen.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already done very well. Your promise is also my promise, and it¡¯s forever valid.¡±


    After a quiet embrace, they turned their heads towards each other in tacit agreement and kissed passionately as if no one else was around.


    The bell rang, the white pigeon flew past the front of the car and flew away, and the fountain in front splashed with water.


    A new day has just begun.


    END OF EXTRA CHAPTERS.