《Reverse Domestication》


 CH 1

    On a sunny noon in early autumn, the sun still blazed hot.


    The late summer heat had been dispersed by a gentle breeze, leaving behind a lingering sensation of scorching sun that stubbornly refused to leave.


    It was a weekend, and the New City East District appeared somewhat deserted. Only a few private cars occasionally sped by on the main road. Without any surveillance cameras nearby, they didn¡¯t even bother to slow down.


    In a corner beside the main road, an old-style convenience store had half of its roller shutter down, casting a shadow. The middle-aged owner, sitting alone behind the counter on a reclining chair, propped up his feet. He was enjoying the breeze of a fan while listening to the noon news on the radio.


    This was an awkward time when those who were resting didn¡¯t want to go out, and those working overtime hadn¡¯t returned yet. So, the owner took it easy, lazily listening to the radio and dozing off. However, he suddenly felt the light in front of him blocked by something, obscuring his view.


    Squinting his eyes, the owner put down the newspaper. With a puzzled expression, he turned towards the entrance and realized that a rare new customer had arrived.


    The new customer was a handsome and tall man. He wore a thin motorcycle jacket over a plain black T-shirt. He had a pair of sunglasses perched on his nose and large wireless headphones hooked over his right ear. He didn¡¯t look like a local resident; rather, he resembled a member of some passing motorcycle gang.


    ¡°Uh, sure, got it¡ª¡± The new customer didn¡¯t seem to be addressing anyone specific. He squeezed through the half-open rolling shutter and mumbled a few vague responses. Then, he gestured towards the cramped cigarette cabinet behind the store owner and briefly said, ¡°Hongtashan.¡±


    The store owner slowly rose from the reclining chair, turned his head to look at the cigarette cabinet, and absentmindedly asked, ¡°Regular or menthol?¡±


    ¡°Menthol ,¡± the man replied.


    The owner fetched a pack of cigarettes for him as instructed. The man pulled a ten-yuan bill from his pocket and dropped it on the counter. He took the pack of cigarettes and smoothly slipped out through the gap in the roller shutter, just as he had come in.


    ¡°Got it,¡± Lu Ye straightened up and adjusted his slightly crooked headphones. With a sigh, he said, ¡°25 New Yang Road, Wei¡¯s Art Training Center, New City District Branch. I¡¯ll pick her up and take her to the bus station after that. bus route 217, right? I¡¯ve got it memorized, won¡¯t forget.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± the voice on the other end of the phone said satisfactorily, ¡°Thank you for helping out. You¡¯ve just come back, and I¡¯m already sending you around.¡±


    ¡°No problem, it¡¯s within my jurisdiction,¡± Lu Ye took a cigarette out of the pack and put it in his mouth. He walked casually towards his parked motorcycle at the roadside and continued, ¡°But seriously, why did you send your child so far away to learn art? Wasn¡¯t the main campus in the city good enough?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know, there¡¯s a new teacher at the branch.¡± The voice on the other end of the phone suddenly became excited, and the speaker continued enthusiastically, ¡°Young and promising, very professional. Rumor has it that he graduated from the Paris Academy of Fine Arts and is exceptional in sketching and oil painting.¡±


    ¡°Paris? More like Brazil.¡± Lu Ye chuckled and couldn¡¯t help but mock, ¡°A graduate from the Paris Academy of Fine Arts coming to this small place to teach? Are you sure he is not a fraud?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t look down on art training centers, and besides, Brazil has ceramics and stone carvings in their art as well.¡± The voice on the phone replied calmly, then changed the subject with a playful tone, ¡°Hurry up and pick up Mingming. If you¡¯re late, you won¡¯t get your pickled meat tomorrow.¡±


    Lu Ye couldn¡¯t do anything about his elder sister¡¯s stubbornness, so he sighed softly, tightened his grip on the headphones, and hung up the call. He finished the cigarette in his hand by the trash can, then hopped onto his motorcycle and sped away.


    From the main road, he turned six traffic lights and arrived at the New City West District.


    Unlike the East District, which had no large supermarkets or any entertainment facilities, the West District had caught onto the wave of industrial development in the past years. The entire area was divided into two parts: one side was the commercial area and the other side had gradually become a thriving street for education and training.


    Since it was a weekend, the education and training street was filled with children attending extracurricular classes. The children ranged in ages, from elementary school to different grade levels. Looking around, all that could be seen were clusters of vibrant and colorful little individuals.


    With many cars and many people on the street, Lu Ye wasn¡¯t in the mood to squeeze in. He parked his motorcycle at an intersection and continued walking the rest of the way on foot.


    The training center he was headed to was at the back of this street, not facing the road directly. It was a three-story storefront with a unique design. A small courtyard was enclosed by a low fence at the entrance. The courtyard was adorned with various paintings and artwork, making it particularly recognizable from a distance.


    As he arrived at the entrance, it happened to be the time when the training center was letting out for lunch break. A group of children rushed out of the door like cattle let out of their pens, and each child dove into the embrace of their respective parents. Among the children was Lu Mingming, and when she spotted Lu Ye from a distance, her eyes lit up. She immediately rushed over like a little sparrow and threw herself into Lu Ye¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Uncle, uncle, please lend me fifty yuan.¡± Lu Mingming clung to his leg, speaking in a playful tone, ¡°I need it urgently.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Lu Ye chuckled, bent down to gently scrape her cheek with his knuckles, and teased, ¡°After not seeing you for so long, the first thing you do is reach into your uncle¡¯s wallet? That¡¯s not quite appropriate, is it?¡±


    ¡°I really need it urgently,¡± Lu Mingming looked up at him with her small face, gripping his leg and swaying it back and forth. She said eagerly, ¡°Today is our Teacher Qi¡¯s birthday! I only found out during class, so I didn¡¯t prepare a gift in advance. Please lend me some money quickly. I¡¯ll have my mom pay you back later.¡±


    Lu Ye thought that raising a child was really quite a hassle. Even the teacher¡¯s birthday required gifts, which could be quite an ordeal for parents.


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Lu Ye was worn down by her pleading. He took out his wallet from his pocket, pulled out a fifty-yuan bill, and handed it to her. He casually complained, ¡°Teachers these days are quite something. They even ask students for gifts on their birthdays.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that!¡± Lu Mingming immediately became unhappy and retorted loudly, ¡°I wanted to give it myself. Teacher Qi is the best teacher in the world, we all really, really, really like him¡ª¡±


    Children tend to use more and more intense adjectives to emphasize things. Lu Mingming used two ¡°best¡± and three ¡°really, really¡± in a row, showing that she attached great importance to the matter.


    Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but smile wryly and quickly apologized. He admitted that he had a narrow perspective and had wrongly accused the world¡¯s ¡°best¡± Teacher Qi.


    Only after pacifying Lu Mingming did she carry on. She took the money and rushed off to a nearby boutique to select a gift.


    After a while, Lu Mingming came out of the shop holding a large crystal ball music box.


    ¡°How is it? Isn¡¯t it pretty?¡± Lu Mingming flaunted the exquisitely crafted winter-themed music box in front of Lu Ye, saying excitedly, ¡°I¡¯m going to give this to the most handsome Teacher Qi. He¡¯ll definitely like it!¡±


    Lu Ye raised an eyebrow in surprise, suddenly finding himself intrigued by this ¡°Teacher Qi¡± in Lu Mingming¡¯s words.


    He couldn¡¯t help but watch as Lu Mingming bounced away like a small fish, disappearing into the room. Through the transparent ground-level window, he saw a young man in the lobby surrounded by children.


    The young man did indeed look good, and he exuded a pleasant demeanor. He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, with a tall and slender figure. His hair, nearly shoulder-length, was tied up into a small bun at the back of his head, leaving a short fringe of hair to frame his face, which he swept behind his ear.


    He wore a snowy white shirt, immaculately clean and neatly pressed. Perhaps to prevent his clothes from being dirtied by art materials, he had folded up the sleeves a few times at the cuffs, revealing a slender and fair forearm.


    Clean and refreshing individuals often easily won people¡¯s favor. After observing from outside for a while, Lu Ye had to admit that his impression of this ¡°best handsome teacher¡± had significantly improved in just a few seconds.


    As the saying goes, someone with soft hair tends to have a soft temper. After observing this ¡°best handsome teacher¡± from outside for a while, Lu Ye had to admit that he appeared to have a very good personality¡ªgentle and likely the kind of teacher children would adore.


    He maintained a gentle and warm smile on his lips, lowered his head to speak to the students, and patiently interacted with each child. A group of children surrounded him, chattering and chirping, yet he displayed no impatience on his face. Instead, he bent slightly, listening attentively to each child¡¯s similar birthday wishes.


    The children in the beginner drawing class were no older than fourth grade elementary students. However, when Teacher Qi spoke to them, he looked directly into each child¡¯s eyes, occasionally patting their heads, and gently smiling at the children as if treating them as peers, respecting them while taking them seriously.


    He truly seemed to be well-liked by the students. In just a short while, he had received a stack of birthday gifts and was encircled by the children, who were eager to hand him homemade greeting cards and artworks.


    Observing for a while, Lu Ye noticed that he didn¡¯t accept all of the children¡¯s gifts. He only took a small stack of greeting cards and letters, along with a few individually packaged flowers. For other elaborately wrapped gifts, he politely declined them, then patted the child¡¯s head and apologized with a few words.


    Lu Ye realized he had misunderstood; this teacher did seem quite good.


    Just as he was thinking this, he saw Lu Mingming squeeze her way into the crowd, her small stature and big personality evident. It seemed that she had caught on to something from Teacher Qi¡¯s polite rejections. Once she was in, without saying a word, she thrust the crystal ball into Teacher Qi¡¯s arms and then dashed away, not giving him a chance to refuse.


    The young teacher was momentarily stunned by her move. He instinctively looked around for assistance, but Lu Mingming had already disappeared like a little fish into the crowd.


    ¡°Uncle, let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go.¡± With Lu Mingming successfully escaping the teacher¡¯s line of sight, she grabbed Lu Ye¡¯s hand and urged, ¡°Don¡¯t let the teacher see us.¡±


    Lu Ye gave an agreeing hum, bent down to pick up Lu Mingming, and turned to leave.


    However, after taking a few steps, he inexplicably turned his head back to look at the training center.


    In the lobby, Teacher Qi had just broken free from the enthusiastic group of children. He cradled a small bouquet of various flowers in his arms, lowered his head, and smiled gently. He reached out and brushed a piece of wrapping paper on one of the flowers, revealing a twisted pattern hidden beneath the petals, which he smoothed out gently.


    His movements were gentle and slow, and the afternoon sunlight poured through the large floor-to-ceiling window, casting a warm glow over him, giving his pristine white shirt a gentle, radiant aura.


    Lu Ye¡¯s eyes flickered as he slowly withdrew his gaze.


    Indeed, he looked quite attractive, Lu Ye thought.

 CH 2

    After seeing off the little kid, Lu Mingming, onto the bus home, Lu Ye turned and headed back to his duty unit.


    It would be a little while before the afternoon shift begun, and the duty office was quiet. Only one old police officer on duty was dozing off at his desk, wrapped in his coat. Lu Ye glanced at him for a moment, then stepped into the room with light steps. Before he could even sit back at his desk, he heard a series of coughs from the other side. The old officer then lowered his coat to give him a brief glance and asked in a soft voice, ¡°Where have you been?¡±


    ¡°Well, boss, you¡¯re not sleeping,¡± Lu Ye chuckled. He stretched comfortably, walked over casually, took out a cigarette box from his pocket, and offered a cigarette to the old officer. He smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s the perfect time for a lunch break. I just picked up my niece from school¡ªher school is nearby, and she¡¯ll be back home in less than half an hour.¡±


    Weekend shifts were supposed to be twenty-four hours, but there was a forty-minute break for lunch and dinner. There was no problem leaving the duty station during that time. The old officer looked up at Lu Ye, made an indistinct sound, and then took the cigarette from him. He reached into a section in his desk and pulled out something, tossing it to Lu Ye.


    ¡°If you want to go out, then go. Why act like a thief?¡± He said gruffly, ¡°Didn¡¯t have time to eat, huh? Here have a bite.¡±


    Lu Ye reflexively reached out and caught it, looking down to see that he had been given a crumpled meat floss bun.


    He burst into laughter and didn¡¯t hold back. He tore open the packaging bag, complimenting, ¡°boss, you¡¯re still as caring as ever.¡±


    Lu Ye had just been transferred back to his hometown the previous day. Technically, he shouldn¡¯t have been assigned to the duty shift so urgently today, but last night the municipal bureau conducted a surprise drug raid, and most of the police officers in the district and sub-bureau were pulled away for interrogations and detainments. The station was short-staffed for duty, so they had to bring him in temporarily.


    However, the new city area was different from the city center. The population wasn¡¯t as dense, and the industrial and residential patterns were quite simple. Compared to the city center, there were fewer incidents, and the duty shift wasn¡¯t too exhausting.


    The entire afternoon passed, and Lu Ye only accompanied Officer Li Zhiwen on three police calls. Two were fights, and one was a case of a lost child¡ªalthough the latter turned out to be a false alarm. After searching around the area, they realized that the child hadn¡¯t gone missing at all; she had just gone to the other side of the shopping mall to watch the cotton candy train show.


    Lu Ye stopped the parents from scolding their crying child, and he also took the opportunity to educate the mischievous kid. Then he finished his shift with ease, and on the way back, he commented to Li Zhiwen that if all duty shifts were of this low intensity, he could wake up from dreams with a smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t jinx it,¡± Li Zhiwen said. ¡°Be careful what you wish for.¡±


    Lu Ye was a materialist who didn¡¯t believe in the ethereal and mystical. He smiled slightly at the words and didn¡¯t take them to heart.


    However, the old officer¡¯s life experience was indeed more abundant than that of young people. Lu Ye had a leisurely afternoon, but as soon as night fell, it seemed like trouble was knocking at the door.


    ¡°The call has been transferred. Prostitution at No. 18 WUWEI Road,¡± Li Zhiwen entered the room from the doorway, knocking on Lu Ye¡¯s desk. He said, ¡°The caller suspects that men and women have been coming and going from there all night, suggesting organized activity. let¡¯s go check it out.¡±


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    Dealing with a prostitution case along with interrogations could take several hours. If they encountered any ¡°resistance,¡± it could take even longer. Lu Ye could already sense the sleepless night ahead of him, and he sighed lightly, accepting his fate. He put on his duty uniform and stood up.


    ¡°Boss , you¡¯re absolutely right,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°I won¡¯t jinx it next time.¡±


    Wuwei Road 18 was a twin apartment building in the east district of the new city. It was an old building in a remote location with vague property rights. When it was first built, it was sold as apartments despite being designated as residential. It had tricked quite a few speculators and ordinary families. Over a decade had passed, and people still protested annually, demanding solutions.


    The developers had taken the money and vanished, leaving the apartments poorly maintained without property management or caretakers. Despite the lack of amenities, the building had a shiny exterior that attracted people who wanted to live decently without much capital.


    Since the rent was low in this residential area due to its remote location, the population turnover rate was very high. All sorts of people lived there, making it a location where the police had made arrests for prostitution and gambling, and even caught a group of young drug users.


    Lu Ye had just been transferred back from another city, so he wasn¡¯t too familiar with the situation in this jurisdiction. Li Zhiwen intentionally swapped shifts to work with him, not only to guide him but also to help him quickly understand the local circumstances.


    Before Lu Ye¡¯s previous transfer, he had heard about the twin apartment complex, and with a few words from Li Zhiwen, he had a general understanding. As he checked his body camera, he casually asked, ¡°Which building and unit did the caller mention?¡±


    ¡°Building A,¡± Li Zhiwen said. ¡°Apartment 2406.¡±


    Just before the knocking sound on the door, Qi Yanbai had been sitting in the living room for three hours.


    When he was alone, he didn¡¯t need to maintain that gentle and kind demeanor. So, he stared at the half-height easel in front of him with a blank expression, not hiding the complex and disdainful look in his eyes.


    There was an unfinished oil painting on the easel, and from it, the outline of a church square was already visible. The exquisite architecture was presented at an upward angle, brilliantly illuminated by a slanting light that cast a saintly radiance on the building¡¯s top, creating a luminous and soft drizzle.


    At first glance, it seemed to be a positive landscape painting. However, the artist¡¯s style was somewhat gloomy, with an excessive use of heavy colors that gave the painting a somewhat gloomy appearance when viewed in the darkness of the night.


    But this darkness was not overwhelming. Looking at the color usage and composition, it was clear that the artist had a solid foundation and artistic sensibility. It was easy to imagine that if the painting continued this way, it would turn out to be a pretty decent work.


    Yet Qi Yanbai held the brush, unable to continue.


    Most of the paint on his palette had dried up, but the brush pot was still clean. He sat in the dim light of the lamp, facing the painting, his mind blank, leaving only a sense of restless frustration.


    He couldn¡¯t paint, Qi Yanbai thought, I¡¯m just not capable.


    This realization brought him distress. Qi Yanbai tried to force himself to continue, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t put the brush to painting canvas. The anxiety and impatience of being unable to create began to engulf him, and he clenched his teeth, feeling the suppressive pain from deep within.


    I need to find a solution, Qi Yanbai thought.


    He knew full well that he had a certain innate nature repressed within him. He couldn¡¯t stay trapped like this, or he would eventually be consumed by that agonizing feeling, becoming crazed and eternally unsatisfied.


    ¡ªHe needed an outlet for release.


    Qi Yanbai had been sitting in the living room from day to night. The only light came from the lamps lining the room, casting a dim and oppressive illumination that pushed everything into the darkness of the night.


    It seemed that Qi Yanbai had finally realized that continuing this standoff would lead to no result. He took a deep breath, placed the clean brush into the brush pot, and then looked around, pondering for a moment. Finally, he reached out and grabbed something from the brush stand.


    When the knocking sound came, Qi Yanbai was startled¡ªby now, it was late into the night, and there shouldn¡¯t have been anyone knocking at his door. He didn¡¯t want to pay it any attention, but the knocking persisted and was urgent. So, he frowned subconsciously, pulled a blank sheet of paper from nearby, and covered the painting with it before turning toward the entrance.


    The rental house was an old building, and the peephole at the door had been broken for a while. The landlord hadn¡¯t bothered to fix it, and Qi Yanbai, considering himself an adult man, didn¡¯t fear much. Thus, he casually opened the door.


    Immediately after, both individuals on either side of the door froze for a moment.


    Outside stood a tall, handsome man. At first glance, he was about half a head taller than Qi Yanbai, dressed in a police duty uniform with a high collar, exuding an air of coldness that bore a hint of sternness.


    The man was undeniably good-looking and sharp with piercing eyes. Even someone as worldly as an ¡°artist¡± like Qi Yanbai was momentarily taken aback. Unfortunately, those eyes were icy, robbing that face of two points of appeal, giving it an unapproachable aura.


    He furrowed his brows slightly, his gaze incredibly sharp. Qi Yanbai met his gaze for just a moment, yet he felt as though he was about to be seen through.


    As a result, his heart raced uncontrollably, and he instinctively lowered his head, hiding his right hand behind his back.

 CH 3

    Not sure if it was an illusion, but in the instant the door opened, Lu Ye seemed to catch a glimpse of coldness in Qi Yanbai¡¯s eyes.


    But that feeling passed in an instant. The next second, Qi Yanbai had already lowered his head slightly. He gripped the door frame with one hand and glanced at Lu Ye nervously. Hesitatingly, he asked, ¡°May I ask¡­ is there something you need?¡±


    There was a hint of doubt and surprise in his voice. Lu Ye assessed him and thought that maybe the strange sensation he felt earlier was just a trick of the light.


    Honestly, Lu Ye hadn¡¯t expected to see ¡°Professor Qi¡± here. Perhaps the image of him during the day was so strong in his mind that it was difficult for Lu Ye to connect Qi Yanbai with the idea of ¡°engaging in prostitution¡± at this moment.


    Although men could be one way during the day and completely different at night, Lu Ye discreetly looked Qi Yanbai up and down. He couldn¡¯t help but feel that there might be a misunderstanding in all of this.


    Qi Yanbai was still wearing the same outfit he had during the daytime class. Perhaps he hadn¡¯t had a chance to change after coming back from work. He had rolled up his sleeves, tucking the hem of his shirt neatly into his belt. The front was clean and orderly, with only slight creases on the sides of his waist, marks left from sitting.


    Lu Ye quickly estimated the time from when he knocked on the door to Qi Yanbai opening it. It didn¡¯t take more than a minute and a half in between. If he had indeed been engaging in illegal explicit activities at home, it didn¡¯t seem like enough time for him to dress so neatly.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s apartment wasn¡¯t brightly lit, but the entire living room had an open layout. Lu Ye¡¯s gaze passed over his shoulder and scanned inside. He didn¡¯t see any signs of a second person being present.


    What¡¯s going on, Lu Ye wondered. Did he respond to a false alarm, or was Qi Yanbai just exceptionally fast, finishing whatever he was doing in such a short amount of time?


    The old police officer Li Zhiwen, who was a bit behind Lu Ye in the dark, drew closer to examine the apartment.


    After a quick glance, Li Zhiwen furrowed his brow slightly and signaled to Lu Ye. He stepped back a few steps into the stairwell, indicating for Lu Ye to go in and assess the situation, while he contacted the command center to confirm the alarm information.


    Understanding Li Zhiwen¡¯s gesture, Lu Ye nodded slightly and then shifted his position to block Qi Yanbai¡¯s view. He spoke, ¡°We received a report from the public about alleged prostitution activities happening here.¡±


    Because there was a possibility of a misunderstanding in this situation, Lu Ye¡¯s attitude wasn¡¯t overly aggressive. After pausing for a moment, he continued, ¡°Could you please cooperate with the investigation?¡±


    Qi Yanbai usually maintained a gentle and kind image in front of others. Within just a few minutes, he had regained his composure. Hearing Lu Ye¡¯s words, he nodded and kindly stepped aside, inviting Lu Ye in.


    ¡°¡­Sure,¡± Qi Yanbai softly replied, ¡°Please come in.¡±


    The layout of the Twin Apartment varied in size. Qi Yanbai rented a medium-sized layout, a two-bedroom and one living room. The living room and open kitchen were connected, allowing one to see all the way to the back at a glance.


    Lu Ye entered the apartment and thought for a moment. Just as he was taking shoe covers out of his pocket, Qi Yanbai timely spoke up, ¡°It¡¯s alright, just come in. I¡¯ll clean up later.¡±


    Since he had put it this way, Lu Ye didn¡¯t stand on ceremony. He thanked him and entered the living room.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s home was quite simple, with white walls and tiles. Apart from a few essential pieces of furniture, there weren¡¯t many personal items around. There was only an easel standing conspicuously in the middle of the living room corridor.


    Lu Ye¡¯s gaze lingered on the easel covered with white paper for a couple of seconds, then he looked away and walked to the balcony to pull back the curtains and look outside.


    ¡°By the way, could you please show me your ID?¡± Lu Ye mentioned.


    Qi Yanbai seemed to be at ease with Lu Ye glancing around. He didn¡¯t say anything and turned to walk towards the entrance, where he took a backpack hanging by the door.


    After Lu Ye finished looking at the balcony, he opened the bedroom door nearby without thinking and took a look inside. The bed in the bedroom was neatly made, with the sheets smoothed out, without even a single crease.


    Whether it was engaging in prostitutional activities, in the time that had passed, even if the people involved had left, there should still be some evidence. Lu Ye walked around each room, forming a rough idea of what had happened.


    ¡°This is my ID.¡± Qi Yanbai returned just in time. He handed over his ID card and glanced nervously at Lu Ye¡¯s expression, as if hesitating whether to explain himself.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Qi Yanbai licked his lips and said softly, ¡°This might be a misunderstanding. I haven¡¯t done anything illegal.¡±


    Lu Ye glanced at the ID card and finally learned Qi Yanbai¡¯s full name.


    Qi Yanbai, Lu Ye thought, a name that sounded quite artistic.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, don¡¯t be nervous.¡± Lu Ye knew that in all likelihood, this was a case of mistaken identity. He spoke apologetically, ¡°Thank you for your cooperation. Seems we got the wrong person. ¡°


    This was something any police officer would say, but Qi Yanbai seemed genuinely comforted by it. He let out a sigh of relief, his tense posture relaxing.


    In the meantime, Lu Ye received a new reminder on his phone. Li Zhiwen had managed to contact the person who reported the incident and was verifying the situation. He asked Lu Ye to wait a bit longer.


    Lu Ye replied with an ¡°OK¡± and was about to go out to the corridor to check the situation when he accidentally bumped into the easel. The piece of white paper covering the canvas fell off with a swish, and Lu Ye quickly caught it.


    Qi Yanbai hadn¡¯t shown anyone his oil paintings in many years. His heartbeat seemed to pause for a moment. He instinctively tightened his grip on the doorframe, and in an instant, he felt a rush of coldness in his hands and feet, even more nervous than when the police knocked on his door.


    However, Lu Ye seemed not to notice his unusual behavior. He straightened up, casually placed the paper back on the coffee table, and glanced at the painting, saying, ¡°Isn¡¯t this well-painted? Why is it covered?¡±


    His initial comment was just a casual observation, an attempt to lighten the mood a bit, but Qi Yanbai seemed to be touched by this simple statement. He lifted his head and gave Lu Ye a glance, asking, ¡°You think it¡¯s good?¡±


    Lu Ye had no artistic sense whatsoever. He didn¡¯t understand colors and lines, and he judged paintings based on whether they looked realistic or not. In his outsider¡¯s eyes, Qi Yanbai¡¯s painting, even without fine details, clearly depicted something. To Lu Ye, it was already quite impressive.


    ¡°It¡¯s pretty good,¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°At least better than most people.¡±


    It was a mundane and perfunctory evaluation, far from an artistic critique. However, Qi Yanbai seemed to receive it like a divine compliment. He smiled gently as if he had been praised by a deity.


    Lu Ye was just offering a casual compliment, not thinking much of it. But coincidentally, his phone reminded him of something again. So, he took a couple of steps toward the door, checked the message, and then turned to say goodbye to Qi Yanbai.


    ¡°Very sorry about the misunderstanding. Thank you for your understanding,¡± Lu Ye said.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Qi Yanbai smiled and escorted him to the door. ¡°Thank you for your hard work officer.¡±


    Li Zhiwen had already gone downstairs to start the car, while Lu Ye remembered something as he was about to leave. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a slightly crumpled bandage, handing it to Qi Yanbai.


    ¡°By the way, be careful when cutting paper for your paintings,¡± Lu Ye advised. ¡°Use less pressure with the knife and watch your fingers.¡±


    He delivered this reminder, and Qi Yanbai stared at the bandage in his hand for a moment, then lowered his head, only to discover that his right index finger had been cut open at some point. Blood was slowly seeping from the small wound.


    Qi Yanbai instinctively pressed on the narrow cut, and a mixture of stinging and itching sensations spread from his fingertips, making his entire right hand tingle.


    He remained stunned for a moment. Shortly after, a sudden urge welled up inside him, compelling him to take a few quick steps to catch up to Lu Ye before he left.


    ¡°Officer,¡± Qi Yanbai called.


    Lu Ye halted upon hearing the voice, turning to look at him. The overhead lights in the corridor illuminated Lu Ye, accentuating his stern brows and eyes, as if darkness couldn¡¯t escape his notice.


    Qi Yanbai gripped the door frame and didn¡¯t follow him outside. He hesitated in the dim evening for a moment before speaking up, asking, ¡°Could you tell me your name?¡±


    Lu Ye knew that being asked for his name at a time like this was not a good sign. Tomorrow, there might be a complaint filed against him, a written report sitting on his desk.


    However, as he looked at Qi Yanbai, Lu Ye still answered the question.


    ¡°Lu Ye,¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°Wilderness of the wilderness.¡±

 CH 4

    Lu Ye, Qi Yanbai savored the name in his mind.


    With no more sounds, the corridor¡¯s sound-controlled lights had mostly dimmed. The distant corridor was pitch-black, with only the top light at the elevator door around the corner emitting a faint glow.


    The old elevator moved up and down, occasionally sending distorted metallic noises echoing through the empty corridor. Qi Yanbai stood at the doorway for a while, gazing in the direction Lu Ye had left, unsure of what he was thinking.


    His mind seemed blank, yet something seemed to be silently taking root and sprouting, with tenacious and delicate roots growing deep within him, waiting for the moment they would break through the soil.


    After a while, the last sound-controlled light in the corridor also went out due to the prolonged silence. The light before Qi Yanbai vanished suddenly, and he seemed to break free from a statue-like state, looking down at his hands.


    The wound on his hand was shallow and narrow, and it had stopped bleeding during this time. However, after some thought, Qi Yanbai tore open the bandage Lu Ye had given him and carefully applied it to his wound.


    Then he turned around, closed the door, walked back to the living room, turned on the lights, and casually placed the art knife from his pocket on the coffee table.


    The painting still hung on the easel, but Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t even spare it a glance. He ripped apart the work he had been refining for half a month, throwing the pieces on the floor. Then, he pinned a new blank sheet of paper onto the easel.


    Suddenly, he felt an urge, urging him to do something to capture the complex and indescribable feeling in his heart at this moment.


    So, Qi Yanbai took out a pencil from the pen holder and made the first stroke on the paper.


    It had been five years, and he had been trapped in the phrase ¡°too focused on craftsmanship, missing the essence¡± without being able to break free.


    This phrase was like a curse, lurking in the deepest corners of his mind. Every time he picked up a pen, this phrase emerged from the depths of his heart, infiltrating every nerve of his being.


    As a result, Qi Yanbai hadn¡¯t been able to smoothly and freely complete a piece of work for a long time. He often stared at the canvas in a daze, even if he forced himself to put pen to paper, he always felt that there were flaws everywhere, making it unsatisfactory.


    He had tried countless times to change the situation, but the more he tried, the stiffer his paintings became. Eventually, the lines became chaotic, the colors became harsh, and even the initial sketches appeared tacky and worthless. In the end, he could only teach at a training institution, guiding young children to draw apples and plaster blocks.


    But strangely, that day Qi Yanbai had experienced a rare sense of smoothness while drawing. The pencil¡¯s tip made a scratching sound on the paper, and in just half an hour, he depicted a handsome man with distinct features on the blank sheet.


    In the drawing, Lu Ye stood in the narrow corridor. He paused his steps slightly, but didn¡¯t turn around. He merely looked back, and the bright highlight from above cast clear shadows on his side.


    Though the drawing was only in black and white, every gesture and expression came to life. Especially his eyes, brimming with enthusiasm. When his gaze turned, it felt as if it could meet the eyes of the person in front through the thin paper.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand moved tirelessly. He rapidly completed the final stroke, then tossed the pencil aside and stepped back suddenly, taking a deep breath.


    He finally felt a long-lost sense of liberation, as if the anxiety and restlessness pent up in his heart had found an outlet, rushing out like floodwaters, making him feel relaxed.


    Qi Yanbai reached out and touched the sketch in front of him, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably.


    So beautiful, Qi Yanbai thought.


    It had been a while since he had last drawn with such ease. It flowed naturally, completed in one go. When he raised his pen, he didn¡¯t even recall the expression that had troubled him for years. He only remembered the gaze Lu Ye had turned back to give him in the corridor just now.


    Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t understand why he had such a strong impression of that side of Lu Ye¡¯s face, nor did he understand. But he didn¡¯t dislike this sudden burst of excitement, and he didn¡¯t mind being stirred by too much dangerous curiosity from a stranger.


    Anyway, when coincidences piled up, they ceased to be coincidences. Qi Yanbai thought that if Lu Ye appeared at this moment, it meant he was the one who had come to break him free from his situation.


    It was a sign from above, a gift from destiny.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­


    Meanwhile, downstairs in Building B of Twin Apartments, Lu Ye pressed the intercom button, about to speak, when he suddenly shivered without reason and let out a sneeze.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Li Zhiwen, who was a step behind, chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s not even cold yet, and you¡¯re shivering?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Lu Ye said in puzzlement. ¡°It just feels chilly on my back, like a bad omen.¡±


    Experienced police officers often had an unusually keen intuition for danger. Li Zhiwen¡¯s expression changed upon hearing this, and he quickly said, ¡°let¡¯s hurry, tonight is busy enough as it is. Don¡¯t go looking for trouble.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s strange, I don¡¯t sense it anymore.¡± The feeling from earlier disappeared as suddenly as it had come. Lu Ye didn¡¯t take it seriously. He casually gestured toward a nearby police car and said, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s someone cursing me behind my back.¡±


    After leaving Qi Yanbai¡¯s place, Lu Ye had immediately headed to the neighboring building. However, when he knocked on the door, he was met with smoke coming out of the apartment. Seven or eight young men and women were tangled together, stark naked, rolling from the living room to the kitchen. The scene was indescribable.


    Lu Ye had been a cop for many years and had encountered countless indecent scenes, but he had almost been overwhelmed by the smell in the room, despite having experienced a thousand or more lewd scenarios.


    Apart from engaging in prostitution, it appeared that these young people had also taken drugs. Lu Ye and Li Zhiwen had urgently called for reinforcements from the local precinct. It had taken a long time to wake them up one by one from their dazed state, get them to put on clothes, and then handcuff them into police cars.


    As they came downstairs, the cold wind hit them, and their foggy minds cleared a bit. They stopped being disoriented and began to wail and beg, clutching Lu Ye¡¯s arm, trying to negotiate ¡°another chance,¡± and pleading with him not to inform their families.


    Lu Ye was used to such scenes. He remained calm and unmoved. He simply ripped one of the earrings off the ear of a young man who had six piercings in his ear and shoved him into the police car. He sneered and said, ¡°Now you want another chance, huh? Why didn¡¯t you think of that when you were breaking the law? Engaging in these kinds of activities all day long, and now you¡¯re embarrassed?¡±


    The young people were all quite young. The oldest among them appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Lu Ye¡¯s impression of them was far from favorable. Thus, he slammed the car door shut, locking the howling demons inside the car.


    ¡°People are really different, aren¡¯t they?¡± Li Zhiwen handed Lu Ye a cigarette with a wry smile. ¡°The homeowner in Building A looks about the same age as them. Look at him, so well behaved and law-abiding.¡±


    Upon mentioning Qi Yanbai, Lu Ye¡¯s expression eased slightly. He responded with an affirmative sound, taking the cigarette and saying, ¡°Indeed, people like them are different. He¡¯s an art teacher.¡±


    Lu Ye¡¯s tone softened even further, and he took on a more relaxed demeanor. He continued, ¡°That¡¯s why he looks so refined. Art teachers are usually understanding. So, the two of us probably won¡¯t receive any complaints from him even though we invaded his house just now.¡±


    Lu Ye suddenly recalled how Qi Yanbai had looked when he called out to him and asked for his name in the corridor earlier.


    He stood within the boundaries of light and shadow at the doorway, appearing clean and delicate. Lu Ye felt that Qi Yanbai might have had something else to say at that moment, but for some reason, he had refrained from speaking.


    Putting out the cigarette, he crushed it into the trash can and turned to open the passenger door. ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡±


    Before getting into the car, Lu Ye suddenly had a sense of something. He looked back at the towering building in front of him and then sat down in the passenger seat, closing the car door smoothly.

 CH 5

    In the midst of the long night, while Lu Ye was busy working tirelessly with a group of troubled young men and women, Qi Yanbai was having a vivid and fantastical dream.


    In the dream, he walked along a narrow corridor, where skillfully woven woolen carpets covered the floor, absorbing the sounds of his footsteps and leaving only a soft and ethereal sensation.


    The corridor was empty, with countless classical oil paintings hanging on the high walls on both sides. The signatures in the lower right corners of those paintings were all different, but their styles shared similarities. The portraits hanging high above blinked their eyes and stared down at the young man passing by in the corridor.


    A room deep within the corridor had a partially open door, and the heavy wooden door had a narrow gap. Warm light spilled out from inside, creating a narrow line in front of the door.


    The young man holding a frame stopped at the doorway of the study. After a moment of hesitation, he raised his hand and lightly knocked on the door.


    ¡°Father,¡± he asked, ¡°Are you there?¡±


    A faint response came from inside the door. The young man, with a somewhat youthful appearance, lowered his eyes and tightened his grip on the frame he was holding. Then, he pushed the door open and entered the study.


    A middle-aged man of imposing stature stood behind a heavy desk, speaking in French to another person with his side turned.


    Fortunately, the man didn¡¯t ignore him for too long. He soon wrapped up his conversation, turned his head, and gave Qi Yanbai a casual glance before saying, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°The school is having an art exhibition for the first-year students this year,¡± Qi Yanbai tightened and relaxed his fingers on the frame, finally taking the frame out from his embrace and handing it to the man in front of him. ¡°So, I wanted to ask you to take a look at my exhibit.¡±


    Qi Yanbai excelled in painting landscapes and architecture, especially natural scenery such as mountains, waters, and forests. His exhibited work was inspired by the town of Colmar in the eastern Alsace region, where the Ill River flowed gently under a bridge, with the evening sun casting its glow on the snow-covered timber houses. Not only was the style of the painting delicate and intricate, but the technique was also skillful.


    However, the man only took a brief glance at the painting, then frowned impatiently and tossed the frame back to Qi Yanbai.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to show me your works in the future,¡± the man¡¯s voice was indifferent, even sounding a bit cold. ¡°You¡¯re simply wasting my time.¡±


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively caught the painting, raised his head in slight anxiety, and looked at the man.


    In the dream, the man¡¯s face was just a blurry shadow, yet Qi Yanbai could clearly see through that haze and discern the man¡¯s impatient and disappointed gaze.


    That disappointment was like a needle, piercing into Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart sharply. His heart sank in an instant, feeling as though something had been taken away from him in that moment. With the man¡¯s words as the final blow, he seemed stripped of everything, standing alone in a desolate wilderness, scattered by the cold wind.


    ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± he thought.


    Unable to gain the man¡¯s approval, this painting had already lost its meaning and held no value.


    This dream seemed to be reaching its conclusion. Qi Yanbai could clearly sense his consciousness loosening. He bent down slightly, intending to pick up the painting and leave the study. However, without warning, a hand reached out from the side and steadied the frame for him.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you want it?¡± he heard someone say in his ear. ¡°Isn¡¯t it good?¡±


    Qi Yanbai was slightly taken aback. Immediately after, he realized that this dream was collapsing at a visible pace. The imposing figure of his father and the study filled with paintings were suddenly swept away by the wind, leaving him standing in a vast wilderness. The cold wind whistled past his ears, but it didn¡¯t pierce his body.


    The landscape painting on the ground had inexplicably transformed into a sketch. Following the source of the voice, Qi Yanbai turned his head and saw a stranger by his side, someone who had never appeared in his dreams before.


    The man was tall and handsome, with a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips. He glanced at Qi Yanbai nonchalantly, then raised an eyebrow slightly and reached for Qi Yanbai¡¯s right hand that was hanging by his side.


    ¡°Why so careless?¡± The man¡¯s voice carried a bewitching ethereal quality. Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart trembled, and his gaze fell on his own hand.


    There was a narrow cut on his index finger, and fresh red blood was slowly oozing from the edges of the wound.


    This familiar scene triggered a memory in Qi Yanbai¡¯s subconscious. Just as he was about to recall who the man in front of him was, the dream version of Lu Ye suddenly smiled without warning. Then he lowered his head and gently took Qi Yanbai¡¯s fingertip into his mouth, softly sucking on it.


    A bright red mark was left on his lips, and soon, more fresh blood dripped from his lips, falling onto the painting on the ground. In an instant, the painting was splashed with vibrant colors.


    A gust of wind suddenly swept through the wilderness, and Qi Yanbai¡¯s mind trembled. He sat up from his bed with a start, instantly waking up.


    His thin pajamas clung to his body from the heat of his sweat. In the quiet night, Qi Yanbai could hear his heartbeat pounding like a drum.


    His hand was trembling slightly. When he placed his hand over his chest, it felt like he could grasp the rapidly beating heart beneath the thin layer of flesh.


    The wind from the wilderness seemed to have crossed over from the dream into reality. Qi Yanbai was driven by the dream, and he got out of bed as if in a daze.


    He stepped barefoot on the icy floor and moved like a wandering spirit to the living room.


    The sketch was still clipped onto the drawing board. In the moonlight, Qi Yanbai stared at the man on the paper for a long time. Then he lowered his head, tore off the band-aid from his finger.


    The long cut on his finger had yet to heal. When he pressed on it, a tiny blood droplet quivered out from the edge of the wound. Qi Yanbai extended his hand and placed the droplet below the man¡¯s eyelid in the drawing, leaving behind a vivid bloodstain on the black, white, and gray.


    This drop of color seeped into the paper, transforming the gaze of the man in the painting into something sinister. The moonlight streamed through the French window, casting its glow on the figure¡¯s eyes and brows, making him remarkably similar to the unusual version of Lu Ye from Qi Yanbai¡¯s dream.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± Qi Yanbai whispered in admiration.


    What a pity, Qi Yanbai thought. At the moment Lu Ye turned to leave, he should have asked for Lu Ye¡¯s contact information instead of just his name.


    Because he suddenly wasn¡¯t content with a simple and wonderful encounter. He took the sketch down and placed it neatly in a sketchbook, his interest in Lu Ye transcending the artwork itself.


    His heart within his chest continued to race, causing his chest cavity to feel numb. Blood surged through his veins and limbs. Qi Yanbai took a deep breath, sensing an indescribable feeling of suffocation.


    This sensation left him in a mildly dizzy state of excitement. Qi Yanbai took a deep breath and a thought emerged in his mind, as if it was the natural course of things.


    I should get him and then keep him, Qi Yanbai thought.


    This thought made Qi Yanbai instantly feel refreshed throughout his body. He curved his lips, and under the night sky, he unexpectedly burst into laughter. He appeared relaxed and delighted, as if the previous oppressive feeling had vanished in an instant. Even his footsteps became lighter and quicker.


    He put away the sketchbook and was about to turn back to the bedroom. However, as he turned, his eyes fell upon the art knife that he had left on the coffee table in the living room. The blade was reflecting an eerie light in the moonlight. Qi Yanbai tilted his head, observing it for a moment, then reached out and slowly pushed the blade back, tossing the knife into the trash can.


    He didn¡¯t need that anymore, Qi Yanbai thought, because he had found a better source of pleasure.

 CH 6

    Perhaps he had been overthinking too much, but Qi Yanbai had barely slept all night, tossing and turning in a light doze. When he woke up in the morning, he felt groggy and out of sorts. Going to work felt like a struggle.


    ¡°Mr. Qi¡­ Mr. Qi?¡±


    Qi Yanbai snapped back to reality, offering an apologetic smile to the receptionist girl. He stopped in his tracks and turned to her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t sleep well last night,¡± Qi Yanbai said. ¡°What do you need from me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay.¡± The girl waved her hand casually. Standing up from behind the front desk, she handed Qi Yanbai a registration form and said, ¡°So, this morning, a student¡¯s parent came to register. They want to enroll in your class. Can you check if the timing works for you?¡±


    Though Qi Yanbai hadn¡¯t produced any new art works for a while, he had a solid foundation and an impressive educational background. Since he joined the training center not long ago, he had become quite popular, with parents frequently signing up for his classes or attempting to get their kids into his class.


    ¡°But my beginner class on the weekend is already full,¡± Qi Yanbai hesitated. ¡°If we add more students, other parents might complain.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± the receptionist girl waved her hand. ¡°This student is in ninth grade. You can place her in the usual advanced class.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± Qi Yanbai understood, nodding. ¡°Feel free to arrange it then, I don¡¯t have any issues with the timing.¡±


    The advanced class on weekdays usually had slightly older children who already had a foundation in art. The focus was more on specialized practice. Adding another student would require extra effort from the teacher, and most trainers didn¡¯t prefer to insert students midway.


    However, Qi Yanbai was known for being easy-going and accommodating. The receptionist seemed to have expected his agreement and smiled, handing over the student¡¯s information that had already been prepared. She also gave Qi Yanbai two packs of soothing herbal tea.


    ¡°I knew Mr. Qi would agree,¡± the receptionist girl said with a cheerful smile. ¡°If only everyone in the world were as reasonable and easy-going as you.¡±


    Qi Yanbai accepted her kind words with a smile but didn¡¯t reply. The receptionist girl thought he was just being modest, but Qi Yanbai¡¯s mind was occupied by more thoughts.


    There was no one in the world who had no expectations. Whenever people interacted, even with strangers, they carried each other¡¯s hopes and desires. Parents sought capable and kind-hearted teachers for their children, students wanted patient and gentle teachers, and colleagues simply desired friendly and cooperative coworkers.


    No matter who it was, as long as they matched the expectations of those around them, they could easily survive and even thrive in any environment.


    Survival of the fittest, how to fit in in any situation¡ªQi Yanbai was well aware of these principles and always understood them.


    He knew how to present himself in a way that would make people like him, and he understood how to interact with others. In contrast, the oppression and paranoia he felt when he was alone were more like the last door in Bluebeard¡¯s castle, locked behind a key called ¡°Secret.¡±


    Weekend courses were usually packed. The younger kids in the beginner class were lively and imaginative. Qi Yanbai spent the whole morning teaching and coaxing them, and by the end of the class, his voice was slightly hoarse. When the class ended, he even felt a slight ringing in his ears.


    Qi Yanbai stood at the classroom door, smiling as he bid farewell to each student leaving for the day.


    Lu Mingming was trailing at the back of the line with a Disney princess backpack on her shoulders. She clutched the straps with both hands, not jumping around like the other kids ahead of her. She hid within the crowd, seemingly planning to ¡°sneak out¡± of the classroom unnoticed. However, Qi Yanbai¡¯s quick reflexes caught her attempt. He called her name just in time and stopped her in her tracks.


    ¡°Lu Mingming.¡± Qi Yanbai called her name and took out a small, unopened gift box from behind him. He crouched down beside her with a smile and said, ¡°You ran away too fast yesterday, and I couldn¡¯t catch up¡ªthank you for the gift, I¡¯m really happy. But I can¡¯t accept gifts, so I¡¯ll have to return this to your parents. Who¡¯s coming to pick you up today?¡±


    Lu Mingming saw this and pouted, looking at Qi Yanbai with a rather aggrieved expression. She sighed like a little adult and said, ¡°Mr. Qi, you don¡¯t have to be so principled. It would be better if you pretended not to know and just accepted it.¡±


    Qi Yanbai remembered this child. She came from a well-off family and always dressed up beautifully when she came to class on weekends, like a little doll. Judging by her attire, she probably wouldn¡¯t mind this small gift, but Qi Yanbai had his own principles as a teacher. So, he smiled apologetically and declined her kind gesture.


    ¡°I appreciate how thoughtful Mingming is,¡± Qi Yanbai said. ¡°But instead, you could draw a greeting card for me. Maybe that would be better¡ªI could hang the card you drew in my office. How does that sound?¡±


    Lu Mingming¡¯s eyes lit up at the suggestion, as if she had been moved by it. However, she didn¡¯t want to take her gift back, so she hesitated, looking down.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, let me take you outside,¡± Qi Yanbai said gently. ¡°Is your mother coming to pick you up today?¡±


    Lu Mingming really didn¡¯t want Qi Yanbai to return the gift, so she remained silent. Instead, she held onto Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand and followed him out of the classroom with a sullen expression.


    In the time it took to have this conversation, most of the kids¡¯ parents had already picked them up leaving the hallway a bit empty. Only a few parents remained, looking at their children¡¯s artwork in the small gallery. Qi Yanbai led Lu Mingming a couple of steps outside, but not seeing the parent he was expecting, he led her back into the hallway to wait for them.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­


    By now, Lu Ye had woken up a bit later. He had stayed up all night working, his eyes bloodshot from staring at paperwork and investigations until dawn. He was exhausted and felt like he was about to collapse when he finally got out of bed to go pick up the child.


    The weekend was always busy with more cars and people around, so by the time Lu Ye reached the training center, it was lunchtime. The morning session had ended, and the afternoon classes hadn¡¯t started yet. The training center was quiet, with even the front desk staff gone for lunch. Only Lu Mingming and Qi Yanbai were sitting side by side in the waiting area, seemingly engaged in a conversation.


    When Lu Ye pushed the door open and entered, it was Lu Mingming who noticed him first. Her eyes lit up, and she instinctively wanted to call out to him, but then she remembered that Qi Yanbai was waiting for her parent. So, she stopped herself just in time and swallowed her words.


    However, Qi Yanbai had already noticed her movement and heard the sound of the glass door opening and closing behind him. He stood up from the resting area, about to speak, but before he could, he froze in place.


    ¡°Lu¡­ Officer Lu?¡± Qi Yanbai instinctively said, surprised. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Qi Yanbai had been thinking about how to meet Lu Ye again, but he hadn¡¯t expected to reunite with him so soon and under these circumstances. His emotions, which he had just managed to calm down, were once again stirred up, and his palms became slightly sweaty from nervousness.


    ¡°I¡¯m off duty today, just call me by my name, Mr. Qi,¡± Lu Ye said. He was dressed in casual clothing and seemed more relaxed compared to when he was on duty. He stood by the door with his hands in his pockets, tilting his head toward Lu Mingming to signal her. He said, ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up the child¡ªI arrived a bit late today, sorry about that.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t know,¡± Qi Yanbai managed to smile apologetically. ¡°Are you Mingming¡¯s parent?¡±


    ¡°No, how could I have a daughter this old?¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°I¡¯m her younger uncle. Her mom was busy this weekend, so I came to pick her up.¡±


    Qi Yanbai was slightly taken aback for a moment, but then he discreetly let out a breath of relief.


    The tiny trace of inexplicable loss he felt was easily smoothed over by Lu Ye¡¯s words. It also cooled down the excitement he had experienced upon seeing Lu Ye again. So, he smiled and nodded, finally releasing his grip on Lu Mingming¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I see,¡± Qi Yanbai said, feeling more at ease now. He even showed a more obvious smile on his face. He reached out and ruffled Lu Mingming¡¯s hair, then suddenly remembered the reason he was waiting there and pulled out the neatly wrapped gift box from beside him.


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a reason,¡± Qi Yanbai said. ¡°As teachers, we¡¯re not allowed to accept gifts from students privately. So, I need to return this to you.¡±


    Lu Ye recognized the small gift box¡ªit was, after all, bought with money Lu Mingming had collected from him. It wasn¡¯t of much significance to Lu Ye, but he did appreciate Qi Yanbai¡¯s principled behavior. He nodded in acknowledgment and was about to reach out to take the gift when he noticed Lu Mingming hiding behind Qi Yanbai, making a face at him as if she were threatening him.


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    It was just a small item, and Lu Ye himself didn¡¯t care much. Since Lu Mingming didn¡¯t want him to take it back, he decided to let it go.


    Besides, Qi Yanbai seemed like a decent person. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to accept his gift, Lu Ye thought.


    ¡°Never mind,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°It¡¯s just a small thing. Consider it a birthday gift from me to Teacher Qi.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s still not allowed¡­¡± Qi Yanbai apologized with a smile. ¡°According to the rules, we can¡¯t accept gifts from parents either.¡±


    ¡°In that case, let¡¯s consider it a gift from a friend,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°I¡¯ll take it as a thank you for not reporting me.¡±


    Qi Yanbai seemed to be moved by Lu Ye¡¯s use of the word ¡°friend.¡± He absentmindedly toyed with the elaborately wrapped gift box in his hand, and his emotions seemed to be tangled up in the decision. He hesitated but eventually couldn¡¯t resist his curiosity, and he shifted the conversation smoothly. With a playful tone, he teased, ¡°Do even the police fear complaints?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Lu Ye joked, saying, ¡°After all, too many complaints mean writing reports and getting a pay cut.¡±


    Qi Yanbai was amused by Lu Ye¡¯s jest, and he chuckled at his words. Eventually, he stopped resisting and accepted the gift, holding onto the gift box.


    ¡°Well, then, I¡¯ll accept it,¡± Qi Yanbai said after a brief pause. ¡°However, I can¡¯t accept your gift without giving you something in return. Since it¡¯s lunchtime, how about I treat you both to lunch? There¡¯s a noodle shop nearby that serves great seafood noodles, which are perfect for kids.¡±


    Lu Ye hadn¡¯t expected that Qi Yanbai would be so hospitable, especially since they had only met twice briefly. He found himself caught between amusement and exasperation. He couldn¡¯t quite decide if Qi Yanbai was overly straightforward or simply naive.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure about this,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°We just met.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Qi Yanbai seemed to have missed the implied meaning in Lu Ye¡¯s words and smiled. ¡°As you said earlier, we¡¯re friends now.¡±


    Lu Ye had barely interacted with Qi Yanbai, having met him only twice before. He didn¡¯t initially want to let Qi Yanbai foot the bill, but with Lu Mingming¡¯s unexpected enthusiasm, Lu Ye finally accepted with a somewhat resigned tone, ¡°Well, if you insist, Teacher Qi, lead the way.¡±


    And so, led by the teacher who was beloved by all the students, the trio set off to enjoy lunch together.

 CH 7

    The noodle shop Qi Yanbai mentioned was located two streets behind the training center. It would take about five or six minutes to walk there, but they had to cross two intersections.


    Lu Mingming had short legs and struggled to keep up when walking. Worried that she might be in danger if she walked slowly, Lu Ye bent down and lifted her up from the ground, holding her in his arms.


    Although Lu Mingming usually liked to be lazy, today, with her favorite teacher accompanying her, she was a bit too excited. She squirmed and resisted being carried, insisting on walking while holding Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand.


    Lu Ye furrowed his brows slightly, thinking of telling her to behave, but then Qi Yanbai chuckled softly and reached out to tug at his sleeve.


    ¡°Or should I carry her?¡± Qi Yanbai suggested,


    ¡°No need,¡± Lu Ye glanced at Qi Yanbai¡¯s slim arms and truthfully said, ¡°She¡¯s heavy. Holding her would make your hand sore.¡±


    Lu Mingming couldn¡¯t tolerate her little uncle ¡°slandering¡± her like that. Immediately, she became stubborn and was about to argue with him. However, before she could, Lu Ye suddenly stopped in his tracks and extended his arm to block Qi Yanbai.


    ¡°Watch out for the cars,¡± Lu Ye said.


    The layout of the new city district was well organized, with main roads connecting the blocks. Although there were signs indicating reduced speed in front of the training center, due to the limited presence of nearby surveillance cameras, some drivers still sped recklessly without considering pedestrians.


    A black private car whizzed past them, and only then did Qi Yanbai realize that he had been so focused on Lu Ye that he had failed to notice the oncoming traffic. If Lu Ye hadn¡¯t stopped him in time, he might have been hit.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Qi Yanbai said.


    Lu Ye reassured him that everything was fine, but he didn¡¯t retract the hand that was still in front of Qi Yanbai. It wasn¡¯t until several cars had passed by that he turned his head slightly to glance at Qi Yanbai and advised him with an indifferent tone, ¡°Be careful when crossing the road. Look both ways. There are many cars in the new district, and not all of them slow down for pedestrians.¡±


    Qi Yanbai looked at Lu Ye¡¯s hand that was blocking in front of him and then nodded slightly, acknowledging with an ¡°mm.¡±


    In just a short time, Qi Yanbai had already begun to grasp a bit of Lu Ye¡¯s personality. He was vigilant and sharp, always keenly aware of his surroundings even while engaged in conversation. Moreover, compared to parents and colleagues at the training center, Lu Ye seemed to be more guarded toward strangers, not opening up to people easily. He had a sense of etiquette in his speech and actions, yet he remained reserved.


    However, this guarded nature wasn¡¯t cold or unfriendly. He still paid attention to everyone around him. Even though Qi Yanbai had only met Lu Ye twice, when they crossed the street together, Lu Ye purposely walked on the side where the cars were coming from, as if he were prepared to prevent any potential danger.


    Qi Yanbai thought to himself that Lu Ye was not easy to approach, but once you got to know him, he would be a great person.


    Lu Mingming was initially startled by the speeding cars that passed by, but for the remaining half of their journey, she didn¡¯t cause any trouble. Instead, she obediently lay against Lu Ye, becoming a silent pendant, until they reached the restaurant and she regained some of her energy.


    The restaurant Qi Yanbai chose wasn¡¯t large, but it had a unique and neat interior. Bright glass partitions separated the dining area from the kitchen, which could be seen from the entrance.


    Lunchtime was already halfway over, and only a few scattered tables were occupied. As Lu Ye entered the restaurant and looked around, he thought it seemed like a place Qi Yanbai would willingly choose.


    ¡°What flavor do you prefer?¡± Qi Yanbai walked over to Lu Ye and asked, ¡°Their beef and seafood soups are both good. The sour soup is also decent. Take a look and decide which one you like.¡±


    ¡°Beef, then,¡± Lu Ye said.


    Qi Yanbai made a mental note of his preference, then nodded and naturally said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll order. You and Mingming can go sit down first.¡±


    Lu Ye chose a vacant table and sat down, examining the conveniently placed menu.


    There were many training institutions around, and consequently, there were quite a few small restaurants like this one. Most of the customers who came here for lunch were teachers or office workers from nearby. Qi Yanbai even recognized two of his colleagues, who greeted him warmly and invited him to share a table.


    Qi Yanbai politely declined each invitation, a gesture that didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Lu Ye. Qi Yanbai subtly gestured to Lu Ye and Lu Mingming at the table, indicating that he had plans.


    The two young ladies nodded in understanding, then stepped aside to allow Qi Yanbai to proceed with ordering.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite popular, Teacher Qi,¡± Lu Ye commented, finding it amusing as Qi Yanbai smiled, joining them at the table after placing their orders. As they settled in, Qi Yanbai  picked up on the conversation topic naturally and said, ¡°I wanted to thank you for last night. I was ready to cooperate with the investigation, but thankfully, you cleared things up in time.¡±


    As Lu Ye listened to Qi Yanbai, he absentmindedly watched him prepare their utensils. He couldn¡¯t help but think that Qi Yanbai was thorough in his preparations.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We should be the ones apologizing,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°Apologize for disturbing your peace that late in the night.¡±


    Lu Mingming¡¯s curiosity kicked in at the mention of last night. She suddenly looked up and asked, ¡°What happened, Uncle? Did you and Teacher Qi know each other before?¡±


    ¡°Children shouldn¡¯t interrupt when adults are talking,¡± Lu Ye placed a piece of barbecued pork into her bowl, saying, ¡°Eat your meal.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve met before, but we¡¯re not close. We just got to know each other today,¡± Qi Yanbai patiently explained to Lu Mingming, then turned back and asked Lu Ye with some concern, ¡°So, is there really¡­ illegal activity happening near my place?¡±


    Lu Ye thought it was quite amusing how delicately Qi Yanbai phrased things, either because he was unfamiliar with the dark side of society or because he was just trying to be considerate.


    ¡°Yes, there is,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°The Twin Towers Apartments have a high flow of people, with all kinds of residents. If your budget allows, it might be better to consider moving somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°Can you recommend any places, Officer Lu?¡± Qi Yanbai asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not too familiar with that, but aside from the Twin Towers Apartments, the other large residential areas in the new district are decent,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°You can ask your colleagues in the area before making a decision.¡±


    After a pause, he added, ¡°and please call me by my name, not Officer Lu. It¡¯s a bit odd.¡±


    Lu Ye felt like he was on duty even when he was eating. It made him uncomfortable.


    ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll call you Brother Lu,¡± Qi Yanbai said casually. ¡°You¡¯re a bit older than me, right?¡±


    ¡°thirty years old this year!¡± Lu Mingming jumped in to contribute, and his birthday is¡ª¡±


    ¡°Lu Mingming¡ª¡±


    ¡°That does make you a few years older than me,¡± Qi Yanbai interjected, trying to steer the conversation back on track. ¡°I¡¯m twenty-five this year.¡±


    As the were nearing the end of their meal and having disclosed their personal information, Qi Yanbai himself revealed his WeChat QR code, prompting Lu Ye to pull out his phone too and suggest, ¡°Shall I add you?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Qi Yanbai replied with a bit of nervousness, displaying the QR code for Lu Ye to scan.


    However, for some reason, Lu Ye¡¯s phone screen was either too dim or the sunlight was too bright, as it took some time for it to recognize the code. Qi Yanbai instinctively moved a step forward, intending to adjust the angle for better visibility.


    As he reached out, his fingertips accidentally brushed the inside of Lu Ye¡¯s wrist, sending a chilly sensation that disappeared almost instantly, as light as a breeze. By the time Lu Ye realized it, the touch was gone.


    ¡°Let me try again,¡± Qi Yanbai suggested.


    Lu Ye, not particularly concerned about his phone¡¯s contents, let go of it, handing it over to Qi Yanbai.


    After adjusting the angle, the camera quickly captured the information, emitting a soft ¡°ding¡± sound as it recognized the code. Qi Yanbai was about to return the phone to Lu Ye after scanning it, but then he seemed to notice something else and held onto the phone.


    ¡°Sorry, I couldn¡¯t scan it before,¡± Qi Yanbai said, scanning it again, then tapping the screen a couple of times before handing the phone back to Lu Ye.


    Lu Ye glanced at the screen, and Qi Yanbai¡¯s WeChat conversation had already appeared in his contact list. The chat box was empty, with only a straightforward friend request message.


    ¡°Okay¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°If you hear any illegal activities in the area, please let me know, Teacher Qi.¡±


    ¡°No problem at all,¡± Qi Yanbai smiled and said, ¡°Be careful on your way home.¡±


    Lu Ye nodded, bent down to lift Lu Mingming, and turned to head toward the street. They walked about twenty meters away, but Lu Ye felt a gaze still fixed on him from behind. He turned his head and found that Qi Yanbai was standing in the same spot, hands in his pockets, not leaving.


    Qi Yanbai waved to him with a smile.


    It was rare for Lu Ye to be seen off like this. He nodded slightly and felt a subtle sense of contentment.


    Lu Ye thought, it¡¯s no wonder Lu Mingming likes him. Qi Yanbai did have the ability to make people feel valued effortlessly.


    Lu Ye was lost in thought, walking along in relative silence. He saw Lu Mingming onto the bus that would take her home and then pulled out a cigarette. Walking to a nearby open space, he dialed Lu Wenyu¡¯s number.


    ¡°Mingming¡¯s on the bus,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°Remember to pick her up on the other end.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± A light female voice came from the other end of the line. ¡°Thanks for picking her up.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Lu Ye licked his lips and said, ¡°By the way, I met Mingming¡¯s teacher¡ªdid you know him before?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know much, just that he¡¯s a well-regarded teacher with a good reputation. He¡¯s skilled and has a good personality. He¡¯s patient with the kids,¡± Lu Wenyu said. ¡°Why do you ask? Is there something off about him?¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°I just feel¡­ Isn¡¯t he too perfect?¡±


    Lu Ye couldn¡¯t quite explain his feeling. Qi Yanbai was indeed good; he was gentle, attentive, patient, and kind to both students and colleagues. On paper, he was a great person, but Lu Ye couldn¡¯t shake off a vague unease, an intangible feeling that something was amiss.


    ¡°People have their moods, but it¡¯s like there¡¯s no negativity in him,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°Whether he¡¯s being innocently searched by the police or facing strangers he doesn¡¯t know, he¡¯s always so accommodating. He seems too mild-mannered.¡±


    ¡°You are probably overthinking. Besides, even if he had flaws, he wouldn¡¯t show them to you. Just because he¡¯s a teacher doesn¡¯t mean he can¡¯t have other ways to relieve stress,¡± Lu Wenyu reassured him. ¡°Modern young people¡ªwho knows, maybe he practices pole dancing in his underwear when he¡¯s alone at home. How would you know?¡±


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lu Ye felt like his eyes were on fire after that comment. He instinctively covered his forehead and burst into laughter.


    At the same time, the odd feeling he had about Qi Yanbai seemed to have dissipated after Lu Wenyu¡¯s quirky diversion. It vanished without a trace from his mind.


    ¡°Enough, sis,¡± Lu Ye said, still chuckling. ¡°I¡¯m getting goosebumps from your words.¡±


    ¡°Also, don¡¯t overcomplicate things. It¡¯s just a meal; maybe he¡¯s genuinely interested in you,¡± Lu Wenyu continued, undeterred. ¡°Like love at first sight or something.¡±


    ¡°Stop making things up,¡± Lu Ye responded, a mix of amusement and exasperation in his voice. ¡°Is my sister implying that all men are gay?¡±


    ¡°Who knows,¡± Lu Wenyu said, unfazed, ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t let your professional skepticism get the best of you, Xiao Ye. You¡¯re used to seeing villains all day, so you think the world lacks good people.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Lu Ye pondered her words and concluded that she made a good point. It was true that he often dealt with criminals, which might have skewed his perception of people. He crushed the cigarette and said, ¡°I was probably overthinking things.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Lu Wenyu advised. ¡°And remember, don¡¯t expect everyone to be as bad as the ones you deal with all the time. People can surprise you.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°Thanks, sis.¡±

 CH 8

    Qi Yanbai¡¯s social media style was quite similar to his real-life personality, plain and somewhat bland.


    His social media posts consisted of regular updates about the enrollment advertisements for the training center, mixed with a few posts about his teaching routine. Occasionally, he shared pictures of flowers and plants he saw on his way to work. It was exactly the kind of serious and dedicated teacher that parents of his students would love.


    However, perhaps because Qi Yanbai forgot to place Lu Ye in the ¡°parents¡¯ ¡® group, there were times when Lu Ye was surprised to find that he could see a bit of Qi Yanbai¡¯s personal life.


    For instance, Qi Yanbai would occasionally quietly complain in his posts. He mentioned that the barley tea he had bought recently was too strong in flavor and not very enjoyable. He would also complain about his disappointing lunch from a new restaurant he had eagerly tried, commenting that they used too much chili sauce. There was even one time when he couldn¡¯t resist mentioning a new student who had transferred in, criticizing their indifferent attitude toward learning, constant tardiness, and skipping classes, which left him a bit frustrated.


    However, perhaps feeling that it wasn¡¯t right to talk negatively about someone behind their back, Qi Yanbai deleted that particular post after only three minutes.


    At that moment, Lu Ye was taking a break, browsing on his phone. He watched the post appear and then disappear, unable to help but chuckle softly. He felt like he had glimpsed a bit of Qi Yanbai¡¯s internal struggle through this small action.


    Having overly good manners also came with its own set of grievances, Lu Ye thought. Even people with high moral standards find it hard to complain about their bosses.


    Young people with everyday troubles were undoubtedly more relatable than the perfectly flawless Teacher Qi. Lu Ye was used to various criminals with poor moral standards due to his work. Now, all of a sudden, he had met someone who even questioned himself about venting frustration regarding unruly students. This honest person made Lu Ye feel refreshed. He decided to treat Qi Yanbai¡¯s posts as a source of entertainment, to be checked whenever he wanted to have a bit of a laugh.


    ¡°Lu Ye, what are you looking at?¡± During lunch break, the office was bustling with people coming and going. A young police officer in uniform, without hesitation, hooked his arm around Lu Ye¡¯s arm and leaned in to look at Lu Ye¡¯s phone screen. He exclaimed in surprise, ¡°No way, you¡¯re watching these stress-relief cooking videos too?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Lu Ye shrugged his arm away, quickly exiting the full-screen video and explained, ¡°It¡¯s a friend¡¯s social media post. He¡¯s been learning to bake cakes recently.¡±


    Qi Yanbai was a person who understood boundaries. After exchanging contact information, he never pressed or pushed Lu Ye. Apart from synchronously updating Lu Ye on Lu Mingming¡¯s performance at school, they only chatted occasionally about daily matters.


    His topics were mostly very casual, sometimes sending holiday greetings, showing concern for Lu Ye¡¯s well-being, and occasionally, when the local district conducted safety prevention courses, he would send a message to inquire about details he didn¡¯t understand.


    Lu Ye¡¯s job was unique, often too busy to have a set schedule, yet Qi Yanbai never pressured him for replies. A couple of times, when Lu Ye had a weekend shift that made him late, Qi Yanbai proactively sent him messages, asking if he should help take Lu Mingming to the bus station.


    Lu Ye naturally had a positive impression of law-abiding citizens. Coupled with Qi Yanbai¡¯s moderation, gentleness, and courtesy, their interactions gradually shifted from ¡°Lu Mingming¡¯s teacher¡± to ¡°friend.¡±


    suddenly, Li Zhiwen entered the room, pushing the door open. He held a stack of files in his arms, grumbling in an annoyed tone, ¡°This is just perfect. More work.¡±


    Li Zhiwen had a stern face but a warm heart. He had a short temper, often scolding people but never meaning it. The young officer wasn¡¯t intimidated, offering apologies while playfully helping him move some things around.


    ¡°What¡¯s this nonsense, boss?¡± Seeing the empty report, Lu Ye felt a headache coming on. He sighed and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I just finish my written report the day before yesterday?¡±


    Li Zhiwen motioned for the young police officer to hand over the blank report, then instructed, ¡°We¡¯ve received messages from a few precincts below us. They say that there has been an increase in the number of security cases in the East District recently. It¡¯s almost the eleventh, and there are a lot of kids in the East District. Everyone needs to be vigilant and pay extra attention during their shifts.¡±


    The Eastern District was home to numerous training institutions, ranging from prenatal education for first-time parents to late-night cram schools for high school students burning the midnight oil for the college entrance exam. If you added up all these scattered pieces, there must be at least eighty or a hundred such institutions.


    Places with a high concentration of children were relatively easy to manage, as they usually had teachers or caretakers present. However, managing the older students, who were mostly in their rebellious teenage years, was difficult. They could be impulsive, and a collective act of skipping classes to escape to an internet cafe wasn¡¯t unheard of.


    With the upcoming vacation, the foot traffic on the training street was greater than usual. Some restaurants and mobile vendors wanted to capitalize on this opportunity to earn more from the students. Business hours were extended, and there were indeed more safety concerns than usual.


    Lu Ye nodded to indicate that he had heard Li Zhiwen¡¯s instructions and then thought for a moment. He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Qi Yanbai as usual.


    ¡°The number of incidents in the Eastern District has increased recently. Remind the school to take good care of the children.¡± Lu Ye typed, ¡°Try not to let younger students go home alone after dark.¡±


    At the time Qi Yanbai received the message, he was helping a student with a drawing. As the notification sound chimed, Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand shook slightly, accidentally leaving a slightly abrupt line on the drawing paper.


    ¡°Sorry, I got distracted,¡± Qi Yanbai withdrew his hand and handed the student an eraser from his nearby stationery box, saying, ¡°Take a look at it yourself first. I¡¯ll help you fix it later.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Teacher Qi.¡± The student was an art major and about seven or eight years younger than Qi Yanbai. He grinned when he heard that, teasing, ¡°It¡¯s okay if you¡¯re busy, Teacher. We wouldn¡¯t want to keep you waiting.¡±


    Qi Yanbai seemed a bit embarrassed by the comment. He patted the student¡¯s shoulder gently, encouraging him to focus on the drawing. Then, he walked to a corner of the classroom, took out his phone, and unlocked it.


    He didn¡¯t need to check to know who the message was from. Among all his WeChat contacts, except for Lu Ye, Qi Yanbai had set everyone to ¡°Do Not Disturb¡± mode to avoid interruptions.


    Qi Yanbai opened the new message and glanced at it. He thought for a moment and then deliberately waited for a couple of minutes before sending a reply: ¡°got it.¡±


    He quickly added, ¡°Is there anything specific we should be cautious about?¡±


    ¡°Nothing special.¡± Lu Ye was apparently not busy at the moment, as his reply came quickly, ¡°Just be a bit more cautious as the holiday approaches.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Qi Yanbai replied promptly, ¡°You take care during your shift as well. Look after your health.¡±


    This sort of mild concern didn¡¯t raise any suspicions on Lu Ye¡¯s end. He quickly replied, ¡°okay, you too,¡± and then fell silent, probably occupied with something else.


    Due to his personality, Lu Ye¡¯s text messages always felt cold and detached. He didn¡¯t use emojis or cute emoticons, and his responses were straightforward and concise. At most, a sentence might have a couple of punctuation marks. His communication style appeared cold, no matter how you looked at it.


    But after reading the final ¡°you too¡± from Lu Ye, Qi Yanbai couldn¡¯t help but reach out and touch the screen, capturing that sentence.


    In recent times, Qi Yanbai had been subtly probing for information about Lu Ye from Lu Mingming. Perhaps due to his professional nature, Lu Ye had a strong personality that leaned toward the assertive side. He habitually paid close attention to the people around him, was perceptive and detail-oriented, and had a strong sense of protectiveness.


    Qi Yanbai knew that someone like this probably wouldn¡¯t appreciate having overly assertive friends. Being gentle, soft, and showing vulnerability would likely make it easier to approach him. He had been cautiously navigating the boundaries of his interactions with Lu Ye, gradually getting a sense of his character.


    However, recently, Qi Yanbai found this lukewarm approach unsatisfying. He felt that something deep inside him was stirring, like a hole had been torn open out of thin air and could not be filled.


    ¡°Superficial acquaintances¡± no longer sufficed. Qi Yanbai suddenly began to want to know Lu Ye more deeply, to quickly become a part of his life, understand everything about him, and become a more significant part of his life.

 CH 9

    As the holiday season approached, most other workplaces were becoming more relaxed, but Lu Ye was going against the flow, busier than ever and wishing he could hit his own head with his foot.


    Routine case handling, weekend shifts, weekly patrols, and the countless reports and materials that needed to be written over and over again¡ªLu Ye never doubted his life choices, but occasionally, before significant holidays, when faced with a table full of duty schedules and material reports, he would introspectively question himself, wondering why he had been so committed to serving the people.


    Perhaps it was youthful recklessness, he thought.


    But complaints aside, jokes aside, when Li Zhiwen slapped the table and told them to quit and transfer to logistical support if they didn¡¯t want to work, Lu Ye still had to obediently lower his head and willingly polish the case report in his hand.


    The Public Security Sub-bureau Security Division only needed to respond to emergency calls during weekend shifts. However, apart from handling cases transferred from police stations, they also had to receive reports from the public who came in person to report incidents.


    At 9:30 in the morning, the office was mostly empty. Others were working on cases or patrolling, leaving only Lu Ye and an intern who had recently joined, sitting in the office.


    The group of pyramid scheme ringleaders caught the night before had just been transferred to the detention center that morning. As Lu Ye returned, he felt that the chair hadn¡¯t even warmed up before the door to the office was pushed open from the outside.


    ¡°Lu Ye, there¡¯s a report downstairs. Someone says they were scammed,¡± a logistics staff member passing by said casually. ¡°The on-duty officers are mediating a property dispute right now. Can you send someone to help them make a statement?¡±


    ¡°sure,¡± Lu Ye replaced the cap on his pen that he had just removed, stood up, and picked up his coat hanging on the back of his chair. He gestured to the intern and said, ¡°You continue working on the materials. I¡¯ll go take a look.¡±


    The police station lobby on the ground floor was bustling with noise. Homeowners and property management representatives occupied the space, their conversation alternating between local dialect and standard Mandarin. A few on-duty police officers were trying to pacify the crowd, using both persuasion and coercion to prevent a fight from breaking out at the police station.


    Lu Ye came downstairs from the second floor, surveying the scene out of habit. His gaze swept over and finally landed on a familiar face at the front desk.


    ¡°Teacher Qi?¡± Lu Ye wondered, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Qi Yanbai stood alone in a corner in front of the front desk. Compared to the group nearby, he seemed out of place. Startled by Lu Ye¡¯s voice, he trembled slightly before turning around and seeing Lu Ye approaching.


    ¡°Lu Ye?¡± Qi Yanbai blinked in slight surprise. His expressions of delight and astonishment were perfectly timed, ¡°What a coincidence, you¡¯re here too?¡±


    ¡°I work here,¡± Lu Ye said, sweeping his gaze downward. He saw the police report in Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand and instantly understood.


    ¡°Did you report the scam?¡± Lu Ye asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yanbai seemed reluctant to lose face in front of him. He subconsciously tried to hide the police report he held, but halfway through the motion, he realized something and stopped, scratching his face with embarrassment. ¡°Um¡­ actually¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Lu Ye understood his embarrassment and offered a way out, ¡°No need to feel embarrassed. There are at least forty to fifty scam reports in the city every day.¡±


    With that, he reached out and took the police report from Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand, then glanced at the other noisy group of people arguing. ¡°Come with me,¡± he said, ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    ¡°About an hour ago,¡± Qi Yanbai jogged a few steps to catch up with Lu Ye¡¯s pace. He seemed like a timid wife as he lowered his head and answered obediently, ¡°I received a text message from the bank, saying that my bank account transactions were suspected of money laundering. The account has been frozen, and I need to transfer funds to an official account to unfreeze it. So, I¡­¡±


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lu Ye had been promoting anti-scam efforts throughout the city for over a month, and the campaign had been quite effective. It had been a long time since he¡¯d heard of scams like the one Qi Yanbai just described.


    He took a deep breath and asked as gently as he could, ¡°How much money were you scammed of?¡±


    Qi Yanbai gestured with his fingers and said, ¡°Five thousand.¡±


    ¡°okay.¡± Lu Ye nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Fortunately, you¡¯re not telling me you received a call from the police, prosecution, or judiciary demanding money. That¡¯s a bit of comfort for me.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness,¡± Qi Yanbai responded meekly. ¡°If they claimed I committed a crime, I¡¯d definitely call you first.¡±


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lu Ye understood, probably better than Qi Yanbai imagined. He wasn¡¯t sure whether to label Qi Yanbai as clever or single-minded.


    ¡°First, most of these scams are carried out online, and the criminals might not even be local,¡± Lu Ye explained as they walked towards the Cybersecurity Division. While making a call to the bank to see if they could intercept the transfer, he gave a word of advice to Qi Yanbai, ¡°So, there¡¯s a possibility that you won¡¯t be able to recover this money. Be mentally prepared for that.¡±


    Lu Ye was dressed just like the first day they met, wearing a complete uniform. The collar of his duty coat was fastened high, giving him a strong presence. Qi Yanbai walked just two steps away from him, able to distinctly smell the faint scent of smoke on his coat.


    ¡°I wish I could capture this moment,¡± Qi Yanbai thought aimlessly. Unfortunately, the timing wasn¡¯t right, and he didn¡¯t have a pen in his hand.


    Lately, Qi Yanbai wanted to know more about Lu Ye and have more opportunities to interact with him.


    However, Lu Ye was always busy with work and had a reserved personality.


    Of course, Lu Ye had no idea that Qi Yanbai was mentally sketching him out from head to toe. After finishing his call with the bank, he turned to Qi Yanbai to ask for his phone.


    ¡°Show me the website address,¡± Lu Ye casually said, ¡°Let¡¯s see if we can find information about the account.¡±


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s mind was wandering, and he was taken by surprise when Lu Ye suddenly asked for his phone. Subconsciously, he tightened his grip on his phone, feeling a sudden tension. He didn¡¯t immediately hand it over.


    Lu Ye didn¡¯t receive a response for a moment, so he turned to look at him with curiosity. However, it was perfectly normal for someone to have secrets on their phone. Lu Ye didn¡¯t insist, changing his request instead, ¡°Or you could copy it over and send it to me.¡±


    He voluntarily let go of the issue, and Qi Yanbai couldn¡¯t help but exhale in relief. Swiftly, he sent the scam message to Lu Ye. When the cybersecurity team checked the website, the bank quickly responded, saying that fortunately, the twenty-four-hour transfer buffer had intercepted the funds for the owner.


    ¡°Today was fortunate, but if you encounter this kind of situation again, you might not be so lucky,¡± Lu Ye patted his colleague¡¯s shoulder and returned the paper with the bank card¡¯s password to Qi Yanbai. He advised, ¡°Install an anti-fraud app and read more case studies when you have spare time.¡±


    For someone like Qi Yanbai, who had recently started working, five thousand yuan was not a small amount. If he couldn¡¯t recover the money, Lu Ye would genuinely be concerned.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s manner and behavior left nothing to criticize, but unfortunately, his lack of social experience was a pity. Lu Ye sighed inwardly, his eyes carrying a touch of affection as he looked at Qi Yanbai.


    ¡°Alright, if there¡¯s nothing else, you should head back,¡± Lu Ye walked Qi Yanbai to the door, then stood by the road and said, ¡°It¡¯s your work hours, you shouldn¡¯t be out for too long.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Qi Yanbai smiled with his head lowered. After hesitating for a moment, he took a step forward and quickly hugged Lu Ye.


    ¡°Thank you, Lu Ye,¡± he whispered softly.


    Lu Ye hadn¡¯t expected such an intimate way of thanking him. He was briefly taken aback, but before he could feel uncomfortable, Qi Yanbai had already let go, stepping back swiftly.


    While Qi Yanbai had retreated quickly, unfortunately, his hairband got caught on a corner of Lu Ye¡¯s uniform. As his hair band came loose, Lu Ye instinctively reached out and caught a falling strand of hair.


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    Qi Yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s expression turned blank for a moment. Lu Ye had initially felt a bit awkward, but seeing Qi Yanbai¡¯s utterly surprised look, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    Qi Yanbai quickly reached out and took the hairband back from Lu Ye, then turned around to retie his loose hair.


    His hair was too soft, not long enough either. He struggled to tie it into a small bun on top of his head, looking flustered and hurried. Lu Ye watched for a moment, unable to stand the sight, and reached out to help Qi Yanbai smooth down a stray strand.


    ¡°It¡¯s mostly you art students who are willing to keep your hair this long,¡± Lu Ye commented casually, ¡°You look like a little girl, and it¡¯s not easy to manage.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯m not a little girl,¡± Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t feel offended by his remark. He went along with Lu Ye¡¯s words and playfully retorted, ¡°Otherwise, it would¡¯ve been much easier to be friends with you. I could have given you a chance to be a hero and save a damsel in distress.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not worth much, so if you want to be friends, go ahead,¡± Lu Ye wasn¡¯t a rigid or uptight person. He was quite casual around familiar people, and without delving into the deep meaning behind Qi Yanbai¡¯s words, he assumed Qi Yanbai was referring to his previous distant attitude. So, he chuckled and made a playful remark, ¡°Besides, you look good too. Who knows, someone might come to your rescue someday.¡±

 CH 10

    Qi Yanbai admitted that when he said ¡°saving a damsel in distress,¡± he was indeed testing Lu Ye a bit. However, he didn¡¯t expect to be so quick in having his words come true.


    When he realized he was being followed, Qi Yanbai had just finished dinner and was leaving the restaurant.


    The street was crowded with people, and there were many restaurants around. Initially, Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t notice anything unusual behind him. It wasn¡¯t until he had walked about ten or twenty meters ahead that he began to sense that someone seemed to be following him.


    Having grown up in a family with a rather ¡°abundant¡± population, Qi Yanbai was quite sensitive to malicious gazes. Subconsciously, he slowed down his pace. Seizing the opportunity while at a convenience store by the roadside, he turned to look behind him.


    The person tailing him clearly lacked experience in following someone. He walked openly in the crowd, his gaze firmly fixed on Qi Yanbai¡¯s back. He carried himself hunchbacked, bumping into people as he went, drawing disdainful glances from passersby, who kept their distance.


    Qi Yanbai withdrew his gaze, handed change to the cashier, and the man behind him had caught up. Through the half-open glass door of the convenience store, Qi Yanbai could clearly see the man¡¯s face.


    He appeared to be in his forties or fifties, wearing a somewhat worn black jacket over a pilled and wrinkled gray sweater. The cuffs and collar were stained with conspicuous dark marks.


    His face was flushed, eyebrows furrowed; at first glance, he looked menacing and aggressive. Qi Yanbai observed him through the reflection in the glass, feeling that his features seemed somewhat familiar. It was as though he had seen this person somewhere before.


    But Qi Yanbai had only recently arrived in the city and had never had any conflicts with anyone. He furrowed his brows and tried to recall, but he couldn¡¯t figure out where he might have seen this person before.


    It wasn¡¯t a robbery. Qi Yanbai quickly deduced that; otherwise, the person wouldn¡¯t be following him so openly.


    And it couldn¡¯t be someone from his family. If they wanted to find him, they wouldn¡¯t hire such a low-level individual to track him.


    Qi Yanbai had a rough idea, but regardless, this was late at night, and even if it was just a drunk, it could still be frightening. Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t know what the person following him intended, but it was clearly not something good. So, he thought for a moment, took a drink from the cashier, then took out his phone and opened his contact list.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s finger hesitated over the emergency hotline, for a moment. Then, he scrolled down and dialed the second number on the list.


    When they had parted at the police station, Lu Ye had left his number with him, saying he was busy with work and might not always see Qi Yanbai¡¯s messages. If there was an emergency, it would be more convenient to call him.


    This line had been in Qi Yanbai¡¯s contacts for a few days, but he hadn¡¯t found a suitable opportunity to call. Now, the opportunity had come, and he didn¡¯t want it to go to waste.


    Coincidentally, Lu Ye wasn¡¯t on duty that night. When Qi Yanbai¡¯s call came through, Lu Ye happened to be having dinner with his colleagues at the night market in the eastern part of town.


    ¡°Hello, Teacher Qi,¡± Lu Ye answered the call quickly, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°L-Lu Ye¡­¡± The voice from the other end sounded somewhat nervous. Qi Yanbai cleared his throat and didn¡¯t answer Lu Ye¡¯s question. Instead, he said something unrelated, ¡°I have some unexpected work to do, so I¡¯ll be working late tonight. I just wanted to let you know.¡±


    Qi Yanbai hadn¡¯t sent a voice message to him since adding him to his contacts. Not to mention, he hadn¡¯t expected to call with such an insignificant excuse. Lu Ye frowned slightly, bidding his colleagues, grabbed his coat, and headed out.


    ¡°Are you somewhere you can¡¯t talk openly?¡± Lu Ye asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yanbai quickly replied.


    ¡°Got it.¡± Lu Ye identified the background noises on the other end of the line, hearing distinct sounds of wind and traffic. It sounded like he was outside.


    Lu Ye paused for two seconds, listened to Qi Yanbai¡¯s breathing, confirming that he hadn¡¯t put him on speakerphone, and then asked again, ¡°Are you outside?¡­ Is someone following you?¡±


    There were many restaurants on the street next to the training center, and some rowdy youths would sometimes get drunk and harass female students late at night. Lu Ye thought Qi Yanbai was good-looking, with his long hair, and he wouldn¡¯t put it past some intoxicated guy to mistake him for a female.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yanbai answered quickly again, ¡°I just finished dinner and I¡¯m heading back to the training center. I¡¯m almost there, just around the corner at the intersection ahead.¡±


    ¡°Got it, don¡¯t worry.¡± Lu Ye¡¯s dining place wasn¡¯t far from the training center, and as he hurried over, he instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t take any shortcuts, walk where there are more people. I¡¯ll be there in a moment.¡±


    Qi Yanbai watched as he was almost at the training center, and while he listened to Lu Ye¡¯s instructions, he didn¡¯t dare take the smaller path inside. Instead, he turned slightly and prepared to make a turn, heading toward the main road nearby.


    Lu Ye¡¯s decisive manner, especially in such a situation, made Qi Yanbai feel safe. His tense nerves relaxed a bit, and he responded with a quiet ¡°Mm¡± into the phone. However, before he could say anything else, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from behind. Shortly after, a rough and unfamiliar male voice came from the side, shouting incoherent dialect, and then forcefully knocked the phone from Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand.


    Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t expect the sudden aggression, and he was taken aback. He instinctively wanted to seek help from Lu Ye, but his phone was already flung a long way, smashing against the pavement and turning into a brick with a black screen.


    ¡°Did you, did you fucking call her?¡± The drunk man grabbed Qi Yanbai¡¯s collar, reeking of alcohol that seemed capable of suffocating someone. Qi Yanbai¡¯s breath caught, and he was forced to cough a couple of times by the smell.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fucking play tricks with me! Where¡¯s my girl?¡± The drunk man shook Qi Yanbai¡¯s collar violently, swearing, ¡°Call my girl here now you bastard!¡±


    Qi Yanbai frowned in disgust, his brows furrowing tightly. He tried to twist the man¡¯s hand to break free, but his physical strength was lacking despite his artistic talents. After struggling for a while, he couldn¡¯t manage to overpower the man. He was even starting to feel dizzy from the alcohol breath.


    ¡°Who the hell is your girl?¡± Qi Yanbai retorted, ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind!¡±


    Qi Yanbai was starting to have some regrets¡ªhe thought it was great this situation was happening as Lu Ye would be a hero and save him, but it would have been better to hire a thug to act in this play instead. Even if he had to risk Lu Ye discovering it and spend some money, it would be much better than actually getting harassed by a drunk.


    The drunk man kept repeating those same two sentences over and over again. He mistook Qi Yanbai for someone else, and upon hearing Qi Yanbai¡¯s denial, he suddenly flew into a rage. He even raised his hand, seemingly to strike.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s teeth were practically grinding together. He clung onto the drunk man¡¯s hand, seeing that the man¡¯s hand was about to come down on him, he gritted his teeth and instinctively closed his eyes, turning his head away.


    But before the drunk man¡¯s hand could descend, it was caught in mid-air, and a hand reached over from the side. That hand firmly grasped the drunkard¡¯s hand that had grabbed Qi Yanbai¡¯s collar, applying a bit of force to easily pry it away. The drunk man cried out in pain and released his grip.


    ¡°Who¡¯s your girl?¡± Lu Ye¡¯s voice was calm, and with one hand, he effortlessly pushed the drunk man a couple of steps back. He raised an eyebrow slightly, mocking, ¡°Buddy, open your eyes and take a look. You must be confusing him for someone else.¡±

 CH 11

    Qi Yanbai hadn¡¯t expected Lu Ye to appear so quickly.


    When he heard Lu Ye¡¯s voice, Qi Yanbai was momentarily stunned, and then he realized what was happening and abruptly opened his eyes.


    ¡°Lu Ye!¡±


    Lu Ye had dashed over from across the street. He hadn¡¯t fully caught his breath yet. Upon hearing Qi Yanbai¡¯s voice, He sized him up from head to toe, his gaze lingering for quite a while on the messy collar and side of Qi Yanbai¡¯s face. Seeing that he wasn¡¯t injured, Lu Ye¡¯s tone relaxed a bit as he asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Qi Yanbai always appeared gentle and harmless in front of Lu Ye. He struggled to calm down the anger and disgust in his heart. He let out a sigh of relief and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    The drunken man didn¡¯t realize where Lu Ye had appeared from. He was pulled by Lu Ye, looking nervous. He struggled fiercely and pushed Lu Ye away with force, cursing loudly, ¡°Get lost, what¡¯s it to you? I¡¯ve got AIDS, mind your own business, or I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    ¡°Wow, what a coincidence,¡± Lu Ye chuckled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve got rabies.¡±


    He didn¡¯t take the drunkard¡¯s crude threat seriously at all. Turning to Qi Yanbai, he nodded slightly, indicating to him to retrieve his phone.


    ¡°Take a good look, you must have got the wrong guy, he doesn¡¯t know who your girl is.¡± Lu Ye, who wasn¡¯t officially on duty that day and thus didn¡¯t have much authority, tried to reason, ¡°Stop bothering him and find a place to sober up.¡±


    The drunkard didn¡¯t seem to fully comprehend Lu Ye¡¯s words or intentions. He squinted his eyes, struggling to focus on Qi Yanbai for a while. It was unclear whether he was contemplating or recognizing something.


    Following his instructions, Qi Yanbai walked to the side and bent down to pick up his phone. He casually dusted off the faint ashes on its surface and then pressed the power button, checking if the phone had been damaged.


    The corner of the drunkard¡¯s eye caught the screen lighting up. He struggled to sit up, and his expression changed immediately. He swore, ¡°Are you trying to call her again? Let me tell you, you¡¯re delusional¡ª¡±


    He struggled and attempted to grab Qi Yanbai¡¯s phone. When a drunkard went into a frenzy, they could be surprisingly strong. Lu Ye, relying on just one hand, momentarily couldn¡¯t control him. He had no choice but to grasp the drunkard¡¯s shoulder, trying to pull him away from Qi Yanbai.


    However, for some reason, the drunkard, apparently agitated by something, was determined to get to Qi Yanbai. His eyes, reddened by alcohol and he suddenly took out a gleaming, sharp fruit knife. He viciously lunged toward Qi Yanbai, swinging the knife recklessly.


    The knife glinted with a cold light, and Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He instinctively wanted to shield Lu Ye. But Lu Ye had already stepped forward, sidestepping the blade, and reached out to twist the drunkard¡¯s wrist forcefully. The fruit knife instantly slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the ground.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart was still beating fast. Before he could stabilize himself, the drunkard went mad and pounced. Qi Yanbai instinctively tried to dodge, but Lu Ye had already extended his arm, positioning himself between Qi Yanbai and the drunkard.


    The drunkard, without the knife, perhaps acting on impulse, bit down fiercely on Lu Ye¡¯s wrist. His bite was strong, and blood immediately dripped from Lu Ye¡¯s wrist. Qi Yanbai¡¯s expression changed abruptly, and a surge of uncontrollable anger welled up from deep within him.


    Qi Yanbai had always maintained a fa?ade of harmlessness, but at this moment, a crack appeared in that fa?ade, revealing a glimpse of genuine panic and anger.


    ¡°Lu Ye!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Lu Ye shook his head at Qi Yanbai, signaling him not to approach.


    Qi Yanbai gazed into Lu Ye¡¯s eyes for a few seconds, suddenly recalling something. He grabbed Lu Ye¡¯s hand and tried to lead him away.


    ¡°He said he¡¯s sick.¡± Qi Yanbai spoke rapidly, ¡°We should go to the hospital¡ª¡±


    ¡°You actually believed his nonsense?¡± Lu Ye chuckled and reached out to hold him, saying, ¡°I bet he was simply bluffing, trying to scare me.¡±


    Qi Yanbai was being led away by him, but he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Lu Ye¡¯s bleeding wrist. The tobacco scent wafted in the air, and Qi Yanbai couldn¡¯t help but feel touched.


    Qi Yanbai knew he had lost control earlier and almost revealed a different side of himself. He was aware that Lu Ye preferred straightforward and simple interactions. Therefore, he had always appeared gentle and kind in front of him. Yet, in that moment, he indeed couldn¡¯t control his emotions.


    He wasn¡¯t sure if Lu Ye had noticed anything from those few minutes, but he took a deep breath and found his composure once again in Lu Ye¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°But it¡¯s still not safe¡­¡± Qi Yanbai withdrew from Lu Ye¡¯s embrace, his head lowered as he stared at the floor tiles. He said, ¡°It would be better to go to the hospital.¡±


    After all, it was unclear where the drunkard man had come from. Even if his threat was baseless, it was best to go to the hospital and get a dose of post-exposure prophylaxis for safety.


    As the night grew darker, the emergency room at the New City People¡¯s Hospital was relatively quiet. Qi Yanbai accompanied Lu Ye as he registered and got medication. He sat at waiting room, holding Lu Ye¡¯s coat and waiting outside for him.


    He held Lu Ye¡¯s coat tightly and lowered his head to smell the tobacco scent on the collar. From the depths of his heart, he felt a stirring.


    In Qi Yanbai¡¯s experience of over twenty years, everyone¡¯s kindness towards him had been motivated by some purpose¡ªhis father wanted him to paint, to bring glory to the family; his mother¡¯s kindness was meant to make him excel, garnering more attention from his father; students and parents were friendly to him out of respect for the title of ¡°teacher,¡± and also hoping he would look after their children; the kind elderly neighbors wanted mutual assistance with him. Even the single parent who gave him biscuits aimed to develop a closer relationship.


    Only Lu Ye seemed to have no ulterior motives and hadn¡¯t tried to gain anything from these past interactions. He wasn¡¯t even in uniform today and had no formal ¡°protect the people¡± duty. Yet, he had shielded Qi Yanbai and gotten hurt from a suspected AIDS-risk drunkard.


    How could there be someone like this, Qi Yanbai wondered.


    Something seemed to be taking root and sprouting within him. The memory of that thin sketch of Lu Ye in his apartment seemed to have been painted with another color, Qi Yanbai leaned against the cool wall, closing his eyes. Once again, the vivid image of Lu Ye¡¯s bloody wrist came into his mind.


    However, compared to the anger he felt at that moment, Qi Yanbai now, in a moment of calm, captured a faint thread of thought amidst the complex emotions.


    He seemed to have been not only angry but also experiencing a subtle kind of joy in that overwhelming anger.


    This joy was subtle, deep, and hard to detect. Qi Yanbai followed this thread back, and an abrupt realization popped into his mind.


    ¡ªHe wanted to kiss Lu Ye¡¯s wound.


    As he followed this train of thought, Qi Yanbai sensed something new arising from the mix of his emotions. He tightened his grip on the coat, listening to the hushed conversations from the treatment room. Suddenly, his heart leaped, sensing an unfamiliar emotion.


    Something seemed to be flowing out from his heart slowly, and it was complex beyond imagination. Mingling with his racing heart was an indescribable mixture of pity and joy, guiding him silently and reminding him of something.


    I might actually like him, Qi Yanbai finally realized.


    As this thought surfaced, the hidden attractions suddenly became vivid. The desire to be close to Lu Ye, unexplainable until now, finally found its answer. Qi Yanbai recalled a night not long ago when he had felt like a trapped animal and the way Lu Ye had looked back at him giving rise to a new sense passion inside him.


    So this is what love at first sight feels like, Qi Yanbai thought.


    He suddenly understood his own feelings and the source of his possessiveness. However, Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t feel that things were beyond his control. In fact, quite the opposite. He felt a surge of excitement and clarity, merging into something new.


    Qi Yanbai had always wanted to possess Lu Ye, but he hadn¡¯t found a way. He had been circling around the edges clumsily.


    But now, he had a clear and natural way forward.


    Qi Yanbai was pleased that his genuine fondness for Lu Ye proved that he could use an alternative method to reshape their relationship.


    Because love is the most mysterious thing in the world. It¡¯s the deepest shackle, quietly binding even the hardest hearts.

 CH 12

    In the brief moments outside the treatment room, Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart had already experienced a turmoil.


    He began to reexamine the relationship between himself and Lu Ye and ¡°plan¡± a new way of getting along.


    Prior to this, Qi Yanbai had never been moved, nor had he pursued anyone. It was the first time in his life that he felt such a strong desire for anyone, making it difficult to extract any effective experience from his life.


    But that was alright; luckily, Teacher Qi was skilled at ¡°improvising.¡±


    Realizing that his desire for Lu Ye had intensified, giving rise to a new kind of longing.


    ¡ªHe not only wanted to get Lu Ye, but he even wanted to possess him entirely.


    However, Qi Yanbai was also well aware that Lu Ye was a strong-willed individual who would never surrender his freedom completely, even to a pursuer. If he displayed excessive aggression, it would only alert Lu Ye to the danger and prompt him to avoid Qi Yanbai completely.


    Therefore, he had to find a more subtle way to approach him, then subtly infiltrate his mind until Lu Ye lets him inside his heart.


    In the room next door, Lu Ye had no idea that someone had secretly set their sights on him. The chilly breeze blowing in through the window seams made him shiver, and he couldn¡¯t help but turn around to glance at the distorted window frame behind him. With a smile, he said, ¡°Doctor, winter is coming. You really should fix these windows.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re right. The patients have complained several times,¡± the doctor replied with a smile. He then carefully tied the wound and instructed, ¡°Alright, take care of it when you go back. Change the dressing regularly, avoid water for a few days, avoid smoking and alcohol these days, and stay away from spicy and greasy foods.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± Lu Ye gently moved his bandaged wrist, then stood up, thanked the doctor, and turned to open the door to the treatment room.


    Qi Yanbai stood by the door with Lu Ye¡¯s coat in his arms, waiting for him. As Lu Ye emerged, he quickly stood up and approached, draping the coat over Lu Ye¡¯s shoulders.


    His movements were cautious, deliberately avoiding Lu Ye¡¯s recently injected arm. He adjusted the position of the coat, then circled to the front and closed Lu Ye¡¯s collar.


    Qi Yanbai had graceful hands, long and fair. He leaned in slightly, getting closer, and then extended his hand to loop it around Lu Ye¡¯s neck, swiftly straightening his collar.


    As he got closer, the collar of the coat brushed against the side of Lu Ye¡¯s face. Lu Ye instinctively turned his head to avoid it, but he still caught a whiff of the clean scent of laundry detergent on Qi Yanbai.


    Lu Ye¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He felt as though something had changed about Qi Yanbai.


    Qi Yanbai hadn¡¯t said a word, yet his attitude seemed distinctly different from half an hour ago. Lu Ye wasn¡¯t sure if he was overthinking things, but he had the sense that Qi Yanbai had become more familiar.


    ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Qi Yanbai finally spoke, ¡°After the tetanus shot, do you have to wait a while before getting the rabies vaccine?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lu Ye replied. ¡°I need to be observed for half an hour after the tetanus shot. I can wait on my own. You can go back.¡±


    Now it was getting late, and while Lu Ye was used to working overtime and night shifts, he wasn¡¯t sure if Qi Yanbai was used to staying up late. So, after considering it for a moment, he added, ¡°I¡¯ll take a taxi back after I get the shot. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°I want to stay here to take care of you. Your hand is injured, so it¡¯s inconvenient to do things on your own,¡± Qi Yanbai said. ¡°Besides, since we¡¯ve already waited this long, a little while longer won¡¯t make a difference.¡±


    Lu Ye was about to say something more when Qi Yanbai¡¯s sigh interrupted him.


    Lu Ye still had another shot to get, so he loosely draped the coat over himself, letting his injured hand hang by his side. The white bandage at the edge of his shirt¡¯s sleeve peeked out intermittently.


    Qi Yanbai sighed, fixing his gaze on that exposed edge for a couple of seconds before gently reaching out and pulling Lu Ye¡¯s hand, cradling his wrist. It was as if he wanted to touch it but hesitated, so he lightly traced the edge of the bandage with his fingertips.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lu Ye,¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s tone was a bit hushed as he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s my fault that you got hurt. It¡¯s only natural for me to take care of you. You don¡¯t need to send me away.¡±


    Lu Ye keenly perceived the slight change in how Qi Yanbai addressed him. He squinted his eyes, feeling like this subtle alteration had become even more apparent. However, having just gone through this ¡°fight side by side¡± experience with Qi Yanbai, he considered their relationship to have grown closer, so he decided not to delve into this change.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯m okay,¡± Lu Ye said.


    Having been a police officer for many years, he had encountered countless situations, including getting bitten. During his time as a beat cop, he had been involved in multiple altercations.


    ¡°But next time, still report to the police first,¡± Lu Ye said. ¡°Today, I happened to be nearby. If I weren¡¯t, I would¡¯ve had a hard time getting there quickly. It¡¯s safer to call the police in the future.¡±


    Qi Yanbai obediently listened to his advice, nodding his head, then looked up at him and smiled.


    The smile appeared innocent, yet somewhat forced. Lu Ye watched Qi Yanbai, who still had slightly reddened eye rims, and suddenly his initial decision wavered.


    His concern and tenderness were so apparent, nearly overflowing from his gaze. Lu Ye was softened by this sight, and in the end, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh, his compromise carrying a sense of helplessness and amusement, ¡°Alright, if you don¡¯t want to go home, you don¡¯t have to. Staying up all night at the hospital instead of sleeping¡ªtruly living the good life.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Qi Yanbai said, seeing him relent. He smiled, his tone lightened a bit. ¡°I don¡¯t have classes tomorrow morning, so I can sleep in a bit.¡±


    He sat with Lu Ye in the observation area for a while, marking the time and waiting for the half-hour observation period to pass. Then he escorted Lu Ye back to the treatment room, who fetched a prescription, and went upstairs to get the other shot.


    With years of experience in the police force, Lu Ye was quite familiar with the routine of the ¡°rabies vaccine, tetanus shot, and PEP medication¡± combo. However, never before had he experienced such a worry-free process like today.


    Qi Yanbai went up and down the floors for him, and when he returned, he brought not only the medication but also a bottle of warm water.


    ¡°Not bad.¡± Lu Ye chuckled, weighing the bottle in his hand, and sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve never experienced this kind of pampering before.¡±


    ¡°Then today is a good opportunity to try it.¡± Qi Yanbai smiled, reaching over and, following Lu Ye¡¯s motion, loosened the bottle cap for him.


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lu Ye had known that Qi Yanbai was easy going, but he hadn¡¯t realized how persistent he could be. When he said he would take care of Lu Ye, he genuinely meant it. Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but smile and chuckle as he looked at the water bottle that had been opened for him, feeling quite helpless, and then he took the medicine.


    After a half-night of ordeal, it was now approaching late night. After the observation period for the rabies vaccine had ended, only the two of them remained in the observation room.


    The Twin Towers apartment was never calm at night. Lu Ye initially wanted to call a taxi for Qi Yanbai to take him home, but Qi Yanbai was quite stubborn. He insisted on making sure the ¡°injured person¡± got into a car before leaving himself. So, Lu Ye thought for a moment and suggested a compromise.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do this,¡± Lu Ye smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go outside and catch a cab. Whoever hails one first gets to claim it.¡±


    Lu Ye stood up as he spoke and headed toward the direction of the elevator. Qi Yanbai quickly caught up and stopped him with a gesture.


    ¡°Wait a moment, I¡¯ll press the button for you,¡± Qi Yanbai said.


    Lu Ye found his overly cautious manner amusing and couldn¡¯t help teasing, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing it¡¯s my hand that got hurt. If it were yours, I wonder how you would draw.¡±


    Qi Yanbai took a step ahead, pressed the down button for the elevator, and after a brief silence, turned to Lu Ye with a smile.


    ¡°Let me tell you a secret,¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t like drawing that much.¡±


    Lu Ye was slightly taken aback.


    Perhaps due to his preconceived impression of Qi Yanbai, Lu Ye had always thought of him as a natural-born artist who should be wielding a paintbrush. Now, hearing that Qi Yanbai himself didn¡¯t like drawing, Lu Ye was surprised.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like drawing, then why pursue this field?¡± Lu Ye asked.


    As they spoke, the elevator had arrived and the glass doors slid open. Behind the doors, a massive mirrored wall covered the elevator¡¯s interior.


    ¡°This involves another secret,¡± Qi Yanbai said.


    He held the elevator door, and the two of them entered one after the other. The confined space seemed to be naturally designed to hold secrets, and Qi Yanbai looked up at his reflection in the mirror, seeing a trace of coldness in his mirrored eyes.


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m an illegitimate child,¡± Qi Yanbai said softly, his head slightly lowered. ¡°My father is a well-known painter, but he didn¡¯t like me. So, I had to keep drawing constantly during my childhood just to catch his attention in hopes he would love me as his son.¡±


    ¡°I started to draw just to capture his attention.¡± Qi Yanbai continued, ¡°But as I continued drawing, it became a habit, and I might say I grew to like it.¡±


    Lu Ye hadn¡¯t expected a casual conversation to unveil Qi Yanbai¡¯s private history. He turned his head and looked at the soft spiraling hair on top of Qi Yanbai¡¯s head. After a moment of silence, he reached out and gently tapped Qi Yanbai¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter that you¡¯re an illegitimate child.¡± Lu Ye comforted, ¡°Adults¡¯ affairs are their own, and it has nothing to do with the child. You¡¯re really good at drawing, and even if it wasn¡¯t for your father, you must be naturally talented.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Qi Yanbai turned his head to smile at him and said, ¡°But it¡¯s all in the past now. We haven¡¯t had any contact for these years, and I¡¯ve long stopped caring.¡±


    As they spoke, the elevator door stopped on the first floor, the glass doors slid open, and the mirrored surface behind the doors receded into the slots, conveniently veiling Qi Yanbai¡¯s calm and unruffled gaze.


    He hadn¡¯t told Lu Ye the whole truth¡ªor rather, he had only told half of it.


    Lu Ye thought that Qi Yanbai¡¯s low spirits were due to being an ¡°illegitimate child,¡± but in reality, there were nearly a dozen half-brothers and half-sisters, each with varying nationalities and bloodlines, and each mother was considered Qi Zhe¡¯s ¡°true love.¡± It was practically impossible to tell who was the ¡°legitimate heir.¡±


    Qi Zhe, like many artists, was wealthy and romantic, fickle and unfaithful. He cherished these women extravagantly, but he had a mere passing interest in his children. Only when they produced some remarkably exceptional artwork did he display a modicum of fatherly affection.


    Resources were limited, but conditions were favorable. So, since childhood, Qi Yanbai and his so-called ¡°siblings¡± had known how to compete for Qi Zhe¡¯s attention and gain more benefits and resources from him.


    Unfortunately, talent couldn¡¯t replace innate characteristics, and after more than a decade of fighting with them, Qi Yanbai ultimately had to withdraw from this singular mode of competition.


    Fortunately, Qi Yanbai thought he could no longer create anything, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated that he could find new sense of passion from Lu Ye.


    The deep autumn night was chilling, and once they stepped out of the hospital lobby, the piercing cold felt like it could seep into their limbs through their pores.


    Lu Ye took a step forward out of habit, then turned sideways to shield Qi Yanbai from the rushing draft that passed through the hallway.


    Before this, Lu Ye had never considered that Qi Yanbai would have such a complicated family background. Qi Yanbai had a gentle personality, considerate of others, appearing as if he came from a warm and caring family. Lu Ye had never imagined that he actually had such a hard upbringing.


    However, it seemed like there were traces of it. Qi Yanbai had a gentle and soft personality, rarely having conflicts with others. Lu Ye had wondered why he was so unassuming; now, he realized it might be due to the shadows left by his childhood of neglect.


    People who seemed fragile often invoked pity in others. Lu Ye glanced at Qi Yanbai beside him and couldn¡¯t help but take a step forward, shielding him from more of the rushing wind.


    ¡°Not caring is a good thing.¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°No matter what, your life is yours to decide. Don¡¯t let other people¡¯s preferences dictate your path.¡±


    The night was pitch-black, and Lu Ye¡¯s voice was soft. Qi Yanbai¡¯s thoughts stirred, and from his tone, he inexplicably heard a type of tenderness he had never encountered before.¡°

 CH 13

    Perhaps it was because he mentioned the past, Qi Yanbai unusually suffered from insomnia that night.


    He tossed and turned on the bed for half an hour, restless and sleepless. His thoughts were a jumble, sometimes of Lu Ye and sometimes of Qi Zhe.


    But in the end, these chaotic fragments would always merge into one, turning into the words Lu Ye had said at the hospital entrance.


    Qi Yanbai had long passed the age when he would be moved by motivational phrases, but perhaps because it was Lu Ye who said those words, they carried an unusual weight.


    Qi Yanbai really wanted to remain indifferent, but those words were like a 3D sound, echoing endlessly in his mind. It was like the cool breeze of the late night wind, continuously blowing and sobbing in his ears.


    He restlessly turned over on the bed for quite a while, and finally, unable to endure any longer, he rolled off the bed, turned on the bedside lamp, and retrieved his phone from under the pillow.


    Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t have many close friends, so he scrolled down his contact list a couple of pages and quickly found a name he hadn¡¯t contacted in a long time. He tapped on the video call option.


    The screen soon displayed a connecting message, and the profile picture in the dialogue box looked quite elegant. It was vaguely discernible as a silhouette of a woman, graceful and with a wonderful figure.


    Now it was almost one in the morning, even the cats outside were asleep. The video call automatically hung up due to no one answering for a long time. However, Qi Yanbai seemed certain that the other person was awake, as he immediately initiated another video call.


    The rigid and stiff ringtone started again, and Qi Yanbai placed the phone on the stand by the bed. He leaned against the headboard, tapping his fingers on the bedstead with great patience.


    After almost a minute, just as the call was about to be automatically disconnected again, the other end finally picked up.


    A beep indicating the connection sounded from the speaker, and in the next second, a delicately made-up Eastern woman appeared on the screen.


    The woman¡¯s appearance bore about 70-80% resemblance to Qi Yanbai, but she was much more beautiful than him. With fine, elongated features, she was dressed in a fitted, crimson strapless mermaid gown, exuding a mature yet decadent aura. She looked extremely enchanting.


    ¡°How¡¯s it going, little darling?¡± The woman¡¯s nail color matched her lipstick, lounging on a large leather sofa. She held a long cigarette between her fingertips and beckoned at Qi Yanbai with a tipsy smile. Her voice was slightly slurred, ¡°Long time no see, do you miss me?¡±


    Through the shiny screen, a subtle change could be sensed in Qi Yanbai¡¯s demeanor between his brows and eyes, faintly overlapping with the woman on the screen. He looked sharp, with a hint of mockery. He looked her up and down, then said coolly, ¡°Drinking in broad daylight, Ashley. Be careful not to get drunk and pass out in the bathroom sink.¡±


    ¡°So fierce.¡± Ashley smiled, putting out the burning cigarette in the ashtray. Then, she leaned slightly forward, tilting her head and peering at the camera.


    ¡°It¡¯s late at night in China, right? You¡¯re not sleeping at this time. Are you secretly crying in your bed again?¡±


    The woman on the other side of the screen was one of Qi Zhe¡¯s most favored among his ¡°true loves.¡± She was Qi Yanbai¡¯s mother, but she never let him call her ¡°mom,¡± nor had she ever taken care of Qi Yanbai for a day like a typical mother would.


    Her life was simple yet complex. Apart from indulging in a life of debauchery and squandering money, she was entangled with Qi Zhe in a complicated way.


    As a ¡°mother,¡± Ashley was undeniably negligent in her duty, yet Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t resent her. Their relationship was decent, even though, compared to a ¡°mother-son relationship,¡± Qi Yanbai felt that he and Ashley were more like partners in a closely connected business venture.


    ¡°But it¡¯s alright. Your father is about to hold a large-scale exhibition for half a year.¡± Ashley said, ¡°He¡¯ll hang your paintings in the exhibition hall. You can surprise him and prove your ability again.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be disappointed.¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°I still can¡¯t create anything.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s no need to.¡± Qi Yanbai paused for a moment, saying lightly, ¡°I don¡¯t care about his approval anymore.¡±


    Qi Yanbai used to care a lot about Qi Zhe¡¯s fleeting attention, and when he couldn¡¯t get his approval after trying time and time again, he felt like the sky was falling. But when he truly left that world and started a different life, besides a sense of desolation, he also felt an imperceptible ease.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a shame.¡± Ashley said, ¡°I was hoping for a reunion soon.¡±


    She expressed regret, yet her expression showed no signs of regret. She lazily changed her posture, picked up the wine glass beside her, took a sip, and continued, ¡°So, since you¡¯re calling me suddenly, what do you want?¡±


    ¡°I have something important to ask you.¡± Qi Yanbai hesitated briefly, as if struggling to speak, yet also unsure how to start.


    After weighing his options, he ultimately chose the most concise way to put it.


    ¡°I want to know how you pursued Qi Zhe.¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°Or rather, how do you ensnare a man?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Ashley let out a wavering sigh, laughing lightly. She leaned in closer to the camera, pointed at Qi Yanbai with a finger, and said with a cryptic smile, ¡°I thought you went back to China to practice painting in a quiet environment. It turns out you¡¯re trying to seduce a little sweetheart.¡±


    Ashley, being a mother, usually lacked the self-awareness of one. Qi Yanbai wrinkled his brows in disgust as she used sweet and excessive terms, and he couldn¡¯t help but interrupt her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call him that, it¡¯s creepy.¡± Qi Yanbai said.


    Qi Yanbai did want to gain some relationship advice from Ashley, but he didn¡¯t want to treat Lu Ye as a symbol to be toyed with, to be casually discussed and joked about by Ashley.


    ¡°So serious, I can¡¯t even use a few words.¡± Ashley pouted her lips, picked up the cup next to her, and took another sip. She continued, ¡°Okay, spill the beans then. Let¡¯s see what kind of help I can provide.¡±


    This kind of attitude where they solved each other¡¯s troubles without interfering was their usual way of interacting. Qi Yanbai thought for a moment and briefly mentioned Lu Ye.


    Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t reveal too many of Lu Ye¡¯s private matters. He just talked about how they met, the events leading up to it, a few small incidents between them, and his possessiveness that was almost love at first sight.


    ¡°He sounds like a good person.¡± Ashley said.


    ¡°He is.¡± Qi Yanbai admitted openly, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because he treats me well.¡±


    In fact, before Lu Ye, there were people who expressed their interests towards Qi Yanbai, but Lu Ye¡¯s appearance was timely and miraculous. It coincided with Qi Yanbai taking off his mask, on the edge of agitation and collapse. He seemed like a coincidence deliberately arranged by fate, penetrating into Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart with precision.


    ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Ashley said, ¡°But I have a piece of advice for you, darling.¡±


    ¡°You can like him, be infatuated with him, but you can¡¯t fall in love with him.¡± Ashley said with an air of mystery, ¡°If you ever truly fall in love with him, you¡¯ll lose him completely.¡±


    ¡°The face distorted by love is the ugliest.¡± Ashley said, ¡°No man would like that.¡±


    ¡°Then how can I truly have him?¡± Qi Yanbai humbly asked for guidance.


    ¡°You need to let him know you like him.¡± Ashley said enigmatically, ¡°But also keep him uncertain.¡±

 CH 14

    News of Lu Ye¡¯s heroic act of bravery and getting injured had spread to the police station last night. As soon as he arrived at work in the morning, he received inquiries from all directions.


    ¡°I heard you left during dinner yesterday.¡± A colleague passing by his desk for the third time, holding a cup of warm water, nudged Lu Ye¡¯s elbow with a playful expression and said, ¡°What happened? Were you busy being a hero and saving a beauty?¡±


    ¡°What are you rambling about?¡± Lu Ye said helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s my friend.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t deny it.¡± The colleague leaned against his desk¡¯s bookshelf, full of enthusiasm, and said, ¡°We heard from Xiao Yao, who was on duty last night. That young guy you helped is really handsome, like a little star.¡±


    ¡°Yeah he was really handsome!¡± A young girl in the corner of the office suddenly raised her hand, peeking out from behind her computer screen, and interjected, ¡°¡ªhey, you know, after dealing with suspects all the time, now anyone with a complete set of features looks handsome to me.¡±


    ¡°And Xiao Yao said that your ¡®friend¡¯ was really worried about you.¡± The colleague emphasized the word ¡®friend¡¯ and then, lowered his head slightly, giving Lu Ye¡¯s arm a playful poke, ¡°So, what¡¯s the situation? Anything going on?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a secret that Lu Ye was gay and had been in a relationship before. Even though that relationship had only barely started and ended within half a month, some of his old colleagues at the police station still knew about his sexual orientation.


    Hearing this, Lu Ye chuckled and jokingly pushed his colleague¡¯s hand away, scolding, ¡°What situation? It was just an impromptu encounter last night¡ªinstead of gossiping about me, you might as well hurry up and work on your quarterly report.¡±


    ¡°Oh, in a rush, are we?¡± The colleague made a face at him, then sighed dramatically and shrugged, saying, ¡°Anyway, there are plenty of young single girls in the bureau. If your ¡®friend¡¯ is single and interested, you could introduce them.¡±


    ¡°I agree!¡± Yao Xing suddenly raised her hand and enthusiastically volunteered, ¡°Lu Ge, I¡¯m applying to be the first in line.¡±


    ¡°What are you queuing up for?¡± Li Zhiwen walked in holding soy milk, furrowing his brows and scolding, ¡°If you¡¯re so into dating, should I transfer you both to the Civil Affairs Bureau?¡±


    Li Zhiwen was a towering figure in the Public Security Division, and Yao Xing and the colleague instantly retreated, like two mushrooms shrinking back to their respective workstations.


    ¡°And you, don¡¯t bring your personal affairs into the workplace in the future.¡± After giving Lu Ye a piece of his mind, Li Zhiwen placed a bag of soy milk on his desk and said, ¡°That drunkard from last night has sobered up. You should go question him.¡±


    Lu Ye asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you question him last night?¡±


    ¡°He passed out as soon as he got in the car last night, snoring like thunder.¡± Yao Xing rolled her eyes and said, ¡°We were thinking of taking him to the hospital for a sobering shot, but then there was a major multiple-car accident over at Silver Galaxy City, so we all got busy and no one attended to him.¡±


    That drunkard had followed Qi Yanbai, intending to harm him. It was a serious matter both morally and legally. So, Lu Ye packed his things, didn¡¯t waste time, and immediately went next door.


    However, that drunkard had been confident while drunk last night, but when he sobered up at the station, he became weak as a straw. Seeing himself in the police station scared him, and at the slightest reprimand from Lu Ye, he spilled all the details.


    ¡°What about the knife?¡± Lu Ye was still concerned about this matter, ¡°Where did you get the knife?¡±


    ¡°I bought it at the supermarket.¡± The drunkard lowered his head, trying to explain, ¡°But I didn¡¯t intend to hurt anyone. I just¡­ I just bought it on a whim, to intimidate him.¡±


    ¡°Intimidate, huh?¡± Lu Ye nodded.


    The man¡¯s face turned pale, stumbling over his words, ¡°I also¡­ I didn¡¯t expect to encounter him. It was just a coincidence¡­ so, in the heat of the moment, I followed him.¡±


    ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean to, I was drunk last night.¡± The man didn¡¯t seem entirely clueless; he leaned forward and pleaded, ¡°I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. If it¡¯s not possible otherwise, can I meet that teacher? I¡¯ll apologize to him and promise not to do this again.¡±


    ¡°Now you realize you were wrong?¡± Lu Ye said matter-of-factly, ¡°We¡¯ll handle the communication for you, but we don¡¯t know if the other party wants to see you or not¡ªwait for the procedure.¡±


    Lu Ye finished filing the report and stood up from his desk.


    As he was leaving, he took out his phone from his pocket, intending to send a message to Qi Yanbai to explain the situation. However, he noticed that Qi Yanbai had sent him a WeChat message twenty minutes ago, asking if he was busy.


    ¡°Not busy.¡± Lu Ye replied, ¡°Just finished questioning someone.¡±


    Right after he sent the message, Qi Yanbai¡¯s call came in seamlessly, as if he had been waiting.


    Lu Ye looked around, took a couple of steps towards the stairwell, and casually answered the call.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been working hard,¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s voice came through the phone, accompanied by a faint sound of wind and a hint of laughter, ¡°It¡¯s almost noon. What are you having for lunch?¡±


    ¡°Lunch?¡± There was still an hour left until lunch break, and Lu Ye hadn¡¯t even thought about lunch yet. After a brief pause, he replied, ¡°Nothing special, I have to go out for a case later, so I¡¯ll just have some instant noodles.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother with instant noodles.¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°I have about five minutes until I reach your unit. If it¡¯s not a bother, can you come down and meet me?¡±


    Lu Ye was slightly taken aback, his first thought being that Qi Yanbai must have encountered some trouble again.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Lu Ye asked, ¡°Do you need to report something?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Qi Yanbai was amused by his reflexive assumption. He laughed softly on the other end of the line and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing big just wait for me I¡¯ll be there in a moment.¡±


    He hung up the phone, leaving Lu Ye standing in confusion.


    The precinct¡¯s reception area only accepted reports from the public, and private visitors were stopped at the security booth outside. When Lu Ye came downstairs, Qi Yanbai was already there, holding a deep blue square bag and standing outside the automatic sliding door, waiting for him.


    Perhaps because he didn¡¯t have classes that morning, Qi Yanbai had dressed very differently from his usual meticulous teacher¡¯s style. He wore a navy blue British-style coat over a high-necked pure white sweater. A thin decorative chain was fastened with a golden pin on the turned-up collar of the coat. Even though Lu Ye had seen him many times, he was still dazzled by this appearance.


    ¡°Do you have a date today?¡± Lu Ye greeted the security booth and stepped out through a side door, greeting Qi Yanbai with a smile, ¡°Why are you dressed so nicely?¡±


    Qi Yanbai had decent looks, but when he usually wore white shirts, he tended to appear a bit dull. That day, with such a contrasting outfit, he didn¡¯t look older; instead, the outfit accentuated Qi Yanbai¡¯s composed personality. At first glance, he didn¡¯t resemble a fresh graduate entering society.


    ¡°Who said anything about a date? I just wanted to change my style a bit.¡± Qi Yanbai smiled and handed him the bag, saying, ¡°By the way, this is for you.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Lu Ye asked.


    ¡°Lunch.¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°You¡¯re still injured, so it¡¯s best not to eat out. I¡¯m not sure about your taste, so I just prepared something randomly. Let me know if there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t like, and I¡¯ll remember it for next time.¡±


    Lu Ye exclaimed softly, feeling a bit touched. He looked down at the well-sealed insulated bag in Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand, feeling a bit awkward about accepting it.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t possibly.¡± Lu Ye said.


    ¡°Why not? Plus takeout is too oily and salty. The doctor said you should avoid such.¡± Qi Yanbai took a step closer and pressed the bag into Lu Ye¡¯s hand, saying with a smile, ¡°Besides, I have to cook at home anyway. It¡¯s just a small effort.¡±


    Qi Yanbai had worn perfume that day, an unusual move. As Lu Ye held the heavy bag, he caught a faint whiff of a light and sweet fragrance, as if he had just passed by a blooming locust tree.


    ¡°You must take care of yourself.¡± Qi Yanbai paused briefly, his voice soft, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t make me worry too much about you.¡±

 CH 15

    The bag in his hand was quite heavy, and as he held it, it dropped heavily, causing Lu Ye to instinctively grip the handle tightly. He felt a complicated mix of emotions that he couldn¡¯t quite put into words.


    Ironically, Lu Ye had never been fazed by even the most vicious criminals, yet today he was caught off guard by Qi Yanbai¡¯s sudden attack and found himself at a loss.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Lu Ye was a bit dumbfounded, unable to speak for a while as he lowered his head. Eventually, he chuckled and made a joke, ¡°This¡­ I¡¯ve never experienced this kind of treatment before.¡±


    Lu Ye had grown up being independent, having clashed with his family¡¯s beliefs and come out of the closet at an early age. Consequently, he had left home early, worked his way through college with part-time jobs, and relied on both scholarships and mutual support from his sister Lu Wenyu to complete his education.


    While he had a good relationship with Lu Wenyu, their personalities were quite similar. Both were strong-willed and ambitious individuals. Although they cared for each other, they weren¡¯t particularly attentive to the finer details, often overlooking many things.


    Lu Ye had become used to self-reliance. Suddenly having someone show such genuine concern for him made him feel inexplicably moved.


    The bag still emitted a slight warmth, and a faint steam escaped from the gap in the zipper, leaving a noticeable warmth on the back of Lu Ye¡¯s hand. As he rubbed the strap with his hand, he felt a slight tingling sensation in his chest, a mixture of numbness and itchiness.


    ¡°In any case, thank you.¡± Lu Ye sincerely expressed his gratitude and then playfully teased, ¡°Being this gentle and considerate. If any girl ends up with you, she¡¯ll probably be really lucky.¡±


    ¡°Well that¡¯s unfortunate,¡± Qi Yanbai quickly refuted, ¡°I don¡¯t have any girls I like.¡±


    He refuted a bit too quickly. Lu Ye was slightly taken aback, sensing a subtle restlessness in Qi Yanbai¡¯s attitude.


    But before Lu Ye could fully understand the source of this restlessness, Qi Yanbai had already returned to his normal self. He glanced behind Lu Ye and smoothly changed the topic.


    ¡°Um, I have classes in the afternoon.¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°So I better be going now¡ªremember to eat while it¡¯s hot and not let it get cold.¡±


    This abrupt change of topic seemed to be masking something, yet also carried a hint of an unfinished intention. Lu Ye was protective of those close to him, and for anyone he included in his ¡°safe zone,¡± he was quite accommodating. Seeing that Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t seem interested in discussing the topic further, he naturally refrained from probing.


    ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Lu Ye stopped him, bringing up another matter, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, let me brief you on last night¡¯s incident.¡±


    As expected, Qi Yanbai paused in his steps. He turned his head and looked at Lu Ye, asking, ¡°Is it about the assailant from last night?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Ye confirmed, ¡°His name is Zhao Quan, forty-two years old, unemployed.¡±


    ¡°Why did he follow me?¡± Qi Yanbai wondered, ¡°Trying to rob me?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Lu Ye explained, ¡°He was looking for his daughter.¡±


    Seeing Qi Yanbai¡¯s puzzled expression, Lu Ye continued, ¡°His daughter transferred to your institution recently and is your student.¡±


    Qi Yanbai was meticulous in his job, remembering personal information and family backgrounds of all his students. Thus, upon Lu Ye¡¯s slight reminder, he recalled a person from his memory.


    ¡°Zhao Ting¡¯s parent?¡± Qi Yanbai asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Ye confirmed, ¡°He divorced his wife and lost custody of his daughter due to lack of employment. Discontented, he always wanted to take his daughter back, but he was never successful. He staked out the area near your institution a few times, saw you talking to Zhao Ting¡¯s mother, and assumed you were accomplices, so he targeted you.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense.¡± Qi Yanbai let out a sigh of relief and said, ¡°So, how should we deal with this person now?¡±


    ¡°He wants to see you and hopes to request forgiveness.¡± Lu Ye spoke truthfully, ¡°I know this incident is still scary for you, so whether you want to meet or not, it¡¯s entirely up to you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to see him.¡± Qi Yanbai honestly replied, ¡°and I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a need for forgiveness.¡±


    Qi Yanbai appeared gentle but held grudges deep within. He wasn¡¯t concerned about the fact that the drunkard had followed him or whether he had actually bought a knife to potentially harm him. What he cared about was Lu Ye being injured and hurt in the process.


    Lu Ye wasn¡¯t sure what Qi Yanbai¡¯s focus was, but he appreciated Qi Yanbai¡¯s clear boundaries. He nodded and didn¡¯t press him further.


    ¡°However, the man was heavily intoxicated when he followed you last night. He didn¡¯t actually harm you in the end, so even if we decide to take action, it would likely result in a maximum of ten days¡¯ detention and a fine.¡± Lu Ye explained, ¡°Anything more severe is unlikely.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡± Qi Yanbai said softly, ¡°I trust that you won¡¯t let me down.¡±


    He raised his eyebrows slightly, his smile carrying a hint of cunning, his eyes full of tender and focused amusement. It was as though Lu Ye was intrinsically deserving of unconditional trust from Qi Yanbai.


    The way Qi Yanbai looked at him made Lu Ye¡¯s heart melt. He felt as though Qi Yanbai possessed a certain magic, an innate ability to make people unable to refuse him.


    ¡°Alright, I understand. I¡¯ll enforce the law impartially.¡± Lu Ye¡¯s gaze also softened. He chuckled and lightly patted Qi Yanbai¡¯s shoulder, gently reminding, ¡°This man has a drinking problem and a criminal record. He¡¯s been involved in gambling and drugs. You can let your students and parents know about this incident, just be cautious in the future.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± Qi Yanbai said.


    ¡°Alright, go back to work.¡± Lu Ye smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll bring your lunchbox when I get off work tonight.¡±


    This suggestion clearly resonated with Qi Yanbai. He squinted his eyes and smiled, saying, ¡°Sure.¡±


    With a single hand in his pocket, Lu Ye stood at the door, watching as Qi Yanbai walked about a hundred meters away to the bus stop. He waited for a little while longer, watching Qi Yanbai board the bus, before turning back to his office.


    Having gone out for a while, he returned with an oversized insulated bag, catching the attention of his colleagues who were still in the office. It was almost lunchtime, and Lu Ye cleared some space on his desk, then opened the bag and took out the contents one by one.


    Perhaps worried that the food would cool down, Qi Yanbai thoughtfully included dry heating packs between the layers of lunch boxes. As Lu Ye took out the lunch boxes one by one, he felt the thin layer of plastic between the layers of food was warm to the touch.


    Qi Yanbai was clearly tidy and meticulous, and his cooking skills were impressive. Lu Ye opened each of the three layers of lunch boxes and realized that this meal contained not only meat and vegetables but also soup. Qi Yanbai had even taken the effort to arrange the dishes, resembling the meticulously prepared ¡°solo living bento¡± seen on certain video websites.


    Lu Ye chuckled at the sight of the nori and sesame sprinkled over the white rice. He couldn¡¯t help but admire the artistry of the art teacher. Finally, he reached for his phone on the table and took a photo.


    ¡°Wow, even takeout isn¡¯t this elaborate.¡± His colleague, enticed by the aroma, couldn¡¯t resist pushing his rolling chair closer, asking with a knowing smile, ¡°Is this from another ¡® ordinary friend¡¯?¡±


    Lu Ye took out the last bottle of plum drink from the insulated bag and asked, ¡°well you can find yourself an ¡®ordinary friend¡¯ too, if you¡¯re feeling jealous.¡±


    ¡°So, this is what men are like. They sway in their stance, and easily fall for sugar-coated traps.¡± His colleague clicked his tongue in mock seriousness, ¡°He was denying him in the morning, but one meal is enough to win him over. Now he¡¯s showing it off.¡±


    Joking aside, Qi Yanbai¡¯s ¡°sugar-coated trap¡± was evidently a tasty temptation for the Public Security Brigade, used to takeout and instant noodles. The fragrance of the food was irresistible, and not just his colleagues, even Li Zhiwen, who had just scolded Lu Ye in the morning to ¡°keep personal affairs out of work,¡± couldn¡¯t resist and ¡°happened¡± to pass by Lu Ye¡¯s desk, glancing inside several times.


    ¡°So much?¡± Li Zhiwen looked at the large and small containers on Lu Ye¡¯s desk, unable to resist clearing his throat and subtly asking, ¡°Will you be able to finish all of it?¡±


    Lu Ye was a generous person. He left cigarettes and tissues casually on his desk for everyone to share, and when it came to ordering takeout, they usually shared as well. So, Li Zhiwen¡¯s question was reasonable, but Lu Ye¡¯s reaction that day was unexpected. He swiftly grabbed the lunch box, as if protecting his food, and pulled the plate of chicken wings back to his side.


    ¡°I can,¡± Lu Ye said with a smile, ¡°Thanks, boss.¡±


    Li Zhiwen: ¡°¡­¡±


    Stingy brat!

 CH 16

    L¨¹ Ye had arranged to meet Qi Yanbai in the evening, but when he went to the training center after work, he found out that Qi Yanbai had left early.


    ¡°Mr. Qi took unexpected personal leave this afternoon.¡± The receptionist, unaware of L¨¹ Ye¡¯s relationship with Qi Yanbai, assumed he was a student¡¯s parent and tried to promote other teachers¡¯ services: ¡°Are you here to inquire about courses for your child? Actually, Mr. Qi¡¯s schedule is already fully booked, but if you¡¯re interested, you can learn about our other teachers.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not a parent.¡± L¨¹ Ye said, ¡°I¡¯m a friend of Mr. Qi¡¯s.¡±


    Qi Yanbai wasn¡¯t the type to stand someone up without reason, so L¨¹ Ye thought for a moment and asked: ¡°Could I ask, what did Mr. Qi have to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, just heard that he had something urgent.¡± The receptionist replied, ¡°If you really need to reach Mr. Qi, you can leave your contact information here on the message board. I¡¯ll inform him to contact you when he¡¯s back at work tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡± L¨¹ Ye politely thanked the receptionist and said, ¡°I¡¯ll contact him myself.¡±


    Leaving the training center, L¨¹ Ye made a call to Qi Yanbai. As a teacher, Qi Yanbai¡¯s phone was always reachable, and it was picked up after just one ring.


    ¡°Lu Ye?¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s voice held a hint of surprise, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± L¨¹ Ye turned to look at the entrance of the training center behind him and asked, ¡°Did you take a leave?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡ª¡± Qi Yanbai stuttered and then quickly realized what he was saying. He hurriedly asked, ¡°Did you go to my workplace?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, L¨¹ Ye,¡± before L¨¹ Ye could reply, Qi Yanbai sighed, admitting in a low voice, ¡°I had something urgent in the afternoon, so I sent you a message on WeChat¡ªI thought you would have seen it.¡±


    There was a hint of obvious apology in his voice. L¨¹ Ye was briefly puzzled. He moved his phone away from his ear and scrolled through the WeChat messages. He realized that Qi Yanbai had indeed messaged him an hour ago, saying that he had something urgent and might need to postpone their meeting. But at that time, L¨¹ Ye had been busy with interrogations and hadn¡¯t checked his phone.


    By the time he came out of the interrogation room, Qi Yanbai¡¯s message had been buried under a flood of work-related messages and had disappeared from view.


    ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not seeing it, so you¡¯re not to blame.¡± L¨¹ Ye breathed a sigh of relief and then asked, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s so urgent that you had to cancel¡ªdid you run into some trouble?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Qi Yanbai chuckled over the phone, saying, ¡°It¡¯s just a personal matter. I can handle it myself.¡±


    L¨¹ Ye was an independent person, straightforward in his interactions, and he rarely beat around the bush. Since Qi Yanbai had said he could handle it, L¨¹ Ye didn¡¯t inquire further, satisfied that Qi Yanbai wasn¡¯t in any trouble.


    Originally, L¨¹ Ye had planned to invite Qi Yanbai for dinner that evening, but since Qi Yanbai had a sudden issue, L¨¹ Ye had to temporarily put that plan aside and headed home.


    He hadn¡¯t bought a house yet and was renting an apartment not far from the police station. It was conveniently located for both commuting and work. In that area of the New City, there weren¡¯t many concentrated residential complexes¡ªthere were only about five or six. The apartment complex L¨¹ Ye was renting had been completed just two years ago. The occupancy rate wasn¡¯t very high, and at night, it felt quite dark.


    The security guard at the gate had already started dozing off as soon as it got dark, and security work was practically non-existent. The entrance of the residential complex was bustling with multi-purpose food stalls that were almost forming a small night market¡ªit had become quite popular.


    Living alone, L¨¹ Ye was usually too lazy to cook, and most of the time, he just bought something from the food stalls near the entrance. Just as he had done many times before, he stopped in front of a barbecue stall, intending to place an order. However, for some reason, he was compelled to remember Qi Yanbai¡¯s advice. So, he changed his mind and moved on to the next stall.


    ¡°Can I get a pot of piping hot congee?¡± L¨¹ Ye scanned the QR code on the stall and placed his order, saying, ¡°With spinach and pig liver.¡±


    The stall didn¡¯t have any seating, so all the dishes were for takeout. L¨¹ Ye received the hot congee in a container from the stall owner, turned around, and took a shortcut through a side door back to his residential complex.


    Autumn nights fell early, and the streetlights in the residential complex hadn¡¯t been turned on yet. Only a few main roads had their lights on. L¨¹ Ye walked through a narrow path between the buildings on his way home. From a distance, he saw a deep blue pickup truck parked at the intersection in front of his building. A pile of boxes, big and small, was stacked on the steps in front of the building. Half of them were illuminated by the lights from the building, while the other half was hidden in the darkness of the night.


    Standing next to the stack of boxes was a young man, slightly bent over, one hand resting on the luggage, breathing lightly.


    L¨¹ Ye squinted his eyes, feeling that he recognized this person.


    Before L¨¹ Ye came back, Qi Yanbai had been running up and down the stairs of the building multiple times. However, with so many belongings and being alone, his efficiency wasn¡¯t great. After half an hour of effort, he hadn¡¯t even managed to move half of his stuff upstairs.


    He didn¡¯t exercise much in his daily life, and moving alone was proving to be quite a challenge. He was leaning against his luggage, looking worried, when he heard someone call out to him from behind.


    ¡°Teacher Qi?¡±


    Qi Yanbai turned around at the voice and saw L¨¹ Ye standing a couple of steps away behind him. L¨¹ Ye was holding a thermal bag and takeout, looking at him in surprise.


    ¡°L¨¹ Ye?¡± Qi Yanbai seemed pleasantly surprised. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    L¨¹ Ye hadn¡¯t expected Qi Yanbai to take the initiative. He was taken aback for a moment, then raised what he was holding in his hand and gestured towards the tall building beside them, saying, ¡°I live here.¡±


    ¡°What a coincidence!¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I just moved here today.¡±


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s voice sounded a bit unstable. There was a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, his soft hair was slightly messy and sticking to his ears, and there were scattered items of various sizes at his feet. Under the steps, there were several picture frames carefully wrapped in oil paper. Looking at all the bags, it did indeed seem like he was in the middle of moving.


    But they had just canceled their meeting, and yet they had unexpectedly run into each other right after. Even L¨¹ Ye found it a bit hard to process. He thought that this was too much of a coincidence.


    Perhaps it was because of his professional habits, but L¨¹ Ye tended to pay more attention to low-probability situations. He glanced down at the bags and boxes by Qi Yanbai¡¯s feet, unable to help but sigh, ¡°What a coincidence. It seems like we¡¯ve been bumping into each other quite frequently lately.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true,¡± Qi Yanbai said openly, looking at him and smiling. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a sign of fate.¡±


    ¡°Also, didn¡¯t you mention before that the security around the Gemini Apartments wasn¡¯t that great?¡± Qi Yanbai chuckled a bit sheepishly, ¡°So, I thought about moving. The real estate agent happened to mention that there was an available apartment here today, and the price and location were quite suitable, so I decided to take it.¡±


    L¨¹ Ye remembered¡ªhe had indeed said that before and had advised Qi Yanbai to consider changing his residence.


    There weren¡¯t many available residential complexes in the New City. This apartment complex was relatively new and had a good location. Considering the rent rates at that time, it was a cost-effective choice. It didn¡¯t seem too surprising that Qi Yanbai managed to secure a place here.


    L¨¹ Ye breathed a sigh of relief. He thought that with over twenty buildings in the complex, it was quite a coincidence that Qi Yanbai had managed to rent an apartment in the same building, if not right next door.


    ¡°You know what, there might be some truth to that.¡± L¨¹ Ye¡¯s tone became much lighter, and he asked casually, ¡°Did you move by yourself?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Qi Yanbai nodded, saying, ¡°The moving company said I made the appointment too late, and they don¡¯t provide upstairs services after they finish work.¡±


    ¡°On which floor?¡± L¨¹ Ye inquired.


    ¡°Ninth floor,¡± Qi Yanbai replied.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite a coincidence,¡± L¨¹ Ye chuckled, extending his hand and handing over what he was holding to Qi Yanbai. He teased, ¡°I¡¯m just returning the favor for the lunch you treated me to.¡±


    Qi Yanbai was momentarily stunned, seeming a bit slow to react. Holding the warm container of congee, he looked at L¨¹ Ye with a somewhat puzzled expression.


    ¡°I live on the ninth floor too,¡± L¨¹ Ye said, ¡°The layout here is one unit per floor, so I should be living right across from you.¡±

 CH 18

    Seeing Qi Yanbai holding the ¡°takeout¡±, Lu Ye could only smile helplessly, lifting his chin towards the takeout behind him, trying to reason with him.


    ¡°Bought from a street food stall, twelve yuan for a portion.¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°I couldn¡¯t possibly treat you with this.¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s great.¡± Qi Yanbai spoke falsely with his eyes wide open, then gently tightened his grip on the takeout bag, pursing his lips as he smiled and whispered, ¡°Besides¡­ I happen to be hungry.¡±


    Lu Ye was the type to respond to softness rather than force. If Qi Yanbai insisted on having dinner with him, he might not agree. But if Qi Yanbai softly said that he was hungry from moving and wanted to share his dinner, it would be hard for Lu Ye to refuse.


    Qi Yanbai seemed to have grasped this noticeable weakness of Lu Ye, and each time he managed to get what he wanted.


    ¡°Alright then.¡± As expected, Lu Ye took the bait. Even though he felt that using takeout to reciprocate Qi Yanbai¡¯s thoughtful lunch was a bit unequal, he still nodded reluctantly and added, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Qi Yanbai smiled, his eyes bending as if afraid that Lu Ye would change his mind. He quickly held onto the takeout bag and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go heat up the congee, wait a moment.¡±


    Although the takeout had a substantial portion, it would still be a bit of a stretch for two grown men to share. However, luckily, Lu Ye still had some simple vegetables at home, enough to make a couple of side dishes.


    When Lu Ye returned with the items, Qi Yanbai had turned on the lights and entered the kitchen with the takeout bag.


    One of the sealed boxes on the floor had been opened by Qi Yanbai; he had taken the pot, leaving only an obvious hollow in the box, surrounded by several white porcelain plates and bowls.


    A pair of new cotton slippers were neatly placed in front of the doormat at the entrance, clearly prepared for Lu Ye. He changed into the slippers and gave them a test step, surprisingly finding that they fit perfectly.


    ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± Qi Yanbai seemed to have heard the movement at the door, peeking out half of his head from the kitchen, asking, ¡°What did you go get?¡±


    ¡°Just two cucumbers and a tomato left in the fridge.¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°Not sure if you eat them.¡±


    With that said, he casually closed the door, shutting out the chilly autumn wind entirely.


    Qi Yanbai wiped his hands and came out of the kitchen. His gaze swept over the heavy security door behind Lu Ye, then he stretched out his hand, taking the items from Lu Ye¡¯s hands.


    ¡°No worries, I¡¯m not picky, I¡¯ll eat anything.¡± Qi Yanbai said with a smile.


    Lu Ye had tasted Qi Yanbai¡¯s cooking at lunchtime, even though his cooking skills might not be those of a five-star chef, he was still among the better cooks among ordinary people. Originally, Lu Ye didn¡¯t dare to show off in front of him, just wanting to be a cheerleader on the side. But after observing for a while, he realized that Qi Yanbai¡¯s cooking style wasn¡¯t quite what he had imagined.


    He thought Qi Yanbai¡¯s cooking skills would be proficient, but he observed that Qi Yanbai, who was detailed in his painting, was even more meticulous in his cooking. Even chopping cucumbers required careful consideration before making a cut. After watching for a while, Lu Ye felt that at this rate, their congee might dry out before they even got to dinner.


    ¡°Let me do it.¡± Lu Ye reached out and took the knife from Qi Yanbai. He suggested, ¡°You watch the congee, make sure it doesn¡¯t burn.¡±


    ¡°You can cook?¡± Qi Yanbai asked.


    ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t live alone without knowing how to cook.¡± Liu Ye laughed, truthfully admitting, ¡°I can manage a little, but my skills are average at best. I can just barely cook.¡±


    He laughed and patted his chest, picked up the knife, tested its weight, and quickly chopped the cucumber.


    ¡°But I¡¯m particularly good at being an assistant.¡± Lu Ye added.


    Lu Ye¡¯s sleeves were already rolled up, revealing a section of white bandages and a well-toned forearm. Qi Yanbai stared at his exposed forearm for a while, tentatively asking, ¡°Were you always helping at home?¡±


    ¡°Sort of.¡± Lu Ye chopped the cucumber into small pieces, put them into the bowl with a skilled blade, and casually said, ¡°I often helped my sister when I was younger.¡±


    ¡°Is it Liu Mingming¡¯s mom?¡± Qi Yanbai asked.


    Perhaps because the topic involved ¡°home,¡± a private area, Lu Ye almost effortlessly continued the conversation along Qi Yanbai¡¯s line of questioning, revealing details he had never mentioned before.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s her, you should have met her.¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°She had it harder. She was 18, and I was 15 at the time we started living alone. She couldn¡¯t go to college, so she worked outside. After we left home, we stayed in a small rental, sleeping on bunk beds behind a curtain, cooking in the communal kitchen.¡±


    ¡°was it difficult for you back then?¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s voice softened, sounding particularly sticky in the night, ¡°It must¡¯ve been tough.¡±


    ¡°It was a bit, but it¡¯s all in the past.¡± Lu Ye wiped his knife with a damp cloth and pushed the bowl towards Qi Yanbai, waiting for him to season it.


    ¡°My sister had it even harder.¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°She didn¡¯t have an easy time.¡±


    Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t know why these two siblings had to be self-reliant at such a young age, but he could tell that it must have been a difficult time for them.


    The porridge in the pot was about to boil over, and Qi Yanbai turned off the heat, took out two rice bowls from the rack and asked casually, ¡°So, once life got better, you stopped cooking?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly.¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°Just felt that it was troublesome.¡±


    Living alone, coming back exhausted from work and facing an empty home, it was more comfortable to order takeout than to pursue a ¡°refined life.¡±


    ¡°And eating alone is so unappetizing. Cooking too little is not enough, too much is wasteful.¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°Just the thought of buying groceries, chopping, and cooking over a fire feels like too much trouble.¡±


    Lu Ye wasn¡¯t opposed to living alone, and he wasn¡¯t urgently seeking romance either. But every time he covered the leftovers with plastic wrap and put them in the fridge, he couldn¡¯t help but think that ¡°it would be nice to have someone else to share with.¡±


    Unfortunately, he was too busy with work, so he let go of such thoughts easily.


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Qi Yanbai agreed and took the plate from his hand, moving past him. He placed the hot steaming porridge on the dining table by the kitchen door.


    ¡°But that¡¯s not a problem.¡± Qi Yanbai turned around to look at Lu Ye, smiling as he said, ¡°After all, in the future, we can keep each other company. You¡¯re welcome to eat at my place anytime.¡±

 CH 19

    The fact that Qi Yanbai and Lu Ye became neighbors couldn¡¯t be hidden from Lu Mingming, the little child, in the end. The next day, Qi Yanbai accidentally let it slip.


    At that age, children are overflowing with self-awareness, naively thinking that everything in the world revolves around them. So, upon hearing this news, it was like a bolt from the blue for her. She couldn¡¯t believe that her ¡°favorite uncle¡± and ¡°favorite teacher¡± had secretly become neighbors without her knowing.


    ¡°How could this be!¡± Lu Mingming protested in anger, ¡°I haven¡¯t even been to Uncle¡¯s house to play yet!¡±


    ¡°No, whether we become neighbors or not, what does it have to do with you?¡± Lu Ye laughed, half kneeling down and looking at Lu Mingming, pinching her face playfully. He said, ¡°You¡¯re already acting like a housewife at such a young age? Do we need your permission?¡±


    ¡°It does matter!¡± Lu Mingming protested, ¡°You¡¯re living together!¡±


    ¡°Allow me to correct your phrasing.¡± Lu Ye chuckled and corrected her seriously, ¡°We are neighbors, not living together.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the same thing!¡± Lu Mingming said.


    Children have simple and innocent perceptions. She didn¡¯t necessarily have a strong objection to this matter, but she suddenly felt a sense of being ¡°abandoned¡± by the small team. So, she threw a tantrum and insisted on squeezing in to make her presence felt.


    She began to make a fuss about visiting Uncle and Teacher¡¯s homes, claiming that she would also help with warming the house.


    It was now lunchtime after school, with a multitude of adults and children coming and going from the training institution. The little commotion in the corner quickly attracted the attention of other parents, and even caught Qi Yanbai¡¯s attention.


    Lu Ye had initially tried to reason with Lu Mingming, but his patience quickly ran out after a couple of unsuccessful attempts. He was about to pick her up and take her away, ignoring her protests, when Qi Yanbai arrived just in time and gently held his wrist.


    ¡°Let¡¯s handle this calmly,¡± Qi Yanbai said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty.¡±


    While Lu Ye could suppress Lu Mingming¡¯s tantrums with discipline, he always had a bit more patience with Qi Yanbai¡¯s gentle approach. Upon hearing his words, Lu Ye gently twisted his wrist, softening his tone a bit.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, don¡¯t mind her,¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°She¡¯ll calm down after a while. If it really doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll go out and buy her an ice cream.¡±


    Lu Mingming was not pleased with Lu Ye¡¯s way of pacifying children, so she straightened her posture and was about to argue that she was serious about visiting their homes. But then she saw Qi Yanbai standing behind Lu Ye, making a shushing gesture to her.


    Children are quite perceptive about emotions, and she seemed to sense a certain wavering attitude from Qi Yanbai. So, she quickly shut her mouth and started pretending to be well-behaved.


    ¡°She can actually come if she wants to, children are curious by nature,¡± Qi Yanbai easily appeased the little one and then turned to deal with the adult, ¡°Anyway, I only have one class in the afternoon, and you¡¯re not on duty. If her mother agrees, she can come over and take a look, so she won¡¯t keep thinking about it.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Lu Ye turned to look at him, puzzled, ¡°How did you know I¡¯m not on duty today?¡±


    ¡°Guessing,¡± Qi Yanbai smiled with a twinkle in his eyes, as if afraid Lu Ye wouldn¡¯t believe him. He added, ¡°If you were busy going back to work, you wouldn¡¯t be standing here trying to reason with her.¡±


    Lu Ye thought that Qi Yanbai had a pretty good understanding of his character, so he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and say, ¡°You guessed right.¡±


    Qi Yanbai had just moved in, and Lu Ye didn¡¯t really want Lu Mingming to disturb his peace. Besides, taking care of a child while working could be considered a responsibility, but dealing with small clients after work was quite a struggle.


    But Lu Mingming didn¡¯t make any unreasonable requests. She just wanted to visit her Uncle¡¯s house, and since Lu Ye was also off work, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to take her along for a while.


    Lu Mingming was a clever child. She almost instantly realized that her Uncle had been persuaded by her Teacher Qi with just a few words. So, taking advantage of the situation, she hugged Lu Ye¡¯s leg.


    ¡°Take me with you¡ªplease,¡± Lu Mingming blinked her eyes and whispered softly, ¡°I¡¯ll be very good.¡±


    ¡°Besides, I have some extra lunch with me today,¡± Qi Yanbai added fuel to the fire, ¡°If you¡¯re not in a rush to go back, why don¡¯t you just have lunch with me? We can all leave together in the evening.¡±


    Lu Ye was cornered by Qi Yanbai¡¯s words and the child¡¯s clinginess, and he ended up giving in and making a call to Lu Wenyu.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s weekend classes were for beginners, and the students were roughly the same age as Lu Mingming. Since young children have short attention spans, they couldn¡¯t sit in the waiting room for two hours. So, Qi Yanbai simply inserted Lu Mingming into the afternoon class, helping her reinforce what she had learned in the morning.


    Lu Mingming was still immersed in the joy of being able to visit her teacher¡¯s house, so she had no objections to taking an extra class. Lu Ye followed the stream of parents to send her into the small classroom and was about to find a place to sit and rest for a couple of hours when Qi Yanbai accurately caught his wrist.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Qi Yanbai asked.


    ¡°Just looking for a place to sit for a while,¡± Lu Ye replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s cold outside, don¡¯t go out,¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°The school has free trial classes for parents. You can come in and wait.¡±


    Lu Ye could only smile wryly, thinking that he was now squeezed into a classroom with a bunch of little kids. He was about to refuse, but before he could say anything, Qi Yanbai grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the classroom through the back door.


    ¡°Sit here,¡± Qi Yanbai firmly made him sit behind a drawing stand near the back door, saying softly, ¡°You can use your phone. If you need something, just call me.¡±


    Lu Ye found himself arranged by Teacher Qi, and he had no choice but to accept it. Fortunately, this position was far from the crowd of children, and they didn¡¯t notice him at the moment.


    That spot was in the far corner of the classroom, but it didn¡¯t affect his line of sight. Lu Ye leaned back in the low chair, looking around with interest. His gaze roamed around the classroom, and eventually, it landed on Qi Yanbai at the front.


    It must be said that seeing Qi Yanbai from this angle did give a different feeling.


    Qi Yanbai was gentle and diligent, and he was serious and focused while teaching. Due to caring about others¡¯ reactions too much, he could sometimes appear a bit constrained.


    However, in the classroom, he appeared confident and at ease. He handled things calmly and confidently, despite teaching a bunch of kids who barely reached his knee. His pace was steady, capturing their attention effortlessly.


    He didn¡¯t have any teaching materials in hand, just a short pencil. He casually made a few strokes on the white paper attached to the plaster block nearby, and the outline of the plaster piece was immediately portrayed on the paper.


    Soft exclamations of ¡°ah¡± emerged from the little heads like a group of small sunflowers, all of them tilting their heads and focusing on him.


    People who had achieved something in their professional fields were always charismatic, especially when they were showcasing their abilities in their domain. This charm inevitably multiplied when the person in question was proficiently displaying their expertise. Holding the pencil between his fingers, Lu Ye leaned against the corner and gazed at Qi Yanbai. He started to appreciate the subtle charm in the teacher¡¯s approach.


    It wasn¡¯t just his face and personality that made Qi Yanbai a star teacher, Lu Ye thought. There was something more to it.


    The room was quiet, and only the faint sound of Qi Yanbai¡¯s pencil scratching on the paper could be heard. His teaching voice was gentle yet not soft, carrying a touch of teacher¡¯s authority that could command the classroom. It was easy for him to capture people¡¯s attention.


    Lu Ye twirled the pencil attached to the drawing stand between his fingers a couple of times. He looked at the plaster block Qi Yanbai was using for demonstration and couldn¡¯t resist making a few strokes on the paper.


    Unfortunately, the last time he had encountered sketching was back in the first year of middle school. His artistic skills were extremely limited. Even though he vaguely managed to sketch the outline of a cylinder following Qi Yanbai¡¯s teaching, it didn¡¯t look like a sketch at all; it resembled a child¡¯s doodle.


    Having a strong and determined personality, he obviously couldn¡¯t be defeated by a plaster block. A sense of resistance emerged, and he was eager to fix the sketch. However, due to his lack of foundation, the more he tried, the messier it became.


    After a while, he sighed in frustration and finally realized that his skills were probably on par with the little kids¡¯ drawings in front of him.


    ¡°You¡¯re pressing too hard.¡±


    Lu Ye didn¡¯t know when Qi Yanbai had approached him. He stood next to Lu Ye, slightly bent at the waist, supporting his shoulder. Then he extended his arm and gently held the hand Lu Ye was using to hold the pencil. He lightly sketched next to the ¡°child¡¯s cylinder¡± drawing and added a light gray shade.


    ¡°Even though the pencil is black, the effect varies with different pressures,¡± Qi Yanbai said as he corrected Lu Ye¡¯s drawing. He spoke softly, almost in a whisper, ¡°The pencil is an extension of your fingers. To create a good drawing, you need to learn to control your strength¡ªapply more pressure when needed, and less when necessary.¡±


    ¡°Timing is important,¡± he said softly.


    Qi Yanbai usually wouldn¡¯t stand this close to his students; he maintained a certain distance for safety. But perhaps because Lu Ye was an equal ¡°adult,¡± Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t care as much. He used one hand to support Lu Ye¡¯s shoulder, nearly embracing him, and held his hand. He gently marked a light gray imprint on the blank white paper.


    His voice was focused and serious, almost brushing against Lu Ye¡¯s ear, like a gentle and soft murmur.


    A tingling sensation spread at the root of Lu Ye¡¯s ear, and he couldn¡¯t help turning his head to look at Qi Yanbai.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s position blocked the nearby window, blocking off most of the bright sunlight, while his soft hair was bathed in the afternoon sunlight, casting a gentle color. His brows and eyes looked soft and unreal in the gentle sunlight.


    Lu Ye had never seen Qi Yanbai¡¯s profile from such a close distance. Now, in this sudden encounter, he realized that Qi Yanbai¡¯s appearance actually suited his taste.


    Pure, clean, serious, and attentive when working, with a touch of youthful inexperience due to his excessive concern for others¡¯ opinions. He seemed to strike a balance between maturity and innocence, and his gentleness was just right.


    Perhaps it was the intense afternoon sunlight, but Lu Ye suddenly felt something gently settling in his heart, spreading a warmth that was hard to ignore.


    Perhaps his gaze lingered on Qi Yanbai¡¯s face for too long, as Qi Yanbai eventually noticed. He paused in his sketching, turning his head to meet Lu Ye¡¯s gaze.


    Lu Ye didn¡¯t know what Qi Yanbai saw in his eyes, but he could clearly see the delight and tenderness hidden in Qi Yanbai¡¯s eyes. This indescribable emotion was quickly overshadowed by surprise, almost as if it were a figment of Lu Ye¡¯s imagination.


    This fleeting moment passed in an instant. In the next second, Qi Yanbai smiled, his lips curving, and he shyly averted his gaze, his loose hair falling to reveal slightly blushing earlobes.


    Lu Ye¡¯s heart momentarily skipped a beat, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and he suddenly felt inexplicably thirsty.

 CH 20

    Ashley once said that men are composed of stimulation, impulsiveness, desire for control, and the urge to conquer.


    Therefore, love between men is inherently a game of evenly matched forces.


    Lu Ye was naturally gay, so it was almost natural for him to have a favorable impression of young men he found attractive. But Qi Yanbai seemed too ¡°normal¡± to Lu Ye. He couldn¡¯t detect any signals of shared orientation from him, so he couldn¡¯t determine his sexual orientation. He also couldn¡¯t judge whether, in that fleeting moment, Qi Yanbai felt something beyond ordinary friendship for him, similar to Lu Ye¡¯s feelings.


    In that quick passing glance, Lu Ye vaguely perceived a certain tender attachment in Qi Yanbai¡¯s gaze. However, that look was concealed too quickly and urgently. Before Lu Ye could savor it carefully, it vanished without a trace. Even someone as perceptive as Lu Ye found it difficult to ascertain whether he had truly captured that fleeting emotion from Qi Yanbai or if he had misconstrued it as a result of some illusion born from this ambiguous and intimate proximity.


    Moreover, Qi Yanbai was naturally a gentle person, Lu Ye thought. He always seemed to have a spring of emotions in his eyes, overflowing with tenderness for everything he saw.


    The bright sunlight outside the window cast a warm glow on Qi Yanbai¡¯s reddened earlobes, and Lu Ye¡¯s gaze lingered on that hint of red for a moment. Then, he gently redirected his attention to the drawing.


    A tense and sticky atmosphere seemed to silently permeate the small space. However, before it could ferment into something stronger, a gentle breeze came and swept it away.


    Lu Ye and Qi Yanbai unspokenly agreed not to let this atmosphere continue. They both put on the brakes before any emotions could turn into something more pronounced. Neither of them made it explicit.


    Yet, the probing look from that single glance had indeed sown a seed, quietly landing in both their hearts and slowly taking root in the absence of others.


    The drawing that Qi Yanbai had corrected looked much better than before. While the underlying lines still seemed extremely stiff, at least there were light and shadows, making it barely presentable.


    Although Qi Yanbai did feel a lingering attachment to keeping Lu Ye within his embrace, he didn¡¯t indulge in that momentary pleasure for too long. After he finished correcting the drawing, he released Lu Ye¡¯s hand and gently straightened up, supporting himself against Lu Ye¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± Teacher Qi lied with his eyes open. ¡°You have a lot of talent.¡±


    Lu Ye looked at the finished drawing and said half jokingly, ¡°After the corrections, it could score a hundred ¨C.¡±


    Qi Yanbai chuckled softly, patted his shoulder gently, and finally took a natural step back. He praised, ¡°indeed.¡±


    The slight commotion in the corner quickly caught the attention of the little kids. Qi Yanbai couldn¡¯t stay by Lu Ye¡¯s side waiting for them to make comments, so he simply walked back to the classroom to help each student with their drawings.


    Twirling the pencil between his fingertips, Lu Ye contemplated sketching a few more strokes on the paper. However, after looking around, he couldn¡¯t find a suitable spot to continue, so he simply took the ¡°masterpiece¡± down from the drawing stand. He folded it a few times, turning it into a small square, and slipped it into the inner pocket of his jacket.


    The class for the junior students was not long, and the children were young. As it came to a close, they all started packing up.


    Once Qi Yanbai returned the little kids to their parents, he could finish the class and head home.


    Although Lu Mingming knew they were going to the teacher¡¯s house for a visit, she had been excited for a good two hours. The moment the class ended, she leaped around like an excited little monkey, tugging at Lu Ye¡¯s hand incessantly.


    ¡°Is Teacher Qi¡¯s new house ready?¡± Lu Mingming rattled off, ¡°I¡¯m going to explore at Teacher Qi¡¯s house! Clear out any threats for him! Ensure the teacher¡¯s safety!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Little Special Forces,¡± Lu Ye pried her hand away from his clothes and said sincerely, ¡°Teacher Qi¡¯s house is not in danger. You just need to be calm and quiet.¡±


    ¡°But that won¡¯t do.¡± Lu Mingming looked at him with a very disapproving expression and said earnestly, ¡°The new house is very dangerous. What if there are ghosts in the closet and skeletons under the bed?¡±


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    What kind of upbringing did Lu Wenyu give his child? Lu Ye wondered, did she tell her urban legends of supernatural stories every day?


    ¡°Well then.¡± Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t believe in realistic education as much as Lu Ye. He nodded in agreement, playing along, ¡°Let¡¯s leave the safety of my house to you, Mingming.¡±


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°But before that, we should get something delicious to eat.¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°To reward Mingming for her hard work ¨C right?¡±


    His second sentence was directed at Lu Ye. Lu Ye snapped back to attention and gave an affirmative sound, indicating he agreed.


    Perhaps the subtle test in the classroom had worked, as Qi Yanbai noticed on their way home that Lu Ye was maintaining a certain distance from him.


    This distance didn¡¯t seem like avoidance due to unfamiliarity. Instead, it carried a touch of absent-mindedness, as if he had something on his mind and was lost in thought.


    Qi Yanbai understood that the social environment in their country was far less open than abroad. Therefore, he gave Lu Ye some space to think, without pushing further in case it aroused suspicion or resistance.


    However, Lu Mingming was completely unaware of the undercurrents between the two adults. She was like a carefree little bean, wholeheartedly immersed in the joy of playing. She said she was going to ¡°visit Uncle¡¯s house,¡± but she didn¡¯t even set foot in Lu Ye¡¯s house. She skipped straight into Qi Yanbai¡¯s house.


    After a night, Qi Yanbai¡¯s home had been tidied up quite a bit. Various decorations and small appliances had found their places. The camera at the entrance glowed with a faint red light. The home had also acquired a few more art-related objects and picture frames, adding a touch of liveliness to the otherwise plain rental apartment.


    Qi Yanbai was about to go to the kitchen to prepare the ingredients when Lu Ye gave a few instructions to Lu Mingming, asking her not to mess things up in Qi Yanbai¡¯s house. Then he turned and went to his room to change clothes.


    Children are naturally curious about everything new. After sitting properly in the living room for a while, Lu Mingming couldn¡¯t resist hopping off the couch. She started wandering around Qi Yanbai¡¯s house.


    ¡°Teacher Qi,¡± Lu Mingming stood in the living room and called out, ¡°Can I take a tour of your house?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s head peeked out from the kitchen. He spoke gently, ¡°You can explore freely.¡±


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s home was neat and tidy. The doors to each room were wide open, allowing a full view of the interior from the doorway.


    But strangely, in this open and inviting environment, there was one small door near the balcony that was firmly shut.


    That door was plain, narrower than an ordinary door by about a third, and its wooden surface had faded from exposure to sunlight. Only the doorknob was newly replaced, stainless steel with a protective film still clinging to it.


    Compared to the other rooms, Lu Mingming felt an air of mystery about this tightly shut door. She looked up at it for a while, feeling like the door that wasn¡¯t allowed to be opened might be a portal to Harry Potter¡¯s world.


    Lu Mingming had good manners and wouldn¡¯t deliberately pry into Qi Yanbai¡¯s privacy. However, curiosity drove her, and her heart felt like a small cat scratching incessantly. She bit her lip, recalled Qi Yanbai¡¯s words ¡°explore freely,¡± and finally couldn¡¯t resist raising on her toes to try and turn the doorknob.


    Just as her hand reached halfway, another hand came from the side and gently held hers.


    Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t know when he had come out of the kitchen. He knelt on one knee, crouching beside Lu Mingming. He met her gaze at eye level, smiling gently as he took her hand and guided her away from the mysterious door.


    ¡°Teacher forgot to mention,¡± Qi Yanbai said with a smile, ¡°This room is off-limits.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Lu Mingming asked carefreely.


    ¡°Because¡­¡± Qi Yanbai smiled and whispered, ¡°This room holds the teacher¡¯s secret.¡±

 CH 21

    Everyone had their secrets. Lu Mingming nodded in confusion and then earnestly hooked her little finger with Qi Yanbai, promising to keep his secret safe.


    By the time Lu Ye changed his clothes and returned, Lu Mingming had already been won over by Qi Yanbai. She was sitting obediently on the sofa, wholeheartedly doodling on the large canvas Qi Yanbai had prepared for her.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s ears were sharp, and he quickly heard the sound of Lu Ye entering the house. He poked his head out from the kitchen, smiling and calling out to him.


    ¡°Lu Ye.¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°Your slippers are at the door.¡±


    His words were ambiguous, as if Lu Ye was not entering his house for the second time, but rather had already taken root and found a place in his home.


    Lu Mingming was busy with her ¡°artistic creation¡± in the living room, humming a tune. The soup for dinner needed to be prepared in advance. Qi Yanbai placed the prepped ingredients into a pot and covered it before turning on the stove.


    The pot heated up quickly, and wisps of steam rose from the vents. Lu Ye leaned against the door frame, squinting his eyes and sniffing the sweet aroma wafting through the air.


    Smells wonderful, Lu Ye thought.


    The sunlight outside was gradually being replaced by warmer hues as the day was coming to an end. Qi Yanbai was focused, carefully carving a carrot into petal shapes.


    Qi Yanbai had beautiful hands, graceful in both painting and cooking. He held the knife with ease, revealing a segment of his fair and slender neck as he concentrated on his task. The knife rhythmically hit the cutting board, producing a rhythmic sound.


    Lu Ye¡¯s gaze rested on Qi Yanbai, drifting aimlessly between watching him and getting lost in thought.


    The room was quiet, only the sound of Lu Mingming¡¯s humming and the chopping of vegetables echoed. Lu Ye, leaning against the door, watched Qi Yanbai¡¯s actions with fascination. He suddenly realized a sense of tranquil serenity, like a small haven carved out of the bustling world.


    Simple, warm ¨C this little space was like a sanctuary amidst the chaos. Lu Ye exhaled softly, feeling himself succumbing to the soothing embrace of this peaceful atmosphere.


    Perhaps, living like this wouldn¡¯t be so bad, Lu Ye thought suddenly.


    He was surprised by the thought that crossed his mind. He had only recently met Qi Yanbai and they had shared just a few meals together. Yet, he found himself having such thoughts already.


    He chuckled at his own whimsical idea, shaking his head lightly.


    Qi Yanbai had been observing him out of the corner of his eye. Hearing Lu Ye¡¯s laughter, he turned his head and glanced at him, asking with curiosity, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Lu Ye smiled. ¡°I just suddenly felt that, well, this day seems nice.¡±


    Qi Yanbai blinked, then realized that Lu Ye was surprisingly easy to understand.


    Lu Ye might not be easy to get close to, but once he let his guard down, he would become like a large, tamed cat, baring his true character and vulnerability in front of others without a hint of caution.


    However, this kind of openness was risky. Lu Ye was inherently straightforward, and this trait made him susceptible to being hurt by people with malicious intentions.


    But that¡¯s okay, Qi Yanbai thought to himself. Anyway, I won¡¯t take advantage of him.


    He just wanted to have Lu Ye by his side, willing to listen to him, focusing all his attention on him. Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t mind taking care of him in every aspect, big or small.


    Qi Yanbai knew that his view of love wasn¡¯t quite normal. He was afraid that Lu Ye would see some unhealthy possessiveness in his gaze. So, he quickly lowered his head with a smile, acknowledging with a mosquito-like hum, then turned away to the sink and started unpacking an oxygen bag to use the movement to change the topic.


    However, the fish was too lively. It suddenly leaped out, as if it could shatter the sink, catching Qi Yanbai off guard. He was hit by a splash of water from the fish¡¯s tail.


    Lu Ye, who had been watching, couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. Finally, he straightened up and forcefully reached out, taking the knife from Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Let me do it,¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°Don¡¯t let it hurt you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Qi Yanbai instinctively said, ¡°I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Are you capable?¡± Lu Ye seemed to understand what he wanted to say. He turned his head to look at Qi Yanbai and asked with a puzzled expression, ¡°Not everything in this world needs to be done by oneself. Why not accept help when it¡¯s offered?¡±


    There was a subtle assertiveness hidden in Lu Ye¡¯s personality. This assertiveness usually stemmed from his assessment of the situation. He used the back of his hand to wipe away a droplet of water from Qi Yanbai¡¯s chin, and he said in a calm tone, ¡°Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of having friends?¡±


    Qi Yanbai was slightly startled, seemingly taking a moment to understand the implication of these words.


    In his understanding, whether it was big or small matters, he should have control over them in order to determine the final outcome.


    Ashley wouldn¡¯t help him, and capturing Lu Ye¡¯s attention required his own efforts. Qi Yanbai had grown used to pursuing his goals through his own hard work, so aside from deliberately showing vulnerability, he rarely sought help from others.


    Before Lu Ye, there were others who had attempted to lend a hand, but those attempts had mostly remained as mere verbal reassurances. They faded away after receiving a ¡°no, thank you.¡± Only Lu Ye had truly taken on his troubles and genuinely solved them.


    ¡ªAlthough Lu Ye¡¯s approach might be a bit assertive, Qi Yanbai suddenly realized that he didn¡¯t mind this attitude.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s distance from the sink was separated by Lu Ye. He heard the fish flop around a couple more times, but no water splashed onto him. Qi Yanbai blinked, looking through the gap created by Lu Ye¡¯s movements. He saw that the fish had been skillfully stunned and was lying obediently in Lu Ye¡¯s hands after being expertly gutted and cleaned.


    The small trouble that had been bothering Qi Yanbai had been easily resolved. Feeling somewhat at a loss, he moved his fingers, feeling a complex and inexplicable emotion welling up within him.


    During the courtship phase, male animals often displayed themselves, like peacocks, wanting to impress their potential partners. Qi Yanbai had initially wanted to take this opportunity to show off his good qualities to Lu Ye. However, he hadn¡¯t expected things to take a different turn. He not only failed to present himself well, but he also seemed to be drawn in by Lu Ye instead.


    Lu Ye had a way of casually saying a few words that slipped right into the depths of Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart. It had been true in the hospital, and now, it was the same. His attitude was like a light spark, falling into Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart, easily igniting a sense of warmth.


    ¡°Here, it¡¯s done,¡± Lu Ye finished dealing with the fish and pushed the prepared ingredients to the side of Qi Yanbai. He asked, ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s still¡ª¡±


    Qi Yanbai hesitated for a moment, about to speak, when suddenly Lu Ye¡¯s phone in his pocket rang. Lu Ye furrowed his brows slightly, wiped his hands with a towel, and took out his phone.


    He glanced at the caller ID, and his demeanor shifted slightly. He moved away from the relaxed atmosphere he had before, adopting a somewhat sharper tone.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Lu Ye answered. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    The voice on the other end spoke, and Lu Ye responded with a couple of ¡°got it¡± before hanging up.


    ¡°Unfortunately, we won¡¯t get to enjoy a good meal today,¡± Lu Ye explained to Qi Yanbai. ¡°There¡¯s something going on at work, and I have to go back for overtime.¡±

 CH 22

    After all, Lu Mingming was still a young girl. Since Lu Ye had to go back to work at the office, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for her to be alone with Qi Yanbai. So, Lu Ye made a last-minute call to Lu Wenyu to explain the situation. He then sent Lu Mingming on the bus back home before heading back to the city police station.


    When Lu Ye arrived at the office, his colleagues had already prepared a police car at the entrance for him. He casually put on his duty coat, took a few steps to climb up the steps, opened the car door, and sat inside. He slid the lock upwards as he closed the door.


    ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Lu Ye asked.


    ¡°This time it¡¯s at Binhe Park,¡± his colleague said. ¡°The victim is 21 years old, a college student from the city. She went there to shoot a film assignment.¡±


    ¡°Is she alright?¡± Lu Ye inquired.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± his colleague replied. ¡°It was the victim who reported the incident. Xiao Yao has already gone over ¡ª by the way, the incident happened in a restroom.¡±


    Lu Ye clicked his tongue softly, furrowing his brows. He took out his phone and messaged Yao Xing, asking for updates.


    Recently, there was a roaming offender in the New City district who often hid in park restrooms or outdoor fitness areas, targeting young women and taking advantage of them. His actions were spread over a wide area, almost covering the entire jurisdiction, and his crime frequency was extremely high. In just a week, the station had received three identical reports.


    Lu Ye¡¯s team attached great importance to this case. They had been investigating for about a week, but since the offender often chose secluded areas without surveillance cameras and cutting off the electricity supply before attacking from behind, most victims hadn¡¯t been able to see his face clearly. It was difficult to gather useful leads.


    ¡°Let me tell you, this guy is something else,¡± his colleague said, maneuvering the steering wheel while driving onto the main road leading to Binhe Park. ¡°These cases keep happening in both the north and the south, and all on workdays. What the hell is he up to? He might just be an unemployed wanderer as well.¡±


    Jobless drifters and urban roamers were the hardest to track down, as it usually meant they didn¡¯t have a fixed home or social connections, making them hard to understand.


    ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily.¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°we¡¯ll have to look into it more.¡±


    Binhe Park wasn¡¯t far from the station, a drive of just over ten minutes. When they arrived, a small area near the restroom had already been cleared. Yao Xing¡¯s police car was parked by the roadside. Inside sat a disheveled young girl, wearing Yao Xing¡¯s police coat, trembling as she kept her head down.


    She was still shaken. Lu Ye observed her for a while but didn¡¯t approach her. Instead, he walked around from the opposite flowerbed, went to the entrance of the restroom, and signaled Yao Xing with a wave.


    ¡°Any leads?¡± Lu Ye asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s the same as the previous times,¡± Yao Xing replied. ¡°No surveillance here either. The suspect had been hiding in the restroom beforehand. I¡¯m not sure for how long. Also no trace of bodily fluids left.¡±


    ¡°However,¡± Yao Xing paused, then looked far away towards the direction of the police car, and whispered, ¡°The victim struggled and managed to catch a glimpse of the suspect¡¯s appearance.¡±


    This was clearly good news, and Lu Ye¡¯s eyes lit up. His spirits were lifted.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good thing. When you go back, ask the forensic artist if they can create a sketch.¡± Lu Ye instructed, nodding slightly, ¡°Also, take her to the hospital first to check for injuries. If she¡¯s hurt, get her injuries documented. When she¡¯s in a more stable emotional state, bring her back to the station to give a statement.¡±


    Yao Xing was the only female officer in the team, so this task naturally fell to her. She nodded in agreement, sighed, and said she understood.


    Restroom scenes were complex with people coming and going, making it difficult to extract any useful information. Lu Ye and his colleagues conducted a preliminary investigation and evidence collection at the scene. They also interviewed some people in the vicinity but unfortunately didn¡¯t find any significant leads. They could only copy the surveillance videos from the major entrances and exits of the park to study them later.


    Scene investigation was intricate and time-consuming work. When this was completed, the night had alredy fallen.


    Lu Ye sat in the passenger seat, flipping through his notebook¡¯s records of interviews while half-listening to his colleague¡¯s chattering.


    ¡°Why is it so difficult for people to follow the rules these days?¡± his colleague grumbled, ¡°My mom even arranged a blind date for me today. Now with this, forget about girls, I might not even be able to find a lady of age.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re about the same age as me, what¡¯s the rush?¡± Lu Ye brushed his finger over the patrol security guard¡¯s timings while half-heartedly responding, ¡°Out with the old and in with the new. Tomorrow might bring something better.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s easy to say when you have someone delivering you hot food. Unlike us, we¡¯re bombarded by uncles and aunts to find a partner the moment we get home.¡±


    As they were talking, the police car turned onto the road leading back to the city police station. Whether it was because his chatty colleague was onto something or by coincidence, Lu Ye suddenly turned to see a familiar figure standing near the station entrance.


    Qi Yanbai was dressed in a slightly thicker coat, standing by the security room, conversing with someone. Lu Ye saw him handing over a small package through the window, then politely nodding to the person before turning to leave.


    ¡°Wait a moment, stop the car,¡± Lu Ye said.


    His colleague instinctively pressed the brake, stopping the police car not far from the entrance. Lu Ye got out, called out to Qi Yanbai, ¡°Teacher Qi.¡±


    Qi Yanbai turned back in surprise, his gaze quickly scanning Lu Ye from head to toe. He looked puzzled and asked, ¡°Lu Ye, did you go out?¡±


    ¡°Just finished an assignment,¡± Lu Ye said.


    ¡°Is it dangerous?¡± Qi Yanbai asked, concerned. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lu Ye smiled and said, ¡°we still haven¡¯t caught the suspect though. But what about you? Why did you suddenly come over?¡±


    ¡°Brought you some dinner,¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°I had already prepared food for three people, and I can¡¯t finish it alone.¡±


    He reached out to naturally take a thermal bag from the windowsill, took a few steps forward, and handed it to Lu Ye, his lips curving into a gentle smile.


    Lu Ye hadn¡¯t expected him to come all the way just to deliver dinner. His eyes flickered, and he focused on Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand.


    In the deep autumn, the temperature changed from day to day. Yesterday was sunny, today it dropped by six or seven degrees. Qi Yanbai¡¯s originally fair knuckles were slightly reddened by the cold wind. Lu Ye furrowed his brows slightly, his heart feeling a bit uneasy and itchy, as if tiny ants were crawling within.


    No one in the world was exempt from having preferences and making compromises. Besides, Qi Yanbai¡¯s appearance and personality both matched Lu Ye¡¯s preferences. When they weren¡¯t familiar, it was fine, but once they became acquainted, it was hard for Lu Ye not to develop a positive impression of him.


    But Qi Yanbai was generally friendly to everyone, so it was difficult for Lu Ye to distinguish whether his goodwill was due to his personality or some vague form of fondness.


    Either way, aside from his preferences, Qi Yanbai did meet Lu Ye¡¯s criteria for a partner. After all, Lu Ye wasn¡¯t particularly strict in that regard. As long as the person was normal, law-abiding, and didn¡¯t deceive or harm him, it was acceptable.


    Qi Yanbai was gentle and friendly, and there seemed to be no hidden dangers. Thus, Lu Ye thought for a moment and decided to accept his goodwill. He would let things unfold naturally, maybe develop a good relationship. If Qi Yanbai also developed feelings for him, that would be great. If not, it wouldn¡¯t hinder them from being friends.


    ¡°Next time, don¡¯t come over when it¡¯s this cold,¡± Lu Ye chuckled, took the thermal bag from Qi Yanbai, and said, ¡°Anyway, since I live nearby now, I¡¯ll just keep it for a late-night snack if I can¡¯t finish it.¡±


    While speaking, Lu Ye wanted to touch Qi Yanbai¡¯s fingertips to gauge the temperature. But whether it was intentional or coincidental, Qi Yanbai quickly retracted his hand, avoiding Lu Ye¡¯s touch. Only his fingertips brushed past Lu Ye¡¯s knuckles, leaving behind a faint touch.


    The slightly cool breeze slipped gently between his fingers, causing Lu Ye to freeze momentarily. Before he could react, he heard footsteps approaching from behind. He turned to find his colleague returning, walking towards him with a furrowed brow.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Ye asked.


    ¡°Liu Ge got called to the city station for help temporarily. He won¡¯t be back tonight,¡± his colleague said, looking embarrassed. ¡°There might not be anyone available to make the sketch.¡±


    Among the officers who could crack cases, there was only Liu Ge with the skills to draw sketches. Other officers might be able to describe but not draw, and even with a photograph to refer to, they¡¯d likely have trouble producing a useful result.


    Lu Ye was about to consider where he could go to ask someone else when Qi Yanbai suddenly interjected, ¡°You need a sketch?¡±


    Lu Ye and his colleague both turned to him. Qi Yanbai, however, seemed unfazed, smiling at Lu Ye and saying, ¡°If you need a sketch, maybe I can help?¡±

 CH 23

    During the investigative process, it was reasonable to not involve unrelated individuals. However, the temptation brought by the ¡°technical occupation¡± was too strong, so after some contemplation, Lu Ye decided not to outright refuse Qi Yanbai.


    ¡°I can¡¯t make a decision on this matter for now,¡± Lu Ye thought for a moment and suggested, ¡°Here¡¯s what we can do, Teacher Qi. Come in and sit for a while, and I¡¯ll ask my superiors.¡±


    Qi Yanbai was an easygoing person. He didn¡¯t inquire about how long the process would take; he just nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°But why do you still call me Teacher Qi?¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s tone was just right, both affectionate and playful, like a mix of intimate complaint and friendly banter between ordinary friends. ¡°You¡¯ve had more than just two meals with me.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a sign of respect?¡± Lu Ye chuckled and changed the bag he was holding. Then, he extended his arm and playfully draped it around Qi Yanbai¡¯s shoulder, leading him into the police station.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll call you by your first name from now on,¡± Lu Ye grinned. ¡°Can I call you Yanbai?¡±


    Qi Yanbai had heard Lu Ye call him many times before, but whether it was his full name or ¡°Teacher Qi,¡± the feeling he got from hearing it this time was completely different.


    Dropping the surname obviously represented a closer relationship, so Lu Ye¡¯s tone became more relaxed and familiar. Those words rolled off Lu Ye¡¯s tongue, and when they emerged, the ending note lightly curved upwards, like a fine hook that effortlessly caught Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s breath caught for a moment, and he even subconsciously wanted Lu Ye to say it again.


    But the timing wasn¡¯t right now; sometimes too much can be overwhelming. So, Qi Yanbai could only regretfully suppress his restless feelings and softly agreed with a ¡°Sure.¡±


    His voice was soft, like a faint, cool breeze, and it lightly brushed against Lu Ye¡¯s ears, tugging at him gently. Lu Ye turned his head to look at Qi Yanbai, lightly squeezing his shoulder.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so easy going either,¡± Lu Ye smiled and half-seriously reminded, ¡°Be careful not to get taken advantage of.¡±


    Evening was the peak time for various police incidents. Lu Ye guided Qi Yanbai through the lobby, where several groups of people were waiting to make statements, and led him to the second floor. He settled Qi Yanbai in a public lounge area and then went to explain the situation to his superiors.


    The last time Qi Yanbai had been to the police station, he had been downstairs as a complainant. This time, he finally stepped into Lu Ye¡¯s work area officially, and everything seemed so fresh.


    As the door to the public lounge opened, the office of the Public Security Brigade was right across. Qi Yanbai sat on the sofa, tilted his head, and observed the other side for a while, watching people come and go, trying to guess which desk was Lu Ye¡¯s.


    Lu Ye was an independent person. He lived alone but always kept things organized. His casual clothes were clean, always faintly smelling of laundry detergent.


    So, Qi Yanbai guessed that his workspace shouldn¡¯t be that messy either. Although there were quite a few things, they were likely in an organized chaos. Following this criteria, Qi Yanbai circled around the large office, and unsurprisingly, he found Lu Ye¡¯s jacket hanging on the backrest of a chair in the right end corner.


    Compared to the desks where signatures and stamps were flying all over, Lu Ye¡¯s workspace was neat and tidy. Office supplies like folders were neatly arranged on the shelf to the right of the computer, and personal items like a water bottle and wallet were on the left. Qi Yanbai¡¯s gaze traced over these items, as if he could mentally outline how Lu Ye looked while working.


    Definitely handsome, Qi Yanbai thought.


    He let his thoughts wander aimlessly for a few minutes, maybe three to five, before Lu Ye returned from outside and brought back a confidentiality agreement.


    ¡°The supervisor agreed. In a moment, I¡¯ll take you to create a suspect¡¯s portrait,¡± Lu Ye handed Qi Yanbai the confidentiality agreement, then crouched down by the sofa, indicating the signature area, and advised, ¡°But since this is an ongoing investigation, it needs to be kept confidential. You can¡¯t disclose details or the contents of the portrait, otherwise you¡¯ll be legally responsible. Understand?¡±


    He spoke seriously, with a hint of detachment related to official business, but perhaps due to his humble demeanor, Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t feel pressured.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Qi Yanbai signed his full name without hesitation and softly said, ¡°You can rest assured, I won¡¯t say anything.¡±


    Lu Ye trusted Qi Yanbai¡¯s character, nodding and putting away the signed confidentiality agreement. He didn¡¯t say much more, just took him to the waiting area at the other end of the corridor.


    To maintain the utmost confidentiality for civilians, Qi Yanbai couldn¡¯t be in close proximity to the victim herself. They could only meet in an enclosed room separated by one-way glass.


    ¡°The victim will be arranged in the room next to yours. We¡¯ve prepared headphones inside the rooms for communication,¡± Lu Ye unlocked the door to the room and gestured to the table and chairs inside, asking, ¡°All the drawing materials are ready for you. Is there anything else you need?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Qi Yanbai shook his head and said, ¡°A pencil is enough.¡±


    ¡°Alright then,¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°You can sit for a while. I¡¯ll be outside observing the situation. If you need anything, just call me.¡±


    He spoke and nodded to Qi Yanbai, then exited the room, considerately closing the door behind him. He then called Yao Xing and had her bring the victim over.


    Perhaps to create a sense of pressure for suspects, the identification room was quite small. Coupled with no windows, it felt a bit stifling when the door was closed.


    Qi Yanbai sat behind the only set of tables and chairs in the room. His eyes wandered around, and he noticed a working camera in the corner of the room, aimed at the one-way glass.


    The camera was hanging low, pointed directly at the center of the room. Its red light blinking regularly, dutifully capturing everything.


    The victim, the girl, was on her way back from the hospital to the police station. Behind the one-way glass was a deep, pitch-black darkness. Qi Yanbai put on the headphones for communication, hearing faint electronic sounds inside. Suddenly, a layer of goosebumps formed on his skin.


    Perhaps due to the environment, or maybe just psychological, despite knowing that there was nobody watching from behind the glass, Qi Yanbai inexplicably felt a sense of being scrutinized.


    He unconsciously tightened his grip on the pencil in his hand, glancing around the room. Unfortunately, the wall facing the hallway was also one-way glass, and Qi Yanbai¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t catch Lu Ye¡¯s figure.


    However, Qi Yanbai knew that Lu Ye was outside at this moment, and perhaps he was watching him. With that in mind, he breathed a sigh of relief, forcing his attention back to the drawing materials in his hand, attempting to ease that strange nervousness.


    Emotions triggered by the environment wouldn¡¯t fade with time. Qi Yanbai sat stiffly, still feeling awkward all over.


    As he pondered what he could do to distract himself, the room¡¯s door suddenly turned from the outside. The next moment, Lu Ye walked in with a chair and sat down beside him.


    When he appeared, the inexplicable feeling of being observed that had hung around the room vanished in an instant. Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart silently settled, and he suddenly felt reassured.


    ¡°Lu Ye?¡± Qi Yanbai was puzzled. ¡°Why did you come in?¡±


    Lu Ye didn¡¯t answer his question. Instead, he asked, ¡°Nervous?¡±


    Qi Yanbai was taken aback for a moment, then instinctively asked, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    He was a little nervous, but he definitely hadn¡¯t shown it that obviously. Qi Yanbai was confident he wouldn¡¯t slip up on something as small as this, especially since he was determined to subtly immerse himself in Lu Ye¡¯s professional sphere.


    ¡°I saw you looking for me,¡± Lu Ye said.


    Perhaps Qi Yanbai hadn¡¯t realized it himself, but when he had been in the room just now, he had subconsciously looked outside several times. At that time, Lu Ye was in the corridor making a phone call, and his gaze was clear.


    It was only then that Lu Ye realized that they didn¡¯t think much of the environment since they spent a lot of time at the police station. However, this was Qi Yanbai¡¯s first time in this kind of setting, so he might not be used to it.


    Qi Yanbai blinked and his face, for once, revealed a trace of genuine unease.


    He hadn¡¯t expected the answer to be so simple, and he hadn¡¯t expected Lu Ye to be so perceptive. Furthermore, he hadn¡¯t expected that Lu Ye would enter so readily based on those ambiguous glances, just to console him.


    In that moment, Qi Yanbai felt an embarrassing sense of being seen through, yet at the same time, he was flooded with a complex mix of emotions¡ªuneasiness combined with a hint of delight.


    ¡°Actually¡­ I was a bit,¡± Qi Yanbai forced a smile and said, ¡°But it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll adjust.¡±


    ¡°No need to adjust,¡± Lu Ye said. He took the headphones from Qi Yanbai¡¯s ears and put them on himself. Then he took the worn-out pencil from Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand and replaced it with a new one. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked a colleague to come and observe from the outside. No need to worry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay here with you,¡± Lu Ye said.

 CH 24

    Chapter 24: ¡°Then I¡¯ll be waiting to walk through fire and water for you.¡±


    Ashley had once advised Qi Yanbai that if he wanted to truly understand Lu Ye, he must control the boundaries of their interactions. He should gradually approach Lu Ye, maintaining a certain distance, appearing and disappearing like a shadow, avoiding being too hasty.


    But theory aside, when it came to practical application, Qi Yanbai found it to be quite a challenge.


    Lu Ye had an inexplicable attraction to him. Whether it was his sharp detachment when keeping people at a distance or his considerate and attentive demeanor when softened, it seemed like he could touch every sensitive spot in Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart.


    It was difficult for Qi Yanbai to convince himself to handle things with a balanced approach, and he didn¡¯t want to miss any opportunity that could influence Lu Ye.


    With Lu Ye next to him, the narrow and oppressive space seemed to ease. The nervousness that had been gripping Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart vanished, and even the thick, dark one-way glass in front of him became more bearable to look at.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s good mood had a positive effect on the overall atmosphere in the room. Absentmindedly twisting a pencil between his fingers, he suddenly felt inspired. He shook a piece of white paper open and casually sketched two strokes, outlining a simple little figure.


    Lu Ye, seeing Qi Yanbai¡¯s actions, turned his head slightly, curious.


    ¡°What¡¯s this drawing?¡± Lu Ye asked.


    ¡°Iris flower,¡± Qi Yanbai replied, folding a corner of the paper to create a curve and showing it to Lu Ye.


    ¡°Just a random doodle, testing the feel,¡± Qi Yanbai asked, ¡°Is it nice?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Lu Ye said truthfully.


    Lu Ye was never stingy with compliments. Since he lacked artistic talent himself, he viewed professionals like Qi Yanbai through a filter that made everything they did impressive. Whether Qi Yanbai had drawn a flower or an intricately detailed stick figure, Lu Ye might even praise it as ¡°spirited.¡±


    Qi Yanbai, clearly appreciating the praise, brightened visibly at Lu Ye¡¯s words. He couldn¡¯t help but smile, his lips pursing in delight. He added leaves and a stem to the iris flower sketch, then folded and tore a piece of paper along the edge.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you then,¡± Qi Yanbai said, as if concerned about the possibility of appearing inappropriate on camera. He instinctively glanced at the corner where a surveillance camera was and shielded the paper with his arm.


    ¡°As a small gift,¡± Qi Yanbai added.


    His emotions were openly displayed, and he was both easy to understand and pure. However, he was also a bit shy, and his eyelashes lowered as he avoided meeting Lu Ye¡¯s eyes.


    Lu Ye was entertained by his cautious behavior, aware that the surveillance cameras were likely not being actively monitored. Suppressing his laughter, Lu Ye received the piece of paper, tucking it into the folder he had brought with him.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lu Ye assured him, ¡°I¡¯ll keep it safe.¡±


    Just as they were talking, the room across from the identification room suddenly lit up, and a series of testing sounds came through Lu Ye¡¯s earpiece. Lu Ye¡¯s smile faded slightly, and he instinctively straightened his posture.


    Qi Yanbai seemed to sense something too. He sat up straight and attempted to peer through the one-way glass, whispering softly, ¡°Is the victim here?¡±


    Lu Ye made a sound of agreement and then reassured, ¡°It¡¯s fine, no need to be nervous. If her description isn¡¯t clear, we can show her facial feature photos to choose from, and then you can finalize the drawing.¡±


    Being a professional artist and sketching criminal suspects were two different things. The former required skillful technique, while the latter involved extracting accurate and relevant information from the victim¡¯s chaotic narrative.


    At the beginning, Lu Ye had doubted Qi Yanbai¡¯s ability to handle this task and had been prepared to assist him. However, coincidentally, that day¡¯s victim was a student in the film and television field, and her ability to recognize faces was above average.


    ¡°He appeared to be around thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old,¡± a slightly husky female voice came through the earpiece, ¡°Taller than me by about ten centimeters, round face on the plump side, weighing around a hundred¡­ sixty to seventy kilograms? Narrow eyes, prominent eye bags underneath.¡±


    Qi Yanbai had a solid foundation in drawing since childhood. He was well-versed in the proportions and arrangement of facial features. Juggling two tasks, he listened to Lu Ye¡¯s description of the suspect¡¯s features while making subtle adjustments to the facial features of the sketch according to the skeletal structure.


    Simultaneously, the victim observed the evolving portrait on the other side of the one-way glass, providing occasional suggestions to help Qi Yanbai refine the details.


    The advantage of having professionals on both ends was that it streamlined communication, saving time that would otherwise be wasted. After about twenty minutes, the sketch in Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand began to take shape. Lu Ye, observing from the side, noticed the resemblance between the sketch and his previous speculations about the suspect.


    As the crime occurred in a public area, Lu Ye and his team had considered the possibility that the suspect might be a maintenance worker for public facilities. The individual in the portrait was slightly overweight, with marks of sun and wind exposure on his face, suggesting manual labor.


    ¡°It looks like him,¡± the victim¡¯s voice came through the earpiece, tinged with hesitation, as if she still wasn¡¯t entirely sure.


    ¡°But there¡¯s something off,¡± she continued, her voice uncertain, ¡°It feels like him, but upon closer inspection, not quite¡­¡±


    The sketch in Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand had captured a striking resemblance, yet due to the victim¡¯s fragmented memory, it still wasn¡¯t accurate yet.


    Lu Ye had been silent, merely listening at the beginning. However, when the victim struggled to describe the suspect, Lu Ye shifted his gaze from the sketch to the victim and pointed at the eyes in the drawing.


    ¡°Can this part be changed?¡± Lu Ye asked.


    ¡°How?¡± Qi Yanbai inquired.


    ¡°The expression in the eyes,¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°Don¡¯t make it so stern. Make it¡­ a bit more ordinary.¡±


    Qi Yanbai understood immediately. He realized that he might have been influenced by preconceptions when sketching, subconsciously depicting the suspect as a menacing criminal. As a result, his expression and gaze appeared somewhat gloomy, making him stand out.


    Following Lu Ye¡¯s suggestion, Qi Yanbai modified the expression and gaze of the sketch, attempting to make the subject appear more ordinary. When he showed it to the victim again, her excited voice echoed through the earpiece.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him!¡± she exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s him!¡±


    Lu Ye and Qi Yanbai exchanged a glance, both reading a sense of relief in each other¡¯s eyes.


    With Qi Yanbai¡¯s assistance, the case gained clearer investigative direction. After the victim left, Lu Ye put away the sketch of the suspected criminal, informed his colleagues, and then escorted Qi Yanbai out of the police station.


    ¡°Thank you for coming over tonight,¡± Lu Ye said as they stood by the roadside. He seemed apologetic, ¡°I have to go back to review the surveillance footage, so I won¡¯t be able to take you home.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I can take a cab back myself,¡± Qi Yanbai said, adjusting his collar. He advised Lu Ye, ¡°Take care and try not to stay up too late tonight.¡±


    ¡°No worries, the workload has lightened up,¡± Lu Ye extended a hand to flatten the collar of Qi Yanbai¡¯s coat, thanking him, ¡°Speaking of which, we should thank you. If it weren¡¯t for your help tonight, we might have had to work through the night.¡±


    ¡°No need to thank me,¡± Qi Yanbai joked, ¡°I¡¯m here to serve the people.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s our duty, not yours,¡± Lu Ye chuckled, seemingly recalling something. He mischievously suggested, ¡°But you¡¯ve given me an idea. How about I apply for something later? Maybe we can send you a medal or something as a token of appreciation?¡±


    ¡°A medal is unnecessary¡ª¡±


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s intent to decline changed mid-sentence, taking on a different tone.


    ¡°How about you owe me a favor instead?¡± Qi Yanbai said half-seriously, half-playfully, ¡°When I need it someday, you can repay me.¡±


    ¡°That sounds good,¡± Lu Ye was not at all intimidated by Qi Yanbai¡¯s words. He laughed openly, readily agreeing, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be waiting to walk through fire and water for you.¡±

 CH 25

    With the help of ¡°professionals,¡± Lu Ye and his team¡¯s work efficiency improved significantly.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s artistic talent was remarkable. The portraits were so vivid that they looked like close-up photos. Lu Ye and his group spent most of the night in the surveillance office of the image analysis department. They carefully reviewed the surveillance footage copied from the park, and in the end, they successfully identified a suspect who resembled the portrait near the back door of the park.


    The person was a semi-freelance electrician who often repaired outdoor electrical facilities in various public places. He was quite familiar with the surveillance cameras and the locations of electrical rooms in different areas. When Lu Ye and the team arrested him, he was even at home preparing new tools for his next crime, as if he hadn¡¯t considered the fact that the police would easily find him.


    ¡°As the saying goes, the net of justice is cast wide but it doesn¡¯t let anything slip through.¡± Lu Ye¡¯s colleague returned after escorting the suspect, sighed and then intentionally walked over to Lu Ye¡¯s workstation. He nudged him with his elbow and winked, saying with implied meaning, ¡°Hey, you know, it¡¯s all thanks to Teacher Qi¡¯s help¡ªhow about organizing something to express our gratitude?¡±


    Perhaps because of Lu Ye¡¯s unusual behavior of frequently visiting Qi Yanbai¡¯s apartment recently, his colleagues had sensed an unusual atmosphere and started teasing him about it. Even the way they referred to Qi Yanbai changed from ¡°your friend¡± to ¡°Teacher Qi.¡± Lu Ye had almost gotten used to it.


    ¡°It¡¯s worth thanking.¡± Lu Ye had a different idea about Qi Yanbai and no longer tried to deny the relationship between them, so he said, ¡°But you don¡¯t need to worry about it; I know what to do.¡±


    The case concluded faster than expected, and no more victims were found. Qi Yanbai did indeed contribute more or less to the outcome.


    Although Lu Ye wanted to thank him, he didn¡¯t go to the extent of ordering a large banner with red letters to show his gratitude. Instead, after thinking it over, he took advantage of the end-of-year opportunity at the bureau to apply for a volunteer position for Qi Yanbai.


    ¡°Is this really a way to say thank you?¡± Qi Yanbai looked at the application form in his hand several times, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, and said, ¡°You¡¯re not trying to recruit me to do more work again, are you?¡±


    ¡°Totally false accusation.¡± Lu Ye, dressed in loose home clothes and slippers, leaned lazily against Qi Yanbai¡¯s doorway. He raised an eyebrow at the comment and playfully said, ¡°It was you who asked me before if there would be more opportunities like this, remember?¡±


    Perhaps he had become curious about thrilling and unfamiliar territories. Since Qi Yanbai participated in the case investigation, he couldn¡¯t quite let it go. He often mentioned it in conversations and subtly suggested that he could be of assistance in the future.


    However, civilians couldn¡¯t casually participate in cases, so after some thought, Lu Ye simply applied for a volunteer spot for him. This way, Qi Yanbai could satisfy his curiosity and assist in drawing sketches of thieves, scams, and cheats in the future, which would be convenient for both parties.


    But while he had arranged this, he couldn¡¯t help but have a mischievous thought and decided to tease Qi Yanbai a bit.


    ¡°But if you¡¯re not curious anymore¡­..¡± Lu Ye straightened up slightly as he spoke, reaching out as if he was going to snatch the application form from Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand. He pretended and said, ¡°Then, never mind. We won¡¯t force this ¡®volunteer¡¯ thing.¡±


    Qi Yanbai knew he was being teased, and he always found himself being easily teased by Lu Ye. He quickly stepped back and playfully said, ¡°I want it, thanks.¡±


    ¡°No problem, you¡¯re welcome.¡± Lu Ye didn¡¯t really intend to snatch it, so he dropped the act when it didn¡¯t work. He lazily leaned against the door again and watched Qi Yanbai search for a pen while wearing his fluffy slippers. He couldn¡¯t help but add in a thoughtful tone, ¡°Volunteers don¡¯t get paid, but there¡¯s also no mandatory work requirement. You can help out when you¡¯re free and prioritize your own time when you¡¯re not.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m free anytime.¡± Qi Yanbai finally found a pen under the coffee table and returned to the entrance. As he filled in his personal information while bent over the entryway cabinet, he said casually, ¡°You know my class schedule. Except for class time, you can find me anytime.¡±


    After getting to know each other better, Lu Ye discovered that, despite his seemingly sociable exterior, Qi Yanbai had very few friends. Since Qi Yanbai moved in, Lu Ye rarely saw him going out for leisure activities during his free time. Most of the time, he preferred to stay at home, either painting or engaging in other interests to pass the time.


    ¡°Don¡¯t always stay at home.¡± Lu Ye watched Qi Yanbai fill out the information line by line and said casually, ¡°Occasionally, go for a walk and refresh your mind.¡±


    ¡°If there are no interesting activities, there¡¯s no point going out.¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°Besides, company team-building events are either drinking and singing or playing real-life CS, which is too tiring. Is it filled out like this?¡±


    Lu Ye leaned over to check the line Qi Yanbai was referring to, nodded, and said, ¡°Yes, leave it blank if there¡¯s nothing there.¡±


    As if worried that Lu Ye might change his mind, Qi Yanbai hastily finished filling out the form. Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but laugh at his energetic handwriting and said, ¡°Take your time, nobody¡¯s rushing you. Why so anxious?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not anxious.¡± Of course, Qi Yanbai wouldn¡¯t admit it. With a few swift strokes, he signed his name and then handed the completed application to Lu Ye, saying, ¡°Take a look. Is this okay?¡±


    ¡°Right here?¡± Lu Ye raised an eyebrow, puzzled, and asked, ¡°Why can¡¯t I enter your apartment today? Is there a secret you¡¯re hiding from me?¡±


    With only two households on each floor and card-activated elevators, the privacy in this building was excellent. Since Qi Yanbai moved in, the doors of both apartments had been left open most of the time. Lu Ye could come and go as he pleased and had never been blocked at the door before.


    ¡°What secrets could I have at home?¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°don¡¯t you always come in several times a day?¡±


    ¡°Who knows.¡± Lu Ye said solemnly, ¡°Mingming did say that you have a secret portal like in Harry Potter hidden at your place, and she needs to keep it secret for you.¡±


    Qi Yanbai knew that it was definitely her who accidentally revealed it. With a helpless shake of his head upon hearing Lu Ye¡¯s words, he playfully scolded, ¡°Little traitor.¡±


    ¡°so¡­.¡± Lu Ye grinned, ¡°what secrets could you be keeping from me?¡±


    ¡°No secrets, I was just teasing Ming Ming.¡± Qi Yanbai admitted openly, then stepped aside to make way and made a welcoming gesture, saying with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s my art studio. If you want to see it, feel free to come in.¡±


    Lu Ye actually didn¡¯t have any intention of prying into Qi Yanbai¡¯s privacy. He had just made a casual joke. After Qi Yanbai¡¯s response, he shook his head and declined, ¡°No need, I stayed up all night last night. I¡¯m planning to catch up on sleep in a bit.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Lu Ye changed the topic, asking, ¡°Are you free this weekend?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Qi Yanbai replied casually, ¡°What¡¯s up? Do you want to eat something again?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Lu Ye chuckled and unintentionally revealed a sense of anticipation. He tilted his head and smiled mischievously, then continued, ¡°There¡¯s an art exhibition in the city this weekend. My sister gave me two tickets. Since I¡¯m not on duty that day, I thought I¡¯d ask if you want to go with me.¡±


    After a pause, Lu Ye continued with a hint in his voice, ¡°I assume you¡¯re interested in this kind of thing, right?¡±


    Qi Yanbai did have an interest in art exhibitions, but it was apparent that this kind of activity was quite different from Lu Ye¡¯s usual style. He was taken aback for a moment, almost unable to react in time.


    ¡°Art exhibition?¡± Qi Yanbai pointed to Lu Ye and then to himself, a bit puzzled as he asked, ¡°You and me?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Lu Ye smiled and said playfully, ¡°Who else would you want to go with besides me?¡±


    Unintentionally, Lu Ye¡¯s sense of intimacy, revealed through his words and actions, was like a soft, subtle brush that lightly scratched Qi Yanbai¡¯s most sensitive spot, making his heart itch. Blinking, he almost instantly sensed a certain anticipation in this invitation.


    ¡°No one else, I want to go with you.¡± Qi Yanbai pursed his lips and smiled, saying, ¡°But this is so sudden. There should be a reason, right? Are you trying to thank me, or are you asking me out?¡±


    When Qi Yanbai first met Lu Ye, he was somewhat careful, always holding a facade of a ¡°perfect teacher.¡± He was cautious in his speech and actions, even when he was trying to be friendly, he appeared a bit vulnerable.


    However, as time passed and they got to know each other better, Qi Yanbai gradually revealed a more lively side in front of Lu Ye. He didn¡¯t just secretly complain about being busy at work but occasionally showed up at Lu Ye¡¯s door in his pajamas late at night, sighing and asking him for help to review his teaching report. Even his jokes had become more natural than when they first met.


    Lu Ye seemed to not expect Qi Yanbai to counterattack in this way. He raised an eyebrow in thought and then, half-serious and half-playful, inquired, ¡°Is there a difference?¡±


    ¡°Of course there is.¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s tone was light as he said, ¡°If you¡¯re trying to thank me, then there¡¯s no need. After all, helping the police is a civic duty and doesn¡¯t require such politeness.¡±


    ¡°True.¡± Lu Ye agreed with a chuckle. Then, his tone shifted, and he said, half-serious, half-teasing,


    ¡°What if I want to ask you out?¡±


    Qi Yanbai laughed and replied, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll accept.

 CH 26

    Lu Ye¡¯s well-prepared art exhibition was taking place in the downtown area for half a month, and this weekend happened to be the last two days.


    On Sunday afternoon, Lu Ye arrived at the training center on time to pick up Qi Yanbai as he finished work. Since the entrance of the training center was crowded with parents picking up their children, Lu Ye didn¡¯t get too close. He stood across the street and sent a WeChat message to Qi Yanbai, letting him know that he had arrived.


    ¡°Got it, walk to your right.¡± Qi Yanbai quickly replied, ¡°Go around from the intersection, I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the back door.¡±


    Although Lu Ye had picked up Lu Mingming many times before, it was the first time he learned about the back door of the training center. He raised an eyebrow, put away his phone, and followed Qi Yanbai¡¯s directions, taking a winding path around a couple of small Western-style houses and arriving at the back of the training center.


    Qi Yanbai was already waiting in the small open space there. Probably due to their plans to go out to see the exhibition, he wasn¡¯t dressed too flashy but rather refined. He wore a light beige coat with a dark turtleneck cashmere sweater underneath. He had a long and delicate gold chain loosely hanging around his neck, with its length just a bit higher than the V-neck of his coat, adding a touch of brilliance against the dark inner lining and making him look extremely eye-catching.


    He had a knack for these little details in his outfits. The subtle accessories not only highlighted Qi Yanbai¡¯s presence but also didn¡¯t steal the spotlight. Instead, they adorned him with an air of luxury.


    Lu Ye didn¡¯t often see him dressed up like this, but every time he did, he couldn¡¯t help but be impressed.


    Men were visual creatures after all, and even the most upright individuals couldn¡¯t help but be drawn to beautiful things. Lu Ye¡¯s gaze lingered on Qi Yanbai for quite a while before he walked over and greeted him with a smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re taught in this attire today?¡± Lu Ye raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t your colleagues and students ask you about it?¡±


    ¡°They did,¡± Qi Yanbai pursed his lips and smiled helplessly, saying, ¡°The kids asked me if I was going on a date.¡±


    Lu Ye chuckled and playfully teased, ¡°And then, how did you respond?¡±


    Qi Yanbai lifted his head, meeting Lu Ye¡¯s gaze directly. He blinked his eyes gently and said, ¡°I said yes.¡±


    His gaze was clear and candid, and the words he spoke held a subtle undertone. It made Lu Ye¡¯s heart flutter, as if a kitten had scratched it, leaving a faint tickle.


    Qi Yanbai always seemed to be like this, Lu Ye thought. He would occasionally display ambiguous attitudes, but they were always straight forward at the same time. It was as if he didn¡¯t even realize the subtle nature of his responses.


    He seemed to be unconsciously getting closer to Lu Ye, interacting with him in a way that went beyond the boundaries of ordinary friendship. But at the same time, it was as if all of this was a result of the blurred social boundaries that Qi Yanbai unintentionally created, rather than something that escalated to the level of ¡°romance.¡±


    If it were anyone else, they might have been annoyed by his ambiguous attitude. But after spending this time with Qi Yanbai, Lu Ye had come to understand him to some extent. He could tell that Qi Yanbai wasn¡¯t someone who showered everyone with excessive friendliness; his level of dedication and care towards Lu Ye exceeded the polite boundaries he had with others. While Lu Ye found it hard to believe that Qi Yanbai had no interest in him whatsoever, the challenge was that this fondness was too difficult to grasp. Perhaps even Qi Yanbai himself hadn¡¯t realized it, so while he unknowingly blurred the lines of interaction with Lu Ye, he remained completely oblivious to it all.


    This kind of ambiguity somewhat hindered their mutual understanding, and everything that was silently fermenting seemed to be trapped behind a fragile window paper, visible but just out of reach.


    ¡°Well, if you say so.¡± Lu Ye chuckled and extended his hand toward Qi Yanbai, gesturing for them to move forward. ¡°Shall we head over now? We might still make it for dinner in the city.¡±


    This joint art exhibition covered the whole venue, with different exhibition areas divided into three sections according to various art forms.


    Lu Wenyu was quite well-off and had provided Lu Ye with VIP tickets for the exhibition, which were usually given to high-level clients. These tickets allowed them to bypass the lines for the installation art area and even have a personal guide for the exhibition.


    However, Lu Ye declined this additional service. He already had a live expert with him, and he felt like they didn¡¯t need anyone to explain things.


    ¡°I¡¯m really clueless about these things.¡± Lu Ye said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s up to you, Teacher Qi. You decide where to go.¡±


    Lu Ye didn¡¯t have specific preferences for the exhibition route. He had invited Qi Yanbai to the art exhibition, hoping to cater to his preferences.


    Since this was a public exhibition, the larger halls near the entrance were arranged quite conservatively, featuring replicas of famous paintings to help visitors quickly immerse themselves in the exhibition atmosphere.


    Qi Yanbai accompanied Lu Ye, explaining the stories behind the artworks even before they reached the authentic pieces.


    ¡°¡®Salome,¡¯ an illustration by Aubrey Beardsley for the play of the same name.¡± Qi Yanbai stopped in front of a black-and-white abstract painting and explained to Lu Ye, ¡°The female in the painting couldn¡¯t capture the attention of a saint and, out of love turned to hatred, she demanded his head.¡±


    The characters in the painting were grotesque and bizarre. The young girl, contorted by the brushstrokes, appeared deranged and obsessed. She looked down with almost mad devotion, cradling the snake-like head in her hands and bowing her head committedly, offering a sincere kiss to the lifeless object before her.


    Lu Ye, a straightforward police officer, couldn¡¯t appreciate this somber and sad artistic form. He frowned slightly and found his molars aching.


    ¡°Why bother?¡± Lu Ye said with a quirky expression. ¡°If she loved him, should she really have decapitated him? It¡¯s unreasonable.¡±


    ¡°In the realm of art, love itself is twisted, exaggerated, and bizarre,¡± Qi Yanbai replied, perceiving Lu Ye¡¯s discomfort. He took a step and walked with him to the next exhibit. At the same time, the topic stemming from the painting continued.


    ¡°For some artists, love represents extremes,¡± Qi Yanbai continued, ¡°After all, it can encompass almost any emotion¡ªwhether it¡¯s good or bad, bright and sunny, or terrifyingly strange. Love can be used to express almost anything.¡±


    Perhaps Qi Yanbai was so detached from the concept of ¡°love¡± most of the time that when he brought up this topic, it felt oddly fresh to Lu Ye.


    He was genuinely interested in hearing more similar insights from Qi Yanbai, but the conversation unexpectedly shifted, and Qi Yanbai redirected the topic to Lu Ye.


    ¡°Lu Ye, what do you think?¡± Qi Yanbai asked, ¡°In your heart, what should love be?¡±


    ¡°Me? I don¡¯t have much of a perception of love.¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°I just feel that emotions like this should be pure, clean, It¡¯s better not to mix in all sorts of messy stuff. That only makes people annoyed.¡±


    As he spoke, he subconsciously furrowed his brows a little. Qi Yanbai observed this subtle change in his expression and seemed to recognize something from it.


    Just in that instant, Lu Ye must have recalled some unpleasant memories, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have displayed that expression.


    This realization stirred an unexpected dissatisfaction in Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart. His brow furrowed slightly, and he cautiously probed, ¡°By the way, Lu Ye¡­ have you been in love before?¡±


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s probe wasn¡¯t particularly sophisticated, but Lu Ye detected a strange attitude shift in the abrupt transition away from the topic. He first looked at Qi Yanbai in surprise and then, with a sudden thought, burst into laughter.


    ¡°That I have.¡± Lu Ye admitted straightforwardly, ¡± about two times.¡±


    Qi Yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    Being in his thirties, it wasn¡¯t realistic for Lu Ye to have a completely blank emotional life. But even though Qi Yanbai had already guessed his response, he inexplicably felt a small flame of jealousy in his heart, making it burn hotly.


    ¡°The first one lasted a day and a half.¡± Lu Ye unconsciously reached into his pocket to take out a pack of cigarettes, but then remembered that they were in a closed public space. He improvised a move, slipping his hand back into his pocket.


    ¡°Actually, it wasn¡¯t much of a relationship. We were just fooling around, like kids¡ªconfirmed our relationship in the morning, and by the evening, I found out he was juggling multiple partners.¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°So, we broke up.¡±


    Qi Yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°What about the second one?¡± Qi Yanbai asked with a curious expression.


    ¡°The second one lasted a bit longer, about a week.¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°Then I found out that the other person was both in a relationship and trying to scam a marriage proposal at the same time. So, I gave him a beating, blocked him, and broke up.¡±


    Qi Yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lu Ye chuckled and pointed to his eyes, saying, ¡°Being a cop, sometimes you can¡¯t afford to not know things.¡±


    By the end of Lu Ye¡¯s recounting, even that last tiny spark of jealousy in Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart had been thoroughly extinguished. He unconsciously let out a relieved sigh, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.


    ¡°So, I¡¯ve learned from my mistakes. I hate it most when people lie to me.¡± Lu Ye paused for a moment and then turned to look at Qi Yanbai, smiling as he said, ¡°¡­ You must never lie to me.¡±


    His tone was light, as if he had casually mentioned it, but there seemed to be something more behind his words. Qi Yanbai listened to them and felt a flutter in his heart, a faint sheen of sweat appearing on his palm.

 CH 27

    In that instant, there was a sudden surge of inexplicable unease in Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart.


    He knew that Lu Ye had only said those words in response to his pressing questions, but for some reason, he still felt a strong sense of being seen through by Lu Ye.


    Lu Ye was too perceptive, Qi Yanbai thought. Perceptive to the point where even if he hadn¡¯t noticed anything, his intuition would still provide accurate and sharp warnings.


    This thoroughly disrupted Qi Yanbai¡¯s composure. He momentarily lost control and felt a pang of guilt, subconsciously wanting to avoid Lu Ye¡¯s gaze.


    He hadn¡¯t yet gained the ability to remain calm even when his core matters were touched in front of Lu Ye. As a result, Lu Ye¡¯s words easily stirred up waves in him. A subtle premonition welled up within him, as if something was extending and spreading before his eyes, splitting into two straight paths leading in opposite directions.


    ¡°What if¡ª¡± Qi Yanbai softly spoke, ¡°What if I accidentally lied to you?¡±


    ¡°It would depend on how accidental it was,¡± Lu Ye replied. He seemed unaware of the turmoil brewing in Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart. After a moment¡¯s thought, he added casually, ¡°If it¡¯s not too serious, it¡¯s no big deal. But if it¡¯s serious¡ª¡±


    ¡°What if it¡¯s serious?¡± Qi Yanbai asked subconsciously.


    ¡°If it¡¯s serious¡­¡± Lu Ye pondered for a moment and then joked, ¡°Then you might never see me again.¡±


    Qi Yanbai knew that Lu Ye was being serious.


    Lu Ye might appear easygoing, but in reality, he was not someone to be messed with. He had his own set of principles and boundaries. If someone crossed into a high-pressure area, he might truly retreat promptly.


    Qi Yanbai couldn¡¯t quite articulate what his current chaotic emotions represented. The sense of impending crisis made him instinctively want to retreat, to confess. However, the sudden onset of doubt was soon overshadowed by a bigger wave, pinning him firmly in place.


    He subconsciously tried to say something to change the subject, but before he could speak, he heard someone call Lu Ye¡¯s name from not far behind.


    Qi Yanbai blinked, and along with Lu Ye, he looked in the direction of the voice. A woman with delicate makeup stood a few steps away, waving and greeting them with a smile.


    ¡°Sis?¡± Lu Ye¡¯s face brightened. He greeted her with a wave, half-jokingly, ¡°What brings you to the exhibit?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®what brings me¡¯??¡± As she spoke, Lu Wenyu had already approached them. With a mock frown, she lightly nudged Lu Ye¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°I¡¯m the one who got you the ticket, you know. So, why can you come, but I can¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± Lu Ye said with a smile. ¡°Aren¡¯t you always busy? Who would have thought you had the leisure for this?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here with a business partner, just socializing,¡± Lu Wenyu explained briefly. Then, she turned her attention to Qi Yanbai and extended her hand with a smile, introducing herself, ¡°And who might this be? Teacher Qi, I¡¯ve heard about you from Xiao Ye. It¡¯s an honor.¡±


    ¡°Yanbai, this is my sister,¡± Lu Ye reached out, putting his arm around Qi Yanbai¡¯s shoulder and gently pushing him forward. ¡°Also known as Lu Mingming¡¯s mom. You should have met her.¡±


    There seemed to be a switch inside Qi Yanbai that allowed him to seamlessly transition into his ¡°perfect teacher¡± persona. He instantly calmed down from his earlier tumultuous thoughts and put on a flawless and courteous professional smile.


    ¡°Yes, indeed. We had a brief encounter during registration,¡± Qi Yanbai nodded politely. He reached out and briefly shook hands with Lu Wenyu, saying, ¡°Long time no see, Mrs. Mingming.¡±


    ¡°Just call me by my name, or you can call me sister as well,¡± Lu Wenyu said with a smile. ¡°Just because I¡¯m a mom doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t have my own name anymore.¡±


    Qi Yanbai had a highly attuned sense of understanding. He smiled in response and almost immediately grasped Lu Wenyu¡¯s independent personality. He adapted quickly, changing his address to the more familiar ¡°sister.¡±


    Lu Wenyu seemed satisfied with his reaction. She smiled and made a confirming sound before turning her attention back to the two.


    Having been neighbors for over a month, Lu Ye had grown used to seeing Qi Yanbai in his comfortable home attire, always relaxed. Now, seeing him suddenly putting on airs and stiffness, Lu Ye found it a bit awkward. He lightly squeezed Qi Yanbai¡¯s shoulder, attempting to ease his tension.


    ¡°No need to be nervous; we¡¯re not at the training center,¡± Lu Ye said with a smile. ¡°My sister is very easygoing; there¡¯s no need to worry.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, no need to be too formal,¡± Lu Wenyu added. ¡°I didn¡¯t have any specific reason for coming, just saw the two of you, so I came to say hi.¡±


    Lu Wenyu understood her brother Lu Ye quite well. When he asked her for a ticket and wanted to invite Qi Yanbai to the exhibit, she sensed something out of the ordinary. Women are often more sensitive than men, and Lu Wenyu picked up on Lu Ye¡¯s little intentions. Therefore, she couldn¡¯t help but want to meet Qi Yanbai in person, to see what kind of person he was.


    However, Qi Yanbai always appeared flawless when going out. He maintained his balance, treated people kindly, and always had a friendly smile. Lu Wenyu had observed them for a short while before coming over. Seeing that Qi Yanbai¡¯s attitude toward Lu Ye was sincere, she concluded that he wasn¡¯t just acting on a whim.


    Lu Wenyu was satisfied with her assessment. Her impression of Qi Yanbai was quite favorable as well. However, having spent many years in the business professional world, she was skilled at understanding interpersonal dynamics and didn¡¯t show excessive warmth.


    ¡°I had initially planned to treat the two of you to a meal,¡± Lu Wenyu glanced at her watch regretfully, saying, ¡°But I have a meeting with a business partner tonight, so it¡¯s a bit inconvenient.¡±


    ¡°How about this,¡± Lu Wenyu suggested, ¡°In a few days, when everyone is free, let¡¯s have a meal together. We can invite Lu Mingming too¡ªshe really seems to like Teacher Qi.¡±


    Lu Wenyu¡¯s tone was natural, and while she spoke, her gaze shifted between Lu Ye and Qi Yanbai, as though she had already made arrangements for them.


    Qi Yanbai blinked and subconsciously turned to Lu Ye, as if seeking his opinion.


    Lu Ye was touched by Qi Yanbai¡¯s subconscious reliance. He felt a warm sensation in his chest and gently tightened his arm around Qi Yanbai¡¯s shoulder, making a decision.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s do it?¡± Lu Ye turned to him, asking, ¡°When would you be free?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m free whenever,¡± Qi Yanbai nodded and agreed, ¡°Whenever there¡¯s no class.¡±


    ¡°Great, then we¡¯ll arrange it later,¡± Lu Wenyu said with a nod. Her gaze swept over the two of them one last time before she nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.


    Lu Wenyu¡¯s arrival had diverted the conversation, smoothly bypassing the sensitive topic from earlier.


    During this time, Qi Yanbai had also managed to regain his composure. He had convinced himself that it was alright. He wouldn¡¯t betray Lu Ye, much less play him. Ashley had warned him that there were no shortcuts in a relationship, so he had to genuinely like Lu Ye to win his heart.


    Qi Yanbai believed he was doing well. He had only used minor tactics to progress in the journey of building their relationship. That didn¡¯t qualify as deception in his mind.


    He reassured himself that it was alright and felt his previously chaotic emotions settle down, returning to a calm and steady state.


    However, this testing of boundaries had affected Qi Yanbai to some extent. He was starting to feel uneasy about the gradual progression of their relationship, believing that they needed to define something sooner.


    Fortunately, Lu Ye had been softening during these days. Qi Yanbai clearly sensed the change in his demeanor and felt that Lu Ye was slowly inching closer to him as he had hoped.


    Lu Ye wasn¡¯t one to casually flirt. His use of such ambiguous warning today indicated a shift in his attitude. Qi Yanbai exhaled a breath he hadn¡¯t realized he was holding, and thought that perhaps it was time to take another step forward.


    As evening approached, the number of visitors in the exhibition hall increased.


    Since it was the last day of the exhibition, many attendees were squeezing in their visits, professionals mingling with the general public, filling the previously spacious exhibit halls.


    Qi Yanbai and Lu Ye didn¡¯t particularly enjoy this kind of touristy experience, so they took the opportunity to slip away before the crowds flooded in, making their way deeper into the exhibition halls.


    The deeper areas were reserved for private exhibitions. Qi Yanbai hadn¡¯t known much about this large-scale exhibition before he arrived, but as soon as he stepped into the private exhibit area, he saw a familiar painting on a tall wall near the entrance.


    It was a large oil painting, nearly two meters tall, and it exhibited a strange and bizarre style, somewhere between abstract and impressionist. It was filled with black and red tones and depicted a scene from Dante¡¯s ¡°Divine Comedy,¡± the journey through the underworld.


    The visual impact of the painting was immense. The entire lower half of the canvas was almost entirely covered in thick black paint, with contorted humanoid figures struggling and writhing, stretching their thin, spindly arms as they tried to climb a narrow, straight staircase at the center of the painting.


    Qi Yanbai was familiar with this style and scene. He even noticed a faint cut mark behind the high highlight in the lower right corner¡ªmade by his own hand.


    Subconsciously, he took a step back, moving toward the entrance of the exhibition hall. He turned to look at the information board beside him and, as expected, saw the distinctive ¡°zhe¡± character in a flowing and artistic style.


    Qi Yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±

 CH 28

    Qi Yanbai never expected that he would accidentally end up in Qi Zhe¡¯s exhibition hall while casually visiting an art exhibition in China.


    He looked at the sign by the entrance that read ¡°Exhibition by a Renowned Artist,¡± and suddenly realized that Ashley had indeed mentioned something about Qi Zhe holding an exhibition.


    Despite Qi Zhe¡¯s questionable character, his talent was undeniably remarkable. He was also relatively well-known in the art circle, so collaborating in such a large joint exhibition seemed reasonable.


    However, Qi Zhe had a habit for his exhibitions. In addition to displaying his own works, he would also exhibit works by his children. It was as if these children were also a part of his life¡¯s creations, open to judgment within the exhibition cabinets.


    Qi Yanbai had once been a part of this as well. As a result, his expression instantly became strange, as if he felt a subtle sense of impending confrontation with his own dark history.


    Subconsciously, he didn¡¯t want to let Lu Ye get too close to his past. So, he intended to lead Lu Ye away from this area. However, he was a step too slow. Just as he hesitated, Lu Ye had casually strolled into the exhibition hall and stood by the entrance, observing.


    Modern art was not as complex as classical art, and most people enjoyed it without needing to understand the artistic background or the artist¡¯s life story. This made it more accessible to amateurs like Lu Ye.


    He strolled through the exhibition, occasionally stopping to admire works that caught his interest. Qi Yanbai observed his preferences and realized that Lu Ye wasn¡¯t completely devoid of artistic sensibility. While not an expert in paintings, he had a good appreciation for them.


    Lu Ye favored the Impressionist style of art and had a fondness for warm color tones. He also tended to linger a bit longer in front of paintings with gentle and beautiful styles, engaging in more conversations with Qi Yanbai.


    ¡°What¡¯s this painting about?¡± Lu Ye curiously asked, pointing at a particular artwork. ¡°A dove of peace?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a white rose,¡± Qi Yanbai chuckled and explained, ¡°This painting was created by the artist in his early years when his style was not yet fully defined. At that time, he leaned more towards inspirational creation. If you look closely, you¡¯ll notice that he intentionally blurred the outlines, focusing more on the inconspicuous background, which is the core of the artwork.¡±


    Lu Ye¡¯s curiosity led him to approach the painting more closely. Indeed, in a cluster of deep green and brown tones, he saw several intertwining rose stems.


    ¡°Amazing,¡± Lu Ye genuinely admired. ¡°You can see all that.¡±


    ¡°A painting is a reflection of the artist¡¯s consciousness,¡± Qi Yanbai explained. ¡°Even artists who create commercial art unconsciously infuse their emotions and state of mind into their work. It¡¯s something beyond control.¡±


    ¡°So, if you want to know what¡¯s on someone¡¯s mind, you just look at their art?¡± Lu Ye asked.


    ¡°Sort of,¡± Qi Yanbai turned to Lu Ye with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s why some people say that an artist¡¯s heart is exposed in their artwork.¡±


    ¡°So if someone wants to see it¡­.?¡± Lu Ye glanced at him casually, seemingly without much intention.


    The spacious exhibition hall echoed with sporadic footsteps. Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart felt as though it had been pinched suddenly, a sour sensation mixed with a secretive and satisfied delight.


    He knew exactly what Lu Ye was asking, but he couldn¡¯t respond so directly.


    ¡°In that case, they¡¯ll have to go in and see for themselves,¡± Qi Yanbai replied.


    The gallery¡¯s lighting changed its pattern just as Qi Yanbai blinked his eyes, momentarily interrupting their gaze. Lu Ye naturally withdrew his gaze and redirected it to the nearby displayed artworks.


    ¡°I see,¡± Lu Ye smiled. ¡°I understand.¡±


    As they walked together through the exhibition hall, their steps leisurely, they stopped occasionally to admire pieces that caught their interest.


    Qi Yanbai followed Lu Ye¡¯s preferences, and suddenly, in a corner of the exhibition hall, he saw a painting that shouldn¡¯t have been there.


    He froze for a moment, as if he hadn¡¯t expected to encounter it here.


    It was a landscape painting, with bold colors and a daring style. Warm tones infused the entire canvas, making it lively and bright. The river of the Ilz flowed gently, and the winter snow under the evening sun glistened with delicate brilliance.


    Every stroke on the painting was deeply familiar to Qi Yanbai. This painting marked the moment when he left home for good, never returning, never giving Qi Zhe another piece of his work. The criticism Qi Zhe had given him, ¡± clueless,¡± had haunted him for so many years, and he had yet to fully overcome it.


    ¡°clueless.¡± When Qi Yanbai had received that critique, he felt as though he would collapse. But with time, when he stood in front of the painting again, he realized that Qi Zhe was right.


    At that time, his purpose had been too clear, his focus was not on the strokes, and consequently, what he painted lacked depth. It was just a pile of colors.


    ¡°Lu Ye, do you like this one?¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s emotions were complex when facing this painting. He furrowed his brows slightly, his tone oddly calm. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s good. The lines and composition are bad, rigid, lifeless. It lacks vitality¡ªit¡¯s just rubbish.¡±


    ¡°Rubbish¡± was an excessively negative evaluation. Lu Ye had never seen Qi Yanbai criticize someone so sharply. At most, Qi Yanbai would complain privately and then try to mitigate it by saying they might be having a bad day.


    However, even though the painting might not align with the preferences of those in the industry, in Lu Ye¡¯s eyes, it was well-executed and certainly not deserving of being called ¡°rubbish.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that bad,¡± Lu Ye said, looking at Qi Yanbai with surprise. ¡°I think it¡¯s quite spirited.¡±


    As he spoke, he extended his hand, pointing to a ray of light that fell through a cloud in the corner of the painting, saying, ¡°Isn¡¯t this part nice? I spotted it right away.¡±


    Qi Yanbai followed Lu Ye¡¯s gesture and saw a bird flying through the ray of light in the background. He noticed it and was momentarily surprised. That bird was his mark of creation, placed there unintentionally, hidden in the light.


    A slight pang tugged at his heart, a mixture of memories and emotions. He suddenly remembered the dream he had on the night they first met, the dream where Lu Ye, as his subconscious savior, joined him in that atmosphere and comforted him by saying, ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡±


    Now, that scene seemed to have walked out of the dream and into reality. Lu Ye looked at him amidst changing lights and shadows. His expression carried a hint of confusion but more so a sense of unfounded affirmation.


    ¡°After all, paintings are meant to be seen by people.¡± Qi Yanbai heard Lu Ye say. ¡°¡ªI think it¡¯s good.¡±


    Unbeknownst to him, Lu Ye had once again led Qi Yanbai to face the impassable gap in his life, smoothing everything out with a pure heart devoid of intention. He left a new imprint in Qi Yanbai¡¯s soul.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart skipped lightly for a moment, in rhythm with Lu Ye¡¯s tone. Then, suddenly, an inexplicable and perplexing feeling spread from the depths of his heart. Qi Yanbai¡¯s fingers twitched slightly, and he was overcome with an urge.


    He didn¡¯t know if soulmates truly existed, but he did know that, for him, Lu Ye was undoubtedly the most special person among the countless souls.


    ¡°This painting is indeed not well executed.¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s tone softened. He calmly gazed at the artwork from a meter away, and then, with a slight quirk of his lips, he smiled. ¡°Because when I painted it, I was too young, and I didn¡¯t understand what creation was or what a soul was.¡±


    Lu Ye was slightly taken aback.


    ¡°Lu Ye,¡± Qi Yanbai extended his hand, pointing remotely at the bottom right corner of the artwork, at a modest floral signature. He finally admitted, ¡°This is my painting.¡±


    ¡°Art only has its essence when it¡¯s painted for the most important person.¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°This painting lacks depth. It¡¯s not pleasing to the eye but if you truly like it, I can paint another one for you.¡±


    Lu Ye blinked, caught off guard by the sudden flood of information. Before he could fully process the implications of Qi Yanbai¡¯s words about the ¡°most important person,¡± Qi Yanbai took a shallow breath and continued speaking.


    ¡°I¡¯ll paint one that¡¯s better.¡± Qi Yanbai murmured softly.

 CH 29

    Lu Ye had heard Qi Yanbai mention his past before, but that time, he only lightly touched upon it and was more focused on consoling the sad Qi Yanbai. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to delving into the finer details.


    Now that Qi Yanbai himself brought up this matter again, Lu Ye suddenly realized that the gentle ¡°teacher Qi¡± in front of him and the ¡°illegitimate child¡± from an artistic family background were actually the same person.


    For the first time, Lu Ye seemed to connect these two concepts, but the contrast between these two images was too great, making it difficult for him to fully reconcile them.


    The former was mature, steady, considerate, tactful in social interactions, whereas the latter seemed much more vulnerable, passive, and seeking approval, like a little unfortunate child.


    Lu Ye¡¯s gaze unconsciously fell back on the painting in front of him, and suddenly the evaluation Qi Yanbai had just given it flashed through his mind.


    ¡°bad, rigid, lifeless, rubbish.¡±


    This definitely wasn¡¯t Qi Yanbai¡¯s own evaluation. Lu Ye finally realized that no creator would willingly create something trash; this must be the evaluation of others that Qi Yanbai had deeply ingrained over the years.


    Perhaps it was from his ¡°father,¡± Lu Ye thought.


    ¡°¡­So, this is actually your father¡¯s art exhibition?¡± Lu Ye¡¯s mind quickly spun, ¡°Then how did your painting end up here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m also wondering about that,¡± Qi Yanbai said with a puzzled expression, ¡°In theory, my father wouldn¡¯t let any unsatisfactory paintings appear in the exhibition.¡±


    ¡°However, he includes all of his children¡¯s works in the exhibition for everyone to see,¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°If any child¡¯s work is appreciated or recognized by art critics, he rewards that child. If not, he ignores it.¡±


    Isn¡¯t this like treating them as commodities, Lu Ye thought.


    Valuable ¡°commodities¡± need proper maintenance, while valueless ones can be ignored. Lu Ye subconsciously wanted to ask which of the two categories Qi Yanbai belonged to, but before he could utter the words, he already knew the answer.


    ¡ªIf it were the former, Qi Yanbai wouldn¡¯t be working as a teacher in an ordinary educational institution.


    It was hard for Lu Ye to imagine how Qi Yanbai had grown into his current self in such a neglectful and distorted environment¡ªtwo identities that were worlds apart, but at this moment merged into the same shadow, leaving a vivid color and contour on Qi Yanbai.


    Suddenly, Lu Ye felt a sharp pang in his chest. This pain spread in an instant, carrying an indescribable sourness, like a large net that tightened around Lu Ye¡¯s heart.


    Due to his job as an officer, Lu Ye had seen much more of the world than his peers. He believed he had an iron heart that was resistant to the winds of emotion, yet thinking of those scenes of sibling rivalry, unloving parents, occurring in Qi Yanbai¡¯s vulnerable youth, he felt an indescribable ache.


    Lu Ye took a deep breath and suddenly reached out, holding Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand.


    Qi Yanbai was taken aback for a moment, seemingly not expecting such a reaction from Lu Ye. He blinked in confusion, subconsciously looked down at their joined hands, and in that moment of eye contact, he heard Lu Ye call his name.


    ¡°Yanbai.¡±


    He pronounced his name with a tender and gentle tone, far from the usual teasing tone. Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and a tingling sensation spread from his ears, leaving him feeling a bit itchy.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lu Ye said.


    Lu Ye didn¡¯t want to leave Qi Yanbai here to face his own self as a ¡°commodity.¡± So, he tightened his grip on Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand and led him forward, turning into the exit path.


    ¡°I may not have much artistic talent,¡­..¡± The corridor was quiet and any movement would cause an echo. So, Lu Ye deliberately lowered his voice, sounding particularly serious, ¡°but no matter what you paint, in my eyes, it¡¯s definitely the best.¡±


    Lu Ye added, ¡°No matter how it actually is, if you think it¡¯s good, then I also think it¡¯s good.¡±


    Qi Yanbai had never heard such ¡°illogical¡± words before, nor had he received such baseless affirmation.


    He should have denied this meaningless gesture, but there was something naturally convincing about Lu Ye¡¯s demeanor. In just a few words, Lu Ye had melted away the sadness that had been present in Qi Yanbai¡¯s heart.


    Qi Yanbai almost helplessly tightened his grip on Lu Ye¡¯s hand, feeling like he had damp cotton stuck in his throat, making his eyes heat up and his heart ache.


    Lu Ye seemed to sense his restless emotions and gently rubbed Qi Yanbai¡¯s knuckles with his thumb. Then, he shifted his hand slightly to fit their palms together perfectly, creating a seamless grip.


    The sign for the exit was right in front of them, and the painting that had stirred up Qi Yanbai¡¯s emotions was now far behind them.


    Rain had started to fall outside the exhibition hall at some point, and Lu Ye bought a transparent umbrella from a mobile vendor near the exit. He held it up with one hand, covering both of them under its canopy.


    Fine raindrops landed on the umbrella¡¯s surface, forming streaks of water that rolled down the edges. Lu Ye¡¯s palm was warm throughout, and he never let go of Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Lu Ye.¡± The sensation of that warmth was so intense, as if it could penetrate their skin and flow into their veins in the next second. Qi Yanbai stared at their clasped hands, his expression changing, and after a moment, he let out a soft sigh, barely audible, ¡°You can¡¯t always be like this.¡±


    ¡°Being like this¡­ will make me more greedy and want more,¡± he whispered.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s murmured words were almost inaudible, drowned out by the pure music playing at the exit. Lu Ye couldn¡¯t quite catch what he said and instinctively asked, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± Qi Yanbai smiled slightly again, saying, ¡°I mean, you seem to be more helpful than the psychologists and therapists at university.¡±


    ¡°Aah it¡¯s nothing¡­¡­¡± Lu Ye chuckled and said, ¡°Actually, I left home very early, and didn¡¯t receive much emotional education. I learned all of this through trial and error later.¡±


    ¡°My parents are very traditional, believing that boys should carry on the family line and continue the family name.¡± Lu Ye tilted the umbrella slightly toward Qi Yanbai, his tone sounding relaxed and casual, ¡°After I came out, they couldn¡¯t accept it in any way. So, after they realized I wouldn¡¯t turn back no matter what, they simply gave up on me and had another son the following year.¡±


    Qi Yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Gave up?¡± A flawless expression of disbelief flashed across Qi Yanbai¡¯s face for a moment, and he asked incredulously.


    ¡°Kind of.¡± Lu Ye raised his hand to stop Qi Yanbai, then naturally switched the umbrella to his other hand and walked toward the direction of the cars. He shielded Qi Yanbai from the constant stream of passing cars.


    ¡°Later, they refused to acknowledge me and cut me off. I grew up pulling through with my older sister.¡± Lu Ye paused for a moment, sensing that this topic might be a bit heavy for Qi Yanbai right now. So, he naturally changed the subject, jokingly saying, ¡°By the way, you don¡¯t discriminate against gays, do you?¡±


    Of course, Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t discriminate against homosexuals. After all, he was currently nursing feelings for Lu Ye himself¡ªyet he was perplexed. Although both of them had grown up in such distorted and abnormal family environments, and both of them were only seen as symbols by their parents, Lu Ye seemed to be unaffected by such an environment, growing into an upright and independent personality.


    ¡°¡­No.¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°What¡¯s there to discriminate against love?¡±


    ¡°Love itself knows no boundaries.¡± He said, ¡°If two people love each other, it must be their souls that they¡¯re in love with, not their genders.¡±

 CH 30

    After returning from the art exhibition, there was a subtle change in the interaction between Lu Ye and Qi Yanbai.


    Previously, Qi Yanbai had been friendly towards Lu Ye, but they weren¡¯t very close. When they interacted, there was always a vague sense of politeness and distance.


    However, after returning from the art exhibition, that unknown barrier seemed to have disappeared overnight. Qi Yanbai seemed to have been opened up by that ¡°date,¡± and the initially vague fondness gradually fermented into something more evident, becoming clearer. Not only did Lu Ye notice this change, but even Lu Wenyu, who only occasionally came to pick up Lu Mingming, noticed some clues.


    ¡°This is a set of two, you can give one to Teacher Qi for me, as a thank you for taking care of Mingming,¡± Lu Wenyu handed the dried goods wrapped in oil paper to Lu Ye, explaining, ¡°I¡¯ve been busy lately, so I won¡¯t be able to meet him separately.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Lu Ye took the paper bag and carried it in his hand, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll let him know when I see him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good then,¡± Lu Wenyu nodded, then seemed to remember something and changed the subject, asking, ¡°By the way, how are you two getting along now?¡±


    ¡°Pretty well,¡± Lu Ye asked, ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, I just wanted to ask when you¡¯re planning to make it official,¡± Lu Wenyu glanced at her wristwatch and said, ¡°The year is almost over, and if we¡¯re going to have a meal, I need to make a reservation early.¡±


    ¡°Having a meal? Can¡¯t we do that anytime?¡± Lu Ye didn¡¯t initially grasp Lu Wenyu¡¯s meaning, but after thinking for a moment, he said, ¡°How about next Sunday? I¡¯m not on duty that day.¡±


    ¡°Who asked you about that?¡± Lu Wenyu clicked her tongue lightly and then got to the point, ¡°I mean, your relationship with Teacher Qi. When are you going to make it official?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you mean that,¡± Lu Ye finally understood Lu Wenyu¡¯s meaning. He smiled and shook his head, saying, ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush. Teacher Qi hasn¡¯t been in a romantic relationship before, so there are still a lot of things he doesn¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t understand, and you don¡¯t understand either?¡±


    Lu Wenyu¡¯s views on love were open-minded. She followed the straightforward principle of ¡°if you like someone, pursue them,¡± with a sense of living for the moment. She didn¡¯t care whether Lu Ye liked a man or a woman; she just wanted Lu Ye not to compromise himself.


    ¡°I see that he¡¯s interested in you anyway, so why not just make it clear?¡± Lu Wenyu said.


    Lu Ye chuckled and said, ¡°Even you noticed this?¡±


    ¡°Even an idiot could see it,¡± Lu Wenyu scolded, ¡°If he¡¯s not interested in you, why would he bring you meals and help you pick up Mingming? He¡¯s not that idle.¡±


    In fact, even without Lu Wenyu saying it, Lu Ye could sense it himself. The relationship between him and Qi Yanbai now seemed to be separated by a thin window of paper, looking vague and unclear. But if one of them took a step forward, the fog could be cleared to reveal the truth.


    However, for some reason, every time Lu Ye tried to take the initiative and break through this window paper, he would be interrupted by an inexplicable hesitation.


    ¡°Are you waiting for him to confess first?¡± Lu Wenyu knew Lu Ye well. She knew that when it came to emotions, Lu Ye was straightforward and rarely indecisive. She looked at Lu Ye with curiosity and asked, ¡°Or is it that you don¡¯t like him that much?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Lu Ye shook his head with a wry smile and interrupted her, ¡°If I didn¡¯t like him, why would I invite him to the art exhibition?¡±


    Lu Ye knew very well that his feelings for Qi Yanbai weren¡¯t just a passing fancy. He wasn¡¯t someone who was very emotionally sensitive, but he still felt anger and sympathy for Qi Yanbai¡¯s neglected childhood.


    Interest might be the source of shallow affection, but sympathy definitely wasn¡¯t. It was precisely because he cared about Qi Yanbai that he still harbored reservations about everything that had happened to him in the past.


    Lu Wenyu nodded in agreement. Although Lu Ye¡¯s romantic experiences might not be extensive, he was someone who took emotions seriously. He wouldn¡¯t flirt with someone just because of a fleeting attraction.


    ¡°Then why are you waiting?¡± Lu Wenyu wondered.


    Lu Ye didn¡¯t know himself. He wasn¡¯t the type to play hard to get, nor did he care about being in a weaker position in a relationship. He didn¡¯t mind who confessed first. But for some reason, this time he felt unusually cautious, as if something was hindering his steps, prompting him to ¡°think it over¡± again.


    Qi Yanbai was wonderful, really wonderful. However, maybe the impulsive relationships Lu Ye had in the past had left an impact on him. He always felt that something was missing between him and Qi Yanbai.


    Perhaps it was an opportunity, or maybe it required a deeper understanding.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either,¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit longer. After all, matters of the heart can¡¯t be rushed.¡±


    Recently, there were crackdowns on illegal activities in the city, and Lu Ye had night shifts. So, after Lu Wenyu left, he headed straight back to the police station.


    When he got to the office, it was the time for shift change in the evening. The office was filled with the strong aroma of instant noodles. Stepping into the room amidst the scent of spicy beef noodles, Lu Ye was about to greet his colleagues, but he heard a chorus of teasing voices coming from the room.


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    After working together for so long, Lu Ye knew he didn¡¯t possess that kind of charm. In general, there was only one reason for this kind of teasing¡ªwithout a doubt, he turned around and saw Qi Yanbai, who had just walked in from the visitor¡¯s room.


    He had a coat draped over his arm, a sports earphone hanging from his left ear, a volunteer badge hanging on his chest, and it swayed gently as he walked.


    ¡°Yanbai?¡± Lu Ye greeted him with a smile and asked, ¡°Why did you suddenly come over today? Do you have another task to do?¡±


    ¡°Yep, the station called me and asked if I could help draw a sketch of a fraud suspect,¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°I happened to be free, so I came to help¡ªBut now I¡¯m done, I was just about to head home.¡±


    ¡°¡ªIt really was on your way,¡± someone in the office interjected, ¡°On your way to deliver a loving dinner to a certain starving person.¡±


    Since moving to the apartment across from Lu Ye, Qi Yanbai had noticeably improved Lu Ye¡¯s quality of life. The office used to be a group of people surviving on takeout and instant noodles, but with Lu Ye having someone cook for him, they directed a wave of resentment towards him.


    Qi Yanbai blushed easily and didn¡¯t quite know how to handle this kind of banter. Hearing the comment, his words faltered for a moment, and a faint rosy hue spread to his ears.


    Without hesitation, Lu Ye stretched his arm to shield him and stepped forward, blocking those gazes for him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourselves,¡± Lu Ye playfully scolded his colleagues.


    His colleagues didn¡¯t mean any harm with their comments. Lu Ye exchanged a few witty remarks and soon returned his attention to the computer, continuing to enjoy his instant noodles.


    Qi Yanbai quite enjoyed the feeling of Lu Ye protecting him and the slightly biased attention. He gazed at Lu Ye¡¯s back for a while until Lu Ye turned around, then he reluctantly tore his gaze away.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, they¡¯re just joking,¡± Qi Yanbai intervened at the right moment to smooth things over. Then he asked, ¡°Are you on duty tonight?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s an all-nighter,¡± Lu Ye replied, handing the paper bag in his hand to Qi Yanbai and saying, ¡°My sister sent us some local products. Take them home on your way, help yourself to whatever you want.¡±


    Qi Yanbai accepted the bag and obediently nodded in acknowledgment.


    ¡°Then if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll head back,¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°I have a class tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Lu Ye said, ¡°be careful on the way back. Send me a message when you get home.¡±


    Qi Yanbai acknowledged and smiled at Lu Ye before politely saying goodbye to the others in the office and leaving.


    As he reached the doorway, he was suddenly called back by Lu Ye. Turning around to face him, he saw Lu Ye picking up something from his desk and curiously examining it.


    ¡°Yanbai,¡± Lu Ye asked, ¡°Did you put this here? Is it an alarm clock?¡±


    The alarm clock was finely crafted, with engraved half-open patterns on the front and back covers. The delicate metal needles moved forward, emitting a ticking sound similar to a stopwatch, with the intricate gears neatly interlocking inside.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s gaze lingered on it for a while, confirming that it was working perfectly, before smiling and nodding.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°It¡¯s a little gift.¡±

 CH 31

    As the year-end approached, Lu Ye¡¯s work became busier. Not only did he have to deal with the sudden increase in police cases, but he also had to handle various year-end summaries and job performance reports.


    His frequency of going out increased suddenly, and his working hours seemed to stretch endlessly. He would leave early and return late, spending his days immersed in the bureau, making him hard to reach.


    The sub-bureau office was bustling with people coming and going every day. The room was filled with the constant, chaotic noise of reports and summaries being flipped through, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps, making that small space particularly busy.


    Lu Ye sighed as he buried himself in stacks of reports. Listening to the ticking sound of the metal clock hand in his ears, he felt as if he had inexplicably entered into some kind of loop. Every day, when he opened his eyes, he had to face a mountain of work. Not to mention that his meal with Lu Wenyu was constantly postponed, even the chance to meet with Qi Yanbai, who lived across the hall, was rare and could only be squeezed into brief moments during the day.


    During holidays, it entered a high-risk period. The area around Training center was bustling with cars, people, and children. Due to a past case of a child going missing, the municipal sub-bureau had to conduct safety awareness campaigns by going door-to-door in the streets and alleys before major holidays, reminding various training institutions to pay attention to safety issues.


    Lu Ye had only returned recently and was not yet familiar with the work in this jurisdiction. Li Zhiwen had the intention of making him move around more, so he simply handed over the patrol and publicity work to their team.


    ¡°If Team 2 has nothing to do this afternoon, remember to make a round in the West District,¡± Li Zhiwen tapped Lu Ye¡¯s desk and instructed, ¡°Training center street is also about to go on holiday. Make sure to distribute the child safety notices to them.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Lu Ye lifted his head from a stack of reports. Feeling dizzy, he pinched his nose bridge and asked, ¡°Is it time for the holidays already? Aren¡¯t there still ten days left?¡±


    ¡°We are preventing problems before they occur,¡± Li Zhiwen opened his thermos, took a sip of steaming tea, and let out a satisfied sigh, adding, ¡°Besides, you¡¯re familiar with that area¡ªyou can ask Teacher Qi for help to notify the surrounding businesses.¡±


    ¡°Why is it always me?¡± Lu Ye immediately smiled playfully and teased, ¡°boss, don¡¯t you have his phone number?¡±


    ¡°Do you think me asking him is the same as you doing it??¡± Li Zhiwen gave him a slightly annoyed look.


    Li Zhiwen, the old fox, knew quite well how to ¡°make the most of what you have.¡± Qi Yanbai was a social volunteer, and Li Zhiwen felt embarrassed to trouble him repeatedly, so he just handed this task to Lu Ye every time. Qi Yanbai seemed to accept it readily. No matter the task, as long as Lu Ye asked, he almost always agreed. When he had time, he would help, and even if he was busy, he would make time to assist.


    However, Qi Yanbai was easy to persuade and talk to, but Lu Ye was not. He obviously didn¡¯t plan to ¡°stoop to that level¡± with Li Zhiwen. Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow and lightly tapped the tabletop with a suggestive look.


    ¡°You can¡¯t always take advantage of him like that, boss.¡± Lu Ye smiled, then flicked his fingertip and continued, ¡°Teacher Qi also has his own job.¡±


    Li Zhiwen thought that this brat was starting to be crafty even before he had achieved anything substantial. He rolled his eyes at him and compromised, ¡°Fine, fine. During the end-of-year evaluations, I¡¯ll apply for an Outstanding Volunteer award for him. Is that better?¡±


    Lu Ye chuckled and gave Li Zhiwen two thumbs up, indicating that that was okay. He finally stood up contentedly, stretched lazily in place, picked up his duty coat, and headed to the Training center .


    At precisely three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, it was class time. The first-floor lobby of the training center was quiet, with only a few parents inquiring about courses here and there.


    The training center where Qi Yanbai worked had a later holiday break, so it was a key unit for safety promotion. Lu Ye often had to come by and distribute safety brochures. Even the receptionist recognized him now.


    Qi Yanbai would be at the school whenever he had classes. But no matter when Lu Ye came, he would always run into Qi Yanbai. Two out of three times, Qi Yanbai was the one who received him. The remaining one time was because Qi Yanbai was in class and couldn¡¯t spare a moment to talk.


    When Lu Ye entered, the receptionist glanced up and recognized him. Seeing that he had arrived, she first sent a message to Qi Yanbai as usual and then greeted Lu Ye, smiling, ¡°Teacher Qi is still upstairs. He just finished class and should be down in a while.¡±


    ¡°Alright, no rush.¡± Lu Ye placed the stack of brochures he was carrying on the reception desk and instructed, ¡°These are this year¡¯s safety notices. Since the New Year is approaching, emphasize safety issues and promote safety knowledge to parents when they drop off or pick up their children from school.¡±


    The businesses close to the Training center often received such notices. Hearing this, the receptionist peeked at them and then efficiently organized the brochures, replacing the promotional advertisements on the reception desk.


    She was skilled at it, and it took only two or three minutes to organize the brochures, which should have been enough time for Qi Yanbai to come downstairs. However, Lu Ye had waited outside for a while and still hadn¡¯t seen any sign of Qi Yanbai.


    ¡°Is Teacher Qi busy with something else today?¡± Lu Ye couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Lu Ye had been busy with work during this period, leaving early and returning late, so he rarely went home. He occasionally stopped by the training center and exchanged a few words with Qi Yanbai. Qi Yanbai was aware of his busy schedule, so except when he was teaching, he almost never asked Lu Ye to wait.


    The receptionist seemed a bit puzzled too. She looked up at the stairs and mumbled, ¡°No, he should have finished class and come down.¡±


    She scratched her head somewhat embarrassedly, took out her phone from under the counter, and asked, ¡°How about I call him to ask?¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Lu Ye stopped her and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go up myself and talk to him about some work matters. Then I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    He had visited a few times and knew where Qi Yanbai¡¯s office was. He went up the stairs, bypassed the classrooms that were still in session, and arrived at the door of Qi Yanbai¡¯s office. He noticed that the door was slightly open, and besides Qi Yanbai, there was also a very unfamiliar young girl inside.


    ¡°¡­ I hope you¡¯ll consider it.¡±


    The young girl stood opposite Qi Yanbai, smiling brightly. She appeared lively and open. Holding a pale pink envelope in her hands, she extended it toward Qi Yanbai and said generously, ¡°Teacher Qi, I¡¯m serious. I really like you¡ªalthough I don¡¯t know what kind of girl you like, if you don¡¯t have a girlfriend, would you like to give it a try and spend some time with me?¡±


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lu Ye didn¡¯t expect to encounter such a scene when he came in. He suddenly felt like he was caught between staying and leaving. He didn¡¯t want to invade Qi Yanbai¡¯s privacy and intended to avoid the confession scene. However, for some reason, his feet seemed rooted to the spot, and he couldn¡¯t take a step back.


    His gaze fell on the thin pink envelope in the girl¡¯s hand. Suddenly, a subtle unease surged from the depths of his heart. It wasn¡¯t intense, but rather a persistent, nagging feeling.


    Fortunately, Qi Yanbai¡¯s response was swift. Although he seemed momentarily stunned, he quickly regained his composure. He smiled politely at the girl and politely declined her advances.


    ¡°Sorry.¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s voice was quite pleasant, combining gentleness with a touch of unyielding determination. ¡°I can¡¯t accept your affection, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Lu Ye¡¯s feeling of restlessness and awkwardness was largely assuaged by this response. However, he immediately heard the girl¡¯s inquisitive follow-up question, ¡°Why not? Do you already have someone you like?¡±


    Unfortunately, Qi Yanbai¡¯s answer didn¡¯t give Lu Ye the closure he hoped for. He didn¡¯t directly address the question; instead, he simply smiled faintly and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t answer that question. However, love itself shouldn¡¯t come from compromise. You deserve someone better than me.¡±


    The girl wasn¡¯t insistent. Seeing Qi Yanbai¡¯s firm attitude, she simply nodded with regret and said a quick goodbye.


    Qi Yanbai smiled at her, walked over to open the door for her, and was surprised to find Lu Ye outside. He hesitated for a moment, almost unable to react.


    The girl didn¡¯t seem to notice Lu Ye outside. When she saw him, her face immediately turned red, and she didn¡¯t even have the courage to say goodbye to Qi Yanbai. She quickly slipped between the two of them, and as she dashed down the corridor, she was already far away.


    ¡°Lu Ye?¡± Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t know how long he had been standing outside, and his gaze unintentionally drifted to the end of the corridor. Then he shifted his focus back to Lu Ye and asked, ¡°When did you arrive?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Lu Ye crossed his arms, not entering the room but leaning against the door frame. He smiled at Qi Yanbai and said, ¡°I saw you had a guest, so I didn¡¯t dare to knock.¡±


    He smiled and his expression didn¡¯t show any difference. However, Qi Yanbai sensed a coolness in his tone, making it sound somewhat awkward.


    Qi Yanbai caught onto this subtle anomaly effortlessly, and he couldn¡¯t help but give Lu Ye a curious look.


    ¡°Lu Ye, are you in a bad mood today?¡± Qi Yanbai asked.


    Lu Ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lu Ye continued to lean against the door frame, his lips curved into a smile, but there was a hint of bitterness in his smile. ¡°No, I¡¯m not in a bad mood. Just a bit surprised.¡±


    Qi Yanbai seemed to understand, but he didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he simply nodded and smiled back. ¡°I see. Well, what brings you here?¡±

 CH 32

    Of course, Luo Ye felt a bit uncomfortable, but he also knew that he didn¡¯t really have a right to feel that way.


    He and Qi Yanbai indeed had been interacting in a slightly boundary-crossing manner, but they hadn¡¯t officially defined their relationship nor touched on that delicate subject. So, regardless of whoever expressed their feelings to Qi Yanbai, it seemed that Luo Ye could only watch from the sidelines.


    People generally prefer comfort. When you¡¯re in your comfort zone for a long time, it¡¯s easy to become immersed in habits and hard to notice things beyond those habits.


    During this time, Luo Ye had grown accustomed to interacting with Qi Yanbai in this vague manner. It was only just now that he realized that Qi Yanbai, being young, handsome, and kind, was not only a beloved teacher but also a catch among eligible young men and women.


    Their relationship had been somewhat ambiguous, but Qi Yanbai had never officially been in a relationship, and he had no experience with relationship matters. Until he knew his preferences and who he liked, it seemed natural for him to receive confessions from others, regardless of the person.


    This concept was like a pin, easily pricking Luo Ye. His heart skipped a beat, and the subtle unease he had just experienced suddenly became more pronounced. In an instant, it transformed into something clearer.


    ¡°I¡¯m not in a bad mood.¡± Luo Ye half-lowered his eyes and smiled, saying, ¡°I just realized that you are quite popular.¡±


    As he spoke, he himself detected a hint of bitterness in his words.


    This subtle unease he felt suddenly found its answer. Luo Ye¡¯s gaze briefly met Qi Yanbai¡¯s, and his heart seemed to pause for a moment. He realized that the delicate balance he thought he had maintained in his heart was now tilting.


    ¡°I¡¯ve grown to care about him this much,¡±  Luo Ye realized.


    This was why he felt that subtle possessiveness and jealousy when seeing someone else express their feelings to Qi Yanbai.


    Luo Ye was a rather composed individual, and he restrained his jealousy quite well. However, Qi Yanbai effortlessly sensed the underlying emotions in his restraint. Qi Yanbai¡¯s lips curled slightly, finding a bit of secret satisfaction in it.


    Yet, Qi Yanbai also didn¡¯t want to play around and risk Luo Ye misunderstanding that he liked women. So, he changed the topic in a timely manner, diverting Luo Ye¡¯s attention.


    ¡°By the way.¡± Qi Yanbai feared Luo Ye would persist with the previous question, so he didn¡¯t allow the atmosphere to linger too long. He smoothly shifted the topic, saying, ¡°You¡¯re not on duty this Sunday, are you?¡±


    ¡°I probably won¡¯t be.¡± Luo Ye said, ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°A new vintage cinema opened in the new district¡¯s shopping mall. They¡¯ll be showing ¡®Caravaggio¡¯ on Sunday.¡± Qi Yanbai said, ¡°If you¡¯re not on duty, would you like to go watch it with me?¡±


    His invitation was quite skillful. It didn¡¯t ask Luo Ye if he was free or if he wanted to go. It seemed to offer only two options: ¡°on duty¡± or ¡°watch a movie.¡±


    Verbal traps were always subtle, and many people¡¯s thinking would naturally follow the two simple sentences. Yet, Luo Ye was well-versed in this, and almost instantly, he detected the unspoken intentions behind Qi Yanbai¡¯s invitation.


    But after thinking about it, he didn¡¯t expose it, and instead agreed. He nodded in agreement, saying, ¡°Sure.¡±


    Luo Ye and Qi Yanbai had different intentions, yet strangely converged, heading in the same direction.


    Luo Ye was still on duty, so he couldn¡¯t linger in one place for too long. After just a few words, he had to leave. Qi Yanbai watched as he left the building and got into the police car. Once Luo Ye had driven out of his line of sight, Qi Yanbai turned back to his office.


    His office faced the road, and he leaned against the window, watching Luo Ye leave the training center. He watched until Luo Ye¡¯s car disappeared from his view, then withdrew his gaze and took out his phone from his pocket.


    Unlocking the screen, he dialed a number from his contacts. After just a couple of rings, the call was picked up on the other end.


    ¡°Teacher Qi.¡±


    ¡°Yan yan sister.¡± Qi Yanbai smiled and said, ¡°Thank you for earlier. When you¡¯re free, let me treat you to a meal.¡±


    ¡°No need, no need. Skip the meal. Our whole family is moving to the provincial capital the day after tomorrow.¡± The woman¡¯s voice said carefreely, ¡°Plus, it¡¯s thanks to you that Yan Yan was able to transfer to the main school. It was just a small favor. There¡¯s no need to worry about it.¡±


    The woman spoke energetically, ¡°By the way, I forgot to ask, how did things go? Did you get an answer?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Qi Yanbai smiled softly and said in a low voice, ¡°indeed I did.¡±

 CH 33

    ¡°Caravaggio¡± was a lesser-known film that portrayed the life of the artist of the same name, Caravaggio.


    After returning, Lu Ye intentionally looked up this movie. Perhaps due to its niche subject matter, there was very little online information about this film. Occasionally, there were one or two reviews, but they only briefly touched on the plot. They mentioned that the film¡¯s content was vague, despite its exceptional artistic quality, and lacked promotional appeal. It was suitable only for professionals who appreciated such art and not for the general audience seeking popcorn entertainment.


    This kind of invitation was evidently different from Qi Yanbai¡¯s usual style. Qi Yanbai was considerate in his dealings. Even when sitting together for a meal, he was conscious of Lu Ye¡¯s preferences. He never decided anything based on his own likes, nor would he randomly choose a movie that was outside Lu Ye¡¯s range of appreciation.


    However, this slight deviation from the norm managed to timely pique Lu Ye¡¯s interest. He raised an eyebrow, scrolled down with the mouse, and stared at the ¡°Online Viewing Link for this Film¡± on the webpage. After staring for a while, he closed the review page, intending to save this bit of novelty for the day of their ¡°date.¡±


    Lu Ye had a slight touch of chauvinism; even though Qi Yanbai had invited him out this time, he found it difficult to just sit there and be ¡°attended to.¡±


    Originally, he had planned to do some preparations for the date before Sunday. But as luck would have it, starting from the second day after returning from the training center, it was as if someone had pressed an accelerator pedal, and he suddenly became busy.


    As the year drew to a close, it seemed that criminals were trying to achieve some sort of criminal target. They emerged one by one like mushrooms after the rain. The phone at the municipal bureau¡¯s dispatch center rang endlessly from morning to night, as if demanding their lives, compelling everyone to rush forward without stopping for a moment.


    Lu Ye rooted himself in his work. When he finally snapped out of it, it was already early Saturday morning.


    By the time he got home, it was 3:30 AM. The lights in the entire building had been turned off. The elevator swayed gently and stopped on the ninth floor. Lu Ye stepped out, dragging his feet, and before entering his apartment, he subconsciously glanced at Qi Yanbai¡¯s door.


    At some point, someone had posted a flyer from a nearby education institution on his door. Lu Ye was worried it might be a mark left by thieves, so he casually took it down.


    The surveillance camera above Qi Yanbai¡¯s door was working diligently. Its tiny red light blinked in the dark, as if it had detected movement and let out a subtle alert sound. Then, it slightly rotated, focusing on Lu Ye¡¯s actions.


    Lu Ye, caught in his exhaustion, balled up the flyer and threw it into the trash bin by his door, then pressed the code lock on his door. Half-closed eyes, he swayed inside, stumbling like a drunkard.


    Immediately after, the red light on the camera behind him blinked and silently rotated a bit, returning to its original position.


    Lu Ye was completely oblivious to this subtle change. His team had been monitoring a pyramid scheme nest, and they had been through three nights of surveillance and stakeouts before finally making the arrest that night.


    He came back home in the chilly wind. Now his head was throbbing, his brain swollen. He entered his apartment without turning on the lights, just had enough time to take a hasty shower and freshen up a bit, then he lay on the bed with his eyes half-closed, and his head hit the pillow.


    The agreed time for the date with Qi Yanbai was 10 AM. Lu Ye wasn¡¯t in the habit of standing people up at the last minute, so before falling asleep, he reluctantly set an alarm clock, intending to make the most of this moment to catch up on some sleep.


    Lu Ye¡¯s mind was preoccupied, so even this sleep wasn¡¯t truly restful. He felt that the more he slept, the heavier the blanket became. He was swinging back and forth between shallow sleep and deep slumber, his forehead even throbbing.


    He had no idea how long he¡¯d been sleeping, but at some point, the alarm clock seemed to ring. He barely lifted his hand to turn it off, and immediately a heavy sensation engulfed him again, almost instantly pulling him back into drowsiness.


    After an unknown amount of time passed, Lu Ye finally faintly heard a soft sound from the living room. Following that, light footsteps came from the entrance, as if someone was entering his home.


    Before he could open his eyes, his heart suddenly seemed to drop, and a chilling sensation crawled up his back.


    He subconsciously tried to sit up to see who it was, but the footsteps were already close to the bed. Then, in the next second, a cold hand reached over from the side and gently landed on his forehead.


    The cool touch was like a breeze in the scorching sun, momentarily sweeping away some of the heat. Lu Ye¡¯s nose twitched, and he caught a faint whiff of a familiar perfume from the person.


    ¡°¡­ Yanbai?¡± Feeling the familiar touch of that hand, Lu Ye asked in a muffled voice, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Qi Yanbai seemed momentarily stunned, but quickly regained their composure. He moved his palm away from Lu Ye¡¯s forehead, but the fingertips lagged behind, as if reluctant, and gently brushed against the side of Lu Ye¡¯s face.


    ¡°You¡¯re asking me?¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s tone carried a perfectly fitting trace of reproach, a touch of annoyance mixed with just the right amount of warmth. ¡°You are the one who stood me up.¡±


    Lu Ye furrowed his brow slightly at the words, finally recalling something. With sheer determination, he pushed himself out of the fever-induced daze, and his eyes fluttered open.


    ¡°I slept through it?¡± Lu Ye¡¯s voice was hoarse as he asked, ¡°What time is it now?¡±


    His throat burned as if rubbed with sandpaper. It was painful enough that Qi Yanbai could feel his heart ache just listening.


    As Lu Ye spoke, he tried to prop himself up from the bed. His vision blurred as he reached for his phone on the nightstand. However, as his hand was halfway there, Qi Yanbai intercepted it once again.


    ¡°It¡¯s already half-past five in the afternoon,¡± Qi Yanbai said, his gaze lowered, his expression concerned as he watched Lu Ye. ¡°Your phone has been unreachable. I asked your colleagues, and they also didn¡¯t know where you  were¡­ I got worried, so I decided to come and check on you.¡±


    As he finished speaking, there was a momentary blankness on Qi Yanbai¡¯s face, as if even his breathing paused. However, this moment passed in the blink of an eye. It was almost like, in the time it took for Lu Ye to blink, he had already resumed that appearance of being anxiously concerned.


    ¡°You returned home in a hurry last night, and you didn¡¯t close the door properly,¡± Qi Yanbai said with certainty and gentleness. ¡°You left a crack at the door.¡±

 CH 34

    This answer made Lu Ye unconsciously furrow his brows.


    He was usually a very cautious person, and because of his profession, he never made mistakes on trivial matters like leaving the door open. In theory, even if he was coming home after working overtime or even if he had been drinking and was not clear-headed, he shouldn¡¯t have left the door open like that for the whole night.


    But Lu Ye had a kind of almost habitual sense of trust in Qi Yanbai, and for a moment, he didn¡¯t think too much about it. Coupled with the fact that he had indeed been exhausted last night, he couldn¡¯t recall whether he deliberately locked the door or not.


    He hesitated for a brief moment, and then that warmth came rushing back like a tide, engulfing him once again.


    Lu Ye felt uncomfortable, instinctively pressing his forehead and giving a somewhat embarrassed bitter smile.


    ¡°Probably.¡± Lu Ye casually said, ¡°It could also be because you live across from me, so I subconsciously let my guard down.¡±


    His voice was raspy, and his eyelids drooped slightly, radiating a warmth that seemed almost ready to be melted by his own body temperature.


    Qi Yanbai, who had initially felt sorry for him, was oddly delighted by this answer. He remembered what Lu Ye was like when they first met. At that time, Lu Ye was cautious, cold and distant, and his eyes were as sharp as if they were tempered with fire. Even though he tried to act like a helpless and innocent little lamb in front of Lu Ye, sometimes Lu Ye¡¯s almost eerie intuition could still see through Qi Yanbai, making him aware of certain anomalies that were hard for ordinary people to detect.


    But despite being cautious and sharp like that, as they spent more and more time together day and night, Lu Ye gradually softened. His defenses began to lower, and he started revealing a more candid and defenseless side.


    He didn¡¯t even have suspicions in the face of such a blatant flaw; instead, he followed Qi Yanbai¡¯s words as if it were only natural.


    In his heart, Qi Yanbai realized he had become important to him. Qi Yanbai couldn¡¯t help but think that Lu Ye had drawn an unconditional circle around himself and had placed Qi Yanbai inside it, treasured and exclusive.


    Qi Yanbai felt that he shouldn¡¯t be feeling happy during a time when Lu Ye was feeling unwell, but it was difficult to suppress that feeling. He couldn¡¯t help but feel excited about this change in Lu Ye. His excitement couldn¡¯t be controlled; his heart raced and pounded as if the next second it could burst out of his chest and onto Lu Ye¡¯s face.


    For a brief moment, Qi Yanbai even heard his own heartbeat like the beating of a drum. His blood seemed to surge into his limbs and body in an instant, and even his fingertips tingled with a ticklish sensation.


    Such excitement was beyond reason. Qi Yanbai feared that Lu Ye might catch on to something, so he had to lower his gaze, pretending as he pulled the blanket up for Lu Ye.


    ¡°If you feel uncomfortable again, just call me,¡± Qi Yanbai said softly.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Lu Ye felt guilty so he pressed his forehead, and reluctantly smiled at Qi Yanbai, propping himself up on the bed, coughing a couple of times, and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m much better after getting some sleep¡ªsorry for not being able to watch the movie. How about I make it up by taking you out for dinner tonight?¡±


    Lu Ye didn¡¯t take his slight fever seriously. He had a high tolerance for discomfort. He believed that going outside and getting some fresh air would clear his head. He thought he could manage to last through a meal.


    But obviously, Qi Yanbai couldn¡¯t agree with his thoughts. When he heard Lu Ye¡¯s words, he was slightly taken aback, and a thin trace of anger almost immediately appeared on his face.


    ¡°You want to go out in your situation?¡± However, even when he was angry, Qi Yanbai was restrained and gentle. He took a light breath, didn¡¯t say anything hurtful, and just extended his hand to pull the blanket up a bit more, tucking it securely under Lu Ye¡¯s chin.


    ¡°Stay at home,¡± he said, his brows slightly furrowed.


    Qi Yanbai got up from the bedside and walked to the wall to adjust the air conditioning¡¯s temperature. Then, he stepped into the kitchen while wearing Lu Ye¡¯s slippers, heading without looking back.


    Lu Ye watched the direction where Qi Yanbai had left for a while, seeing him take off his coat, roll up his sleeves, and carefully open a few cabinet doors in his kitchen. He took out a small piece of preserved meat from inside.


    Now it was evening, but the room¡¯s lighting was dimmer than usual. The sound of rain pattering outside the window was still present. Lu Ye reached for his phone from the bedside and saw Qi Yanbai¡¯s seventeen missed calls on the lock screen, along with five or six unanswered WeChat messages.


    Lu Ye unlocked the phone and glanced at the messages. Most of them were during the morning, around the time he had planned to go out with Qi Yanbai. Later on, when he didn¡¯t reply, Qi Yanbai started calling him, at first with a gap of an hour or two, but once his colleagues got wind that he hadn¡¯t gone to work, the frequency of contact increased dramatically.


    This is the first time Lu Ye saw him so anxious. He reached out and wiped the screen, looking at the WeChat messages, feeling an indescribable sensation.


    After a moment, faint sounds came from the kitchen. Qi Yanbai was finely chopping meat into small pieces, then cautiously placing them into the rice cooker to make porridge.


    He wasn¡¯t familiar with Lu Ye¡¯s house and couldn¡¯t find the main light switch in the kitchen. So, he only turned on a small light connected to the kitchen and dining area¡¯s ceiling. In this dim light, he was carefully observing the function keys on the rice cooker.


    Seeing him struggling, Lu Ye reached out at the bedside, turning on the lights in the kitchen and living room for him.


    Qi Yanbai was startled by the sudden brightness. Instinctively, he turned his head towards Lu Ye. In that moment of their gazes meeting, Qi Yanbai¡¯s lips seemed to unconsciously curl up, showing a faint, contented smile.


    People when ill are always more fragile and sensitive. Lu Ye felt as if Qi Yanbai¡¯s smile had brushed against him, making his heart flutter for a moment, leaving an unmistakable sensation of affection.


    Qi Yanbai was always like this. No matter when or where, as long as Lu Ye¡¯s gaze catches him, that¡¯s when he wears that smile¡ªpure, joyful, as if just seeing Lu Ye is enough to satisfy him.


    In this brief time, the warmth returned to Lu Ye¡¯s body. He felt as if he had been steamed inside and out by warm air and fever, making him feel drowsy and heavy. His vision began to blur, yet he didn¡¯t lie back in bed. He kept his forearm on his forehead, his gaze still fixed on Qi Yanbai¡¯s busy figure.


    Soon, the aroma of rice with a hint of saltiness filled the air. Lu Ye¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved as he swallowed, suddenly sensing an unreal and dreamlike feeling in this gentle atmosphere.


    The warm air from the air conditioner was strong, and the kitchen¡¯s steam seemed to spread into the living room. In the light, Qi Yanbai¡¯s figure appeared tall and slender, the white shirt¡¯s color blending with the marble countertop, as if he naturally belonged to this home.


    The heavy rain outside continued to pour. Lu Ye blinked gently. In this peaceful ambiance, he felt a touch of almost bubble-like happiness.


    That feeling was like a thin thread of warm spring water flowing through his veins, surrounding his limbs, leaving a warm and soothing temperature that encircled his heart, gradually filling it.


    His previously scattered feelings of liking, gratitude, tenderness, and compassion for Qi Yanbai were suddenly stirred by the warm water, a mix of emotions forming a strong, fervent love.


    In that moment, the scales in Lu Ye¡¯s heart tipped fully to one side, leaving no room for doubt.


    The rice cooker beeped, signaling that it was done. Qi Yanbai ladled half a bowl of thin porridge and brought it along with the fever-reducing medicine to the bedroom.


    Lu Ye¡¯s body temperature had risen slightly since the afternoon. Qi Yanbai furrowed his brows slightly, carefully feeding him half a bowl of porridge.


    ¡°How about I take you to the hospital?¡± Qi Yanbai said softly. ¡°This can¡¯t continue like this.¡±


    Lu Ye¡¯s eyes were slightly red from the fever. They were also moist, as if covered with a layer of water film. It took him a couple of seconds to fully understand Qi Yanbai¡¯s words, and upon hearing them, he chuckled lightly and shook his head.


    ¡°No need.¡± He coughed a few times and took the medicine from Qi Yanbai¡¯s hand, swallowing it before continuing, ¡°After taking the medicine, I¡¯ll just sleep it off.¡±


    Qi Yanbai was still a bit worried. Upon hearing this, he fed Lu Ye half a cup of water and then reached out to touch his forehead.


    However, Qi Yanbai had just washed his hands with hot water, so they weren¡¯t the right temperature to gauge. Frustrated, he simply leaned over, using his cheek to gently touch Lu Ye¡¯s neck.


    His movements were delicate, as if afraid of disturbing something. He left a soft and slightly cool touch, similar to a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s cool breath brushed against Lu Ye¡¯s collarbone, causing his heart to tremble slightly. Before he could fully understand what was happening, he instinctively reached out, wrapping his arm around Qi Yanbai¡¯s shoulder and back.


    Qi Yanbai¡¯s expression froze for a moment, and he softly asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Nothing¡¯s wrong, Lu Ye thought.


    He simply had an impulsive feeling. He wanted to boldly tear through the layer of window paper that had long become translucent, fully grasping the person in front of him.


    ¡°I¡ª¡± Lu Ye¡¯s voice came out half-formed, but he couldn¡¯t continue. He was swept up by a deep and heavy drowsiness.


    Qi Yanbai didn¡¯t know what kind of miraculous medicine he had bought, as it took effect so quickly. In just a matter of moments, Lu Ye felt like his eyelids were engaging in a frenzied battle, his eyes closing heavily like weights had fallen on them.


    He didn¡¯t want to hastily confess his feelings in this drowsy state, so his words took a different direction, becoming another sentence.


    ¡°I¡¯m too sleepy.¡± Lu Ye said softly, ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll sleep first, and when I wake up, I¡¯ll talk to you.¡±


    He was already too drowsy to keep his eyes open. The latter part of his sentence was so light that it sounded like murmuring to himself. Not to mention Qi Yanbai, even Lu Ye himself might not have been able to hear it clearly.


    As the words fell, Lu Ye had already tilted his head against the pillow and fallen asleep. His arm slipped off Qi Yanbai¡¯s shoulder, but Qi Yanbai had anticipated it and caught it.


    The air conditioner¡¯s warm air hummed loudly. Lu Ye¡¯s body had already formed a thin layer of sweat. Qi Yanbai reached over, smoothing down the damp hair on Lu Ye¡¯s forehead. Then, he gently pulled Lu Ye¡¯s wrist over and lightly brushed it against his own cheek.


    Lu Ye was sleeping deeply. Qi Yanbai cradled his hand as if holding a precious treasure. After a short while, he lowered his head, softly pressing a kiss onto Lu Ye¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°Lu Ye,¡± Qi Yanbai¡¯s voice was light, as if he was asking him, yet it also sounded like he was murmuring to himself, ¡°¡­ When will you finally realize?¡±


    The room was quiet, and the sleeping Lu Ye was oblivious to this question. His breathing was gentle and regular, his chest rising and falling with each shallow breath.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait much longer,¡± Qi Yanbai said.¡±

 CH 35

    efore going to sleep, lu ye had been thinking about what to say to qi yanbai. however, when he woke up, he found that qi yanbai had already left at some point.


    he seemed to have slept through the entire night, and now it was bright outside. the clear sunlight after the rain shone through the curtains, leaving a fine line on the bedspread.


    the room was filled with the sweet aroma of breakfast. there was still half a glass of water on the bedside table, and when lu ye reached out to touch it, he found that the cup still had a slight warmth, as if it had been placed there not long ago.


    under the water glass was a light beige note. lu ye sat up in bed and picked up the note, only to realize that it was a message from qi yanbai.


    ¡°we have a morning meeting at the training center today. i¡¯ll go there first and be back in an hour.¡±


    perhaps out of habit from dealing with children, teacher qi didn¡¯t sign the note, but drew a delicate little emoticon instead. the crude little figure was smiling with its eyes squinted, holding a speech bubble that read ¡°wait for me,¡± looking especially cute.


    lu ye had slept well and his fever had subsided. now, looking at the note, he felt in a very good mood. he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and playfully stuck it back on the railing beside his bed before reaching for his phone and calling qi yanbai.


    qi yanbai was probably not at the training center yet, as he answered the phone quickly, accompanied by the sound of the wind on the other side, and his tone sounded a bit hurried.


    ¡°are you awake?¡± qi yanbai asked in a gentle voice. ¡°how are you feeling? are you still feverish? maybe you should rest a bit longer?¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t worry,¡± lu ye said as he got out of bed, barefoot and heading towards the bathroom. he smiled and continued, ¡°i¡¯m fine now. the fever has gone down, and i¡¯m planning to go to work in a bit.¡±


    ¡°are you really okay?¡± qi yanbai seemed a bit concerned and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°your fever reached 38 degrees last night.¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m really fine,¡± lu ye felt that this conversation made qi teacher sound like a gentle and caring wife. he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and teased, ¡°or maybe i should come over to the training center later and check on you before going to work?¡±


    ¡°well, let¡¯s not do that. it¡¯s unusually cold outside today,¡± qi yanbai replied with a slight smile, and he didn¡¯t bring up the idea of lu ye resting at home again. instead, he asked, ¡°by the way, what did you want to tell me last night? you fell asleep so quickly that i couldn¡¯t hear clearly.¡±


    it was nothing, lu ye thought. he just wanted to ask if qi yanbai wanted to be with him. however, he was a bit traditional when it came to the beginning of a relationship and didn¡¯t want to say it over the cold phone. so he just smiled and kept it a secret.


    ¡°it¡¯s nothing,¡± lu ye said. ¡°let¡¯s talk about it when i get off work tonight.¡±


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t know that the answer he wanted was just a step away. hearing lu ye¡¯s response, he thought it was another safety issue and didn¡¯t pay much attention. he simply agreed and changed the subject naturally.


    ¡°by the way, there¡¯s breakfast in the kitchen. eat before you go to work,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°it¡¯s quite cold outside today, so make sure to dress warmly when you go out.¡±


    ¡°okay,¡± lu ye said. ¡°i¡¯ll do that.¡±


    with more than an hour left before it was time to go to work, lu ye hung up the phone, took a refreshing hot shower, and then turned into the kitchen. in the steamer, he found the breakfast that qi yanbai had prepared for him.


    he hadn¡¯t enjoyed such treatment in years¡ªhaving someone who constantly cared for him and prepared hot meals for him in the morning.


    the transparent lid of the steamer was covered with a layer of steam, and the white congee with dried shrimp was cooked to perfection, soft and flavorful. lu ye¡¯s throat rolled, and he suddenly felt hungry.


    he sat at the dining table and slowly finished the breakfast qi yanbai had left for him. afterward, he cleaned up the dishes and, before leaving, ordered a bouquet of flowers for delivery in the evening using his phone.


    perhaps due to his success in the love department, lu ye was in a great mood from the moment he woke up until he arrived at work. he walked into the office, punched in, and greeted his colleagues with a cheerful attitude.


    the office was filled with the aroma of soy milk and fried dough sticks. yao xing, who was behind her desk, looked up when she heard lu ye¡¯s voice. she greeted him while munching on a steamed bun, saying, ¡°lu ye, have you eaten? want to share some with us?¡±


    ¡°no, i¡¯ve already had breakfast at home,¡± lu ye replied with a smile. he added, ¡°you see, i eat well at home these days.¡±


    he looked like a man on top of the world, and even a deaf person could sense the subtle hint of his pride in his tone.


    his colleagues chimed in one after another, and yao xing, together with another colleague, teased, ¡± yao xing, you¡¯re in the wrong here. lu ye is already taken, and he can¡¯t hang out with us single folks anymore.¡±


    qi yanbai had been searching for lu ye all over the place yesterday, and even the sub-bureau knew about it. yao xing made an ¡°oh¡± sound and looked at lu ye with a knowing glance. her eyes sparkled with gossip.


    ¡°lu ye and teacher qi are together already?¡± yao xing asked. ¡°so fast?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s about time,¡± the colleague added with a smirk. ¡°haven¡¯t you heard that heroes have a tough time in the land of love?¡±


    the two of them played off each other, not giving lu ye a chance to interject. lu ye playfully kicked the chair of his colleague, telling him to go away.


    ¡°fine, fine, i¡¯m leaving,¡± the colleague said with a mischievous grin. ¡°i hope we can bask in the glory of lu ye¡¯s romantic success in days to come without ant chaos.¡±


    the security team had just finished dealing with a few troublesome cases last week, and now there were only follow-up tasks like interrogations and detentions. perhaps the colleague¡¯s words had some sort of jinx, but on monday morning, the entire morning was surprisingly calm, with no incidents occurring.


    after lunch, lu ye took a short break and leaned back in his chair. he absentmindedly tapped the mechanical alarm clock that qi yanbai had given him. he was thinking about whether to call qi yanbai and chat for a while when he suddenly heard a loud and raucous noise coming from downstairs.


    the sub-bureau did not handle emergency calls on weekdays, but there were always people coming to the sub-bureau to report various incidents. the noise and commotion were nothing out of the ordinary.


    lu ye listened for a moment, and it seemed that there were quite a few people downstairs, with voices of both men and women mingling together, and sharp shouts and curses that almost seemed to pierce through the ceiling.


    ¡°how big is this grudge?¡± the colleague, who had put down the newspaper covering his face, looked irritated at being awakened from his nap. he muttered, ¡°it¡¯s almost new year¡¯s, can¡¯t they give us a break?¡±


    as he spoke, the on-duty police seemed to have already restored order. the shouts and arguments gradually subsided and disappeared.


    a few minutes later, a police officer who had helped restore the order, knocked on the office door, and entered.


    ¡°it was a fight between two groups, likely a dispute between lovers,¡± the police officer reported. ¡°the man beat up the woman¡¯s brother, and he was just sent to the hospital with two broken ribs. the woman called the police and wants to charge the man with intentional injury.¡±


    ¡°hmm,¡± yao xing was surprised. ¡°such a big grudge? what was it over?¡±


    ¡°it seems like the man was caught red-handed by the woman with someone else,¡± the police officer said. ¡°and photos were taken, so he got embarrassed and angry, which led to the fight.¡±


    yao xing: ¡°¡­¡±


    this kind of absurd and dramatic situation seemed to happen every now and then at the sub-bureau, and lu ye had long since become used to it. he didn¡¯t pay much attention and continued to read the case file in his hand. however, he suddenly heard someone calling his name in a somewhat strange tone.


    ¡°¡­lu ye?¡±


    lu ye was slightly stunned and looked up to see who it was. as soon as his gaze met the person¡¯s, he furrowed his brows slightly, and his expression turned cold.


    the world could be so small and absurd, lu ye thought. even when he was dealing with a police case, he ran into his ex-boyfriend, who was like trash in a garbage can.


    ¡°sun lin?¡± lu ye glanced at him from head to toe and said, ¡°so it¡¯s you.¡±


    he flipped through the case file in his hand, chuckled meaningfully, and said, ¡°it¡¯s been a few years, and you¡¯re still the same¡ªlying to another girl and even cheating on her behind her back?¡±


    ¡°you work here?¡± sun lin, having been exposed, had a momentary look of discomfort on his face, but he quickly appeared relieved and approached lu ye. he lowered his voice and said, ¡°hey, i wish i had known you were here. can you help me out? that crazy woman outside is insisting that i started the fight, even though her brother attacked me first. i was just defending myself.¡±


    he tried to hand a cigarette to lu ye and took advantage of the motion to get closer to him, talking in a low voice. ¡°i¡¯ll tell you, lu ye, i¡¯m in this situation because of you.¡±


    ¡°me?¡± lu ye snorted and asked, ¡°what does it have to do with me?¡±


    ¡°you know it in your heart,¡± sun lin¡¯s expression suddenly turned fierce. he seemed to have finally shed the friendly facade and revealed a bit of venom. he lowered his voice and threatened, ¡°if it weren¡¯t for you meddling in my marriage back then, i wouldn¡¯t have lost my job and my whole life wouldn¡¯t have come crumbling down after that. i wouldn¡¯t have had to find this shrew outside. let me tell you, if you don¡¯t help me resolve this matter today, i¡¯ll make sure to expose all your dirty laundry.¡±


    lu ye raised an eyebrow and looked at him curiously. ¡°what dirty laundry?¡±


    ¡°you know it yourself. being gay is not well-received,¡± sun lin threatened. ¡°you public servants care about your reputation. don¡¯t make me shout it out in public.¡±


    people tend to judge others based on their own standards, and lu ye didn¡¯t care whether or not sun lin revealed his sexual orientation. hearing his threats, lu ye responded with a hint of urgency in his voice, ¡°i don¡¯t know what makes you think i can help you out. but let me tell you, you¡¯re barking up the wrong tree. if you have any information related to the case, you can talk to the police officers who will question you later.¡±


    ¡°can¡¯t you cut me some slack since we know each other?¡± sun lin persisted, and this time he revealed a sinister expression. ¡°back then, you ruined my marriage, and now i¡¯m going to ruin your life in return. if you don¡¯t help me today, you¡¯d better be prepared for me to expose all your secrets.¡±


    ¡°fine, let¡¯s see how that goes.¡± lu ye shook his shoulder free from sun lin¡¯s grip and walked away without looking back.


    sun lin was left fuming in the room. lu ye didn¡¯t take sun lin¡¯s threats seriously. after sending a quick message to his colleague, he put his phone away and went about his work.


    handling the necessary paperwork for the detainee took up a significant portion of his afternoon. by the time he left the detention center, the sky had already darkened.


    as he drove back, lu ye had almost forgotten about sun lin¡¯s threats. he was focused on getting back to the office to see if there were any updates on the case. however, his thoughts were interrupted by a phone call from a colleague.


    ¡°when are you coming back?¡± his colleague asked straight to the point. ¡°teacher qi is here, and he got into a confrontation with that rascal.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s heart tightened. he didn¡¯t want anything to happen to qi yanbai, especially not because of his own problems.


    ¡°how did that happen?¡± lu ye asked urgently.


    ¡°teacher qi came to pick you up after work, but the situation with that scoundrel hadn¡¯t been resolved yet,¡± his colleague explained. ¡°he happened to overhear the scoundrel badmouthing you in the mediation room, claiming that you were biased toward the other party. teacher qi got upset and insisted on talking to him. i tried to stop him, but i couldn¡¯t.¡±


    lu ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    lu ye knew that qi yanbai had always been gentle. he never even argued with difficult parents, even if they blamed him for things beyond his control. lu ye couldn¡¯t help but worry that qi yanbai might be at a disadvantage in this situation.


    ¡°if you can¡¯t stop him, then quickly get him out of there,¡± lu ye urged. ¡°i¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    ¡°well, you better hurry,¡± his colleague said helplessly. ¡°teacher qi seems to treat you like a delicate cabbage. i¡¯ve never seen him so anxious.¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t pay attention to his colleague¡¯s words. instead, he quickly turned the car around, taking a shortcut that would avoid traffic.


    he didn¡¯t have time for distractions. qi yanbai¡¯s well-being was his priority right now.

 CH 37

    qi yanbai had never been kissed before and didn¡¯t know what it felt like. he had seen ashley and qi zhe being affectionate before when he was a child, but back then, he had only thought that it was a way for ashley to manipulate qi zhe, serving no purpose other than satisfying the ego of a seemingly dominant man.


    but at this moment, when lu ye leaned in to kiss him, qi yanbai was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of gratification, finally understanding the subtlety of it all.


    though it was just the touching of ordinary skin against skin, qi yanbai felt immense satisfaction in that brief contact.


    kissing wasn¡¯t just about flattery and pleasing, qi yanbai thought, but also about comforting and affirming.


    this kiss seemed to inexplicably turn into a symbol of something sacred. it felt like from that moment on, he and lu ye were entering a new phase in their relationship. they were bound together tightly and intimately, drawing new boundaries around them, setting themselves apart from others, truly becoming a harmonious whole.


    holding hands, hugging, kissing¡­ it seemed that humans had an innate talent for expressing intimacy, knowing instinctively when to do what. qi yanbai subconsciously reached out and embraced lu ye¡¯s back, catching him by surprise when he wanted to pull away, and firmly kissed him.


    lu ye hesitated for a moment, but he didn¡¯t disappoint qi yanbai¡¯s rare initiative. he held qi yanbai¡¯s waist tightly and unreservedly broke through his defenses, turning this polite and affectionate attempt into a genuine kiss.


    on their way back from the sub-bureau, they had to pass along the riverside walkway. it was getting late, and the riverbank was sparsely populated. only the rushing river flowed past the marble railing, creating a soft, murmuring sound.


    qi yanbai¡¯s lower back pressed against the railing, but lu ye seemed concerned about him being uncomfortable, so he used the back of his hand to cushion the cold, hard edge, gently embracing him and keeping him in his arms.


    the warmth from lu ye¡¯s palm seemed to gradually spread, and qi yanbai suddenly felt a scorching heat behind him. a thin layer of sweat started forming on his back due to this sudden temperature change.


    this kiss was filled with tenderness, and for a moment, qi yanbai even felt that his almost obsessive possessiveness was soothed by it. his restless heart seemed to be pacified, tamed, and withdrew its claws, leaving only a tranquil and peaceful happiness.


    if only time could stop at this moment, qi yanbai suddenly thought. then he could forever immerse himself in this unreal and wonderful satisfaction, without having to move forward or think about tomorrow.


    unfortunately, time flowed like a river, and the past couldn¡¯t be reclaimed. qi yanbai¡¯s inexperienced kissing skills couldn¡¯t sustain his overwhelming emotions. in the midst of this emotional conflict, his eyes started to redden from lack of oxygen.


    qi yanbai¡¯s heart raced, his vision became blurry, and unconsciously, he grabbed the hem of lu ye¡¯s clothes, unsure whether he wanted to push him away or pull him closer.


    however, lu ye noticed his struggle. he smiled gently and released qi yanbai¡¯s lips, lightly brushing his own lips against the corner of qi yanbai¡¯s mouth before letting him go.


    the cold wind seeped in between them as soon as their lips parted, swiftly taking away the remaining warmth. qi yanbai breathed lightly a couple of times as if he couldn¡¯t resist the temptation to savor the moment. he moistened his lips with his tongue, tasting the lingering moisture.


    lu ye noticed all of qi yanbai¡¯s small actions. his eyes darkened, and he couldn¡¯t resist sliding his fingers gently into qi yanbai¡¯s open coat, placing his hand over qi yanbai¡¯s heart, beneath the slim, warm inner layer of clothing, and easily felt his heartbeat.


    that organ in his chest was beating rapidly, as if it would burst through the thin flesh any second, leaping into lu ye¡¯s palm.


    ¡°do you like it?¡± lu ye sighed with relief, smiling as he said, ¡°i guess i don¡¯t need to ask.¡±


    ¡°ask what?¡± qi yanbai asked knowingly.


    ¡°ask if you want to be my boyfriend,¡± lu ye said.


    qi yanbai seemed to have been waiting for this question. without any hesitation, almost as soon as lu ye finished speaking, he straightforwardly said, ¡°yes.¡±


    he agreed too quickly and decisively, surprising lu ye, who widened his eyes. it took him a couple of seconds to react. he couldn¡¯t help but be amazed and playfully commented,


    ¡°qi yanbai learning bad habits,¡± lu ye complained half-seriously as he helped qi yanbai straighten his coat, adding, ¡°you¡¯ve become quite the smooth talker.¡±


    while lu ye¡¯s confession had indeed been guided by qi yanbai¡¯s calculations and hints, qi yanbai had overestimated his own ability to react spontaneously. after the kiss had ended, he was overwhelmed by the satisfaction of their newfound relationship. he was in a daze, and his mind went blank for a while. his ability to respond had nearly reached zero.


    perhaps it was due to nervousness or a sense of guilt, but lu ye¡¯s words had taken qi yanbai by surprise. he hadn¡¯t expected them so soon and found himself at a loss for words, unable to process his emotions.


    qi yanbai felt like he had entered a completely unfamiliar territory in his life. his previous life experiences seemed irrelevant here, leaving him bewildered and not knowing how to face it.


    he felt something spreading and growing within him silently, wrapping around his heart and squeezing it gently, releasing a strange, tingling sensation. it was so real that qi yanbai instinctively reached out to touch his chest, sensing another kind of unfamiliar heartbeat.


    however, this time it was completely different from the first time. qi yanbai didn¡¯t feel any excitement; instead, he felt a void in his heart, floating in the air, as if he couldn¡¯t find solid ground beneath his feet. it made him feel uneasy, and this unfamiliar sense of loss was mixed in.


    unfortunately, that sense of loss disappeared too quickly, vanishing in an instant, before qi yanbai could grasp it.


    their delay at the police station and the walk back home had made them arrive later than usual. the flowers lu ye had ordered for qi yanbai¡¯s birthday had already been delivered. perhaps because they couldn¡¯t contact the recipient, the bouquet hung crookedly on lu ye¡¯s door frame, looking somewhat pitiful.


    ¡°i told you we should have waited to talk,¡± lu ye rescued the bouquet from the makeshift plastic bag, straightened the crumpled wrapping paper, and turned to qi yanbai with a playful smile. ¡°it was meant for you. i was planning to use it for my confession today, but now it can only be a celebration gift.¡±


    underneath the bouquet was a water-soaked flower sponge, heavy and cold. qi yanbai¡¯s wrist, which was exposed from under the flowers, was chilled by the water under the bouquet. he suddenly woke up from the dreamlike state he had been in and blinked at the flowers in his hand.


    ¡°iris flowers?¡± qi yanbai wondered, ¡°not roses?¡±


    ¡°do you like roses?¡± lu ye looked at the bouquet and said, ¡°i thought you art students didn¡¯t like something so common. besides, you¡¯ve painted these before, so i thought you might like them.¡±


    as he spoke, qi yanbai remembered that he had painted an iris flower for lu ye the first time he went to the police station to ¡°work.¡±


    qi yanbai himself hadn¡¯t realized how much of an impression that seemingly insignificant act had made on lu ye. he looked down at the flowers in his hand, sniffed the fragrance sprayed on the wrapping paper, and smiled contentedly. ¡°no, i like it. i really like it.¡±


    he said this and then hastily opened his apartment door, intending to put the bouquet in a vase to take care of it.


    lu ye stood at the doorway, smiling knowingly as he watched qi yanbai¡¯s bustling figure. he didn¡¯t leave right away, but instead gestured for him to come over. then, he hugged him through the door frame and kissed his forehead.


    ¡°alright, i get some rest,¡± he said. ¡°goodnight, boyfriend.¡±

 CH 38

    qi yanbai once again couldn¡¯t produce anything on his canvas.


    but unlike the frustration he felt before, similar to a trapped animal, qi yanbai now sat in front of the blank sheet of paper with an oddly calm mindset. he pressed the edges of the pencil against his lips, staring at the empty canvas, and his thoughts began to wander limitlessly.


    as he daydreamed, everything in his mind seemed to gradually fade away. all the images lost their colors, leaving only the clear and vivid images of lu ye standing there, layer upon layer, at the end. there was the way he looked when he first knocked on the door, the way they walked side by side along the riverbank in the moonlight, and the way he had just kissed him goodnight.


    that kiss seemed like some kind of anchor, easily pulling qi yanbai¡¯s scattered thoughts back together. his gaze flickered, and he couldn¡¯t help but reach out and gently touch the spot on his forehead where lu ye had kissed him.


    the gentle sensation seemed to linger deep in his soul. qi yanbai¡¯s fingertips slid down his cheek, finally resting on his lips as if savoring the memory.


    not satisfied, qi yanbai thought, not nearly enough.


    the satisfaction from intimate contact seemed to have a limited duration. it quickly faded away into the night along with lu ye¡¯s departure. qi yanbai opened his mouth and bit down on his fingertip, feeling a new appetite emerging, feeling that his appetite was not satisfied but rather igniting new desires..


    sometimes, qi yanbai felt like an insatiable abyss, with endless desires.


    the bouquet of irises that lu ye had given him had been placed in a tall vase nearby. qi yanbai reached out and gently brushed the moist petals, suddenly feeling a bit regretful.


    ¡°i shouldn¡¯t have hesitated earlier,¡± qi yanbai thought. ¡°i should have just let lu ye stay. it doesn¡¯t matter what we would do afterward, as long as we¡¯re not separated by this wall like we are now.¡±


    once this thought arose, it spread through qi yanbai¡¯s mind like a virus. he tried to restrain himself for a while, wanting to maintain a somewhat reserved image in front of lu ye. however, he only managed to hold out for three to five minutes. the two conflicting voices in his head were engaged in a fierce battle, urging him to give in to his desires and stop struggling.


    qi yanbai was torn between his thoughts when suddenly, his phone, which was placed next to the easel, lit up, displaying a new video call notification from a social app.


    qi yanbai initially thought it might be lu ye trying to contact him again, but when he looked at the caller¡¯s name, he furrowed his brows with disinterest and reluctantly answered the call.


    ashley¡¯s delicate and pretty face quickly appeared on the screen. qi yanbai tossed his paintbrush into the pen holder and asked, ¡°what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°are you disappointed to see it¡¯s me?¡± ashley noticed his impatience and raised an eyebrow, teasingly asking, ¡°so, are you waiting for someone else¡¯s call?¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    qi yanbai was struck by her directness and felt somewhat nervous, his eyelashes quivered, and he instinctively avoided ashley¡¯s scrutinizing gaze. he changed the subject with a harsh tone, asking, ¡°did you wake up early today just to inquire about my personal life?¡±


    ¡°not really,¡± ashley replied, shrugging. she leaned back, revealing a cigarette box next to her, took out a slender ladylike cigarette, and lit it. ¡°i¡¯m here to bring you some good news.¡±


    she looked like she had just woken up, with messy hair, no makeup, and wearing only a thin and silky nightgown that accentuated her graceful figure.


    qi yanbai took a moment to glance at her through the screen. she was reclining on a plush fabric sofa. there were vivid red marks on her fair skin, like lush hibiscus flowers.


    ¡°congratulations,¡± qi yanbai replied, already guessing what she was going to say. he assumed she was here to flaunt her favor from someone.


    ¡°i¡¯m not talking about that,¡± ashley replied, lighting her cigarette and exhaling a pure white smoke ring. she blinked playfully through the smoke, smiling as she said, ¡°do you remember the painting you gave your father all those years ago?¡±


    qi yanbai had given many artworks to qi zhe over the years, but the one ashley mentioned was the last one.


    ¡°i remember,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°what about it?¡±


    ¡°some time ago, your father held an art exhibition, and one of the auxiliary exhibition halls in china needed an additional piece of art. since no one asked him about it, they found your painting in the gallery¡¯s warehouse and included it,¡± ashley explained. ¡°however, during the exhibition, it seems that a certain art critic became interested in that painting and called to inquire about its price.¡±


    qi yanbai now understood. he had wondered why qi zhe, who had such a discerning eye, would tolerate an unsatisfactory piece in the exhibition. it turned out it was because of this.


    ¡°it seems that because someone inquired, your father retrieved the painting last week,¡± ashley continued. ¡°he spent several days looking at it in the studio and then suddenly called me to ask about your recent situation.¡±


    qi zhe never had the concept of father-son affection; if he wanted to remember someone, there must be a reason.


    sure enough, a hint of joy appeared in ashley¡¯s eyes. she flicked the cigarette ash, looking pleased as she said, ¡°he asked me to inquire if you have nothing important going on recently, could you come back home for a meal and meet some of his friends in the art world?¡±


    perhaps all children who had been suppressed by their parents during their youth had fantasized about someday gaining power and retaliating against their parents for their past neglect and indifference. when qi yanbai left home a few years ago, he would occasionally have unrealistic dreams, trying to soothe the self-loathing he had struggled with.


    at that time, qi yanbai had hoped that qi zhe would one day realize his mistake, that he had underestimated his abilities. he had thought about it day and night, almost turning qi zhe¡¯s decisive evaluation into an obsession.


    but as time passed, when qi zhe finally loosened his stance and began to reevaluate that painting, qi yanbai had already stopped caring so much.


    at this moment, he didn¡¯t feel the exhilaration of breaking free from his inner demons that had plagued him for years. instead, he thought of the rainy day at the exhibition and the transparent umbrella that lu ye had intentionally leaned toward him in the dimly lit corridor.


    qi yanbai wiped the blank paper in front of him with his hand, suddenly recalling that day when lu ye had glanced at the painting, noticing something qi zhe had overlooked for so many years.


    the image of qi zhe as an unassailable figure in his heart seemed to be gradually crumbling. qi yanbai let out a long sigh and said, ¡°i won¡¯t be going back.¡±


    ashley seemed to have detected something amiss. she tilted her head, crushed the cigarette¡¯s ash, and leaned closer to the camera, as if trying to examine qi yanbai¡¯s expression more closely.


    ¡°why?¡± she asked.


    ¡°nothing, i just don¡¯t want to paint for him anymore,¡± qi yanbai replied. he had lost interest in his father¡¯s art world long ago.


    ashley seemed a bit puzzled. ¡°last time, it was understandable that you didn¡¯t want to return, but this time your father reached out to you. plus, he¡¯s deposited a considerable amount of money into the foundation these past few years, nearly doubling it from before.¡±


    qi zhe was wealthy, very wealthy, and he spared no expense in the fields that interested him. he had a dedicated ¡°family foundation¡± for the arts, with an enormous endowment and substantial annual returns.


    qi yanbai had known the rules from a young age. in their family, the artist who produced the best work received the largest share of the foundation¡¯s income.


    money could work wonders. in their world, whoever produced the best work received the lion¡¯s share of the foundation¡¯s income.


    having money could make things happen, especially in the art world. over the years, qi yanbai had fought with others to obtain that money. at one point, he thought it was his ultimate goal in life. but at this moment, he seemed to have lost his desire for that foundation.


    even if qi zhe personally extended an olive branch to him, qi yanbai showed no signs of wavering.


    his monthly salary at the training institution was only 6,500 yuan. compared to the substantial rewards from the foundation, it was a drop in the bucket. however, he had grown used to it, and it no longer held the same appeal.


    ¡°i don¡¯t care anymore,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°i wasn¡¯t planning on painting for him again anyway.¡±


    ¡°he¡¯s more important than qi zhe,¡± qi yanbai confessed openly. ¡°i can find so many wonderful things in him¡ªfreshness, satisfaction, and many other things.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s upbringing in a dysfunctional family had not provided him with a solid emotional foundation, but it had also left him without any sense of belonging. so when he said those words, he did so confidently, without a trace of hesitation.


    for a brief moment, ashley¡¯s expression changed. she narrowed her eyes, looking like she had discerned some truth in the span of half a second. qi yanbai blinked, feeling her gaze freeze for a moment, almost giving off a sense of ¡°dignity.¡±


    but that feeling was fleeting, disappearing before anyone could grasp it. ashley¡¯s face regained a casual smile, as if she wasn¡¯t surprised by qi yanbai¡¯s response.


    ¡°i see,¡± ashley said cheerfully. ¡°alright, i¡¯ll convey the message to your father. but i don¡¯t know if he¡¯ll give up.¡±


    ¡°but that doesn¡¯t matter,¡± she continued. with a sly twist, she casually said, ¡°by the way, speaking of lu ye, you two are already together?¡±


    ashley was something of an emotional expert, and qi yanbai¡¯s experience was nothing to her. so, he didn¡¯t bother concealing it and simply nodded.


    ¡°we officially became a couple today,¡± qi yanbai said.


    ¡°hmm?¡± ashley widened her eyes in surprise, and her gaze naturally swept over qi yanbai¡¯s surroundings as if looking for someone. she asked, ¡°then why didn¡¯t you take the opportunity to keep him here?¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    qi yanbai was caught off guard by her direct question and wore an expression of mild embarrassment. he clicked his tongue and reluctantly recounted the events of the evening.


    ¡°¡­maybe i presented myself too honestly in front of him,¡± qi yanbai concluded. ¡°he thought i was too thin-skinned, so when i hesitated, he took the initiative to leave.¡±


    ¡°ah, he¡¯s quite the gentleman,¡± ashley clapped her hands and said excitedly. ¡°that¡¯s rare.¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t make fun of him,¡± qi yanbai said through gritted teeth.


    ¡°oh, i won¡¯t tease him. i¡¯ll tease you,¡± ashley replied with a mischievous smile. she said, ¡°so, you regret not making a move, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°but it¡¯s not your fault,¡± she continued, seemingly indifferent. ¡°he¡¯s still a virgin, after all. they tend to be a bit clumsy.¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    ashley¡¯s thought process was a bit off-kilter. she seemed to be unaware of the word ¡°shame¡± and never avoided discussing sensitive topics. qi yanbai couldn¡¯t keep his face straight, afraid that she would say something outrageous. he quickly interrupted her, claiming he had something to do soon, and rushed to hang up the call.


    ¡°don¡¯t be in such a hurry.¡±


    ashley noticed his panicked demeanor and playfully stopped him just as he was about to hang up. she smiled as she said, ¡°how about this, if you don¡¯t understand how to handle him, do you want me to teach you?¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    qi yanbai was stunned by her unexpectedly audacious suggestion. his hand trembled, and he decisively pressed the red ¡°end call¡± button, disconnecting the call.

 CH 39

    the news of qi yanbai and lu ye¡¯s relationship became known to lu wenyu the day after it was confirmed.


    qi yanbai, worried that the bouquet of irises lu ye had given him might wither if left alone, he brought the flowers to the school the next day on his way to work. he planned to arrange and preserve them as dried flowers in a frame during his free time.


    the training center was filled with children of various ages, all of them inquisitive little imps with active minds. when a celebrity teacher brought a beautifully wrapped bouquet of flowers to work, it was like a comet colliding with earth for them. the classroom buzzed with excitement, and everyone started speculating if their teacher had a girlfriend.


    lu mingming, as the leader of the gossip squad despite not understanding what ¡°dating¡± meant, managed to extract a few words from qi yanbai. she excitedly rushed back and shared the news with lu wenyu, saying that her little uncle had ¡°given a huge bouquet of flowers¡± to teacher qi.


    lu mingming might be a silly child, but lu wenyu wasn¡¯t. she sensed that there might be something unusual about this, although she didn¡¯t immediately jump to conclusions. instead, she waited for about a week and brought up the topic during a discussion with lu ye about family matters.


    ¡°if i didn¡¯t ask, you wouldn¡¯t have told me, would you?¡± lu wenyu chided over the phone, her tone light-hearted but with a hint of mock annoyance. ¡°i had to ask you myself?¡±


    ¡°how could that be? i was just waiting for the right moment,¡± lu ye replied with a smile, half true and half joking. ¡°i thought it was a serious matter, and it¡¯s hard to explain over the phone. i planned to introduce him properly when we meet. who knew this little brat here would be so quick with her questions.¡±


    lu ye had intended to introduce him to lu wenyu properly. however, they were both busy towards the end of the year, and they hadn¡¯t found the time to meet yet.


    ¡°sounds serious?¡± lu wenyu asked, sounding a little surprised. ¡°it seems like you¡¯re quite serious about him?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± lu ye admitted. he twirled a pen in his hand nervously, watching the small desk clock tick away, then continued, ¡°i never thought about it, but it seems like there¡¯s no one else in the world who¡¯s as compatible with me as he is.¡±


    not only did they have compatible personalities, but lu ye sometimes felt that there was an inexplicable connection between them. some things didn¡¯t need to be discussed but were just understood. their conversations flowed naturally, and even trivial matters like what to have for dinner were easily decided, with qi yanbai¡¯s suggestions somehow matching lu ye¡¯s preferences.


    even a few days ago, when li zhiwen¡¯s granddaughter was born, lu ye had been discussing with his colleagues what gift to give. by lunchtime, qi yanbai casually came to visit him, bringing a small and delicate jade pendant.


    ¡°i mentioned it to him during a casual conversation the night before, and he brought it over the next day,¡± lu ye smiled and said, taking a rare moment to show off. he added, ¡°sometimes i feel like we¡¯re just perfectly matched.¡±


    ¡°mmmh.¡± lu wenyu had never heard lu ye speak so highly of anyone before. with a teasing tone, she said, ¡°maybe that¡¯s because teacher qi knows how to please.¡±


    lu ye knew that his sister had her own ideas, but he didn¡¯t mind. he laughed and responded, ¡°maybe, but it feels nice.¡±


    ¡°i hope you won¡¯t regret it.¡± lu wenyu turned the conversation back and said, ¡°anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter how long you¡¯ve known each other. what matters is that if it¡¯s meant to be, it¡¯s meant to be¡ªsometimes, making a lifelong commitment can happen in an instant.¡±


    ¡°when did you become a relationship expert?¡± lu ye playfully teased her, ¡°you seem to have a clear understanding of these things. why haven¡¯t you found a stepfather for mingming yet?¡±


    ¡°because i¡¯m a smart woman,¡± lu wenyu confidently replied, ¡°i haven¡¯t gotten married because making money is the top priority, and i don¡¯t want to rush into a relationship.¡±


    lu ye knew his sister was a money enthusiast, so he didn¡¯t push the topic further. instead, after discussing their plans for the upcoming holidays, he hung up the phone.


    a colleague noticed that lu ye had finished the call and kicked the corner of the desk, sliding out from behind it. he greeted lu ye with a grin and said, ¡°it¡¯s time to leave. how about going to the eastern district for barbecue? we haven¡¯t had our monthly get-together yet.¡±


    ¡°i won¡¯t be going.¡± lu ye ended the call and organized his belongings, taking out his car keys. he said, ¡°i¡¯ll pick up yanbai after his class.¡±


    ¡°tag him along then,¡± yao xing suggested with a smile. ¡°it¡¯s a good time to introduce him to the group. there¡¯s a new xinjiang barbecue place in the eastern district that¡¯s rumored to have huge lamb legs. it¡¯s perfect for bringing two people.¡±


    lu ye hesitated for a moment but ultimately declined. ¡°no, let¡¯s save it for next time. he doesn¡¯t like going out much. i¡¯ll see if he wants to go next time.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s always ¡®next time, next time.¡¯ when are you two going to get married?¡± yao xing jokingly said, not taking it too seriously. ¡°you¡¯ve both been together for so long, sooner or later, you¡¯ll become a family man.¡±


    ¡°that means i have the makings for an excellent husband,¡± lu ye joked, not minding yao xing¡¯s teasing. he smiled and said, ¡°if you don¡¯t believe it, ask teacher qi.¡±

 CH 40

    lu ye exchanged a few jokes with his colleagues and then left work on time with his keys in hand.


    after the winter vacation for primary and secondary schools, the class schedules at qi yanbai¡¯s training institution were adjusted. several evening classes were moved to daytime, giving their teachers more free evenings during the week.


    that evening, lu ye had plans to go shopping in the new shopping mall in the new district with qi yanbai. before leaving, he sent a wechat message to qi yanbai. however, when he arrived at the training center¡¯s entrance, he hadn¡¯t received a reply. so, he parked his motorcycle across the street and looked up at the second-floor window.


    qi yanbai¡¯s classroom faced the street and was lit up at the moment. several rows of teenagers were sitting inside, seemingly in the middle of a class.


    coincidentally, it was as if they had a telepathic connection. just as lu ye looked up, qi yanbai happened to walk to the window and glanced outside, locking eyes with him.


    their gazes met through the glass, and a gentle smile appeared at the corners of qi yanbai¡¯s eyes and lips. he raised his hand slightly and signaled lu ye to wait for him.


    the training center was an educational institution, and sometimes, when there were more inquiries from parents, the management encouraged teachers to extend their classes as a way to attract more students. qi yanbai, as the face of the institution, often had fluctuating class schedules, so it wasn¡¯t unusual.


    when lu ye entered, there were several parents in the lobby inquiring about courses. since lu ye had visited many times, the front desk staff were familiar with him and knew he was there to see qi yanbai. they didn¡¯t bother him and just gestured upstairs with a chin raise, smiling, ¡°mr. lu, you can go upstairs and wait. teacher qi still has a little while.¡±


    lu ye nodded and thanked them before heading up the stairs. he knew the way well and soon reached the door of qi yanbai¡¯s classroom.


    that day, it was an advanced class, and all the students were around thirteen or fourteen years old. the classroom was quiet, and all that could be heard was the sound of pencils scratching on paper as the students worked on their art projects.


    the back door of the classroom was open, and a few parents sat sporadically near the door. lu ye slipped in quietly through the back door, found a corner by the window, sat and watched qi yanbai teach with great interest.


    qi yanbai was different when he was teaching. he appeared gentle yet distant, like a soft knife with a hint of assertiveness. lu ye was used to seeing his usual gentle demeanor, so seeing him teach like this occasionally made him find qi yanbai quite charismatic.


    the students in the advanced class had good foundational skills, and unlike the more chaotic beginners, they were quiet. after qi yanbai explained the key points at the front of the classroom, he put down the teaching stick and began to inspect the students¡¯ work.


    as a privileged observer, lu ye received special treatment in qi yanbai¡¯s class.


    the paper in front of him was completely blank, and he hadn¡¯t drawn anything. however, when qi yanbai walked over to him, his steps slightly paused, and then discreetly behind the easel, he handed something small into lu ye¡¯s hand.


    lu ye was taken aback, not expecting qi yanbai to exchange a secret with him in front of everyone. he instinctively glanced up at him, but qi yanbai blushed and seemed a bit embarrassed after handing over the item. he didn¡¯t say anything and quickly moved on to the next artwork.


    lu ye raised an eyebrow, and when he examined the item in his hand, he found it to be a crystal lemon-flavored candy meant as a reward for ¡°improving young students.¡± the packaging even had a custom sticker from their training center with an excellent red flower.


    qi yanbai had handed over the item and left, appearing serious and proper, except for the blush on his ears, which seemed like it was about to drip blood. lu ye couldn¡¯t help but smile but also felt a sweet sensation in his heart. so, when no one was looking, he tore open the candy wrapper and popped the lemon candy into his mouth.


    the mildly sour and sweet taste spread across his tongue, and as he crinkled the candy wrapper, he looked at qi yanbai¡¯s side profile in front of him. suddenly, he sensed a hidden sense of romance.


    right there, in the classroom, in qi yanbai¡¯s familiar work environment, they had exchanged a secret known only to the two of them, just like how lovers in their school days used to pass notes to each other behind the teacher¡¯s back. this secretive excitement was like a bond that tied them even tighter, unnoticed by others.


    this bit of sweetness made the interruption in class seem trivial. lu ye was in a good mood, leaning against the corner and not paying attention to the class. while the students were busy drawing, he was leisurely folding origami with the candy wrapper.


    ¡°that¡¯s impressive as well.¡±


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t know when he had finished with the students and returned. he stood next to lu ye, curiously examining the origami crane.


    ¡°i can do much more than this,¡± lu ye said, blowing a breath onto the small origami crane. the little creation floated into qi yanbai¡¯s palm.


    ¡°i¡¯m giving it to you,¡± lu ye said with a smile. ¡°what do you think?¡±


    qi yanbai had a unique filter for everything, not just the origami crane. even if lu ye had folded a shapeless piece of paper, qi yanbai could compliment it as ¡°postmodern art.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s beautiful,¡± qi yanbai said with a smile. ¡°i¡¯ll put it in my office and tidy up before leaving.¡±


    with that, he picked up the partially framed iris flower specimen from his desk.


    no wonder liu mingming had asked about it. lu ye thought that while making one iris would be fine, qi yanbai had gone to great lengths. he hadn¡¯t thrown away a single one and had made a whole stack of them, overlapping them in a square frame that was a meter wide. at first glance, it looked like a flat bouquet, so it wasn¡¯t surprising that liu mingming had asked.


    ¡°why are you keeping them?¡± liu ye asked, slightly amused. ¡°it¡¯s a lot of effort, with all the cutting, arranging, and maintenance. you could just throw them away and i¡¯ll buy you new ones next time.¡±


    qi yanbai took the partially framed iris specimen back from the edge of his desk, and gently stroked the frame as if it were a precious treasure. he then took out a clean sheet of rice paper and covered it.


    ¡°how can that be the same?¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°this is the first time someone has given me flowers. in the future, if you give me more, it won¡¯t be this one.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s family background was well-off, but he remembered qi yanbai¡¯s comments about qi zhe and was well aware of his complicated and cold childhood.


    qi yanbai had grown into a warm and gentle person on his own. lu ye admired him, but also felt sorry for him.


    so, even though lu ye never thought he had anything extraordinary to offer, he was sure of one thing ¨C he could give qi yanbai love and warmth which he lacked growing up.


    lu ye paused and his eyes softened. he looked like he had been bathed in moonlight, his voice gentle and rippling, as if he had been coated with a layer of moonlight that made his words sound like ripples.


    ¡°¡­like you said, people don¡¯t have many things to hold onto in their lives. what they can give is not much either. i don¡¯t have much to my name, i¡¯m just an ordinary police officer with modest beginnings and an average future. i don¡¯t have any special treasures to offer you.


    ¡°but i can say this: from the moment you¡¯re with me, whatever i have, is yours as well.¡±


    qi yanbai was momentarily stunned, caught off guard by lu ye¡¯s sudden proposal. he pointed at himself, still not fully comprehending. ¡°me?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± lu ye replied casually, shifting his posture slightly as he leaned against the door frame. he continued in a relaxed tone, ¡°don¡¯t worry, there won¡¯t be anyone else at home for the lunar new year, just my sister and that little brat, liu mingming.¡±


    qi yanbai knew it was about spending the new year with lu wenyu. however, lu ye¡¯s proposal had come so suddenly that it left him a bit bewildered.


    ¡°why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?¡± qi yanbai asked, slightly taken aback. ¡°isn¡¯t it a bit too soon?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s not that sudden. i¡¯ve already talked to my sister about it, so i wanted to know your opinion now.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s gaze moved past qi yanbai¡¯s shoulder and landed on the large floor-to-ceiling window behind him. the night outside had darkened completely, and the streetlights cast a thin orange glow against the pitch-black night, while the bright moon hung high, partially hidden behind clouds.


    lu ye¡¯s eyes returned from the moonlight to qi yanbai, and he couldn¡¯t help but think that lu wenyu¡¯s words were true ¨C sometimes, all it took to spend a lifetime with someone was a single moment.


    like when qi yanbai had just moved in across from him, and when he had stood at the kitchen door with the warmth of hot soup wafting over his hands. or when he had been bedridden with a high fever and had woken up to the scent of home-cooked meals filling the house. and now, this moment.


    so, even though lu ye didn¡¯t think he had anything exceptional to offer, he was certain of one thing ¨C he could give himself to qi yanbai fully.

 CH 43

    lu ye, perhaps because he was recently transferred, the security brigade scheduled the duty roster for the chinese new year at the end of the year and his duty dates conveniently avoided the period from new year¡¯s eve to the third day of the new year. this allowed him to have an uninterrupted year-end break.


    little lu mingming had known three days in advance that teacher qi was coming to their house for the new year. she was so excited that she couldn¡¯t sleep, so she took out the snack gift bag she had stored in her ¡°safe¡± and eagerly prepared to leave a good impression on teacher qi, hoping to keep him in their home for a long time.


    on the day of the spring festival, lu mingming woke up early to welcome their ¡°distinguished guest.¡± it was a cold winter morning at 6 a.m.. she had already gotten out of bed, changed her clothes, and started calling lu ye as if her life depended on it.


    lu ye had never experienced such an ¡°enthusiastic¡± welcome from his niece before, and he was somewhat overwhelmed. he reassured her several times that he would definitely bring teacher qi to their doorstep ¡°on time and efficiently,¡± finally managing to catch his breath amidst little lu ming ming¡¯s enthusiastic barrage.


    lu ye hung up the phone, then turned to qi yanbai with a wry smile and complained, ¡°she¡¯s definitely likes you more.¡±


    ¡°children tend to like their teachers more,¡± qi yanbai smiled and adjusted the over-ear headphones on lu ye¡¯s head when he turned, comforting him, ¡°moreover, someone as well-behaved as mingming has a ¡®filter¡¯ for teachers.


    whether lu mingming would become indifferent to teacher qi in the future remained to be seen, but when qi yanbai first entered lu wenyu¡¯s home, he did receive an exceptionally warm welcome.


    lu wenyu¡¯s house was far from lu ye¡¯s, perfectly situated between the north and south ends of the city, connecting a whole subway line in a straight line.


    qi yanbai was feeling nervous about his first official ¡°meeting the family¡± meal, and he had rehearsed his opening lines a hundred times in his mind. however, he was taken aback by the unexpected welcome ceremony that lu mingming had prepared, and he forgot all about his prepared speech. he could only smile awkwardly and greet them with a polite ¡°hello.¡±


    lu wenyu, who had somehow made her way downstairs from upstairs, was standing on the staircase. she was wearing a loose and soft home outfit, her long curly hair a bit messy, as if she had just woken up from bed. she looked nothing like the assertive career woman she appeared to be outside.


    lu wenyu seemed amused by his reaction and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. she leaned against the railing and waved at him, saying, ¡°no need to be so nervous. we¡¯re all family here. you¡¯ve come early in the morning, so go change into something more comfortable and relaxed.¡±


    qi yanbai was taken aback. change into what?


    before he could figure it out, lu ye had already changed his shoes and casually placed the gifts he had brought on the floor. he then grabbed qi yanbai¡¯s arm and led him into the house.


    lu wenyu¡¯s villa had three floors in total, and there was a guest room on the first floor with an en suite bathroom, which had always been reserved for lu ye. lu ye led qi yanbai into the room, opened the closet, and took a look inside. then, he grabbed a set of home clothes from the deep end of the closet and handed it to qi yanbai.


    qi yanbai was still trying to process everything that had happened. he blinked and looked at the clothes in his hand.


    the home clothes were light in color, and they seemed to have been washed. they were hung in a dust cover, and the label on the collar had not been removed yet. however, there were a few obvious creases from being in the washing machine. qi yanbai glanced at the size on the label and realized it was not lu ye¡¯s size.


    ¡°but why do you have these clothes?¡± qi yanbai asked. ¡°and how does your sister know my size?¡±


    ¡°i told her,¡± lu ye said matter-of-factly.


    ¡°but i never told you my size,¡± qi yanbai said, puzzled.


    ¡°it¡¯s not like it¡¯s some private information,¡± lu ye said, gesturing to qi yanbai¡¯s shoulder width. ¡°we¡¯ve been together for a while, and with a little observation, it¡¯s easy to figure out.¡±


    qi yanbai was still trying to process everything that had happened. he held the hanger in his hand, and he felt like there was a warmth in the soft fabric. he subconsciously tightened his grip on it, as if he wanted to hold onto something through the thin material.


    in the living room, lu mingming had finally paid the price for her momentary enjoyment. she was now holding a broom and sweeping up the colorful paper scattered all over the floor. lu ye, who had changed into his clothes, was standing by and watching the her with a smug expression. he didn¡¯t help but instead gave unsolicited advice, constantly saying, ¡°you missed a spot on the left,¡± or ¡°that part on the right isn¡¯t clean.¡±


    at first, lu mingming followed his instructions, but she quickly became irritated by lu ye¡¯s interference. she put down the broom, looking aggrieved, and tried to find some support for herself.


    ¡°don¡¯t laugh!¡± lu mingming stomped her foot. ¡°if you laugh again, i¡¯ll¡­ i¡¯ll tell teacher qi!¡±


    ¡°hey, that¡¯s the right person to go to,¡± lu ye clapped his hands and said with a smile. ¡°i¡¯m really scared of teacher qi.¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t listen to him,¡± lu wenyu chimed in from behind the kitchen counter, looking at her silly daughter with pity. she said, ¡°he¡¯s not afraid of teacher qi at all.¡±


    in lu mingming¡¯s mind, the identity of ¡°teacher¡± was equivalent to something sacred and inviolable. she tilted her head in confusion and asked, ¡°why?¡±


    ¡°because teacher qi is in a relationship with your uncle,¡± lu ye said with a straight face.


    lu mingming was a mature child, and thanks to the unconventional upbringing of the lu siblings, she had received a slightly more open-minded education than her peers. hearing this, she was initially shocked, but before she could even think about how two men could be in a romantic relationship, she was hit by the fact that ¡°teacher qi prefers my uncle over me.¡±


    ¡°what?!¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s true,¡± lu ye changed his tone and said seriously, ¡°but this is a secret between me and teacher qi. you know about it, so that¡¯s enough. don¡¯t tell anyone at school ¨C not even if someone asks.¡±


    school was a place with many children, parents, and the teacher¡¯s identity was highly sensitive. everything had to be impeccable, and lu ye had attended numerous training sessions. he was worried that if lu mingming accidentally spilled the beans and someone with ill intentions heard it, it might affect qi yanbai¡¯s job.


    lu mingming was a sensible child who knew what was important. she stood up straight and nodded.


    but as soon as she nodded and was about to promise something, she heard the door behind her click, and qi yanbai walked out of the room.


    ¡°there¡¯s no need to keep it a secret; just let things happen naturally,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°it¡¯s a fact that we¡¯re in a relationship, and if the parents can¡¯t accept it, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    his attitude was open and accepting, and even lu wenyu couldn¡¯t help but admire him as she looked at him.

 CH 44

    the little war between lu ye and lu mingming ended with the intervention of qi yanbai.


    soon, under the persuasion of teacher qi, lu mingming forgave her childish uncle and happily held qi yanbai¡¯s hand, running to the other side of the living room to paint together.


    ¡°he¡¯s really nice to you.¡± after finishing her drink and placing the glass on the table, lu wenyu walked out from behind the kitchen counter and stood beside lu ye, glancing at the big and small figures in the living room who were arranging art supplies to get ready to paint. she sighed and said, ¡°i was worried that you would only encounter bad luck in your life, but i didn¡¯t expect you to meet someone who truly cares about you.¡±


    ¡°well, things can turn around, and i haven¡¯t always been unlucky,¡± lu ye smiled and said, ¡°but he¡¯s indeed too gentle. sometimes i think, in the training center, there are all sorts of people, reasonable and unreasonable¡ªi worry he might be at a disadvantage.¡±


    ¡°i think you¡¯re worrying too much,¡± lu wenyu raised an eyebrow, hinting at something, and said, ¡°i think he is quite capable of handling things on his own. as a parent, i¡¯d rather entrust my child to an gentle yet independent teacher than one who would deceive parents for the sake of work.¡±


    lu ye gave her a helpless glance and said, ¡°i hope all parents are as open-minded as you.¡±


    ¡°alright, stop with the idle talk.¡±


    saying this, lu wenyu playfully punched lu ye¡¯s shoulder, then went through a small storage room next to the kitchen door and threw a brand new apron on lu ye. she ordered, ¡°no slacking off, come and help.¡±


    lu wenyu¡¯s business had grown, but she still retained the habit of working side by side with lu ye, just like when they relied on each other when they were young.


    lu ye sighed in resignation and followed lu wenyu into the kitchen. as he entered, he couldn¡¯t help but glance back. he saw that qi yanbai had already set up the easel for lu mingming and was now kneeling by the side, carefully selecting the paint tubes to use.


    it seemed like his gaze had caught qi yanbai¡¯s attention. qi yanbai instinctively turned his head, and their eyes met in mid-air.


    leaning against the door frame, lu ye smiled at him, then gestured with a nod towards lu mingming behind him, silently mouthing, ¡°good luck.¡±


    qi yanbai nodded and exchanged a warm smile with him through their silent communication. then, he lowered his head, took out his phone from his pocket, and openly messaged lu ye while sitting beside lu mingming.


    ¡°what is your sister¡¯s impression of me?¡± qi yanbai asked. ¡°did i come across as too stiff?¡±


    the moment the message was sent, lu ye¡¯s phone vibrated in his pocket. he raised an eyebrow, took out his phone, unlocked it, and glanced at it. instead of replying immediately, he subconsciously looked at qi yanbai¡¯s expression again.


    qi yanbai indeed seemed troubled. he stared at the phone screen, his brows unconsciously furrowing slightly. his whole posture was tense, like a bowstring about to be drawn to its limit.


    the phone hadn¡¯t had time to go dark yet, and the screen was still on the chat interface between qi yanbai and lu ye. lu mingming didn¡¯t intend to invade her teacher¡¯s privacy, but with just one glance, she saw the opening line that said, (sister).


    ¡°teacher qi, are you worried about my mom?¡± lu mingming blinked and looked at him earnestly, attempting to reassure him. ¡°don¡¯t worry, my mom won¡¯t dislike you. she really likes you.¡±


    qi yanbai seemed comforted by her words. he smiled, reached out to ruffle her hair, and then locked the screen of his phone, placing it on the coffee table nearby.


    it¡¯s strange, qi yanbai thought.


    compared to the other students¡¯ parents, gaining lu wenyu¡¯s favor was actually quite easy. qi yanbai was well aware of the image he had in lu wenyu¡¯s eyes¡ªhe was first lu mingming¡¯s teacher, and then ¡°lu ye¡¯s boyfriend.¡± as long as he played these two roles correctly, he could easily win lu wenyu¡¯s favor and support.


    qi yanbai should have been well-versed in this, but he inexplicably felt a slight lack of confidence in this unfamiliar and intimate environment.


    lu ye found qi yanbai¡¯s unconscious nervousness quite adorable and couldn¡¯t resist adjusting his angle slightly. he discreetly took a picture of qi yanbai.


    the subtle sound of the camera¡¯s shutter caught qi yanbai¡¯s attention. he turned to look at lu ye, suddenly realizing that his series of actions had been observed by lu ye. feeling embarrassed, he pursed his lips and lowered his head, a faint blush creeping up his ears.


    ¡°do i look silly?¡± qi yanbai¡¯s message appeared on the screen shortly after.


    ¡°cute,¡± lu ye replied.


    qi yanbai had a thin skin and rarely received such straightforward teasing from lu ye. his pale pink ears deepened in color, and his gaze became elusive. even when he felt lu ye¡¯s gaze on him, he didn¡¯t look back.


    lu ye admired qi yanbai¡¯s bashfulness for a while, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, and didn¡¯t want to tease him any further. instead, replied.


    ¡°if you don¡¯t like it, i can delete it?¡± lu ye asked.


    unexpectedly, qi yanbai shook his head and typed out another response.


    ¡°no don¡¯t,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°hold on to it.¡±


    he thought for a moment, perhaps worried that his words sounded too stiff or like he was sulking, so he added another sentence.


    ¡°i don¡¯t mind.¡±


    when he typed this, he looked back at lu ye with a soft gaze, and lu ye couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit soft-hearted as he tapped on his phone.

 CH 45

    lu mingming was just a kid after all. although she enthusiastically planned a ¡°warm welcome¡± for qi yanbai, her energy couldn¡¯t keep up. shortly after finishing lunch, she began to feel drowsy, leaning on the easel, struggling to stay awake.


    lu wenyu originally wanted to take her back to her room for a nap, but lu mingming wasn¡¯t very willing. she played with the hem of qi yanbai¡¯s clothes for a while before quietly admitting that she wanted to hear the bedtime story her teacher had told in class.


    ¡°well, alright,¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    qi yanbai glanced at lu wenyu, who was sitting on the small bed opposite him, then lowered his head and smiled at lu mingming. he said softly, ¡°after you listen to the story, you¡¯ll go to sleep, okay?¡±


    lu mingming nodded obediently, and as if she wanted to assure him with her actions, she soon closed her eyes, pulling the blanket up to her shoulders.


    ¡°once upon a time, there was a poor child who lived in the most rundown house in the city. he couldn¡¯t get enough to eat and didn¡¯t have enough warm clothes to wear, he could only make a living by selling the coal he picked up every day,¡± qi yanbai said softly. ¡°he was hungry and cold every day, shivering in the cold wind. but one day, a kind-hearted person met him and told him about a magical forest a hundred miles to the east of the city.¡±


    ¡°the forest had beautiful scenery, an endless supply of sweet spring water, and a magic dining table that always had new dishes. it was always sunny there, and there was no more pain or sadness. any wish could be fulfilled.¡±


    lu mingming, with her eyes closed, let out a soft ¡°wow¡± and said, ¡°that sounds so nice.¡±


    ¡°the child was very happy, so he immediately set off on a journey to find the magic forest,¡± qi yanbai continued. ¡°on his way, he met a little white rabbit who he asked for directions. the little white rabbit said, ¡®if you give me your trust, i will tell you the way to the forest.''¡±


    ¡°the child agreed, so the little white rabbit showed him the way to the magic forest,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°the child was very happy, and he continued on his way. but after a while, he got lost again.¡±


    ¡°at that moment, another little white rabbit appeared in front of him, and the little white rabbit said, ¡®if you want me to show you the way, you must give me your love.''¡±


    lu mingming yawned and asked sleepily, ¡°did the child agree?¡±


    ¡°yes, he really wanted to go to the magic forest,¡± qi yanbai said softly. ¡°so he agreed, and he followed the directions he got through love. he walked for three days and three nights and finally arrived at the entrance of the magic forest. this time, he saw another little white rabbit in front of the magic forest. the little white rabbit told him that to enter the happy magical forest, he had to give him something.¡±


    qi yanbai paused for a moment and then said, ¡°it was loyalty. the little white rabbit said that as long as the child gave him loyalty, he could enter the happy magic forest.¡±


    ¡°and then?¡± lu mingming mumbled, ¡°did the child agree again?¡±


    ¡°of course,¡± qi yanbai lowered his eyes and smiled gently, saying softly, ¡°the child and the little white rabbit then lived happily in the forest with plenty to eat and drink.¡±


    fairy tales are always beautiful. they are bright, and filled with unrealistic happiness, making people reluctant to break the illusion, even if they know it¡¯s not real.


    lu mingming fell asleep peacefully with the answers she wanted, and qi yanbai smiled at lu wenyu before quietly leaving the bedroom, closing the door behind him.


    the living room on the first floor was quiet. when qi yanbai went downstairs, he found that lu ye had somehow sat down in front of the easel and was making some changes to lu mingming¡¯s ¡°masterpiece.¡± unfortunately, lu ye¡¯s artistic skills were on par with lu mingming¡¯s, and he had drawn a poorly proportioned stick figure on the paper, which didn¡¯t look any better than the one drawn by lu mingming.


    qi yanbai was indulgent towards him. seeing lu ye ¡°tampering¡± with the artwork, he didn¡¯t stop him. instead, he quietly approached lu ye from behind, bent down slightly, and hugged his waist, resting his chin on his shoulder.


    ¡°lu ye,¡± qi yanbai called him softly.


    ¡°is mingming finally asleep?¡± lu ye naturally turned his head and kissed him lightly, smiling, ¡°what story did you read to her?.¡±


    ¡°just a regular fairy tale,¡± qi yanbai smiled and recounted the story he had told lu mingming to lu ye. unfortunately, lu ye didn¡¯t have a romantic heart for fairy tales, and after hearing the ending, he raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°but didn¡¯t the boy in the story have any doubts?¡±


    ¡°doubts about what?¡± qi yanbai was puzzled.


    ¡°where did the magic forest come from?, and why did it have an endless supply of delicious food and water?¡± lu ye said, ¡°and running into three little white rabbits in a row is too coincidental. it¡¯s like a fairy tale covering up a child trafficking story.¡±


    ¡°¡°do you not think it¡¯s good?¡± qi yanbai didn¡¯t answer directly but asked in return, ¡°happiness, bliss.¡±


    lu ye thought to himself that of course, it wasn¡¯t good. if he were the kid in the story, he would have turned back immediately upon seeing the third little white rabbit at the forest entrance, called the police, and rounded up the gang of rabbit traffickers who kidnapped children.


    but qi yanbai was someone who faced happiness and creativity every day from kids, and it was normal for him to carry a little bit of fairy tale in his heart. lu ye didn¡¯t dare to provoke him with his shallow and ¡°petty¡± adult thinking. seeing that he asked seriously, lu ye quickly changed his tone and reassured him, ¡°anyway it wasn¡¯t terrible either? the idea of a happy life with everything good in abundance sounds nice.¡±


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t really tell whether lu ye¡¯s statement had a hidden meaning, but he seemed pleased with this answer. his eyes even brightened, and he couldn¡¯t help but tighten his hold on lu ye¡¯s arm, rubbing his face against lu ye¡¯s affectionately, saying, ¡°by the way, what are you drawing?¡±


    ¡°nothing,¡± lu ye¡¯s drawing skills were extremely poor, and he felt embarrassed to admit that he was ¡°creating.¡± he scratched his face awkwardly and said, ¡°i saw her drawing a bunch of kids, so i thought of adding you too.¡±


    qi yanbai chuckled and, in that position, he held lu ye¡¯s hand, guiding him to make a couple of strokes on the paper.


    his chest pressed against lu ye¡¯s back, and with each breath, they felt even more intimately connected. lu ye could feel his warm breath so close, and he suddenly had some distracting thoughts.


    his fingers holding the pencil relaxed unconsciously, and his gaze gradually shifted from the paper to qi yanbai¡¯s side profile. then he reached out his hand, lightly grabbed qi yanbai¡¯s chin, and turned his face towards himself.


    qi yanbai was slightly surprised by this sudden action, and before he could even realize what was happening, lu ye moved closer and kissed his lips.


    qi yanbai was taken aback, and he mumbled, ¡°why so sudden¡ª¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s not sudden,¡± lu ye whispered, ¡°i¡¯ve been wanting to do this since earlier.¡±


    he said with a muffled laugh, causing a tingling sensation in qi yanbai¡¯s chest.


    ¡°yanbai,¡± lu ye gently nibbled on qi yanbai¡¯s lower lip and asked softly, ¡°how much do you like me?¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, and his ears turned red, and he struggled for a while before finally mustering the courage to squeeze out a ¡°i like you a lot¡± from his throat.


    lu ye smiled and was about to say something else when his phone suddenly rang.


    lu ye furrowed his brows slightly. he regretfully released qi yanbai and took a few steps away to answer the phone.


    qi yanbai sat in front of the easel and watched as lu ye walked away, taking a few steps to answer the phone. he saw that lu ye¡¯s expression had become serious within just two sentences, and he lowered his head slightly, responding with ¡°yes¡± and ¡°uh-huh,¡± and saying, ¡°i understand.¡±


    qi yanbai was distracted by his phone call, making lu wenyu who was approaching from mingming¡¯s room worry. she asked, ¡°is it something urgent at work?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s work, but not urgent,¡± lu ye smiled at both of them and said, ¡°it¡¯s about the arrangements after the new year, but it won¡¯t disrupt our meal tonight.¡±

 CH 46

    the lu siblings were locals, so their lifestyle should have leaned towards the jiangnan style. however, their customs for celebrating the lunar new year seemed to be a blend of both southern and northern traditions. in the kitchen, they had prepared four bowls and eight dishes, with dumpling wrappers and freshly made tangyuan (rice dumplings) taking up a significant portion of the spread, carefully sieved by two small bamboo strainers.


    ¡°my dad¡¯s ancestral home is in the north, and he moved here when he was young for work,¡± lu ye explained to qi yanbai while placing a stainless steel bowl filled with dumpling filling in front of qi yanbai. he took advantage of lu wenyu going to wash her hands to continue, ¡°so, our family has always had a mixed new year¡¯s feast with dumplings and tangyuan.¡±


    ¡°even though my sister and i left home early, we still retained these customs. so, during the new year, we would make dumplings to satisfy our cravings,¡± lu ye said, lowering his voice and adding, ¡°let me warn you now, when she comes back, don¡¯t mention this.¡±


    ¡°why?¡± qi yanbai asked, puzzled.


    ¡°because she doesn¡¯t like to hear about it,¡± lu ye shook his head with a helpless smile, explaining, ¡°both of us were kicked out of our family, so she has always detested any connection to that side and has tried her best to separate herself from them.¡±


    perhaps children who have fled their families all have this dilemma. they both yearn to distance themselves from their families, yet they are inevitably influenced by them. lifestyle, outlook, and even character traits¡ªall of these are like an intractable part of their upbringing, deeply rooted and difficult to remove.


    lu wenyu may not be unaware of this, but she preferred to avoid facing everything she disliked.


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t fully understand this subtle and painful struggle yet. moreover, compared to lu wenyu, he was more concerned about lu ye¡¯s feelings.


    ¡°what about you?¡± qi yanbai tilted his head to look at him and asked, ¡°don¡¯t you dislike them?¡±


    ¡°there¡¯s no need for that,¡± lu ye smiled and placed pieces of dough on the cutting board, sprinkling some dry flour on the surface. he continued, ¡°i made my own choices; why would i blame them?¡±


    qi yanbai detected something unspoken in lu ye¡¯s brief statement. his eyes flickered, and he was about to ask more when he saw lu wenyu returning from the living room.


    lu wenyu¡¯s mood was unpredictable during the new year, and lu ye didn¡¯t want to upset her. qi yanbai, understanding this, didn¡¯t press the matter and smoothly changed the topic.


    ¡°how do you wrap these?¡± qi yanbai examined one of the dough wrappers rolled out by lu ye, hesitating to start.


    qi yanbai grew up abroad, and although his parents were chinese-speaking ethnic chinese, their family had a unique background, and they had never celebrated any lively festivals.


    he was unfamiliar with these family-oriented traditions, so he had diligently studied before coming to celebrate the new year with the lu family. unfortunately, the lu siblings had their own way of doing things, and none of the knowledge qi yanbai had prepared was of any use.


    lu ye probably hadn¡¯t expected qi yanbai who was a somewhat skilled chef not to know how to wrap dumplings. hearing his question, lu ye supported the rolling pin with his hand, smiled, and said, ¡°you don¡¯t know how to do this?¡±


    dumpling wrappers were soft and thin, and when held in hand, they slid smoothly along the palm. qi yanbai tried to fold one, and while the shape was alright, his technique wasn¡¯t quite right, causing the meat filling to squeeze out from one corner and fall onto the tabletop.


    ¡°i¡¯m not very good at this,¡± qi yanbai pouted. he put down the irregular shaped dumpling he had just created and wiped the table clean with kitchen paper. he sighed softly and said, ¡°i didn¡¯t celebrate new year when i was a child, so i¡¯ve never done this before.¡±


    the smile on lu ye¡¯s face faded slightly, as he seemed to recall the difficult moments of qi yanbai¡¯s childhood. thinking about past experiences on what should have been a joyful day was never a pleasant experience. after a while, lu ye smiled again and spoke with a relaxed tone, ¡°it¡¯s okay; there¡¯s nothing difficult about it.¡±


    he used his toe to pull out a stool and sat down beside qi yanbai, placing a freshly rolled dough wrapper in qi yanbai¡¯s hand while doing so.


    ¡°put less filling and just pinch it shut,¡± lu ye instructed, holding qi yanbai¡¯s hand and guiding him step by step. his body temperature was slightly higher than qi yanbai¡¯s, and the warmth of his palm against the back of qi yanbai¡¯s hand felt exceptionally comforting. the warmth flowed through their bodies as their skin touched, leaving behind a subtle, tingling sensation.


    there was soon a noticeable amount of pressure on the back of qi yanbai¡¯s hand. he loosened his grip slightly, and a perfectly round dumpling slipped out of his hand, landing with a soft thud on the flour-covered cutting board.


    ¡°see, it¡¯s simple,¡± lu ye said. he didn¡¯t release qi yanbai¡¯s hand; instead, he continued, ¡°yanbai, i know you¡¯ve had a difficult upbringing.¡±


    ¡°i initially wanted to comfort you, but then i realized there was no need,¡± lu ye continued, his movements not stopping. he held qi yanbai¡¯s hand and neatly shaped another dumpling while saying, ¡°because even if no one comforts you, you¡¯ve already grown up, and you¡¯ve grown up quite well.¡±


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t really feel the need for comfort. he had brought up the topic mostly to solidify his vulnerable image in front of lu ye. however, for some reason, as he stared at the well-formed dumplings in his hand and listened to lu ye¡¯s gentle words, he unexpectedly developed a strange sense of himself being ¡°remarkable.¡±


    ¡°i don¡¯t know much about how you lived when you were a child,¡± lu ye continued, ¡°but i want to tell you that those things don¡¯t really matter anymore. you¡¯ve grown up, and you¡¯ll spend the rest of your days with me.¡±


    ¡°whether you know something or not, it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± lu ye held qi yanbai¡¯s hand, placing the dumplings they had made on a tray. he continued earnestly, ¡°if there¡¯s something you don¡¯t know, i will teach you.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s slightly cold hand had already warmed up from being held by lu ye. they were so close that their breaths and body temperatures could intertwine. qi yanbai turned his head to look at lu ye and suddenly felt as if their bones and blood were merging together in an inexplicable way.


    lu ye¡¯s gaze was gentle, as if it contained a deep sea with boundless compassion.


    qi yanbai pursed his lips and felt something bursting in his chest, prompting him to take a step forward and kiss lu ye.


    it was strange because lu ye hadn¡¯t really said any earth-shattering words of love, but as qi yanbai looked at him, it felt as if the whole world had been enchanted by him, spreading colorful colors in an instant.


    the living room¡¯s tv was featuring a lively replay of a past spring festival gala, filling the large room with the sounds of unfamiliar and noisy laughter. in the kitchen, the soup pot was boiled for the second time, and the aroma of cordyceps mushrooms wafted through the air, carrying a slightly bitter-sweet fragrance.


    qi yanbai blinked, suddenly feeling a surreal sensation.


    he felt like alice in wonderland, led astray by the white rabbit, falling into a bizarre and colorful new world.


    but fortunately, this new world was sunny, with a comforting lover and warm soup, so ¡°alice¡± willingly immersed herself here.


    it was truly amazing, qi yanbai thought; lu ye seemed to be the fairy tale itself, possessing an irresistible charm.


    at some point, lu wenyu had quietly left the living room, and she didn¡¯t reappear for the entire afternoon. it was only before dinner that she came downstairs, teasing qi yanbai and lu ye with her eyes, until he saw qi yanbai blushing, then she moved her gaze away and started teasing lu ye instead.


    ¡°did you do any real work this afternoon?¡± lu wenyu laughed and said, ¡°or were you too busy being lovey dovey? in that case, we might as well go hungry.¡±


    lu ye had thicker skin than qi yanbai, and he met lu wenyu¡¯s gaze head-on. he extended his arm to shield qi yanbai behind him and said nonchalantly, ¡°no worries, we can always go out to eat. we¡¯ll spend your money, you¡¯re rich enough¡±


    ¡°oh, please,¡± she said with a mocking tone. ¡°i would rather let you starve.¡±


    lu wenyu had experienced hardships, and even though her wealth had risen in recent years, she still had great cooking skills. she and lu ye worked together to prepare all the ingredients, methodically placing all them into the pot. the kitchen was filled with intense heat, producing a strong aroma of frying.


    qi yanbai had wanted to help initially, but lu ye pushed him aside with a shoulder nudge, only giving him a bowl of freshly fried meatballs and telling him to stand by and watch them instead.


    ¡°how shameless,¡± lu wenyu commented, ¡°even chopping vegetables requires an audience.¡±


    qi yanbai felt a bit embarrassed by lu wenyu¡¯s words, but lu ye was quite unbothered. not only did he not feel embarrassed, but he also boldly took a meatball from qi yanbai¡¯s hand right in front of lu wenyu.


    the lu family¡¯s customs were different from the local ones. they didn¡¯t go out on new year¡¯s eve, so dinner was also served late.


    around ten in the evening, after finishing dinner, lu ye took lu mingming to the yard to set off fireworks. qi yanbai had initially wanted to join them, but when he reached the door, he was stopped by lu wenyu.


    ¡°teacher qi,¡± she said, carrying a bottle of red wine and two glasses, smiling at qi yanbai, ¡°can we chat for a while?¡±


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t drink alcohol, however, considering that this was the first time lu wenyu had extended an invitation to him as ¡°family,¡± qi yanbai thought for a moment and didn¡¯t refuse.


    the second-floor balcony had outdoor heating, and lu wenyu poured half a glass of red wine for qi yanbai before sealing the bottle.


    from the second-floor balcony, they had a clear view of the front yard of the villa. lu ye and lu mingming, were aligning a box of fireworks¡ªone on the left and one on the right. lu wenyu swayed her wine glass against the railing, then suddenly spoke, ¡°to be honest, i don¡¯t like chinese new year.¡±


    qi yanbai turned to look at her, giving her a perfectly puzzled look.


    ¡°this afternoon, did lu ye tell you about our family¡¯s situation?¡± lu wenyu smiled, but it was a cold smile, and she seemed distant. ¡°i was kicked out of my family by my parents on new year¡¯s eve¡ªthey¡¯re extremely traditional and favor sons over daughters. so, when i turned eighteen, they required me to go out and work, to become self-reliant.¡±


    qi yanbai had heard this part of the story from lu ye before, but since lu wenyu wanted to talk about it, he didn¡¯t mind hearing it again.


    ¡°two years later, lu ye also left home,¡± lu wenyu paused and asked, ¡°did he tell you about this?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± qi yanbai replied obediently, ¡°he said he came out as gay to your parents, and that¡¯s why he was kicked out.¡±


    ¡°then did he tell you why he came out at that time?¡± lu wenyu asked. ¡°he was so young back then, and it wasn¡¯t necessary at all. even if he was mature for his age, he could have hidden it from our parents for a while until he could support himself.¡±


    qi yanbai thought, why indeed?


    lu wenyu seemed to sense his confusion and didn¡¯t keep him waiting. she continued.


    ¡°he did it for me,¡± lu wenyu said.


    ¡°when i was first kicked out, i was still quite young and had no money. it was tough for me to survive,¡± lu wenyu said. ¡°lu ye was just a kid at that time, and he couldn¡¯t convince our parents. so, he saved his allowance and lunch money every month to secretly pay my rent, even if it meant he had to eat just one bun a day.¡±


    ¡°he supported me for two years like that, but our parents eventually found out. they confiscated his valuables and allowance and forced him to ask me back the money he gave me,¡± lu wenyu said. ¡°he refused, and then had a big argument with them, which led to him coming out.¡±


    qi yanbai had heard about this from lu ye, but lu ye had downplayed it, only mentioning that he had been kicked out, without going into these details.


    most people in the world lack that kind of courage, but lu ye was only fifteen years old at the time, yet he willingly stood by his true self.


    ¡°to be honest, i used to resent him because he was my little brother,¡± lu wenyu admitted. she took a sip of her drink and continued, ¡°but later, when he braved a snowstorm to find me, searched four neighborhoods, and handed over all his new year¡¯s money and allowance to me, i knew that i had to be his sister for the rest of my life.¡±


    ¡°of course, i¡¯m not the kind of sister who would intimidate anyone who dates my brother,¡± lu wenyu said, smiling lightly and seeming to want to clarify that she wasn¡¯t overprotective. she quickly changed the subject, explaining, ¡°yanbai, i brought this up just to let you know that although he may seem tough, he¡¯s actually very soft and caring, especially to the people he cares about. i hope you won¡¯t let him down.¡±


    ¡°i won¡¯t let him down,¡± qi yanbai said. his gaze drifted beyond the railing to the figure in the courtyard wearing a heavy cotton coat.


    qi yanbai was always intrigued by lu ye, ever since he met him, he curious about him. this kind of curiosity was undoubtedly dangerous, as no one is perfect, and everyone has flaws. but every time he delved deeper, he discovered even more wonderful things about lu ye.


    qi yanbai said. ¡°i¡¯ll never let him down.¡±


    lu wenyu had shared about her family and their past, but qi yanbai had nothing to share. he felt like a floating leaf, and the only visible thread in his life was lu ye, who had woven himself into it.


    he took a sip of his drink, and suddenly, an inexplicable impulse surged within him, urging him to hold onto lu ye even tighter.


    ¡°well, that¡¯s good. after all, your relationship is your own. i won¡¯t meddle,¡± lu wenyu had a good sense of boundaries. she stopped the conversation there and swiftly changed the topic, smiling as she looked at qi yanbai. ¡°by the way, do you have any new year¡¯s wishes?¡±


    she changed the topic so abruptly that even qi yanbai didn¡¯t have time to react, and his face unconsciously showed a hint of confusion.


    ¡°oh¡­ it¡¯s actually lu ye who wants to know,¡± lu wenyu confessed without guilt. ¡°he wanted me to subtly ask about your new year¡¯s wishes so he could fulfill them for you.¡±

 CH 47

    in the old town area, the limit for fireworks was half an hour.


    half an hour, was neither too long nor too short, it was just enough time for lu mingming to set off six supreme chief colorful fireworks, and for lu ye to smoke three cigarettes, and for qi yanbai to finish two glasses of bordeaux dry red wine.


    the fireworks from various households took turns to ascend into the sky. amidst the smoky new year atmosphere, the splendid and beautiful fireworks burst into fleeting blossoms in the sky, and the scorching embers fell from the dark night sky like a bright wound in the night.


    as the last box of fireworks approached its end, lu ye suddenly felt something amiss and couldn¡¯t help but look up. he realized that the second-floor balcony was now occupied by only lu wenyu.


    qi yanbai, who had been sitting next to lu wenyu, had disappeared without a trace, and even the wine glass he had been drinking from had disappeared. lu wenyu noticed lu ye¡¯s puzzled expression and tilted her head slightly, gesturing to the fact that qi yanbai had just returned to his room.


    lu ye nodded in understanding and didn¡¯t say anything more. he just put out the cigarette he was holding, and then led lu mingming, who was reluctant to leave after the fireworks, back inside.


    the living room was empty, but the tv was still on, playing colorful pop stars on stage. the spring festival gala was coming to an end, and the grand chorus was lively in the otherwise quiet living room.


    lu mingming hurried upstairs to find lu wenyu, while lu ye took off his coat and turned down the tv volume with the remote control. finally, he pushed open the door to his room and walked in quietly.


    he had initially thought that qi yanbai was tired and wanted to rest in his room. however, when he entered the room, he realized that qi yanbai not only hadn¡¯t rested but was leaning against the window, looking up at the sky, lost in thought.


    the balcony window was wide open, and the cold wind was blowing in vigorously. qi yanbai¡¯s thin home attire clung to his body as he looked out, revealing his well-defined shoulder line.


    lu ye made a soft sound as he was shivering from the cold. he quickly walked over to the balcony, wrapped his arm around qi yanbai¡¯s waist, and used his other hand to close the balcony window.


    ¡°aren¡¯t you afraid of getting sick?¡± lu ye asked.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t reply. he turned his head to look at lu ye for a moment and then smiled with his eyes, saying, ¡°i¡¯m watching the snow.¡±


    the bedroom had no overhead lights on, only the starry sky light on the balcony was shining.  the light spilled down from qi yanbai¡¯s eyes, and it truly looked like he had captured a handful of starlight.


    the view was beautiful and romantic, but lu ye couldn¡¯t help but think that it would be even better if qi yanbai wasn¡¯t a tipsy cat.


    ¡°there¡¯s no snow here; it¡¯s just the lights,¡± lu ye said, reaching out to touch qi yanbai¡¯s hand and trying to wipe away the non-existent tears from his eyes.


    qi yanbai¡¯s eyelashes fluttered as he blinked, leaving a glistening trace of wetness on lu ye¡¯s fingertips.


    lu ye cleared his throat, his voice slightly hoarse. ¡°yanbai, do you know what you¡¯re saying?¡±


    ¡°i do,¡± qi yanbai blinked, gazing up at the starry sky with a mischievous smile. he then turned and kissed lu ye, leaving a trail of light kisses on his lips, and said in a muffled voice, ¡°i like you, lu ye.¡±


    clear-headed qi yanbai was reserved, polite, and tactful, but at this moment, he was straightforward. he didn¡¯t hold back his love on the surface, nor did he hide his infatuation for lu ye.


    he wanted to take his relationship with lu ye to the next level, to have a unique and intimate connection, and to bind him even closer, preferably so intimately that there were no gaps.


    qi yanbai urgently wanted to hold lu ye in his hands. this desire had become increasingly difficult to control as he spent more time with lu ye, and today, it had finally reached its peak.


    his words had just fallen, and his cold fingertips had already slipped into lu ye¡¯s collar, making him shiver. lu ye instinctively grabbed qi yanbai¡¯s wrist and was about to ask if he was serious when he found himself locked in qi yanbai¡¯s gaze.


    it was a strange look that lu ye had never seen in qi yanbai¡¯s eyes before. when qi yanbai looked at him, he was usually half-concealed, gentle, with a subtle mix of delight and shyness. but at this moment, qi yanbai¡¯s gaze was aggressive and intense, fixed on lu ye as if guarding a treasure trove, with an almost stubborn affection in his eyes.


    lu ye had never seen such a strong and resolute look in qi yanbai¡¯s eyes. he was momentarily lost in thought, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel that qi yanbai was like a piece of chocolate with a liquid center, and now the sweet shell had melted away, revealing the fiery alcohol inside.


    in a sense, lu ye was a man, and even the most upright man had his limits.


    his inherent aggressiveness was ignited in this confrontation, and lu ye took a deep breath, unconsciously tightening his grip on qi yanbai¡¯s wrist.


    lu ye¡¯s throat rolled as he momentarily stopped breathing.


    then he suddenly lowered his head, as if grabbing his prey, and bit down on qi yanbai¡¯s throat.


    qi yanbai, like a dying swan, suddenly tilted his head back, gazing at the starry sky above, and a sound that sounded both pleasurable and restrained escaped his lips. the vulnerable part had fallen into the hands of the enemy, but qi yanbai didn¡¯t feel fear; instead, he seemed to be ignited by something, grabbing onto a small piece of fabric on lu ye¡¯s shoulder with a tight grip.


    lu ye, still holding qi yanbai¡¯s waist, stumbled backward and bumped into the edge of the bed. he lost his balance and fell onto it.


    qi yanbai had been standing in the cold wind for too long, and his body had become chilly. his hand reached up to lu ye¡¯s shoulder, pressing their bodies closely together. lu ye¡¯s hand circled around his waist, and he suddenly felt like he was holding a cold piece of jade.


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t quite understand his feelings at this moment.


    the alcohol had left him in a hazy state, and he couldn¡¯t quite grasp his own thoughts. he could hear lu ye whispering something in his ear, but he couldn¡¯t make out a word. all he could hear was his own short, intoxicated breaths.


    he heard his own drum-like heartbeat and the rush of blood through his veins. the alcohol seemed to have ignited a raging fire within his body, threatening to reduce his insides to ashes.


    he broke out in a thin layer of sticky sweat, feeling weak all over, as if he had been soaked in alcohol.


    in the midst of this, someone accidentally knocked over the nightstand, and lu ye glanced inside the drawer, where he saw a small, delicately packaged box.


    lu wenyu had prepared for everything. lu ye remained silent for a moment, then reached out and retrieved the small item from the drawer.


    one of lu ye¡¯s hands was still intertwined with qi yanbai¡¯s fingers, and he didn¡¯t want to let go of him, so he used his free hand to offer the small box to qi yanbai, silently requesting his help in opening the sealed packaging.


    but it seemed that qi yanbai misunderstood. he looked puzzled for a moment, then obediently lowered his head, using his teeth to slowly tear open the plastic wrap in lu ye¡¯s hand.


    moments later, fireworks unexpectedly lit up outside the window, as if someone had set them off despite the late hour.


    the dazzling colors burst continuously in the sky, and police cars rushed by at high speed with sirens wailing, passing through the villa area.


    low soft pleasurable moans could be heard and the sound of the bed creaking. qi yanbai accidentally knocked over a glass on the nightstand. the fragile glass shattered into a crystalline flower on the floor, leaving a deep red mark on the light-colored wooden floor where the remaining drops of red wine flowed like a winding river.

 CH 48

    qi yanbai was rarely this proactive.


    it was as if he had met lu ye for the first time, clinging tightly to him and refusing to let go.


    the scent of tobacco on lu ye¡¯s body mixed with the lingering aroma of alcohol in the room, like some irresistible catalyst. qi yanbai couldn¡¯t resist biting lu ye¡¯s shoulder, emitting a muffled and suppressed moan.


    qi yanbai was a bit excited that night due to alcohol, and he didn¡¯t hold back when it came to physical affection. lu ye now bore various marks all over his body, and the bite mark on his shoulder was faintly painful, oozing a trickle of blood.


    lu ye let out a hoarse sound and glanced at the bloodstains winding down his collarbone. he didn¡¯t seem to mind the pain and only tightened his grip around qi yanbai¡¯s waist. he leaned over and used his lips to wipe away the sweat from qi yanbai¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°why are you so unrestrained tonight?¡± lu ye teased with a hoarse voice. ¡°do you turn into a little maniac when you¡¯re drunk?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m not drunk,¡± qi yanbai was stubborn, and he released his bite on lu ye¡¯s skin, as if he were competing with him. he grunted, ¡°i¡¯m very sober.¡±


    ¡°mm, you¡¯re very sober,¡± lu ye chuckled softly, not arguing with him. he simply reached out and ran his hand through qi yanbai¡¯s sweaty hair, then bit qi yanbai¡¯s earlobe and whispered, ¡°you¡¯re not a little drunkard; you¡¯re a little troublemaker.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s affectionate whispher made qi yanbai feel weak all over. he relaxed his expression, turned his head like a cat, and lightly rubbed lu ye¡¯s palm with his eyes half-closed.


    his long, wet hair coiled around lu ye¡¯s fingers, moist and soft. lu ye gently touched it and felt as though water was flowing between his fingertips, accompanied by a faint, slightly bitter scent.


    ¡°yanbai,¡± lu ye took a deep breath, calling his name in a husky voice. ¡°yanbai¡­¡±


    his voice was soft and tender, becoming increasingly seductive and ambiguous as the temperature rose. qi yanbai enjoyed hearing his name from lu ye¡¯s lips; it felt like his name acquired a hint of preciousness when spoken by him.


    qi yanbai felt like he was about to drown in the sound of lu ye¡¯s voice. he let out a short, breathless hum, then lifted his head and kissed lu ye passionately.


    his movements were too hasty, and he inadvertently included the slightly salty sweat that had dripped from lu ye¡¯s lips. the bitter taste was similar to spoiled wine.


    but qi yanbai seemed to savor this flavor, and his adam¡¯s apple bobbed as if he wanted to etch this intense, bitter taste into his bones and blood.


    ¡°say my name again,¡± qi yanbai murmured vaguely.


    lu ye found qi yanbai¡¯s clinginess and sudden boldness endearing, and he let out a muffled laugh, the vibrations from his chest, clearly reaching qi yanbai¡¯s heart.


    qi yanbai, with a misty look in his eyes, gazed at him, eagerly anticipating it. lu ye¡¯s soft laughter seemed to melt his heart, and he nibbled lightly on lu ye¡¯s palm, urging him on.


    ¡°yanbai,¡± lu ye said in a husky voice.


    the fireworks outside the window gradually ceased, and the television in the living room began playing a rerun of the second program. in the bedroom, the warm temperature rose and then cooled down again. qi yanbai also grew tired as time passed, and he finally couldn¡¯t hold on any longer, collapsing into lu ye¡¯s arms.


    the two of them had been fooling around until the late hours of the night. by the time they finished and settled down to sleep, even lu ye couldn¡¯t keep his eyelids from fighting the urge to close.


    the starry nightlight on the windowsill continued to change patterns, but lu ye couldn¡¯t be bothered. he simply gave a lazy yawn, pulled qi yanbai closer, and fell asleep.


    lu ye had an exceptional ability to sleep deeply, almost as soon as he touched the pillow. however, he was roused from his slumber after a while, hearing faint rustling sounds by his side.


    lu ye was still half-asleep and initially paid little attention to it. but before long, he began to sense that the corner of the blanket by his side was being lifted, and someone was gently tugging at his ankle, attempting to fasten something onto his foot.


    the object felt cold, like metal, which startled lu ye. he involuntarily pulled his leg back and avoided the person¡¯s actions.


    qi yanbai, not expecting lu ye to wake up suddenly, was startled. the object he held slipped from his hand and fell onto the bed with a soft clatter.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± lu ye had only been asleep for a short while and his voice still carried a heavy sense of drowsiness. he shielded his eyes from the light with his forearm, then propped himself up to look down.


    the starry nightlight was extremely dim, but lu ye managed to see by its faint glow. wrapped around his ankle was an extremely fine golden chain that resembled jewelry but was longer than a typical necklace. even after a few loops around his ankle, there was still some slack in the chain. lu ye squinted at it for a while but couldn¡¯t figure out what it was.


    ¡°what is this?¡± lu ye asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°an ankle bracelet?¡±


    perhaps because he had awakened too abruptly, qi yanbai hadn¡¯t had the chance to fasten the chain securely. the solid gold chain dangled a bit from his ankle, winding and laying out on the dark bedsheets like a snake.


    ¡°yeah, it¡¯s a new year¡¯s gift,¡± qi yanbai, appearing to have sobered up, quickly responded as he slid under the covers. he spoke softly and gently, saying, ¡°do you like it? i think it looks great.¡±


    qi yanbai had a good eye, and lu ye, being a police officer who typically wore long pants, had lean and pale ankles that rarely saw the light of day. the pure gold color did indeed look good.


    ¡°i like it¡­ i do,¡± lu ye said, puzzled. ¡°but why did you suddenly decide to buy this?¡±


    ¡°i saw it by chance the last time we went to the mall,¡± qi yanbai kissed lu ye and said softly, ¡°i thought it would suit you. do you like wearing it? i like seeing it.¡±


    qi yanbai liked it, and lu ye had no objections. plus, this thing didn¡¯t take up much space. lu ye figured that if qi yanbai thought it looked good, he could wear it.


    however, he wasn¡¯t used to wearing jewelry on his feet, and it felt a bit strange to have a chain tied around his ankle. so, he unconsciously moved his ankle and said, ¡°but it seems a bit odd wearing this on my foot.¡±


    qi yanbai thought lu ye might refuse and furrowed his brow slightly, looking a bit reluctant. he reached out and lightly touched lu ye¡¯s leg, sliding his fingers down to the ankle chain and gently wiggling it, suggesting, ¡°is this better?¡±


    perhaps because of the intimacy of their skin-to-skin contact or perhaps because he wanted to test lu ye¡¯s boundaries, qi yanbai didn¡¯t maintain his usual ¡°considerate¡± approach. instead, he allowed his desires to take over.


    ¡°i want to look at it all the time,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°if you don¡¯t wear it, i won¡¯t be able to see it.¡±


    ¡°why don¡¯t you choose a place that¡¯s easier to see then?¡±


    lu ye replied, curling his leg and pulling the chain off his ankle. then, he tied it several times around his left wrist and unhooked one end of the chain, skillfully fastening it to the string of prayer beads on qi yanbai¡¯s hand.


    the tightened chain once again shortened the distance between lu ye and qi yanbai. lu ye squinted his eyes, casually holding qi yanbai¡¯s hand with the bracelet.


    ¡°isn¡¯t this better?¡± lu ye said, giving the chain a gentle shake. he smiled with narrowed eyes and said, ¡°this should work, right, little troublemaker?¡±

 CH 49

    once new year¡¯s eve passed, lu ye¡¯s vacation was almost halfway over.


    originally, lu ye was scheduled to be on duty on the fourth day of the lunar year, but unfortunately, plans couldn¡¯t keep up with changes. there was a temporary shortage of personnel at the sub-bureau, so they had to bring him back early to cover for them.


    on the afternoon of new year¡¯s day, there was a light snowfall, and the ground was covered with snow and frost. public transportation had not fully resumed, and lu wenyu was worried that they would have difficulty returning home, so she personally packed their things and prepared to take them back to the new district.


    ¡°don¡¯t bother sis,¡± lu ye said. ¡°we can just take a taxi home.¡±


    ¡°the snow outside hasn¡¯t melted yet. where will you find a taxi?¡± lu wenyu said, taking a scarf off the hanger and casually remarking, she then tied the scarf around lu mingming.


    ¡°are you taking her along with us?¡± lu ye raised an eyebrow and complained, ¡°this little third wheel.¡±


    lu ye and qi yanbai had just become intimate, and this was the time when they enjoyed being alone together. they didn¡¯t like having a big and a small ¡°third wheel¡± intruding in between.


    lu wenyu was an adult, so it was manageable, but lu mingming was a clingy little troublemaker. if she wasn¡¯t pestering her uncle with questions about urban legends, he was clinging to teacher qi, always wanting attention.


    unfortunately, during the busy new year period, transportation options were limited, so he could only passively accept lu wenyu¡¯s ¡°buy one, get one free.¡± offer.


    on new year¡¯s day, the streets felt deserted. many of the small businesses had put up signs that said ¡°closed,¡± and only a few 24-hour convenience stores still had their lights on.


    red lanterns hung from the street lamps, and a large advertising sign for the lantern festival carnival was nonchalantly suspended in mid-air over the road, flashing with lights all around.


    ¡°hey¡­¡± lu ye stared at the advertising sign with interest for a moment, then adjusted his posture as if he had suddenly remembered something and turned to qi yanbai. ¡°how about we¡ª¡±


    he didn¡¯t finish his sentence because lu mingming in the back seat suddenly saw something and exclaimed in excitement, grabbing qi yanbai¡¯s arm.


    ¡°teacher qi, teacher qi!¡± lu mingming said excitedly, ¡°there¡¯s a stall selling candied hawthorns over there!¡±


    lu ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    lu ye¡¯s sentence was abruptly interrupted, and qi yanbai looked apologetically at him. he hesitated for a moment, shifting his gaze back and forth between lu ye and lu mingming, as if unsure whose words to follow.


    lu ye was an adult and had no intention of competing for attention with a child. in response to qi yanbai¡¯s glance, he smiled reassuringly, tilted his head, and gestured for him to focus on lu mingmimg for now; he could wait.


    qi yanbai gratefully looked at him and, while lu mingming wasn¡¯t paying attention, discreetly caressed lu ye¡¯s hand from the gap in the seats.


    qi yanbai was fair and just, never favoring one over the other. after pacifying the older one, he turned to lu mingming with a smile and asked gently, ¡°mingming, would you like to have candied hawthorns?¡±


    the bright red hawthorns with their crystal-clear sugar coating held an extraordinary attraction for mingmimg. she nodded eagerly and made a decisive ¡°yes¡± sound.


    ¡°then let¡¯s go buy some,¡± lu wenyu chimed in and parked the car on the side of the road. she added, ¡°just get a small portion, and hurry back. it¡¯s cold outside.¡±


    the stall selling candied hawthorns was a bit of a distance from the roadside, at the entrance of a small alley on the commercial street.


    seeing qi yanbai going along with the child, lu ye couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly. he took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one with a lighter, and muttered, ¡°now i¡¯m the thirdwheel.¡±


    lu ye remarked with a smile.


    ¡°or maybe you should¡¯ve bought a car a long time ago,¡± lu wenyu said with a mischievous grin. ¡°you wouldn¡¯t need to be a third wheel if you had four wheels to ride.¡±


    ¡°forget about the car,¡± lu ye replied, shaking his lighter in front of lu wenyu before putting the cigarette case and lighter back into his pocket.


    ¡°i¡¯m thinking about saving up for a house,¡± lu ye said.


    ¡°a house?¡± lu wenyu looked puzzled. ¡°i thought you didn¡¯t want to become a mortgage slave.¡±


    lu ye was approaching middle age, and according to lu wenyu, he should have been thinking about finding a place to settle down. however, lu ye, with no children in need of schooling and no strong desire to buy a house, had always felt that carrying a mortgage for thirty or fifty years was too burdensome. therefore, he hadn¡¯t really considered it and was content with being a renter.


    lu wenyu thought his mindset was too carefree and unstable for long-term planning and had advised him several times, although in vain. however, today, out of the blue, he brought up the topic himself, making lu wenyu wonder if the sun had risen from the west.


    ¡°why the change of heart?¡± lu wenyu asked, her eyes shifting between lu ye and qi yanbai outside the window as they chatted.


    ¡°he¡¯s part of the reason, but not entirely,¡± lu ye replied, exhaling a puff of smoke out of the car window.


    ¡°i just feel that maybe it¡¯s time, given my age,¡± lu ye said.


    perhaps that¡¯s how people were¡ªwhen they were alone and carefree, they didn¡¯t think much about the future. but once they had a significant other and a more stable and fulfilling life, they started to yearn for progress.


    lu ye took a deep drag of his cigarette, the bittersweet and familiar taste circulating through his body before dissipating into the air as ethereal smoke.


    he looked through the icy car window at the silhouette of qi yanbai, who was talking to lu mingming with a slight bend at the waist. suddenly, he felt like the elusive heart he had carried for so long had landed, making him ordinary and commonplace. his eyes now held the lingering warmth of a long-lasting fire.


    ¡°he didn¡¯t have it easy before, so i promised him a normal family,¡± lu ye said, rolling down the car window a bit wider and flicking some ash outside. ¡°even though family and houses aren¡¯t directly related, i think i owe it to him.¡±


    lu ye wasn¡¯t a casual person. while he didn¡¯t have a virginity complex, he still held intimate relationships in high regard. in his eyes, liking someone and being in love were one thing, but once a deeper and more intimate connection was established, it added a layer of responsibility. from then on, he couldn¡¯t act on his own whims, and their future plans had to include both of them.


    the events of new year¡¯s eve were unexpected, but it seemed like a natural progression, a logical step. lu ye took a glance at the vibrant candy apple stall outside the window and suddenly felt that the pressures, if it was for qi yanbai, weren¡¯t so daunting.


    the cold wind entered the car through the window gap, stealing most of the warmth. lu wenyu shivered and pressed the button to close the window.


    ¡°as long as you¡¯re clear about it,¡± lu wenyu said. it was lu ye¡¯s personal matter, so she didn¡¯t press further but advised, ¡°since you¡¯ve made up your mind, start looking for a suitable place. if you don¡¯t have enough money, you can turn to me anytime.¡±


    lu ye understood what lu wenyu meant, but he was used to not relying on her. he smiled and deflected the conversation with ease, ¡°no worries, i can save up for the down payment, and the rest can come later.¡±


    lu wenyu knew his personality and smiled, smoothly changing the subject, ¡°by the way, why did your boss suddenly call you back for overtime? is there a new assignment?¡±


    lu ye responded with a simple ¡°yes¡± and added, ¡°the city bureau needs to deploy some personnel.¡±


    ¡°is it dangerous?¡± lu wenyu asked.


    ¡°not dangerous,¡± lu ye replied with a smile. ¡°we¡¯re just assisting the city bureau; we¡¯ll still be on the periphery.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s good, then,¡± lu wenyu said.


    not far, lu mingming had already picked out a skewer of candied fruit from the vendor¡¯s stall. qi yanbai paid, held her hand, and turned back.


    lu ye saw that he was coming back, so he finished the last drag of his cigarette and crushed the cigarette butt in the ashtray.


    ¡°by the way, what i told you today, don¡¯t mention it to yanbai,¡± lu ye instructed.


    ¡°don¡¯t worry, i¡¯m not fond of gossip,¡± lu wenyu adjusted the air conditioning temperature up by two degrees and complained, ¡°you two are the ones in love; why should i mediate in between and pass messages?¡±


    ¡°but you did sell me out on chinese new year¡¯s eve,¡± lu ye laughed, exasperated, ¡°i asked you to drop hints subtly, but you¡­¡±


    ¡°hey, just that one time,¡± lu wenyu interrupted with a mischievous grin, holding up one finger and wiggling it, ¡°i promise it was just that one time.¡±


    meanwhile, qi yanbai had led lu mingming to the car. each of them held a skewer of candied fruit, and the vibrant red color of the treats made them look even more festive.


    lu ye didn¡¯t expect that qi yanbai would buy snacks with the kids and even remember to get something for himself. he rolled down the car window, intending to tease him a bit, but before he could say anything, qi yanbai acted quickly and passed the skewer of candied fruit through the window to him.


    ¡°this is for you,¡± qi yanbai bent down and leaned against the car window, his eyes twinkling as he said, ¡°today you stood still and waited for me like a good boy, so this is a reward.¡±


    lu ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t expect that at thirty years old, he would one day be coaxed like a child. he thought that qi yanbai had indeed become a bit bold recently. now, he dared to flirt with him casually, showing no sign of the submissive attitude he had before.


    he was both amused and irritated, so he turned the skewer of candied fruit in his hand for a moment, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say ¡°no.¡± he could only helplessly watch as qi yanbai grinned, bit off the ripest hawthorn berry from the skewer, and enjoyed it.

 CH 50

    efore the new year, their residential community had changed property management, and the security level had finally been raised to a normal level from ¡°almost non-existent.¡±


    as an outsider, lu wenyu couldn¡¯t enter the community directly, so she simply left lu ye and qi yanbai at the entrance, letting them walk back on their own.


    in the afternoon, it had snowed, and now it was evening, with scattered snowflakes still falling from the sky. lu ye stuffed the last bit of a candied haw into qi yanbai¡¯s hand and then reached out to straighten his messed-up collar for him, tucking the scarf neatly into it.


    qi yanbai obediently allowed him to do it, holding the candied haw skewer and taking a bite of a hawthorn berry.


    ¡°do you want some?¡± lu ye finished fixing qi yanbai¡¯s scarf and naturally extended his hand to him, saying with a smile, ¡°if you want more, i can buy you another skewer.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s fine, i can¡¯t finish a whole skewer by myself,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°just a taste is enough.¡±


    the security booth was now manned by two young men in their twenties. they had already put on a standard ¡°welcome spring festival¡± smile from a distance, greeting them as they approached.


    qi yanbai smiled and nodded at them, unconsciously holding lu ye¡¯s hand a little tighter.


    after the snowfall, several walking paths in the community had already been cleared by security in advance, and a few brick-paved paths meandered through the flower beds, gradually extending deeper into the area.


    lu ye leisurely escorted qi yanbai to the entrance of the community and then casually discarded the empty skewer that he had finished into the nearby trash can.


    ¡°i have to return to the police station; i won¡¯t be going upstairs,¡± lu ye instructed. ¡°you go up, and remember to lock the door when you get inside.¡±


    ¡°why the rush?¡± qi yanbai blinked in surprise and asked, ¡°aren¡¯t you going to take a break upstairs?¡±


    ¡°no need, i¡¯m on duty tonight,¡± lu ye said, glancing at the time. ¡°i have to clock in right now.¡±


    qi yanbai seemed strangely attached to lu ye these past few days, and at his words, he appeared a bit reluctant. his eyes darkened slightly as he reached into lu ye¡¯s cuff.


    lu ye wore the ankle bracelet as a wristband, and it had been jingling for two days on his wrist. he had gotten used to it, and unless he intentionally looked at it, he almost forgot about the small item on his wrist.


    but qi yanbai seemed to enjoy touching that chain. he would occasionally slip his fingertips into lu ye¡¯s cuff to fiddle with it, as if he liked it or was checking if the bracelet was still in place.


    ¡°all right,¡± qi yanbai finally said softly, ¡°then be careful at work.¡±


    lu ye liked these kinds of parting words, simple and affectionate, as if no matter where he went, someone was always thinking about him.


    ¡°i will,¡± lu ye smiled and said, ¡°if i¡¯m not busy tonight, i¡¯ll call you.¡±


    this suggestion somewhat eased the sadness of their separation. qi yanbai hooked his finger around lu ye¡¯s bracelet, gently twisting it.


    in the next moment, lu ye felt a slight tug on his wrist, a force he couldn¡¯t refuse. he took a step forward along this force, and qi yanbai approached and kissed him.


    on the evening of new year¡¯s day, the entire building was quiet. the motion-activated lights in the lobby came on and off, and the elevator remained on the basement level, unmoving.


    in this quiet corner with no one around, qi yanbai stole a brief kiss. he gently bit lu ye¡¯s lip before reluctantly letting go.


    ¡°yanbai,¡± after the kiss, lu ye used his thumb to wipe the moisture from the corner of qi yanbai¡¯s lips. then, he shook his wrist, puzzled, and said, ¡°why do i suddenly feel like you gave me this thing to control me?¡±


    qi yanbai smiled with narrowed eyes but didn¡¯t answer the question. instead, he reached out to help lu ye tidy his cuff.


    ¡°oh, by the way,¡± qi yanbai seemed to remember something and asked, ¡°you mentioned earlier in your sister¡¯s car that you wanted to do something tomorrow. what was it?¡±


    ¡°oh, you mean that¡ª¡± as lu ye was in the middle of explaining, his phone in his pocket vibrated and made a short message alert sound.


    messages from the station had a unique alert, so lu ye paused his sentence and took out his phone to check.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t know what message had come from the sub-bureau, but he saw lu ye briefly furrow his brows and then lock his phone screen before putting it back in his pocket.


    lu ye changed the subject, saying, ¡°it¡¯s nothing. i was just saying that i might have to work overtime recently. if something comes up tomorrow, you don¡¯t have to wait for me in the evening.¡±


    qi yanbai knew that lu ye hadn¡¯t said what he originally intended. he furrowed his brows slightly but didn¡¯t ask further. instead, he nodded obediently, indicating that he had heard.


    ¡°okay, then i¡¯ll go,¡± lu ye said. ¡°i won¡¯t be back tonight, so don¡¯t leave the door open. remember to lock it.¡±


    ¡°i got it,¡± qi yanbai replied.


    lu ye nodded, pressed the elevator button for qi yanbai, and watched him go upstairs before turning and walking away.


    on new year¡¯s day, half of the officers at the police station had gone home for the holiday. only a few offices where officers were on duty remained lit. lu ye climbed the stairs in three steps, and before entering the office, he collided with a colleague who had also been called back.


    ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± lu ye got straight to the point. ¡°is the municipal bureau asking for more officers?¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s what they¡¯re saying. the boss went to the city bureau for a meeting¡±, the colleague, holding a thermos, leaned against the wall and said, ¡°half of our team has been called back, and they¡¯re waiting in the office.¡±


    he took a sip of hot water from his thermos and grumbled, ¡°my mom said she¡¯d introduce me to a couple of girls during the new year, but now this? instead of meeting girls, i¡¯ll be here meeting criminals.¡±


    lu ye ignored his colleague¡¯s joking complaint. he remembered that the duty for the lantern festival¡¯s music carnival had already been planned, and he wondered why they suddenly needed to call in more people.


    ¡°it seems like the city bureau is launching an anti-drug operation,¡± the colleague continued. ¡°you know how it is with festivals¡ªlots of people, high energy. there¡¯s a chance that some drug dealers might try to blend in. but who knows? we¡¯ll have to wait for boss to come back for the specifics.¡±


    the city bureau often carried out joint operations to stop drug trafficking, prostitution, and gambling. lu ye had a hunch that he understood the situation and nodded in acknowledgment.


    li zhiwen was still at the city bureau in a meeting, and the specific information hadn¡¯t been relayed yet, so lu ye and his colleagues had to wait.


    perhaps it was due to eating too many hawthorn berries, but as lu ye sat at his desk, he felt his stomach ache and sourness building up. it was getting increasingly uncomfortable.


    ¡°hey, xiao yao,¡± lu ye called out to yao xing, ¡°do you have any snacks? my stomach hurts a bit.¡±


    yao xing, like the others, had been called back for overtime work. upon hearing lu ye¡¯s request, she frowned and shook her head, saying, ¡°sorry, lu ge, i brought all my snacks back home before the new year.¡±


    they had all been called back to work on short notice. lu ye shook his head in understanding and said it was okay. he then grabbed his coat and decided to go downstairs to buy some soda crackers to ease his discomfort.


    ¡°i¡¯m going to the supermarket,¡± lu ye said, ¡°do you guys need anything?¡±


    ¡°could you get me a chocolate bar, lu ge? who knows when we¡¯ll finish tonight,¡± yao xing requested.


    ¡°sure,¡± lu ye agreed, ¡°got it.¡±


    as fate would have it, as he was about to leave, a colleague rushed out to call him back.


    ¡°lu ge, your phone on the desk is ringing,¡± the colleague leaned by the door and said, ¡°it seems to be a call from teacher qi.¡±


    lu ye wondered why qi yanbai was calling him at this time. he returned to his office, and his phone was indeed still buzzing.


    he picked up the phone and answered, ¡°hello. what¡¯s up, yanbai?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s nothing, i just suddenly remembered that you might not have had dinner,¡± qi yanbai¡¯s voice was calm and gentle, ¡°so i ordered you some late-night snacks. by the way, you¡¯re still at the city bureau, right?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m here,¡± lu ye chuckled, ¡°what a coincidence, i just started feeling hungry.¡±


    lu ye had just started feeling hungry, and qi yanbai had already ordered him some food. it was incredibly timely.


    ¡°that¡¯s good,¡± qi yanbai smiled and said, ¡°i ordered some soup and rice for you. it¡¯s getting cold, so avoid eating cold food. also, the restaurant had a meal set for multiple people, so i ordered a bit extra. if you can¡¯t finish it, you can share it with your colleagues.¡±


    on the other end of the phone, lu ye¡¯s voice was filled with amusement as he responded, ¡°alright, got it. looks like we¡¯re on the same wavelength.¡±


    ¡°of course,¡± qi yanbai looked at his half-finished painting in front of him. he extended his legs, scooped a small amount of white paint onto his palette, and, with a satisfied smile, said, ¡°after all, you¡¯ve said it yourself¡ª we¡¯re a perfect match.¡±


    his words had just trailed off when lu ye, on the other end of the phone, fell silent for a moment.

 CH 51

    lu ye had indeed mentioned the phrase ¡± perfect match,¡± but he had said it casually during a chat with lu wenyu. he couldn¡¯t recall mentioning it to qi yanbai.


    did lu wenyu tell him? lu ye wondered.


    he sensed a subtle change in the situation, but before he could think about it further, the office door was pushed open with a loud bang. li zhiwen, looking disheveled, stood at the doorway with a furrowed brow that could have crushed a fly.


    li zhiwen said concisely, ¡°second unit, follow me to the conference room.¡±


    li zhiwen¡¯s sudden appearance interrupted lu ye¡¯s wandering thoughts. on the other end of the phone, it seemed that qi yanbai had heard the commotion as well, so he ended the call, telling lu ye to get back to work, and hung up.


    with business at hand, lu ye didn¡¯t dwell on idle chatter. he quickly grabbed his meeting notebook from the desk, and hurriedly followed li zhiwen out of the office and into the conference room.


    ¡°the reason the city bureau had called me for a meeting is because there¡¯s a case that requires assistance from us,¡± li zhiwen got straight to the point, saying, ¡°the city bureau has been tracking a drug trafficking route connected to our city for a while. according to recent confessions from a suspected criminal they arrested, his superiors plan to conduct a transaction during the music carnival. the city bureau wants to use this opportunity to catch the big fish, so they need our assistance.¡±


    this was different from the usual drug busts and required lu ye¡¯s full attention.


    ¡°they plan to traffic drugs during the carnival?¡± lu ye furrowed his brows, puzzled, ¡°isn¡¯t that too risky?¡±


    while criminals usually preferred to meet in deserted corners or crowded places, they often chose locations like underground bars or nightclubs. even though the carnival had a large and chaotic crowd, it had its own security, including both security personnel and police officers to maintain order, which increased the risk.


    ¡°moreover, if i recall correctly, isn¡¯t this event ticketed and requires real-name registration?¡± lu ye continued, ¡°given the high risk involved, is the intelligence really accurate?¡±


    ¡°the intelligence is accurate,¡± li zhiwen didn¡¯t reveal the source of the information but said, ¡°also, the criminal involved is extremely cunning. the city bureau has been tracking him for over a month, and they still haven¡¯t located his whereabouts. this carnival is a crucial opportunity to apprehend him. the city bureau doesn¡¯t want to miss it.¡±


    ¡°the carnival is an open-air event, and there will be a lot of people. civilians might get hurt.¡± lu ye said, ¡°why hasn¡¯t the city bureau tried to convince the informant to change the location?¡±


    ¡°the suspect is very alert and refuses to change the location. after the initial rejection, the city bureau didn¡¯t dare to ask a second time, fearing that it might alert him,¡± li zhiwen explained, ¡°the carnival is divided into different zones, and the city bureau¡¯s plan is to have a backup. if they can¡¯t persuade the suspect to change the location, they¡¯ll clear the area assigned to the meeting point and send our officers in.¡±


    that¡¯s why they needed to call in personnel from various sub-bureaus. lu ye understood that this was going to be a significant operation.


    the music carnival was the first major event in the city that year, catering to adults aged 18 and above. it featured rock music, outdoor dancing, and performances by popular underground bands. it attracted energetic young people. li zhiwen¡¯s headache grew as he thought about controlling the situation in such a place.


    ¡°for the specific details, our bureau chief will return after the meeting at the city bureau to give us the assignments,¡± li zhiwen took a sip of water from his thermos, then continued, ¡°i¡¯ll go back first to brief him. because the operation will take place at the carnival, the majority of the personnel involved will be young officers. lu ye, you¡¯ve only recently returned, and you¡¯re a fresh face. the bureau chief intends for you to lead the perimeter security team.¡±


    ¡°understood,¡± lu ye, with his years of experience, didn¡¯t need li zhiwen to elaborate further. he nodded to signify his understanding.


    the carnival would take place over three days, around the time of the lantern festival. considering the schedule, they didn¡¯t have much time to prepare their operation plans.


    after a sleepless night of work, the second unit had to continue attending meetings and help with basic inspection at the carnival venue. as a result, they were working tirelessly, and the days flew by. lu ye had barely had a moment¡¯s rest, and he was beginning to feel the strain.


    he had initially made plans to have hotpot with qi yanbai on the evening of the lantern festival, but now it seemed like he would have to cancel. he was busy from dawn till dusk, and his phone frequently ran out of battery or had to be switched off during meetings, leaving his communication with qi yanbai hanging by a thread. whether he received messages in time depended on fate.


    qi yanbai knew that lu ye was busy, but his sudden and prolonged disappearance was a first.


    another notification of lu ye¡¯s phone being switched off sounded from the phone on the other end. qi yanbai furrowed his brows, suppressing the inexplicable restlessness in his heart.


    since morning, the weather outside had been gloomy, and it had started drizzling around noon. the rain was still falling steadily, and it showed no signs of stopping.


    where had lu ye gone, qi yanbai wondered. what was he so busy with that he couldn¡¯t even spare time to come back to the city bureau?


    over the past ten days, lu ye had only spoken to him twice on the phone, but each time, the conversation had been vague and he had either changed the subject or been evasive.


    qi yanbai knew that lu ye was not the type to play hard-to-get or engage in hot-and-cold behavior. however, the sudden and prolonged absence made it seem as though lu ye had cooled down abruptly, like molten lava rapidly cooling and becoming incomprehensible.


    qi yanbai hated this feeling of uncertainty, loathed all the unknown factors. he didn¡¯t like that lu ye might be hiding something from him, and he despised that lu ye was out of his sight.


    this aversion gradually fermented into anxiety and restlessness as time passed. qi yanbai tightened his brows, clutching his phone even more tightly.


    his extraordinary imagination now became a burden. qi yanbai couldn¡¯t help but speculate about lu ye¡¯s situation and guess his whereabouts.


    his rational self told him not to overthink. lu ye¡¯s job nature meant that he couldn¡¯t afford to be concerned about other things when he was busy. however, emotionally, qi yanbai found it challenging to resist the growing sense of unease slipping through his fingers like quicksand.


    his thoughts were aimlessly drifting when, after an unknown amount of time, he suddenly felt his phone vibrate and heard it ringing.


    qi yanbai snapped back to reality, almost pressing the answer button urgently. he then took a deep breath and answered casually, ¡°hello.¡±


    ¡°i saw that you called me over twenty times. what¡¯s the emergency?¡± lu ye¡¯s voice came from the other end of the line.


    ¡°nothing, my apartment had a power outage just now, so i wanted to ask you which circuit controls our electricity,¡± qi yanbai made up a random excuse, saying, ¡°but it¡¯s fine now; the property management already came and helped.¡±


    on the other end of the phone, lu ye audibly sighed with relief and said, ¡°that¡¯s good. my phone just ran out of battery, and i just connected it to a power bank.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± qi yanbai smiled and, after carefully listening tolu ye¡¯s breathing for a moment, tentatively asked, ¡°by the way, it¡¯s a festival today. are you coming home for dinner tonight?¡±


    he said it as if to avoid making his intentions too obvious and added, ¡°if you won¡¯t make it back, i¡¯ll just eat out after work.¡±


    the training center where qi yanbai worked had resumed classes on the eighth day of the lunar new year. he had also started going back to work recently. lu ye hesitated for a moment and then subtly declined, saying, ¡°tonight, i might¡­ not be able to come back. take care of yourself, and don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    ¡°are you working overtime tonight too?¡± qi yanbai listened to the faint and noisy background sounds on lu ye¡¯s end and asked as if it was just casual conversation, ¡°where are you?¡±


    due to the nature of their undercover operation, lu ye couldn¡¯t disclose the details to qi yanbai. he responded vaguely with a brief ¡°i can¡¯t reveal much¡± and mentioned that there were some matters at the bureau, and they needed to keep watch for two more days.


    qi yanbai furrowed his brows slightly.


    the chaotic background noise on the phone was accompanied by the rhythmic beats of music, even though lu ye was trying to conceal it, qi yanbai still heard the indistinct and noisy voices on the other end.


    he wasn¡¯t at the bureau, qi yanbai thought. he was somewhere else.


    he was in a very lively place.


    this realization intensified the restlessness in qi yanbai¡¯s heart to its peak. but he didn¡¯t say much. he simply told lu ye to take care of his health and not to overwork himself.


    ¡°understood.¡±


    it seemed like lu ye indeed had something urgent to attend to. after only a few sentences, he hastily hung up the phone. qi yanbai wiped the already darkened screen of his phone and fell into silence for a moment. then, he reached for his keys and wallet, picked up his coat from the back of the chair, and left the building.


    ¡°sorry,¡± when he passed by the front desk, qi yanbai gently tapped on the desk. he apologized, ¡°i have something urgent, and i need to take a leave. can you please ask teacher liu to cover my class this evening? i¡¯ve already talked to her about it.¡±

 CH 52

    the break during the job rotation had ended, and lu ye glanced at his wristwatch. he placed his fully charged phone back under the car seat and checked his communication devices before opening the car door and stepping out.


    outside, the light rain continued to drizzle. lu ye adjusted the hood of his transparent raincoat and crossed the small path beside the parking lot, returning to the carnival venue.


    the sudden winter rain couldn¡¯t dampen the enthusiasm of the young crowd. the main stage was still lit up, and the young people below, wearing colorful transparent raincoats, were having a blast. the high-pitched sound system vibrated wildly, shattering the raindrops into a blurry mist.


    the pathways between the activity areas were lined with food trucks, and colorful umbrellas crisscrossed, blocking the paths solidly.


    lu ye lowered his hood and, wrapped up like a cotton candy syrup, weaved through the crowd. he stopped at a food truck not far from the main stage, handed over twenty dollars through the glass window, and said, ¡°a glass of draft beer, please.¡±


    the young man inside the food truck, dressed in a uniform, glanced up at him briefly, silently took the money, and filled a glass with beer from a beer barrel that was nearly as tall as a person.


    ¡°here¡¯s your order,¡± the young man said, ¡°enjoy.¡±


    lu ye nodded and, adjusting his undercover earpiece while donning his raincoat, reached into the food truck counter to grab a handful of complimentary salted peanuts. he casually asked, ¡°what¡¯s the situation like?¡±


    ¡°there¡¯s been no movement so far,¡± the young man inside the food truck said in a hushed voice while wiping the table, ¡°no suspicious individuals have passed by this area yet.¡±


    lu ye nodded slightly without replying and walked away, holding the beer glass in his hand.


    he took a few steps along the path in front of the food truck, found a spot to sit down at a semi-outdoor booth, and removed his hat. leaning back in his chair, he casually scanned the distant stage area.


    due to the heavy rain, the organizers had temporarily canceled the underground band¡¯s performance, citing ¡°technical difficulties.¡± instead, they had a singer in plainclothes performing to keep up appearances.


    without the excitement of clubbing, the number of genuine fans near this area had significantly decreased. only a few scattered young people lingered near souvenir shops or sat in the booth area chatting.


    the rain continued to fall, and the main venue in the distance echoed with loud cheers. lu ye took a sip of his beer and saw the lights dimming around him. someone sat down across from him and handed him a plate of pan-fried potatoes.


    ¡°today¡¯s rain came right on time,¡± yao xing said. ¡°the crowd has decreased by half. it¡¯s like a stroke of luck from heaven.¡±


    lu ye took a sip of his beer, nodded, and said, ¡°it¡¯s just a bit cold. are you okay? if not, you should get an extra jacket from the food truck.¡±


    undercover operatives needed to blend into their surroundings, and yao xing was wearing a very eye-catching clubbing outfit that day, with a small white boot jacket, shorts that exposed her thighs, and a short jacket. lu ye felt that she must be cold.


    ¡°no need,¡± yao xing said nonchalantly, crossing her legs and tugging at the ¡°bare-leg wonder¡± on her leg. ¡°i¡¯m dressed warmer than you.¡±


    lu ye was momentarily speechless, took another sip of beer, and re-directed his gaze back to the stage area.


    ¡°is it almost time?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°yes,¡± yao xing glanced at her watch and said, ¡°the informant has been in position for a while, but we haven¡¯t received any messages yet. i don¡¯t know if the other side has sensed something is wrong and cancelled.¡±


    ¡°i don¡¯t think so. let¡¯s wait a bit longer.¡± lu ye stared at the informant not far away and said in a low voice, ¡°besides, i don¡¯t think he¡¯ll make the transaction in person. so it¡¯s best to keep an eye all around.¡±


    the suspect had initially chosen the meeting point near the stage, probably intending to use the crowd as cover during the performance. however, with the performance now canceled, the stage area was sparsely populated, with only undercover tourists left. lu ye felt that if the other party grew suspicious, they might change their transaction location on the spot.


    as time passed, the informant had been loitering around the souvenir shops for three rounds, but there were still no new developments in the activity area. apart from a staff member with an id badge coming to perform audio maintenance, there were no unfamiliar faces.


    seeing that more than half of the scheduled time had passed, the people from the city bureau started to grow anxious. dispatch instructions kept coming through lu ye¡¯s earpiece. he took a sip of beer, about to stand up and walk around the stage area when yao xing suddenly froze and pointed behind him.


    ¡°lu ye, is that teacher qi?¡± yao xing exclaimed in surprise. ¡°why is he here?¡±


    lu ye was momentarily taken aback and instinctively turned to look in the direction she was pointing. on a small path on the other side of the activity area, qi yanbai was approaching. he was wearing a thick windbreaker, holding a black umbrella, and occasionally checking his phone while glancing around. it didn¡¯t seem like he was here for leisure; it was more like he was searching for something or someone.


    why would he suddenly come here? lu ye furrowed his brows, filled with questions. not to mention that qi yanbai never liked joining such crowded events. even if he did decide to come out for leisure, he would have notified lu ye in advance.


    in his earpiece, li zhiwen, who was monitoring the situation nearby, also noticed qi yanbai. he used binoculars to observe for a moment and saw him approaching. he had to call lu ye.


    ¡°he¡¯s about to enter the surveillance area.¡± li zhiwen said, ¡°lu ye, go stop him and find a way to persuade him to leave.¡±


    ¡°but who¡¯ll keep eyes on the informant?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°i¡¯ll send someone to handle that for you. we have enough personnel. your task now is to ensure the safety of the public.¡± li zhiwen said, ¡°the transaction is still in progress, and the suspect could appear at any moment. involving civilians in this poses too much risk; we can¡¯t afford it.¡±


    as li zhiwen finished speaking, lu ye had already set down his beer glass and stood up.


    he adjusted his communication devices, then unbuttoned his collar and rolled up his raincoat sleeves a bit. afterward, he turned and walked towards qi yanbai.


    the carnival seemed to be in a remote area, or perhaps some signal jamming system was in place, as phone signals were on and off. qi yanbai was looking at his phone¡¯s blank signal screen with frustration, shaking his phone to get it to work properly..


    a couple of raindrops from the umbrella¡¯s edge splashed onto his phone screen. qi yanbai shook off the droplets and was about to turn it off and restart it when he heard someone calling his name not far away.


    ¡°yanbai¡ª¡±


    qi yanbai was startled. he had only intended to sneak a look at what lu ye was doing, but he hadn¡¯t expected to be spotted. he instinctively put his phone back into his pocket and raised his umbrella while glancing in lu ye¡¯s direction, nervously gripping the umbrella handle.


    lu ye hurriedly approached from a short distance away. but before he had taken many steps, there was suddenly a loud explosion from the direction of the stage. following that, dust billowed, and most of the lights on the stage went out.


    the ground trembled for a moment. qi yanbai staggered back a step, still not fully understanding what had just happened. lu ye swiftly looked in the direction of the commotion, and his expression changed. he quickened his pace towards qi yanbai.


    it all seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. qi yanbai hadn¡¯t fully understood what was going on yet when he suddenly saw lu ye dive towards him, knocking him down. in a swift motion, lu ye rolled, propped himself up on his elbow, and pinned qi yanbai down.


    qi yanbai¡¯s umbrella slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. the next moment, a steel frame, wrapped with light strips, crashed down from above. it landed on lu ye¡¯s back.


    qi yanbai¡¯s pupils constricted, and he instinctively tried to block it, but lu ye quickly held his hand down.


    ¡°lu ye!¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t speak. he didn¡¯t immediately console him either. instead, he just gently shook his head at qi yanbai and reached for his communication earpiece.


    ¡°we¡¯ve captured him; everything¡¯s okay now,¡± li zhiwen¡¯s voice came through the earpiece. ¡°damn it, this guy posed as a maintenance worker, trying to drop the goods directly into the cargo lift. luckily, we spotted him¡ª¡±


    li zhiwen paused for a moment, recalling the situation on lu ye¡¯s side, and asked, ¡°how about teacher qi? is he alright?¡±


    ¡°he¡¯s fine,¡± lu ye replied, taking a deep breath. ¡°i saw the frame falling and moved him out of the way. he¡¯s fine now.¡±


    the steel frame that had fallen on lu ye was hollow and not as heavy as it appeared. although he felt some pain, he was fortunate that it hadn¡¯t caused any serious injuries.


    lu ye sighed in relief and temporarily turned off his communication microphone and looked down at qi yanbai, observing him closely. he softly asked, ¡°are you hurt?¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s chest was heaving, and he hadn¡¯t fully recovered from the shock of the moment. he used one hand to support the steel frame on lu ye¡¯s back and instinctively shook his head.


    ¡°did i cause trouble for you?¡± qi yanbai¡¯s mind was blank. he spoke softly, ¡°you¡¯re working on a mission, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    qi yanbai wasn¡¯t foolish. in a short time, he had grasped the situation. he felt regretful and furrowed his brow. he realized that he had been too reckless this time and shouldn¡¯t have come here so casually.


    ¡°you didn¡¯t.¡± lu ye shook his head. he didn¡¯t try to comfort qi yanbai  deliberately. he was just stating the facts. however, qi yanbai still looked dazed, and his lips quivered slightly, whether from the cold or shock.


    ¡°it¡¯s okay.¡±


    the steel frame was still on top of lu ye, and he attempted to move it. realizing he couldn¡¯t lift it with his own strength, he decided not to struggle. instead, he reached up and brushed off some raindrops from qi yanbai¡¯s wet forehead, then lowered his head and smiled at him.


    perhaps due to the mission they were on, the smile appeared faint, but it was gentle, carrying a sense of relief, silently comforting qi yanbai.


    qi yanbai¡¯s heart was still pounding, but he had gradually recovered from the sudden shock. while he held the cold steel frame, he took a long, deep breath. the intense emotions he had experienced during the initial scare began to subside, transforming into a more profound sentiment.


    ¡°why is he always like this?¡± qi yanbai thought. ¡°how could he protect me so unreasonably and without hesitation?¡±


    when qi yanbai closed his eyes, he could recall lu ye¡¯s determined look when he had rushed over.


    the steel frame was five meters tall, and no one knew how heavy it was before it fell. but when lu ye had thrown himself forward, he had done so resolutely, without a hint of hesitation.


    in that instant, many thoughts had flashed through qi yanbai¡¯s mind and his heart rate quickened for a moment. he suddenly realized what those complex and subtle emotions he was feeling were.


    he didn¡¯t just like lu ye; he loved him deeply.


    those shallow and simple affections that had taken root within him had fermented unnoticed into an irresistible deep love, with roots spreading densely in the fertile soil of his heart.


    ¡°i already love him this much,¡± qi yanbai thought dazedly.


    this realization was like a very fine needle, piercing through some shoddy disguise. his heart seemed to skip a beat momentarily. but in that moment, he suddenly sensed not only deep gratitude but also indescribable anger and bitterness.


    lu ye¡¯s gaze was focused and compassionate, tinged with a hint of worry. qi yanbai enjoyed the attention involuntarily, but he also understood that lu ye was looking at ¡°teacher qi¡± rather than the real him.


    but that¡¯s not right, qi yanbai thought. you shouldn¡¯t love ¡°teacher qi.¡± you should love me.

 CH 53

    qi yanbai¡¯s longing, obsession, and possessiveness resurfaced in his heart, like an unabashedly spread-out thorny net, instantly enveloping his whole heart, making him feel both sour and painful, and even his breathing was stagnant.


    but it seemed that lu ye hadn¡¯t noticed his restless emotions. he patted qi yanbai¡¯s trembling shoulder, assuming that he was still in a state of shock from the situation.


    ¡°actually, i haven¡¯t been home recently because i¡¯ve been preparing for the mission.¡± lu ye shifted the topic lightly, smiling, ¡°i was afraid you¡¯d worry. i originally wanted to tell you, but due to the secrecy of this operation, it needed to be kept secret.¡±


    qi yanbai was finally brought back to his senses by lu ye¡¯s voice. he shook his head, forced a smile at lu ye, and said, ¡°it¡¯s okay, your work is more important.¡±


    his face was pale, his body felt ice-cold, and his hair was soaked by the rain, sticking to his face strand by strand, making him look disheveled. lu ye frowned with concern, wiped away the raindrops from his face.


    suddenly he heard hurried footsteps from nearby.


    ¡°lu ge!¡±


    yao xing, accompanied by other two colleagues arrived. they hastily moved the steel frame that had fallen on lu ye and looked at lu ye and qi yanbai with worry. yao xing asked, ¡°lu ge, teacher qi, are you both okay?¡±


    ¡°we¡¯re fine,¡± lu ye said, shaking his head. he stood up with yao xing¡¯s help and then reached out a hand to help qi yanbai up as well.


    their transparent raincoats were torn and tattered, with rainwater flowing into their collars, leaving several distinct water stains.


    winter rain felt as cold as ice, but lu ye¡¯s hand was extremely warm. qi yanbai held his hand, and for a moment, his fingers subconsciously tightened, as if reluctant to let go.


    but lu ye had work to attend to. he patted the mud off his body, tore off the tattered transparent raincoat, and threw it into a nearby garbage can. then he took off his leather jacket and put it over qi yanbai¡¯s shoulders.


    qi yanbai was about to refuse but hurriedly said, ¡°i¡¯m not cold¡­¡±


    ¡°wear it.¡± lu ye didn¡¯t give him a chance to refuse. he simply pulled up the collar and pushed qi yanbai towards yao xing.


    lu ye instructed, ¡°our operation here is over. could you please take teacher qi back? i need to find boss.¡±


    qi yanbai furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°aren¡¯t you coming with us? aren¡¯t you going to the hospital to get checked?¡±


    ¡°i have something to take care of,¡± lu ye said. he reached out to wipe away the dirt from qi yanbai¡¯s face and didn¡¯t say much. he just reminded him, ¡°you go back first, and i¡¯ll call you after i finish what i need to do.¡±


    he gestured to his yao xing and then turned towards the direction of the city bureau¡¯s surveillance.


    ¡°let¡¯s go, teacher qi. i¡¯ll drop you off. i need to change my clothes too, so it¡¯s on the way,¡± yao xing said.


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t stay behind to wait for lu ye. he nodded slightly and followed yao xing to the parking lot where they had their police vehicles.


    several police cars were quietly parked in the open space, and the flashing police lights illuminated half of the parking lot in alternating blue and red colors.


    a row of young people in strange and colorful clothes squatted next to the police cars, holding their heads in their hands. they looked miserable.


    ¡°why did they arrest so many people?¡± qi yanbai asked. ¡°wasn¡¯t your mission today related to drug trafficking?¡±


    ¡°those guys? they were just caught incidentally. yao xing glanced over there and explained, ¡°today, we were originally here to apprehend suspects related to the drug trafficking incident, but we didn¡¯t expect the music festival to be so chaotic. they were taking drugs on-site, and they were caught on the spot.¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±.


    he had no interest in these unfortunate folks who were having fun under the noses of the police. as he was about to divert his gaze, he noticed a familiar figure at the end of the group.


    the man, at a first glance, appeared to be in his late twenties, with blond hair and blue eyes. he was as thin as a skeleton, with sunken cheeks and adorned with numerous pieces of metal jewelry. his makeup was overly dramatic, and the rain had smeared it into a mess.


    he was boredly squatting at the end of the line, not as nervous as the others, simply drawing something on the muddy ground.


    qi yanbai¡¯s eyebrows twitched, and he couldn¡¯t help but frown. he subconsciously tried to turn and avoid the man.


    but before he could take a step, the man seemed to sense something. he raised his head and saw qi yanbai. he greeted him in french, ¡°qi!¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s footsteps paused, and he couldn¡¯t avoid the encounter anymore. he clenched his teeth, turned around, and walked up to the man with three quick steps, and replied in french, teeth gritted, ¡°what do you want from me?¡±


    ¡°nothing much.¡± the man raised an eyebrow, grinned, and showed off a shiny tongue piercing as he spoke. ¡°i just wanted to call out and see if it was really you.¡±


    surrounded by police officers, it was possible that someone might notice this corner soon. qi yanbai didn¡¯t want to engage with him any longer, so he asked briefly, ¡°what are you doing in the country?¡±


    ¡°father sent me to find you.¡± the man smirked and continued, ¡°and i heard you¡¯ve found a little boyfriend, so i came to take a look and see who he is. i didn¡¯t expect that i would meet here, you appeared before i could even find you¡ªlittle brother.¡±


    so, the man he saw in the mall last time was not a figment of his imagination, qi yanbai realized.


    qi yanbai¡¯s mood was already not great, and encountering this former rival made it even worse. he took a deep breath, suppressing the almost instinctive disgust that welled up within him. he coldly raised the corner of his lips.


    ¡°you better not cause any trouble,¡± qi yanbai said with an icy tone. ¡°i¡¯m living quite peacefully now. it¡¯s best not to disturb me¡ªafter all, you wouldn¡¯t want another competitor, would you?¡±


    the man was hit where it hurt, and his eyes flickered for a moment. he grumbled but didn¡¯t say anything else.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t want anyone to know about his connection with this man. after issuing his warnings, he intended to leave. however, just as he turned around, he noticed lu ye walking towards him from a distance.


    ¡°why are you standing here?¡± lu ye asked. ¡°yao xing doesn¡¯t have much to do at this scene now. she won¡¯t be involved in apprehending these people, so she can drop you off at home.¡±


    as lu ye spoke, he reached qi yanbai¡¯s side. with a glance at the man beside qi yanbai, lu ye furrowed his brows momentarily and then retracted his gaze, appearing somewhat puzzled.


    ¡°yanbai, do you know him?¡± lu ye inquired.


    qi yanbai¡¯s heart skipped a beat. lying in front of lu ye was not an easy task, and he felt his heartbeat accelerate instantly. he clenched the umbrella handle tightly, and his fingertips turned ice-cold.


    ¡°a student from my class skipped school to attend this carnival,¡± qi yanbai forced a smile and explained, ¡°i saw him speaking in a foreign language, and i was worried that you guys might have trouble communicating with him, so i came over to check.¡±


    during their conversation with the man, they had used french, and even if someone overheard them, qi yanbai was confident he could explain it away.


    lu ye didn¡¯t seem to doubt him and nodded. however, he still looked at the man for a moment before finally withdrawing his gaze. he then helped qi yanbai close the car door.


    ¡°i¡¯ll need to go back to the sub-bureau for a while to escort these people,¡± lu ye instructed. ¡°yao xing will drop you off at home. after you get back, make sure to take a hot bath and have some ginger soup to avoid catching a cold.¡±


    ¡°okay,¡± qi yanbai replied. ¡°if you come back early, feel free to come over. i¡¯ll save some ginger soup for you too.¡±


    qi yanbai was used to being affectionate, and lu ye knew that. with a smile, he said, ¡°alright.¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t say anything more. he gave qi yanbai a deep look before turning his gaze away.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t notice, but this thought crossed lu ye¡¯s mind as the car drove away: qi yanbai is lying to me.

 CH 54

    lu ye didn¡¯t want to speculate about qi yanbai, but he found it hard to convince himself to ignore the inconsistencies in qi yanbai¡¯s words.


    the rain in the sky was getting heavier, the cold rain felt like a knife, pouring down on him. the taillights of the police car had already disappeared into the night. lu ye¡¯s gaze shifted, and he suddenly felt his heart in turmoil.


    on one hand, he wanted to believe it was just a misunderstanding. maybe there was a new student in qi yanbai¡¯s class. on the other hand, he knew that the training center had just started, and the possibility of a new student joining so soon was extremely low.


    ¡°why are you standing here?¡± a colleague, holding an umbrella, had approached him without him realizing it. while shielding him from the rain, the colleague looked in the direction of his gaze and asked, ¡°what are you looking at? it¡¯s pitch-black, what can you see?¡±


    ¡°nothing,¡± lu ye finally came to his senses. he shook his head, didn¡¯t say much, and just took the umbrella. he asked, ¡°is it time to head back?¡±


    ¡°yes, all the suspects are in the vehicles behind,¡± his colleague heaved a long sigh of relief and said, ¡°finally done with it. after working late for so long, we can finally have a regular shift starting tomorrow.¡±


    their team had been working extra shifts for almost half a month, and their uniforms were almost worn out. now, out of the blue, they were talking about having a regular shift, which felt like a ray of sunshine.


    however, lu ye¡¯s reaction was unusually indifferent. he gave a faint ¡°hmm¡± and seemed preoccupied. he turned and got into the police car, closing the passenger-side door with ease.


    his colleague sensed that something was amiss and followed suit, getting into the car. while starting the engine, he asked, ¡°what¡¯s wrong? are you in a bad mood?¡±


    ¡°no,¡± lu ye said after a pause, as if he had remembered something, and he reached out to his colleague, saying, ¡°by the way, can i borrow your phone?¡±


    ¡°hmm?¡± his colleague patted himself down with one hand and then pulled out his phone from his pocket, unlocking the screen and handing it to lu ye. he casually asked, ¡°is your phone out of battery? there¡¯s a portable charger in the glove compartment.¡±


    lu ye shook his head and didn¡¯t answer. he quickly opened the dialing interface with one hand and paused for a moment. then, from memory, he dialed the front desk number of the training center.


    at this time, the training center had finished its classes, but the front desk was still open. lu ye¡¯s call hadn¡¯t even rung twice before someone answered.


    ¡°hello, this is the wei si art training center,¡± the receptionist said. ¡°how may i help you?¡±


    with one hand, lu ye took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and, with a hoarse voice, said, ¡°hello, i¡¯d like to inquire if the advanced class students have all been dismissed for the evening.¡±


    ¡°they¡¯ve all been dismissed,¡± the receptionist, not recognizing his voice, assumed he was a parent picking up a student. she quickly replied, ¡°the advanced class was dismissed ten minutes ago. there were no delays today.¡±


    ¡°all of them?¡± lu ye emphasized, asking, ¡°are there any students who haven¡¯t left yet?¡±


    ¡°no, there aren¡¯t,¡± the receptionist answered, a little nervous. her initial thought was that a student might not have made it home in time, and a parent was inquiring. she quickly explained, ¡°all seventeen students from the advanced class have already been dismissed. due to the rain, their respective parents came to pick them up, and we matched them up one by one before letting them go.¡±


    ¡°are you a parent of one of the students?¡± the receptionist asked cautiously. ¡°i can help you check with our administrative teacher to see which parent came to pick up the students tonight.¡±


    ¡°no need,¡± lu ye got the answer he wanted and, with a faint laugh, said, ¡°my child just got back. sorry for the trouble.¡±


    he hung up the phone without waiting for a response from the front desk.


    ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± his colleague asked in confusion. ¡°isn¡¯t your niece in the basic class? hasn¡¯t she gone home either?¡±


    lu ye was feeling emotionally drained. he shook his head in response to his colleague¡¯s question, didn¡¯t say anything, and simply handed the phone back to him. then, he sighed softly.


    there were seventeen students in the advanced class, and the number was correct. moreover, for a training institution, knowing the whereabouts of the students was a big deal. if there had indeed been a student who skipped class and had gone missing, when dealing with an unknown student¡¯s parent inquiring about the students¡¯ whereabouts, they would, at the very least, ask if they were the parent of the absent student rather than confidently stating that all students had been dismissed.


    so, qi yanbai was indeed lying, lu ye thought.


    having been in the police force for so many years, lu ye had seen too many liars. lies meant concealment, and something that someone didn¡¯t want to be discovered had occurred. that wasn¡¯t a big deal, but lu ye couldn¡¯t understand why qi yanbai would lie about such a trivial matter.


    lu ye considered himself to be an easy-going person. even if qi yanbai had come out to attend the carnival out of curiosity or just wanted to have some fun, lu ye wouldn¡¯t have found it difficult to accept.


    however, perhaps because lu ye had never imagined the words ¡°lying¡± would be associated with qi yanbai, he suddenly felt a strange sense of dislocation when he unexpectedly discovered this.


    it was as if some taken-for-granted understanding was being shaken, and lu ye turned to look at the thick night outside, feeling an inexplicable and deep sense of unease slowly spreading.


    through the gap in the car seat, lu ye¡¯s phone screen suddenly lit up, and a wechat message from qi yanbai appeared on the home screen. lu ye glanced at it briefly, and for a moment, he had a very unfamiliar sensation.


    the new message quietly lay on the screen, and he remained silent for two seconds. in the end, he didn¡¯t reach out to check it and just watched as the screen went dark again.


    the sent message seemed to have vanished into thin air. qi yanbai unlocked his screen, only to turn it off again. he repeatedly played with the cold phone in his hand.


    a few minutes later, the car door beside him was reopened, and yao xing returned, handing him a cup of lukewarm hot milk tea.


    ¡°teacher qi, are you cold? have some hot tea,¡± yao xing said.


    ¡°thank you,¡± qi yanbai put away his phone, held the cup with both hands, and smiled at yao xing. ¡°you¡¯re a big help.¡±


    ¡°no trouble at all. it¡¯s what lu ye instructed,¡± yao xing said as she got back into the car, started the engine, and glanced at the rearview mirror. she joked, ¡°lu ye said you¡¯re working tomorrow, and you got caught in the rain tonight, so make sure you don¡¯t catch a cold.¡±


    yao xing tilted her head and gestured to the blanket draped over qi yanbai. she added, ¡°he brought the blanket from their car.¡±


    the blanket qi yanbai had wrapped around himself was a bit worn, with frayed edges and a faint smell of smoke. it was clear that it had been in the police car for years, far from the refined and clean image of a teacher like qi yanbai.


    but perhaps because it was lu ye who brought it over, qi yanbai hesitated for a moment and didn¡¯t reject it. instead, he subconsciously clutched the blanket tighter, feeling that the lingering scent of smoke had softened.


    ¡°lu ye might seem tough, but he has a kind heart,¡± yao xing said. ¡°he thinks of everything.¡±


    qi yanbai was gentle and friendly, and he got along well with colleagues from the sub-bureau. so yao xing spoke to him without reservation and even praised lu ye.


    ¡°especially when it comes to you, teacher qi,¡± yao xing said with a smile. ¡°since he started dating you, he rarely goes out to eat with us anymore. he always says he¡¯s picking you up from work, and he remembers your work schedule even better than the duty roster.


    lu ye was attentive, and qi yanbai knew it better than anyone else.


    he always seemed to sense qi yanbai¡¯s emotions immediately, and then he would comfort him and take care of him without leaving a trace, shielding him from everything he didn¡¯t like.


    qi yanbai knew that lu ye didn¡¯t have any special means to do this; he simply cared deeply enough.


    until today, qi yanbai used to be delighted, satisfied, and even smug about lu ye¡¯s caring attitude. but now, as he held the warmth of lu ye¡¯s consideration in his hands and listened to yao xing talk about it, he couldn¡¯t feel any satisfaction.


    envy surged in qi yanbai¡¯s heart for a moment. he thought he didn¡¯t want to be ¡°teacher qi¡± anymore. he wished lu ye would see him, notice him, and love him. the real him.


    for a brief moment, qi yanbai suddenly had the urge to be honest with lu ye. he wanted to tell him what kind of person he truly was, reveal everything lu ye didn¡¯t know about him, and take what he wanted from him again, relying on lu ye¡¯s indulgence.


    but as he glanced at the tea in his hand, qi yanbai quickly dismissed the idea on his own.


    lu ye disliked being lied to, qi yanbai thought. he would definitely get angry.


    but it was also fine not to be completely open. qi yanbai lowered his head, took a sip of the tea, and thought aimlessly: he could slowly, bit by bit, reveal the harmless aspects of himself to lu ye, just like when he first approached him, slowly and quietly reshaping lu ye¡¯s impression of him.

 CH 55

    efore heading back, lu ye had instructed yao xing to pay attention to qi yanbai. if he started feeling unwell, it would be best to take him to the hospital for a check-up before going home.


    however, qi yanbai believed he was in good condition, so he politely declined yao xing¡¯s proposal to go to the hospital and simply stated that he was tired and just wanted to go home to rest.


    so yao xing didn¡¯t insist further and drove qi yanbai to the entrance of the residential area.


    as it was nearing midnight, there was no one on the streets, and small puddles accumulated under the streetlights. qi yanbai held an umbrella with one hand, smiling as he watched yao xing¡¯s car gradually recede. only then did he turn around and walk towards the residential area.


    the security guard in the gatehouse had already changed shifts and was resting. the residential area was quiet, with only a few late-night workers occasionally passing by. the light drizzle fell on the umbrella, forming tiny streaks of water that rolled down along the edge.


    the latest message on wechat was still of qi yanbai and lu ye hadn¡¯t replied yet. qi yanbai guessed he might be busy with work, so he didn¡¯t press further and simply exited the chat. he increased the notification volume for messages, just in case.


    at this time, most households in the building were already asleep, with only a few scattered lights on. qi yanbai exited the elevator and cleared his throat consciously, triggering the motion-activated hallway lights..


    everything seemed normal at his doorstep, except that a water bill notice had been affixed to the door, and qi yanbai¡¯s gaze shifted around for a moment. instead of heading to his apartment, he turned and removed the payment reminder from lu ye¡¯s apartment¡¯s door first.


    on his way back, qi yanbai had been thinking about how to subtly change lu ye¡¯s perception of him. he realized that he couldn¡¯t continue being the perfect and flawless boyfriend as he had been before. he needed to start showing lu ye some harmless imperfections and gradually change his perspective.


    this required precise timing, and qi yanbai stared at lu ye¡¯s door for a while with a thoughtful expression. then, he slowly reached out and grasped the doorknob, activating lu ye¡¯s electronic lock.


    he thought he could start with that ¡°mystery gift.¡±


    ¡°honesty¡± needed to be handled with care. too little wouldn¡¯t be effective, and too much could backfire. finding the right balance was crucial, but fortunately, qi yanbai was quite skilled at it.


    a while ago, when he and lu ye had gone shopping, lu yehad bought a ¡°surprise¡± for him. qi yanbai had indirectly inquired about it for a long time but couldn¡¯t get an answer about what the surprise was. he had been somewhat concerned about it at the time, but lu ye had later confessed that it was a gift for him. qi yanbai had barely managed to suppress his urge to dig deeper into the matter.


    back then, he had brushed his curiosity aside, but now, that ¡°little secret¡± could serve as a starting point to satisfy the curiosity that ¡°teacher qi¡± shouldn¡¯t have.


    the electronic lock blinked for two seconds, displaying a green light to indicate the correct password. there was a mechanical sound from the lock, the latch sprang back, and the door automatically opened a narrow slit.


    the room was pitch black, and qi yanbai changed his shoes before entering. he casually turned on the ceiling light, then took a step and walked into the master bedroom.


    lu ye was an open and honest person with no secrets, and he didn¡¯t mind his ¡°personal space¡± much. so, after confirming their relationship, he had also shared his door code with qi yanbai, allowing him to come and go freely.


    qi yanbai entered lu ye¡¯s bedroom. he knelt down on the floor and pulled open a few drawers on lu ye¡¯s bedside table.


    as a lover, having a bit of curiosity about your partner¡¯s secrets was natural, qi yanbai thought. lu ye was a liberal person; he wouldn¡¯t actually get angry over such a small matter.


    the wooden drawer made a crisp sound as it opened. qi yanbai¡¯s eyes darkened slightly, and he applied a light pressure with his thumb, intentionally leaving a faint pencil mark near the handle of the white wooden drawer.


    in the late hours of the night, the rain outside gradually ceased. the water streaks on the ground had frozen into a thin layer of frost, making a creaking sound when stepped on.


    the group of people brought back from the concert were quite young, and when they were caught with drugs, they were shedding tears when they found out they¡¯d have to notify their families. they cried and made a scene, and few of them cooperated.


    the duty police officers spent the entire night dealing with them, and it wasn¡¯t until the sky was beginning to brighten that things settled down.


    lu ye hadn¡¯t come home at night and had stayed up working. he had taken a short nap on his desk, but in just twenty minutes or so, he had strange and vivid dreams.


    perhaps because he couldn¡¯t sleep well due to the thoughts on his mind, during that brief moment, his dreams were even more surreal. one second, he was fighting aliens in a space battle, and the next, he was in a war behind enemy lines.


    when a colleague woke him up from his desk, he was in the middle of a dangerous mission as an undercover agent, suddenly exposed and betrayed by his superior. he was surrounded and couldn¡¯t escape. he heard someone patting his shoulder and calling his name.


    ¡°lu ye!¡±


    lu ye woke up from his dream, the adrenaline from the dream had not completely faded. his heart was pounding, and his fingertips were tingling. it took him a couple of seconds to react to what was said, and he slowly raised an expression of confusion.


    ¡°a foreigner?¡± lu ye asked in puzzlement. ¡°foreigners should be sent to the city bureau. why are you bringing them to me?¡±


    dealing with foreigners involved in crimes was troublesome. they couldn¡¯t be simply released, but they also needed to be handled carefully to avoid diplomatic issues. usually, such cases were sent directly to the city bureau, where it was easier to negotiate.


    ¡°he¡¯s not cooperating,¡± his colleague sighed. ¡°he mentioned your height and physical appearance and specifically asked to speak with you.¡±


    lu ye had been working overtime for over half a month and had pulled an all-nighter last night. he hadn¡¯t had enough sleep, and now, with his heart pounding and his head spinning, he felt a bit dizzy and nauseous .


    he frowned and sighed, feeling tired. then, he reluctantly put on his coat and stood up, draping it over himself leisurely.


    ¡°which room?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°interrogation room 2,¡± his colleague replied.


    with most other matters handled for the night, this troublesome case remained. lu ye¡¯s steps felt unsteady as he pushed open the door to interrogation room 2, took a seat behind the desk, and got straight to the point.


    ¡°foreign nationals who use drugs in our country are subject to punishment under our laws, typically detention for up to fifteen days and a fine. is there anything you don¡¯t understand?¡± he asked.


    surprisingly, the foreigner didn¡¯t resist or make a scene, nor did he demand to contact his embassy. instead, he tilted his head with curiosity, observing lu ye for a moment before attempting to speak in broken chinese.


    ¡°no¡­ can call me elvis,¡± he said.


    his chinese was far from fluent, his tone awkward and stiff. lu ye furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of his words, but he only nodded in response, assuming elvis wanted to write something down. lu ye tore a sheet of paper from his notebook and handed it over along with a pen. elvis lifted his head, and with a strangely sticky gaze, he observed lu ye¡¯s face before licking his lips and offering a cryptic smile.


    he wore unconventional clothing and had a slender build, accentuated by heavy makeup. he looked like a skeletal figure from an animated movie. lu ye felt uneasy under elvis¡¯s blatant and flirtatious gaze, but he restrained himself.


    elvis quickly wrote his name and phone number on the paper, then crumpled it into a ball and stretched his arm to awkwardly stuff it into lu ye¡¯s coat pocket, all while maintaining an seductive expression.


    ¡°you¡¯re very handsome,¡± elvis complimented lu ye in broken chinese, using an unusual choice of words. it seemed his linguistic limitations didn¡¯t deter him from acting provocatively. he ransacked his mind and finally came up with something to say on his own, expressing his admiration sincerely, ¡°full of desire.¡±


    lu ye ¡­


    it was lu ye¡¯s first time being sexually harassed by a suspect in a professional setting during his years in the police force. he nearly burst into laughter.


    ¡°if i were you, i wouldn¡¯t attempt to harass an officer,¡± lu ye replied coldly. ¡°if you have the time and energy, you might as well prepare for the fine.¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t want to engage further with this eccentric individual. he turned and walked toward the door of the interrogation room. however, just as he reached the door, he heard elvis¡¯s voice from behind.


    ¡°don¡¯t¡­..,¡± elvis suddenly stopped lu ye. he seemed like a neurotic person lost in his own world. he smiled with narrowed eyes, speaking to himself as he asked lu ye, ¡°it seems you like artists, right?. i¡¯m an artist too.¡±

 CH 56

    lu ye, of course, didn¡¯t pay much attention to this nonsense. however, the word ¡°artist¡± in elvis¡¯s conversation triggered his currently overly sensitive nerves.


    so he paused for a moment, propped himself against the door frame, and turned to look at elvis.


    ¡°don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± perhaps lu ye¡¯s gaze was too sharp, elvis visibly trembled, then he tilted his head and looked at lu ye, complaining with a touch of resentment, ¡°so fierce.¡±


    communication was difficult with someone who seemed lost in their own world. therefore, lu ye selectively ignored his words and straightforwardly asked his own question.


    ¡°do you know q¨ª yanbai?¡± lu ye asked.


    lu ye knew that it might be a bit of a stretch to connect qi yanbai with elvis based on a vague statement. however, he was feeling overly sensitive at the moment and had a nagging suspicion that there was more to elvis¡¯s words than met the eye. moreover, q¨ª yanbai had a brief interaction with this person after the concert last night. lu ye hadn¡¯t paid much attention at the time, but now he found it increasingly strange.


    ¡°q¨ª¡ª?¡± elvis¡¯s face displayed a perfectly timed hint of confusion as he asked, ¡°who is that?¡±


    his tone was natural, but his gaze was unclear, and there was a sly smile on his lips. he seemed to be eagerly waiting for something and asked, ¡°is he an artist? is he someone you like?¡±


    lu ye ignored his counter-question and calmly said, ¡°he¡¯s a painter. don¡¯t you know him?¡±


    ¡°a painter?¡± elvis bent his eyes, assessed lu ye¡¯s expression, and intentionally drew out the pronunciation, ¡°i don¡¯t know him.¡±


    he deliberately piqued lu ye¡¯s curiosity, hoping to see an angry expression on lu ye¡¯s face. however, he didn¡¯t expect lu ye to remain much calmer than he had anticipated.


    lu ye didn¡¯t say a word, just looked at elvis intently for a moment. then, he withdrew his gaze, turned around, and walked out.


    lu ye got his answer, but he still didn¡¯t feel comfortable. it was as if something was blocking his chest, something he couldn¡¯t spit out or swallow, making him feel nauseous.


    the crumpled paper that elvis had given him was still in his pocket. lu ye had no interest in having fun or getting involved with drug addicts. as soon as he returned to his office, he took out the crumpled paper from his pocket and casually tossed it into the trash can in the corner.


    however, his current condition was far from ideal, and his aim was off. the crumpled paper elegantly arched through the air, then veered off course and landed in a flowerpot next to the trash can.


    lu ye sighed in frustration. he had failed in his attempt to dispose of it. he was about to go pick it up when he heard hurried footsteps behind him.


    ¡°hurry, move out of the way¡ªcan¡¯t hold it.¡±


    yao xing pushed the office door with her shoulder, holding seven or eight bags of soy milk in her left hand and seven or eight servings of steamed dumplings in her right hand. she looked like a messenger of warmth in a disaster area, or a fortune-bringing deity, as she rushed in.


    lu ye instinctively moved to the side to make way, but he hadn¡¯t slept well the previous night, and he hadn¡¯t had breakfast yet this morning. he might have low blood sugar, which caused him to sway when he turned back. as a result, he accidentally bumped into his office desk.


    the office desk was solid at its four corners, so originally, this wouldn¡¯t have been a problem. however, whether due to lu ye¡¯s bad luck or something else, as he leaned over, he happened to hit the bookshelf on the desk. the heavy bookshelf toppled over with a bang, knocking over the mechanical alarm clock that was originally on the corner of the desk.


    the metal alarm clock had some weight to it. as it fell from the edge of the desk, it made a loud ¡°crash¡± sound when it hit the ground. it shattered into several pieces, and the delicate internal components scattered everywhere. it seemed to freeze in time, with its various-length hands all stopping at once, as if in some kind of uncertain stillness.


    all of these chain reactions happened in the blink of an eye, and before lu ye could react, everything had already come to an end.


    the loud noise had startled lu ye, and he felt like his heart had skipped a beat. he couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of pain because, even though he didn¡¯t know what qi yanbai was hiding, this was still a gift from him, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit distressed.


    moreover, accidentally damaging something for no apparent reason always made one feel uneasy. lu ye frowned and pressed his hand against his chest. he had a restless feeling, as if something was about to happen.


    ¡°l-lu ge¡ª¡±


    his colleagues in the office knew that this alarm clock was a gift from qi yanbai. yao xing hesitated for a moment, realizing that she might have caused trouble. she hurriedly placed the takeout on an empty spot and nervously said, ¡°i¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°¡­it¡¯s okay.¡± lu ye regained his composure and managed to force a smile at yao xing, indicating that she didn¡¯t need to come closer. ¡°i knocked it over myself. i¡¯ll clean it up.¡±


    he kneeled down, picking up the metal scattered on the floor.


    the alarm clock was already beyond repair, with its structure and components in a mess. lu ye carefully picked up a relatively intact component, but before he could secure it, the outer casing unexpectedly detached and fell to the ground with a slight clatter.


    following that, a small, dark object dropped and landed on the floor, emitting a soft, crisp sound.


    lu ye¡¯s gaze instinctively followed the tiny object as it fell to the floor. he only glanced at it for a moment, but he was suddenly stunned.


    the small component was exquisitely crafted, with a faint red light from within. its outer casing was made of hard plastic material, with exposed circuitry on the interface, entwined with a complex electrical connection box.


    lu ye, a police officer of many years, was extremely familiar with this gadget. at a glance, he recognized the ¡°true identity¡± of this device.


    ¡ª it was a listening device.


    it was ordinary, neither an exceptionally high-end product nor a professional tool. it was probably taken from a gps tracker bought on taobao or a similar platform. although its listening range was limited, it was easy to use. it could last for half a year on a single charge.


    but why would there be such a thing inside the alarm clock? lu ye wondered in confusion.


    in that moment, lu ye¡¯s mind raced through many possibilities. his initial reaction was that the origin of this gift was unknown, and someone had used an intermediary to spy on the on-duty police officers. however, he also knew that this possibility was close to zero¡ªafter all, the public security brigade was not the criminal investigation brigade, and there was no reason for someone to monitor them.


    lu ye¡¯s mind was in turmoil, his thoughts tangled into a mess, causing him a headache.


    ¡°lu ye, don¡¯t worry; the clock can still be fixed.¡±


    perhaps lu ye had been lost in thought for too long, making yao xing feel uneasy. despite lu ye reassuring her that it was alright, she rushed to help clean up after hurriedly placing the food on an empty seat.


    ¡°uh, there¡¯s a good old-fashioned clock shop in the city; i can¡ª¡±


    she began to say, planning to offer help after her shift, but before she could finish her sentence, she saw lu ye suddenly snap back to reality. his movements became swift as he picked up the small listening device and clenched it in his palm.


    ¡°l-lu ye?¡± yao xing hadn¡¯t seen what he had picked up, so she looked at him cautiously and asked, ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s nothing, just watch out for the sharp metal.¡± lu ye, forcing a smile, spoke to yao xing in as natural a tone as possible.


    yao xing responded with an ¡°okay¡± and nodded cautiously, without raising any suspicions. she carefully gathered all the visible metal and wrapped them in two tissues before placing them on lu ye¡¯s desk.


    ¡°lu ye, i¡¯m really sorry. i should¡¯ve been more careful,¡± yao xing said, her hands clasped together, offering a sincere apology. ¡°breaking the gift that teacher qi gave you, i¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    ¡°teacher qi.¡± that name pierced through an obvious disguise like needles, and lu ye took a deep breath, repeating that sentence in his mind.


    qi yanbai, this was a gift from qi yanbai, lu ye thought.


    in the blink of an eye, lu ye recalled qi yanbai¡¯s words, ¡°a match made in heaven.¡± before this, he had wondered how casual conversations between him and lu wenyu had reached qi yanbai. but now it seemed the answer was right here, right in front of him.


    lu ye didn¡¯t want to doubt the person in his bed, but he couldn¡¯t turn a blind eye to the facts.


    lu ye strangely regained his composure. he calmly nodded at yao xing and said, ¡°it¡¯s not a big deal. i¡¯ll just ask where he bought it when i get back.¡±


    lu ye paused for a moment and, as if guided by some strange force, added, ¡°besides, it¡¯s not too severely damaged. it can still serve as a decorative item.¡±


    yao xing thought that it was smashed into pieces, how was it not considered severely damaged?. she looked at lu ye¡¯s expression and, despite her initial thought, decided to swallow the rest of her sentence. then, hesitatingly, she nodded and returned to her workstation, focusing on her tasks.


    this minor incident quickly faded into the background amid the bustling office environment. the remnants of the clock lay on lu ye¡¯s desk, and he sat there in silence for a long time. it wasn¡¯t until his overly fast heartbeat returned to normal that he finally loosened his tightly clenched right hand, revealing the listening device concealed in his palm.


    the hard plastic casing had left several distinct red marks on his palm. lu ye stared at the small listening device, and for a moment, he felt a shiver run down his spine, an eerie sensation of being watched.


    this clock had been on his desk for several months. lu ye couldn¡¯t help but wonder if, during these months, qi yanbai had been secretly listening to his conversations.


    lu ye¡¯s back was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat as he looked the small device. he suddenly felt like the name ¡°qi yanbai¡± had become unfamiliar.


    for that moment, his thoughts drifted aimlessly. he recalled all the ¡°well-timed¡± dinners, the ¡°perfect¡± gifts, and the countless instances of ¡°telepathy.¡±


    so many ¡°timely¡± and ¡°perfect¡± moments, as well as ¡°sympathy,¡± all turned out to be because of this.


    ¡°there was never such a thing as a match made in heaven,¡± lu ye thought.

 CH 57

    fate¡¯s twists and turns sometimes unfold like a chain reaction, where one small event sets off a series of consequences.


    with one question answered, the rest suddenly fell into place¡ªsuch as why qi yanbai knew him so well, why his ¡°help¡± always came so timely, and why he could¡­ always run into him at the ¡°perfect¡± moments.


    thinking of this, lu ye¡¯s thoughts suddenly froze. he hesitated while examining the listening device, and then it seemed like he remembered something. he stood up abruptly from his desk, checking his jacket carefully.


    his colleague sitting next to him was taken aback by his sudden movement, and while gulping down a mouthful of soy milk, they asked, ¡°what¡¯s going on? is something wrong?¡±


    after checking his jacket without finding anything unusual, lu ye¡¯s gaze wandered around his desk for a moment, carefully inspecting every ¡°suspicious item.¡± finally, he focused on his phone.


    ¡°it¡¯s nothing,¡± lu ye¡¯s eyes narrowed, and without saying a word, he picked up his phone, put it in his pocket, and said, ¡°i¡¯ll go to the technical investigation department for a moment, and i¡¯ll be right back.¡±


    as he said this, he hurriedly left the office. his colleague watched him leave, puzzled for a while, then shook their head and tossed the soy milk cup into the trash.


    ¡°what¡¯s gotten into him?¡± the colleague muttered.


    the tech department was much busier than the public security brigade during working hours. in the office next door, the criminal investigation division¡¯s personnel were bustling about, several specialized machines were emitting a low hum, and printers along the wall were spitting out reports one by one.


    lu ye stood at the entrance of the technical investigation department, peeked inside, lightly knocked on the door.


    ¡°oh, it¡¯s lu ye.¡± a middle-aged police officer near the door heard the sound and greeted him with a smile. ¡°what¡¯s up? do you need help with a case?¡±


    ¡°nothing like that,¡± lu ye smiled and said, ¡°liu-ge, can you do me a favor? check my phone for me.¡±


    ¡°your phone? what¡¯s wrong with it?¡± the middle-aged officer asked in confusion.


    ¡°it seems like it has a virus,¡± lu ye vaguely replied, ¡°i¡¯m worried about security, so i want to check it.¡±


    the middle-aged officer said, ¡°oh,¡± nodded, and said, ¡°no problem. it¡¯s simple. just find xiao zheng in the communications department.¡±


    he raised his voice and shouted, ¡°xiao zheng, are you busy? help lu ye check something.¡±


    a young officer at the other end of the office quickly raised his head, said ¡°okay,¡± and gestured for lu ye to come over.


    he said. ¡°what¡¯s wrong lu ye?¡±


    ¡°nothing serious,¡± lu ye said, placing his phone on xiao zheng¡¯s desk. he politely asked, ¡°i just want you to check it for me, see if there¡¯s anything unusual on my phone.¡±


    regularly cleaning communication devices was common practice for police officers, so xiao zheng didn¡¯t find it unusual. he nodded and removed the protective case from lu ye¡¯s phone, examined it inside and out, and then plugged in a data cable, connecting it to the nearby mainframe computer.


    xiao zheng worked quickly. he scanned through all the data, and after a moment, he furrowed his brow and made an intrigued sound.


    lu ye¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked.


    ¡°you have a hidden software here,¡± xiao zheng said, his brow furrowing deeper. he stared at the screen and then adjusted the mouse wheel. after carefully examining the data for a while, he turned the screen towards lu ye and pointed at one of the folders.


    ¡°hidden software?¡± lu ye had already guessed, but he asked anyway, ¡°what¡¯s it for?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s for tracking,¡± xiao zheng replied with a tight frown. he said seriously, ¡°it has been continuously accessing your information and transmitting it externally. look here, these are the transmission records.¡±


    as expected, lu ye thought.


    his speculation had finally turned into reality. the truth in front of him felt like dust settling, lightly weighing down on his heart.


    perhaps due to the mental preparation he had made this time, lu ye¡¯s mood was much calmer than he had imagined. he looked at the dense transmission records on the screen in the direction xiao zheng had pointed, and felt his heart sinking with every moment. it made it difficult for him to breathe.


    ¡°so¡­¡± lu ye¡¯s voice sounded somewhat stiff. he paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°can you tell when this was installed?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m afraid i can¡¯t,¡± xiao zheng replied hesitantly. ¡°it¡¯s been there for a while. this software regularly clears its records. i can only see the transmission records from the past three months.¡±


    three months, lu ye thought. at that time, he and qi yanbai hadn¡¯t even started dating yet.


    perhaps due to his profession, lu ye was always cautious about any unreasonable ¡°coincidences.¡± however, even with that in mind, until today, at this very moment, he had never doubted that those coincidences were ¡°fabricated¡± by qi yanbai.


    the romantic ¡°coincidences¡± from before were suddenly shrouded in a wet and cold gloom. lu ye¡¯s back felt chilled, and he stared at the densely packed data on the screen, feeling that he might never have truly understood qi yanbai.


    he felt a chilling sensation on one side, but on the other, his questions were growing in magnitude.


    lu ye couldn¡¯t understand. if everything qi yanbai had shown him was a beautified facade of himself, and why had he gone to such great lengths to get close to him?


    in terms of wealth, qi yanbai¡¯s family background might even be richer than his. in terms of power, he was just an ordinary public security police officer. lu ye couldn¡¯t understand why qi yanbai would invest so much in pursuing him.


    these questions were like a tangled mess, hard to unravel. lu ye pinched his nose and, in the end, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle self-mockingly, thinking that perhaps his love life had been cursed from the start. just as he thought he had finally met someone reliable after getting rid of two scoundrels, it turned out that qi yanbai had taken an entirely different path, one that no one else had ventured down.


    ¡°lu ye.¡± in the blink of an eye, zheng had finished examining all the records. this type of software involved complex information flow, and he tried to trace it back but couldn¡¯t find the source of the signal. he had to reluctantly close the page and said, ¡°i couldn¡¯t find the device that receives the location. what happened? did someone take your phone?¡±


    it was a sensitive question, and lu ye quickly regained his composure. the name ¡°qi yanbai¡± was on the tip of his tongue, but he bit it back.


    ¡°i accidentally clicked on a few shady links on my phone earlier,¡± lu ye said. ¡°maybe i accidentally downloaded some malware.¡±


    he had to shoulder this responsibility himself, and zheng didn¡¯t raise any suspicions. zheng nodded in agreement and casually clicked a few times.


    ¡°be more careful next time. there are many phishing links out there now,¡± zheng said. ¡°but this software is a bit rogue. do you want me to remove it for you?¡±


    ¡°not for now,¡± lu ye said, with a sudden thought. he shook his head, refusing, and added, ¡°i have some important files on my phone. i¡¯ll make a backup and format it when i get home.¡±


    as a regular police officer, confidentiality wasn¡¯t always high in his line of work, and his daily tasks weren¡¯t particularly sensitive. zheng probably hadn¡¯t considered the possibility of someone monitoring him, so he simply nodded, unplugged lu ye¡¯s phone from the mainframe, and said, ¡°sure, do that, lu ye. if you can¡¯t handle it yourself, come back, and i¡¯ll help you.¡±


    lu ye took his phone, smiled in gratitude, and said thanks. he didn¡¯t say much more, turning and leaving the tech department¡¯s office.


    the exposure of any lie could be cruel, and lu ye hadn¡¯t expected that qi yanbai¡¯s initial insignificant lie would lead to such a shocking truth.


    he had finally figured out what qi yanbai had hidden from him last night, but he felt no relief. the disappointment and frustration that came after being deceived, the belated realization, all of it surged within him. lu ye felt as though a sharp truth had poked a big hole in his heart, and the cold wind was rushing in, causing his heart to sink endlessly.


    in the afternoon, lu ye discreetly got rid of the listening device. he didn¡¯t reveal any clues and simply cut the wires connecting the battery pack. he effectively shut it down.


    perhaps noticing something amiss, in the evening, qi yanbai sent two unrelated wechat messages, asking if lu ye wanted him to pick him up after work. at the time, lu ye absentmindedly toyed with his phone, but in the end, he didn¡¯t reply.


    his mind was in chaos, and he lingered in the office long after work hours. it wasn¡¯t until his boss, li zhiwen, urged him to leave that he finally walked out of the sub-bureau¡¯s gates.


    with a lot on his mind, lu ye was absentminded and even forgot to ride his bike. he walked home with his head down, lost in thought.


    the winter night after the rain was bone-chillingly cold. lu ye walked towards home, but he realized, when it was already too late, that he had unknowingly wandered onto the riverside trail where he and qi yanbai had confirmed their relationship.


    the river remained the same, and everything before him hadn¡¯t changed, but lu ye stopped in his tracks and felt that everything was strangely unfamiliar.


    the river water flowed relentlessly forward, and the name that had been deliberately forgotten for an afternoon resurfaced in his mind. lu ye pursed his lips and found it hard to describe how he felt at that moment.


    the initial shock, anger, disappointment, and sadness seemed to have gradually faded with the passage of time, replaced by a nearly blank sense of confusion.


    the disorienting confusion that made him feel as if he had erased all his awareness of the surroundings. even though he could still vividly remember that confession day, when he turned around and faced the pitch-black night behind him, he suddenly felt as though he had never truly seen any of this.


    the bracelet that qi yanbai had given him was still wrapped around his wrist. lu ye stared at the golden chain for a while and then reached out to unclasp it.


    he wanted to remove the bracelet, but it felt as if something invisible was holding it in place. he couldn¡¯t move it.


    as the cold wind blew, the river made a mournful sound. lu ye stood alone in the dark night. he struggled with himself for a while, but in the end, he failed.


    lu ye had to admit that qi yanbai had disguised himself very well¡ªso well that even now, with his eyes closed, lu ye could still imagine qi yanbai¡¯s lips curling up as he smiled softly in front of him.


    it was so real, so tender, as if it were an unintentional display of true feelings, discovered by lu ye by sheer coincidence.


    ¡°coincidence¡­¡± when lu ye thought of this word again, he couldn¡¯t help but find it ironic. he shook his head and, after a moment, burst into self-deprecating laughter.


    at this moment, he finally understood what the strange feeling that had unknowingly lingered in his chest was¡ªhis intuition, his premonition, warning him time and time again.


    unfortunately, despite all the warnings fate had given him, he had never heeded any of them.


    it serves me right, lu ye thought.

 CH 58

    lu ye¡¯s location had been stationary downstairs for twenty minutes.


    qi yanbai sat in front of his canvas, his pencil going up and down without producing a single stroke. his gaze occasionally drifted to the coffee table beside him, and he often found himself staring at the tiny location point on his phone screen.


    ¡°what is he doing downstairs?¡± qi yanbai wondered.


    there were no supermarkets or lounging areas downstairs, just two barren flower beds with nowhere to pass the time. since lu ye had already returned, he should have gone upstairs to rest instead of standing downstairs idly.


    any unusual situation could trigger a subtle sense of unease in qi yanbai¡¯s heart. he felt anxious, his heart pounding, as he twirled his pencil unconsciously between his fingertips. after a while, he realized he couldn¡¯t calm down, so he decided not to torture himself any longer. he tossed the pencil into the groove below the easel, stood up from behind it, and walked to the window next to the living room.


    the ninth floor wasn¡¯t particularly high, and even in the darkness, he could vaguely see what was happening downstairs. however, qi yanbai¡¯s room was oriented slightly to the side, and the small area right in front of the elevator was obstructed by the adjacent wall, making it difficult to see clearly.


    qi yanbai knew lu ye should be down there, but he strained his neck and looked outside for a long time without spotting lu ye¡¯s figure. in the end, he could only regretfully withdraw his gaze and walk to the side of the living room to pick up his phone.


    creating an excuse to go downstairs seemed too deliberate. qi yanbai contemplated sending a wechat message to test the waters, but lu ye hadn¡¯t replied to his messages since last night. he unlocked his phone but then felt a bit timid.


    lu ye had never ignored him before. aside from when he was too engrossed in his work, lu ye always found time to communicate with him during his leisure moments. whether it was about daily life or trivial chitchat, lu ye would always respond sentence by sentence to avoid making qi yanbai feel neglected.


    qi yanbai had grown used to lu ye always being the first to think about him. now, suddenly being ignored made him feel incredibly uncomfortable.


    the listening device in his ear had malfunctioned since the afternoon, and the location had been stagnant for a while. wechat messages sent out were met with silence. within this short day, qi yanbai seemed to have lost all means of knowing lu ye¡¯s current situation. this loss of control left him feeling anxious, as if something were slipping through his fingers, and he couldn¡¯t grasp it.


    this mixture of anxiety and restlessness tormented him endlessly, and he couldn¡¯t ignore it or find a way to ease it. only by seeing lu ye, hearing his voice, and confirming that he was still by his side could ease his anxiety.


    the more qi yanbai thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. he furrowed his brows and bit the knuckle of his index finger, nervously pacing around the living room. finally, he decided that if there were no signs of movement in five more minutes, he would go downstairs to check on the situation.


    these five minutes were the final compromise of emotions over reason. qi yanbai glanced at the wall clock, his eyes fixed on the slowly moving hands, feeling as if time were passing at a slow pace.


    by the flower beds downstairs, lu ye lowered his head, cupped his hands around the flame of a lighter, and lit his last cigarette.


    a thin layer of ash had accumulated on the trash can beside him, and the cigarette butt poked haphazardly into the white sand, leaving behind a faint trace of oily residue as the pure smoke wafted into the air. winter had yet to fully pass, and the nighttime temperature was still bone-chilling. lu ye had been standing outside for so long that even his bones felt like they had been chilled by the cold wind.


    his back, injured by the steel frame the previous night, still throbbed with discomfort. any movement tugged at the muscles, causing them to protests. lu ye tilted his head and stretched his shoulders. he felt like the heart-pounding, thrilling moment from last night had already become something from a previous lifetime.


    lu ye was not an indecisive person. he was always decisive, with clear boundaries and quick solutions. however, this time, he didn¡¯t know how to face qi yanbai.


    the taste of hongtashan cigarettes was a bit pungent, and the red smoke swirled in lu ye¡¯s lungs before dissipating into the air. the misty smoke rose gently and was torn into a thin film by the cold wind, blurring lu ye¡¯s eyes.


    alright, lu ye thought to himself, there must be an outcome.


    he bit the cigarette in his mouth, his expression devoid of emotion, and contemplated for a while with his head lowered. finally, as if he had made a decision, he crushed the remaining half of the cigarette in the trash can and turned to walk back into the building.


    the elevator stopped on the ninth floor, and the smart camera at qi yanbai¡¯s door shifted slightly in response to the sound, silently adjusting its angle to focus on the elevator entrance.


    the live capture of the image sent a new doorbell notification to qi yanbai¡¯s phone. holding the door handle, he cautiously peered out through the peephole.


    lu ye appeared to be no different from usual. he stepped out of the elevator, entered the apartment naturally, and threw away the renovation samples stuck to the door on his way in.


    qi yanbai knew his habits well. after returning from work, lu ye would place his belongings on the bedside table, take a shower, change his clothes, and finally sit on the edge of the bed. he would then open the drawer, pull out his phone charger, and prepare for the evening. qi yanbai was quite sure that lu ye would quickly notice his small actions from when he left the pencil mark, and he anxiously took a step back, anxiously waiting for lu ye¡¯s reaction.


    the room password had been personally shared by lu ye, but rummaging through someone¡¯s personal belongings was undoubtedly crossing a line. qi yanbai speculated that lu ye might not be angry about it, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling nervous.


    the smart surveillance camera returned to its default angle. qi yanbai took two steps back, sitting down at the dining table. he counted his heartbeats, anticipating lu ye¡¯s usual routine and feeling rapidly rehearsed responses forming in his mind.


    he had already prepared his explanations and how to respond to lu ye¡¯s questions. but lying in front of lu ye was undoubtedly a difficult task, and qi yanbai¡¯s heart rate began to accelerate. he clenched his finger joints and took a deep breath, his fingers feeling slightly clammy.


    after what seemed like an eternity, as he had suspected, a dozen seconds later, footsteps stopped at his door, followed by a few brief knocks.


    lu ye had a distinctive way of knocking¡ªcrisp and polite. he would knock a couple of times briefly before stopping. qi yanbai¡¯s grip on his fingers tightened, and he took a deep breath, his legs feeling weak as he walked over to open the door.


    ¡°lu ye,¡± qi yanbai instinctively smiled, speaking softly, ¡°you¡¯re back?¡±


    lu ye responded with a low ¡°mmm.¡±


    he seemed somewhat subtly different, not changing into casual home clothes and appearing unusually calm. qi yanbai¡¯s heart immediately went on high alert, carefully considering how he might react.


    ¡°why haven¡¯t you changed your clothes?¡± qi yanbai asked tentatively. ¡°are you going out again later?¡±


    ¡®no, i¡¯m not going out,¡¯ lu ye replied simply.


    he entered the room, asking, ¡®did you go into my room?¡¯


    lu ye was holding the card that came with the gift packaging. qi yanbai lowered his head to take a look, and he noticed the pencil markings he intentionally left on it.


    qi yanbai feigned surprise and guilt, ¡®i¡­ i did.¡¯


    knowing that lu ye disliked deception, he continued, ¡®you hadn¡¯t been back for a few days, and i thought about coming over to tidy up your room. but when i was wiping the table, i suddenly remembered the gift you mentioned you were going to give me. i got curious and wanted to see what it was.¡¯


    he kept his head down and couldn¡¯t read lu ye¡¯s expression. unbeknownst to him, lu ye was scrutinizing him with an icy, unfamiliar gaze.


    lu ye asked calmly, ¡®curious, and then what?¡¯


    qi yanbai had considered opening it at the time but changed his mind.


    ¡®nothing more,¡¯ qi yanbai replied quickly. ¡®i thought it wouldn¡¯t be right to open it, so i didn¡¯t.''¡±


    very tactful, lu ye thought. it seemed like crossing a line, but it wasn¡¯t too serious. if it had been him before yesterday, he would have let it slide after asking, but now he was wary of qi yanbai. he realized that these were traces intentionally left by qi yanbai.


    so, qi yanbai didn¡¯t accidentally leave a loophole; he deliberately wanted him to notice it.


    lu ye was aware that if he hadn¡¯t discovered the eavesdropping and tracking today, he wouldn¡¯t have cared about this minor incident. he might have even softened and given the gift to qi yanbai because of his curiosity.


    looking back, lu ye realized just how well qi yanbai understood him. in all the days they had spent together, how many times had qi yanbai achieved his goals using such a tactic?

 CH 59

    in reality, before returning home, lu ye had thought that after a whole day had passed, he had more or less calmed his emotions and could come back to face qi yanbai objectively and calmly.


    however, it turned out that qi yanbai always had new ¡°surprises¡± waiting for him.


    as he entered the house, lu ye noticed signs of someone else being inside, but it wasn¡¯t until he opened a drawer that the anger he had deliberately suppressed throughout the day suddenly flared up. it erupted like a blazing fire, almost consuming him in an instant.


    no one could tolerate having their boundaries repeatedly crossed in this manner. lu ye took a deep breath, feeling as though he had been split in two by a gleaming steel knife. one half was almost incinerated by the anger he could barely contain, while the other half was plunged into a wintry chill, maintaining an unnatural calm.


    he carried a bellyful of inexpressible pain, staring at qi yanbai with an almost indifferent gaze. he could even observe qi yanbai¡¯s state objectively and recall every moment they had spent together.


    undeniably, qi yanbai was skilled at seizing the right moments, catering to lu ye¡¯s preferences. but from lu ye¡¯s perspective, once all the filters that could affect judgment were removed, qi yanbai¡¯s lying skills were not particularly impressive.


    it was as if qi yanbai wasn¡¯t good at facing lies, as if he feared that his deception would be exposed by lu ye. so, every time, he would avoid lu ye¡¯s gaze, refuse to make eye contact, and adopt an attitude that almost seemed like avoidance when facing him.


    just like now.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t meet lu ye¡¯s gaze; he lowered his head slightly, revealing a slender and fair nape of his neck. strands of hair hung softly at his temples, making him appear vulnerable and sincere.


    how could a person be so contradictory? lu ye wondered.


    surveillance, eavesdropping, tracking¡ªsomeone capable of doing these things had issues that went beyond just ¡°being insecure.¡±


    but the qi yanbai in front of him seemed gentle, patient, dressed in a snow-white high-necked sweater, comfortably settled in an air-conditioned room. there was no sign of the selfish and paranoid shadow.


    it was strange, lu ye thought. qi yanbai clearly didn¡¯t appear skilled at lying, yet his acting was so convincing, making it difficult to detect.


    this dual feeling of fire and ice was driving him almost insane. lu ye gritted his teeth inwardly and tightly clenched the ¡°evidence¡± he had brought back in his pocket.


    the hard plastic case sank deeply into his palm, and a sharp tingling sensation spread through his skin. lu ye took a deep breath, barely suppressing the chaotic and intense emotions, and calmly spoke.


    ¡°this is a minor issue,¡± lu ye said. ¡°but besides this, is there anything else you¡¯re keeping from me?¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s heart tightened. it finally dawned on him that something was wrong with the atmosphere, and he looked at lu ye with anxiety.


    with just one glance, qi yanbai¡¯s complexion turned pale.


    lu ye had never looked at him with such a sharp gaze before. even during their truly ¡°first meeting,¡± when lu ye could have mistaken him for a criminal, he hadn¡¯t regarded him with such a calm and unfamiliar gaze.


    lu ye¡¯s tone was flat, but his eyes were as sharp as knives. qi yanbai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, suddenly feeling a sense of impending doom.


    he felt a surge of panic and inexplicably sensed that lu ye might be referring to something else.


    ¡°i¡ª¡± after confirming their relationship with lu ye, the elements of ¡°bullying the weak and fearing the strong¡± within qi yanbai seemed to intensify. when lu ye indulged him, qi yanbai couldn¡¯t restrain his darker tendencies, wanting to grasp lu ye¡¯s attention constantly, change him bit by bit, and test his boundaries. but as soon as lu ye showed genuine indifference or anger, he would become like a stressed small animal, caught between advancing and retreating, afraid to act recklessly.


    but hesitation and guilt were enough to reveal his answer. lu ye¡¯s patience finally broke today, and qi yanbai didn¡¯t even have a chance to answer before lu ye snorted, pushed him aside, and walked further into the room.


    qi yanbai¡¯s easel still stood in the middle of the living room, and a pair of bluetooth earphones dangled from the pen holder¡¯s groove. lu ye walked straight over, accidentally bumping into the corner of the coffee table as he passed by. something on the lower shelf of the coffee table swayed and fell in front of him with a clatter.


    lu ye¡¯s path was unexpectedly blocked, so he glanced down and saw a thick leather notebook.


    the notebook was densely filled with words, open and face up.


    ¡°is this your diary?¡± lu ye flipped through a few pages, and for some inexplicable reason, he smiled coldly, saying, ¡°i didn¡¯t know you had the habit of keeping a diary.¡±


    qi yanbai choked up and didn¡¯t say anything.


    he indeed didn¡¯t have the habit of keeping a diary. this diary was something he had hastily ¡°fabricated¡± over the past two days.


    he wanted to find an opportunity to gradually reveal himself to lu ye. having just one ¡°crossing the line¡± act was not enough. he needed to provide a suitable motive for his actions and a series of cause-and-effect events that lu ye could accept.


    instead of confessing voluntarily, he chose to tell another lie, hoping that lu ye would discover the ¡°truth¡± on his own. so, qi yanbai had created this fake diary, pouring a bit of possessiveness and unease between the lines. he wanted lu ye to gradually see his other side through the ¡°inadvertent¡± discovery of this diary.


    originally, it was a plan that could have worked smoothly, but unexpectedly, lu ye¡¯s behavior today had been highly unusual. qi yanbai knew that today was not a good time for ¡°testing.¡± he subconsciously wanted to stop lu ye, but lu ye had already picked up the notebook and started flipping through it.


    ¡°¡­you don¡¯t contact me enough, so you feel insecure?¡± lu ye only flipped through a few pages, then burst into laughter as if he had heard the most absurd joke, and said with a meaningful look, ¡°what¡¯s there to worry about? don¡¯t you know exactly what i¡¯m doing most of the time?¡±


    he intentionally emphasized the word ¡°know,¡± and along with his laughter, his smile couldn¡¯t be maintained. it sounded like he was gritting his teeth, suppressing something.


    qi yanbai vaguely understood the meaning behind his words, and his expression suddenly changed.


    ¡°leaving traces in my room and ¡®accidentally¡¯ leaving this diary here¡­ what are you planning to do next? lock me in a basement?¡± lu ye hadn¡¯t originally planned to confront qi yanbai in his current state of anger, but qi yanbai¡¯s attempts to test him had pushed him to the limit. he decided to go along with it and directly asked, ¡°or do you think i¡¯m so naive, being manipulated by you is too boring, and you want a more exciting way to play?¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t consider himself a particularly demanding lover. he had only two bottom lines: breaking the law and hiding things from him or deceiving him. he didn¡¯t expect that qi yanbai, not knowing when to stop, would cross both lines.


    ¡°you¡¯ve listened in, monitored my every move, and now you¡¯re writing this stuff to deceive me?¡± lu ye looked at him with extreme disappointment, slammed the notebook shut, and asked with a trembling voice, ¡°in your eyes, am i so gullible?¡±


    lu ye had spent the entire day contemplating the confrontation and thought he had the upper hand, but when he finally uttered these words, he didn¡¯t feel good at all.


    the thought that those moments that had once touched his heart might be fake, a joke, or part of a scam was like swallowing a mouthful of thorns that couldn¡¯t be swallowed or spit out. every movement felt like scraping flesh from his bones, causing him intense pain.


    qi yanbai¡¯s inexplicable intuition became a reality, instantly engulfing him in a storm of fear and panic. he wondered how lu ye had found out. who had told him? who had informed him?


    his rational mind told him to deny everything, to refute it. lu ye hated deception, and he couldn¡¯t step into that minefield. however, the suffocating panic was like a sticky and heavy quagmire, grabbing his limbs, invading his mouth and nose, and robbing him of all the air around him, making it impossible for him to speak.


    ¡°yanbai!¡± qi yanbai¡¯s silence once again infuriated lu ye. he couldn¡¯t maintain his composure any longer. he harshly threw the notebook onto the coffee table, asking in a stern tone, ¡°do you know how serious it is to monitor an on-duty police officer?¡±


    the fragile glass coffee table made a terrifying noise. qi yanbai¡¯s lips trembled, feeling as if a sharp blade had been thrust into his chest, cutting him open and making him bleed profusely.


    lu ye was undeniably angry and disappointed, but subconsciously, his first sentence after the confrontation was still a concern for qi yanbai.


    this unconscious protective instinct caused a sharp pain in qi yanbai¡¯s chest, making him momentarily blinded and breathless. he suddenly regretted it so much. he had never regretted anything so much in his life. ashley¡¯s advice about love being a journey without shortcuts had become a sharp knife, ruthlessly piercing his soul.


    love had no shortcuts. qi yanbai suddenly understood it without needing any guidance. he realized that all the shortcuts he had taken, all the methods he had used, would one day become knives that hurt lu ye deeply.


    he would rather have lu ye scold him, or even physically harm him, as long as he didn¡¯t show that disappointed and hurt look. he didn¡¯t want to leave him. qi yanbai felt like he could do anything so lu ye wouldn¡¯t leave him.


    ¡°ge¡ª¡± qi yanbai futilely called lu ye¡¯s name, trying to extinguish his anger and ease his pain of being deceived. however, lu ye didn¡¯t give him the chance. instead, he stepped back and stopped him from continuing.


    ¡°don¡¯t call me that,¡± lu ye said.


    he didn¡¯t want to engage in pointless entanglements with qi yanbai, nor did he want to continue following his lead. he clenched his teeth, forcing himself to break free from the overwhelming pain like a tidal wave. he spoke word by word as a warning, ¡°you just need to answer my questions.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s eyes turned red. he stared at lu ye¡¯s face intently, nodding quickly.


    ¡°¡­tell me what you¡¯ve been listening to.¡± anger was like a raging fire, burning him up. lu ye felt a scorching temperature even in his breath. he took a deep breath, took his hand out of his pocket, revealing the broken listening device in his palm, and asked coldly, ¡°have you recorded anything? have you monitored my work?¡±


    ¡°¡­no,¡± qi yanbai said.


    ¡°are you sure?¡± lu ye asked.


    his trust in qi yanbai seemed to be rapidly declining, and even though qi yanbai had already given him an answer, lu ye still stared at qi yanbai¡¯s expression as if trying to detect any trace of lying on his face.


    ¡°really, i haven¡¯t. it doesn¡¯t have such a wide range,¡± qi yanbai knew he couldn¡¯t anger lu ye any further at this point. so, he fixedly stared into lu ye¡¯s eyes, struggling to squeeze out the words from his throat, almost pleadingly saying, ¡°i haven¡¯t listened to anything else. i just¡­ i just missed you too much, so¡­¡±


    he didn¡¯t finish his sentence because lu ye seemed to lose patience after getting the answer he wanted. lu ye sneered, tossing the listening device out of the window right in front of qi yanbai.


    the black electronic component drew an arc in mid-air and landed in the flowerbed below. qi yanbai panicked, instinctively took a step forward to grab lu ye¡¯s sleeve, but lu ye skillfully dodged his grasp.

 CH 60

    the room fell into complete silence, and a thick, heavy tense atmosphere gradually spread. the wide-open window allowed cold wind to rush in, and lu ye stood by the window for a moment, feeling thoroughly chilled.


    the explosive anger in his heart seemed to be forcibly cooling down by some external force. after the raging fire had subsided, all that remained were ashes crushed into dust.


    so tired, lu ye suddenly thought.


    the way adults handle things should be straightforward and effective. since he had determined that qi yanbai hadn¡¯t gone so far as to cross the red line of insanity, everything else was just their personal emotional entanglement.


    dealing with emotions could be simple or difficult. the simplicity lay in it being a matter between two people, and lu ye could achieve the outcome he wanted by following his heart. however, the difficulty was that he was tangled up in this¡ªhis thoughts were in turmoil, and he couldn¡¯t figure out what he really wanted.


    lu ye hated deception, and he despised it even more. this wasn¡¯t just because he had high moral standards; more importantly, every time deception occurred, it was always followed by feelings of ¡°misplaced affection¡± and ¡°dramatic chaos.¡±


    when established beliefs were overturned, it revealed that his feelings were actually worth nothing in the other person¡¯s eyes. lu ye had had enough of that embarrassing feeling and despised repeatedly becoming the subject of ridicule.


    he wanted to maintain his dignity and end this absurdity gracefully, just like he had done many times before. he wanted to cleanly establish boundaries with qi yanbai and retrieve his emotions as if he had been bitten by a dog¡ªa bite that he wouldn¡¯t care about.


    but he couldn¡¯t control himself.


    expectation led to disappointment, and disappointments led to grievances. perhaps qi yanbai¡¯s ¡°playing to the audience¡± strategy had been too effective. without realizing it, lu ye had invested too much attention and emotion in him. he cared for him, loved him, and genuinely wanted to spend his life with him.


    he couldn¡¯t cut the bond between him and qi yanbai as easily as chopping vegetables in an instant. he couldn¡¯t effortlessly reclaim all the attention and emotions he had given to qi yanbai.


    lu ye didn¡¯t want to show weakness, nor did he want to melodramatically dwell on this matter. but he felt like his internal organs were being burned, as if thousands of words were stuck in his chest, waiting to be spoken.


    ¡°actually, when i think about it now, i¡¯ve always had a feeling.¡± after an unknown amount of time had passed, lu ye spoke again. his voice carried a heavy weariness, as if he were asking qi yanbai but also questioning himself, ¡°i¡¯ve given you so many chances. why didn¡¯t you confess?¡±


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t answer that question.


    he knew lu ye had given him many chances¡ªon new year¡¯s eve, the encounter with lu ye¡¯s ex-boyfriend at the police station, and even earlier, at his father¡¯s art exhibition. lu ye¡¯s keen sixth sense had given him hints multiple times, making him repeatedly confirm qi yanbai¡¯s sincerity.


    but qi yanbai hadn¡¯t seized a single one of those chances.


    he had awakened too late. only when his liking for lu ye had finally surpassed his possessiveness did he understand the meaning of ¡°fear.¡± everything was already too late.


    lu ye didn¡¯t wait for qi yanbai¡¯s answer, as he had already guessed from qi yanbai¡¯s unpleasant expression what had happened. his expression went through several changes, gradually showing disbelief.


    ¡°yanbai.¡± lu ye finally asked, ¡°when was the tracking software installed?¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively wanted to evade the question. however, he opened his mouth, knowing that he had to answer.


    tonight had gone awry from beginning to end. his test, if it had happened earlier, might have given them a chance to salvage the situation. but it had taken place today, after lu ye had already learned everything.


    so that insignificant test was no longer like the ¡°warm water¡± of boiling a frog; it had become a ¡°soup,¡± pouring oil on the fire.


    tonight, he had already added too much pressure to lu ye¡¯s bottom line. if he didn¡¯t do something soon, he might really lose the person in front of him.


    by now, lu ye¡¯s meant a lot to him than a simple ¡°boyfriend.¡± qi yanbai couldn¡¯t imagine what it would be like without him. just the thought of that possibility drove him nearly insane.


    he had to tell the truth. qi yanbai bit his lip, thinking that he needed to stop this train before it derailed completely. he still had a chance to salvage things with lu ye.


    lu ye was waiting for his answer, and qi yanbai took a deep breath. just as he was about to speak, lu ye interrupted him.


    ¡°don¡¯t lie to me anymore,¡± lu ye said coldly. ¡°i want to hear the truth.¡±


    ¡°i know,¡± qi yanbai said, pursing his lips. ¡°it was during our second meeting¡ªat that restaurant we ate with lu mingming.¡±


    lu ye suddenly froze.


    once the truth started, the subsequent revelations seemed less difficult. qi yanbai didn¡¯t make lu ye prompt him; he began to ¡°confess¡± on his own.


    ¡°do you remember? at that time, i went out to take a phone call,¡± qi yanbai¡¯s voice was very soft, sounding like elusive mist. ¡°i wasn¡¯t busy with work then. i was in contact with taobao to receive the tracking software.¡±


    after their first meeting, qi yanbai hadn¡¯t slept well that night. he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about lu ye and the dream that had rekindled his passion for painting.


    that night, he tossed and turned, regretting intensely. he regretted not seizing the opportunity to get lu ye¡¯s contact information. he had let lu ye go without reason, letting him disappear into the vast sea of people.


    that regret was like a drug, making him unable to escape the insatiable restlessness. the desire, like an incurable disease, had been haunting him until the next afternoon when he saw lu ye again at the training center.


    ¡°¡­i felt at the time that you were a gift from heaven,¡± qi yanbai finally raised his head. he stared directly at lu ye, his eyes filled with emotions that lu ye couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°i knew then that i had to do what i had to to keep you.¡±


    so, he made a snap decision, bought the tracking software on taobao during their meal and implanted it on lu ye¡¯s phone under the pretext of exchanging contact information.


    that was his first step into the abyss, and it marked the beginning of his irreparable downfall.


    lu ye had guessed that tracking had occurred earlier than eavesdropping, but he never expected it to have happened this early.


    he subconsciously recalled every detail from that day, feeling that qi yanbai¡¯s acting skills were incredibly superb. they had a whole meal together, and lu ye hadn¡¯t noticed qi yanbai harboring such intentions.


    he remembered qi yanbai¡¯s busy phone notifications that day and the gentle, accommodating look qi yanbai had given him. in an instant, he felt a chill down his spine.


    many things are interconnected. when the first ¡°coincidence¡± no longer exists, everything that follows could actually be traced.


    ¡°so, when you were later scammed and came to the police station to report it, it wasn¡¯t a coincidence either?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°no,¡± qi yanbai answered instinctively, taking a step forward. ¡°i wanted to get to know you better, spend more time with you¡­ but you were distant at that time, and i couldn¡¯t find any other way to approach you, so i thought i¡¯d start by getting into your line of sight.¡±


    the connection between a ¡°teacher¡± and a ¡°student¡¯s parent¡± is as fragile as a spider¡¯s thread, easily broken. at that time, qi yanbai couldn¡¯t settle for slowly building their relationship the conventional way. so, he took a risky step.


    if that drunk thug hadn¡¯t interfered, qi yanbai would have smoothly learned about lu ye¡¯s workplace during this ¡°chance encounters,¡± and then he would have used the pretext of needing lu ye¡¯s help to retrieve his money back to invite him to dinner and gradually learn more about him.


    but plans don¡¯t always go as expected, and the drunk thug¡¯s appearance disrupted qi yanbai¡¯s arrangements, unexpectedly accelerating the development of their relationship.


    that night, inside the hospital, qi yanbai realized his feelings for lu ye for the first time and understood his growing desire. consequently, his desires became uncontrollable from then on.


    occasional contacts were no longer enough for him. the role of ¡°ordinary friends¡± was far from sufficient. qi yanbai wanted more, and so his methods became increasingly direct and risky.


    ¡°so, the apartment rental was intentional too,¡± lu ye¡¯s tone gradually shifted from doubt to certainty. ¡°you discovered my address, knew where i lived, and deliberately moved into the adjacent apartment. but how did you know which floor i lived on?¡±


    location tracking software hadn¡¯t advanced to the point where it could reveal the exact floor someone was on. q¨ª yanbai pursed his lips and said softly, ¡°when you weren¡¯t at home, i came over once. i waited for you in the stairwell and observed the floor you stopped on.¡±


    his thinking was careful, and his plan was well-structured. lu ye found himself increasingly disturbed as he listened, and his skin was covered in goosebumps.


    someone who could engage in surveillance and tracking like this was undoubtedly selfish and obsessive. he hadn¡¯t expected the truth to be even more outrageous than he had guessed.


    so, all those so-called ¡°chance encounters¡± were carefully orchestrated by qi yanbai.


    ¡°i see,¡± lu ye said, connecting the dots. ¡°so, you arranged to meet me that day and then canceled to make sure i didn¡¯t have any other appointments in the evening, allowing you to conveniently return home when you moved, right?¡±


    to make it seem natural and unforced, arranging a ¡°chance encounter¡± was indeed the best way to ensure lu ye would learn about his change of address.


    ¡°yes,¡± qi yanbai hesitated for a moment but ultimately admitted, ¡°i knew you wouldn¡¯t stand me up, so you wouldn¡¯t make other plans that evening. you don¡¯t go out much, mostly spending time with your colleagues. if you had gone to the training center to find me first that evening, you wouldn¡¯t have had time to arrange anything else.¡±


    creating opportunities, shaping destiny, making everything seem perfectly logical¡ªqi yanbai had always done it that way.


    and then, step by step, he had quietly, imperceptibly, walked into lu ye¡¯s life, without anyone noticing.

 CH 61

    so that¡¯s how it is, lu ye thought.


    in that moment, lu ye recalled many things he had deliberately ignored¡ªqi yanbai¡¯s superb cooking skills but unfamiliar techniques, the brand new kitchenware he brought when they moved. back then, lu ye thought of him as clean and refined, but now he realized that qi yanbai didn¡¯t cook often for himself; maybe even his cooking skills were learned on the fly.


    it¡¯s all fake, lu ye thought, realizing that everything had been a deception from the very beginning.


    everything that had once stirred lu ye¡¯s heart turned out to be the result of qi yanbai catering to his preferences.


    a heavy burden lifted from his heart, creating ripples that settled in. lu ye took a deep breath, suddenly feeling an inexplicable weariness.


    as if he had lost the energy to argue pointlessly with qi yanbai, he didn¡¯t want to question him further. asking qi yanbai why he had deceived him would be meaningless. love without equality was a joke, and clinging on would only make it more embarrassing.


    moreover, lu ye didn¡¯t believe there was anything special about him that qi yanbai would be infatuated with at first sight. he thought that maybe artists were like this, free-spirited and romantic. they would engage in a love affair when the mood struck, treating it as a game or an experience.


    as for him, he was probably just an accidental entry into qi yanbai¡¯s interests. so he didn¡¯t deserve the truth, and he didn¡¯t deserve genuine affection.


    lu ye thought he had found the truth, but even after this love affair, he couldn¡¯t deny that he still had feelings for qi yanbai. so as long as qi yanbai hadn¡¯t truly crossed the line or hurt someone else, lu ye didn¡¯t want to pursue it any further.


    ¡°i¡¯m done,¡± lu ye finally said. ¡°i won¡¯t hold you accountable for what you did before. just take care of yourself from now on.¡±


    lu ye knew that at this point, words were futile. the only effective solution was the word ¡°breakup.¡± however, just like he couldn¡¯t remove the bracelet from his wrist, this sentence felt like a heavy iron block, stubbornly lodged in his throat, impossible to spit out.


    qi yanbai had played him, and in his earlier days, lu ye would have been furious by now and walked away, cleanly cutting ties with qi yanbai. but despite the deceit, qi yanbai had been good to him, and regardless of his motives, those warm meals in the cold nights were real, and the affection they shared was genuine. so lu ye had tried hard for a long time and ultimately couldn¡¯t bring himself to say more decisive words.


    he knew he still felt attached, and after all his efforts, he couldn¡¯t force himself. he just clenched his teeth, took a deep breath, and turned to walk towards the door.


    but as he took two steps, qi yanbai quickly caught up and grabbed him without hesitation.


    ¡°let go!¡± lu ye shook off his hand, coldly saying, ¡°i¡¯ve given you a way out. don¡¯t push me to the point of breaking up!¡±


    ¡°please,¡± qi yanbai stared into his eyes, ignoring the threat and spoke urgently, ¡°i¡¯m confessing to you not for any other reason, but to tell you that i know i was wrong, and i won¡¯t lie to you anymore. please, give me another chance.¡±


    his posture was humble, his voice soft, tinged with a hint of pleading. however, lu ye found the situation quite ironic when he looked at qi yanbai¡¯s expression.


    ¡°another chance?¡± lu ye repeated the word slowly as if he hadn¡¯t understood. then he chuckled and asked, ¡°what do you mean by ¡®another chance¡¯? are you saying you won¡¯t hide anything from me in the future, or are you saying you won¡¯t monitor me anymore?¡±


    qi yanbai was caught off guard by the question and struggled to find an answer.


    qi yanbai knew that no one with dignity would want to be controlled all the time by someone else, especially someone like lu ye.


    but qi yanbai also understood himself. he had an unusually strong desire to control lu ye, stemming from his deep-seated insecurity and his intense, almost pathological love for him. he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of lu ye disappearing from his sight for long. so even though he would compromised for now as a temporary solution, he knew that one day, he wouldn¡¯t be able to resist the urge to keep lu ye by his side.


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t lie to lu ye anymore, and he didn¡¯t want to. since everything was already out in the open, he chose to be honest, hoping that lu ye would finally focus his attention on ¡°himself.¡±


    lu ye might be angry or hurt, but qi yanbai thought that admitting his mistakes, treating lu ye better in the future, and even changing himself for the better would be worth it.


    he didn¡¯t respond immediately, but lu ye had already guessed the answer from his silence. he sneered, unable to find more resolute words.


    ¡°i never truly understood you, teacher qi,¡± lu ye said. ¡°of course, that¡¯s my fault. i misjudged you, thinking you sincerely wanted to spend your life with me.¡±


    considering how much he had loved qi yanbai, saying these words felt like tearing his heart apart.


    ¡°but now it seems i was mistaken,¡± lu ye continued. ¡°this love game is over. you can find someone else willing to play with you, but as for me¡­¡±


    before he could finish his sentence, qi yanbai suddenly rushed forward and kissed lu ye without warning. it was an unexpected kiss, and lu ye was both surprised and angry. he instinctively tried to push qi yanbai away, but after an entire day without eating and with his emotions fluctuating, he felt weak and unsteady. instead of pushing qi yanbai away, he unintentionally took a step back, losing his balance.


    qi yanbai¡¯s weight was already on him, and in the moment of surprise, they both staggered, causing a heavy collision with the door behind lu ye.


    the fragile door made a creaking sound of distress, and the doorknob came loose, sliding inward due to the force. lu ye managed to regain his balance, but before he could say anything, he caught a glimpse of a very familiar face out of the corner of his eye.


    in this room he had never entered before, there were numerous paintings hanging on the walls¡ªon the walls, on easels, and even hanging from the ceiling in frames, each depicting various portraits. those portraits showed people standing, sitting, walking, or lying down, all with the same face.


    ignoring the piles of canvases in the corners, there were nearly thirty to fifty oil paintings hung around the room. the lighting was dim, and most of the works were hidden in shadows. however, even so, when lu ye saw his own face in those paintings, goosebumps formed on his back, and he felt like he was making eye contact with himself.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t expect them to crash into the art studio¡¯s door, and he was momentarily stunned. but he quickly realized it was an opportunity.


    ¡°i admit that i initially deceived you,¡± qi yanbai said when he saw lu ye in shock. he reached out and gently pulled lu ye¡¯s waist, leaning in carefully and speaking in a soft, pleading tone. ¡°but i really fell in love with you at first sight.¡±


    there was only one source of light in the room, on the wall directly facing the door. lu ye¡¯s attention was irresistibly drawn to that bright spot, and he saw a huge life-sized oil painting hanging there. the person in the painting had their back to the door, standing in a dark expanse of wilderness, tilting their head slightly to reveal a side of their face.


    the endless wilderness extended beyond the frame, seeming boundless, and the red marks on the back of the person¡¯s neck and waist, standing in a splattering of black and red, glistened in the spotlight.


    smoke lingered, tentacles emerging from the ground, winding up around the person¡¯s ankles and legs in the painting, tightly entwining their legs and wrists, like a soft cage that bound them in the center of the canvas.


    the image appeared dark and twisted, but the person in the painting didn¡¯t seem sinister at all. the colors used were clean and pure, and their gaze seemed both compassionate and indifferent, as if they were looking into the void of the wilderness and also at someone beyond the painting.


    it looked as if they were deeply trapped in hell but also like the supreme god above all.


    the painting hung high on the wall, and even lu ye had to tilt his head to see it properly. he didn¡¯t understand art appreciation much, but at this moment, as he looked at that enormous oil painting, he felt nothing but awe.


    it was as if he could feel the artist¡¯s devotion and admiration through the strokes of the brush, a passionate and almost obsessive emotion splattered across the entire canvas.


    the person in the painting looked about ninety percent like him, incredibly lifelike, but as lu ye stared at it, he felt like he was looking at a different person.


    his expression changed and changed again, from anger to bewilderment, and then to disbelief.


    did qi yanbai paint this? lu ye wondered. is this how he sees me?


    a sketch could be forged, but a room full of oil paintings couldn¡¯t be. lu ye¡¯s gaze swept over those paintings, and his once certain conclusions became uncertain.


    ¡°the first time you knocked on my door, i was actually contemplating self-harm,¡± qi yanbai confessed without waiting for lu ye to respond. ¡°at that time, i hadn¡¯t painted in years, and i was feeling miserable, suffocated, as if i would never get past a creative block. i didn¡¯t know what to do, so i thought, maybe pain and blood could help me in some way. but i hadn¡¯t even started, and you showed up.¡±


    yes, lu ye remembered the circumstances of that day. qi yanbai did have an art knife in his hand, but lu ye had thought he injured his hand while cutting paper and hadn¡¯t considered other possibilities.


    ¡°that day, you praised me and gave me a band-aid. i don¡¯t know why, but my mood suddenly improved,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°after you left, i created my first artwork in five years.¡±


    so that¡¯s why he called me a ¡®gift,¡¯ lu ye thought.


    ¡°i didn¡¯t know what ¡®liking¡¯ meant at first, so i saw you as my savior,¡± qi yanbai continued. ¡°but as i spent more time with you, i realized how amazing you are.¡±


    ¡°no one has ever protected me like you have,¡± qi yanbai said softly. ¡°no one ever.¡±


    his living situation was simple yet complicated. it seemed straightforward, like a path with a visible end, but it was complex, like a quagmire beneath the surface, full of intrigue and endlessness.


    ¡°before you, everyone i encountered had their own motives. they only cared about whether they could get what they wanted, never about my feelings,¡± qi yanbai paused and then said, ¡°but you do.¡±


    ¡°you protect me, comfort me, genuinely love me without any ulterior motives or reasons,¡± qi yanbai¡¯s voice softened even more. ¡°i know it may sound calculating, but you¡¯re just too good. i can¡¯t stop myself from loving you.¡±


    ¡°lu ye,¡± qi yanbai sighed lightly. ¡°in this world, no one can dislike you, no one can not love you.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s words struck a chord deep within lu ye.


    since the moment he had discovered the listening device, lu ye had been torn between conflicting thoughts.


    on one hand, he knew that qi yanbai was not the gentle teacher he had thought he was. on the other hand, he couldn¡¯t help but recall the way qi yanbai looked at him.


    qi yanbai¡¯s affection felt so real, too real to doubt. lu ye believed he had the ability to distinguish between genuine ¡°love¡± and mere ¡°playacting,¡± so he couldn¡¯t believe that all those looks filled with joy and satisfaction were fake.


    but the evidence against qi yanbai was hard to refute. so, lu ye had been struggling, feeling anger, pain, disappointment, and an inexplicable inner conflict. he fought not to let this relationship turn into a pure mockery, but when qi yanbai confessed that everything was planned, he had to reluctantly accept it.


    but now, qi yanbai had placed a new weight on the other side of the scale with his own hands.


    lu ye had finally allowed a hint of confusion into his mind.


    perhaps he had never truly understood qi yanbai, lu ye thought. when he believed that qi yanbai was real, he discovered that he was fake. but when he was prepared to accept the deception, he found that there was still something real in it.


    this internal struggle surfaced once again. lu ye¡¯s once resolute mind began to waver. he looked away from the painting and turned to face qi yanbai.


    his gaze was calmer this time, more like recognition than scrutiny.


    ¡°i know i was wrong, i shouldn¡¯t have treated you that way,¡± qi yanbai said as he noticed lu ye¡¯s expression softening. he hurriedly continued, ¡°but it became a habit. you know about my family situation. everyone in my family is competing, fighting to get what they want. they can do anything to achieve their goals. so, i got used to that way of doing things, subconsciously choosing the easiest, quickest, and also the wrong path.¡±


    once there was a shortcut in life, it quickly became the only path. qi yanbai had gained lu ye through this shortcut, but he had also planted a huge hidden danger for himself.


    ¡°afterward, when i truly gained your affection, i was afraid of losing you,¡± qi yanbai bit his lip and said softly, ¡°back at home with my father, if i didn¡¯t keep an eye on a painting at all times, it would be destroyed the next second. so, i had to keep all the paintings close, where i could see them.¡±


    ¡°many of my paintings were destroyed,¡± qi yanbai¡¯s voice grew soft, sounding a bit pitiful. ¡°my competition entry at the age of twelve, the year-end artwork at fifteen, and my masterpiece at sixteen¡ªall those paintings were torn, burned, or splattered with paint when i wasn¡¯t paying attention. even now, the thought of it pains me.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s gaze was different from before, lu ye thought. he used to be subtle and bashful, rarely gazing at lu ye with such directness, and seldom staring at him with such open, candid eyes.


    his apology was sincere, his posture humble, but there was a fire burning in his eyes, an almost obsessive determination to win lu ye over.


    so, this is the real qi yanbai, lu ye realized. his love, previously concealed beneath a gentle exterior, had finally shed its protective shell, becoming intense, passionate, and relentless, with an all-or-nothing commitment.


    this kind of direct and sharp affection seemed more dangerous but also more real. as lu ye¡¯s thoughts shifted, the scales in his mind, which had already tipped in one direction, slowly began to waver and become uncertain.


    ¡°i don¡¯t want you to become one of those painful memories,¡± qi yanbai explained, seizing the opportunity to clarify. ¡°i truly know i was wrong, but i was afraid, lu ye. i didn¡¯t want to hurt you; i just wanted to protect myself.¡±


    lu ye could see that this time, qi yanbai was being sincere.


    however, his once overactive mind had cooled down under the rollercoaster of emotions. he didn¡¯t want to make any decisions in this environment¡ªwhether to continue or end the relationship, whether it was good or bad. he wanted to carefully consider this matter.


    ¡°why are you telling me this now?¡± lu ye asked.


    qi yanbai was momentarily puzzled by lu ye¡¯s sudden question. but before he could grasp the reason, lu ye provided the answer himself.


    ¡°because you think it¡¯s the best time,¡± lu ye said. ¡°it allows you to be honest and explain your actions. if my emotions were more unstable right now, i might have been impulsive and thought you had ¡®valid reasons,¡¯ right?¡±


    qi yanbai was struck by lu ye¡¯s insight. he was first amazed by lu ye¡¯s quick response, but then he realized that lu ye had always been this perceptive. all his clumsy attempts to probe and guide had been carried out under lu ye¡¯s indulgence. once lu ye withdrew his irrational favor and leniency, qi yanbai¡¯s every thought would be exposed before lu ye.


    ¡°yes,¡± qi yanbai reluctantly admitted. ¡°but i really¡ª¡±


    ¡°really what?¡± lu ye didn¡¯t let him finish. he just shook his head and then forcefully pushed qi yanbai away.


    ¡°let¡¯s end it here for tonight,¡± lu ye said. ¡°both of us need some time to calm down before we can talk again.¡±


    his voice was calm this time, but it carried an undeniable finality. qi yanbai stared at him in a daze, watching as lu ye brushed past him and walked to the entrance, where he opened the front door.


    ¡°let¡¯s calm down,¡± lu ye repeated before walking out of the room. he closed the door behind him, leaving qi yanbai behind in the corridor.


    qi yanbai, leaning against the door, pressed his forehead against his arm. he stared blankly at the dark door and, after a long while, a tear streaked down from the corner of his eye.¡±

 CH 62

    lu ye entered his apartment, and as the door closed behind him, he leaned against it, letting out a long sigh.


    he felt like a weary traveler returning from a long journey, his whole body covered in a soft exhaustion. his breath was heavy, and even the slightest movement seemed strenuous.


    the smart lock automatically engaged, and the faint sounds of mechanical clicks in the quiet night were quite distinct. lu ye gazed at the doorknob for a moment, and then he silently changed the passcode.


    the smart system quickly updated with new data, and both the lcd screens inside and outside the door received the signal. the indicator light turned from red to green, indicating that the passcode had been successfully changed.


    lu ye didn¡¯t know if the surveillance cameras on the other side of the corridor had captured this scene or if qi yanbai was standing just outside, watching him. he only knew that he was exhausted today, and he didn¡¯t have the energy to worry about all these details.


    the room was dimly lit, and lu ye didn¡¯t bother turning on the lights. he casually kicked off his shoes, removed his coat, and took a quick hot shower. this seemed to revive him a bit, and he walked heavily out of the bathroom, sitting down on the edge of the bed.


    the drawer of the bedside table was still slightly open. lu ye reached out to wipe away the deliberate marks qi yanbai had left on it. then, he glanced inside the drawer for a moment, extended his hand to open it, and took out a neatly packaged ring box.


    lu ye had originally planned to give these rings to qi yanbai as a valentine¡¯s day gift, so the packaging was particularly exquisite, with layers upon layers of wrapping.


    but now, this playful aspect of gift-giving had become a small obstacle. lu ye tore and unraveled the layers of wrapping, spending quite some time to remove the paper from the ring box.


    after the glittering wrapping was removed, the originally exquisite ¡°gift¡± had turned into an ordinary box. lu ye sat with his back slightly arched, staring at the ring box for a while, and then with a little force, he lifted the lid.


    he picked up the rings which were the perfect size, fitting snugly on lu ye¡¯s ring finger. he moved his finger slightly, and the shadow cast on the ground shifted, revealing a trace of the ring¡¯s imprint.


    as light and shadows interplayed, lu ye¡¯s gaze fell to the floor, and he let out a soft sigh.


    before this, he had imagined countless times the expression qi yanbai would have when he saw these rings. he expected him to share his joy, to see qi yanbai¡¯s smiling face, and most of all, he hoped to use this as a commitment to make qi yanbai understand that from now on, he wouldn¡¯t be alone.


    unfortunately, all those plans seemed to have gone up in smoke.


    the year had passed, and valentine¡¯s day was approaching. but now it seemed that these rings might not serve as valentine¡¯s day gifts.


    lu ye couldn¡¯t decide whether he felt more regret or sad in his heart. he sat there for a while with the ring on his finger, but eventually, he took off the ring, placed it back in the box, and tossed the ring box deep into the drawer. then, he pulled the covers over himself and lay back on the bed.


    the bedding, emitting a faint, soothing fragrance, cradled his limbs seamlessly, and lu ye was finally able to relax a bit after a long time.


    the high-tension emotions he had ignored earlier were now returning to his senses, and he suddenly felt a pang of pain in his stomach.


    he had been absent-minded all day, not even eating properly, and he had hardly drunk any water. when he was preoccupied with his thoughts, these minor issues had gone unnoticed. but now, as he relaxed, these uncomfortable sensations resurfaced.


    his stomach ached, as if a cold, hard stone were lodged in it, making him uncomfortable no matter how he lay.


    his rational mind told him to order takeout, but emotionally, he felt exhausted. the confrontation with qi yanbai had drained the little energy he had left. lu ye lay on the bed, not wanting to move.


    he tossed and turned on the bed for a while, and somehow, he suddenly remembered the first time qi yanbai had come to his house.


    back then, he had a high fever and had unintentionally missed their date. qi yanbai had searched for him everywhere and finally entered his home.


    now, looking back, all those excuses like ¡°the door wasn¡¯t properly closed¡± were probably just nonsense. qi yanbai had likely already learned his door code from somewhere, but he had kept quiet until that day when he ¡°disappeared¡± and took the risk to enter.


    his previous memories were now clouded with the suspicion of ulterior motives, but lu ye took a deep breath and realized that he wasn¡¯t offended immediately.


    when a person is feeling unwell, they tend to remember the good in others. lu ye glanced at the living room and kitchen, suddenly recalling that evening when qi yanbai had taken care of him.


    the air conditioning provided a dry yet comfortable temperature, warm moisture lingering in the air. the scent of rice wafted through the entire living room. qi yanbai, tall and graceful, stood under the light, carefully cutting a piece of oil-soaked waxed meat into small chunks.


    the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere from that time still made lu ye feel nostalgic. he gently closed his eyes and felt that the loving care from that time still flowed in his veins, providing him with a sense of peace and contentment.


    qi yanbai had said when confessing that lu ye was the first person to protect him. however, what he didn¡¯t know was that from the moment lu ye left his home until now, a span of fifteen years, that one time was also the first time he had woken up from his illness and found someone taking care of him.


    lu wenyu was always busy building her career, and there were many trivial matters that lu ye didn¡¯t want to bother her with. he stumbled through many difficulties on his own, relying on sheer determination to overcome them.


    after more than a decade of struggling alone, that was the first time he had a place to call his own.


    regardless of what happened with qi yanbai afterward, at least at that moment, lu ye had genuinely wanted to spend his life with him.


    in the dim light of night, the electronic clock on the bedside table chimed on the hour, emitting a very light alert sound. lu ye, whose mind had wandered away, was brought back to the present by this faint sound. he blinked his eyes gently, realizing that only the dim light illuminated the room now.


    lu ye let out a long sigh and then turned over to lie on his back in bed. he reached out to cover his eyes with his forearm.


    if only qi yanbai hadn¡¯t deceived him, lu ye suddenly thought.


    others might not know, but lu ye himself was aware that the reason he despised being deceived, wasn¡¯t because he saw things in black and white or couldn¡¯t tolerate any ambiguity; it was because deception was often accompanied by ¡°earth-shattering chaos¡± and ¡°self-indulgence.¡± he had learned a painful lesson in his youth, and since then, he had never wanted to face that uncomfortable feeling again.


    lu ye had never mentioned the circumstances of him coming out to his parents to lu wenyu. it was actually quite funny in retrospect. at that time, he had been so naive and had overestimated his position at home. he naively believed that as long as he used his own existence to threaten his parents, making them realize that he couldn¡¯t ¡°carry on the family name¡± just like lu wenyu, they would change their minds and take lu wenyu back home.


    but he was wrong.


    his parents went from disbelief to hysteria in just half a day. they suddenly seemed like completely different people overnight.


    his mother, who had never uttered a harsh word, started cursing him as if she had gone insane, throwing his things out of the door. his once gentle father was also furious, and he nearly tore a belt apart while lashing out at lu ye, saying that lu ye was ¡°not his blood.¡±


    people he had been so familiar with suddenly became strangers, and his usually loving parents forced him to take back what he had said, threatening to disown him if he didn¡¯t. they called him ¡°disgusting,¡± ¡°perverted,¡± and even acted as though he was already dead.


    at that moment, lu ye realized that he had been living in a massive lie from childhood to adulthood.


    he had always thought that his family was harmonious and that his parents genuinely loved him. but what he didn¡¯t expect was that they didn¡¯t love ¡°lu ye¡±; they only loved the gender he represented.


    lu ye didn¡¯t blame them. after all, he had chosen this path himself, and he knew that he couldn¡¯t blame anyone else. but the earth-shattering blow he had suffered on that day had left a deep mark on his soul, like an emotional wound. it made him extremely sensitive to deception, and every time he faced it, he would recall the unbearable embarrassment he had experienced.


    since then, lu ye had been particularly sensitive to ¡°deception.¡± he was like someone who had been bitten by a snake once and was afraid of the well rope for ten years. he always tried to keep his distance from such situations.


    he had been in two relationships before, both with scoundrels who deceived him. however, when they deceived him, their intentions were not much different from his parents during his adolescence. in essence, they didn¡¯t take him seriously.


    if qi yanbai were the same, lu ye could easily break up with him. but, contrary to that, qi yanbai went in the opposite direction. he clearly deceived him more than those previous scoundrels, but it wasn¡¯t for the sake of cheating or playing with him; it was because he loved him.


    qi yanbai was fake, but his feelings were real.


    hidden behind the deception was even stronger and more intense affection. lu ye found it hard to understand this misplaced deceit at times, but his inner balance teetered because of this ¡°misplacement,¡± and he couldn¡¯t arrive at a decision.


    on one hand, he felt that qi yanbai¡¯s actions still left some room for maneuvering, but on the other hand, he genuinely had reservations about the act of ¡°deception.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s upbringing had shaped his extremist approach to handling things, and lu ye was well aware of this fact.


    but, awareness aside, accepting deceit and concealment went hand in hand. today, qi yanbai might love him passionately, but what would he do in the future if his feelings changed? lu ye couldn¡¯t help but worry.


    lu ye knew that the safest approach would be to make a clear decision and cut ties promptly. this way, regardless of what happened in the future, whether qi yanbai turned out to be good or bad, at least they wouldn¡¯t be involved anymore, and he wouldn¡¯t get hurt again.


    but he found it difficult to make up his mind this time.


    lu ye felt that he was being indecisive and hesitant. his rationality had already made the best decision for the current situation, but his emotions were still unable to reach a conclusion. as a result, he was left hanging in mid-air, torn between advancing and retreating.

 CH 63

    lu ye felt uncomfortable all over, and his mind was in turmoil. tossing and turning, he didn¡¯t even know when he had fallen asleep.


    as the night grew darker, the last few lights in the building gradually went off. outside the window, the moonlight was dim, but in lu ye¡¯s dream, it was snowing heavily.


    a piercing cold wind, mixed with snowflakes, howled past. the young man downstairs in the family building tightened his coat and checked his empty pockets, sighing with a troubled expression. he paced back and forth on the ground floor as if hesitating, then finally seemed to make up his mind and headed upstairs.


    the facilities in that old residential building were outdated, and there was a large hole in the glass of the unit door. the stairs had chunks missing, and a thick layer of dust had accumulated on the iron handrails. a touch would leave rust marks.


    the door to the room on the third floor, on the right-hand side, was not properly closed. light spilled out from the narrow gap in the door.


    the young man went up the stairs step by step, and casually opened the door.


    the scent of fried food still lingered in the room. the young man stood at the doorway, took a deep breath, and mentally prepared himself before summoning the courage to walk in the house.


    the room was warm, but the atmosphere was as cold and tense. the young man saw his father sitting alone on the sofa, smoking, with a stern and unforgiving expression on his face, as if he had been sitting there for a long time. the makeshift ashtray on the wooden coffee table, made from a soda can, was overflowing with cigarette butts, leaving distinct white marks on the wooden surface.


    the young man¡¯s footsteps hesitated for a moment subconsciously, and then he heard his mother¡¯s voice from the kitchen doorway.


    ¡°lu ye,¡± the middle-aged woman asked coldly, ¡°where did you go?¡±


    the room was devoid of warmth, filled with the acrid smell of cheap tobacco. the stern middle-aged man on the sofa finally spoke. his voice seemed distant and cold, with a hint of distortion, sounding indifferent and detached.


    lu ye stopped in his tracks, realizing belatedly what was happening. he thought to himself, ¡°yeah, why did i come back?¡±


    in an instant, the dream began to distort, and the scene in front of him shattered into fragments. lu ye¡¯s thoughts were pulled away and detached from the young body in front of him. he suddenly remembered that he seemed to be having a completely fictional dream.


    ¡°it¡¯s all fake,¡± lu ye thought.


    but his ¡°awakening¡± didn¡¯t last long. the dream quickly shifted, and the young man at the door first shrank, then returned to normal. lu ye observed coldly, seeing his younger self in the house, breaking things in frustration and revealing his childish and naive cards. he also saw his adult self standing at a bar entrance, coldly staring at a man who was drunk.


    what followed was all too familiar to lu ye. he constantly shuttled between his adult and teenage selves, sometimes observing from a distance, sometimes experiencing firsthand. he witnessed the bottles on the table shattering on the floor, with the sharp scolding of his parents filling the room.


    under this chaos, the room shifted again and the young man in the dream seemed to have stepped into some extremely evil place in an instant. a sense of imminent danger pierced his heart like a needle. lu ye was startled, turned around instinctively, and started running, seemingly trying to escape from this place. however, he didn¡¯t get far before he felt a shadow closing in behind him.


    the figure reached out and wrapped its arms around his shoulders, sliding gently, and placed its chin lightly on his shoulder, sighing softly.


    ¡°they don¡¯t love you anymore, do they?¡± the figure seemed regretful, but there was a subtle hint of amusement in his tone. he slightly tightened his arms, whispering seductively, ¡°that¡¯s okay; you can be mine alone.¡±


    as soon as the words left the figure¡¯s mouth, lu ye felt something cold and soft winding up his limbs from below.


    when he lowered his head to look, he discovered that thin tendrils were climbing up his ankles, coiling around him bit by bit, and tightening around him.


    the moist and soft sensation wrapped around lu ye¡¯s wrists and ankles, drawing closer to him irresistibly, caressing him. they clung tightly to him, leaving no room for refusal.


    that sticky, soft sensation wandered and entwined on lu ye¡¯s skin. they slid across lu ye¡¯s body as if trying to please him, bringing with them an enchanting sense of moisture.


    underfoot, the old building had turned into a desert at some point, and the swirling heavy snow from outside had silently filled the entire space.


    there was a profound silence in the world, with only the faint sound of rustling behind him. lu ye suddenly turned around and saw another figure in the wilderness.


    in the white expanse of snow, a man stood naked in the center of the snow with his back to lu ye. dark-red tendrils twined and moved around him, like chains enticing and pleasing him, using every means to keep him in place.


    however, the man¡¯s expression remained indifferent; he neither responded nor struggled. he stood there with an ambiguous attitude, only occasionally tilting his head to allow those tendrils to touch his lips and cheeks.


    the eerie sensation on lu ye¡¯s body faded away like a tide at that moment, and his vision was suddenly pulled into the distance. the man¡¯s figure gradually became shrouded in mist, but before disappearing completely, he seemed to sense something. he slightly tilted his head back and looked at lu ye.


    his eyebrows raised slightly, and his eyes seemed to carry a sinister intent. lu ye met his gaze for a moment, and in that instant of seeing the other¡¯s face clearly, he stepped into nothingness and abruptly woke up from the dream.


    a night had passed, and the outside world was bright and sunny. lu ye, with his eyes half-closed, raised his hand to shield his face and realized he was covered in sweat.


    the lingering feeling from the dream remained. lu ye recalled the last glance in the dream, and in a daze, he wasn¡¯t sure if he was looking at himself or seeing another ¡°lu ye¡± from the perspective of ¡°qi yanbai.¡±


    he wanted to delve deeper into it, but the dream quickly faded as time passed, turning into a vague and hazy outline. the once-clear impressions were gone in an instant, becoming like a soap bubble that shattered lightly in his memory, leaving only a faint and pale watermark.


    his phone on the bedside table rang just in time, and the alarm for work appeared on the screen. it rang twice and was promptly silenced by lu ye.


    he sat up in bed, rubbing his nose in drowsiness, then stepped barefoot on the floor and took a quick shower in the bathroom.


    after a night¡¯s sleep, the sharp pain in his stomach had vanished, leaving only a dull ache. lu ye rubbed his stomach absently while changing clothes, then walked to the kitchen and took out a pack of shredded pork buns he had bought a week ago from the fridge.


    as he sat on the edge of the bed, biting into the bun, lu ye¡¯s thoughts were still undecided about what to do with his future with qi yanbai. however, his mood had calmed considerably. he chewed on his bun while briefly considering his options, ultimately deciding not to format his phone¡¯s memory. instead, he retrieved a spare phone from a drawer and switched the sim card.


    the location-tracking software went into temporary hibernation when the original device lost power, and the receiving end produced a light ¡°ding¡± sound, displaying a notification that read ¡°location tracking paused.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s heart tightened at first, but then he felt puzzled. the tracking software had a self-destruct program, and if it was deleted from the lu ye¡¯s end, the receiving end¡¯s software on qi yanbai¡¯s end should disappear as well. qi yanbai had initially thought that with lu ye¡¯s personality, he would have immediately rid himself of this privacy-invading thing. however, after waiting all night, he seemingly never deleted it.


    did he not delete the software? qi yanbai leaned against the door, lost in thought. or he still doesn¡¯t know how to deal with it?


    as he pondered over lu ye¡¯s thoughts, he heard a faint sound from the opposite door. lu ye came out dressed neatly, holding his old phone and car keys. he was adjusting the collar of his coat and appeared to be going to work.


    qi yanbai¡¯s scattered thoughts suddenly merged, leaving only the person in front of him. he instinctively opened his door and straightened himself up, but before he could step forward, he saw lu ye raise his head and notice him.


    their eyes briefly met in mid-air. lu ye¡¯s expression shifted from surprise to calm, and his gaze quickly scanned qi yanbai before furrowing his brows subtly, almost imperceptibly.


    ¡°lu ye.¡± qi yanbai¡¯s gaze had brightened considerably when it landed on lu ye. he lowered his eyebrows and eyes, speaking softly, ¡°i waited for you all night.¡±


    after a night apart, qi yanbai seemed more disheveled. he hadn¡¯t changed his clothes, his collar was slightly undone, and his eyes appeared somewhat red, as if he had been crying all night.


    despite his irritation, lu ye didn¡¯t want to escalate the situation further. seeing qi yanbai in this state, he let out a quiet sigh and took a step back.


    qi yanbai¡¯s voice was gentle. ¡°i miss you.¡±


    ¡°lu ye.¡± qi yanbai continued, ¡°i want to fix this, please.¡±


    lu ye:


    qi yanbai had always been skilled at understanding others, maintaining a balance, and knowing when to stop. he had never been this ¡°unreasonable¡± before. for a moment, lu ye didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    after revealing his feelings, qi yanbai probably didn¡¯t want to pretend anymore. he locked onto lu ye with a possessiveness that was now evident in his eyes. he held lu ye¡¯s wrist tightly, and lu ye just watched him closely.


    qi yanbai¡¯s warm breath was so close. he blinked, then called lu ye¡¯s name again.


    ¡°lu ye,¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°i can be patient. i¡¯ll wait for you, just don¡¯t ignore me.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s attitude was very stubborn, almost to the point of being unreasonable. lu ye felt the strength of his grip on his wrist but didn¡¯t resist. instead, he calmly looked at qi yanbai, attempting to reason with him.


    ¡°we agreed to take some time apart to calm down,¡± lu ye said.


    ¡°i know, but¡­..,¡± qi yanbai responded quickly. ¡°i¡¯ll give you space to calm down, but i don¡¯t want to give up on you.¡±


    his tone was gentle, and his posture sincere. he appeared submissive, but when lu ye glanced at him, he suddenly felt a dangerous and thrilling intuition.


    ¡°lu ye.¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°i don¡¯t want to give up on us.¡±

 CH 64

    after breaking through the last layer of the window paper, qi yanbai had no more reservations.


    he no longer restrained himself trying to leave a ¡°perfect¡± impression in front of lu ye. instead, he completely abandoned his reservations and decided to relentlessly pursue lu ye.


    at noon, when the sub-bureau¡¯s closing bell rang, the office immediately filled with the clattering sounds of people.


    the colleagues, hungry as if they hadn¡¯t eaten in centuries, rushed to their desks, hastily piling up their materials and then hurriedly heading out.


    yao xing, lagging behind, passed by lu ye¡¯s desk. when she noticed he had no intention of leaving yet, she stopped and knocked on his desk.


    ¡°lu ge,¡± yao xing asked, ¡°did you order takeout? shall i help you bring it over?¡±


    ¡°no need.¡± lu ye didn¡¯t feel like going out. wrapped in his duty coat, he shook his head and said, ¡°i¡¯ll make some instant noodles in a while. don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    his recent mood had been off, and there was rarely a smile on his face. yao xing couldn¡¯t quite discern his mood, so she hesitated for a moment and then didn¡¯t say much.


    soon, most of the office staff had left, and the previously noisy environment suddenly fell quiet. lu ye sat at his desk for a while before slowly standing up. he retrieved a box of instant noodles from the cabinet, tore open the packaging, and poured hot water over them.


    ¡°the canteen next door is serving scallion-braised pork today,¡± li zhiwen, raising his head from behind his desk, reminded him. ¡°if you didn¡¯t order takeout, you can go there to eat.¡±


    lu ye used a fork to secure the lid of his instant noodles and casually replied, ¡°no, i¡¯m too lazy to move.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s just a dozen steps away, and you¡¯re too lazy,¡± li zhiwen said in his habitual scolding tone. then he furrowed his brows and asked curiously, ¡°what¡¯s wrong with you recently? you seem off. did something happen at home?¡±


    ¡°nothing. maybe it¡¯s just spring fatigue.¡± lu ye casually replied, ¡°isn¡¯t work hectic recently?¡±


    after the start of spring, work in the new area gradually picked up, and lu ye had rarely returned to the sub-bureau office lately. when he wasn¡¯t out on patrol, he was working on cases. he left early and returned late every day, always coming back with a chill.


    but li zhiwen knew him well. he could tell lu ye was talking nonsense and, hearing this, snorted before scolding, ¡°you little brat, if you don¡¯t want to say, then don¡¯t. ¡®spring fatigue? you work at this intensity all year round. how come i never saw you sulking this much before?


    li zhiwen had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. after scolding him, he couldn¡¯t bear it and, with a cold face, threw a piece of sausage from across the table. it happened to fall into lu ye¡¯s lap.


    ¡°it was made by my wife,¡± li zhiwen said coldly. ¡°consider it a favor for you, you little brat.¡±


    ¡°well, aren¡¯t you affectionate,¡± lu ye finally raised the corner of his mouth slightly. seeing this, he raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°thanks, boss.¡±


    as they chatted, someone pushed the office door open from the outside. a colleague who had gone out to get takeout came in, carrying a thermal bag. they greeted li zhiwen first, then walked over to lu ye and casually placed the thermal bag on his desk.


    ¡°teacher qi sent this to you,¡± the colleague said.


    lu ye¡¯s smile faded slightly.


    ¡°but he seems to have a class today, so it was delivered by a courier. he didn¡¯t come himself,¡± the colleague leaned against lu ye¡¯s desk, shrugged, and said, ¡°by the way, he¡¯s sent packed lunch a few times before, but you weren¡¯t at the bureau during your mealtime, so he took it back.¡±


    ¡°you didn¡¯t tell him that i haven¡¯t been at the office recently?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°i did,¡± the colleague protested. ¡°but he wouldn¡¯t listen. he insisted on sending it, saying he was afraid you wouldn¡¯t have anything to eat if you came back.¡±


    after their confrontation that day, lu ye had already seen how stubborn qi yanbai could be. he knew that qi yanbai probably wouldn¡¯t change his mind because of a few words from a colleague, so he pursed his lips and didn¡¯t say anything more.


    if you count from the day he encountered qi yanbai at his doorstep as he was heading to work, it had been a full ten days since lu ye last saw him.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    on that chilly morning, frost had formed on the cracks of the stairwell windows.


    lu ye and qi yanbai locked eyes. as he gazed at qi yanbai¡¯s determined look, lu ye had no doubt that if he were to say the word ¡°breakup¡± right now, qi yanbai might be capable of anything.


    lu ye keenly sensed the danger but wasn¡¯t afraid. he had encountered too many ruthless criminals, and compared to them, qi yanbai was child¡¯s play.


    so lu ye didn¡¯t compromise or respond at the time. he held qi yanbai¡¯s gaze for a moment, then looked away first, freeing his wrist from qi yanbai¡¯s grip without a word, and turned to leave.


    at that moment, qi yanbai was left standing, his gaze and the thermal bag he held by his side both exuded a scorching heat that could unsettle anyone¡¯s heart.


    time flowed like a river. lu ye¡¯s relationship with qi yanbai had gone from being strangers to friends to lovers, but somehow, it had inexplicably circled back to the beginning.


    this repetitive cycle made lu ye feel a subtle sense of irritation. he furrowed his brows, didn¡¯t immediately open the thermal bag, and instead reached into his pocket to retrieve a cigarette box. lowering his head, he used his teeth to pull out a cigarette.


    the corner of the desk, which used to hold a mechanical alarm clock, now had a glass ashtray. there was a thin layer of white sand at the bottom of the ashtray. lu ye took a deep drag of his cigarette and then flicked a bit of ash into it.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± this was the first time lu ye had been so indifferent to something sent by qi yanbai. his colleague seemed to sense some kind of inexplicable avoidance in his actions. so, he turned to look at li zhiwen, cautiously probing, ¡°did he have a falling out with teacher qi?¡±


    as soon as the colleague¡¯s words fell, even li zhiwen, who was sitting opposite him, leaned in, wanting to see lu ye¡¯s reaction.


    lu ye had been leaving for work early and returning late lately, and qi yanbai¡¯s visits to the police station had decreased significantly. although his colleagues didn¡¯t say anything, they were quietly concerned.


    ¡°not really,¡± lu ye replied vaguely. ¡°just some differences in our personal lives.¡±


    perhaps he didn¡¯t want to make things irreversible, or perhaps he wanted to leave some room for qi yanbai. lu ye hadn¡¯t told anyone about qi yanbai¡¯s stalking incident. he just bit on the cigarette and vaguely said, ¡°so, we¡¯ve decided to give each other some space for a couple of days and see how things go.¡±


    ¡°young people these days, so fickle,¡± li zhiwen couldn¡¯t help but complain. ¡°what kind of personal differences can¡¯t be resolved through communication? why resort to the silent treatment?¡±


    lu ye understood that li zhiwen meant well, but he didn¡¯t want to bring his personal matters out for others to judge. he simply smiled and nodded, acknowledging li zhiwen¡¯s advice without explaining.


    li zhiwen also knew that lu ye had been independent and strong-willed since childhood, and once he made up his mind, others couldn¡¯t change it. so, he shook his head, retrieved his gaze from the desk beside him, and stopped talking.


    as the temperature in the insulated bag gradually dropped, lu ye took his last drag of the cigarette. seeing that his colleague was still sneakily glancing over, he raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°what¡¯s wrong? are you hungry? do you want to eat some?¡±


    ¡°better not,¡± the colleague didn¡¯t want to get involved in a lover¡¯s quarrel and jokingly said, ¡°i won¡¯t take the risk of stealing a couple¡¯s meal. heaven will strike me down if i do so.¡±


    with that, he quickly retreated and returned to his desk, where he began pretending to work.


    logically, lu ye didn¡¯t want to accept qi yanbai¡¯s goodwill at this moment, giving him mixed signals. however, emotionally, he and qi yanbai hadn¡¯t completely broken ties. it wouldn¡¯t be right to trample on his feelings. furthermore, the food had already been delivered, and he would have to deal with it eventually. lu ye thought for a moment and decided to find a place to store it, whether he would ask his colleagues to deliver it back later or bring it to qi yanbai himself after work was undecided.


    lu ye had a good plan in mind, but as he reached for the handle of the bag, he noticed a piece of paper lightly falling from the inner layer of the bag, landing perfectly on his desk.


    lu ye glanced down and realized it was a pale yellow sticky note with two lines of writing:


    ¡°i tried making this. i¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s any good.¡±


    ¡°if you don¡¯t like it, can you help me?¡±


    there was no signature on the note, but lu ye easily recognized qi yanbai¡¯s handwriting. his gaze lingered on the last sentence, and he felt a ripple of emotions.


    at this moment, he had a vague idea of what might be in the lunchbox. lu ye took a moment to think and then, against his better judgment, pulled open the zipper on top of the insulated bag to take a peek.


    inside the bag, there was only a square glass lunchbox, and inside the lunchbox were about a dozen dumplings, most of which were a bit deformed. two or three of them even had their fillings leaking, and the soup had formed a shallow layer of oil underneath the lunchbox.


    under the lunchbox, there was another beige sticky note, which lu ye pulled out and read with a glance. it contained only one sentence.


    ¡°you said you would teach me anything i didn¡¯t know.¡±


    at this moment, lu ye couldn¡¯t describe what he was feeling. he just felt a weight in his chest, like the heavy, overcast sky before a storm, where the moisture hung heavily in the air, making it difficult to breathe.


    this sticky note seemed to have finally given another meaning to the current state of his heart. lu ye lowered his eyes, feeling a sense of congestion in his chest that couldn¡¯t be expressed.


    ¡ªhe had not been sleeping well lately, often having all sorts of strange dreams. sometimes he dreamed of the afternoon when he first met qi yanbai, but most of the time, he dreamed of qi yanbai following him from a distance, asking him in a light and faint tone, ¡°didn¡¯t you promise to be with me forever?¡±


    at these times, the lu ye in his dreams always felt trance-like, as if the word ¡°forever¡± had become a brand, and no matter what happened afterward, the promise he had made could never be erased.


    lu ye absentmindedly folded the sticky note in half, thinking that qi yanbai was indeed adept at touching people¡¯s hearts.


    fiery and extreme love was exhilarating but also came with high risks. most emotionally mature adults were quite conservative in matters of the heart. compared to the extremes of 0 or 100, most people preferred to hover around 60 throughout their lives.


    lu ye wasn¡¯t sure which category he belonged to, but during this period, he had reevaluated his relationship with qi yanbai and realized that they had rushed into things too quickly. therefore, their relationship had ended in confusion.


    lu ye didn¡¯t want to make the same mistake again. he wouldn¡¯t listen to qi yanbai this time, and he wouldn¡¯t let himself be swayed by what qi yanbai had done. regardless of the outcome, this time, he would take the time to understand things in his own way.

 CH 65

    after lunch, the office returned to silence.


    lu ye had a short nap at his desk. as the afternoon approached, he heard yao xing bringing in some news from outside while in a half-asleep, half-awake state.


    ¡°¡­ the procedures for early release of the suspects have been completed at the city bureau,¡± yao xing said. ¡°but because it involves a foreign national, we also need to submit a report as the first handling party.¡±


    in recent times, there had been only one foreign national transferred out of the sub-bureau. lu ye¡¯s sharp radar caught keywords, rousing him from his nap. he casually pulled his duty coat aside, revealing half of his face.


    during this period, with so much going on, lu ye had almost forgotten about that foreigner eccentric drug addict. now, with yao xing bringing it up again, lu ye remembered that such a person existed.


    this person seemed to have some subtle connection with qi yanbai. although qi yanbai had denied knowing him, the vague insinuations from the other party were too obvious.


    at that time, it seemed like he intentionally wanted to inform lu ye of something but also appeared to be just picking a fight. lu ye didn¡¯t know the exact nature of their relationship, but from the ambiguous attitude of that person, it was clear that their relationship was far from good.


    a drug addict who had issues with qi yanbai, whether it was due to paranoia or something else, sounded like a ticking time bomb. despite his ongoing cold war with qi yanbai, lu ye, out of habit, couldn¡¯t help asking a follow-up question.


    ¡°early release?¡± lu ye asked, ¡°why?¡±


    there were still a few colleagues in the office who hadn¡¯t fully awakened, and yao xing had originally been discussing this matter with li zhiwen in a hushed tone. startled by lu ye¡¯s sudden question, yao xing turned to look at him and then explained, ¡°well, lu-ge, the foreigner has some mental issues¡ª¡±


    yao xing pointed to her own head and showed a complex and subtle expression while saying, ¡°i heard he has bipolar disorder. during his time in the detention center, i don¡¯t know if it was due to some provocation or a medical episode, but he suddenly attempted suicide. first, he banged his head against the wall, and later he tried to cut his wrists with his teeth.¡±


    the description was quite gruesome, and yao xing shivered as she mimicked cutting her wrist.


    ¡°i heard he was extremely ruthless, and blood was everywhere,¡± yao xing continued. ¡°later, his lawyer brought in a formal diagnosis from a hospital, confirming that he had a long history of illness, so the city bureau decided to release him early.¡±


    during the detention period, there was no talk of bail, but if there was a significant medical condition, it could indeed lead to early release. lu ye, hearing this, sat up straight in his office chair and thought that people in the arts were generally not quite normal.


    they either had paranoid tendencies or mental illnesses. looking at it this way, qi yanbai was relatively ¡°normal¡± among them.


    lu ye thought that although qi yanbai was not doing well, he still seemed relatively ¡°manageable¡± compared to this guy who both did drugs and self-harmed.


    this bizarre sense of dark humor brought lu ye some mental comfort. he pulled up the zipper on his coat to his neck, smoothing out the wrinkles caused by his nap.


    ¡°is the foreigner already released?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°he was taken away by his lawyer this morning,¡± yao xing replied. ¡°coincidentally, his visa was also about to expire, so he¡¯s probably going to be deported directly. but, lu-ge, why are you asking about this?¡±


    lu ye shook his head without answering.


    he furrowed his brow slightly, silently contemplating for a moment, and then, as if he remembered something, he stood up from his chair and walked straight to the corner of the office.


    the office was made up of a group of individuals who, when busy, paid no attention to anything else. the potted plant in the corner hadn¡¯t been watered for over ten days, and the soil in the pot had dried up with cracks forming. the leaves were drooping, and the edges were curling slightly.


    lu ye stood next to the flowerpot, then bent down, reaching into the pot, and after a moment, he pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from the flowerpot.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    the weather in the new district had been gloomy since morning, and it became even gloomier after lunch. it felt like the air was heavy with moisture, making every breath feel stifling.


    qi yanbai¡¯s recent state was really not great. lu ye¡¯s distant and cold attitude made him anxious and restless, affecting his work, and even in class, he had accidentally used the advanced lesson plan for beginner students.


    since he started working, he had always been diligent and responsible, he would never make such basic mistakes. his colleagues looked at him with concern, but couldn¡¯t find the words to ask, and eventually remained silent.


    ¡°¡­mr. qi.¡± one of his colleague looked at his troubled expression and cautiously suggested, ¡°if you¡¯re not feeling well, i can cover your afternoon class for you.¡±


    qi yanbai paused while organizing his teaching materials, furrowed his brow, and then pinched his nose.


    he knew he wasn¡¯t in good shape, so he nodded in agreement and said softly, ¡°thank you, mrs. zhou. i¡¯ll make it up to you next time.¡±


    ¡°no problem, it¡¯s the least i can do,¡± mrs. zhou smiled and stood up, taking the class materials from qi yanbai. she added, ¡°but if you¡¯re not feeling well, you can also take a leave. prolonged periods of not feeling well can be harmful to your health.¡±


    she was very tactful, and qi yanbai pursed his lips, reluctantly nodded, and accepted her offer.


    ¡°understood, mrs. zhou,¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°but don¡¯t worry, i¡¯ll make sure to adjust myself.¡±


    once mrs. zhou left, qi yanbai was alone in the office. the sound of high heels gradually faded in the corridor, and the children¡¯s small and noisy questions grew louder and then faded away, finally isolated on the other side of the hallway with the closing of a door.


    qi yanbai leaned on his office desk, took a deep breath, and then sat down, covering his eyes with his hand.


    to be honest, he knew that his current state had crossed a certain line of caution. but without lu ye around, he found it difficult to escape from this long-standing anxiety that had taken hold of him.


    since their last parting in the hallway, he hadn¡¯t seen lu ye for ten days.


    during these ten days, he had tried to talk to lu ye, but it seemed like lu ye was intentionally avoiding him, appearing and disappearing like a ghost. even though the security cameras captured him returning home every day, qi yanbai had never managed to catch a glimpse of him.


    this visible yet elusive feeling of not knowing where lu ye was made qi yanbai extremely anxious. when they were dating, he didn¡¯t feel it as strongly, but once they were apart, he realized that lu ye¡¯s influence on him was even more profound than he had thought.


    it felt like lu ye¡¯s disappearance had taken away something he couldn¡¯t quite put into words. the methods qi yanbai had used to maintain his mental balance no longer worked. even though he repeatedly told himself, ¡°lu ye hasn¡¯t disappeared; he¡¯s just living in the room next door,¡± the anxiety of losing everything still clung to him.


    he felt like an addict going through forced withdrawal, and time had not cooled his excessive possessiveness towards lu ye. in fact, it had only intensified his obsession.


    if only he could keep lu ye by his side forever, qi yanbai thought suddenly. then he would never disappear.


    this thought was like a tiny, sharp needle, puncturing through the deliberately maintained illusion of peace. qi yanbai¡¯s eyelashes quivered lightly, and before he could deny it to himself, he felt a nearly uncontrollable rush of excitement.


    however, this fleeting sensation was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.


    ¡°mr. qi?¡± a young woman¡¯s voice called politely from outside the door, ¡°are you busy?¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s wandering thoughts snapped back to reality. he hurriedly composed himself, subconsciously straightened his clothes, and said, ¡°come in.¡±


    the door was pushed open slightly, and the receptionist peered inside. she glanced around the office and, seeing no one else, she hesitantly called qi yanbai¡¯s name.


    ¡°mr. qi,¡± the receptionist said in a hushed tone, ¡°there¡¯s a gentleman here who wants to see you. are you available right now?¡±


    ¡°gentleman?¡± qi yanbai asked, a bit puzzled. ¡°is it a parent?¡±


    ¡°no, it¡¯s not,¡± the receptionist¡¯s expression looked somewhat awkward. ¡°it¡¯s a¡­¡±


    before she could finish her sentence, a hand with distinct knuckles reached from the side and firmly pushed the door open. the hand was adorned with numerous metal accessories, and a long bracelet on the hand made a soft clinking sound as it brushed against the door. the receptionist was pushed back a step, and the door swung open in an arc, revealing a familiar figure behind it.


    ¡°hey,¡± elvis leaned against the door, his eyes sparkling, and he waved at qi yanbai with a grin.


    ¡°missed me?¡± he asked.

 CH 66

    qi yanbai¡¯s expression went from confusion to surprise, and finally, it suddenly darkened, becoming completely cold.


    however, elvis acted as if he hadn¡¯t noticed qi yanbai¡¯s cold demeanor. he seemed relaxed, excited even, with bright, shiny eyes. he exuded an inexplicable enthusiasm, not only failing to shrink back under qi yanbai¡¯s cold gaze but also playfully leaning against the door frame and winking at the receptionist. then, without hesitation, he stepped inside, closing the door behind him despite the concerned look from the receptionist.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± elvis leaned against the door, arms crossed in front of him, and pouted. ¡°not welcoming me?¡±


    ¡°why are you here?¡± qi yanbai asked coldly.


    ¡°so fierce?¡± elvis, seemingly surprised by qi yanbai¡¯s demeanor, widened his eyes at first and then quickly caught on. he suddenly chuckled, in quite a good mood, and asked, ¡°it seems like you¡¯ve been having a rough time recently¡ªwhat¡¯s this, are you jealous?¡±


    elvis thought he had pinpointed the reason for qi yanbai¡¯s bad mood and continued to provoke him. ¡°actually, you don¡¯t have to worry too much. i just gave him a small invitation. i¡¯ll be returning to my country in a few days. even if your little boyfriend wants to do something with me, we¡ª¡±


    before he could finish his sentence, qi yanbai suddenly stood up, taking a swift step forward. he grabbed elvis by the collar, choking him and forcefully pressing him against the door.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t hold back at all, and the fragile door let out a creaking sound as elvis let out a painful cry. instinctively, he reached out to grasp qi yanbai¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°are you insane?¡± elvis¡¯ initially smug expression instantly shattered, his eyes widened, and he couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°it was just a joke! seriously, do you have to go this far?¡±


    elvis was close in age to qi yanbai and had known his temper since childhood. although qi yanbai had always been stingy and had a sharp tongue, treating his possessions as sacred, he had never gone beyond retaliating when provoked and had never lost control of his emotions like this.


    elvis had dared to provoke qi yanbai in the past, relying on the belief that qi yanbai wouldn¡¯t go too far. however, it seemed that over the years of separation, qi yanbai¡¯s paranoia had grown stronger, or perhaps lu ye was truly that important to him. a seemingly harmless remark from elvis had provoked such a reaction.


    ¡°you¡­¡± qi yanbai¡¯s grip was unrelenting, and elvis felt it difficult to breathe. he tried to pry qi yanbai¡¯s hand open but couldn¡¯t use much force with his injured wrist. bloodstains seeped through the bandage, sticking to qi yanbai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°i¡¯m sorry, okay!¡± elvis, trying to sound submissive, exclaimed, ¡°i was just kidding. he never called me¡ªjust let go, damn it!¡±


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t respond to elvis¡¯s submission and stared coldly into his eyes. his voice sounded like it was squeezed out through clenched teeth.


    ¡°did you tell him?¡±


    qi yanbai had been puzzled for some time. lu ye had discovered the ¡°truth¡± too conveniently and quickly. he had never acted suspicious, so it didn¡¯t make sense for lu ye to suddenly detonate all the hidden bombs in his life within a day.


    moreover, after confirming their relationship, lu ye had managed to soothe qi yanbai¡¯s almost obsessive possessiveness to some extent. except for that one time at the carnival, he hadn¡¯t used tracking to ¡°accidentally¡± encounter lu ye in a long time, nor had he done anything out of line with the surveillance. even if he had accidentally revealed something, it shouldn¡¯t have been enough to prompt lu ye to expose all his secrets so quickly.


    during lu ye¡¯s recent avoidance, qi yanbai had thought long and hard about what might be wrong. but now, it seemed that the answer was right in front of him.


    elvis had always liked to snatch things from him since they were kids, from his father¡¯s attention to the paints used for drawing. they had destroyed each other¡¯s paintings countless times. elvis was capable of doing harmful things, and he had always flaunted them openly, even going as far as to brag about them to qi yanbai.


    ¡°did you tell him?¡± qi yanbai asked again with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°am i crazy?¡± elvis finally realized what qi yanbai was getting at. he widened his eyes, shouted in frustration, i¡¯m leaving for my country the day after tomorrow. what would i gain from driving a wedge between you two? i just gave him a phone number to mess with you a bit just that.¡±


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brow, and his recent guess started to waver.


    elvis was indeed intentionally trying to make qi yanbai feel uncomfortable, but only to a certain extent. after all, the qi family was highly competitive, and it would be crazy to voluntarily introduce another competitor.


    qi yanbai seemed to realize this as well. elvis was eccentric, but he wasn¡¯t stupid. qi yanbai stared at him for a while, and when he saw that elvis had been stubbornly glaring back at him, he slowly released his grip, letting him go.


    ¡°so why are you here?¡± qi yanbai sneered and asked, ¡°to watch me make a fool of myself?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m here to have some fun,¡± elvis replied, moving his injured wrist a bit. he resumed his carefree demeanor, acting like a hyperactive child. he glanced around in all directions and casually played with a wind chime hanging by the door, saying nonchalantly, ¡°and father asked me to find you and bring you back. although i don¡¯t plan to listen to him, i wanted to see what kind of person could tame you.¡±


    ¡°have you seen enough now?¡± qi yanbai asked unenthusiastically.


    ¡°i have.¡± elvis shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. ¡°he¡¯s decent, i guess, but not to the point of driving anyone crazy.¡±


    ¡°your taste is questionable,¡± qi yanbai defended lu ye, feeling a strange urge to protect him. ¡°no wonder you haven¡¯t improved your aesthetics over all these years.¡±


    elvis: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°do you have a problem?¡± elvis couldn¡¯t help rolling his eyes. ¡°isn¡¯t it enough to say he¡¯s decent? do you want me to fall head over heels for him or something?¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    well, that wasn¡¯t it.


    nothing qi yanbai said seemed right, so he gave up on further communication and returned to his desk, busying himself with organizing his teaching materials.


    he didn¡¯t want to engage with elvis, but elvis was unpredictable. he was currently in a manic phase, with heightened emotions. seeing this, he bent over, picked up a figurine on mrs. zhou¡¯s desk, and began playing with it absentmindedly.


    ¡°you shouldn¡¯t lose heart,¡± elvis said, genuinely concerned that qi yanbai might choose to return home after being dumped by lu ye. he couldn¡¯t help but try to persuade him, ¡°if you break up with this one, you can always find another¡ªmaybe another policeman, doctor, firefighter, scientist¡­ whatever you prefer.¡±


    ¡°i can¡¯t.¡± qi yanbai lowered his gaze, absentmindedly touching a dried flower specimen on the table. he said briefly, ¡°i only want him.¡±


    ¡°why?¡± elvis wondered. ¡°because he¡¯s handsome?¡±


    ¡°no,¡± qi yanbai replied, ¡°because he was the first one.¡±


    perhaps that¡¯s how life works¡ªtiming is crucial.


    lu ye was the first person to walk into his life, giving him everything he had never had before and introducing him to a whole new world. he had been the perfect ¡°boyfriend,¡± leaving no room for anyone else. so, even if dozens or hundreds of people came afterward, none of them could ever compare to the impact that lu ye had on qi yanbai.


    lu ye¡¯s name was etched into qi yanbai¡¯s soul, and for the rest of his life, he could only find complete fulfillment in him. no one else could ever take his place.

 CH 67

    elvis couldn¡¯t understand this kind of persistence, nor did he grasp the meaning of first love. he was used to seeking excitement through high-risk methods, and in the pleasure of drugs, alcohol, and self-harm, the dopamine release brought about by love, seemed like a drop in the ocean..


    ¡°so why don¡¯t you¡ª¡±


    elvis subconsciously wanted to ask why he didn¡¯t seek ashley¡¯s help since that woman always had a way. however, before he could finish his sentence, he felt like he might be giving something away, so he stopped himself.


    but qi yanbai had already caught the hint in that incomplete sentence. seeing elvis hesitating to continue, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°why don¡¯t i do what?¡±


    ¡°nothing.¡±


    elvis tossed the figurine in his hand into the air and caught it again. then he placed it back on his desk, fidgeting nervously, making sure the base stand fit perfectly into the shallow imprint on the desk¡¯s light-colored surface.


    ¡°i just want to wish you success,¡± elvis shrugged with a mischievous grin. ¡°stir things up a bit, but don¡¯t let yourself get dumped, or you¡¯ll become a homeless stray dog, and that would be too pitiful.¡±


    ¡°you can rest assured about that,¡± qi yanbai said. he was not the type to sit idly by and take ridicule. with a cold look, he lifted an eyebrow and said in a chilly tone, ¡°if he dumps me, i¡¯ll come back home and take you all down with me.¡±


    elvis: ¡°¡­¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s statement was obviously nonsense¡ªhe had grown used to life outside and had already decided to stick with lu ye. he certainly wouldn¡¯t run back to qi zhe, becoming a commodity that could only be used to extract his own inspiration and emotions every day.


    however, elvis was currently experiencing a manic episode, and his entire brain was functioning at a high-frequency, single-threaded working state of chaos. he was genuinely frightened by qi yanbai¡¯s utterly unbelievable ¡°threat,¡± to the point that even when he left the training center in a daze, his mind was still echoing with ¡°take you all down with me.¡±


    as qi zhe¡¯s son, elvis had inherited his emotional aspect quite well. he didn¡¯t care who qi zhe¡¯s attention was divided among or which child qi zhe liked better. however, he cared a lot about the money in the foundation.


    being reckless required money, whether it was drug abuse or reckless driving. most of these high-risk activities that stimulated his dopamine release came with high financial costs. with numerous siblings, he had already struggled to secure his share. he really didn¡¯t want to give up any portion of what he had gained, especially considering that qi zhe¡¯s foundation capital had doubled this year.


    the realization that ¡°qi yanbai might recklessly choose to return home¡± brought elvis a great sense of crisis. his restless emotions surged once again, like a boiling pot, bubbling in his heart.


    this fiery feeling made elvis very uncomfortable. he had already walked half a block away, but the thought of this possibility made him so anxious that he couldn¡¯t help but turn back. he wanted to persuade qi yanbai more, not to think about going back home.


    as evening approached, various training institutions on the street were gradually letting out their students. elvis walked against the flow of people back to the training center. just as he reached the entrance gate, the sudden ringing of his phone interrupted him.


    rock music blared from his pocket, and elvis, annoyed, pulled out his phone and glanced at it. it was an entirely unfamiliar phone number.


    he initially didn¡¯t want to answer. however, the caller on the other end seemed persistent. once he hung up, the phone would immediately start ringing again, as if asserting its dominance.


    elvis was annoyed and reluctantly answered the call with a displeased tone, ¡°hello¡ª¡±


    ¡°mr. elvis.¡±


    a somewhat familiar male voice came through the phone, and elvis paused for a moment, only then remembering that he had given this temporary phone number to one particular stranger, aside from his close friends.


    he subconsciously scanned the surroundings but couldn¡¯t spot the face from his memory. instead, he saw a patrol car drive by from the street corner and stop precisely on the opposite side of the road.


    ¡°let me remind you,¡± perhaps elvis¡¯s facial expression appeared overly menacing, raising concerns of ¡°threatening public order.¡± therefore, the voice on the phone paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°in china, causing trouble is also illegal. i suggest you cherish the freedom you got.¡±


    with elvis¡¯s limited chinese proficiency, he could only understand about a third of what was said, but he managed to piece together lu ye¡¯s meaning from a few words.


    elvis¡¯s brain, in its manic cycle, had highly sensitive reactions. he glanced at the police car with its flashing lights not far away, then turned to look at the training center where students were coming out. suddenly, he understood something and instinctively ended the call.


    his feet moved swiftly as he crossed the road, as if he were afraid that the attractive prey, lu ye, would slip through his fingers.


    a taxi rushed past him dangerously close, leaving behind a powerful string of curses from the driver.


    elvis paid no attention to the near-miss with the accident, running happily to the side of the police car. he bent down, tapped the car window twice, and called out, ¡°officer lu¡­?¡±


    the window on the driver¡¯s side was quickly rolled down halfway, revealing lu ye¡¯s face. his gaze was calm as he glanced at elvis.


    lu ye always appeared sharp and focused while on duty and his expression made elvis¡¯ hair stand on end, but strangely enough, this only heightened his excitement.


    ¡°i¡¯ll do as you say,¡± elvis said with a grin. ¡°but officer, can you join me for a drink?¡±


    he said this without hesitation and leaned towards the car window, throwing a flirtatious look at lu ye.


    ¡°i want to talk to you about qi,¡± he continued.


    when elvis mentioned qi yanbai, lu ye finally turned his head to look at him.


    at this point, it was hard to believe that elvis and qi yanbai didn¡¯t know each other. lu ye had thought about making direct contact with elvis before he returned to his home country, just to tip the balance that always seemed to be swaying in qi yanbai¡¯s favor. however, he hadn¡¯t planned on it yet, and now elvis had come to him voluntarily.


    things given away for free could be either luck or a trap. lu ye didn¡¯t immediately agree; instead, he studied elvis¡¯s expression as if evaluating something.


    ¡°it might not be appropriate to discuss his matters with me,¡± lu ye replied with an ambiguous attitude, ¡°privacy is a sensitive issue, and i have no right to pry.¡±


    ¡°good! very good! exceptionally good!¡± elvis eagerly interrupted him, ignoring the latter part of his response. ¡°i know a lot about him. i can secretly tell you anything you want to know.¡±


    ¡°such as?¡± lu ye asked nonchalantly.


    ¡°anything.¡± elvis was afraid the opportunity he had in his hands would fly away, so he anxiously leaned closer to the car window and peered inside, enticing lu ye with persuasive tones, ¡°officer, don¡¯t you want to know everything about him? like his emotions, his past, and his secrets?¡±


    ¡°i can tell you everything,¡± elvis squinted, his tone elusive, ¡°you can understand him, dig into him, control him¡ªmake him stand in front of you completely exposed, without any secrets from then on.¡±


    curiosity and the desire to control are natural human traits, especially when it comes to someone they have grown fond of through daily interactions. the temptation to uncover secrets is powerful for anyone. elvis, understanding this, felt confident that lu ye wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity.


    as expected, lu ye seemed convinced by elvis¡¯s words. he hesitated for only a moment before retracting his gaze from elvis.


    elvis instinctively withdrew his arm from the narrow opening of the car window. just before the window closed completely, he heard lu ye¡¯s response.


    ¡°alright,¡± lu ye said.

 CH 68

    there was still some time before lu ye finished his shift, so elvis had to wait for him at the coffee shop they had agreed upon.


    the cozy little cafe was filled with the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans. elvis lay bored on the table, continuously flipping the small hourglass used for meal delivery timing.


    he lacked patience and couldn¡¯t wait for the fine sand to finish falling before he would flip the hourglass again. the bright pink sand was flipped back and forth by his fingers until the small hourglass seemed close to falling apart. finally, lu ye arrived, fashionably late from work.


    lu ye had already changed out of his uniform, wearing a simple casual outfit. even so, he was noticeable in the crowd, and elvis spotted him from a distance. he sat up eagerly, waving at him.


    ¡°lu ye!¡± he skipped the ¡°officer¡± part, cheerfully calling lu ye, ¡°over here.¡±


    elvis sat in the corner at the back of the coffee shop, and lu ye glanced at him upon hearing his voice. then, he walked over and took a seat opposite elvis.


    ¡°mr. elvis,¡± lu ye said.


    ¡°just call me by my name,¡± elvis half-propped himself on the table, looking interestedly at lu ye. he also half-complained, ¡°you¡¯re so slow; you had me waiting anxiously.¡±


    ¡°sorry about that,¡± lu ye insincerely apologized. ¡°there was traffic on the way.¡±


    ¡°no problem,¡± elvis squinted his eyes, flashing him a grin. he raised two fingers, moving them forward twice, making an attempt to pinch lu ye¡¯s sleeve while ambiguously saying, ¡°as long as you cheer me up, i won¡¯t be angry¡ªbesides, you like qi, trying me out won¡¯t hurt.¡±


    elvis had a long history of not getting along with qi yanbai, and even though he had decided to play matchmaker between them this time, he couldn¡¯t change his nature. whenever he saw lu ye, he couldn¡¯t resist teasing.


    however, this time, lu ye didn¡¯t react as strongly as he did when they were at the police station. he moved his arm away from elvis¡¯s grasp and brushed his sleeves as if there was imaginary dust on them. then, he calmly said, ¡°no need for such jokes¡ªafter all, you¡¯re not gay, and you¡¯re not interested in me either.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s tone was resolute, and elvis was momentarily stunned. his expression blanked out for a couple of seconds, then he widened his eyes and exclaimed dramatically, ¡°how did you know?¡±


    ¡°i saw you looking at me from the moment i entered, but your gaze never went below my neck,¡± lu ye explained. ¡°compared to my appearance, you were more focused on my eyes. rather than desiring me physically, it seemed like you were curious about me as a person.¡±


    perhaps because he hadn¡¯t been using drugs recently, although elvis still appeared hyperactive and erratic, the manic energy from the drugs had diminished considerably. consequently, lu ye saw more of him.


    elvis had initially wanted to tease him, but lu ye had already delivered a subtle blow right from the start. elvis was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter without any warning.


    ¡°oh my god,¡± elvis laughed and exclaimed, ¡°i might actually like you now.¡±


    lu ye had a hard time understanding the twisted thought processes of artists and couldn¡¯t be bothered to delve into why his statement had excited elvis. he simply adjusted his sitting posture, nodded slightly to the waiter who came to take their order, and declined the menu.


    ¡°just lemon water will do, thank you,¡± he said.


    people who looked good tended to receive special treatment wherever they went. the waiter not only didn¡¯t neglect his modest order but even added an extra large pitted cherry as decoration when serving the drink.


    elvis¡¯s gaze shifted back and forth between the cherry and lu ye. he stopped the waiter, who was about to leave, and said lazily, ¡°excuse me,¡± elvis drawled lazily, ¡°add a tiramisu for me too.¡±


    when the tiramisu was served, elvis finally concluded his loud laughter. he gently stirred the chocolate shavings on the cake with his spoon. he examined lu ye for a moment and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°why are you so quiet? don¡¯t you want to ask about my relationship with qi and why i approached you?¡±


    patients in their manic phases had highly active thought processes, disliked being ignored, and could speak endlessly without much prompting. seeing this, lu ye nodded, following elvis¡¯s lead by asking, ¡°so, what is the relationship between you two?¡±


    lu ye had suspected that elvis¡¯s tone when mentioning qi yanbai was too subtle to be a casual acquaintance. it seemed more like they had known each other for many years and knew each other inside out.


    elvis appeared unusually familiar with qi yanbai, but at the same time, he subconsciously picked fights with him. this kind of relationship, where they opposed each other but also understood each other, was uncommon. given lu ye¡¯s existing knowledge of qi yanbai, the only realm in which he could fit into such a contradictory relationship was his abnormal family.


    ¡°i see,¡± lu ye said, ¡°you do look somewhat alike.¡±


    without the heavy makeup, elvis¡¯s appearance was quite decent. despite the thinness resulting from drug use, he had a striking mixed-race appearance with deep-set features, a high nose bridge, and, most importantly, a significant resemblance to qi yanbai.


    ¡°are you not surprised at all?¡± elvis tilted his head, curious.


    ¡°i had a hunch,¡± lu ye admitted. ¡°his social circle is quite small, and you don¡¯t seem like someone who fits into his ¡®friend¡¯ category.¡±


    lu ye intentionally emphasized the word ¡°friend.¡± elvis paused for a moment, struggling with his limited chinese, and then understood the implied meaning in this long sentence.


    ¡°have you always been this perceptive?¡± elvis suddenly chuckled. ¡°can you see everything and guess everything?¡±


    not everything, lu ye thought, at least not with qi yanbai.


    ¡°i finally understand why he¡¯s so afraid of you,¡± elvis said, poking at the tiramisu in front of him with a spoon. he leaned back in his chair, chin propped up, and looked at lu ye with interest. ¡°but what i don¡¯t understand is, if he¡¯s so afraid of you, why didn¡¯t he leave you earlier?¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t provide a direct answer to this question. instead, he asked, ¡°he¡¯s afraid of me, but why is he afraid of me?¡±


    ¡°because he lies,¡± elvis¡¯s chinese was mediocre and basic, and for some words and phrases, he defaulted to english. fortunately, lu ye¡¯s english was passable, so they were able to continue the conversation smoothly in a mix of both languages.


    ¡°everyone in our family lies,¡± elvis¡¯s sentence structure was a bit jumbled. ¡°lying is as simple as eating and drinking for us. but you, you seem to care a lot about what ¡®truth¡¯ is.¡±


    this was the first time elvis had referred to himself and qi yanbai with ¡°us.¡± this instinctive division of sides in his choice of words created a clear boundary that momentarily separated lu ye from their world.


    his choice of words was so natural, so matter-of-fact, as if the ¡°rules¡± of that family were the foundation of the world, and lu ye, in contrast, was the outlier.


    before meeting elvis, lu ye had heard qi yanbai mention his family many times and had tried to imagine what that family was like through qi yanbai¡¯s descriptions. however, this was the first time he stood on such a clear boundary and had the opportunity to explore that ¡°world¡± through a fresh and objective perspective.


    ¡°shouldn¡¯t i care about the truth?¡± lu ye asked in response.


    ¡°i don¡¯t know,¡± elvis said. ¡°anyway, none of us care.¡±


    ¡°everything you all care about, i don¡¯t care about,¡± elvis dropped his spoon, leaned back in his chair, and gestured towards lu ye with indifference. ¡°emotions, truth, mutual support and friendship, dolls and teddy bears dancing ¨C none of it matters.¡±


    ¡°what does matter then?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°happiness,¡± elvis said, smiling and narrowing his eyes. ¡°happiness is the most important.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s eyes flickered, and he saw something familiar in elvis that he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on.


    qi yanbai and elvis had vastly different personalities and styles of dealing with things. qi yanbai was restrained and cautious, even when dealing with colleagues and parents who didn¡¯t require deep connections. he always tried to make everyone feel comfortable. in contrast, elvis was reckless and carefree, seemingly unconcerned with morals and laws. he lived his life as if he didn¡¯t care about anything in the world.


    but at this moment, lu ye saw the same thing in both of them.


    it was a clear sense of self-awareness, with elvis¡¯s self-awareness being stronger and qi yanbai¡¯s being more subtle.


    in fact, during this time, lu ye had been thinking about why qi yanbai, who claimed to love him deeply, never seemed to consider lu ye¡¯s feelings when making decisions. qi yanbai was selfish and self-centered, and he had never treated lu ye as an independent individual who deserved respect. lu ye wanted to believe that qi yanbai¡¯s feelings for him were genuine, but this subconscious lack of recognition contradicted the love he expressed. so, even though lu ye wanted to lean toward him emotionally, he was always torn between conflicting feelings.


    however, it wasn¡¯t until now, facing elvis, that lu ye finally began to understand that the root of this conflict was not necessarily the depth of qi yanbai¡¯s feelings, but rather their different perceptions of self.


    an adult living in society had to face a variety of challenges, and there was nothing in the world that went smoothly, nor were there any guarantees of getting everything one desired. most of the time spent interacting with others was a process of compromise. most children gradually learned this through socialization and education as they transitioned from ¡°childhood¡± to ¡°adulthood.¡± however, perhaps due to the lack of proper upbringing in the qi family, both elvis and qi yanbai seemed to lack an understanding of this concept of ¡°compromise.¡±


    so, they always subconsciously pursued the simplest, quickest, and most comfortable solutions to everything, without the ability to deal with rejection.


    elvis finally remembered the purpose of his visit and redirected the conversation back to qi yanbai. ¡°qi yanbai isn¡¯t like me in this regard. he¡¯s too ¡®normal,¡¯ thinks too much. there are simpler ways to live, but he always cares about what others think.¡±


    ¡°is that so?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°yeah,¡± elvis said. ¡°for example, painting. i don¡¯t know why he cares so much about father¡¯s approval. for me, painting is a way to express emotions and a tool to make money. actually, not many people in our family like painting, but he¡¯s the only one who does. he doesn¡¯t even like it that much, but he always wants to find emotions in it.¡±


    ¡°he needs emotional validation,¡± lu ye said.


    lu ye had noticed this for a while. qi yanbai claimed not to need family or affection, but in reality, he didn¡¯t reject these unfamiliar emotions, and he never shied away from them. when lu ye took him to the lunar new year celebration at the lu family, it was clear that he was moved by these emotions.


    ¡°yeah, oppos¡ªopposite!¡± elvis hadn¡¯t heard this word before, but he guessed its meaning and awkwardly repeated, ¡°that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°so, i always felt that he was awkward, and i didn¡¯t like him,¡± elvis¡¯s eyes shifted, and he seemed to recall something with a hint of satisfaction. he continued, ¡°so, you¡¯d better keep him in china and not let him go back home to annoy us.¡±


    ¡°is that so,¡± lu ye finally understood why elvis had arranged to meet him proactively. with a glance up and down, he deliberately revealed a knowing expression and casually said, ¡°so, you bully him all the time, and you even burned his paintings for no reason, making him look bad in the year-end awards?¡±


    elvis: ¡­


    elvis had been thinking about what good things to say about qi yanbai to lu ye in case he didn¡¯t agree, but lu ye¡¯s subtly accusatory tone irritated him, and he slammed his hand on the table, standing up abruptly.


    ¡°what do you mean, i bully him!¡± elvis exclaimed. ¡°he¡¯s the petty one who seeks revenge! i burned his paintings this one time, then what does he do? the next day, he sneaked into my studio and cut up my paintings with a knife!¡±


    he seemed to have completely forgotten his initial intention to portray qi yanbai in a positive light in front of lu ye and angrily continued, ¡°he¡¯s the petty one, the big liar, the paranoid¡ª¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t say anything. he simply watched him with a subtle smile, his lips curved upwards.


    elvis had just been vehemently complaining, when lu ye¡¯s phone, placed on the table, suddenly lit up with a text message from qi yanbai. it was a short message with only one sentence.


    ¡°are you coming home after work tonight? i bought fish.¡±


    perhaps it hadn¡¯t reached a breaking point yet, but in recent days, qi yanbai hadn¡¯t displayed the aggression in approaching lu ye as he had previously during their confrontation. however, in response, he had become restless and kept sending messages throughout the day.


    in fact, this wasn¡¯t a clever strategy. if qi yanbai were calm enough, he should have remained silent during this period, allowing lu ye¡¯s heated emotions to cool down on their own. then, he could slowly remind himself of qi yanbai¡¯s good qualities. instead, he was currently acting as if nothing had happened, annoying lu ye and further fueling his emotions.


    the qi family was truly an absurd one, lu ye thought. there wasn¡¯t a single normal person among them.


    whether it was qi yanbai or elvis, they both possessed a kind of childlike purity. elvis disliked being wronged, and qi yanbai was afraid of losing. they had grown up in adult bodies, but when facing specific problems, they charged forward without knowing how to resolve them.


    these were personality flaws resulting from a lack of proper upbringing. that¡¯s why they were both selfish and self-indulgent, often unaware that they were straying further from the right path.


    lu ye¡¯s gaze lingered on the message for a moment, but he didn¡¯t reply. instead, he reached out and turned off the screen.


    ¡°mr. elvis,¡± lu ye interrupted elvis¡¯s outburst and said calmly, ¡°i have one last question for you.¡±


    ¡°go ahead,¡± elvis said.


    ¡°you met him today, didn¡¯t you?¡± lu ye asked. ¡°how is he doing?¡±


    ¡°he¡¯s okay,¡± elvis shrugged. suddenly, he remembered something and grinned maliciously. ¡°poor thing, he¡¯s like a stray dog sleeping under a bridge.¡±


    the comparison was a bit harsh, and lu ye furrowed his brows unconsciously, but he didn¡¯t argue. instead, he reached for his phone and stood up from his chair.


    ¡°thank you for your answers,¡± lu ye said. ¡°i¡¯ve already paid for the meal. you¡¯re free to go now.¡±


    ¡°huh?¡± elvis was taken aback. ¡°what do you mean, you¡¯re done with your questions?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± lu ye replied.


    actually, lu ye had been curious for a long time about whether qi yanbai¡¯s actions were motivated by his desire for control or his fear of losing lu ye.


    lu ye had dealt with many cases of domestic violence and had encountered many control freaks who tried to control their partner¡¯s whereabouts, social life, and even behavior. these individuals, driven by an inflated sense of self-importance, would become furious if their partner displayed any hint of resistance, seeing it as a threat to their own dignity.


    love should be equal, and lu ye couldn¡¯t be with someone who was a control freak. so, during these days of reflection, he had not only thought about their future together but also observed how qi yanbai reacted to lu ye¡¯s ¡°resistance.¡±


    now, elvis had given him the answer, and he didn¡¯t need to ask any more questions.


    before coming, elvis had prepared a whole set of ¡°deep feelings and strong love¡± speeches in his limited chinese, but he hadn¡¯t expected lu ye to finish listening before he even started.


    ¡°you haven¡¯t asked me whether qi yanbai likes you,¡± elvis hurriedly added, ¡°he really likes you. my father asked him to come back and divide the family assets, but he refused.¡±


    elvis seemed worried that his performance wasn¡¯t good enough, and he was afraid that lu ye would really break up with qi yanbai, so he took a few steps to catch up and recited his lines as if he were in a play. ¡°um, i mean¡­ although he might seem a bit intimidating in his actions, you don¡¯t have to be afraid of him. he will listen to you.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s steps paused slightly, and he finally turned to look at elvis.


    in the next moment, he smirked, showing a hint of playful amusement in his eyes.


    ¡°i¡¯ve never been afraid of him,¡± lu ye said.


    lu ye had never thought that qi yanbai posed a threat to him. if qi yanbai tried to use force, lu ye was confident he could handle it. moreover, compared to criminals, qi yanbai¡¯s methods were like the growls of a wolf cub¡ªdangerous but not very intimidating. there was nothing to be afraid of.


    elvis had never seen lu ye smile before, and he was slightly taken aback. he even felt that this smile had a touch of wickedness.


    ¡°so, why don¡¯t you forgive him then?¡± elvis asked instinctively.


    ¡°i¡¯ve just been thinking all along whether he is still the person i like,¡± lu ye said.


    this statement might have sounded profound to elvis, but lu ye didn¡¯t explain further. he simply said that and turned around, walking away while waving his hand.


    ¡°i wish you a pleasant journey back home and feel free to visit anytime, mr. elvis,¡± lu ye said. ¡°but please remember to obey the law next time and not add to our workload.¡±

 CH 69

    the day after meeting elvis was a monday. the station had some temporary matters to attend to, so lu ye went in for a short shift early in the morning. just after 10 o¡¯clock, he received a call from lu wenyu, asking if he was free and whether he could come over for a meal.


    lu ye knew why she had called, so he didn¡¯t make excuses and agreed. after finishing work, he even detoured to a mall to pick up a box of snowflake pastries that lu mingming had been craving for half a month.


    when he arrived at lu wenyu¡¯s house in the evening, the housekeeper had already finished cooking and left. lu wenyu was dressed in loose home pajamas, sitting on the living room carpet, playing a puzzle block game with lu mingming.


    lu ye observed for a moment, went into his room and changed into different clothes, and sat down next to lu wenyu. he casually picked up a fallen puzzle block beside him and tossed it into lu mingming¡¯s arms, through a ¡°luxury castle.¡±


    lu mingming was startled by his sudden attack and instinctively leaned back. her elbow accidentally hit an unfinished puzzle block, causing the blocks to scatter all over, turning the fairy garden into ruins.


    ¡°uncle!¡±


    lu mingming glared at him and was about to retaliate when lu ye had already handed the box of snowflake pastries to her, smiling as he coaxed, ¡°my bad. i¡¯ll put it back together for you later, okay?¡±


    with the added temptation of snowflake pastries, lu mingming easily forgave him. she hugged the paper bag and scooted aside, continuing with her ¡°construction project.¡±


    after watching for a while, lu wenyu finally spoke when the ¡°truce¡± was declared. she said nonchalantly, ¡°don¡¯t provoke her. that thing is difficult to assemble.¡±


    lu ye, raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°why do you have so much free time today and asked me to come over for dinner?¡±


    lu wenyu managed a company, and she bore the responsibility of running the whole company. she was busy from dawn to dusk, often wishing for more than 24 hours in a day to work. except for special occasions like holidays, the time she spent chatting with lu ye could almost be measured in minutes.


    ¡°i do have some free time.¡± lu wenyu stretched her arm, picked up a cup from the coffee table, took a sip of coffee, and hinted, ¡°but you¡¯ve been quite busy lately. you even mentioned to me yesterday that it¡¯s been a while since we last met.¡±


    since the silent conflict with qi yanbai, lu ye had stopped taking on the task of picking up lu mingming from school. he knew that lu wenyu probably had already figured out what was going on, so he didn¡¯t try to explain. instead, he just smiled at lu wenyu.


    ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± lu ye asked with a smile. ¡°did your housekeeper finally find it too far and refuse to pick her up anymore?¡±


    ¡°stop changing the subject,¡± lu wenyu said with a soft click of her tongue. she couldn¡¯t help but pat lu ye¡¯s shoulder and asked, ¡°in love, it¡¯s normal to have some disagreements. i don¡¯t care about the little quarrels, but you were talking about spending a lifetime with him not too long ago, and now you¡¯re suddenly giving him the cold shoulder. what¡¯s going on in your mind?¡±


    lu ye knew that lu wenyu would ask this question. he sighed softly and put the puzzle block back into the box. then, he casually brushed off his hands as if getting rid of non-existent dust.


    ¡°it¡¯s nothing, really,¡± lu ye said in a relaxed tone. ¡°i just realized recently that he¡¯s not exactly as i imagined.¡±


    ¡°different?¡± lu wenyu suddenly became curious. ¡°how is he different? did he secretly pole dance at home?¡±


    lu ye: ¡­


    lu ye seemed to remember lu wenyu¡¯s surprising speculation when she first met qi yanbai, and he couldn¡¯t help but remain silent for a second. then, he absentmindedly took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.


    he had initially thought about lighting a cigarette, but then he remembered that lu mingming was still there, so he put the lighter back and just held the cigarette in his hand.


    ¡°it¡¯s not like that,¡± lu ye said, picking up a puzzle piece. after a brief pause, he continued, ¡°i just thought that our relationship was growing naturally over time, but it turns out he had feelings for me from the very beginning. he deliberately got close to me after our first meeting.¡±


    lu wenyu, who knew lu ye very well, immediately understood what was going on when she heard this. lu ye was cautious and wary, and whenever someone stepped into this minefield, he would immediately transform from a kind and approachable police officer into a suspicious porcupine.


    ¡°oh,¡± lu wenyu drawled lazily, understanding everything. ¡°so, you¡¯ve realized you might have been deceived? is that it?¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t give a direct answer. instead, he turned his head, raised an eyebrow, and asked, ¡°your tone makes it sound like you don¡¯t see this as a problem.¡±


    ¡°of course, i don¡¯t.¡± lu wenyu said openly. ¡°you¡¯re likable, and someone is trying hard to pursue you. that¡¯s normal. people have the right to pursue their own happiness. even if he has some ulterior motives, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡±


    lu wenyu was a realistic person, and her approach to life and business was all about assessing value. she didn¡¯t care much about minor details as long as they didn¡¯t touch on matters of principle.


    lu ye smiled and thought to himself that lu wenyu didn¡¯t know what he had done with these ¡°ulterior motives.¡± if she did, she would probably turn into a river goddess and flood the place, wishing she had cut ties with him long ago.


    ¡°of course, i¡¯m not saying that his ¡®ulterior motives¡¯ are right.¡± lu wenyu continued, probing, ¡°after all, you¡¯re in a relationship by your own choice, and you know best. so, do you feel like you can¡¯t accept it?¡±


    ¡°¡­not exactly,¡± lu ye replied.


    qi yanbai¡¯s actions hadn¡¯t caused him any actual harm. he hadn¡¯t crossed any legal boundaries, and he hadn¡¯t deeply wounded lu ye¡¯s heart. lu ye was straightforward and didn¡¯t hold grudges over this incident. besides, he genuinely liked qi yanbai, and his emotional inclinations had been leaning more towards qi yanbai, especially after meeting elvis. this inclination had become increasingly evident, with a tendency to fully lean towards one side.


    however, the problem lay in the fact that even though lu ye still liked qi yanbai, there was still a mental hurdle in his heart that he couldn¡¯t overcome. it was blocking his way forward, making it impossible to move forward or retreat.


    ¡°i just keep thinking that if he could lie to me because he likes me this time, who knows if he¡¯ll lie to me again for something else in the future,¡± lu ye admitted honestly. ¡°i know i might be overthinking it, but it might be a professional habit. i just can¡¯t help myself¡­¡±


    ¡°why don¡¯t you talk to him and tell him that you don¡¯t like this?¡± lu wenyu asked.


    lu ye was taken aback for a moment.


    lu wenyu leaned in slightly, took the cigarette from lu ye¡¯s fingertips, moved away from where lu mingming was sitting, lowered her head, lit the cigarette with a lighter, took a deep breath, and exhaled a thin puff of white smoke.


    ¡°i remember when you were ten, you found a little stray dog on your way home from school,¡± lu wenyu suddenly said. ¡°you were so full of compassion at that time, you brought it home and insisted on keeping it. but the little dog was out of control, it chewed on the sofa, peed everywhere at home, which made our parents furious. they wanted to throw the dog out. what did you say back then?¡±


    ¡°you insisted on keeping it, saying that you would take responsibility for it. so, you fed it, walked it day and night, taught it to sit, shake hands, and not destroy things. you trained it for three months, and it became obedient.¡± lu wenyu said, tapping the cigarette ash into the ashtray on the coffee table. she gave lu ye a meaningful look. ¡°of course, i¡¯m not disrespecting teacher qi, but back then, you had so much confidence even with an animal which can¡¯t speak, believing you could train it well. so why are you hesitating now when facing a boyfriend who can communicate and cares about whether you¡¯re happy or not?¡±


    ¡°can¡¯t they be the same?¡± lu ye forced a smile and said, ¡°qi yanbai is a human.¡±


    of course, lu ye would never compare qi yanbai to a dog, but lu wenyu¡¯s words did hit a nerve and addressed a part of his thoughts.


    qi yanbai did need guidance and discipline, but humans were different from other creatures. once you decided to intervene in someone else¡¯s life, you had to bear an equal responsibility.


    while they were talking, little lu mingming, who had been playing with building blocks on the side, finally understood the topic and couldn¡¯t help but raise her head, looking at lu ye with a puzzled expression.


    ¡°uncle, did you have a fight with teacher qi?¡± little mingming got up and sat down beside lu ye, reaching out to shake his arm. ¡°don¡¯t be mad at him.¡±


    ¡°hmm?¡± lu ye came back to his senses, furrowed his brow, and asked with a somewhat subtle tone, ¡°did he ask you to tell me this?¡±


    lu wenyu believed in independent education for children and didn¡¯t usually avoid topics in front of lu mingming except for those unsuitable for children. but lu ye thought that adult matters should be left to adults. he felt that it was a bit unethical to involve a child as an intermediary, no matter how much she liked him.


    fortunately, lu mingming quickly shook her head and said it wasn¡¯t because of him.


    ¡°last week, i saw teacher qi was in a bad mood and asked him myself,¡± lu mingming said. ¡°he said he did something wrong and was struggling with how to make amends.¡±


    lu ye looked at lu mingming as she spoke and asked, ¡°what did you say to him then?¡±


    ¡°i taught him,¡± lu mingming said proudly. ¡°i told teacher qi that as long as he apologizes sincerely, it¡¯s okay. mom used to tell me that as long as you sincerely get along with people, treat them well, they can always feel it.¡±


    ¡°sincerity,¡± that word brushed gently in lu ye¡¯s heart, and he remembered qi yanbai¡¯s awkward and ordinary text messages, as well as the umbrella hung on his doorknob early in the morning on a rainy day.


    would qi yanbai listen to lu mingming and start treating him sincerely? lu ye wasn¡¯t sure, but it was evident that he had taken lu mingming¡¯s words to heart. he was impatient to see him and yet still restraining himself, just awkwardly and earnestly trying to be good to him.


    ¡°she¡¯s right,¡± lu wenyu inserted a word of advice as she saw the opportunity, ¡°this is how you should be as a person. be bold, persist when you¡¯re right, and make amends when you¡¯re wrong. in the end, even if the outcome isn¡¯t good, at least you¡¯ve tried.¡±


    ¡°why do i feel like there¡¯s more to your words?¡± lu ye raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°sis, you never used to pay this much attention to my emotional issues. why are you so willing to help him this time?¡±


    lu wenyu wasn¡¯t one to meddle in other people¡¯s affairs, especially in matters of the heart. her willingness to speak well of qi yanbai indeed surprised lu ye.


    ¡°you¡¯re mistaken, i¡¯m not helping him,¡± lu wenyu took a puff of her cigarette, smiled at lu ye through the hazy smoke, and said, ¡°i want to help you find some courage, find an opportunity to face ¡®deception¡¯ head-on.¡±


    ¡°why do i need to confront that?¡± lu ye smiled and said, ¡°besides, i¡¯ve faced it many times before. am i not used to it?¡±


    ¡°but you¡¯ve never really resolved it,¡± lu wenyu pointed out sharply.


    lu wenyu had always known about lu ye¡¯s emotional struggles, and over the years, she realized that he hadn¡¯t truly developed the ability to deal with ¡°deception.¡±


    in fact, his reactions and actions when facing ¡°deception¡± were often correct ¨C when hurt, one should cut ties decisively instead of sinking into meaninglessness. however, his mindset was far from as straightforward as his actions. regardless of how he appeared or how resolute he seemed in handling things, he was still easily hurt by lies.


    so, he needed an opportunity to learn how to confront this issue; he couldn¡¯t keep letting the same knife cut him repeatedly.


    otherwise, when he could easily walk away from people who didn¡¯t matter to him, what would he do if he was genuinely hurt by someone he couldn¡¯t let go of one day?


    the smile on lu ye¡¯s face faded, and his eyes flickered as he looked away from lu wenyu, shifting his gaze to lu mingming, who was now sitting a bit far from them, munching on snowflake pastries.


    children were sensitive yet oblivious; they could easily sense subtle atmospheres but were clueless about the adults¡¯ inner turmoil.


    after a while, he sighed softly and said, ¡°i understand what you mean.¡±


    ¡°obviously, my relationship with teacher qi is nowhere near as close as the one i have with you,¡± lu wenyu said. ¡°to me, his first role is as your boyfriend.¡± she smiled at lu ye through the lingering smoke. ¡°it¡¯s not that i think he¡¯s perfect, but i feel that if you haven¡¯t broken up with him, it means he either hasn¡¯t done something terribly wrong, or you like him enough to make you hesitate.¡±


    she finished her cigarette and extinguished it in the ashtray. ¡°so, since that¡¯s the case, why not give it a try?¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t respond immediately. he seemed lost in thought for a moment, then extended his hand and picked up the fruit crumbs that had fallen on the carpet.


    ¡°sis,¡± after a while, lu ye finally spoke, changing the subject, ¡°i¡¯m hungry. let¡¯s eat.¡±


    lu wenyu knew that he had made up his mind, so she didn¡¯t try to persuade him any further. she simply nodded and gestured for him to wash his hands before eating.


    after dinner, lu wenyu had initially wanted to invite lu ye to stay the night, but he declined.


    ¡°i¡¯d better go back,¡± lu ye said. ¡°i¡¯ll take a day off the day after tomorrow, so it¡¯ll be more convenient to organize my reports tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°alright,¡± lu wenyu walked him to the door and reminded him, ¡°be careful on the way back, and let me know when you get home.¡±


    ¡°i will,¡± lu ye smiled and replied.


    lu ye¡¯s sister¡¯s villa was located quite a distance from his own home, almost spanning the entire city. by the time he left her place, it was already late in the evening.


    when he got to his community entrance, most of the lights in the building had been turned off. lu ye entered the elevator with an unlit cigarette in his mouth, staring at the floor indicator as the numbers jumped one by one. he seemed lost in thought.


    in fact, lu ye knew that lu wenyu was right. he was also well aware that his heart was leaning heavily towards qi yanbai. but as he stood in the narrow and cramped elevator car, staring at his reflection in the mirrored door, it felt like he had suddenly been transported back to the front door of his patents¡¯ house many years ago.


    ¡ª that time, he had decisively made a decision and left home, while this time, he hadn¡¯t been able to make his choice yet.


    unbeknownst to him, the indicator light had just reached the designated floor, and the elevator doors slid open with a chime. lu ye snapped back to reality, took the cigarette out of his mouth, and as he stepped out of the elevator, he happened to see a familiar figure walking towards him.


    qi yanbai was dressed neatly, appearing as though he was about to go out. when he saw lu ye stepping out of the elevator, he hesitated for a moment but then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he urgently called out.


    ¡°lu ye!¡±


    lu ye paused for a moment, instinctively assessing him with his eyes.


    over these past few days, qi yanbai didn¡¯t seem to have changed much, just a bit thinner. his overcoat hung loosely on him, making him look somewhat fragile.


    but the fact that he was happy to see lu ye was evident. he greedily looked over every inch of lu ye, then took a few quick steps towards him, as if afraid that lu ye might run away, and instinctively grabbed his arm.


    ¡°i thought you weren¡¯t coming back today after work?¡± it was clear that qi yanbai was making an effort to avoid bringing up unpleasant memories. he lowered his voice, trying to be patient, and spoke naturally, saying, ¡°during this time when you weren¡¯t at home, i missed you a lot.¡±


    including today, it had been nearly half a month since lu ye had seen qi yanbai.


    half a month might not be long or short, but it was certainly enough for adults in a fast-paced life to develop new habits. however, qi yanbai¡¯s enthusiasm for him seemed undiminished, unaffected by this period of neglect.


    the corridor was dim and quiet, with only a few night lights lit. lu ye kept his eyes lowered as he met qi yanbai¡¯s gaze. he saw the overflowing joy in qi yanbai¡¯s eyes.


    no one can remain indifferent to such pure affection, and lu ye was no exception. his heart softened uncontrollably, and his gaze briefly swept over the neatly dressed collar of qi yanbai. finally, he didn¡¯t ignore him but took the cigarette out of his mouth, softly hummed, and casually asked, ¡°are you going out?¡±


    ¡°not really, i was thinking of going for a walk,¡± qi yanbai smiled and said, ¡°but since you¡¯re back, i don¡¯t have to.¡±


    go for a walk? lu ye suddenly wondered, did qi yanbai have a habit of taking midnight walks before?


    the moment this thought emerged, lu ye suddenly shivered and belatedly realized a problem ¡ª it seemed like a trust crisis had arisen between him and qi yanbai. so much so that during this ¡°long-awaited reunion,¡± his first thought wasn¡¯t one of surprise at their chance encounter but rather an urge to scrutinize qi yanbai¡¯s intentions, to guess whether he was lying.


    this was by no means a normal reaction. a chill ran down lu ye¡¯s spine, and he suddenly had a foreboding feeling.


    could a relationship survive amidst suspicion, lu ye wondered.


    the answer was undoubtedly no.


    all relationships in this world could only be built on the foundation of ¡°trust¡± and ¡°security.¡± if either of these elements was lacking, the relationship would become a precarious castle in the air, liable to collapse at any moment and turn into a pile of ruins.


    this realization hit him like a bucket of cold water, and for a moment, lu ye felt a deep chill in his heart. the scales in his mind, influenced by rationality, were about to tilt and make a decision.


    ¡°yanbai¡ª¡±


    the moment these words slipped from lu ye¡¯s lips, it seemed like qi yanbai understood something from his gaze. his face changed, and he took a step forward, covering lu ye¡¯s mouth as if forcing him to swallow the rest of his sentence.


    ¡°lu ye, listen to me,¡± qi yanbai finally couldn¡¯t pretend anymore and urgently interrupted him. ¡°i don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, but i¡¯ve been thinking a lot these past few days. i can¡¯t guarantee anything, but i do know i was wrong.¡±


    ¡°give me another chance,¡± qi yanbai locked eyes with him, gritting his teeth. ¡°i¡¯ll do better and always listen to you.¡±


    as he spoke, qi yanbai¡¯s sleeve slid down his arm, revealing the bracelet on his wrist.


    the well-maintained metal glinted under the motion-activated lights. lu ye¡¯s gaze followed the light until it landed on the bead bracelet. suddenly, his breath caught, and he belatedly remembered the simple and crude pink slip of paper he had drawn when he bought the rings. it had foretold the course of his and qi yanbai¡¯s relationship, like some kind of guiding prophecy that had revealed the ending to him without his knowledge.


    but lu ye¡¯s gaze remained fixed on that bead bracelet. in his mind, he couldn¡¯t help but recall what the salesperson had said when she gave him the bead bracelet to ¡°counteract bad luck.¡±


    ¡°when fortune turns, hardships will be followed by good times.¡±


    these ten words seemed like a kind of spell, an extension of fate, and in that moment, lu ye felt that maybe it wasn¡¯t that important whether qi yanbai had really intended to go for a walk just now.


    in reality, lu ye understood that perhaps he only needed a place to anchor his reluctance, to provide himself with a legitimate excuse not to let go ¡ª and now that anchor had appeared. his wavering balance was finally given that last nudge, and it tilted uncontrollably to one side.


    qi yanbai might not fully understand trust and honesty, but at least he wasn¡¯t very good at lying. coupled with lu ye¡¯s extensive ¡°re-education¡± experience, he could always ¡°teach¡± him how to deal with relationships.


    responsibility is responsibility, and risk is risk, lu ye suddenly thought. anyway, qi yanbai had just said he would listen to him.


    the question that had plagued him for over a dozen days was finally resolved at this moment. lu ye¡¯s heart relaxed, his gaze focused into a sharp and resolute line.


    he looked at the bead bracelet on qi yanbai¡¯s wrist and decided to give qi yanbai and himself another chance, a chance for a new beginning.

 CH 70

    the sound-activated lights in the corridor had turned off due to the prolonged silence. in that moment of darkness, lu ye seemed to snap out of a trance, hastily reaching out to hold qi yanbai¡¯s wrist.


    the cold bead bracelet brushed past his palm, and lu ye, seemingly reluctant, used his thumb to flick it gently. his warm fingertip accidentally brushed against qi yanbai¡¯s wrist bone, leaving a subtle and almost imperceptible sensation.


    qi yanbai was overwhelmed by this intimate reunion. he took a deep breath, and he could almost hear the rapid acceleration of his own heartbeat within his chest.


    for the past half month, this was the first time lu ye had shown a change in attitude. qi yanbai felt both surprised and delighted, not wanting to miss this opportunity. seizing the moment, he immediately lowered his voice, calling out to him in a conciliatory tone.


    ¡°lu ye¡ª¡±


    lu ye responded with a soft hum and, as if absentmindedly, he casually played with the bracelet on qi yanbai¡¯s wrist with his fingers before letting go and stepping back.


    the warm and familiar touch disappeared once again, and the cool breeze seeped in through the gap between them. qi yanbai panicked, instinctively wanting to follow, but before he could take a step, lu ye raised his hand to stop him.


    in the next moment, there was a light metallic friction sound in the air, followed by a small spark of fire ¨C lu ye had lit a cigarette.


    ¡°you said you would listen to me?¡± lu ye¡¯s voice sounded emotionally ambiguous, with a slight hint of hoarseness. ¡°how are you going to listen?¡±


    ¡°it can be however you like. we¡¯ll get along in a way you prefer,¡± qi yanbai quickly replied, his voice softening. ¡°i won¡¯t lie anymore. if you don¡¯t want me to watch over you, i can stop doing that too ¨C as long as i can know where you are most of the time.¡±


    lu ye couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow at the implied meaning. he thought to himself that qi yanbai was indeed a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. he was so quick to agree on the surface but unwilling to take any loss.


    setting aside the ¡°teacher qi¡± filter, lu ye suddenly realized that qi yanbai¡¯s intentions were quite understandable. however, he didn¡¯t expose qi yanbai¡¯s true nature and simply adjusted his posture, leaning against the wall as he took a drag from his cigarette. he spoke with an ambiguous tone, ¡°don¡¯t you feel uneasy?¡±


    ¡°what?¡± qi yanbai didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°you said earlier that you were stalking me because you were afraid i¡¯d leave you, that you felt insecure and scared,¡± lu ye said. ¡°now, if i were to ask you not to watch me, not to pay attention to me, wouldn¡¯t you feel uneasy?¡±


    qi yanbai remained silent for a moment, bewildered by lu ye¡¯s question.


    lu ye¡¯s question had hit the core issue between them squarely ¨C qi yanbai knew he wasn¡¯t a ¡°learn-from-mistakes¡± kind of person. even if he sincerely apologized to lu ye today, there might still be moments in the future when he would act irrationally due to trivial matters.


    it could be another argument between them, a new colleague at lu ye¡¯s workplace, or simply a late reply to a message due to work matters. ¡°insecurity¡± was an abyss for him, and as long as lu ye was out of his sight, that feeling could return at any time.


    qi yanbai had no confidence in his self-control. he couldn¡¯t underestimate lu ye¡¯s influence on him.


    ¡°i¡ª¡± qi yanbai hesitated, struggling to find an answer. he had just promised lu ye that he wouldn¡¯t lie anymore, and now he had to face such a sharp and challenging question.


    the flame at the tip of the cigarette flickered in the night, and lu ye patiently waited for his response.


    if he just said, ¡°i¡¯m not feeling uneasy,¡± he could easily go along with it. but qi yanbai had trouble finding the words to say.


    the strange atmosphere brought about by their silence quickly spread in just a couple of seconds. lu ye took a drag of his cigarette and waited for a moment. seeing that qi yanbai still couldn¡¯t speak, he oddly felt a hint of warmth in his heart.


    ¡°i didn¡¯t enter into a relationship to find a puppet who would obey my every command. there¡¯s no need to tailor everything to my liking,¡± lu ye said, feeling better and loosening his attitude a bit. he couldn¡¯t help but remind qi yanbai, ¡°i just dislike being lied to. if you want to make amends with me, it¡¯s better to be honest and be yourself.¡±


    qi yanbai was momentarily taken aback, and before he could feel happy about the words ¡°make amends,¡± he suddenly felt a chill in his heart. of course not, qi yanbai thought. lu ye would say such things because he didn¡¯t understand him. if he knew what kind of person qi yanbai was, he would never make such a request and ask him to be himself.


    right now, lu ye only saw him as a person who apologized to win his back, but he didn¡¯t see the raging fire burning in his heart.


    after not seeing each other for half a month, his desire for lu ye had reached its peak. if it weren¡¯t for lu ye¡¯s overpowering personality, qi yanbai was afraid that he would have pinned him against the wall for a kiss the moment they met.


    this fire symbolizing ¡°desire¡± and ¡°insecurity¡± was about to burn him through. if it weren¡¯t for the shackles of knowing that ¡°lu ye might really disappear,¡± tightly binding him, qi yanbai wouldn¡¯t have known what he might have done.


    ¡°but i don¡¯t really know my true self,¡± qi yanbai¡¯s eyes evaded, and he vaguely said, ¡°i¡¯ve been living my life according to my parents¡¯ expectations since i was young. i¡¯m used to seeking the approval of others, and i don¡¯t know how to interact with people otherwise.¡±


    this statement was half true and half false. after saying it, qi yanbai felt a bit shaky himself and subconsciously added, ¡°and¡­¡±


    ¡°and what?¡± lu ye pressed.


    ¡°and¡­¡± qi yanbai¡¯s voice faltered for a moment, as if he were forced to confront his own shortcomings. he instinctively avoided lu ye¡¯s gaze and continued, ¡°and, my personality isn¡¯t that likable.¡±


    paranoid, pathological, possessive, and filled with lies¡ªforget about lu ye being a police officer; even an ordinary person would probably not like such a partner.


    qi yanbai was well aware of this, which was why he had to exert control, carefully playing the role of the ¡°perfect lover¡± within the bounds that lu ye could accept.


    but it seemed that lu ye wasn¡¯t appreciating his ¡°thoughtfulness.¡± lu ye gave qi yanbai an up-and-down look, then took the cigarette from his hand and exhaled softly.


    ¡°how do you know i wouldn¡¯t like it?¡± lu ye asked in a nonchalant tone.


    qi yanbai was briefly stunned, as if he hadn¡¯t grasped the meaning behind lu ye¡¯s words.


    but soon, an entirely unfamiliar and overwhelming sense of anticipation swept over him like a torrential flood. qi yanbai subconsciously took a step forward and grabbed lu ye¡¯s arm.


    ¡°what¡ª¡± qi yanbai didn¡¯t even know what he was expecting; he just urgently asked, ¡°what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°nothing.¡± lu ye finished the last drag of his cigarette, crushed the butt into a nearby trash can, then turned to face qi yanbai. he reached out and touched the corner of qi yanbai¡¯s eye.


    ¡°you were going for a walk, right?¡± finally, lu ye curved his lips into a smile, a rare sight these days. he said, ¡°it¡¯s getting late. i¡¯ll go with you.¡±

 CH 71

    that evening, qi yanbai never got a definite answer from lu ye.


    but the next morning, when he woke up, he unexpectedly found that the location tracking that was originally installed on lu ye¡¯s phone had lit up on his screen at some point and had started running again.


    the symbol representing lu ye¡¯s location appeared once more on the map. it seemed to have covered a large part of the new district, with scattered traces that looked inconclusive. it meandered around and finally returned to the new district sub-bureau.


    the latest location had been at the sub-bureau office for over an hour. during this time, lu ye¡¯s location signal never disappeared, and the location information was being transmitted back to the monitoring phone every ten minutes, filling an entire page of pending messages.


    qi yanbai sat on the bed, staring at the densely packed real-time location display, almost feeling like he hadn¡¯t woken up.


    ¡°what does this mean?¡± qi yanbai wondered, puzzled. had lu ye forgiven him? or was he trying to provoke him through this tracking?


    as this thought crossed his mind, qi yanbai¡¯s heart instinctively tightened, but then he felt that something was not right.


    lu ye was a straightforward person. if he hadn¡¯t forgiven him, he could continue the cold war without the need for sporadic tracking provocations. but even if lu ye had forgiven him, he wouldn¡¯t want to be back under ¡°surveillance¡± and would openly discuss the matter and establish ground rules, resetting all monitoring devices, and starting afresh without such ambiguity.


    what was going on? qi yanbai wondered, or perhaps there was a malfunction in his phone, and the software had automatically turned on?


    qi yanbai had known lu ye for a long time, and this was the first time he felt completely clueless. his thoughts were conflicted; on one hand, he believed there might be some hidden meaning in all of this, but on the other hand, he couldn¡¯t help but harbor secret hopes that things were as he imagined.


    regardless, the possibility of ¡°lu ye being willing to reconcile¡± was too tempting for qi yanbai. he held his phone, feeling like there was a cat scratching inside him, making him both sore and itchy, and he couldn¡¯t sit still.


    he subconsciously wanted to call lu ye to find out what was going on, but he was worried that the tracking had been unintentionally activated. a call might expose the fact that he was once again ¡°peeking,¡± so he resisted the urge and locked the screen, lying on the bed and rolling around.


    qi yanbai tried to control himself, but unfortunately, his self-control never worked with lu ye. in less than five minutes, he felt like he was covered in ants, restless and uncomfortable. he couldn¡¯t help but get up from the bed, gritting his teeth as he opened the phone book.


    they hadn¡¯t spoken on the phone for half a month. when the call tone of the station¡¯s phone rang for a moment, qi yanbai¡¯s heart instinctively tightened, afraid that the next second, the voice on the other end would be one of lu ye¡¯s colleagues or their office janitor.


    but fortunately, this time, lu ye didn¡¯t make him wait too long. after just a couple of rings, there was a soft click on the other end of the phone, followed by lu ye¡¯s voice coming through the receiver, a casual ¡°hello.¡±


    it sounded noisy on the sub-bureau side, and qi yanbai couldn¡¯t tell what was happening. he couldn¡¯t gauge lu ye¡¯s mood with just a casual greeting, so he cleared his throat cautiously and called out, ¡°lu ye.¡±


    ¡°it seems like the temperature is dropping today, it might rain.¡± qi yanbai¡¯s fingers tightened as he spoke, unconsciously gripping the phone. he continued in a natural tone, ¡°your autumn coat is still here, do you want me to bring it to you later?¡±


    qi yanbai knew it was a lame excuse. besides, lu ye was a grown man who would dress appropriately when going out. even in their office, there were all kinds of strategic clothing, from training jackets to overcoats. there was no need for him to go all the way there to deliver it.


    but qi yanbai also understood that with lu ye¡¯s keenness, he probably already guessed that this call was a test. since both parties were aware of the unspoken truth, the answer itself represented their attitudes.


    if lu ye agreed, it would mean that his attitude had indeed warmed after last night. but if lu ye refused, it would indicate that he still held a grudge and didn¡¯t want too much interaction with qi yanbai.


    it was a clear-cut choice, but there was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, followed by an unexpected answer.


    ¡°um, it does seem like it¡¯s getting colder,¡± lu ye¡¯s voice wavered, as if he glanced at his phone and then chuckled, ¡°no need, i have to pick up lu mingming at noon anyway, i can pick it up from you on the way.¡±


    lu ye seemed to have chosen a middle ground between option a and option b. qi yanbai was slightly stunned and almost didn¡¯t react.


    ¡°uh¡­?¡±


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± lu ye knowingly asked, ¡°is it inconvenient?¡±


    ¡°uh, no,¡± qi yanbai quickly regained his composure and forced a smile, saying, ¡°it¡¯s not, you can come by later.¡±


    ¡°okay,¡± lu ye smiled and said, ¡°see you later.¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    qi yanbai spent the morning in this uncertain state and then later went to work, at the training center, when it was almost time for school to end, qi yanbai suddenly became nervous.


    ¡°lu mingming¡ª¡±


    the children were packing up their art supplies ready to head home. lu mingming heard qi yanbai¡¯s voice, she looked up, blinked her eyes, and asked, ¡°what¡¯s wrong, teacher qi?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s nothing,¡± qi yanbai walked over to her and crouched down, helping her put the scattered brushes into her bag. he smiled nervously and said, ¡°it¡¯s just¡­ your uncle is coming to pick you up today. shall we go down together later?¡±


    lu mingming was too young to remember her uncle¡¯s emotional outburst and had long forgotten about it. she happily nodded at the news, reached out to grab qi yanbai¡¯s hand, and held it.


    as the students in the class started to line up and leave through the back door, qi yanbai, holding lu mingming¡¯s hand, walked to the back of the line. when they reached the bottom of the stairs, qi yanbai suddenly noticed that lu ye had arrived early and was leaning against the front desk, chatting with the receptionist.


    ¡°¡­it¡¯s been a long time since you last came,¡± the receptionist chatted.


    ¡°been busy with work, can¡¯t help it,¡± lu ye replied with a smile. when he looked up, he happened to see qi yanbai  and lu mingming coming down the stairs.


    ¡°¡­lu ye, you¡¯re here early,¡± qi yanbai called out.


    ¡°there were too many people upstairs,¡± lu ye said nonchalantly. ¡°ah yes, there were too many parents up there. i didn¡¯t want to join the crowd.¡±


    he casually took lu mingming¡¯s school bag from her and then pulled out a pack of tissues from his pocket, handing it to qi yanbai.


    ¡°wipe off your sweat,¡± lu ye teased. ¡°i¡¯m not running away, why are you in such a hurry?¡±


    qi yanbai took the tissues but didn¡¯t wipe off his sweat. he subconsciously clutched them in his hand, took a step forward, and stared into lu ye¡¯s eyes, asking, ¡°you won¡¯t disappear again in the future? will you?¡±


    he looked genuinely desperate for an answer, and lu ye was so close that he could even see the flicker of joy and anticipation in qi yanbai¡¯s eyes.


    that kind of expectation was truly captivating. lu ye gazed at him in silence for a moment, then sighed helplessly, smiled, and reached out to wipe away the sweat from qi yanbai¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°a few days ago, i was in the wrong,¡± lu ye said, looking away first and bending down to straighten lu mingming¡¯s crooked collar.


    ¡°as adults, we can just say what¡¯s on our minds. cold wars are indeed unnecessary¡ªtoo childish, and it also hurts your pride,¡± lu ye assured him. ¡°you can rest assured, it won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    these words sounded like nothing special, but they also seemed a bit off. qi yanbai felt a slight unease rising in his heart and instinctively wanted to clarify things further.


    but before he could speak, a hand suddenly reached over from the side and grabbed his hand without hesitation, vigorously shaking it up and down.


    ¡°oh, teacher qi! i¡¯ve been looking for you!¡± a middle-aged man dressed casually enthusiastically pulled qi yanbai and inserted himself in front of lu ye without any reservations. he eagerly said, ¡°i¡¯ve been asking at the front desk for a long time, but finally found you. i heard that your class is already full this year? not to brag, but my son has exceptional talent. would you consider opening up a spot for him?¡±


    qi yanbai, who was usually a responsible teacher, although in a hurry, didn¡¯t turn away parents with a cold face. he managed to respond with a forced smile and a couple of polite words. he was just about to turn back and talk to lu ye when he realized that lu ye had already taken lu mingming away, he didn¡¯t know when.


    during the after-school hours, training institutions were as chaotic as a vegetable market. lu ye slipped away like an eel, mingling in the crowd, and silently left the small courtyard.


    lu mingming didn¡¯t understand why he left in such a hurry. she was about to express her dissatisfaction that she didn¡¯t have a chance to talk more with teacher qi. suddenly, she felt a familiar presence in her peripheral vision.


    ¡°uncle!¡± lu mingming looked over, excitedly pointing to the intersection. ¡°it seems like my mom is here.¡±


    lu ye followed her gaze and indeed saw a familiar car at the intersection. so, he chuckled and, carrying the child, walked to the side of the car, tapping the car window with his knuckles.


    the car window was quickly rolled down, revealing lu wenyu¡¯s face in the driver¡¯s seat.


    ¡°why did you come today?¡± lu ye asked with a smile.


    ¡°just passing by.¡± lu wenyu took off her sunglasses, glanced at the direction lu ye had come from, and teased, ¡°did you two make up?¡±


    ¡°half and half.¡± lu ye leaned against the car, raised an eyebrow at her, and for some reason, remembered something. he pursed his lips, chuckled lightly. ¡±we are close to being on the same page, there¡¯s just one thing i need to do.¡±


    lu wenyu could tell from his behavior that the two of them weren¡¯t breaking up anytime soon. seeing this, she breathed a sigh of relief and quipped, ¡°then take your time refining it. but remember fishing for confessions is against the rules, you know?¡±


    ¡°i know.¡± lu ye chuckled and said, ¡°i have a plan.¡±


    ¡°good then.¡± lu wenyu didn¡¯t ask further and simply gestured, ¡°heading home? want me to give you a ride?¡±


    ¡°no, thanks.¡± lu ye declined. ¡°i¡¯m going to the sub-bureau. i have some work to do this afternoon.¡±

 CH 72

    on the way back to the sub-bureau, lu ye leisurely bought a box of new hongtashan cigarettes and then took out his phone from his pocket, pressing the power-off button again.


    after returning last night, lu ye thought for a long time and felt that he shouldn¡¯t continue to muddle through with qi yanbai like this. although qi yanbai¡¯s ¡°conditions¡± were generous and tempting, lu ye believed that he didn¡¯t have a fondness for watching his loved one grovel and play the submissive role. instead of both of them disguising their true feelings, it would be better to be straightforward and clear things up sooner.


    however, given qi yanbai¡¯s suspicious nature, even if lu ye told him face-to-face, ¡°i no longer care about the things you did and can accept your dark side,¡± qi yanbai probably wouldn¡¯t believe it. he would likely feign just the right amount of surprise and continue to tread carefully, playing the role of the ¡°perfect lover¡± while occasionally testing the boundaries like a young cat, probing lu ye¡¯s limits.


    although lu ye wasn¡¯t afraid of qi yanbai¡¯s tricks, he also didn¡¯t want their future love life to be consumed by mind games and guessing each other¡¯s intentions. so, after tossing and turning all night, he finally decided to take a more aggressive approach at the right opportunity, forcing qi yanbai to reach his breaking point.


    however, rushing things could also mess things up, so lu ye decided to tease qi yanbai a bit first and gradually administer the ¡°vaccine.¡±


    after turning off his phone, the gps signal was also cut off. lu ye removed the sim card from his phone and inserted it into a spare one. then, he called for a taxi and headed to the sub-bureau.


    the sub-bureau was quiet on the weekend, with only a few young men and women who had just finished mediation walking out of the lobby. lu ye bypassed the crowd and was about to go upstairs when someone called him from behind.


    ¡°officer lu.¡±


    the voice that called him was a very pleasant young woman¡¯s voice, with a hint of familiarity.


    lu ye couldn¡¯t recall ever hearing this voice before and turned around in surprise, only to find a delicately featured woman sitting in the corner of the waiting room.


    this woman had exquisite makeup and a striking beauty. she had a well-proportioned figure and was wearing a red dress that showed her figure. her snow-white ankle peeked out from under the hem of her dress, revealing intricate and beautiful tattoos.


    seeing lu ye turn around, the woman raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled. she casually picked up a coat that was lying nearby, stood up gracefully, and walked towards lu ye.


    while she had appeared composed while sitting, as she moved, her enchanting aura seemed to come to life in an instant. every gesture she made exuded an effortless and seductive charm.


    this woman¡¯s aura was extraordinary, and her looks were stunning. lu ye was sure he had never seen her before, so he took a cautious step back, creating some distance between them.


    ¡°hello,¡± lu ye said professionally. ¡°may i ask what brings you here? are you here to report a case?¡±


    ¡°a case?¡± the woman blinked her eyes slightly and said with a smile, her tone tinged with a hint of familiarity, ¡°no, i¡¯m here specifically to see you, officer.¡±


    she shrugged and continued, ¡°i was a bit worried that it might not be working hours in the country on the weekend, but fortunately, i ran into you. it seems i¡¯m lucky.¡±


    the woman¡¯s eye makeup was skillfully done, accentuating her facial features. as lu ye looked at the slightly coquettish curve at the corner of her eyes, he suddenly felt that her smile resembled someone.


    ¡°looking for me?¡± lu ye asked in response. ¡°i don¡¯t think i know you.¡±


    ¡°ah, my mistake.¡± the woman widened her eyes slightly and seemed to have an epiphany. she smiled and said, ¡°i forgot to introduce myself. i¡¯m ashley, qi yanbai¡¯s mother.¡±


    lu ye: ¡­


    the faint sense of familiarity finally found an answer, and lu ye looked at ashley in shock, momentarily at a loss for words.


    when qi yanbai had mentioned his parents, he had only said a few vague words about his ¡°mother.¡± lu ye knew that she was a carefree woman who didn¡¯t pay much attention to qi yanbai, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to¡­ look so young.


    furthermore, she seemed completely different from qi yanbai. qi yanbai appeared gentle and refined, even if he had a mischievous side, it was carefully concealed. in contrast, the woman in front of him exuded a wild and confident aura, almost permeating her every breath. she was the opposite of qi yanbai in every way.


    initially, he had no favorable impression of her due to his preconceived notions about qi yanbai¡¯s family, and her appearance didn¡¯t do much to change that impression. however, out of respect for her status, he reluctantly put on a polite demeanor.


    but facing this woman¡¯s face, it was difficult for him to address her as ¡°aunt.¡± fortunately, ashley quickly sensed his discomfort, ran her fingers through her hair, and smiled, offering him a way out.


    ¡°just call me by my name,¡± ashley said. ¡°that¡¯s what yanbai calls me too.¡±


    ¡°alright,¡± lu ye breathed a sigh of relief but didn¡¯t immediately use her name. instead, he changed the topic and asked, ¡°i¡¯m not sure why you¡¯ve come to see me. if you¡¯re looking for qi yanbai, i can give you his address right now.¡±


    ¡°no need. i haven¡¯t told him i¡¯m here,¡± ashley squinted her eyes slightly and said with a smile, ¡°i came specifically to see you. officer lu, do you have some time to go out with me and have a private chat somewhere quiet?¡±


    perhaps it was his instinctive resistance to qi yanbai¡¯s unusual family or perhaps it was because ashley herself appeared quite dangerous, but lu ye instinctively wanted to decline this invitation.


    ¡°i¡¯m sorry,¡± lu ye said, ¡°i still have some work to finish. if there¡¯s anything you¡¯d like to discuss, we can do it here.¡±


    ¡°in that case, forget it,¡± ashley said regretfully, shrugging her shoulders. surprisingly, she didn¡¯t insist and instead opened her hand, smiling. ¡°it seems like we were not meant to meet.¡±


    just as they were talking, li zhiwen had just finished lunch and returned from outside. when he entered and saw lu ye standing in the lobby, he couldn¡¯t help but call out to him.


    ¡°why are you still here instead of going upstairs?¡± li zhiwen¡¯s gaze swept over ashley standing nearby, and he asked in confusion, ¡°are you on duty?¡±


    ¡°hello, officer,¡± ashley turned around before lu ye could respond and smiled. ¡°i wanted to ask officer lu about something, but it seems like bad timing since he¡¯s still working.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s sexual orientation was widely known in the public security division, so even after seeing ashley¡¯s face, li zhiwen didn¡¯t jump to any conclusions. hearing ashley¡¯s words, he turned to lu ye and asked in puzzlement, ¡°a civilian has something to discuss with you? then go ahead. you only have the report left to finish, and that¡¯s not due until tuesday.¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t get a chance to refuse, as his boss had intervened. after a moment of hesitation, he glanced at ashley, who was standing nearby.


    honestly, lu ye didn¡¯t want to get involved with qi¡¯s family, but at the same time, he was curious why qi yanbai¡¯s mother had come all the way from abroad just to see him.


    if it were normal parents and they heard their child was in a relationship, especially with another man, it would be normal for them to be concerned. however, considering the qi family¡¯s hands-off parenting style, lu ye found it hard to believe that they would come all the way to ¡°check on¡± their son.


    ashley sensed his dilemma but didn¡¯t rush him. she simply changed her posture lazily, shifting her weight from her numb right foot to her left.


    ¡°alright,¡± after a few seconds, lu ye seemed to have finally made a decision. he nodded to li zhiwen and then gestured to ashley, saying, ¡°let¡¯s step out and talk.¡±


    ashley had made ample preparations to meet lu ye. she had reserved a private room in an upscale teahouse near the police station and pre-ordered their special full-course tea service.


    delicate pastries filled the small table, and a qipao-clad waitress efficiently prepared the first pot of tea before leaving a service bell on the table. she silently exited the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.


    as the door closed, ashley withdrew her gaze from the window and got straight to the point. ¡°actually, i didn¡¯t have any other intentions in coming here, officer lu. i just wanted to meet you.¡±


    ¡°meet me?¡± lu ye smiled and responded with a hint of humor. ¡°i¡¯m not exactly a celebrity. i don¡¯t think it¡¯s worth the overseas airfare.¡±


    ¡°to be honest, i wanted to see what kind of person could captivate little yanbai to the point of obsession,¡± ashley said matter-of-factly. ¡°and also because elvis, that boy, called me a few days ago.¡± she must have sensed lu ye¡¯s lack of enthusiasm, so she asked directly, ¡°he said that you and yanbai broke up?¡±


    lu ye¡¯s eyebrows twitched, thinking to himself that this was unexpected. she had actually come all this way for qi yanbai¡¯s love life.


    it all sounded too absurd. lu ye even briefly considered whether she was sort of sent by qi yanbai. however, he quickly dismissed that thought. given qi yanbai¡¯s relationship with his parents, even if he had mustered the courage to seek help, they wouldn¡¯t necessarily come to his aid so wholeheartedly.


    something about this situation didn¡¯t add up, and lu ye couldn¡¯t quite figure out ashley¡¯s intentions. so, he responded cautiously with a non-committal sound, not providing a direct answer.


    ¡°i know you¡¯re wary of me¡ªperhaps because you have a negative impression of me, or maybe because yanbai has done a lot of things that crossed the line with you,¡± ashley said. ¡°but¡ª¡±


    ¡°how do you know that he did things that crossed the line with me?¡± lu ye interrupted.


    ¡°because i know him,¡± ashley replied without minding the interruption. she continued in a subdued tone, ¡°i know what kind of person he is.¡±


    ashley paused for a moment, then took a slender cigarette box from her coat and gestured toward lu ye. he shook his head to indicate that he didn¡¯t mind, so she extracted a long, slender lady¡¯s cigarette from the box and lit it using the small tea warmer that was already burning nearby.


    ¡°several months ago, i had a conversation with little yanbai,¡± ashley began. ¡°at that time, his father asked him to come home for an exhibition, but he refused. since that conversation, i knew that you two would eventually reach this day.¡±

 CH 73

    ever since the idea of developing a relationship with lu ye crossed qi yanbai¡¯s mind, ashley had cautioned him that it was fine to like lu ye but he must never fall in love with him.


    certainly, part of this caution stemmed from ashley¡¯s concern that qi yanbai might get hurt, but more importantly, it was because ashley knew her son too well.


    deep down, qi yanbai had an almost childlike obsession. when it came to something he truly liked, something he had and couldn¡¯t afford to lose, his determination was extraordinary. even if he were to lock the person in layer upon layer of safes, he would still want to hold those safes close to him every night, stroking the locked iron chains before falling asleep.


    however, objects could be touched at any time, but people couldn¡¯t. a human couldn¡¯t be with him all the time, and there would always be moments when they were out of his sight. when that time came, ashley, understanding qi yanbai as she did, could even guess what methods he would use to fill his own insecurities.


    if qi yanbai¡¯s target were an ordinary and mediocre person, they might be deceived by his performance and unknowingly continue the relationship. however, he had chosen a perceptive and determined police officer, and this was nothing short of a predictable disaster.


    ¡°i know him too well,¡± ashley lazily reclined in her chair, exhaled a smoke ring, and smiled. ¡°if he only likes you, he would definitely be the best lover in the world¡ªgentle, considerate, not only observing your habits but also intentionally trying to understand your interests.¡±


    that was true, lu ye thought objectively. qi yanbai¡¯s ability to read people was indeed outstanding. he could make anyone he interacted with feel comfortable if he wanted to.


    ¡°but once he falls in love with you, things change,¡± ashley said. ¡°his bad habits will come rushing out¡ªsuch as being suspicious, possessive, wanting to have you all to himself but not wanting you out of his sight.¡±


    the scent of tobacco mixed with citrus wafted through the air as ashley spoke. her long and beautiful eyes were hidden behind a thin veil of smoke, giving her a mysterious and unreadable aura.


    ¡°to be honest, i know he¡¯s not right like this, and i know no one can endure such suspicion,¡± ashley said. she flicked off some ash with her slender nails, shrugged, and continued, ¡°so when i found out he was in love with you, i decided to come personally and remind him of this issue.¡±


    ashley intentionally emphasized the word ¡°remind,¡± giving it a meaningful tone.


    ¡°but unfortunately, i was on vacation in saipan for the past few months, so i didn¡¯t have the opportunity to talk to him,¡± ashley chuckled, speaking casually. ¡°by the time i remembered, it seemed like it was too late.¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t say anything but looked at her with a subtle expression.


    after many years in the police force, lu ye had encountered countless people. while he might not have the skills of a detective, he had honed the ability to read people to some extent.


    however, the woman in front of him made him feel a kind of unpredictability that he hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time.


    if she cared about qi yanbai, why didn¡¯t she prioritize this matter over her vacation? even if she was immediately informed by elvis and had to make a decision, she should have packed her bags and bought a plane ticket right away to be sitting here before him now.


    normally, a person¡¯s character and attitude could be discerned from their behavior logic, but ashley¡¯s behavior logic was inconsistent. with contradictions, which made it difficult for lu ye to understand her motivation behind this ¡°plastic motherly¡± act.


    ¡°it¡¯s indeed too late,¡± lu ye said calmly. ¡°he has already done what he needed to do.¡±


    as he spoke, lu ye touched his coat and took out his phone, which was already turned off. he pushed it across the table toward her.


    ¡°the gps tracking app he installed is still on here. if you¡¯re curious, you can turn it on now. maybe you¡¯ll see him appear downstairs in a little while.¡±


    ¡°i know you¡¯re angry, mr. lu,¡± ashley heard the subtle resentment in lu ye¡¯s words. she curved her lips, trying to reassure him with a smile, and didn¡¯t touch the phone. instead, she placed the brewed tea on a tray and pushed it towards him.


    ¡°but don¡¯t blame him entirely,¡± ashley admitted candidly. she just stated it as a matter of fact, ¡°he¡¯s my son, and as a parent i am partly to blame.¡±


    she had never called qi yanbai ¡°my son¡± before, but at this moment, facing a seemingly unrelated ¡°outsider,¡± she uttered those words.


    while saying this, her extremely enchanting aura faded a bit, revealing a hint of maternal protectiveness underneath.


    ¡°he indeed doesn¡¯t know what love is and how to properly like someone, but it¡¯s not his fault,¡± ashley said. ¡°the qi family is not a place a good child can survive. if he doesn¡¯t understands these things, he won¡¯t receive the emotional nurturing he deserves, and he will only wither away even more than now. so i don¡¯t want to see him hurting in the end.¡±


    ¡°is this your well-intentioned effort?¡± lu ye asked with a hint of ambiguity.


    ¡°in part,¡± ashley admitted openly. ¡°in reality, i¡¯m used to being free. even if i have a child, i don¡¯t want to spend the rest of my life just being yanbai¡¯s mother. life is only a few decades long, and i don¡¯t want to waste all my time and energy on another person. so, maintaining this independent way of interacting is good for both me and yanbai.¡±


    ¡°we don¡¯t have predetermined expectations of each other, so there are no demands either. it¡¯s mutually beneficial, a win-win situation for both of us,¡± ashley said with a smile. ¡°i know this may seem irresponsible in your eyes, but at least we haven¡¯t argued in all these years.¡±


    lu ye had nothing to say.


    he finally understood where qi yanbai¡¯s awkwardness came from¡ªso, in this family, not only were they not on the same page, but also qi zhe, who had a passion for art, didn¡¯t care about the family at all and ashley wanted her freedom and refused to take responsibility. it seemed like all the egotists in the world had gathered under the qi family¡¯s roof. in their way of thinking, there was no room for compromise or middle ground.


    lu ye couldn¡¯t agree with ashley¡¯s parenting methods, but he also couldn¡¯t stand on a moral high ground to criticize her. after all, they were the ones living in ¡°that world.¡± as an ordinary working-class person, he couldn¡¯t dictate how the children of a wealthy family should be raised.


    lu ye knew he might have fallen into ashley¡¯s trap, but at this moment, he couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for qi yanbai.


    qi yanbai wasn¡¯t an irredeemable person. he made mistakes, but he also knew when he was wrong. sometimes, he acted like a child who couldn¡¯t delay gratification, knowing that he could have a perfect outcome if he just waited, but he couldn¡¯t resist picking up the first cotton candy.


    however, in the qi family, if qi yanbai didn¡¯t grab the cotton candy immediately, he might not even have a chance to grab one.


    lu ye didn¡¯t want to judge ashley¡¯s parenting style, and he felt it was futile to discuss this topic with her. so, he changed the subject and said, ¡°your relationship doesn¡¯t seem to be good.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s true, but i occasionally have moments of conscience,¡± ashley didn¡¯t deny this statement and instead took it as a compliment. she tilted her head and said, ¡°so, i wanted to meet you, mr. lu.¡±


    the topic seemed to have come full circle, but this time, ashley didn¡¯t beat around the bush.


    ¡°yanbai is my biological son, and although i don¡¯t want to let him affect my life, it doesn¡¯t mean i have no feelings for him,¡± ashley admitted openly. she tapped her nails against the table, speaking candidly, ¡°i¡¯ve always known what defects he has in his personality and what shortcomings are in his character. i¡¯ve also thought that perhaps someday there would be someone who could teach him to overcome these issues. now that i¡¯ve met you, i can finally be at ease.¡±


    ¡°but we¡¯ve already ¡®broken up,''¡± lu ye replied, using her own words back at her.


    ¡°perhaps,¡± ashley smiled and casually replied, ¡°but didn¡¯t you already decide to save him? otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have come out to meet me.¡±


    lu ye:


    when he met ashley, he had figured out that elvis, the single-minded foreigner, probably didn¡¯t understand his intentions. afraid that lu ye might break up with qi yanbai and he would return back home to compete for favor, elvis didn¡¯t hesitate to contact ashley to get her help.


    because lu ye also wanted to see what qi yanbai¡¯s mother, who had always been ¡°free-range parenting¡± qi yanbai, was here to do,, lu ye had never explained his relationship with qi yanbai or clarified the misunderstanding about ¡°breaking up.¡±


    even so, in this short fifteen minutes or so, ashley still saw through him so incisively.


    this was an incredibly capable woman, lu ye thought. she was a ¡°mother,¡± but she didn¡¯t become blindly devoted just because qi yanbai was in trouble. at the same time, she possessed keen intuition and excellent communication skills. compared to that, qi yanbai seemed like a child.


    lu ye silently exchanged a glance with ashley. after just a few seconds of confrontation, he suddenly curved his eyes and smiled.


    ¡°he¡¯s nothing like you,¡± dealing with intelligent people, excessive caution would only make him look like a fool. lu ye didn¡¯t want to be a fool, so he straightforwardly said, ¡°but that¡¯s good; otherwise, i¡¯d probably break up with him for real.¡±


    ashley smiled in response and accepted this statement as a compliment. ¡°thank you,¡± ashley said. ¡°mr. lu, it¡¯s clear that you are a very nice person. but i¡¯d like to ask one more question. how do you plan to deal with him?¡±


    ¡°do you care about that?¡± lu ye asked in return.


    ¡°it¡¯s not that i care,¡± ashley arched her eyes lazily, and her mysterious demeanor returned. ¡°i just wanted to remind you that if you want to see a permanent change for the better in him, it¡¯s best not to give him a chance to catch his breath. a surefire hit is the most reliable approach.¡±


    lu ye remained silent.


    it was clear to anyone with discernment what qi yanbai¡¯s issues were, and lu ye wasn¡¯t surprised that ashley could guess his thoughts. however, what surprised him was the tone of excitement he detected in ashley¡¯s voice when she spoke those words.


    if it weren¡¯t for ashley¡¯s undeniable resemblance to qi yanbai, lu ye would have almost suspected she wasn¡¯t his real mother.


    ¡°of course, if you push him too hard, there¡¯s no telling what he might do,¡± ashley added with a clap of her hands, smiling brightly at lu ye. ¡°officer lu, are you really sure you can handle it?¡±


    now lu ye understood; ashley had been waiting to test him.


    how to deal with qi yanbai and what their future together would be like, lu ye believed he didn¡¯t need to report to anyone. still, because ashley held the title of ¡°mother,¡± lu ye thought for a moment and decided to be straightforward.


    ¡°i know what he might do,¡± lu ye said. ¡°that little madman might act stubborn, throw tantrums, or even try to kidnap me and chain me to the wall with an iron chain.¡±


    it was clear that lu ye had imagined this scenario many times before. he mentioned these possibilities without any caution in his tone, even with a hint of amusement.


    ¡°but that¡¯s about it,¡± lu ye continued. ¡°he¡¯s not fundamentally bad, and there¡¯s nothing worse than what i¡¯ve described.¡±


    having served in the police force for so many years, lu ye had encountered too many criminals, so he had a keen eye for this. qi yanbai¡¯s character had an abundance of quirks and eccentricities, but not enough violence. lu ye was confident that even if he pushed qi yanbai to his limits, there was only so far he would go.


    ashley had anticipated that lu ye¡¯s attitude would soften, but she hadn¡¯t expected his bottom line to be this low. she was momentarily taken aback, and the prepared lines choked in her throat, left unsaid.


    ¡°there¡¯s something i told that one-track-minded druggie elvis before, but he didn¡¯t understand it. so, i¡¯ll say it again now,¡± lu ye said, not caring about her reaction. he spoke calmly, ¡°whether yanbai takes a soft or hard approach, whether he nails iron bars to my doorstep, i know how to handle it. i know how to control him and keep him from going too far.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s words might have sounded a bit self-assured, but ashley watched him, feeling strangely convinced.


    no wonder qi yanbai was so infatuated with him, ashley thought. he had made it clear that he was willing to take on everything, the good and the bad. he was willing to bear this responsibility all by himself. even ashley herself felt a momentary touch of emotion.


    ¡°if this puts your mind at ease, then i¡¯m honored,¡± lu ye finally grasped a glimpse of ashley¡¯s true self and softened his tone for the first time since they had met. ¡°by the way, should i inform yanbai that you¡¯ve visited?¡±


    ¡°no need for that,¡± ashley raised an eyebrow, nonchalantly tossing her loose hair and smiling as she said, ¡°don¡¯t misunderstand, officer lu. i have no intention of developing a deep mother-son relationship with xiao yanbai. i¡¯m well aware that i can¡¯t provide him with conventional maternal love. if that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s better not to give him any expectations at all.¡±

 CH 74

    although lu ye disagreed with ashley¡¯s parenting approach, he had to admit one thing¡ªwhat she said was right. the sooner he resolved things with qi yanbai, the better. it¡¯s better to endure short-term pain than long-term agony. if they waited too long, it would give qi yanbai an opportunity to slip through the cracks. by then, their relationship pattern would have been reestablished, and breaking it again would seem too deliberate.


    unfortunately, wealthy housewives didn¡¯t understand the daily lives of working-class people. with lu ye¡¯s demanding work schedule, which practically had him working eight days a week, finding time to deal with relationship issues required perfect timing and a stroke of luck.


    fortunately, fate was somewhat kind, and not long after, lu ye found that opportunity.


    on white day, the new city district organized a chain carnival with exhibitions, food, and cultural performances centered around the largest shopping mall in the new district. it spanned half a street.


    large-scale events like this often came with unexpected incidents. on that day, lu ye happened to be on patrol when he encountered a mischievous child. the child had climbed onto a temporary steel structure inside the event area while the adults weren¡¯t paying attention, attempting to reach for the star-shaped lights hanging above.


    in reality, the structure wasn¡¯t very high, just around ten meters. at most, it looked intimidating, but even if someone fell from it, it would result in a broken limb at worst, not life-threatening.


    however, the child, being young and probably terrified of heights, climbed up without any issues but froze when trying to come down. he clung to the steel frame, screaming for his mother and yelling for help.


    the steel structure was not meant to bear weight and soon started swaying dangerously.


    the child panicked and, upon seeing his parents rushing over,  he instinctively let go of the steel frame, intending to jump down. unfortunately, he chose a poor landing spot ¨C right behind the open-air children¡¯s playground, where a group of kids had yet to evacuate. if he fell there, the consequences would be disastrous.


    lu ye happened to be the closest at the time and nearly had a heart attack witnessing the scene. without thinking, he reacted instinctively, and managed to grab the child¡¯s waist and prevent a direct fall.


    the boy fell from a height of ten meters like a human bomb. lu ye managed to grab him and pull him into his arms, however, the sudden impact resulted in a loud, teeth-clenching crack, and lu ye instantly felt a sharp pain coursing through his entire arm.


    the child, seemingly traumatized, lay limply in lu ye¡¯s arms, crying quietly. nearby parents rushed over, alternating between scolding their child and profusely thanking lu ye.


    ¡°sorry, officer,¡± the boy¡¯s father apologized with a worried expression. ¡°we didn¡¯t watch our child properly. are you okay?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s okay, no need to apologize, as long as he¡¯s okay,¡± lu ye replied courteously. he grimaced as he cradled his arm, and with some effort, managed to say, ¡°it¡¯s just a minor injury. it¡¯s not broken; i¡¯ll just need a splint.¡±


    luckily, or perhaps ironically, a few days earlier, the city had introduced an internship reform. lu ye¡¯s station had recently welcomed three or four interns, so they were not short-staffed.


    thanks to this influx of interns, lu ye unexpectedly had the chance to take some time off. when he received the diagnosis of a fractured arm and shared it with li zhiwen, li zhiwen promptly approved his medical leave for up to ten days, with the possibility of extending it to two weeks if the injury was serious.


    lu ye had been thinking about taking leave recently, and now, this unexpected turn of events made him quite cheerful. even the pain in his fractured arm seemed to have lessened.


    indeed, when there¡¯s a will, there¡¯s a way, lu ye thought. the wisdom of our ancestors still holds true.


    he was in a good mood, and even the medical examination couldn¡¯t dampen his spirits. when lu wenyu heard about the incident and hurried to the hospital, she found lu ye sitting alone outside the treatment room, looking far from disheveled. in fact, he seemed quite happy.


    lu wenyu: ¡°¡­¡±


    what did he get hit on the head with? lu wenyu wondered, perhaps he hit his head and hurt his brain.


    as she was wondering, lu mingming, who had managed to break free from the babysitter¡¯s grasp, darted over like a missile. she grabbed onto lu ye¡¯s thigh, her face filled with worry.


    ¡°uncle, are you okay?¡± lu mingming asked anxiously.


    lu ye had been lost in thought moments ago, but her voice snapped him out of it. he looked at her in surprise and then glanced up at lu wenyu, who was approaching. with a smile, he said, ¡°sis? what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°when the incident happened at the carnival, i was with mingming. we were shopping, and your colleagues told me you were at the hospital,¡± lu wenyu explained, furrowing her brow. she carefully rolled up lu ye¡¯s sleeve to get a look at his arm, scolding him, ¡°you¡¯re all grown up, yet you didn¡¯t even say a word when you got injured.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s a minor injury, nothing serious,¡± lu ye replied. ¡°it¡¯s not broken; i just need a splint.¡±


    as they spoke, the treatment room¡¯s number was called out, and lu ye was summoned. lu wenyu took the opportunity to snatch the bill from lu ye¡¯s hand and helped him up.


    nearly an hour had passed since the incident, and lu ye¡¯s forearm was already bruised with shades of blue and purple. lu mingming, clinging to him, continued to tremble in fear. her eyes welled up with tears as she drew in a shaky breath.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± lu ye offered his arm to the doctor, laughing softly at lu mingming. ¡°this is my arm, not yours. why are you crying?¡±


    clearly, children had a stronger sense of empathy than adults. without asking lu ye whether he was in pain, lu mingming just furrowed her little brow, gazing up at him. after a moment, she let out a sigh, sounding just like a little adult, ¡°uncle, i think your job is too dangerous. you have to work overtime and fight with bad guys all the time.¡±


    lu ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    lu ye was at a loss for words. he had no idea what thoughts had run through lu mingming¡¯s little head in just a few minutes. he had intended to explain to her that he hadn¡¯t been fighting bad guys when he got hurt, but in that moment, as he lowered his head, something clicked in his mind.


    lu mingming¡¯s beautiful eyes shimmered with moisture. lu ye lowered his gaze and met her eyes, and the words he was about to say took an unexpected turn.


    ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± lu ye gently patted her head and said with a smile, ¡°uncle will soon be changing his job.¡±


    both lu mingming and lu wenyu simultaneously exclaimed with surprise, but lu mingming was the first to voice her question, ¡°what do you mean, uncle? you¡¯re not going to be a policeman anymore?¡±


    ¡°yeah,¡± lu ye said, his lips curving with a hint of a smile as he spoke earnestly, ¡°this job is too dangerous. so, i applied for a transfer and will be working in logistics in another city in a little while.¡±


    the term ¡°transfer¡± was not clear to lu mingming, but she understood the latter part of the sentence. she widened her eyes suddenly, feeling like the sky had fallen. ¡°you¡¯re leaving?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± lu ye pursed his lips, trying to hide his smile, and said seriously, ¡°i thought it was time for me to experience life in a different city.¡±


    lu mingming hadn¡¯t expected that her beloved uncle would be leaving again just a year after returning. she was suddenly struck with a sense of devastation and blurted out, ¡°why¡­ why do you have to go? can¡¯t you stay?¡±


    ¡°no,¡± lu ye said seriously, ¡°i need to earn a living. if i don¡¯t work, i¡¯ll end up homeless.¡±


    these words sounded a bit fabricated, meant to comfort lu mingming, but clearly, they didn¡¯t escape lu wenyu¡¯s scrutiny. hearing this, she raised an eyebrow and couldn¡¯t help but interrupt lu ye¡¯s nonsense. she reached out and gently lifted lu mingming off lu ye¡¯s leg.


    ¡°auntie, could you please take mingming to the vending machine at the door and buy her a bottle of water?¡± lu wenyu called out to the nanny, ¡°i need to talk to my brother for a moment.¡±


    the nanny had worked in lu wenyu¡¯s house for many years and was quite perceptive. upon hearing this, she quickly came over, coaxing and persuading the protesting lu mingming and eventually managed to lead her out of the treatment room.


    ¡°let¡¯s end the teasing now, why lie to the child?¡± lu wenyu said when lu mingming had been led away, looking helpless. ¡°what if she takes it seriously?¡±


    she reminded him, ¡°tomorrow is the art class, aren¡¯t you afraid she¡¯ll go and say something to teacher qi?¡±


    ¡°that would be perfect,¡± lu ye chuckled, saying, ¡°i was actually worried she wouldn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°what do you mean?¡± lu wenyu became increasingly puzzled. she wondered, ¡°what¡¯s going on with you? you¡¯ve already decided to reconcile with him, so why put on this act?¡±


    lately, as his attitude had slowly started to warm up, qi yanbai had begun to take liberties, becoming increasingly conceited. so, in order to ensure that he and qi yanbai could have an open and honest reconciliation in the future, lu ye felt it was time to stir things up a bit.


    but obviously, he couldn¡¯t tell lu wenyu about his considerations, so he just smiled and casually came up with an excuse.


    ¡°it¡¯s nothing,¡± lu ye smiled and said nonchalantly, ¡°after all, he deceived me once, so i¡¯m just evening the score.¡±

 CH 75

    children always tend to like younger adults who have some life experience but aren¡¯t as strict as their parents, and lu mingming was no exception.


    the news that lu ye was about to leave his hometown again had a profound impact on young mingming¡¯s innocent heart. the thought that in the future, during festivals and holidays, there would be no one to build houses with her or play with building blocks made her feel that life had lost its luster. even her favorite custard buns didn¡¯t taste as good anymore.


    her low spirits persisted from the evening into the next day¡¯s class. while other kids had already finished listening to the key points and started sketching, she remained motionless behind her blank drawing board, idly tapping her pencil and sighing.


    perhaps due to his connection with lu mingming, qi yanbai had developed a habit of paying extra attention to her. noticing her unusual behavior, he put aside his teaching materials and stepped down from the platform, crouching beside her and gently touching her shoulder.


    ¡°mingming?¡± qi yanbai lowered his voice and softly asked, ¡°what¡¯s wrong today? are you not happy, or is the class too boring?¡±


    to avoid disrupting the classroom discipline, qi yanbai spoke quietly, almost like a whispered conversation.


    he was always patient when dealing with children, and his gentle tone, combined with the soft rustling of pencils filling the room, made him seem especially tender. when mingming felt ignored by everyone and then received his care, her eyes instantly welled up with tears.


    ¡°teacher qi,¡± mingming twirled the pencil in her hand and said with a pout, ¡°my uncle said he¡¯s leaving in a few days, and he might not come back.¡±


    children¡¯s memories are easily confused. in fact, during the past few years when lu ye was working elsewhere due to job transfers, he would still come back for holidays. however, he usually couldn¡¯t stay for more than a few days. consequently, when mingming thought back to that time, she remembered scenes of meeting her uncle over video calls.


    qi yanbai initially assumed that mingming had been upset or had a disagreement with her classmates. however, her words suddenly hit him like a bolt from the blue, causing him to feel as though he¡¯d been struck by lightning. he stumbled for a moment and instinctively dropped to one knee beside her, barely managing to steady himself.


    the shock was so overwhelming that qi yanbai¡¯s mind went blank, and it seemed as though his emotions and thoughts had collectively abandoned his body. he stared at mingming, seemingly unable to understand what she was saying, his heart beating irregularly, causing his hands and feet to go weak, and his fingertips to turn ice-cold.


    ¡°leaving¡­?¡± qi yanbai struggled to control his trembling voice, ¡°where is he going?¡±


    ¡°i don¡¯t know,¡± mingming honestly replied, ¡°he won¡¯t be working here anymore and said he¡¯s going to another city.¡±


    mingming suddenly remembered something and urgently grasped qi yanbai¡¯s sleeve, asking, ¡°by the way, teacher qi, are you also leaving with him? will i still be able to see both of you in the future?¡±


    she was anxious and had exerted herself a bit too much. qi yanbai was caught off guard and almost fell over from her sudden tug. he swayed for a moment before finally breaking free from the paralyzing shock he¡¯d experienced earlier. gasping for breath, he managed to regain control of his emotions.


    qi yanbai was unable to make sense of his own feelings, but he felt an inexplicable surge of anger in this moment. he couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint what he was angry about, only that the possessiveness and anxiety he had suppressed during this time had suddenly resurfaced. it overwhelmed him to the point where he could barely focus.


    however, qi yanbai had not completely lost his rationality. perhaps he didn¡¯t want to accept this situation, so his subconscious mind sought another reason to avoid facing it. he told himself that maybe mingming had misunderstood, and lu ye was simply going on a business trip.


    ¡°teacher qi?¡± mingming noticed that he hadn¡¯t spoken for a long time and gently prodded him. ¡°what¡¯s wrong? you don¡¯t look okay.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s nothing,¡± qi yanbai closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forced a smile. he said, ¡°i don¡¯t know about this yet. i¡¯ll ask him about it tonight, okay?¡±


    ¡°okay.¡± mingming was a very obedient child. she nodded, but she still hoped that teacher qi could persuade her uncle to stay. she tugged on his sleeve and whispered, ¡°please talk to him nicely, teacher qi.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s voice softened as he reassured her, ¡°i will.¡±


    qi yanbai gave his assurance, but he had no idea how to handle the situation. he completed his class in a daze, saw off the children, and then walked back to his office with unsteady steps.


    lu ye hadn¡¯t come to pick up the child that day. instead, auntie from lu wenyu¡¯s house came to pick mingming after school. qi yanbai indirectly asked her about lu ye¡¯s whereabouts, but she couldn¡¯t provide any clear information. however, she mentioned that lu wenyu had reserved a private room at a hotel for a few days from now, apparently planning to treat someone to a meal. the exact details were unknown and might require direct confirmation from lu ye.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t get a definitive answer from the lu family, and his anxiety only grew. he wandered around his office for a while, then couldn¡¯t resist taking out his phone and calling lu ye¡¯s office.


    it was during work hours, so someone quickly answered the phone¡ªa young woman¡¯s voice greeted him with a casual ¡°hello¡± and asked, ¡°who is this?¡±


    ¡°is this yao xing?¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°i¡¯m looking for lu ye. can you please call him for me?¡±


    ¡°lu ye?¡±


    the phone¡¯s receiver had previously been splashed with water, and the sound quality was terrible. yao xing¡¯s voice sounded somewhat distorted, as if muffled by fog. it was hard to discern her emotions.


    ¡°he¡¯s not here today,¡± yao xing replied confused. ¡°he¡¯s been away since yesterday.¡±


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°when will he be back?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m not sure,¡± yao xing¡¯s tone was awkward. ¡°it depends on the situation. but, teacher qi, do you have something urgent to discuss with him?¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s relationship with lu ye was known to everyone at the public security bureau. yao xing realized what might be going on and, with some apprehension, cleared her throat. she tentatively asked, ¡°if it¡¯s urgent, should i call him? his phone shouldn¡¯t be turned off; he just spoke with our captain.¡±


    ¡°¡­no no it¡¯s okay,¡± qi yanbai said hesitantly, his voice trembling slightly. ¡°i¡¯m sorry for bothering you.¡±


    after hanging up the phone, qi yanbai sat down at his desk, his hand gripping the edge of the table. he slowly lowered his head.


    in truth, he could have easily confirmed the situation by calling lu ye directly. however, qi yanbai had already made up his mind, and there was a glimmer of hope that, as long as lu ye didn¡¯t confirm it personally, there might still be room for a turnaround. it wouldn¡¯t be a definitive end.


    this self-deception continued until the end of the workday. when he returned home, qi yanbai noticed a moving truck parked downstairs, with the back door open, revealing several large pieces of furniture covered with dust-proof cloth inside. there was only one driver in the entire truck, leaning against the window and watching short videos on his smartphone.


    the noisy background sounds of the app echoed relentlessly, causing ear pain. qi yanbai frowned slightly, hastening his steps as he circled around the front of the truck and entered the lobby on the ground floor.


    qi yanbai got into the elevator and pressed the ninth floor button, thinking that maybe lu ye had returned early.


    this thought calmed his heart somewhat, dispelling the restlessness that had plagued him all afternoon. qi yanbai let out a long breath, thinking that as long as lu ye didn¡¯t avoid him, there would be hope for a resolution.


    he mentally rehearsed the scene of meeting lu ye later. however, when the elevator door opened, instead of seeing lu ye, he saw several middle-aged men in blue work uniforms at lu ye¡¯s door.


    the door to lu ye¡¯s home was wide open, and one man stood with one foot on the doormat, peering inside and occasionally uttering a few words in a dialect that qi yanbai couldn¡¯t understand, as if directing something.


    the trash can at the entrance had disappeared, replaced by a sealed cardboard box. qi yanbai glanced at the packing tape on the box and felt his heart tighten. he instinctively took a few steps forward, halting the group of men.


    ¡°what are you guys¡­¡± qi yanbai asked, ¡°what are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°we¡¯re from a moving company,¡± the man at the door turned around, revealing the company logo on his work uniform. he explained, ¡°the homeowner asked us to come and move their belongings.¡±


    ¡°move?¡± qi yanbai¡¯s mind raced, and he asked instinctively, ¡°when did this happen, and where¡¯s the homeowner?¡±


    his tone was subtly different, showing more concern than a typical neighbor. the moving worker, giving him a puzzled look, said, ¡°the homeowner¡­ i don¡¯t know. it was a woman who placed the order and gave us the door code to come and move their stuff.¡±


    a woman, could it be the landlady? qi yanbai wondered. but where was lu ye? had he already left, or did he not want to see him?


    the anxiety that qi yanbai had intentionally suppressed in the morning suddenly resurfaced. he took a deep breath and realized he was feeling an urge to destroy something for the first time.


    is this how you want to leave me? qi yanbai thought, am i not enough for you?


    he watched as strangers moved in and out of the room. suddenly, he remembered his favorite artwork when he was twelve years old. he had spent an entire month on that painting, but because he went downstairs for a glass of water, it was secretly set on fire by elvis, who had sneaked into the room.


    the empty rental house in front of him seemed to overlap with the studio he had when he was a child. qi yanbai took a step back, placed his hand on the wall, and felt as though lu ye had been split into two halves in his heart. one half had become his favorite painting, while the other half had turned into the fire that destroyed his work.


    that fire soared into the sky, and qi yanbai felt his sanity and emotions being torn apart by this chaotic cognition. he was torn between two conflicting desires. on one hand, he desperately wanted to keep lu ye, but on the other hand, he couldn¡¯t help but want to punish him.


    keep him, qi yanbai heard a voice suddenly pop into his head. to keep what you want, the best way is to lock it up and keep it within your reach, hidden from everyone else¡¯s discovery.


    ashley¡¯s words of advice from the past echoed in his mind like a seductive demon, tempting eve to eat the forbidden fruit. qi yanbai covered his ears with one hand, feeling that his rationality and emotions were being torn apart. one voice told him that he would lose what he wanted if he didn¡¯t act now, while the other reminded him that lu ye was someone who responded better to gentleness. if he acted forcefully, he might genuinely loose him.


    but what difference would it make? qi yanbai thought. he¡¯s leaving anyway, and he doesn¡¯t seem to care if i¡¯m hurt or not.


    however¡­


    however, if he did this, lu ye would be angry, qi yanbai thought.


    the moving workers had already finished moving the belongings and left at some point. in the empty corridor, qi yanbai stood alone, feeling a growing surge of anger, but he kept his eyes fixed on lu ye¡¯s closed door. just then, he realized that a new location had been added to the tracking app on his phone.

 CH 76

    the tracking location information wasn¡¯t far from where they lived, just a ten-minute taxi ride away, but it was quite remote, in a secluded area far from the new district¡¯s commercial area. lu ye had never been there before, and qi yanbai didn¡¯t know why he suddenly appeared there today.


    but at this moment, qi yanbai couldn¡¯t care less about these anomalies.


    this location information had become the last straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. qi yanbai¡¯s mind was a mess, and his body moved instinctively. he put his phone in his pocket, turned around, and pressed the elevator¡¯s down button.


    the location app could only show the location, but it couldn¡¯t tell where lu ye was exactly. qi yanbai followed the navigation to the destination and found himself in an underground bar street.


    neon lights in red and green flashed and blinked, hurting his eyes. the small street was full of young men and women flirting with each other. some staggered out of the bars, and within a few steps, they could dive into small hotels not far away.


    although qi¡¯s family was free-spirited, qi yanbai was a rare exception at home. he neither did drugs nor hung out at bars, and he felt uncomfortable in this environment. he even felt a bit resentful because lu ye appeared here, although faintly.


    the location app had just been updated a minute ago, and qi yanbai followed it to the destination. he looked up at the flashy neon signs above and took a deep breath. then he reached out and pushed open the glass door in front of him.


    as soon as he entered, the deafening music of the bar hit him like a tidal wave. the heavy metal drum beats and colorful flashing lights crazily stimulated qi yanbai¡¯s nerves. he walked inside with a furrowed brow, scanning the area. he didn¡¯t see lu ye but noticed a hot performance happening on a stage not far away.


    the atmosphere on the stage, which was half a step higher, was in high spirits. three handsome young men, dressed in white shirts soaked with alcohol, were dancing provocatively around a steel pole. qi yanbai only took a glance and then turned his gaze away as if scalded.


    there were hardly any women in the bar, but plenty of men. qi yanbai suddenly understood what kind of place this was, and his urgency to find lu ye intensified.


    lu ye was his treasure, and he didn¡¯t want anyone to see him¡ªespecially these people who might genuinely desire him.


    he pushed his way through the crowd, heading towards the bar¡¯s innermost part. the underground bar was dimly lit and had an irregular layout. qi yanbai walked past the performance area and the dance hall until he reached the deepest part of the bar, where he finally saw the person he was looking for by the bar counter.


    this was the bar¡¯s vip area, quieter than the howling front area. lu ye was sitting by the bar counter with his back to the entrance. one foot rested on the footrest of a high stool, and one leg slanted out lazily, lying on the dark brick floor.


    he had a slim waist, long legs, and a straight posture. today, he wore a slightly loose biker jacket that complemented the texture of the leather and metal. it gave him an almost wild and handsome appearance.


    qi yanbai only looked at his back for a moment but couldn¡¯t help his heart race intensifying. the mental preparations he had made seemed to be crumbling, and there was a risk of everything collapsing into despair at any moment.


    at this moment, all of his previous hesitations seemed to disappear in an instant. qi yanbai felt that overwhelming attraction, which when it appeared, could instantly ignite all his rationality and plunge him into an uncontrollable state.


    he couldn¡¯t let lu ye go; qi yanbai recognized this very clearly. otherwise, he would regret it for the rest of his life.


    lu ye seemed not to notice his gaze and was still talking to the bartender. qi yanbai didn¡¯t know what they were saying, but he saw lu ye suddenly chuckle, his eyes narrowing, and then he made a gesture to the bartender, indicating that he wanted a drink.


    ¡°long island cocktail,¡± lu ye said. ¡°make it quick.¡±


    ¡°drinking something so strong right away?¡± the bartender leaned on the bar, smiling as he spoke. ¡°is your tolerance really that good, or do you find it boring?¡±


    ¡°neither,¡± lu ye replied. he tapped his right hand on his knee, chin resting on his hand, and vaguely said, ¡°i¡¯m treating someone.¡±


    ¡°ah¡­¡± the bartender, having worked in a gay bar for two years, was seasoned in such matters. he understood immediately, dragged out his tone knowingly, and smiled mischievously. ¡°bad boy, i like that. but you¡¯ve already turned down several people. what is your type?¡±


    lu ye¡¯s appearance and demeanor were quite popular in the gay scene, and he was approached by people as soon as he walked in. however, he seemed genuinely determined to sit and wait, not touching a single drink or cigarette, just sitting at the bar and constantly checking his watch as if waiting for someone.


    ¡°my type?¡± lu ye chuckled at the question. ¡°how about you guess?¡±


    ¡°me guess?¡± the bartender noticed that lu ye¡¯s right hand was not functional, so he put down the glass he was holding and bent over the bar, leaning in as he made a gesture to light lu ye¡¯s cigarette. he spoke playfully, ¡°i guess¡­ you like someone spicy and wild, with a sense of conquest, right?¡±


    lu ye smiled at the suggestion but didn¡¯t answer the question. instead, he bit the cigarette between his teeth and lowered his head slightly, for the bartender to light it.


    but before he could ignite the cigarette, a hand suddenly reached behind him and pushed the bartender¡¯s hand away, causing the unlit cigarette to fall from lu ye¡¯s mouth.


    the hand was pale, long, and well-defined, with prominent knuckles and bulging veins on the back, clearly exerting force. the bartender winced in pain, taking a deep breath, and quickly withdrew his hand.


    ¡°what are you doing!¡± the bartender said in annoyance.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t respond to him. instead, he stood next to lu ye, his gaze focused and intense.


    ¡°lu ye,¡± qi yanbai said softly, ¡°why are you here? come on, let¡¯s go home.¡±


    lu ye, as if noticing him for the first time, retrieved another cigarette from his pocket, flipped open the lid with one hand, and put it in his mouth. then he glanced at qi yanbai, raised an eyebrow, and smiled at him.


    it was a remarkably attractive smile, exuding a sense of rebelliousness and charm. qi yanbai¡¯s breath caught, and his heart raced.


    ¡°why should i go home with you?¡± lu ye bit the cigarette on his lip again and reached out to take a lighter from the bartender. he lit the cigarette himself, then smiled at qi yanbai, knowingly asking, ¡°what¡¯s my relationship with you that i should go home with you?¡±


    that feeling came back, qi yanbai thought.


    that powerless feeling, of watching something disappear right before your eyes, resurfaced from the depths of his memory. qi yanbai leaned back against the bar counter, and suddenly, he could almost hear the pounding of his heart against his ribcage.


    beat by beat, so resolute, as if it would shatter into pieces the next second, bursting like a blooming flower.


    lu ye was right in front of him, everything about him, from his physique to his soul, was exactly what qi yanbai liked the most. but why couldn¡¯t he hold onto him?


    the heavy bass in the bar seemed to pound endlessly against qi yanbai¡¯s eardrums, and he frowned in impatience and annoyance. only one clear thought remained in his mind.


    ¡°you¡¯re mine,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°you can only go home with me.¡±


    he no longer remembered the script he had prepared, nor did he recall the expression he had planned to use to soften lu ye¡¯s heart. he felt like there were words on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn¡¯t say them.


    he leaned forward, took a firm step closer, and grabbed the hand holding lu ye¡¯s cigarette, tightening his fingers, firmly enclosing it in his palm.


    i will not let him go, qi yanbai thought, i will not let go.


    the bartender who had been watching the scene was clearly shocked. he widened his eyes, let out a silent ¡°wow,¡± and then carefully put down his glass, afraid of being caught up in this situation, and suffering an undeserved disaster.


    lu ye remained quite calm. he lowered his eyes slightly and glanced at the hand holding his cigarette, his tone casual as he said, ¡°that hurts.¡±


    as soon as he said that, qi yanbai¡¯s fingers instinctively loosened a bit, but he quickly hesitated and tightened his grip again.


    ¡°are you trying to deceive me?¡± qi yanbai looked at him with red eyes but spoke gently, like a breeze. ¡°once i let go of you, are you going to leave again?¡±


    ¡°you deceived me first.¡± lu ye simply flicked the ash off his cigarette in this posture, and casually said, ¡°you never wanted to be completely open with me, and you never prepared to tell me what¡¯s on your mind.¡±


    qi yanbai furrowed his brow slightly. he seemed like he wanted to defend himself, but his thoughts were slowed and paranoid.


    ¡°i¡¯ve said it many times; i¡¯m not afraid of danger, but i hate lies and deception,¡± lu ye said. ¡°many things can be discussed as long as you¡¯re willing to talk. i¡¯ve given you many chances, but you¡¯re unwilling to trust me.¡±


    the bar was bustling with people, but lu ye¡¯s voice sounded as if it was right by qi yanbai¡¯s ear, as if it were a whisper brushing against his cheek.


    ¡°i don¡¯t want to rely on insecurity for our future, constantly guessing what you¡¯re thinking,¡± lu ye said. ¡°there are already too many things to guess at work. going home to this too would be exhausting. so, since you can¡¯t give me honesty and respect, we might as well call it quits.¡±


    it sounded like an ultimatum, and indeed, that¡¯s what lu ye intended. he said this, then untangled qi yanbai¡¯s hand from his and stood up with one hand resting on the bar.


    he didn¡¯t look at qi yanbai again, just signaled the bartender to settle the bill, and then walked away without looking back.


    the back exit of the bar was not far from the bar counter, just a dozen or so steps away in total. lu ye deliberately slowed his pace as he walked, but to his surprise, even after he had exited the bar through the back door, qi yanbai hadn¡¯t caught up with him.


    it was really unlike qi yanbai¡¯s style, lu ye thought, leaning against the wall by the bar¡¯s back door and waiting for a moment. he couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow, thinking that maybe today, the sun had risen in the west, and qi yanbai had unexpectedly turned over a new leaf.


    lu ye had originally intended to provoke qi yanbai a little, to break through the barrier he had put up and have a proper conversation with him. however, he didn¡¯t expect that this time, qi yanbai would be unusually composed. he neither pursued lu ye relentlessly nor said anything he shouldn¡¯t in a fit of rage.


    his plan had failed, but lu ye wasn¡¯t in a hurry. he thought that since qi yanbai was not one to resist temptation, if one attempt didn¡¯t work, he could try again. eventually, he would peel away the facade of the ¡°perfect, flawless, good teacher¡± that qi yanbai wore.


    he made up his mind, casually finished the cigarette in his hand, and then straightened up from the wall. turning around, he walked toward the mouth of the alley.


    the streets near the underground bar district were complex, and lu ye didn¡¯t want to encounter any unexpected couples along the way. as he was considering whether to take a detour, he had just turned the corner of the alley when he suddenly felt a hand reaching out from behind, covering his mouth and nose.


    the pungent scent of a chemical substance filled his nostrils instantly. lu ye instinctively held his breath, and out of reflex, he grasped the hand covering his mouth, intending to resist. however, in the next moment, his hand inadvertently touched a familiar metal bead bracelet.


    in the blink of an eye, lu ye realized what was happening. using his peripheral vision, he glanced behind him and quickly made a decision. he let go of the hand wrapped around the ¡°assailant¡¯s¡± wrist, allowing it to softly fall away. he then took a deep breath, willingly inhaling the drugging fumes.


    the effects of the inhaled anesthetic took hold quickly. in no time at all, lu ye¡¯s vision blurred, his limbs went limp, and he started falling backward.


    someone behind him caught his body with care. the next moment, a cold hand gently touched his face and lightly brushed against his lips.


    before losing consciousness completely, lu ye heard qi yanbai¡¯s sigh by his ear. immediately after, a hand wrapped around his waist, and qi yanbai leaned in, biting his exposed neck.


    the brief sting briefly brought lu ye back to his senses. inside, lu ye sighed, closing his eyes.


    this little lunatic, lu ye thought.

 CH 77

    lu ye woke up from a deep slumber.


    the room was dimly lit, with blackout curtains pulled tightly shut. a humidifier in the corner of the room silently emitted a thin mist of water vapor. the scented candle on the bedside table had burned halfway, filling the air with a fresh and gentle mossy fragrance.


    lu ye¡¯s body seemed to still be experiencing the aftereffects of anesthesia¡ªhis limbs felt heavy, his hands and feet were weak, and his head was muddled. he felt as though he were nestled in a soft cloud, light and powerless.


    a faint aroma of fried chicken wings wafted in the air. lu ye squinted his eyes as he surveyed the surroundings. not far away, the bedroom door stood wide open, and next to the sofa in the living room, an easel was set up. an already-used palette lay casually on a small stool nearby, and there were several brushes of varying thicknesses in a brush holder.


    in the distant kitchen, a warm, soft light emanated, and the sound of knives and chopping boards could be faintly heard. lu ye¡¯s gaze passed over the familiar objects one by one, and he had a rough idea of the situation. he then calmly withdrew his gaze.


    he really is a little lunatic, lu ye thought, kidnapping someone and bringing them home.


    the events before he lost consciousness were still fresh in his mind. when he had realized qi yanbai¡¯s true intentions, lu ye didn¡¯t feel angry; instead, he had a feeling of anticipation.


    after all, qi yanbai had grown up in the qi family. while he might be ¡°relatively normal¡± compared to others, fundamentally, he was still a little insane. when pushed to his limit, he would show his claws and fight back.


    moreover, lu ye had already witnessed qi yanbai¡¯s pathological and obsessive possessiveness. so, before testing him, he had a rough idea of how he might react. although the current situation was a bit extreme, it was still within lu ye¡¯s ¡°preparation¡± range.


    fortunately, he had taken leave from the bureau. otherwise, if he had disappeared without a trace, the sub-bureau would have to report him as missing.


    although qi yanbai was quite bold, his ¡°criminal methods¡± were truly amateurish. if anyone became suspicious, it wouldn¡¯t take more than twenty-four hours to catch him.


    sirens were blaring in his head, and lu ye couldn¡¯t help but amuse himself with his imagination. he chuckled softly, and finally, he didn¡¯t want to stay in bed any longer. he exerted a bit of force with his arms, trying to sit up from the bed.


    but as soon as he moved, there was a crisp clattering sound under the bed. lu ye lifted the covers to see that his left and right ankles, both unharmed, were each attached to a shiny stainless steel chain.


    these chains were connected to round shackles on one end and were fastened to the iron crossbar at the foot of qi yanbai¡¯s bed on the other end. they were each about two meters long, allowing lu ye to move on the bed but not enough to reach the bedroom door.


    interesting, lu ye raised an eyebrow and played with the heavy metal lock on his ankle, studying the additional ¡°equipment¡± on his body. he thought it was quite something that qi yanbai had these real items at home.


    perhaps the metallic collision had produced a sound because, in the next second, the sound of cooking in the kitchen abruptly stopped. this was followed by a flurry of disordered footsteps in the living room as qi yanbai hurried over, not even remembering to put down the spatula in his hand.


    he moved with urgency, but as he approached the bedroom door, he seemed hesitant, as if he were an unfamiliar visitor in a strange place. he slowed down his pace, resting against the door frame, and looked at lu ye with a complex expression. it was a mixture of anticipation and reluctance to face him.


    everything that had happened last night was too chaotic. qi yanbai¡¯s last memory was of lu ye¡¯s retreating figure, and at that moment, he was overwhelmed by panic and anger, easily slipping into a state of loss of control. when he finally came to his senses, he had already brought lu ye back.


    at that moment, qi yanbai felt immense despair. he knew clearly that his actions had crossed lu ye¡¯s bottom line. lu ye would never forgive him, and he could never accept a partner who could drug and imprison him at any moment.


    his heart turned ice-cold, but as he sat by the bed, gazing at lu ye¡¯s sleeping face, he sadly realized that he didn¡¯t actually regret it.


    lu ye¡¯s return to his side had brought him great peace. his restless heart had calmed down, and the almost maddening frenzy had gradually subsided. he felt a sense of relief as if he had survived a disaster.


    this kind of relief was too terrifying. despite his clear and sober rationality struggling to pull him back from the brink, his efforts seemed futile in the face of this almost insane satisfaction.


    moonlight poured into the room through the clean french windows. qi yanbai slowly sat down by the bedside, using his fingertips to trace lu ye¡¯s eyebrows and eyes, while trying hard to suppress the excitement that was slowly spreading in his heart.


    i know i was wrong, qi yanbai thought, but i should have done this long ago.


    before lu ye woke up, qi yanbai had imagined many scenarios for when he did. he might get angry, resist fiercely, or simply ignore him, using cold violence as a means of resistance.


    qi yanbai wasn¡¯t afraid of lu ye getting angry, and he was prepared to make amends. but what surprised qi yanbai was that when lu ye finally woke up, he seemed much calmer than he had imagined.


    he just sat on the bed, briefly made eye contact with qi yanbai upon hearing his voice, and then lowered his head again to move the stainless steel chain on the bed.


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t read his mood, so he didn¡¯t dare to speak.


    although he didn¡¯t regret his impulsive actions, the thought that ¡°lu ye might be angry¡± still made him nervous.


    his heart was almost in his throat, his fingers unconsciously gripping the sheets tightly, and his gaze was fixed firmly on lu ye¡¯s feet, almost unwilling to leave for a single second.


    it seemed like only a few seconds had passed, or maybe it had been a few minutes, but lu ye finally looked at qi yanbai with a faint expression.


    ¡°do you have any cigarettes?¡± lu ye suddenly asked.


    qi yanbai seemed surprised that this was the first thing lu ye said. he paused for a moment and then nodded hesitantly. he hurriedly walked to the living room, first putting down the spatula, and then took out a brand new, unopened pack of cigarettes from the storage cabinet.


    red pagoda in a hard box, it was the brand that lu ye smoked most frequently. qi yanbai must have prepared it for a while.


    he hesitated for a moment, glancing at lu ye¡¯s injured right hand, and then opened the cigarette box. he removed the outer wrapping carefully, tore open the paper, took out a cigarette, and walked to the bedside, half kneeling down. he reached out and handed it to lu ye.


    lu ye took the cigarette but didn¡¯t immediately put it in his mouth. he just held it between his fingers and looked at qi yanbai, assessing him with his eyes.


    in truth, he didn¡¯t really need this cigarette; he just wanted to see how much control qi yanbai had over him. people are often too relaxed when they believe they have complete control over someone, revealing their deepest intentions. lu ye wanted to see how qi yanbai truly viewed him.


    most controlling people have a strong desire to control everything about their possessions. however, to lu ye¡¯s surprise, it seemed that qi yanbai¡¯s desire for control was limited to a very small range. he didn¡¯t care what lu ye did, didn¡¯t care about his habits or health, as long as ¡°lu ye,¡± the person, could stay with him. it was as if he had no other demands as long as lu ye remained with him.


    ¡°is it because i¡¯m already ¡®controlled¡¯ that his emotions have stabilized?¡± lu ye wondered.


    perhaps lu ye¡¯s attitude sent some signal to qi yanbai. he carefully observed lu ye for a while, noticing that lu ye¡¯s emotions seemed relatively stable. consequently, he slightly shifted his position, moving closer to lu ye, and cautiously approached him.


    ¡°lu ye¡­¡± qi yanbai looked up at him from bottom to top, softly asking, ¡°why aren¡¯t you smoking? is there something else you want?¡±


    his tone sounded cautious, but his eyes sparkled with anticipation. lu ye sensed the expectations and tests in qi yanbai¡¯s eyes, lowered his gaze, and nonchalantly averted his eyes, ignoring him.


    lu ye intended to observe qi yanbai¡¯s true state, so he had to continue acting out this ¡°abduction¡± scenario as it was.


    ¡°why aren¡¯t you talking to me?¡± qi yanbai, becoming anxious, approached persistently and asked, ¡°are you mad at me?¡±


    ¡°what if i am? are you planning to let me go?¡± lu ye finally spoke, moving his feet and making the chains on the ground rattle. ¡°are you willing to release me from this damn thing?¡±


    lu ye, despite his experience as a police officer, was new to being forcefully held in this situation. his tone was cold but lacked anger, and he seemed more indifferent than furious. fortunately, qi yanbai was too nervous to detect any flaws in his act. qi yanbai instinctively held his wrist, shaking his head.


    ¡°why not just tie up both my hands and feet to prevent any escape risks?¡± lu ye raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°it would save you the trouble.¡±


    ¡°i don¡¯t want to do that, lu ye.¡± qi yanbai blinked and gently stroked lu ye¡¯s wrist, showing concern. ¡°i just want you to stay here, but i don¡¯t want to treat you like a pet.¡±


    ¡°is there really a difference?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°of course, there is.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s willingness to engage in dialogue gave qi yanbai new confidence. he slightly straightened up, knelt at the edge of the bed with his knee, and tentatively leaned forward, getting closer to lu ye.


    ¡°you are the person i love the most,¡± qi yanbai¡¯s eyes were filled with affection as if his words were the most genuine expressions of his feelings. ¡°under this roof, you have absolute freedom. you can ask me to do anything if you¡¯re willing to stay with me.¡±


    he appeared so sincere and genuine, as if every word came straight from the depths of his heart, with each phrase carrying a sense of tenderness.


    however, lu ye had witnessed qi yanbai¡¯s abilities and knew that teacher qi excelled at setting sweet traps. so, he remained unaffected, only squinting slightly, observing qi yanbai cautiously.


    ¡°you¡¯re getting so close to me. aren¡¯t you afraid i¡¯ll fight back?¡± lu ye asked, moving his wrist away from qi yanbai, allowing his hand to climb up to qi yanbai¡¯s collarbone, and his fingertips gently resting on qi yanbai¡¯s neck, creating a silent threat.


    ¡°for instance, right now,¡± lu ye continued, ¡°what if i asked you to hand over the keys? what would you do?¡±


    though lu ye¡¯s right hand was injured, his left hand was still functional. with his strength, even if qi yanbai bound both his hands and feet, qi yanbai wouldn¡¯t stand a chance in close combat.


    qi yanbai¡¯s pupils contracted, but he didn¡¯t appear afraid. instead, he seemed to be slightly excited. he affectionately nuzzled lu ye¡¯s palm.


    ¡°if you¡¯re angry, you can vent it however you like,¡± qi yanbai said with some regret. ¡°but the key isn¡¯t in this house, and i can¡¯t give it to you.¡±


    he paused for a moment and added, ¡°lu ye, i know what i did was wrong, but if i let you go this time, you¡¯ll never come back. i can¡¯t bear to see you leave me. i¡¯m sorry.¡±


    lu ye couldn¡¯t help but almost laugh at qi yanbai¡¯s words.


    what was this, a deep apology but no change in behavior? lu ye thought with amusement.


    he had an urge to give this wayward and misguided young man in front of him some moral guidance. however, as he raised his head for a moment, he suddenly felt dizzy. he wondered if qi yanbai, the unlicensed doctor, had been a bit too heavy-handed, perhaps from the effects of the medicine administered the previous night.


    lu ye¡¯s eyebrows briefly furrowed and then relaxed. however, qi yanbai, who had been carefully observing his expressions, didn¡¯t miss this change. he slightly furrowed his brow, showing concern, and cupped lu ye¡¯s face, touching foreheads with him.


    ¡°i was wrong; please don¡¯t be angry,¡± qi yanbai whispered. ¡°you¡¯re running a low fever.¡±


    low fever? lu ye realized he had been injured not long ago, and the anti-inflammatory injection from the hospital was still one day away from being completed. inflammation was a possibility.


    he opened his mouth to remind qi yanbai indirectly, but before he could speak, qi yanbai released him and took out a box of anti-inflammatory pills from the bedside table.


    lu ye watched as qi yanbai retrieved a new capsule from the medicine box and instinctively reached out to take it. however, to his surprise, qi yanbai didn¡¯t give him the pill. instead, he retracted his hand, keeping the medicine away from lu ye¡¯s reach.


    lu ye raised an eyebrow, not showing any signs of anger, just waiting to see what qi yanbai was up to.


    qi yanbai was playful and enjoyed pushing boundaries. seeing that lu ye didn¡¯t get angry, he smiled and toyed with the capsule by holding it with his teeth. he knelt on the edge of the bed and leaned closer.


    he pretended to kiss lu ye, but lu ye tilted his head, avoiding the kiss.


    ¡°what¡¯s the matter?¡± lu ye smiled coldly and asked, ¡°are you planning to poison me if i don¡¯t agree?¡±


    qi yanbai knew he had gone too far. he didn¡¯t dare to press lu ye further and moved the capsule away from lu ye¡¯s lips. he softened his tone, conceding, ¡°of course not. i told you that you have absolute freedom here.¡±


    despite just a small capsule separating them, their proximity was so close that their breaths intertwined. although they were just a little closer, they could touch each other, the silent rejection from lu ye felt like an impenetrable barrier.


    ¡°but could you kiss me once, lu ye?¡± qi yanbai whispered softly. ¡°i miss you so much.¡±

 CH 78

    qi yanbai¡¯s voice was very soft, sounding pitiful and pleading, as if he were both coaxing and begging.


    lu ye maintained an expressionless face as he met qi yanbai¡¯s gaze, only to see a faint hint of blue in qi yanbai¡¯s eyes, making him appear a bit weary, perhaps due to a lack of sleep last night.


    qi yanbai watched lu ye attentively and expectantly, and when lu ye finally reacted, he couldn¡¯t help but lower his eyelids and give lu ye a somewhat pleasing smile.


    his posture was deliberately humble, perfectly calculated to the right degree. despite knowing that qi yanbai was deliberately showing weakness to quell his anger, lu ye still found himself softening under his influence.


    it hadn¡¯t been easy for him during this time, lu ye thought.


    qi yanbai was not someone skilled at patience, and his patience with lu ye had nearly reached zero. being able to endure until today and still have some fear of lu ye¡¯s mood was clearly the result of his efforts.


    unintentional affection always moved people, and even though the ¡°victim¡± himself was still immobilized in bed, facing qi yanbai like this made lu ye feel a twinge in his heart, both sour and itchy.


    he didn¡¯t want to confront qi yanbai so soon, but he also couldn¡¯t bear to see him constantly trying to please him. so, he softened his heart after some hesitation and avoided qi yanbai¡¯s gaze, lowering his head slightly.


    this subtle compromise seemed like a signal. qi yanbai¡¯s eyes brightened, and his heart suddenly became active. without saying a word, he moved closer and kissed lu ye.


    as expected, lu ye did not resist. he leaned back against the headboard, accepting the kiss with a very passive attitude. he didn¡¯t cooperate, but he also didn¡¯t seem to resist. he just lowered his eyes slightly and let qi yanbai pry open his lips, pushing that small capsule onto his tongue.


    the long-lost intimacy was like a high-concentration stimulant, easily arousing qi yanbai¡¯s emotions. the moment their lips touched, it seemed like he suddenly wasn¡¯t satisfied with this simple contact anymore. he leaned over abruptly, grabbing the iron chain locked to lu ye¡¯s handcuffs.


    there was a crisp sound of metal collision, and soon, there was an irresistible tension on lu ye¡¯s wrist. he glanced down and saw qi yanbai slowly trying to interlock their fingers through his clenched fists.


    lu ye: ¡®¡­''¡±


    ¡°this little troublemaker who takes an inch when given a mile,¡± lu ye thought, both amused and annoyed. he couldn¡¯t help but think that giving an inch only made qi yanbai want to take a mile.


    qi yanbai¡¯s emotions warmed up, and lu ye didn¡¯t want to continue indulging him endlessly. so, he raised his head slightly, as if wanting to end the kiss soon.


    however, qi yanbai seemed dissatisfied with this and held lu ye¡¯s hand, teasingly touching lu ye¡¯s tongue and decisively taking away the capsule.


    ¡°look at me, lu ye,¡± qi yanbai sighed in satisfaction, whispering, ¡°i love you so much.¡±


    qi yanbai knew that kidnapping and imprisoning him without warning, especially with lu ye¡¯s temper, couldn¡¯t be accepted so quickly. but whether it was a show of reluctant surrender or a display of stubbornness, lu ye¡¯s compliance greatly satisfied his possessiveness and made him feel fulfilled.


    that tiny capsule seemed to become an unspoken mediator, allowing this ¡°forced¡± kiss to continue in a subtle and ambiguous truce.


    the originally colorless and tasteless capsule was infused with a hint of minty toothpaste flavor during this lingering and lengthy kiss. in the midst of their push and pull, it was unclear whose tongue accidentally opened the capsule¡¯s seam, causing the pure white powder inside to spill out, instantly spreading a nearly unbearable bitterness.


    lu ye furrowed his brow slightly, emitting a faint sound of dissatisfaction from his throat. he was about to reach out and push qi yanbai away when he noticed that qi yanbai had already let go of him and picked up a water glass from the bedside table, taking a sip of water.


    this kiss sent a new signal to qi yanbai. this time, he didn¡¯t carefully seek lu ye¡¯s consent but instead pressed close, prying open lu ye¡¯s lips and offering him a mouthful of warm water.


    the perfectly timed comfort diluted the bitter taste, and lu ye didn¡¯t say anything. he simply swallowed the pill along with the water, silently accepting qi yanbai¡¯s efforts to please him.


    qi yanbai also understood the importance of moderation. he didn¡¯t insist on bothering lu ye further and naturally moved away from him. he casually placed the water glass back on the bedside table and then sat back on the edge of the bed, tentatively calling out to lu ye.


    ¡°lu ye.¡±


    lu ye ignored him, but qi yanbai wasn¡¯t discouraged. he just smiled and called out again.


    ¡°lu ye¡ª¡±


    it seemed like he particularly liked saying lu ye¡¯s name, as if those two words were the most mysterious incantation in the world, capable of bringing him the deepest sense of peace.


    lu ye felt his ears tingling from being called repeatedly and couldn¡¯t help but glance at qi yanbai. he asked in a casual tone, ¡°what is it?¡±


    ¡°i tried making some dumplings this morning, but i¡¯m not sure how they taste. i¡¯ll give you a taste later,¡± qi yanbai said with a smile. ¡°if you don¡¯t like them, i also made salted chicken wings and braised ribs.¡±


    his tone was so natural and normal, as if they were discussing dinner plans just like they used to, ignoring the thick chain between them. in fact, even lu ye might have felt that the conflict between him and qi yanbai had somehow resolved itself, if he ignored that detail.


    but lu ye didn¡¯t want to give him the chance to gloss over the situation. he turned his head, subtly observing qi yanbai for a moment until he saw qi yanbai starting to feel uneasy. then, he slowly withdrew his gaze and asked casually, ¡°you seem to be in a good mood?¡±


    the answer to this question was evident, and qi yanbai smiled, leaning in gently to kiss lu ye¡¯s neck.


    ¡°of course,¡± qi yanbai replied enthusiastically, and as he spoke, he couldn¡¯t resist taking a bite on lu ye¡¯s neck, leaving a clear bite mark. ¡°i¡¯m exceptionally happy.¡±


    ¡°why?¡± lu ye asked knowingly, ¡°because i can¡¯t run away anymore?¡±


    perhaps because they had reached this point, qi yanbai no longer tried to hide his possessiveness towards lu ye. he responded with a simple nod to this answer.


    ¡°you¡¯re too good, lu ye,¡± qi yanbai leaned closer to him, speaking softly, ¡°so good that even though i know i have you now, i still can¡¯t rest easy.¡±


    this had indeed been the root of qi yanbai¡¯s mistakes all along. although lu ye had previously understood his behavior logic from others, he wanted to hear it from qi yanbai himself, why he felt afraid.


    ¡°in fact, i¡¯ve never understood why you¡¯re so insecure,¡± lu ye casually inquired, ¡°are you afraid i¡¯ll change my mind? or that i¡¯ll abandon you?¡±


    he was subtly guiding qi yanbai towards the direction he had in mind. maybe because he was in a familiar environment, qi yanbai didn¡¯t seem to notice.


    ¡°of course not,¡± qi yanbai replied.


    he had experienced lu ye¡¯s loyalty, and although he had these concerns initially, as he got to know lu ye better, these doubts had almost become sacrilege, and he didn¡¯t want to place them on lu ye.


    ¡°then why?¡± lu ye pressed on.


    qi yanbai hesitated as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.


    ¡°what¡¯s the matter, afraid to say it, worried it¡¯ll scare me away?¡± lu ye noticed his hesitation and deliberately shook his wrist, causing the chain attached to his handcuffs to make a rattling sound. he spoke with a chilly tone, ¡°you¡¯ve already locked me up; where else can i go?¡±


    this statement aptly comforted qi yanbai. this situation of complete control relaxed him and gradually weakened his psychological defenses. he didn¡¯t even realize he had walked into lu ye¡¯s ¡°interrogation¡± trap.


    he couldn¡¯t help but use both hands to encircle lu ye¡¯s wrists, confirming the sensation of the cold metal, then closed his eyes and sighed deeply, confessing, ¡°actually¡­ i can¡¯t explain why.¡±


    it was a profoundly complex fear, one that was difficult to untangle and understand, originating from childhood trauma and insecurity. at that time, he was weak and careless, frequently losing many cherished things with a single lapse of attention.


    damage, destruction, disappearance¡ªeverything that left his life, turning into something ¡°irreversible¡± and ¡°irredeemable¡± after countless mixings, eventually fell into the category of ¡°loss,¡± becoming a complex and vague obsession.


    ¡°i can¡¯t bear to lose things i like,¡± qi yanbai said in a dazed manner. ¡°the more i like something, the more i want to keep it¡ª¡±


    qi yanbai knew deep down that a living person was not the same as inanimate objects. a living person couldn¡¯t be torn to pieces or stolen, but he found it difficult to separate the two.


    in moments of clarity, he found his own thoughts absurd, and he had tried hard to restrain himself from worrying lu ye. however, his restraint usually had little effect, and those emotions would resurface even more intensely shortly afterward.


    ¡°but before this argument, i¡¯ve never said i wanted to leave you,¡± lu ye said. ¡°why are you so anxious?¡±


    qi yanbai remained silent for a moment this time. after a while, he spoke softly, ¡°maybe¡­ it¡¯s because i feel guilty.¡±


    ¡°guilty?¡± lu ye inquired.


    ¡°yes,¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°you hate people lying, but by the time i knew about this, i had already lied to you.¡±


    analyzing oneself is a difficult task, and for qi yanbai, his inner world was no different from a tangled mess without a clue.


    he had never directly examined the source of this inner demon, nor had anyone ever tried to help him unravel these connections the way lu ye was doing now, subtly coaxing him to reveal his true feelings bit by bit.


    yes, i¡¯m greedy, and i feel guilty, qi yanbai suddenly thought.


    lu ye had given him so much¡ªfirst himself, followed by his affection, his love, his protection, his patience, and his friendly and accepting new family.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t want to lose any of it. the best way to keep everything was to hold the source of it all in his hands, ensuring that lu ye would always be by his side and never leave.


    he coveted everything that lu ye brought into his life, but subconsciously, he also knew he had lied to lu ye. for him, that impulsive deceit was like a ticking time bomb. once it was discovered, he would immediately lose everything he wanted to possess.


    he felt guilty, he was remorseful¡ªthese realizations only intensified his deeper fears, forcing him to repeatedly confirm that lu ye was still with him.


    it was like a vicious cycle; the more he received from lu ye, the more he feared losing it all. this panic drove him to make mistakes time and again, and these mistakes would create larger problems, ultimately becoming the source of his fear.


    so that¡¯s it, lu ye thought, that¡¯s why he always says, ¡°you¡¯re too good.¡±


    the more he received from lu ye, the more intense qi yanbai¡¯s fear of losing it all became. he was like a miser hoarding gold, the wealthier he became, the more he feared.


    his fear of loss was, in reality, a fear of facing the pain of loss. his family had only taught him how to compete, scheme, and to suck up to others, but it had never taught him how to cope with the pain caused by this chain reaction.


    he didn¡¯t know how to deal with it, so he could only turn all his pent-up rage into a crude means of control.


    childish and clumsy, weak and pitiful.


    ¡°i initially just wanted to have you, but later i became greedy and wanted to keep you,¡± qi yanbai said.


    ¡°so you locked me up?¡± lu ye seemed to have chuckled softly, but the smile disappeared before qi yanbai could react.


    the metal cuffs on lu ye¡¯s wrists had warmed to qi yanbai¡¯s body temperature. qi yanbai fiddled with the lock on the handcuffs and made a soft noise.


    ¡°sorry,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°i know this is wrong, but i couldn¡¯t help it.¡±


    it was clear that his apology was sincere, but lu ye also believed that if given the chance again, he would do the same.


    just like the instinctive repression that would never disappear, it would lurk like a trap, ready to trigger a larger explosion at any moment.


    ¡°so you¡¯ve been thinking about this for a while, haven¡¯t you?¡± lu ye asked ambiguously. ¡°tell the truth, when did you start thinking about it?¡±


    ¡°from the second time i saw you and from the day i moved here,¡± qi yanbai confessed. ¡°but i only thought about it before, i never really intended to do it.¡±


    since the day he fell for lu ye, qi yanbai had wanted to keep him in his sight. however, he was not insane, and he knew that such thoughts should remain in his mind and should not be acted upon.


    so he had resorted to indirect means to monitor lu ye, attempting to understand and control him this way.


    ¡°it was only when you clearly said you were leaving that i couldn¡¯t bear it anymore,¡± qi yanbai said.


    he couldn¡¯t tolerate the thought of lu ye leaving his line of sight, never to be found again.


    drugging lu ye had been an impulsive act, but qi yanbai didn¡¯t regret it. he was willing to give up everything to keep lu ye¡ªso long as lu ye didn¡¯t become part of those ¡°losses,¡± he could accept anything.


    ¡°so, do you want to keep me locked up forever?¡± lu ye asked.


    qi yanbai¡¯s expression blanked for a moment, and he seemed reluctant to answer the question. instead, he chose to ignore it and lowered his head, gently fiddling with the iron chain on lu ye¡¯s hand.


    but silence itself was an answer, and lu ye understood his meaning. he didn¡¯t want to alert qi yanbai at this moment, so he naturally averted his gaze and changed his approach.


    ¡°no one wants to be locked in a room forever, qi yanbai,¡± lu ye said calmly. ¡°do you want me to hate you?¡±


    the word ¡°hate¡± was too sharp, and although qi yanbai might have considered it at some point, he instinctively avoided it. he shook his head, tightening his grip on lu ye¡¯s hand.


    ¡°no,¡± qi yanbai said.


    ¡°then let¡¯s discuss it,¡± lu ye said. ¡°we can coexist peacefully for a while.¡±


    lu ye had already asked what he needed to know; he understood where qi yanbai¡¯s issues stemmed from and how to resolve them. now, it was a matter of putting the plan into action.


    ¡°i won¡¯t hold you responsible for kidnapping me, but i won¡¯t stay here forever,¡± lu ye made his point clear. ¡°i¡¯m injured and can¡¯t take care of myself right now, but for the sake of our relationship, i can consider this kidnapping as an accident. i¡¯ll stay here and recuperate for a while, and we can coexist peacefully, without a cold war, just like when we were together before.¡±


    ¡°but i have one condition,¡± lu ye added, tilting his head to indicate, ¡°once i¡¯m healed, you must unlock this chain.¡±


    it was a trap, qi yanbai thought. lu ye was not the type to compromise easily, especially given his strong character and clear boundaries. his proposal now likely aimed at preparing for an escape plan.


    however, the temptation of ¡°peaceful coexistence¡± was too significant. despite knowing that lu ye might have ulterior motives, qi yanbai was still enticed by the scenario lu ye described.


    no more cold war meant that lu ye would care for him, smile at him, respond to every topic he brought up, and no longer reject his affections.


    qi yanbai knew he couldn¡¯t genuinely agree to this condition and that he shouldn¡¯t lie to lu ye anymore. but the bait was too tempting, and he found it challenging to resist.


    so, he looked at lu ye and, almost involuntarily, nodded.


    ¡°okay,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°but before that, you have to willingly stay.¡±


    ¡°agreed,¡± lu ye said.

 CH 79

    although lu ye and qi yanbai both knew deep down that neither of them would adhere to this verbal agreement, having the ¡°peace agreement¡± as an excuse made many things much easier.


    for example, qi yanbai could openly make more demands of lu ye, and lu ye no longer had to maintain the persona of the ¡°victim.¡± he could naturally break the ice and accept qi yanbai¡¯s goodwill.


    the originally tense atmosphere subtly balanced out. lu ye and qi yanbai harbored their own thoughts, testing each other, and for a moment, both remained silent without speaking.


    after a while, lu ye was the first to break the silence. he pushed aside the blanket on him, lazily changed his position, and stretched his numb back as if it were a matter of course. then, he reached out towards qi yanbai.


    ¡°oh, by the way,¡± lu ye said, ¡°my phone is with you, right? give it to me; i need to make a call.¡±


    although it was a question, lu ye¡¯s tone was very confident, indicating that he had already guessed that qi yanbai deliberately took away his personal belongings. qi yanbai¡¯s heart instinctively tightened upon hearing this. he glanced at lu ye¡¯s expression first, seeing no signs of anger, and then hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°make a call? who do you want to call?¡±


    ¡°i had originally made plans to meet up with lu wenyu. i can¡¯t go now, so i need to let her know,¡± lu ye said.


    the part about having dinner with lu wenyu was a lie, but lu ye did want to contact her. all his communication devices were currently in qi yanbai¡¯s possession, likely due to qi yanbai¡¯s possessiveness and insecurity, intending to cut off all means of contact with the outside world.


    however, lu wenyu was a careful person, and if she couldn¡¯t reach him for an extended period, she would definitely become suspicious. instead of letting her develop unnecessary doubts, lu ye decided it would be better to find a way to contact her now, just in case the situation spiraled out of control later on.


    it was quite amusing that officer lu, who had been in law enforcement for so many years, was now actively helping a ¡°criminal¡± and experiencing the novelty of it.


    but qi yanbai had just brought him back, and he was still in a state of unease. upon hearing this unusual request, he was extremely vigilant and almost immediately refused.


    ¡°she hasn¡¯t called yet,¡± qi yanbai said, although he had just reconciled with lu ye, he didn¡¯t make his words too forceful. he simply declined in a roundabout way, ¡°if she needs to reach you, i will let you know.¡±


    lu ye guessed that he wouldn¡¯t agree and wasn¡¯t surprised by this refusal. since qi yanbai wanted to keep him completely confined at home, he would naturally eliminate all possibilities of him ¡°escaping,¡± including contacting the outside world.


    lu ye didn¡¯t want to make qi yanbai overly alert at this stage, so he didn¡¯t dwell on this issue. he accepted qi yanbai¡¯s assurance and quickly gave up.


    ¡°never mind then,¡± lu ye leaned back against the bedhead and raised an eyebrow, saying, ¡°if i can¡¯t make a phone call, can you at least open the curtains? it¡¯s too dark in here, and it¡¯s making my chest ache.¡±


    people who were in the right always had more initiative. moreover, for qi yanbai, as long as lu ye didn¡¯t express a desire to leave, he would be willing to give him anything he wanted, even if he asked for the stars in the sky. without saying a word, qi yanbai stood up and walked to the balcony, pushing aside the curtain that was furthest from lu ye.


    ¡°is this okay?¡± qi yanbai asked.


    ¡°it¡¯s fine,¡± lu ye said.


    in the instant the heavy blackout curtain was pulled aside, bright sunlight flooded the room, dispersing the gloomy atmosphere inside. the dry and scorching sunlight eased the mood, making everyone feel a bit more relaxed.


    qi yanbai rolled up the opened curtain into a spiral and hung it on the hook by the window. lu ye observed his back and gained some understanding of his boundaries.


    blurring the boundaries of time and creating a monotonous environment were the best ways to wear down a person¡¯s will. if you wanted to completely control someone, you not only had to cut off their contact with the outside world but also break their sense of belonging to it. only then could you become their sole emotional support.


    but it seemed that qi yanbai wasn¡¯t quite there yet. although he had taken away lu ye¡¯s phone, he didn¡¯t fundamentally reject him receiving information from the outside world. he didn¡¯t appear intent on breaking down lu ye¡¯s psychological defenses or weakening his will. perhaps because of guilt, he was even willing to satisfy lu ye¡¯s requests within a ¡°safe¡± range.


    this made things much easier for lu ye, he thought. with this in mind, he could be a bit bolder in his testing.


    as lu ye contemplated, qi yanbai had already finished arranging the curtain and returned to the bedside. he stood by the bed, then held onto the railing at the head of the bed, bent down, and lightly kissed the corner of lu ye¡¯s lips.


    his kiss was delicate and careful, trailing down from the corner of lu ye¡¯s lips, then lingering on his jaw and neck. finally, he pressed his forehead against the hollow of lu ye¡¯s shoulder and gently rubbed it.


    ¡°qi yanbai,¡± lu ye felt ticklish from his touch and couldn¡¯t help but curl his lips. ¡°why do you act like a cat seeking rewards as soon as it completes a command?¡±


    ¡ªjust completed the task you asked and can¡¯t wait to claim a reward.


    ¡°can i have one?¡±


    the ¡°peace agreement¡± provided qi yanbai with a legitimate reason, so he quickly smiled and leaned against lu ye¡¯s shoulder, somewhat sulking as he said, ¡°then can you change the way you address me?¡±


    since establishing their relationship, qi yanbai had never really liked lu ye addressing him by his full name. he always felt it wasn¡¯t intimate enough, so he had protested about it many times before.


    lu ye knew him too well, fully aware of this little quirk of his, so he chuckled and looked at him sidelong.


    ¡°in this crazy situation,¡± lu officer amusingly thought, ¡°the ¡®kidnapper¡¯ is already being so playful and cheeky. it¡¯s hard to have a serious conversation here.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s patience was usually limited, and when he didn¡¯t get a response after a while, he started to feel impatient. he couldn¡¯t help but turn his head and lightly nibble on the soft flesh of lu ye¡¯s neck, as if urging something silently.


    after a while, qi yanbai finally heard lu ye¡¯s voice in his ear. it sounded somewhat resigned but also like a concession. ¡°fine¡­ yanbai.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s concession seemed to confirm the authenticity of the ¡°peace agreement.¡± satisfied with this, qi yanbai made a contented noise and couldn¡¯t resist planting a kiss on him.


    ¡°i love you,¡± qi yanbai said.


    he was never stingy with expressing his affection, and he didn¡¯t hide his infatuation either. his love was like him¡ªbold and intense, burning fiercely with sheer determination.


    ¡°mmm,¡± lu ye responded from his throat, whispering softly, ¡°i know.¡±


    so that¡¯s why i¡¯m staying here, lu ye thought.


    changing a person is the most challenging thing in the world. if this were a long game of strategy, his greatest asset wouldn¡¯t be his outstanding personal abilities or his flawless preparations¡ªit would be qi yanbai¡¯s love.

 CH 81

    qi yanbai was not a person with strong willpower.


    in the following days, he quickly got used to this pattern of interaction where he exchanged ¡°rewards¡± for requests. he was slowly worn down by lu ye¡¯s persistence, and his bottom line kept retreating.


    first, the long chain was loosened, then he allowed lu ye to leave the bedroom, and finally, he agreed to let lu ye move around freely in the apartment.


    ultimately, qi yanbai finally convinced lu ye and officially gained the right to share a bed.


    late at night, a bedside lamp cast a soft glow, and lu ye sat leaning against the head of the bed with qi yanbai, flipping through a thick book titled ¡°gardner¡¯s art through the ages.¡±


    his injured arm was still propped up by a pillow, remaining motionless whenever possible, while his newly regained freedom allowed his left hand to reach over from the head of the bed, intimately and familiarly encircling qi yanbai¡¯s shoulder


    it was a posture that resembled an embrace, and qi yanbai felt the undeniable strength on his shoulder. he didn¡¯t feel like that hand was resting on his shoulder but rather on his heart, grounding his fluttering heart and providing a sense of security.


    the familiar scent of tobacco lingered in the air. as qi yanbai daydreamed, he listened to lu ye¡¯s breathing, which seemed so close. his heart rate unknowingly slowed down, making him feel relaxed and safe, as if a weary bird had found its nest.


    the gentle and soft light cast a tender and dreamy shadow over lu ye¡¯s body. qi yanbai, in this posture, lifted his head to gaze at lu ye¡¯s profile, as if lost in thought or simply admiring him.


    ¡®it¡¯s as if he knows me too well,¡¯ qi yanbai thought vaguely.


    in these past few days, he could clearly see that his own bottom line was slowly retreating. although he still held the key to lu ye¡¯s restraints, he could sense that the initiative in this ¡°kidnapping case¡± had subtly shifted into lu ye¡¯s hands.


    lu ye knew him too well, to the extent that he understood which methods could make him compromise, yield, and ultimately shape the course of events as he wished.


    releasing the chain symbolized greater risks, and qi yanbai had wavered. he had always known that lu ye wasn¡¯t the kind of person who would willingly be locked up forever, but every time lu ye made requests, whether with a smile or a hint of resentment, qi yanbai¡¯s instincts would struggle, but he would end up willing to take the risk and fulfill his requests.


    ¡®it¡¯s terrifying,¡¯ qi yanbai thought.


    he looked at lu ye¡¯s profile, and suddenly, there was a sense of absurdity, as if the current situation was similar to when he had first met lu ye. back then, he had set traps step by step, trying to change lu ye subtly, erode his bottom line, and gradually make this relationship more favorable to himself.


    now, the roles of attacker and defender had inexplicably reversed, and everything seemed no different from back then. the only difference was that back then, he had relied on stalking, eavesdropping, and all sorts of schemes and traps, while lu ye didn¡¯t need any of that. he openly pursued his own agenda, relying solely on himself.


    but qi yanbai couldn¡¯t resist taking the bait.


    whether it was kidnapping or imprisonment, he had only wanted to keep lu ye by his side. so, when lu ye was truly willing to come to him, he seemed unable to refuse.


    ¡®yanbai.¡¯


    lu ye¡¯s voice suddenly interrupted qi yanbai¡¯s wandering thoughts.


    ¡®why haven¡¯t you turned a page in ages?¡¯ lu ye tilted his head, giving him a playful look, and asked, ¡®are you reading the book or watching me?¡¯


    with one hand injured and the other wrapped around qi yanbai, he couldn¡¯t really turn the page on his own, but luckily, qi yanbai¡¯s reading speed matched his. he would usually finish a page before qi yanbai and then rely on him to turn it.


    but this page in front of them had only three and a half lines of text and illustrations. qi yanbai had been absent minded for a good ten minutes, and it was obvious where his mind had wandered.


    ¡®i¡¯m watching you,¡¯ qi yanbai admitted openly, extending his arm to caress lu ye¡¯s chest, sliding up his body like a snake, his hands supporting the pillow as he leaned down to kiss lu ye.


    ¡®you¡¯re someone i never get tired of watching,¡¯ qi yanbai said, biting lu ye¡¯s lip and smiling hazily. ¡®i could watch you for as long as you want.¡¯


    since lu ye had allowed him to be affectionate, qi yanbai had become unusually clingy. it was as if he urgently needed to gain confidence from intimate physical contact with lu ye, and he always found opportunities to get closer, hugging and kissing whenever he could.


    lu ye stretched out his legs, making room for qi yanbai to come closer, and accepted this somewhat cheesy kiss.


    the heavy brick of the book fell onto the bed as lu ye moved. the long chain on his leg also hung down the side of the bed, tugging at his ankle, and it was still quite noticeable.


    lu ye glanced at the metal chain coiled under the bed, let out a muffled chuckle, then used one hand to press qi yanbai¡¯s back and bit his tongue.


    these past two days, qi yanbai had stopped being overly cautious like he was at the beginning. after letting lu ye roam around the living room and bathroom, he no longer rushed to tighten the chain immediately upon returning. most of the time, he left it be, as if he had grown used to it.


    the long chain, stretching over ten meters, was finally completely relaxed. it no longer overly restricted the freedom of lu ye¡¯s movements, but its weight was still undeniably heavy, making it hard to ignore when it moved.


    the sound of the subtle metal collision echoed under the bed. qi yanbai¡¯s knees pushed his body upward, and he reached out to cradle lu ye¡¯s face, gradually licking away the moisture from the corner of his lips, then kissed his eyes.


    ¡®lu ye,¡¯ qi yanbai murmured softly. ¡®are you willing to stay forever?¡¯


    as if wanting to be sure of something, qi yanbai had asked this question many times during this period, and most of the time, lu ye¡¯s answers went along with his desires.


    qi yanbai had already prepared himself to hear lu ye agree, but unexpectedly, before giving an answer, lu ye asked him a question.


    ¡®do you promise to do what i asked?¡¯ lu ye asked.


    qi yanbai knew what he was referring to. he had promised lu ye that once his injury healed, he would completely remove the chain. but both of them knew that this was a complete deception with no room for turning back.


    however, even so, qi yanbai replied quickly, without a hint of hesitation.


    ¡®yes,¡¯ qi yanbai said.


    ¡®then i will stay forever,¡¯ lu ye said.


    his tone was gentle and resolute, with a gentle smile on his lips illuminated by the lamp. but his eyes were clear and sharp, as if they could pierce through the beautiful and ambiguous atmosphere, forcefully opening up the two hearts that were so close, revealing the deceit and deception hidden within.


    qi yanbai could somehow sense in his heart that it would probably backfire and was still unsure if he trusted lu ye, but as he looked into lu ye¡¯s eyes, he couldn¡¯t resist the urge to sink into his illusory promise.


    so he kissed lu ye¡¯s eyes, watching his long eyelashes fall down, temporarily concealing those eyes that could see through everything.


    it was as if, as long as they stayed like this, this unspoken lie could exist permanently.


    ¡°that¡¯s great,¡± qi yanbai¡¯s face didn¡¯t show a smile, but his voice sounded joyful and expectant. ¡°i believe you.¡±


    he said and closed his eyes, gently rubbing lu ye¡¯s moist eyelashes with his lips.


    if this was a dream, he hoped he would never wake up.

 CH 82

    in the following days, lu ye didn¡¯t make any more demands of qi yanbai.


    he seemed to have become used to this abnormal cohabitation, waking up naturally every day, taking a leisurely stroll in the apartment after getting up, and deciding whether to return to the bedroom to read a book or stay in the living room with qi yanbai based on his mood that day.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t restrict his freedom of movement within the room, but he still didn¡¯t allow him to get close to areas with sharp metal objects. therefore, lu ye was quite conscious of this and generally didn¡¯t venture into qi yanbai¡¯s forbidden zones. occasionally, when he watched qi yanbai cook, he would only lean against the refrigerator near the kitchen door and chat with him casually.


    lu ye¡¯s obedience clearly satisfied qi yanbai¡¯s hidden possessiveness to the greatest extent. along with it, his demon-like insecurity was unconsciously soothed, and his emotional state gradually returned to its normal baseline.


    he no longer clung to lu ye as he did in the first few days, as if he were absorbing nourishment from him like a parasitic vine. instead, he gradually got used to this life under the same roof. occasionally, when he had things to do, he willingly left lu ye some private space.


    after lunch, there was usually half an hour when lu ye would take a nap, lasting about twenty to thirty minutes, to recharge for the afternoon.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t want to disturb him, so after making sure he was asleep, he quietly exited the bedroom, taking the opportunity to lock the bedroom door.


    in the living room, an easel stood with a piece of paper already prepared with a rough sketch in pencil. the sketch consisted of messy and intertwined light gray pencil lines, and a rose emerged from a thicket of thorns, with vibrant petals but no roots.


    this sketch was quite different from qi yanbai¡¯s usual style. he picked up a pencil from the easel and thought for a moment, then erased the traces left by his hesitation.


    since meeting lu ye, it seemed that he couldn¡¯t escape his influence in his art. either he was drawing the dreamy wilderness or lu ye himself. as a result, he found it difficult to draw anything else now; it felt unfamiliar.


    while he was lost in thought, his phone on the coffee table suddenly vibrated, drawing his attention. qi yanbai glanced at it and realized it was a video call from ashley.


    ¡°are you in north america?¡± qi yanbai furrowed his brow and teased her, ¡°aren¡¯t you afraid of getting sunburned this time?¡±


    ¡°qi zhe wanted to go on vacation and explore north america, so i came along with him,¡± ashley explained. she looked quite sober, casually flipping her long hair and smiling, ¡°by the way, how have you been lately?¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t you have anything else to do lately?¡± qi yanbai raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°you¡¯re actually taking the time to check on me?¡±


    ¡°occasionally, i do think of you,¡± ashley shrugged, laughing, ¡°you seem to be in good spirits. have you been having a good time lately?¡±


    she sounded teasing, and it seemed like she was implying something, but at the same time, not really. qi yanbai¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, and he subconsciously wanted to look back at the bedroom door. however, for some reason, he resisted the urge.


    ¡°it¡¯s been alright,¡± qi yanbai replied, ¡°not good, not bad.¡±


    qi yanbai could sense that he had fallen into a highly contradictory situation recently. he knew rationally that lu ye could not willingly stay here forever, and he understood that lu ye¡¯s compliance were merely temporary measures. however, his emotions were constantly swayed by the peaceful and content atmosphere, and whenever lu ye looked at him or held him, he would inexplicably feel like he could be with him forever.


    ¡°not good, not bad?¡± ashley raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°that¡¯s not a very accurate answer.¡±


    it had been a long time since qi yanbai returned to china, and ashley had initially thought his improved mood was due to some progress with lu ye.  however, looking at it now, qi yanbai still seemed somewhat confused.


    she was curious but restrained herself from prying too much. she wanted to ask about his emotional situation indirectly, but before she could continue, she saw the bedroom door behind qi yanbai move slightly, opening just a crack from the inside.


    ¡°xiao yanbai, you¡ª¡± ashley was about to make a joke about qi yanbai ¡°locking up his lover in a golden cage,¡± but the next moment, she suddenly stopped speaking and furrowed her brow lightly.


    qi yanbai quickly noticed where her attention was focused and turned around. he then realized that lu ye had woken up at some point, walking out of the bedroom with sleepy eyes, lazily glancing at him.


    perhaps because ashley was far away across the world, qi yanbai didn¡¯t have any reservations with her. so, he didn¡¯t immediately hang up the call, but instead, he simply turned to block the easel, greeted lu ye warmly.


    ¡°lu ye, you¡¯re already up?¡± qi yanbai asked.


    lu ye responded with a vague ¡°mm¡± while his gaze slid over the phone screen. he subtly exchanged a glance with ashley in the video, then seemed to act as if he didn¡¯t recognize her, nonchalantly shifting his gaze away.


    ¡°mm,¡± lu ye said. ¡°don¡¯t mind me, carry on.¡±


    he walked towards the living room, bent down to pull out a random art magazine from under the tv cabinet, let out a yawn, and then returned to the bedroom.


    the sound of chains rubbing against each other seemed particularly pronounced in the room. both lu ye and qi yanbai had grown used to this background noise, but ashley seemed to momentarily freeze, as if not fully understanding.


    with his back to the screen, qi yanbai watched as the bedroom door closed again, and only then did he let out a quiet sigh of relief. he turned to look at the phone screen.


    ¡°what did you want to say earlier?¡± qi yanbai asked.


    ¡°ah, it¡¯s nothing,¡± ashley quickly adjusted her emotions, pretending she hadn¡¯t seen the iron chain on lu ye¡¯s foot. she bit her lip, smiled, and said, ¡°it¡¯s just that the painting you showed me last time was seen by your father. he¡¯s quite satisfied and wants to know if you¡¯re willing to sell it¡ªprice negotiable.¡±


    ¡°i won¡¯t sell it,¡± qi yanbai refused straightforwardly. ¡°i¡¯ve already said ¡ª¡±


    before he could finish his sentence, the doorbell suddenly rang in the room, abruptly interrupting him. he couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brow and turned to look at the door.


    ¡°is anyone home?¡± a young male voice came from outside. ¡°property management, here to check the safety of each household.¡±


    ever since bringing lu ye back, qi yanbai had become extremely sensitive to doorbells and knocking sounds. he always feared that lu ye might use the opportunity to make contact with the outside world. consequently, he had grown accustomed to immediately quashing unexpected situations. he would rise almost instantly, take a few brisk steps to the door, eagerly open it, and then lock it behind him.


    ashley: ¡°¡­


    qi yanbai even forgot to hang up the call and hurriedly walked over to deal with the stranger.


    suddenly, the bedroom door quickly reopened, and lu ye probably heard the sounds from outside. it was only when qi yanbai closed the door behind him, that lu ye walked out of the bedroom, leaned against the door, and spoke to ashley.


    ¡°i thought we had already made things clear after the last time,¡± lu ye said calmly. ¡°i don¡¯t want him to have any further ties with your family.¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t overthink it. i just wanted to see how you two were progressing,¡± ashley replied after coming back to her senses. she glanced at lu ye¡¯s chained foot and honestly said, ¡°i just didn¡¯t expect¡­ that he would actually do something so audacious.¡±


    lu ye: ¡°¡­


    ¡°he has done a lot of audacious things,¡± lu ye said in a calm tone. ¡°this one doesn¡¯t make much of a difference.¡±


    ¡°but no matter how you look at it, this time he went a bit too far,¡± ashley said with a helpless smile. ¡°do you need me to report it to the police?¡±


    ¡°no, there¡¯s no need for that,¡± lu ye said casually, lowering his gaze to the chain on his foot. ¡°i did it voluntarily.¡±


    ashley: ¡°¡­


    this response seemed to be beyond reason but also somewhat expected. when they parted ways at the teahouse, ashley thought lu ye was merely determined. she never expected that this man would actually be willing to sacrifice to this extent for qi yanbai she found it incredible.


    ashley paused, raised an eyebrow, and smiled, ¡°him meeting you was truly lucky.¡±


    ¡°you¡¯re giving me too much credit,¡± lu ye didn¡¯t accept the compliment. he lowered his head to look at the long chain on his foot and said, ¡°in fact, he has always left room for me.¡±


    otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have bought such a long iron chain. that was what lu ye thought.


    it was as if his subconscious was still struggling, giving qi yanbai the opportunity to reflect on his actions while also giving him the benefit of the doubt.


    the new property management intern was a young and careful person. standing in the hallway, he went on for a good five minutes, discussing gas safety and security measures, before qi yanbai managed to dismiss him.


    the elevator¡¯s up button blinked for a moment before finally stopping on the tenth floor. qi yanbai stood there for a while, making sure that the person wouldn¡¯t return, and then turned back to enter his apartment, punching in the door code to open it.


    once inside, he instinctively glanced in the direction of the bedroom. the bedroom door was still securely closed, and ashley in the video had started idly playing with her nails. qi yanbai breathed a sigh of relief and returned to his seat.


    ¡°tell qi zhe that i won¡¯t give him any paintings, especially not that one,¡± qi yanbai continued with the topic he hadn¡¯t finished earlier. ¡°that painting contains the person i love, and i won¡¯t give it to anyone.¡±


    ¡°alright,¡± ashley didn¡¯t seem disappointed. she flicked a speck of non-existent dust off her nails, squinted, and smiled. ¡°i¡¯ll convey that.¡±


    ¡°mm,¡± qi yanbai seemed unwilling to dwell on the topic. he asked matter-of-factly, ¡°is there anything else?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± ashley tilted her head and suddenly said, ¡°forget everything i taught you before, xiao yanbai.¡±


    qi yanbai was slightly puzzled, not understanding her. he asked what she meant.


    ¡°forget everything i taught you before,¡± ashley propped her chin on her hand, leaned forward, got closer to the camera, and smiled at him.


    ¡°if you¡¯ve truly fallen in love with someone, then forget everything else and love them with all your sincerity,¡± ashley said.

 CH 83

    ashley was always right.


    she was cunning, wise, free-spirited, and unrestrained. she never let emotions get the best of her and always observed things from a piercing perspective.


    qi yanbai knew this time was no exception, but unfortunately, her warning had come too late.


    ¡°i know,¡± qi yanbai said as he lightly rubbed the imprint on the paper with his fingertip. he said softly, ¡°unfortunately, it¡¯s too late now.¡±


    if he had received the warning earlier, or if he had realized it sooner, perhaps he still had a chance to stop. but now, he had stepped on every landmine, and there was no turning back.


    ¡°is that so?¡± ashley reclined in her chair, stretched her legs lazily, lit a cigarette, and smiled mysteriously.


    ¡°xiao yanbai.¡± ashley suddenly switched to french and said with profound meaning, ¡°people always have a chance to make things right. it¡¯s never too late to turn back.¡±


    qi yanbai felt like she was hinting at something, so he glanced at her and his curiosity piqued.


    but ashley¡¯s attitude seemed nonchalant and casual. she took a puff of her cigarette and seemed to have given him some advice without taking it to heart.


    ¡°so, if you ever change your mind and are willing to sell your paintings, you can contact me anytime,¡± ashley said with a sly smile. ¡°your father is offering two million dollars¡ªi¡¯ll be waiting.¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    qi yanbai was still caught up in the advice about not being too late to turn back, but he hadn¡¯t realized that he and ashley were discussing entirely different matters. it suddenly felt like he had been played with, and for a moment, he was so irritated that he almost burst out laughing out of frustration.


    ¡°there¡¯s no need for that,¡± qi yanbai gritted his teeth and said unenthusiastically, ¡°i won¡¯t regret this, and you can forget about the commission. enjoy your vacation with qi zhe.¡±


    ashley had successfully teased him, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile. but before she could say anything else, qi yanbai was already irritated. he ended the call without saying another word.


    qi yanbai felt a surge of anger, and he couldn¡¯t help but kick the easel¡¯s leg in frustration.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong? angry?¡±


    lu ye had walked out of the bedroom at some point, dragging the long chain behind him. he bent down slightly, adjusted the easel that had been kicked crooked, and placed the palette back in its original position.


    ¡°lu ye,¡± qi yanbai subconsciously put away his phone and turned to look at lu ye, shaking his head.


    ¡°no,¡± qi yanbai lied, ¡°i accidentally bumped it.¡±


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t tell lu ye what he was really angry about. perhaps it was because he had become accustomed to seeking effective help from ashley, but when he heard her say, ¡°it¡¯s not too late to turn back,¡± she had hit a nerve, and in that moment, qi yanbai felt like he had been played and mocked, which left him unusually furious.


    ¡°but she¡¯s not necessarily wrong,¡± qi yanai admitted. ¡°in this world, it¡¯s easy to turn back only when it comes to other things, not time.¡±


    qi yanbai forced himself to move past his anger. he blinked, quickly returning to his usual gentle self, and smiled as he hugged lu ye.


    ¡°by the way, why did you suddenly come out?¡± qi yanbai asked. ¡°did you finish looking through the art catalog?¡±


    lu ye observed him for a moment, carefully studying every nuance of qi yanbai¡¯s expression. then he nonchalantly nodded and lifted the art catalog.


    ¡°there was a disc inside the catalog,¡± lu ye said. ¡°so i came to ask what it¡¯s about.¡±


    the disc looked a bit rough, with no label on the transparent plastic cover, only a small, blurry blue marker written in a felt-tip pen.


    qi yanbai took the disc, examined it briefly, and then smiled. ¡°it¡¯s a movie i burned myself, called ¡®caravaggio.''¡±


    lu ye had a good memory and immediately recalled something upon hearing the unusual title. he raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused, and asked, ¡°isn¡¯t this the movie you wanted to watch with me but didn¡¯t get a chance to? you said it was shown in a retro cinema?¡±


    at this point, qi yanbai felt that whether he had ¡°arranged things to go in his favor¡± or not, it didn¡¯t make much difference anymore. he stood up, wrapped his arms around lu ye¡¯s waist, and leaned in to kiss him, admitting honestly, ¡°yes, i duplicated the disc myself. i thought that if you agreed to my invitation, i could bribe the staff to show this movie.¡±


    at that time, he and lu ye were in the ambiguous phase, being courteous to each other, and testing the waters. it seemed like they were just a step away from breaking through, but they were always a little short, leaving their relationship stagnant.


    ¡°that was when i already liked you a lot, and i thought it was time for us to take the next step,¡± qi yanbai said, resting his head on lu ye¡¯s shoulder and not hesitating to confess now. ¡°so i wanted to use this movie as a hint to let you know¡ªi just couldn¡¯t because you got sick.¡±


    ¡°what were you hinting at?¡± lu ye asked, already knowing what qi yanbai meant.


    ¡°i was hinting that i had feelings for you and testing how much you liked me,¡± qi yanbai said. at that time, he still believed in ashley¡¯s teachings and was playing the role of an innocent lamb, guiding lu ye to take the initiative. even though he was burning with desire inside, he followed the rules of the ¡°innocent teacher,¡± refusing to make the first move.


    lu ye was a very intelligent person, and he almost immediately understood what qi yanbai meant.


    ¡°so the confession from that young parent at your office was also a test?¡± lu ye asked.


    at that time, lu ye was unaware of the set-up, but now, looking back, he realized that everything had happened so ¡°coincidentally,¡± as if it had been orchestrated in advance, waiting for him to step onto the stage.


    ¡°yes,¡± qi yanbai confessed openly, ¡°she was the sister of one of my students, and she happened to help me out.¡±


    lu ye already knew that qi yanbai had schemed quite a bit, but now, hearing this, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a subtle sense of dissatisfaction. he raised an eyebrow, stared at qi yanbai with a mysterious look, ¡°the day i was sick, and you came to take care of me, i drank half a glass of water you gave me and couldn¡¯t help falling asleep¡ª¡±


    lu ye paused deliberately at this point, noticing qi yanbai¡¯s growing nervousness. he then asked with a hint of suggestion, ¡°now that i think about it, was that water perhaps a bit too sleep-inducing?¡±


    the smile on qi yanbai¡¯s face froze for a moment, and his gaze shifted away, appearing somewhat guilty.


    qi yanbai cleared his throat and forced a smile, saying, ¡°i just added a bit of fever-reducing medication with strong sedative effects to help you sleep better.¡±


    ¡ªand, he added in his mind, secretly duplicated a spare key to your house.


    he had only confessed to half of it, but lu ye understood him well enough to see through the unspoken part. however, compared to the stalking issue, this revelation seemed relatively trivial. lu ye had seen his fair share of the world and wasn¡¯t particularly surprised.


    however, old habits die hard, and lu ye couldn¡¯t resist delivering a playful comeback when he noticed qi yanbai¡¯s expression.


    ¡°what a shame,¡± lu ye raised an eyebrow and spoke nonchalantly, ¡°if it weren¡¯t for that glass of water, we might have established our relationship a bit earlier.¡±


    he paused for a moment, sighing with a tone of regret, ¡°i actually wanted to confess my feelings to you back then.¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡ªwhat?

 CH 84

    qi yanbai¡¯s expression on his pale face went blank for a moment, then he showed a slight change in demeanor, looking extremely frustrated.


    lu ye, who had been lying low for days, finally gained a small victory. his mood instantly improved, and he didn¡¯t care about how regretful qi yanbai might be feeling at the moment. he happily took the disc from qi yanbai¡¯s hand, pretended to inspect it, and tore open the plastic wrapping with great interest.


    ¡°since we have nothing better to do,¡± lu ye said, ¡°how about we watch it?¡±


    he seemed to be seeking qi yanbai¡¯s opinion, but as he spoke, he had already walked over to the other side of the living room with the disc, turned on the tv, and started the dvd player connected to it.


    this vintage-style equipment always took a few minutes to start up. lu ye leisurely sat back on the couch, dragging his leash along. he didn¡¯t even spare a glance at qi yanbai, leaving him to his own thoughts of regret. lu ye absentmindedly searched through the coffee table, pulled out a bag of ready-to-eat hawthorn rolls, and looked quite relaxed.


    he teased and then ran off, but qi yanbai felt as if he were scratching an itch. he couldn¡¯t help but replay every word and every sentence that lu ye had said that day when he had the high fever. it was only then that he realized that before lu ye had passed out, he did want to say something to him.


    unfortunately, he didn¡¯t say it at the time, and qi yanbai himself hadn¡¯t paid much attention after. when he woke up the next day, that hazy and beautiful moment had quietly passed, never to return.


    things that were within his reach but slipped away were even more maddening than things he had never obtained, especially when qi yanbai had been so anxious, so eager to have lu ye¡¯s love at that time.


    the most desired thing had been so close for a moment, close enough that he didn¡¯t need clever calculations or careful probing to reach out and grasp it. yet, he missed it.


    this awkward and complicated regret and dissatisfaction felt like molten asphalt, sticky and heavy, clinging to him. it couldn¡¯t be washed away or shaken off, making it even harder to endure than sharp pain.


    the old dvd player was still making clicking noises. qi yanbai was tormented by the missed confession, and after a while, he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. he walked over and leaned in close, knelt on the couch, and hugged lu ye¡¯s shoulders, softly calling his name.


    ¡°what you wanted to tell me back then¡­..?¡± qi yanbai, trying to coax him, said ¡°tell me now, please.¡±


    lu ye knew that given qi yanbai¡¯s personality, he would surely regret this incident deeply. he watched qi yanbai approach with a probing look, then sighed lightly and put his arm around his waist.


    ¡°yanbai,¡± lu ye said calmly. ¡°so, you see, if you had just waited a little longer and if you had been patient, you could have had what you wanted.¡±


    qi yanbai was slightly taken aback.


    during this time, lu ye had actually been subtly teaching him to learn ¡°patience and to endure.¡±


    enduring possessiveness led to compliance, enduring selfishness led to praise, and enduring risk led to emotional comfort. lu ye had been trying to teach qi yanbai the concept of delayed gratification and helping him overcome his anxieties.


    looking at qi yanbai¡¯s current state, it seemed that lu ye¡¯s educational efforts had been somewhat successful. however, upon closer inspection, qi yanbai realized this was the first time lu ye had explicitly mentioned ¡°patience.¡±


    he vaguely sensed something, but he couldn¡¯t quite grasp it.


    the only thing he understood was that lu ye was probably determined to make him taste the feeling of ¡°regret.¡± so, despite qi yanbai¡¯s attempts to coax and persuade him, he wouldn¡¯t reveal what he had wanted to say in the first place.


    qi yanbai found this not entirely surprising but still frustrating. he furrowed his brows slightly and was about to say something when he felt the arm around his waist suddenly tighten. lu ye pulled him from his lap onto the couch.


    ¡°sit properly,¡± lu ye interrupted what qi yanbai was about to say, speaking calmly. ¡°the movie is about to start.¡±


    qi yanbai caught something in lu ye¡¯s abrupt change of demeanor but hesitated for a moment. in the end, he swallowed back the heavy air that had been choking him.


    the old dvd player finally began to work. the tv screen was black for a couple of seconds, then lit up again. there were no opening logos or sponsor advertisements on the recorded dvd; it almost immediately delved into the main content.


    the filming style of this obscure movie was completely different from popular films. it started with a long, silent sequence, and lu ye initially thought there was something wrong with the sound. while he was searching for the remote control, qi yanbai¡¯s hand reached over and held his arm.


    ¡°this is how it is, lu ye,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°it¡¯s an art film.¡±


    as qi yanbai said, the filming technique of this movie was quite niche. its composition and framing resembled ¡°paintings in motion¡± more than ¡°film and television.¡± the rich colors gradually faded under a grayish filter, and the long shots seemed tedious and boring, giving it an almost antiquated and mundane quality.


    for art students, this film might have its charm, but for outsiders, it was like a moving painting slideshow. qi yanbai initially thought that lu ye would lose interest within five minutes, but surprisingly, he was watching it quite attentively.


    although not particularly captivated, he didn¡¯t seem bored either.


    the artist on the screen was unrefined in appearance, but his gaze was intense. he appeared both indulgent and passionate as he left one stroke of vibrant color after another in his cramped and simple studio. lu ye watched as the painting gradually took shape and reached out to hold qi yanbai¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°yanbai,¡± lu ye asked casually, ¡°when you invited me to watch this film, what did you want to tell me?¡±


    qi yanbai leaned against lu ye¡¯s shoulder, their posture so natural, as if they were just an ordinary couple who, on a leisurely afternoon, cuddled together to watch an old movie.


    ¡°to be honest, i don¡¯t remember very well,¡± qi yanbai said softly. ¡°maybe i wanted to mention my paintings to you, talk a bit about my past, and then tell you that since i met you, you¡¯ve become  the greatest motivation for my art.¡±


    at the time, qi yanbai couldn¡¯t recall the exact words he wanted to say to lu ye, but he had been dropping hints to him every day. he had pondered and calculated how to express his admiration, share his childhood, or showcase his skills. ultimately, it all boiled down to these aspects.


    during that time, qi yanbai had carefully considered how he should present himself to lu ye, and how to subtly capture his heart. back then, he had thought he was being careful and attentive, but now, looking back, he realized that those schemes were pointless. they appeared exquisite at the time, but once the moment passed, they left no traces in people¡¯s hearts.


    as he recalled that ambiguous and hazy time, what qi yanbai remembered most clearly were the moments when he held hands with lu ye, the sunlight streaming dimly lighting the path in their residential area.


    it was these seemingly insignificant moments that effortlessly overshadowed the countless ¡°wonderful coincidences¡± he had pondered over. they became the fluorescent highlights of that period.


    if he had known it would be like this¡­


    qi yanbai closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and inexplicably thought of the ¡°missed opportunity¡± that had been plaguing him.


    if he had known¡­


    he shouldn¡¯t have wasted his time scheming, qi yanbai thought. instead, he should have held lu ye¡¯s hand even tighter back then.¡±

 CH 85

    the images on the screen continued to move forward relentlessly, changing one after another. young people, women, and elderly individuals¡ªdistinctive figures appeared and disappeared one by one from the screen, eventually all turning into shadows under the artist¡¯s brush.


    the artist¡¯s obsession in his eyes grew as time went on. the modest studio seemed to bear all his desires and madness. with each shift of the camera, the models on the stage and the characters on the canvas interacted, creating an illusion in the dim light that made it difficult to distinguish between reality and artwork.


    after being with qi yanbai, lu ye had gained some understanding of the art world, having attended a few art exhibitions. however, this was his first time witnessing an ¡°artist¡± and a ¡°work¡± from this perspective.


    the camera acted like a god-like perspective detached from the real world, showcasing the artist¡¯s madness alongside his artistry.


    ¡°do all you painters act like this?¡± lu ye suddenly asked, ¡°is it necessary to become passionate to the point of obsession to create good art?¡±


    ¡°partly,¡± qi yanbai leaned against him, enjoying the rare quiet moment. his mind was blank, and he replied casually, ¡°artworks themselves are reflections of creativity and imagination. crazy people can create more and better works because their thinking is broader than that of normal people. they can break boundaries and produce more creative things.¡±


    qi yanbai paused for a moment and continued, ¡°for example, do you remember the art exhibition we once attended?¡±


    ¡°of course, i remember,¡± lu ye replied.


    it was the turning point in their relationship and the beginning of lu ye delving into qi yanbai¡¯s true inner self. he couldn¡¯t forget it.


    ¡°in qi zhe¡¯s exhibition, there was a large oil painting called ¡®journey to the underworld,''¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°it was about two meters tall and had a black and red background.¡±


    ¡°you mean that flashy one that looked like a horror movie poster?¡± lu ye chimed in.


    his description unexpectedly hit qi yanbai¡¯s funny bone, and he chuckled, nodding his head.


    ¡°the author of that painting is someone you¡¯ve met,¡± qi yanbai said, pausing for a moment before adding, ¡°it¡¯s elvis.¡±


    lu ye: ¡°¡­¡±


    lu ye, the police officer, still associated elvis with the drug-addicted, mentally unstable person he had met. it wasn¡¯t until qi yanbai mentioned it that he realized elvis was actually a painter on par with qi yanbai.


    qi yanbai had always had a complicated relationship with elvis, but he couldn¡¯t deny that elvis¡¯s madness and indulgence were the sources of his creativity. he could always respond to his work with the fullest of emotions¡ªwhether it was excitement or negativity, his style was always vibrant and almost distorted.


    ¡°and there¡¯s the white rose painting you once saw,¡± qi yanbai continued, ¡°that was painted by my so-called sister.¡±


    there were no more secrets left in front of lu ye, so when qi yanbai talked about his family, he appeared quite calm. he spoke in a natural and even tone, accompanied by the faint crackling of the background music.


    ¡°she¡¯s different from us. she never pays attention to anyone or talks to anyone. most of the time, she locks herself in her room, painting her own works,¡± qi yanbai explained.


    ¡°doesn¡¯t she find it boring?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°no,¡± qi yanbai replied. ¡°her inner world is richer than ours. she ignores us because she has a more colorful virtual world¡ªher imagination is enough to sustain her, and she doesn¡¯t need to seek solace from reality.¡±


    come to think of it, lu ye thought, being able to live under the qi family¡¯s roof required a certain level of toughness.


    the movie was nearing its end. the aura inside the movie became tense and stifling, as if silently foreshadowing the climax.


    qi yanbai¡¯s gaze was fixed on the screen, but his attention was not on the movie. he touched lu ye¡¯s slightly cold fingertips and suddenly smiled.


    ¡°i used to work hard at learning how to paint when i was a child, competing with my siblings for qi zhe¡¯s favor, resources, and money,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°at first, i didn¡¯t think it was difficult, but as i grew older, the competition became more challenging.¡±


    ¡°at that time, qi zhe always said my works lacked craftsmanship and spirit, that they were too restrained and rigid,¡± qi yanbai continued. ¡°i didn¡¯t understand it at first, so i struggled and even developed some inner demons. but later on, i gradually understood that he was right.¡±


    a natural-born painter had to be either extremely focused or completely crazy, and qi yanbai was in between, unable to fully dedicate himself to painting or let himself go completely mad.


    ¡°i don¡¯t have the talent of an artist, so my inspiration was destined to dry up,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°my career as an artist should have ended after that day, but it was only after i met you that i regained my ability to paint.¡±


    this sounded like a subtle confession, and lu ye¡¯s heart softened. he felt that this statement was more impactful than all the countless confessions qi yanbai had made before.


    ¡°not really,¡± lu ye turned to look at him and said casually, ¡°i don¡¯t think you¡¯re any worse than them. it¡¯s just that you need different things from them.¡±


    perhaps artists are always different from ordinary people; they always need something as creative fuel. for example, elvis needs madness, qi yanbai¡¯s so-called sister needs an undisturbed fantasy world, and qi yanbai needs love.


    he needs warmth, love, and all the beauty and tolerance in the world. but qi zhe couldn¡¯t give him that, and neither could ashley. so he could only wait for inspiration to dry up until he met someone willing to nourish him.


    the movie on the screen finally came to an end, and all the inspiration and creativity turned into a sharp knife, with the artist burying himself while leaving a striking bloodstain on the canvas.


    since it was an unapproved recording, there were no credits at the end of the film. when it reached the final scene, the screen suddenly froze in place, and two images appeared above and below the screen, as if framing a still painting.


    the movie had ended abruptly, and qi yanbai was still a bit dazed. lu ye sat on the couch in silence for a few seconds, then withdrew the arm around qi yanbai and stood up, turning to walk to the other side of the living room.


    ¡°lu ye?¡± qi yanbai was startled, and he quickly called out, ¡°where are you going?¡±


    ¡°i remember someone once told me that an artist¡¯s heart shouldn¡¯t be seen by others,¡± lu ye paused in his steps, turned to look at him, and raised an eyebrow with a meaningful tone. ¡°but what if i say i want to see it now, do you think the ¡®artist¡¯ would agree?¡±


    when qi yanbai had said that, it was half in jest and half in earnest, mostly to tease lu ye. he hadn¡¯t expected that one day he would be drawn into this situation. now, whether it was to see the ¡°artist¡¯s heart¡± or to have qi yanbai completely open up to him, lu ye believed he wouldn¡¯t have any objections.


    in qi yanbai¡¯s art studio, many paintings hung on the walls. to better preserve these paintings, the studio didn¡¯t have high-intensity lighting, only a ceiling light designed for exhibitions.


    qi yanbai followed lu ye into the art studio, then flipped the switch on the wall, turning on several inconspicuous spotlights, illuminating the entire studio.


    lu ye had been to this studio once before, but even though he had prepared himself mentally, he was still stunned by the paintings hanging all around that depicted ¡°him.¡±


    dozens of oil paintings adorned the room, and at first glance, the visual impact was extremely intense. lu ye casually stood in front of one of the works, running his fingers over the textured dried paint. he looked at the sharp and handsome profile of the person in the painting and suddenly felt a strange emotion welling up inside him.


    the last time lu ye had accidentally entered the studio, he was angry and didn¡¯t pay much attention to the other paintings, except for the one in the center. this time, he walked in with a calm mind and began to appreciate them more carefully. he noticed that most of qi yanbai¡¯s works were concentrated before their relationship started. after they began their relationship, there were fewer works, but they no longer focused solely on side profiles; gradually, front-facing images appeared, as if qi yanbai was gradually letting his guard down and coming closer to him.


    these paintings were incredibly lifelike, with precise details in the contours and expressions, as if the artist had observed the subject from such intricate angles countless times and sketched them in their mind repeatedly to capture such exquisite portraits.


    so, this is how he sees me? lu ye wondered.


    ¡°how long have you been painting these?¡± lu ye asked casually.


    ¡°not long,¡± qi yanbai leaned against the door and smiled, saying, ¡°lu ye, you have no idea how captivating you are. every time i paint you, i feel a continuous stream of inspiration.¡±


    while they were talking, there was suddenly a faint knocking from outside. at first, qi yanbai thought it was someone knocking on his own door, but upon closer listening, he realized it was coming from the door of the opposite apartment.


    the room qi yanbai used as an art studio, was near the elevator and corridor, and the soundproofing of the walls wasn¡¯t great. during quiet moments, you could faintly hear sounds from the corridor.


    the knocking from outside was urgent and persistent, as if it was striking directly on qi yanbai¡¯s heart.


    qi yanbai¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly had a very bad feeling. he instinctively turned his head to look in the direction of the wall. his heart felt like it was suspended in midair, on the verge of falling.


    since lu ye had moved into qi yanbai¡¯s apartment, no one had lived in the apartment opposite, so someone persistently knocking on the door could only mean they were looking for lu ye.


    lu ye had been ¡°missing¡± for quite some time now, and during this period, qi yanbai had deliberately avoided discussing their future in the outside world. however, this knock was like a sharp knife, instantly piercing through the fragile facade of false peace they had maintained and pulling him back into the harsh reality.


    lu ye could be found by someone at any time, and he might escape from under this roof.


    just as if in response to qi yanbai¡¯s guess, the knocking outside paused for a second but quickly resumed with the voice of an unfamiliar man calling lu ye¡¯s name twice.


    lu ye also heard the call, but his eyelashes trembled, and he remained focused on the painting in his hand, appearing as if he hadn¡¯t heard anyone calling him from outside.


    qi yanbai¡¯s heart suddenly tensed up, and he felt like he was in a state of high alert. his heart raced, and he instinctively took a few steps towards the wall, as if trying to block lu ye¡¯s line of sight.


    ¡°yanbai.¡±


    but lu ye quickly and naturally called out to him. he seemed to have completely ignored the person calling him, placing the painting back in its original position. with a casual tone, he said, ¡°since we have nothing better to do, how about teaching me how to paint?¡±

 CH 86

    lu ye hadn¡¯t originally planned to bring up the topic of ¡°leaving¡± so soon.


    ¡ªhis arm hadn¡¯t fully healed yet, and the police station had recently added new interns to add to the workforce. plus, there weren¡¯t any major holidays or events recently. it seemed like the perfect time to carve out some free time to deal with his personal issues.


    but the sudden knocking on his apartment door disrupted his plans, and lu ye subtly furrowed his brow, suddenly becoming alert.


    though he couldn¡¯t tell who was knocking on the door outside, given the nature of his work, he often encountered unexpected situations. even during his medical leave, there was always a possibility of being called back for duty.


    while he had informed the precinct about his leave and mentioned that he might be leaving the city for a while, there was still a chance that the station might have unexpected events or staffing issues, leading them to urgently seek him out.


    during this time, lu ye hadn¡¯t contacted anyone outside, and he hadn¡¯t even had access to his own phone. qi yanbai was sensitive about him having contact with the outside world, so lu ye didn¡¯t know if anyone had tried to reach him during these ten or so days. if they had, he had no way of knowing how qi yanbai had handled it.


    the unexpected turn of events had awakened him, and lu ye pondered for a moment. he realized that he had been ¡°missing¡± for quite a while.


    back then, to make qi yanbai let down his guard and force him to open up, lu ye had falsely claimed that he had resigned from the police station and was about to be transferred elsewhere, disappearing completely from the city.


    this excuse had indeed worked wonders for making qi yanbai lower his guard. however, the problem was that qi yanbai had believed it and genuinely thought that lu ye was ¡°isolated and helpless,¡± which made him act more recklessly and be less cautious in dealing with the outside world.


    once or twice could be managed, but the longer lu ye remained ¡°missing,¡± the more potential unexpected situations could arise.


    maybe he really should leave, lu ye thought. qi yanbai¡¯s current state was stable, and lu ye thought it was time to resolve this issue before it created further complications.


    although lu ye had made up his mind, he maintained his usual composure. he casually took qi yanbai¡¯s hand and led him out of the studio, conveniently closing the door behind them.


    qi yanbai hadn¡¯t expected lu ye to pass up such an excellent opportunity to seek help. he looked back toward the direction of the studio with a puzzled and cautious expression, as if he were trying to determine whether lu ye genuinely didn¡¯t care about the person outside or if he was merely attempting to lower qi yanbai¡¯s guard, waiting for an opportunity to seek help from the outside.


    lu ye acted as if he hadn¡¯t noticed qi yanbai¡¯s vigilant gaze and sat down in front of an easel in the living room. he casually examined the incomplete work on it and then nailed a fresh piece of paper onto the easel, all the while with a nonchalant expression.


    ¡°since you haven¡¯t been working for several days,¡± lu ye smiled and said, ¡°teach me. consider it an opportunity to hone your teaching skills.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s hand hadn¡¯t fully recovered, and learning to paint was just an excuse to make qi yanbai relax. he reached for his toolbox with his left hand and selected a newly sharpened pencil, sketching a line on the white paper.


    lu ye could only draw stick figures with his right hand, and his left-hand skills were even worse resulting in wobbly, twisted lines with multiple bends. qi yanbai couldn¡¯t help but sigh as he watched.


    ¡°gently,¡± he advised.


    qi yanbai sat on the armrest of the couch behind lu ye, leaning forward slightly. he wrapped one arm around lu ye¡¯s waist and the other around his shoulders, holding lu ye¡¯s hand. with an eraser, he carefully erased the dark, twisted lines.


    the television in the distance hadn¡¯t been turned off yet, frozen on the final scene of the movie. qi yanbai raised his eyelids to glance at the plastic cup on the tv cabinet and absently held lu ye¡¯s hand, lightly tracing the outline of a cup on the white paper.


    for a while, neither of them spoke. the room was so quiet that only the sound of the pencil rubbing against the paper could be heard.


    a few minutes later, the knocking in the hallway gradually stopped. it seemed that the person outside had finally confirmed that lu ye wasn¡¯t home and had given up after realizing there was no point in persisting.


    the elevator doors opened and closed, and on the white paper in front of them, the outline of a cup was gradually taking shape. it wasn¡¯t until all the noise in the corridor had completely disappeared that qi yanbai finally breathed a sigh of relief and spoke up.


    ¡°lu ye.¡±


    he rested his head on lu ye¡¯s shoulder, his voice sounding soft and ethereal, and the warm breath brushed against lu ye¡¯s neck, leaving a barely perceptible tickle.


    ¡°about just now¡ª¡±


    ¡°what about it?¡± lu ye interrupted him.


    ¡°why didn¡¯t you answer?¡± qi yanbai asked softly. ¡°he clearly came to find you.¡±


    lu ye knew that qi yanbai couldn¡¯t resist it¡ªhe was a straightforward yet pure-hearted person who detested anything that could make him feel insecure. if something made him anxious, even if he felt uncomfortable, he would try to address the ¡°source of risk¡± first, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep at night.


    qi yanbai knew that if he spoke up, it might break the precarious balance and harmony between them, but he still wanted a definitive answer from lu ye.


    ¡°our agreed-upon time hasn¡¯t arrived yet,¡± lu ye calmly replied. ¡°and my injury hasn¡¯t fully healed. where would i go?¡±


    qi yanbai was momentarily taken aback. he tightened his arms around lu ye¡¯s waist and turned to look at him, his expression rarely showing a hint of uncertainty.


    before this, he had always thought that the ¡°peace agreement¡± between him and lu ye was a mutually understood lie, a fig leaf to maintain peace, and it could be torn up by either of them at any time.


    but what surprised him was that lu ye was actually treating it as an ¡°agreement¡± and earnestly abiding by it. even though the opportunity to ¡°escape¡± was right in front of him, he still gave it up.


    in that moment, qi yanbai felt the guilt of deceiving lu ye again, a guilt he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. he lowered his head, resting his forehead against the nape of lu ye¡¯s neck, and suddenly felt like he hadn¡¯t changed at all.


    he was the selfish one, the one who lied, and he took advantage of lu ye¡¯s trust time and time again without remorse.


    he felt ashamed, but at the same time, he couldn¡¯t help but draw new hope from lu ye¡¯s reaction today.


    ¡°if possible, i hope you can stay forever,¡± qi yanbai said.


    lu ye remained silent for a couple of seconds. he put the pencil back in the toolbox and then turned to face qi yanbai directly, gazing steadily into his eyes.


    ¡°forever?¡± lu ye smiled and asked in return.


    qi yanbai probably knew that using such words at this moment was too sensitive. he lowered his gaze, trying to make amends. ¡°or at least until your injury is fully healed.¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t know if he was charmed by qi yanbai¡¯s compliance, but he chuckled softly, lifted his hand, and ran his fingers through qi yanbai¡¯s hair like petting a cat.


    qi yanbai closed his eyes slightly as lu ye¡¯s touch made him feel content. he leaned his head into the palm of lu ye¡¯s hand and nuzzled it gently.


    ¡°lu ye,¡± qi yanbai said softly, ¡°you won¡¯t suddenly leave me, right?¡±


    this time, he didn¡¯t use words like ¡°forever,¡± which showed that he had compromised a lot. lu ye understood in his heart that from the moment qi yanbai had kidnapped him until now¡ªup to this very moment¡ªqi yanbai had truly lowered his guard and was willing to believe in him.


    he no longer sought answers through obvious lies because this time he wanted to get a genuine response.


    the atmosphere in the room seemed to become subtly tense. lu ye silently locked eyes with qi yanbai for a moment, then he lowered his eyelids and suddenly smiled.


    ¡°yes,¡± lu ye replied with great certainty, ¡°i promised i would stay with you forever.¡±


    qi yanbai breathed a sigh of relief, imperceptibly releasing the heavy burden that had been weighing on his heart. he gazed into lu ye¡¯s clear eyes, completely unaware that lu ye had just made a decision that was entirely contrary to his response.

 CH 87

    lu ye knew that he might be a bit cruel in doing so.


    but just like resetting a broken bone, sometimes you have to muster the courage to shatter the deformed wound from the outside to have a chance at true healing.


    the unfamiliar knocking on the door outside didn¡¯t sound again. qi yanbai finished drawing that cup while holding lu ye¡¯s hand, then took it off the canvas and stuck it on the wall behind the living room sofa.


    ¡°is it nice?¡± qi yanbai knelt on the sofa with one knee, gesturing with his hands, and turned to smile at lu ye.


    ¡°it¡¯s beautiful,¡± lu ye leaned against the bedroom door and chuckled. ¡°anyway, it¡¯s your painting; how could it not be beautiful?¡±


    ¡°this is your work,¡± qi yanbai lied with his eyes open, saying with a smile, ¡°this is your first lesson¡¯s masterpiece, i need to find a good place to put it.¡±


    the kids in the art class always produced a piece of artwork each class. to motivate the children, the training center would collect their works one by one and hang them on the wall. after accumulating enough, they would have a small ¡°art exhibition.¡±


    lu ye came to pick up lu mingming every week and was very familiar with their training center¡¯s ¡°rules of the game.¡± on the day of the art exhibition, these teachers would personally select the best works from their respective classes and put them in the most prominent positions, both as encouragement and recognition of outstanding students.


    as a star teacher in the eyes of the children, qi yanbai¡¯s spot on the art exhibition day always attracted a lot of attention. he would carefully choose the best works, but never had he encountered a ¡°student¡± like lu ye, who wasn¡¯t making progress himself and was even looking for a stand-in.


    out of personal favor for his beloved, he unconditionally stuck lu ye¡¯s painting right in the middle of the living room. lu ye looked at his eager expression and shook his head helplessly, thinking that he didn¡¯t know how disappointed the children at the training center would be if they saw him like this.


    he found it amusing, but watching qi yanbai¡¯s joyful expression, his mood couldn¡¯t help but become complicated. his lips, which were about to form a smile, fell back into a tight line.


    qi yanbai was oblivious to the storm raging in lu ye¡¯s heart. he used tape to secure the painting and then jumped down from the sofa. he walked over to lu ye and gave him an appreciative smile.


    ¡°not bad,¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°this student seems to be very talented.¡±


    qi yanbai was always gentle and likable, and lu ye was no exception. he blinked, gave a faint smile, and then wordlessly turned his head to kiss him.


    qi yanbai¡¯s eyes lit up, and he immediately went along with it. he lightly nibbled lu ye¡¯s tongue and then opened his mouth, taking the opportunity to entwine with him.


    perhaps knowing what would happen the next day, lu ye¡¯s kiss was particularly passionate. qi yanbai found himself pressed against the door frame, his spine firmly against the wall. it almost felt like lu ye was about to devour him.


    ¡°lu ye,¡± qi yanbai struggled to keep up, couldn¡¯t help but grab the fabric around his waist, and gasped as he looked up, teasingly saying, ¡°why are you so enthusiastic today?¡±


    ¡°i like you,¡± lu ye softly chuckled and asked, ¡°is that not okay?¡±


    of course, it was okay. qi yanbai was trembling from lu ye¡¯s sudden affection but couldn¡¯t help but reach out and wrap his arms around lu ye¡¯s neck, lifting his foot to kick the bedroom door shut.


    the strange and abrupt knocking at the door seemed to have no impact on their lives. qi yanbai had initially been worried that the person might try to contact lu ye through other means if they couldn¡¯t reach him by knocking. so, he had spent the night guarding his phone while lu ye was asleep. eventually, seeing that nothing happened, he had finally relaxed.


    the next day, the sky outside was gloomy from early morning, and the air was heavy with moisture, making one¡¯s heart feel uneasy.


    lu ye had woken up early, and when qi yanbai came out of the bathroom, he saw lu ye standing by the balcony, looking down with a calm expression, lost in thought.


    qi yanbai walked up to him quietly, put his arm around lu ye¡¯s waist, and leaned in to see what he was looking at. he smiled and asked, ¡°what are you looking at?¡±


    ¡°just now, there was a child downstairs who didn¡¯t want to go to school and got scolded by his mother. he¡¯s gone now,¡± lu ye smiled and, seemingly unaffected, shifted his gaze away. he turned to look at qi yanbai and asked, ¡°by the way, are you going out today?¡±


    as luck would have it, yesterday afternoon, lu ye had been thinking about how to find a reason to send qi yanbai out. then, in the evening, the training center called and asked about qi yanbai¡¯s health and whether he could come back to teach a class.


    qi yanbai hadn¡¯t officially resigned from the training center yet, so he had to take sick leave and only occasionally return to teach a class, using the excuse of not feeling well. he didn¡¯t want to leave the house every day, so he frowned when he heard this and rubbed his forehead against lu ye¡¯s back for a moment before making a soft, reluctant sound.


    ¡°i really don¡¯t want to go,¡± qi yanbai sighed, muttering to himself, ¡°actually, i have some savings. even if i don¡¯t work, we won¡¯t starve.¡±


    lu ye chuckled and pushed the arms wrapped around his waist down. he turned to face qi yanbai and said mysteriously, ¡°sitting idly by will only lead to trouble in the long run. if you don¡¯t work, you¡¯ll end up selling paintings to support me.¡±


    qi yanbai frowned at this, looking somewhat dissatisfied, but lu ye quickly smiled and leaned in to kiss him.


    ¡°perfect. when you come back, remember to bring some live shrimp,¡± lu ye softened his voice, negotiating, ¡°i want to have spicy shrimp balls today.¡±


    qi yanbai wasn¡¯t particularly enthusiastic about going to work, but he was more proactive in satisfying lu ye¡¯s requests. hearing this, his eyebrows twitched, and he finally showed a hint of interest.


    ¡°also, when you pass by the newsstand, remember to buy me a magazine,¡± lu ye said. ¡°i¡¯ve read everything at home.¡±


    saying this, he walked back to the bedroom, lay down, and then raised his hand to wave at qi yanbai impatiently, urging him, ¡°hurry up, don¡¯t waste time; you¡¯ll be late for work.¡±


    during this period, as long as qi yanbai was at home, he rarely controlled lu ye¡¯s movements. however, every time he left the house, he couldn¡¯t help but lock lu ye up, confining his activities to the bedroom.


    the bedroom had been thoroughly cleaned by qi yanbai from the beginning. not to mention any escape tools, even the glass cup on the bedside had been deliberately replaced with a paper one before he left.


    lu ye understood that qi yanbai was still anxious inside, so every time he didn¡¯t resist, he treated it as a ¡°necessary procedure.¡± after a few times, both he and qi yanbai got used to it.


    ¡°alright, you be careful at home, i¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    qi yanbai said as he walked to the side of the bed, pulled out the long chain from under the bed, and fastened the lock to lu ye¡¯s wrist, tightening it securely. then, he bent down gently and hugged him.


    ¡°so, i¡¯m off?¡± qi yanbai smiled and said, ¡°wait for me to come back, lu ye.¡±


    lu ye lazily responded with a ¡°okay.¡±


    the half-open balcony window allowed a chilly breeze to creep into the room. qi yanbai walked over, closed the window, and absentmindedly picked up the water glass from the bedside table before leaving the bedroom.


    lu ye listened to his footsteps moving back and forth in the living room for a few minutes. then, there was a light sound from the outer door, followed by the mechanical click of the lock core, sealing the door shut.


    qi yanbai had left, lu ye thought.


    his originally wavering heart settled completely with the closing of the door. lu ye felt his heart rate slow down, and as his breathing rhythm gradually stabilized, it returned to a calm pace.


    the room fell completely silent, and for a while, all lu ye could hear was the sound of his own breathing. he lay still on the bed for a few minutes, ensuring that qi yanbai had indeed left. then he sat up, peeled off the restraint on his right hand, and reached into the gap between the splint and bandage. with a little effort, he pulled out an extremely thin and tough piece of wire.

 CH 88

    when lu ye had hidden the wire inside the splint initially, he couldn¡¯t be sure if qi yanbai would actually resort to extreme measures against him. it had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, an additional layer of security for his ¡°high-risk plan.¡±


    ¡ªnow, it seemed that his intuition was indeed correct, and this extra ¡°security¡± turned out to be extremely necessary.


    the wire was thin and flexible, stretching to more than ten centimeters in length. lu ye sat on the bed, bent the wire into an irregular arc, and then gently manipulated the metal lock, inserting the wire into the lock core.


    frontline police officers often dealt with various types of criminals, some of them serious offenders, but there were also many petty thieves. these offenders might not face severe sentences, but they frequently reoffended, and cases of repeat offenders were not uncommon. in the past, during difficult times, relationships between petty thieves and police officers could become quite complex.


    lu ye had learned this particular skill several years ago when he was assigned to the local police station. it was rumored to be a skill passed down by a reformed ¡°master thief,¡± and it was virtually foolproof. except for complex locks like those on security doors, regular padlocks were pierced with ease.


    with steady hands and a composed mindset, it took just over ten seconds for the lock in his hand to emit an extremely soft click. immediately after, the lock snapped open automatically, and the semi-circular latch slid down the iron chain, falling silently onto the bed.


    lu ye continued with the same method, unlocking the remaining shackles one by one. in just two or three minutes, he had completely regained his freedom.


    having grown used to the ankle restraint, lu ye felt a bit disoriented at suddenly regaining his ¡°freedom.¡± he lightly moved his ankle, feeling the sudden loss of weight, creating a sensation of floating.


    however, he didn¡¯t have much time to dwell on this change. qi yanbai could return at any moment, so he had to make haste.


    the front door had a smart security lock, and qi yanbai¡¯s exit would automatically lock it. unless a breaking and entering tool was used, leaving through the main door was difficult.


    lu ye was well aware of this, so he didn¡¯t attempt futile efforts. he quickly set his goal and swiftly scanned the whole apartment, realizing he couldn¡¯t find his own phone. he abandoned the search and returned to the bedroom, retrieving a set of clothes he had left at qi yanbai¡¯s house a long time ago from the wardrobe.


    these clothes were meant for summer, but lu ye had no other options at the moment. he changed quickly, tucking the t-shirt¡¯s hem tightly into his belt. then, he made his way to the balcony, pushed open the balcony window, and stepped outside.


    the open balcony railing was chilled by the cold wind. lu ye gripped it with one hand. as he was about to leave, he couldn¡¯t help but turn back to look at the empty bedroom behind him.


    after regaining his freedom after so many days, lu ye should have felt happy, but at this moment, his mood was unusually calm, with a hint of indescribable complexity.


    lu ye knew that by leaving like this, qi yanbai would definitely feel betrayed and not be able to accept it.


    however, despite this, lu ye was clear about what he needed to do¡ªlove should be based on equality and mutual respect, not lived under constant ¡°control.¡± he could provide the security that qi yanbai needed, but he absolutely could not do it in the way qi yanbai wanted.


    so, this time, when he left, he not only had to unlock the shackles on his hands but also break the lock in qi yanbai¡¯s heart.


    he had to completely break the chain that had imprisoned qi yanbai for over twenty years and turn his world upside down.


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­.


    as time passed, the moisture in the air gradually condensed into raindrops. qi yanbai paced around the classroom, and suddenly felt a vague sense of unease.


    this unease was extremely subtle, not sharp, and couldn¡¯t provoke any emotional fluctuations in him for the time being. it was like the drizzling spring rain outside, continuous and unending.


    qi yanbai subconsciously looked out of the window, and the glass panes facing the street were already covered with a thin layer of water stains. water droplets slid down the glass one by one, leaving a winding trail behind.


    what¡¯s wrong? qi yanbai worriedly thought. is something happening to lu ye at home?


    he instinctively wanted to contact lu ye and inquire about the situation, but when he reached for his phone, he realized that lu ye¡¯s phone had been taken away by him long ago. so, he hesitated and put down his phone, deciding to finish work five minutes earlier, avoiding the parents who would undoubtedly pester him with questions outside, and heading home earlier.


    he made up his mind and, just before the end of the class, he discreetly informed the teaching assistant, then left through the back door.


    the receptionist at the front desk saw him leaving early and was a bit puzzled. unable to restrain herself, she stopped him and asked quietly, ¡°mr. qi? aren¡¯t you staying to review the students¡¯ work for this week?¡±


    ¡°no,¡± qi yanbai smiled at her and replied with a gentle but undeniable tone, ¡°i indeed have an urgent matter at home. please help me mark it as leave.¡±


    during this period, he had been on leave, so the receptionist nodded and didn¡¯t suspect anything. she marked ¡°attended the class session¡± on his attendance record.


    the rain outside continued to fall endlessly. puddles formed on the road, and qi yanbai opened an umbrella, lowered his head, and briskly walked to the nearby supermarket.


    lu ye wasn¡¯t a picky eater, but he had clear preferences. qi yanbai went to the seafood section and picked up two pounds of live shrimp. then, after giving it some thought, he headed to the meat section and bought two pounds of beef.


    qi yanbai was calculating the menu for dinner in his mind while looking forward to some quality time with lu ye after work. little did he know that lu ye had already left him a huge ¡°surprise.¡±


    as he returned home with brisk steps, qi yanbai pushed the door open and, before he could even call lu ye¡¯s name, he suddenly felt a vast emptiness enveloping the apartment.


    it was a very elusive feeling. everything in the living room seemed exactly the same as when he had left, yet qi yanbai inexplicably sensed that something important had been taken away from his home, leaving behind only an empty shell. at that moment, everything was so quiet that he could only hear the sound of his own breathing.


    his heart skipped a beat, and he felt like his entire heart was dropping, leaving a gaping hole in his chest. a cold wind blew through that hole, leaving only a chilling sensation.


    qi yanbai¡¯s fingers unconsciously loosened, and the plastic bag containing the live shrimp fell to the ground with a loud ¡°splatter.¡± the water inside the bag splashed everywhere, and the live shrimp scattered around, emitting a fishy odor.


    however, qi yanbai paid no attention to this. his heart rate accelerated rapidly, but he felt as if he had fallen into a state of numb shock, moving mechanically into the apartment. he didn¡¯t even change his shoes, stumbling toward the bedroom door and grabbing the doorknob.


    the cold metal felt sharp and icy in his palm, and suddenly, qi yanbai was overwhelmed by a profound sense of desolation. it was as though he didn¡¯t need to open the door; he already knew the truth in advance.


    ¡°he said he would wait for me,¡± qi yanbai stubbornly thought.


    this thought was deeply rooted in his mind, and he desperately wanted to convince himself to believe it. however, this idea was like a floating weed, seemingly solid but shattered with a slight touch.


    a cold breeze whistled through the door crack. qi yanbai felt as if he had been torn in two, with one part still stubbornly believing that lu ye wouldn¡¯t deceive him, while the other part had cruelly seen through everything and plunged into the pain of betrayal.


    ¡°he lied to me,¡± qi yanbai thought, ¡°he never intended to stay.¡±


    this thought shattered all of qi yanbai¡¯s delusions and expectations in an instant, plunging him into the harsh reality. he closed his eyes, as if in extreme pain, took sporadic shallow breaths, and then, before his mind could fully react, he reached out and pressed down on the icy doorknob.


    the bedroom door slid open inward, and qi yanbai stood at the entrance, seeing an empty bed in the room. the chains that should have locked lu ye were twisted and sprawled on the bedroom floor like two lifeless snakes.


    the window in the balcony was open, letting in the chilly wind, and raindrops had already wet a small part of the floor near the balcony. water stains were slowly, coldly creeping up the edge of the carpet.

 CH 89

    lu ye is gone.


    qi yanbai had no idea how lu ye managed it.


    it was as if, just like those grand old-fashioned escape magic tricks, no matter how harsh the conditions or how bizarre the situation, as long as the curtain was drawn and lifted, all that remained on the ground would be an empty chain.


    lu ye was like a mermaid after sunrise, like a snow doll in spring. in any case, it took just the blink of an eye, and he disappeared from qi yanbai¡¯s sight as if he had never been there, turning into foam, turning into water stains, silently vanishing.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t understand how all of this had happened, but as he looked at the opened handcuffs on the floor, there was a fleeting moment when he doubted his sanity.


    ¡°did he truly belong to me?¡± qi yanbai wondered, or had everything that happened during this time been nothing more than a delusion caused by his madness?


    his thoughts momentarily wavered until he subconsciously reached into his pocket and touched lu ye¡¯s phone. this narrowly held onto his fragile mental state, preventing him from falling into the whirlpool of self-doubt completely.


    outside, the rain continued to pour heavily. the glistening water stains on the floor had spread inside, wetting the edge of the carpet, casting a shadow-like gray.


    qi yanbai stood still at the door for a while, then, with a blank expression, he walked into the room.


    deep down, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to accept it. he wanted to see if lu ye had left anything behind for him¡ªwhether it was a memento, a few words, whether they were words of abuse, threats, or just a calm farewell. even a more decisive farewell would offer him some consolation.


    but there was nothing. besides lu ye¡¯s discarded sleepwear hanging crookedly by the bed, there was nothing in the room left by him.


    he seemed to leave very calmly. everything in the room remained undisturbed, except for the wide-open balcony window that symbolized his departure. everything in the room was just as it was before qi yanbai left.


    there was no excitement of his regained freedom, no resentment from being imprisoned for days. it was as if lu ye no longer cared about qi yanbai at all, as if he didn¡¯t want to waste any energy on something irrelevant, as if he had left with ease, without leaving a single word for qi yanbai.


    love was gone, and so was hatred. he left this place without a second thought, as if leaving an ordinary business trip destination, without a trace of nostalgia.


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t describe the feelings in his heart. his emotions were a complex mix of anger and resentment, triggered uncontrollably by lu ye¡¯s indifference and betrayal. however, at the same time, he mournfully understood that lu ye had always been this way.


    he was calm, sharp, and proud. he had always been distant and cautious with strangers. initially, it was lu ye¡¯s demeanor that had attracted qi yanbai, but now he had simply withdrawn all the favor he had shown to qi yanbai, returning everything to its original state.


    there was no place to vent this anger and disappointment. whenever qi yanbai thought about how everything lu ye had done for him during this time had been false, merely a means to escape, he felt wronged, angry, and almost had the urge to tear up all his paintings.


    but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. he couldn¡¯t even tear up the portrait of lu ye, let alone the ¡°debut work¡± created by him in the living room. he angrily removed his own unfinished work from the easel, tearing the paper into shreds.


    the pieces of paper fluttered to the ground, but qi yanbai didn¡¯t feel any relief. he wanted to vent, but he was exhausted to the core, overwhelmed by the thick, sticky, and heavy emotions that rose from the ground, engulfing him like a swamp.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t know how long he had been sitting in the living room. the rain outside had gone from heavy to light, and by the time the afternoon passed, most of the lively shrimp on the floor had died, with only a few struggling feebly in the puddles, occasionally twitching before finally lying still.


    the room gradually grew darker, and qi yanbai on the sofa was about to sink into the darkness when suddenly, there was a faint sound of footsteps in the corridor.


    the footsteps drew nearer, finally stopping outside the door.


    then the door gently clicked, as if someone from outside had manipulated the keypad lock.

 CH 90

    when the door lock clicked, qi yanbai was trapped in a sluggish and numb despair.


    this despair was like a bucket of spoiled yogurt, sticky and sour, wrapping around his entire body, entangling him as he fell endlessly downward, as if it wanted to drown him in this darkness.


    qi yanbai knew he was plunging into an irreversible catastrophe, but he was physically and mentally exhausted, unable to summon even the slightest resistance. even though he heard the sound of the door lock, he only moved his eyes slightly, appearing completely unresponsive.


    he had thought that it was either the property management or a part-time student delivering food, and if he didn¡¯t answer the door, they would leave on their own. but he waited for two seconds, and instead of the expected doorbell, the keypad lock suddenly lit up, as if someone outside had activated it.


    the clear sound of inputting the code quickly echoed, and before qi yanbai could react, the indicator light on the door lock suddenly turned green. after the correct password prompt sounded, the door lock automatically sprung open, revealing a very narrow opening.


    in the quiet night, this sound was like a thunderclap, finally jolting qi yanbai out of his statue-like state. he lifted his head in disbelief and saw someone pulling the door open from outside. then, a foot stepped into the entrance, crushing a dead shrimp on the floor.


    the weight of the high-top martin boots was astonishing, and the shrimp was instantly flattened into a mess. qi yanbai¡¯s gaze followed the movement upward, illuminated by the dim light from the hallway¡¯s motion-activated lights, and he saw the face he had been longing for.


    lu ye had changed his clothes and was wearing a duty uniform jacket over his casual outfit. the fabric on his shoulder was darkened by water stains, making it look heavy on him.


    he appeared natural, and after entering the room, he didn¡¯t even glance at qi yanbai on the sofa. instead, he habitually wiped his shoe soles on the doormat and then turned around to close the door.


    at that moment, qi yanbai truly believed he had gone completely mad.


    how else could he explain seeing lu ye at this moment, and seeing him walk into the house so naturally, as if nothing had ever happened?


    was it an illusion? qi yanbai thought with almost eerie calmness. could illusions be this real?


    qi yanbai¡¯s thoughts were in chaos, but before he could fully tell whether the lu ye in front of him was a product of his imagination, the lu ye¡¯s gaze shifted slightly downward, scanning the messy floor. he furrowed his brow slightly, turned back, and switched on the wall light.


    the previously dark living room was instantly illuminated by the bright light, piercing through the illusionary boundaries and firmly piercing qi yanbai¡¯s heart.


    qi yanbai¡¯s eyes hadn¡¯t seen light in a long time, and the sudden brightness was a bit uncomfortable, but he stubbornly and intently stared at lu ye in front of the door.


    the person in front of him was clear in appearance, natural in demeanor, and every detail of his clothing was lifelike. he didn¡¯t look like an illusion no matter how you looked at him.


    qi yanbai¡¯s eyes flickered, and the frozen emotions slowly began to awaken. the sharp feeling, like thorns, swept over him once again. qi yanbai¡¯s chest heaved heavily for a moment, and a thousand words flashed through his mind.


    he had countless questions to ask, but as he looked at lu ye, he could only utter a bewildering question.


    ¡°¡­where did you go?¡± qi yanbai asked.


    ¡°i went to the hospital,¡± lu ye said. ¡°then i returned to the police station and canceled my leave.¡±


    in the afternoon, lu ye first went to the hospital for a check-up. his injuries had healed mostly, and the cast had been replaced with a more lightweight brace.


    after leaving the hospital, he went back to the police station to check on the situation. in fact, the person who had knocked on the door yesterday was indeed an intern from the police station. fortunately, it was not related to official business; they were just having a department dinner and happened to pass by his neighborhood, so they wanted to see if he was home.


    yao xing and the others had also asked lu ye why he had been out of contact for so many days, but lu ye only said that he had lost his phone and hadn¡¯t had a chance to get a new sim card. he managed to brush off their questions with just a few words.


    ¡°the police station?¡± qi yanbai¡¯s eyes flickered, finally realizing what was happening. he reached out to support himself on the coffee table, slowly stood up, and stared at lu ye across the living room. his tone was stiff as he asked, ¡°didn¡¯t you resign?¡±


    ¡°i didn¡¯t resign,¡± lu ye looked at him openly and said each word distinctly, ¡°the resignation was a lie; i just took an extended sick leave.¡±


    a buzz resonated in qi yanbai¡¯s mind.


    lu ye hadn¡¯t resigned, so all of this was a deception, qi yanbai thought. his previous panic was fake, his suffering was fake, and even his desperate move to cut ties with him was fake.


    why? qi yanbai didn¡¯t understand. he just felt an indescribable anger surging from the depths of his heart. it was like a wildfire, scorching him to the core.


    does he hate me so much? qi yanbai wondered. is that why he chose to deceive me and push me into a corner with no way out?


    if he hadn¡¯t thought that lu ye was leaving, qi yanbai would never have kidnapped him. he wouldn¡¯t have revealed this embarrassing and crazy side of himself, resulting in the irreversible loss of their last chance for reconciliation and the uncontrollable descent into the abyss.


    qi yanbai suddenly understood something. he had suppressed his emotions all afternoon, and now they poured out like a flood. he was overwhelmed by a sharp and vivid sensation, even nurturing a sharp sense of hatred.


    he hated lu ye for deceiving him, toying with him. but at the same time, he hated himself even more. he despised himself for being manipulated so ruthlessly, for feeling so desperate, yet still being overjoyed at the prospect of seeing him.


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t tell what this mixture of love and hate represented. he only felt unbearable pain, as if his heart was being crushed.


    he stared at lu ye intensely for two seconds, then suddenly took a step forward, ignoring everything, and kissed him.


    this kiss was like a release of frustration. the easel in the living room was knocked down by qi yanbai¡¯s movement, crashing to the ground with a loud bang. lu ye stumbled back a step, and his shoulder blades hit the door behind him. he felt a metallic taste filling his mouth.


    this kiss was fierce and violent, and it was hard to tell who was getting hurt, but the metallic taste seemed to stimulate qi yanbai¡¯s emotions even more. his eyes were red, and he clenched lu ye¡¯s shoulder tightly.


    ¡°you lied to me¡ª¡± qi yanbai sobbed and shouted in despair, ¡°you lied to me! you lied to me!!¡±


    it was like he was accusing lu ye of deceit but also blaming him for leaving without a word.


    his tone sounded intense, yet he seemed so aggrieved, as if he had suffered a great injustice and wanted the person in front of him to support him.


    lu ye¡¯s heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly. the tension was unbearable, and he silently accepted this accusation. occasionally, he turned his head slightly, wiping away the sweat from qi yanbai¡¯s temple with his cheek.


    after what seemed like a long time, qi yanbai finally caught his breath and calmed down. the intense emotions had drained him of all his strength. he slumped down, almost kneeling on the floor. lu ye bent down slightly, reached out with one hand, and pulled qi yanbai into his arms, allowing him to lean on his shoulder.


    ¡°yeah,¡± lu ye¡¯s voice was still calm but tinged with a hint of redness in his eyes. he admitted straightforwardly, ¡°i lied to you.¡±


    ¡°but you also lied to me,¡± lu ye said, ¡°about the tracking, the surveillance¡ªi can count two lies from you, and i lied to you twice as well. so, we¡¯re even now, and you don¡¯t have to be afraid anymore.¡±


    ¡°even?¡± qi yanbai seemed to have only caught the word ¡°even¡± and shook his head lightly, smiling faintly. ¡°we can¡¯t be even.¡± but his smile was weak and seemed more heartbreaking than crying. ¡°i like you so much, i can¡¯t be without you.¡±


    ¡°why did you come back?¡± qi yanbai murmured softly to himself. ¡°you left, so why did you come back?¡±


    after the breakdown, qi yanbai¡¯s emotions suddenly dropped from their peak. his brain quickly cooled down, followed by a deeper exhaustion.


    his emotions were like the embers of a fire, still retaining some warmth but would turn to ashes with the slightest touch, dissipating into dust.


    qi yanbai closed his eyes, leaning against lu ye¡¯s shoulder. his fingers clenched the fabric beneath them tightly. after a long while, it seemed like he had figured something out and asked softly, ¡°did you come back to arrest me?¡±


    besides that reason, qi yanbai couldn¡¯t think of any other reason that would make lu ye willingly return to this place that had humiliated him for so many days.


    lu ye didn¡¯t expect that it would take qi yanbai so long to understand. he felt both sympathetic and amused at the same time. he raised an eyebrow, made a sound of agreement, and said, ¡°i came back to arrest you.¡±


    with a slight shove of his shoulder, lu ye separated qi yanbai from himself. he then twisted qi yanbai¡¯s arm skillfully and locked the metal handcuffs onto his wrists, all in one smooth motion. he did it in a manner that suggested he was arresting a criminal.


    lu ye kicked off his boots and, holding qi yanbai¡¯s hands firmly, walked confidently towards the bedroom. qi yanbai couldn¡¯t move with the handcuffs on, so he awkwardly followed lu ye¡¯s footsteps.


    lu ye pulled qi yanbai into the bedroom and tossed him onto the bed. then, he casually picked up the metal handcuffs that qi yanbai hadn¡¯t had a chance to put away and made a motion to fasten them on qi yanbai¡¯s hands.


    qi yanbai¡¯s overwhelmed brain finally started to process what was happening. the cold metal made him shiver, and a strange sense of unease suddenly dawned on him.


    ¡ªdo police arrest criminals in the bedroom? qi yanbai wondered.


    it was only at this moment that qi yanbai finally realized something odd. his mind suddenly flooded with a bizarre suspicion, and a storm of thoughts surged in his head. he didn¡¯t struggle; instead, he propped himself up on the bed with a sense of urgency, reaching out to grab lu ye¡¯s collar.


    ¡°why¡ª¡± qi yanbai began to speak, but his voice was choked as if something had blocked his throat. he was almost instantly hoarse. ¡°why did you come back?¡±


    ¡°why¡ª¡± his emotions were too overwhelming, and he stuttered, almost incoherent. he stumbled over his words, repeating, ¡°why, why didn¡¯t you just¡ª¡±


    he spoke for a long time without reaching a conclusion. lu ye raised an eyebrow, looking intensely as he watched qi yanbai.


    ¡°aren¡¯t you the one who said i came back to arrest you?¡± lu ye asked.


    under normal circumstances, qi yanbai would have detected the teasing and banter in lu ye¡¯s tone, however, in his current state of turmoil, he was so consumed by an addictive desire for an answer that he didn¡¯t notice. he clung tightly to lu ye¡¯s collar, his eyes unwavering as if he were a desperate stray dog, pleading for a kind passerby to take him home.


    seeing that qi yanbai was genuinely distressed, lu ye decided to stop teasing him. he placed his hand on qi yanbai¡¯s cold hand and gently stroked the corner of his reddened eye.


    qi yanbai¡¯s chest heaved violently, and he stared at lu ye with an intense gaze, his eyes filled with a pitiful look.


    ¡°i left to show you that i have the ability to walk out of this door anytime,¡± lu ye¡¯s fingers moved from qi yanbai¡¯s eye corner and lightly touched the corner of his lips. he said softly, ¡°i came back to tell you that i love you, so i¡¯m willing to stay here for you.¡±


    ¡°not everything has to be obtained through scheming and competition,¡± lu ye continued. ¡°love can be given freely.¡±


    with a slight pressure from his hand, he completely locked the handcuffs with a crisp sound.


    ¡°i know it might be difficult for you to understand this right now,¡± lu ye said calmly and seriously, ¡°but that¡¯s okay. since your family and your parents didn¡¯t teach you this, i¡¯ll teach you.¡±

 CH 91

    the expression on qi yanbai¡¯s face suddenly became blank.


    he had been so eager to hear the answer from lu ye, but when lu ye earnestly responded, he suddenly felt at a loss.


    he seemed to understand lu ye¡¯s words, but he hadn¡¯t grasped what they represented.


    however, his emotions had calmed down considerably. the sharp hatred was still there, but it was as if it had been coated with a thick layer of icing sugar, and although the blade remained, when he reached out to touch it, he only felt coarse and lumpy sugar granules.


    ¡°what do you mean?¡± qi yanbai¡¯s chest heaved violently for a moment. he couldn¡¯t quite grasp it, but he didn¡¯t have the patience to think. his eyes were red, and he stared fiercely at lu ye, his voice trembling as he asked, ¡°what do you mean?¡±


    lu ye looked at his trembling hand, before taking off his coat, casually draping his duty uniform over the bed¡¯s railing.


    ¡°it means i won¡¯t leave anymore,¡± lu ye said.


    since the moment he escaped, lu ye had already decided to come back on his own. ultimately, he hadn¡¯t left to punish qi yanbai or to play with him but to make qi yanbai experience what it was like to be deceived and toyed with.


    qi yanbai was used to thinking in a self-centered manner, and if he wasn¡¯t made to feel the pain of not being respected, he would never understand what it felt like.


    but despite the lesson, lu ye didn¡¯t want this to become a new psychological shadow for qi yanbai. so, he had to come back on his own, showing through actions that, even though qi yanbai had become so defiant, as long as he was honest from now on, lu ye was still willing to stay for him.


    ¡°i love you and i also don¡¯t want to leave you. so, even if you¡¯re a little madman who kidnaps me at the drop of a hat, i want to give you another chance.¡±


    lu ye then knelt on the bed as he had seen qi yanbai do before, tightening the chain inch by inch.


    lu ye was using force to tighten the chain, reversing their previous roles. qi yanbai had finally fallen into the trap of the prey and became a struggling moth caught in a spider¡¯s web.


    but he didn¡¯t feel afraid. the feeling of being completely controlled by lu ye seemed to provide him with another kind of security. he didn¡¯t have to doubt if lu ye was just deceiving him with empty words, or if he was lying to escape. instead, he could finally calm down and listen to him.


    qi yanbai¡¯s sense of insecurity stemmed from losing, and lu ye couldn¡¯t smooth out all the past trauma for him. still, he could help him find one thing: himself.


    ¡°like your stubborn brother, neither of you can understand. so, i¡¯ll say it again.¡± lu ye raised qi yanbai¡¯s hand and placed it on his waist. he glanced at him with a slight smile, and softly said, ¡°qi yanbai, you¡¯ve lied to me, and i¡¯ve lied to you, so we¡¯re even now.¡±


    since the phrase ¡°even¡± seemed too much like distancing, lu ye changed his wording this time and repeated, ¡°from now on, you don¡¯t need to be afraid or insecure anymore. we¡¯ll clear away the old scores. as long as you don¡¯t lie to me again, i won¡¯t care about what happened before.¡±


    ¡°you want to cry?¡± lu ye noticed something and extended his arm to encircle qi yanbai¡¯s back, pulling him into his embrace. ¡°go ahead and cry.¡±


    as soon as he finished speaking, qi yanbai suddenly bit down on his shoulder. lu ye¡¯s shoulder muscles involuntarily tensed for a moment. the next second, he felt something cold and wet flowing down his shoulder.


    the metallic taste of blood faintly lingered as qi yanbai choked up and said, ¡°lu ye! how could you, how¡ª¡±


    he wanted to say, ¡°how could you be so heartless?¡± but then he felt like all of this was his own doing. in an instant, he couldn¡¯t help but choke back a sob, and reached out to hug lu ye¡¯s shoulder.


    he cried with restraint, but it sounded so pitiful, as if he was crying out the pain and repression of this period, as well as venting his fear after finding out lu ye had left him.


    however, in any case, letting out his emotions was a good thing. lu ye turned his head to look at him, feeling that his broken and pitiful cry was quite dramatic. so, at an inappropriate moment, he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and reached out to pluck a piece of paper stuck in his hair.


    ¡°what did i do?¡± lu ye knowingly teased, ¡°is someone playing victim?¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    qi yanbai just wanted to shrink into his embrace, draw nourishment from him, and survive on his love.


    his emotions were abruptly interrupted when he suddenly thought of something. his breath hitched, and then he lifted his head from lu ye¡¯s shoulder without any warning, turned his head, and kissed him.


    as this kiss deepened, there was an unspoken and tense atmosphere silently filling the air.


    while tears still stained qi yanbai¡¯s face, his expression had calmed down. he breathed with a hint of urgency, gently pulling back a bit and kissing along the corner of lu ye¡¯s lips down to his collarbone.


    ¡°no¡­ i can¡¯t believe this is all real,¡± qi yanbai wrapped his arms around lu ye¡¯s back and stubbornly said, ¡°prove it to me.¡±


    ¡°how do you want me to prove it?¡± lu ye asked.


    as soon as he finished speaking, qi yanbai coiled around him like a snake, physically expressing his thoughts.


    ¡°find a way, lu ye.¡±


    qi yanbai, raised his vulnerable throat, sensually caressing lu ye¡¯s lips with his adam¡¯s apple and whispered in a seductive tone, ¡°let me know you¡¯re here.¡±


    the sound of metal chains clashing could be heard, and the wrinkled coat slipped off the edge of the bed as they moved. in the darkness, lu ye¡¯s shoulders tensed and relaxed, followed by a muffled, light chuckle. he reached out and grabbed the other end of the chain, calmly winding it around his own wrist twice.


    then, qi yanbai heard lu ye¡¯s voice hidden in the darkness.


    ¡°alright,¡± he said with a smile.

 CH 92

    as soon as lu ye¡¯s head lowered to kiss him, qi yanbai, after a long time, felt a sensation of being whole.


    he sighed contentedly, and the remaining tears in his eyes trickled down to the pillow, leaving a trail of tear stains.


    lu ye noticed this in his peripheral vision, so he continued to kiss along qi yanbai¡¯s lips, moving upwards until he reached his forehead, where he gently planted soft kisses.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± lu ye was always very perceptive, always attentive to everything about qi yanbai.


    ¡°not feeling well?¡± lu ye asked.


    qi yanbai¡¯s chest rose and fell, and for a moment, he couldn¡¯t speak. he could only shake his head weakly and call out lu ye¡¯s name with a breathy voice.


    he didn¡¯t say anything else, but lu ye vaguely guessed what was going on. so, his eyes sparkled, and while kissing qi yanbai¡¯s lips, he reached out and fumbled to turn on the bedside lamp.


    the soft, dim light spread gently. qi yanbai¡¯s wrist was lifted by lu ye¡¯s actions, and his whole body arched uncontrollably, as he mumbled, ¡°why did you turn it on?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t see me clearly,¡± lu ye said.


    as he spoke, he touched qi yanbai¡¯s wrist in this posture. they were still bound together by the chain, and the continuous crisp sound of metal colliding filled the air. lu ye used his fingertips to slowly separate qi yanbai¡¯s fingers, interlocking their hands without room for refusal.


    in the process, his ankle grazed qi yanbai¡¯s leg, and qi yanbai felt a slight, almost subtle stinging sensation.


    ¡°ah,¡± qi yanbai shivered from the cold, and instinctively asked, ¡°what¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°have you forgotten?¡± lu ye lowered his eyes, glanced downwards with an insinuating look, and smiled, ¡°isn¡¯t that something you bought?¡±


    qi yanbai was momentarily puzzled, and then followed lu ye¡¯s gaze downwards, only to discover a very fine golden ankle bracelet on lu ye¡¯s right ankle.


    this was a gift that qi yanbai had bought for lu ye in the past, bearing all his hidden and overwhelming possessiveness. lu ye had previously said that he couldn¡¯t get used to wearing it, but at some point, he had put it back on his ankle.


    the beautiful gold shone in the lamplight, and qi yanbai¡¯s breath caught. he was almost immediately hooked by the extremely fine chain.


    ¡°yanbai,¡± lu ye saw the change in his expression, couldn¡¯t help but lean closer to qi yanbai¡¯s ear, and asked seductively, ¡°tell me the truth, when you bought this thing, were you thinking about chaining me up?¡±


    the hot breath sprayed on qi yanbai¡¯s neck and behind his ear, and he suddenly felt like he was being roasted over a fire. he frowned slightly, let out a soft moan, and grabbed lu ye¡¯s shoulder with his hand.


    ¡°yes¡­,¡± at this point, qi yanbai had nothing to hide. he struggled to open his eyes, blinked away the thin layer of moisture on his eyelashes, and groaned, admitting, ¡°back then, i was thinking, if only i could lock you up forever.¡±


    with their hands still tightly interlocked, lu ye gently shook the hand that was tied to qi yanbai.


    ¡°congratulations,¡± lu ye said, ¡°your wish has come true.¡±


    qi yanbai, used to a survival-of-the-fittest lifestyle, had never experienced the sweetness of getting what he desired without effort. so, when the thing he had longed for returned to him so easily, qi yanbai even had a sense of unreality.


    with lu ye planting wet and warm kisses on his neck, qi yanbai tightly embraced lu ye¡¯s sweaty back with one hand. in the alternating sensations of pain and pleasure, qi yanbai let out soft moans and as he felt lu ye¡¯s presence, he wished he could mold himself into lu ye¡¯s very bones and blood.


    under the dim yellow light, shadows danced around with the occasional creaking of the bed, and a bead of sweat rolled down lu ye¡¯s forehead.


    just as they reached the climax, qi yanbai felt an overwhelming sense of unreality, as if he had stepped lightly into a cloud.


    he gazed at the shadows on the ceiling with a dazed look, sometimes unable to distinguish the present moment from the other nights.


    ¡°is this real, ge?¡± qi yanbai murmured as he closed his eyes, burying his face deeper into lu ye¡¯s neck and whispered, ¡°i still feel like i¡¯m going insane.¡±


    ¡°then go insane,¡± lu ye replied with a muffled chuckle, then bit qi yanbai¡¯s earlobe and whispered, ¡°i allow you to go mad for a lifetime.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s voice was soft, but those words acted like a divine anchor, instantly stabilizing qi yanbai¡¯s wavering soul.


    it was as if a lost spirit that had roamed the mortal world for years had finally found its home.


    the rain outside had been pouring all day but had now ceased completely in the late hours of the night.


    the thick clouds gradually dispersed, and a few scattered stars reappeared in the sky, sweeping away the heavy moisture in the air, revealing a refreshing clearness.


    the moonlight poured into the room from the window, and the balcony door, wide open, creaked in the evening breeze. lu ye glanced at the soundly sleeping qi yanbai beside him, then quietly got out of bed, leaving behind a room in chaos, bearing the marks of their passionate indulgence.


    he picked up a robe from the foot of the bed and draped it over himself, barefoot, stepping on the damp floor as he walked to the balcony.


    he reached out and closed the balcony door, and as he was contemplating whether to light a cigarette, a warm body silently pressed against him from behind. then, a pair of hands reached around his waist, gently encircling it.


    ¡°you¡¯re not asleep?¡± lu ye asked somewhat surprised.


    the two of them had been fooling around for most of the night. at first, qi yanbai had been stubborn, saying things like, ¡°don¡¯t stop¡± and pleading for more. but two hours later, he was completely drained of energy, and in the end, he couldn¡¯t even muster the strength to speak. his voice was hoarse as if he had swallowed lead, and his body felt limp, relying on lu ye for support.


    lu ye had initially thought that this level of vigor would have him sleeping soundly until the next morning, but he hadn¡¯t expected him to still be wide awake.


    ¡°¡­no,¡± qi yanbai leaned against lu ye¡¯s back bonelessly, sounding congested as he spoke, ¡°i just don¡¯t want to sleep.¡±


    ¡°what do you want?¡± lu ye chuckled and reached out to pull qi yanbai into his arms, asking knowingly, ¡°afraid i¡¯ll run away again?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s not that,¡± qi yanbai shook his head, seeming to remember something. he smiled faintly and said, ¡°i¡¯m just happy.¡±


    this time, he wasn¡¯t lying¡ªperhaps he had completely let go of the burdens in his heart, or maybe lu ye¡¯s ¡°proof therapy¡± had been too effective. qi yanbai¡¯s pathological sense of insecurity had diminished considerably, as if it had quietly receded into the depths of his heart, no longer causing chaos.


    he was simply happy now, like a grade-schooler looking forward to a field trip the next day. even though his body was exhausted to the extreme, his spirit was inexplicably excited, to the point where he couldn¡¯t even close his eyes.


    ¡°happy about what?¡± lu ye asked with a smile.


    ¡°i¡¯m happy¡­ i finally have something back that i had lost.¡±


    qi yanbai said as he closed his eyes. he seemed tired to the core, but a satisfied smile still hung on his face.


    the sharp anxiety that had been deep within him had unknowingly been smoothed out by lu ye, leaving only a gentle and tranquil sense of peace.


    ¡°it¡¯s you, lu ye,¡± qi yanbai whispered softly. ¡°you¡¯re the only treasure in my life that i had lost but found again.¡±

 CH 93

    with lu ye back, the last major obstacle in qi yanbai¡¯s heart finally moved aside, and he suddenly became cheerful, feeling light-hearted after a long time.


    perhaps qi yanbai had absorbed enough love and nourishment from lu ye because his physical condition and emotions quickly recovered. after just one night, he transformed from an ¡°outlaw¡± back into that gentle and virtuous ¡°perfect lover.¡±


    when lu ye woke up, the room had already been tidied up, and the mess from last night had disappeared. the carpet, wrinkled from being soaked in rain, was now drying on the balcony. the curtains in front of the french windows were half-open, allowing bright and dazzling sunlight to filter in.


    the glass of honey water on the bedside table was at the perfect temperature. lu ye sat up in bed, reached for the cup, took a sip, and noticed a flash of brightness out of the corner of his eye. he turned his head and saw that qi yanbai hadn¡¯t removed the handcuffs and had confidently gone out with the chain.


    the long chain stretched across the floor and extended into the bathroom. lu ye¡¯s gaze lingered on the swaying chain for a moment before he raised an eyebrow and placed the glass back on the bedside table.


    the sound of the glass hitting the wooden bedside table alerted qi yanbai. the sound had barely stopped when he came out of the bathroom, dressed in pajamas. he approached the bed quietly, effortlessly crawled onto it, and leaned over to give lu ye a quick kiss.


    ¡°are you awake?¡± qi yanbai asked with a beaming smile. ¡°how did you sleep?¡±


    his movements were smooth, resembling a cat waking up its owner. lu ye raised an eyebrow, encircled qi yanbai¡¯s waist with his arm, responded with a soft ¡°mmm,¡± and then slightly turned his head to avoid qi yanbai¡¯s kiss, planting a kiss on his cheek instead.


    ¡°i haven¡¯t freshened up yet,¡± lu ye said. ¡°i slept fairly well. why did you wake up so early? aren¡¯t you tired?¡±


    ¡°of course, i¡¯m tired.¡± qi yanbai, playing along like a snake shedding its skin, went along with the flow. he immediately put on a pitiful expression, as if he had been tormented. ¡°my back is sore, my legs ache, it feels like i¡¯ve pulled a muscle. when i woke up this morning, i almost stumbled and had difficulty walking.¡±


    he played the role of a pitiable victim, as if he had been mistreated. however, lu ye had already seen through his act. lu ye raised an eyebrow at qi yanbai¡¯s words and, with a tone suggesting he wasn¡¯t buying it, asked, ¡°then why did you get up early in the morning to sunbathe the carpet?¡±


    qi yanbai was momentarily taken aback by the question and couldn¡¯t come up with a response. he blinked his eyes, pretending not to understand.


    seeing through the act, lu ye playfully knocked him on the head. with one hand, he lifted the hem of qi yanbai¡¯s shirt and began massaging his sore lower back, waist and butt.


    lu ye¡¯s hand was slightly warmer than qi yanbai¡¯s body, feeling comfortably warm against his skin. qi yanbai¡¯s whole body softened under his touch, and before long, he closed his eyes in contentment, resting his head in the crook of lu ye¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°stop pretending,¡± lu ye playfully nudged him and continued massaging him. he asked, ¡°aren¡¯t those chains heavy? why haven¡¯t you taken them off?¡±


    the key to the handcuffs had been found by lu ye the previous night and was placed on the bedside table, within easy reach.


    qi yanbai could easily regain his freedom at any time, but the fact that he still wore them meant that he was doing it on purpose, possibly to tease lu ye.


    ¡°i won¡¯t take them off,¡± qi yanbai confirmed. he extended his arm to encircle lu ye¡¯s neck, deliberately tugging at the chain in front of lu ye¡¯s eyes. he then narrowed his eyes and nuzzled lu ye¡¯s shoulder, lazily saying, ¡°if you want i can remain handcuffed like this.¡±


    no longer needing to pretend to have ¡°boundaries¡± or ¡°understanding¡± after all, qi yanbai had seemingly let go completely. he no longer concealed his little tricks and began to push his luck.


    qi yanbai was well aware that lu ye wouldn¡¯t harm, nor would he lose control of his emotions and go mad like himself. regardless of what he did to him, qi yanbai believed that lu ye cared more about his safety. even when he was chained, qi yanbai trusted that lu ye would eventually personally unlock the restraints.


    he had an exceptionally precise gauge in his heart, with all the ¡°safe¡± and ¡°dangerous¡± zones marked on it and he believed he could receive lu ye¡¯s protection forever.


    he had already tasted the sweetness of this, so he couldn¡¯t help but want to rely on lu ye¡¯s protection without fear.


    of course, lu ye understood his unspoken words. he raised an eyebrow, jingled the heavy chain slightly, and chuckled at the crisp sound. he asked, ¡°so, your point is that either i obediently listen to you, or i have to take full responsibility for you?¡±


    ¡°of course not,¡± qi yanbai blinked and spoke nonsense with his eyes wide open. he softened his voice, trying to please, and said, ¡°i mean, you can treat me however you want¡ª.¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t play this game with me.¡± lu ye could easily see through his act. he was both amused and annoyed, pinching qi yanbai¡¯s collar and pushing him away. he casually said, ¡°you¡¯re not very picky, are you?¡±


    qi yanbai gave up on his playful banter since it didn¡¯t work and, with a smile, reached out to hug lu ye¡¯s arm.


    ¡°it¡¯s still early; there¡¯s no need to rush to get up,¡± qi yanbai tried to negotiate, ¡°let¡¯s cuddle a bit longer¡ª¡±


    while speaking, qi yanbai accidentally nudged lu ye¡¯s collar open. he had originally intended to tease him, but when he glanced at lu ye¡¯s shoulder, he saw a bloody bite mark.


    it was the one he had bitten in the midst of his emotional turmoil yesterday. at that moment, he had been frustrated and hadn¡¯t held back at all. even after a whole night had passed, the bite mark was still noticeable.


    the bite mark had scabbed over, but there was still some redness around the wound, and the purple-black blood scab left a frightening imprint on the skin. qi yanbai couldn¡¯t help but make a hissing sound, and much of the smile on his face disappeared. for once, he felt a hint of regret.


    looking at it was painful, and qi yanbai thought with regret, ¡°if only i had held back.¡±


    lu ye noticed his furrowed brows, followed his gaze to his own shoulder, and then calmly pulled his collar, trying to block qi yanbai¡¯s view.


    ¡°what are you looking at?¡± lu ye chuckled, his tone ambiguous. ¡°little wolf, you wanted to bite, so you did.¡±


    qi yanbai knew he was in the wrong, so he quickly softened his expression, smiled at lu ye, and then lowered his gaze. he approached lu ye, gently kissed and licked his wound.


    the gentle sensation brushed against his skin, creating a tingling, ticklish feeling. lu ye was gently provoked, and he couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath, reaching out to pinch qi yanbai¡¯s chin, lifting his face.


    ¡°what¡¯s this?¡± lu ye chuckled. ¡°you¡¯re not being a little wolf  anymore; are you trying to be a puppy now?¡±


    qi yanbai always appeared particularly submissive when he felt guilty. upon hearing lu ye¡¯s words, he blinked his eyes, and after a few moments, he suddenly smiled at lu ye, lowered his head, and nibbled on his fingertip.


    then, he lowered his gaze, looked at lu ye, and let out a gentle bark.


    ¡°woof,¡± he said.

 CH 94

    ecause of qi yanbai¡¯s playfulness, they ended up waking up more than two hours later than planned. by the time they finally got out of bed, it was well into the late morning.


    the spring rain had been on and off, with yesterday¡¯s heavy rain lasting the entire day. today, the weather forecast showed a significant increase in temperature, and hints of late spring and early summer were in the air.


    the weather forecast for the coming week displayed a row of bright suns, bringing a sense of optimism.


    lu ye, barefoot, pushed open the window, allowing the dry, hot air to fill the room. it instantly dispelled the stuffy atmosphere and left a refreshing feeling behind.


    qi yanbai quickly took his second shower of the day, with his hair still dripping as he exited the bathroom. lu ye turned to look at him, reached for a dry towel hanging on a rack, and called outto him.


    ¡°come here,¡± lu ye said.


    qi yanbai blinked, obediently walked over, lowered his head, and allowed lu ye to drape the large, soft towel over his head, gently drying his slightly damp hair.


    with most of his vision obscured by the thick fabric, qi yanbai¡¯s gaze had nowhere to wander but landed on lu ye¡¯s slim waist and abdomen. lu ye had just showered, and his body still carried a slight coolness from the water. his pajama top was casually open, revealing a well-defined outline of abdominal muscles.


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t help but admire the view. lu ye¡¯s figure was impressive, not overly muscular but displaying an appealing and defined muscle tone when his waist and abdomen were tensed. qi yanbai¡¯s gaze lingered for a while, and he unconsciously licked his lips, feeling a hint of itchiness in his heart.


    after breakfast, lu ye watched a supposedly popular romantic movie with qi yanbai. then, they thoroughly cleaned the room together, taking care of the spoiled and rotten shrimp left from before.


    ¡°isn¡¯t this a waste?¡± lu ye wiped away the water stains and shrimp residue from the floor, raising an eyebrow. ¡°i came back yesterday, and when i walked in, it seemed like you didn¡¯t want to live here anymore.¡±


    ¡°you weren¡¯t here, so i really didn¡¯t want to.¡± qi yanbai half-knelt beside him, helping hold the garbage bag open. hearing lu ye¡¯s words, he blinked, then quickly stood back up. ¡°without you, it¡¯s not as fun.¡±


    ¡°nonsense,¡± lu ye chuckled, tossing the dirty tissue into the garbage bag and glancing at qi yanbai. ¡°just leave the trash by the door. i¡¯ll take it downstairs on my way out.¡±


    ¡°huh?¡± qi yanbai gathered the handles of the garbage bag, and upon hearing this, he hesitated. ¡°are you going out?¡±


    lu ye responded with a simple ¡°hmm¡± and continued, ¡°i need to go to the station.¡±


    ¡°but it¡¯s the weekend today,¡± qi yanbai asked anxiously. ¡°even if you canceled your leave, do you really need to go in such a hurry?¡±


    qi yanbai had accepted the fact that lu ye wouldn¡¯t disappear, but he still felt uneasy when lu ye had to leave. it was as if he had some separation anxiety, which wasn¡¯t apparent when they were together but would surface when lu ye had to go.


    ¡°the station is conducting an inspection of police conduct recently. i¡¯ll see if i can help.¡± lu ye walked into the bedroom, putting on his duty jacket while speaking casually. ¡°it¡¯s not a regular shift, so i¡¯ll be able to leave early in the evening.¡±


    the station currently had enough personnel, but lu ye and qi yanbai¡¯s relationship was just entering a more stable phase. it was a good time to establish some rules. lu ye felt that a short separation now would not only help qi yanbai gradually adapt to a normal life but also set some boundaries.


    qi yanbai wasn¡¯t a particularly strong-willed person, so he needed lu ye to set clear boundaries and let him know what was acceptable and what wasn¡¯t. for lu ye, now was the perfect time to draw these lines.


    ¡°then¡­ can i take you there?¡± qi yanbai tentatively suggested. ¡°i don¡¯t have anything to do this afternoon, and i can go to the station with you.¡±


    ¡°you don¡¯t have anything to do?¡± lu ye raised an eyebrow, playfully countering, ¡°you¡¯ve already taken quite a few days off. why don¡¯t you go back to work instead of waiting around?¡±


    qi yanbai was left speechless by his question and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°i¡­¡±


    ¡°it just so happens that mingming¡¯s class was rescheduled to the afternoon today. if you go back now, you can catch her class,¡± lu ye cut him off, checked his attire while speaking, and then remembered something. he walked over to qi yanbai, wearing slippers, and casually said, ¡°by the way, is my phone with you? ¡ª give it to me.¡±


    perhaps touching upon a sensitive topic, qi yanbai hesitated for a moment and displayed an unwilling expression on his face. however, he also understood that now that he had reconciled with lu ye, he shouldn¡¯t continue to hold onto his phone. after a moment of hesitation, he walked to the door, took out lu ye¡¯s phone from his jacket, and reluctantly handed it over.


    ¡°¡­do you really have to go?¡± qi yanbai handed lu ye¡¯s phone to him, but he still couldn¡¯t let it go. he struggled and said, ¡°if you¡¯re not in a hurry, why don¡¯t you come to class with me? you can see mingming.¡±


    ¡°no need,¡± lu ye had clearly made up his mind. he pressed the power button on his phone while speaking. as it powered on, the tracking app on qi yanbai¡¯s phone also restarted. a notification popped up on his screen, displaying prominently as the screen lit up, drawing extra attention.


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°sorry, i forgot,¡± qi yanbai, who had just reconciled with lu ye, was particularly sensitive about such matters now. he was afraid that lu ye would think he was incapable of changing, so he suddenly felt a pang of anxiety. he quickly walked to the coffee table, grabbed his own phone, and said in a fluster, ¡°i¡­ i¡¯ll delete it right now.¡±


    ¡°no need,¡± lu ye pocketed his phone and said calmly, ¡°leave it as it is.¡±


    ¡°leave it?¡± qi yanbai paused for a moment, uncertain if lu ye was being sarcastic or contradicting himself. he gave lu ye a cautious look and hesitated, ¡°lu ye, what do you¡­ mean?¡±


    ¡°it means i want to establish three rules with you,¡± lu ye said as he draped his duty jacket over his arm. while walking towards the door, he continued, ¡°you don¡¯t have to delete the tracking app. you can still use it whenever you want to. but there¡¯s one condition: you must inform me and get my permission before checking it. and you can¡¯t secretly add other software into it¡ªthis includes various monitoring and surveillance devices.¡±


    qi yanbai was suddenly stunned.


    he could definitely sense lu ye¡¯s unspoken message, but precisely because of that, he felt increasingly unsure. he couldn¡¯t quite put into words what he was feeling at the moment. while he certainly felt grateful and happy, there was also a complex and intense bitterness, as if an invisible hand had suddenly grasped his heart.


    lu ye¡¯s willingness to reconcile meant a lot to him, and qi yanbai had already prepared himself to bear the consequences of his past mistakes, no matter how bitter they might be or how many times he had to endure them.


    however, he hadn¡¯t expected that lu ye, at this point, would still be willing to lower his status and actively accommodate him. qi yanbai held his phone in his hand and found himself at a loss for words.


    ¡°no,¡± qi yanbai felt as if a lump had formed in his throat, making his eyes sting. after a long pause, he struggled to squeeze out a few words, ¡°you don¡¯t have to do this, i really can change.¡±


    ¡°you are willing to change, but there¡¯s no need for self-torture,¡± lu ye stopped at the door, turned around to face qi yanbai, and said calmly, ¡°i¡¯ve said it before: as long as you are honest with me, everything else can be discussed. that includes your flaws and your insecurities.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s paranoia and possessiveness stemmed from his life experiences and mental state. it couldn¡¯t be simply categorized as ¡°mistakes.¡± therefore, it couldn¡¯t be changed with a simple ¡°correction.¡± lu ye had decided to take responsibility for him, so he wouldn¡¯t let qi yanbai bear all the trouble alone.


    ¡°you always seem to worry about my whereabouts,¡± lu ye said firmly. ¡°in that case, we should find a solution that both of us can accept to address this issue.¡±


    lu ye had never intended to completely transform qi yanbai. even if he could easily do so, he never wanted to erase all of qi yanbai¡¯s anxieties and fears. after all, qi yanbai¡¯s imperfections were part of who he was, and lu ye wanted to change the fundamentally flawed parts of his mindset but not obliterate his insecurities and fears.


    ¡°however, i will accommodate you, but i won¡¯t always indulge you,¡± lu ye continued. ¡°let¡¯s make it clear from the beginning: during work hours, i won¡¯t reveal my location. so, after i arrive at the precinct, i¡¯ll leave this phone on my desk and use another one. moreover, whether i¡¯m on a mission or patrolling, i won¡¯t carry it. understand?¡±


    qi yanbai vaguely understood lu ye¡¯s intention, so he made an effort to keep up with his thoughts and tried to express his own views using a ¡°negotiating¡± approach, which felt challenging and unfamiliar.


    ¡°so, you mean that as long as it¡¯s not during working hours, it¡¯s allowed?¡± qi yanbai asked.


    ¡°not entirely,¡± lu ye clarified. ¡°sometimes, i need privacy too, so i might voluntarily turn off the location tracking. however, if that happens, i¡¯ll explain the reason to you beforehand.¡±


    the scope of these conditions seemed vast, and qi yanbai felt that he had lost all initiative in this situation. his breathing faltered, and he felt the discomfort of being out of control surging within him once again.


    but qi yanbai understood that he had to overcome this discomfort himself this time. lu ye had accommodated him on the matter of boundaries, and if he pushed the boundaries too far, he would feel unworthy of lu ye¡¯s heart.


    ¡°so, what if i want to know where you are?¡± qi yanbai gritted his teeth and asked softly, ¡°or if i want to know your location during your working hours, what should i do?¡±


    he was genuinely concerned, genuinely confused. qi yanbai had become used to seeking security through unconventional means. now, even if he genuinely wanted to change his ways, he couldn¡¯t think of any methods to manage his emotions.


    he was well aware that he had little self-control when it came to lu ye. so, to prevent any future mistakes, he had no choice but to seek lu ye¡¯s assistance.


    lu ye knew that qi yanbai had never received proper guidance and didn¡¯t get angry. he simply reached out and ruffled his hair, then suddenly smiled and said, ¡°that¡¯s easy.¡±


    ¡°send a message or call me,¡± lu ye said.


    qi yanbai was suddenly taken aback.


    ¡°you can¡¯t monitor or stalk me, but you can ask me about my whereabouts anytime,¡± lu ye continued. ¡°as long as i¡¯m not on a mission, you can ask me whenever you want, as many times as you want¡ªi¡¯m giving you this right.¡±

 CH 95

    this solution sounded too simple, blatantly obvious, and straightforward. however, it had never appeared in qi yanbai¡¯s list of ¡°alternative plans¡¯ ¡® before.


    qi yanbai paused for a moment, only to realize that his thought pattern seemed to have become used to not trusting anyone and not getting a response from anyone. so when faced with something he wanted, he would always subconsciously bypass this straightforward route, trying to obtain everything through his own abilities.


    but lu ye was not just anyone, qi yanbai thought. he would respond to me, and he would love me.


    if there was only one person in the world he could trust, it would undoubtedly be lu ye himself.


    qi yanbai knew that his sense of security had always come from his complete control of the situation. so when lu ye proposed this suggestion, he thought he would instinctively resist the idea of relying entirely on the other person for control. but when he actually imagined the scene according to lu ye¡¯s words, he was surprised to find that he not only didn¡¯t resist it but even had some anticipation.


    he liked it when lu ye paid attention to him and cared about him. if lu ye was willing to focus his attention on him anytime, anywhere, then compared to cold positioning, qi yanbai certainly preferred the current situation.


    ¡°anytime?¡± qi yanbai couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°anytime,¡± lu ye replied with confidence.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t say anything more, but lu ye could see that his attitude had already relaxed a lot. he was no longer impatiently pulling lu ye, but he had unconsciously relaxed, clutching the phone in his hand.


    lu ye knew this was a signal of his excitement, so he smiled and didn¡¯t say anything more, just reached out and touched the tip of his hair, then said goodbye.


    as he said this, he put on his boots, walked to the door, and suddenly changed his mind. holding the doorknob, he turned back and asked casually, ¡°by the way, are you going to the training center now?¡±


    lu ye said, ¡°if you¡¯re going, should i drop you off?¡±


    of course, qi yanbai wouldn¡¯t refuse. his eyes lit up when he heard this, and he almost immediately became enthusiastic about ¡°going to work.¡± without a word, he rushed into the bedroom, changed his clothes, and left with lu ye.


    q¨ª yanbai had been on leave for about ten days and had finally returned to work. he looked radiant and in high spirits. even the receptionist noticed his good mood.


    ¡°good afternoon, teacher qi,¡± the receptionist looked up from her desk and greeted him with a smile. ¡°is everything settled at home?¡±


    ¡°everything is settled. i¡¯m about to go to the administrative office to end my leave,¡± qi yanbai said, stopping by her desk with an art book in his arms. he smiled warmly and said, ¡°i¡¯ve caused everyone a lot of trouble by taking so many days off. i¡¯ve ordered some afternoon tea, so i¡¯d appreciate it if you could distribute it to all the teachers later.¡±


    he had completely shaken off his previous gloom, reverting to his polite and gentle demeanor. although the receptionist didn¡¯t know what had happened during this time, seeing him finally in good spirits made her genuinely happy for him.


    ¡°teacher qi, you¡¯re too polite,¡± the receptionist said, blinking at him and smiling. ¡°i¡¯m happy things are resolved¡ªduring this time, the children have been asking about you. when they finish class, they always gather in a circle and ask when teacher qi will be back.¡±


    she bent down slightly, pulled out a large gift box about a meter square from under the front desk, and placed it on the table. then she opened the lid and signaled for qi yanbai to take a look.


    ¡°look, there are so many greeting cards inside,¡± she said.


    the large gift box was filled with greeting cards, most of which were hand-drawn by students, mainly from the kindergarten classes. they were colorful and almost covered half of the box.


    qi yanbai glanced down and immediately spotted several familiar names from the classes. he couldn¡¯t help but purse his lips, feeling overwhelmed.


    ¡°i¡¯ll thank the children later,¡± qi yanbai also added apologetically. ¡°i¡¯ll also make up for the missed lessons. after all, i¡¯ve taken leave for so long.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s great,¡± the receptionist smiled and said, ¡°the children will be so happy.¡±


    she then closed the lid of the large gift box. besides the greeting cards, it also contained the ¡°selected works¡± of the past two weeks from the training center¡¯s ¡°art exhibition.¡± qi yanbai thanked the receptionist, picked up the box and the artwork, and planned to take his time looking at them later.


    qi yanbai arrived at the training center at a convenient time, during the lunch break. the morning classes had ended, and the afternoon children had not yet arrived. the entire second floor was empty and quiet.


    there was no one in the office, so qi yanbai sat at his desk for a while, casually looking at a couple of greeting cards. it didn¡¯t take long for him to start feeling itchy, and his gaze kept drifting to the phone on the desk. he was eager to exercise the ¡°right¡± he had just obtained.


    however, he was used to playing the perfect, gentle, and understanding lover. he wasn¡¯t used to expressing his controlling tendencies so directly, so he thought for a moment. unlocking the screen, he took a photo of the greeting cards scattered on the desk and sent it to lu ye.


    ¡°these are from the students,¡± qi yanbai typed as he tapped on the phone¡¯s keyboard. ¡°there are a lot of them.¡±


    the green text bubbles appeared promptly on the screen, and qi yanbai patiently waited for about ten seconds before adding a sentence, as if he had ¡°just remembered¡± to do so.


    ¡°by the way, have you reached the police station? if you haven¡¯t, no need to reply to me; focus on driving.¡±


    in fact, qi yanbai knew this excuse was a bit contrived. after all, lu ye¡¯s location tracking was still active, so he could find out whether he had reached the police station without asking. however, he wanted to test lu ye with this poor excuse. besides, he craved lu ye¡¯s attention and indulgence.


    qi yanbai wanted to test, but subconsciously, he knew that lu ye would follow through on his words. so, at the moment the message was sent, he was already looking forward to lu ye¡¯s response.


    as expected, lu ye¡¯s reply came very quickly. a few seconds later, two messages from lu ye popped up in qi yanbai¡¯s chat window. they were almost the same length and lined up side by side in the chat box, appearing brief and to the point.


    ¡°ask directly,¡± lu ye said.


    ¡°be straightforward,¡± lu ye added.


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    qi yanbai finally realized that lu ye had already seen through him. no matter how far he tried to twist and turn, lu ye could always pinpoint his most hidden thoughts with pinpoint accuracy.


    simple text communication couldn¡¯t convey voice or facial expressions, and it inevitably felt cold. qi yanbai understood that lu ye just didn¡¯t want him to beat around the bush, so he gritted his teeth and decided to tell the truth.


    ¡°¡­have you arrived at the police station?¡± qi yanbai typed the message briskly. ¡°are you going out this afternoon?¡±


    he was still concerned about what lu ye had mentioned earlier, about the location being active only up to the police station. he couldn¡¯t help but wonder about lu ye¡¯s whereabouts for the rest of the day.


    ¡°good boy,¡± lu ye noticed every change in qi yanbai¡¯s behavior and praised him. then he replied, ¡°i¡¯m not going out anymore. i¡¯ll be helping with paperwork at the precinct this afternoon.¡±


    as if rewarding qi yanbai for his honesty, lu ye reached for a few sheets of blank paper from the nearby printer, covered the application form on the desk, and took a photo, sending it to qi yanbai as ¡°evidence.¡±


    lu ye had forgotten to turn off the camera sound, and the shutter click sounded particularly loud in the quiet office. yao xing, not far away, raised her head in confusion and glanced at him.


    ¡°lu ye, what are you doing?¡± yao xing wondered. ¡°it¡¯s the weekend, shouldn¡¯t you be resting at home. instead, you¡¯re at the police station chatting with someone online. aren¡¯t you tired?¡±


    ¡°no, i¡¯m good.¡± lu ye leaned back in the spacious chair, tapped out a few lines of text on his phone, then pursed his lips, smiled with a hint of sarcasm, and casually said, ¡°after all, it¡¯s the noble cause of education, a hundred-year policy¡ªno complaints about being tired.¡±

 CH 96

    lu ye knew that qi yanbai couldn¡¯t concentrate on work that day, so he had prepared in advance. after helping a few interns fill out their application forms, he didn¡¯t take on any new tasks. instead, he sat at his desk, casually chatting with qi yanbai.


    at first, qi yanbai was cautious, like a small animal testing the waters. but gradually, he began to open up and stopped trying so hard to find conversation topics. instead, he spoke whatever came to his mind. he even showed lu ye a few works of his ¡°star students¡± and took pictures to show off.


    ¡°these kids have made significant progress,¡± qi yanbai, in his teacher mode, couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°it seems they haven¡¯t slacked off recently.¡±


    lu ye¡¯s ability to critique most art creations was limited to ¡°looks good¡± and ¡°this looks good too,¡± so he squinted his eyes and earnestly admired these colorful masterpieces for a while before responding with just two words.


    ¡°not bad.¡±


    ¡°but hasn¡¯t lu mingming, your number one fan, sent you anything?¡± lu ye teased. ¡°i heard she¡¯s been eagerly waiting for you day and night. my sister¡¯s ears were almost bleeding from hearing about you.¡±


    this reminded qi yanbai, and he put down his phone, went through the paper box from top to bottom, and finally found a music card with lu mingming¡¯s signature at the bottom.


    ¡°it¡¯s here,¡± qi yanbai took a photo and showed it to lu ye, saying, ¡°she drew a crying little rabbit on it.¡±


    unlike other children who were looking forward to their teacher¡¯s return, lu mingming, as an ¡°informed source,¡± seemed convinced that her teacher qi would not come back. even her card sounded like a farewell message, congratulating qi yanbai on starting a wonderful life with lu ye away from the city.


    the cartoon rabbit on the card was drawn sitting on the ground and crying loudly. lu ye, while trying to decipher her mixed chinese and pinyin farewell message, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and commented, ¡°well, despite the not-so-great farewell message, the rabbit looks quite accurate.¡±


    ¡°why are you making fun of her?¡± qi yanbai said, a mixture of helplessness and amusement, and asked with concern, ¡°have you thought about how to explain this to her?¡±


    ¡°what¡¯s there to explain? just tell her the truth in a way she can understand,¡± lu ye said confidently, ¡°you can comfort her better. she listens to you anyway.¡±


    while qi yanbai might not be particularly mature himself, he was excellent at handling children. however, this time, the ¡°gentle star teacher¡± aura seemed to have failed.


    ¡°lu ye, something seems off,¡± qi yanbai texted lu ye, ¡°mingming seems angry at me.¡±


    qi yanbai couldn¡¯t use his phone during class, but when it was time for the students to work independently after the lesson, there wasn¡¯t as much restriction. lu ye glanced at his phone screen and felt that he could sense qi yanbai¡¯s unease from the few lines of text.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°i don¡¯t know,¡± qi yanbai replied, ¡°but she hasn¡¯t talked to me since the class started.¡±


    while other kids were already focused on their assignments, lu mingming, who had always been the most active, still hadn¡¯t picked up her pen. she crossed her arms, occasionally glancing at qi yanbai, and exaggeratedly turned her head away when their eyes met, almost as if she wanted to write ¡°i¡¯m not happy¡± all over her face.


    qi yanbai sent a message, then observed her quietly for a while, confirming that she was throwing a tantrum. he put away his phone and walked over to her, squatting down.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong, mingming?¡± since he was closer to lu ye, qi yanbai was more attentive to lu mingming. he first looked at the blank paper in front of her, then turned his head and asked gently, ¡°are you angry about something?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m very angry!¡± lu mingming who waited for half a class, finally got qi yanbai to ask her, and all her grievances and resentment surged up. she huffed heavily and accused, ¡°you adults are all liars!¡±


    qi yanbai had never faced such a serious accusation from a student and was momentarily speechless, almost dumbfounded.


    ¡°about uncle changing jobs, it was fake, why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± lu mingming was furious and her words were all over the place, ¡°you lied to me for so long! if mom hadn¡¯t told me yesterday, i wouldn¡¯t have known!¡±


    despite her sadness for all these days, she still wanted to give them her favorite pair of starlight dew as a farewell gift, and it turned out to be all lies, all tricks played on a child!


    lu mingming said angrily, ¡°you¡¯re all big liars!¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    qi yanbai remained silent for a moment, feeling unjustly accused. he thought to himself that he had been deceived as well. he had only known the truth twenty-four hours earlier than she did.


    however, he couldn¡¯t explain the situation between him and lu ye in detail to the child, so he could only reluctantly accept the blame and apologize to lu mingming in a gentle tone.


    but lu mingming had been holding this grudge for a long time, and it was clear that it couldn¡¯t be resolved with just a few words. she remained upset, even until the end of the class. when she saw lu ye, she didn¡¯t even greet him warmly as usual. instead, she just hummed and avoided eye contact.


    ¡°oh, she¡¯s really angry,¡± lu ye said after hearing the whole story from qi yanbai. he reached out and patted lu mingming¡¯s head, admitting his mistake, ¡°little niece, i know i was wrong. i shouldn¡¯t have lied to you. how about i buy you ice scream later?¡±


    ¡°don¡¯t change the subject!¡± lu mingming said angrily. ¡°i am really angry.¡±


    ¡°yes, i know, and i¡¯m sincerely apologizing,¡± lu ye said, squatting down in front of her, looking serious. ¡°i shouldn¡¯t have lied to you and made you upset. i promise not to do it again. so, can you forgive me?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s my fault,¡± lu mingming hadn¡¯t spoken yet when qi yanbai suddenly interjected, ¡°if it weren¡¯t for me¡ª¡±


    qi yanbai wanted to say that if he hadn¡¯t locked lu ye up, lu ye would have been able to explain everything to lu mingming earlier. however, this reason seemed a bit inappropriate for a child, so he mumbled and quietly told lu mingming, ¡°in any case¡­ it¡¯s the teacher¡¯s fault. your uncle is not at fault.¡±


    lu ye, of course, understood the implication in his words. he chuckled and said, ¡°blame can¡¯t be divided between yours and mine; it¡¯s all the same.¡±


    lu mingming was originally just throwing a tantrum, but when she saw the two of them earnestly admitting their mistakes, she started feeling embarrassed herself. so, she bit her lip and pulled on the little shiny piece on her dress without saying anything.


    ¡°to make it up to you, you can go to the snack shop across the street later and buy snacks and ice cream. you can buy as much as you want,¡± lu ye, after apologizing, continued to coax the child. he suggested, ¡°how about that?¡±


    across the street from the training center was a centralized snack shop with several indoor stalls. it had all kinds of sweets, drinks, and snacks, emitting a sweet aroma of caramel and cream from morning till night.


    lu mingming had been persuaded by qi yanbai for over an hour, and then she suddenly received this big offer. her psychological defense line began to waver, and she was at risk of surrendering at any moment.


    ¡°okay¡­¡± lu mingming was already wavering, but she didn¡¯t want to surrender so quickly. so, she stubbornly said, ¡°don¡¯t tell my mom.¡±


    ¡°okay,¡± lu ye said, pursing his lips and trying not to laugh. he put on a serious expression and took out two hundred yuan from his pocket, saying, ¡°buy whatever you like. i promise to keep it a secret.¡±


    the small shops near the school were crowded with children buying snacks after school. lu ye didn¡¯t want to go inside and jostle with a group of kids, so he simply stood on the roadside by the store¡¯s entrance, watching lu mingming¡¯s pink head bobbing up and down in the crowd, appearing and disappearing.


    qi yanbai stood beside him to keep him company. separated by a bunch of colorful little figures, they watched lu mingming¡¯s figure for a while. after some time, qi yanbai smiled wryly and said, ¡°i don¡¯t blame her for being angry.¡±


    lu ye glanced at him.


    ¡°she had prepared herself to say goodbye to you when she thought you were leaving, but then she suddenly found out it was all a lie. it¡¯s natural for her to feel deceived,¡± qi yanbai explained. ¡°give her some time, and she¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    qi yanbai understood lu mingming¡¯s current mood very well. accepting a reality one doesn¡¯t want to face is already difficult enough. when, after experiencing pain and inner conflict, one finally convinces themselves, only to discover it was all a lie, the previous internal struggle can easily turn into anger, directed at the person who initiated it.


    lu ye took out a cigarette from his pocket and instinctively tried to light it, but when he held the cigarette in his mouth, he suddenly remembered that it was a public place, and there were children around. so, he put away the lighter, holding the unlit cigarette between his fingers.


    ¡°did you feel the same way back then?¡± lu ye asked with a smile.


    ¡°me? no, i didn¡¯t,¡± qi yanbai lowered his eyes, carefully recollecting for a moment, then pursed his lips and smiled gently, saying, ¡°although i was also angry at the time, i felt more happy.¡±


    most anger is a momentary thing. after passing that point and looking back, many emotions become much softer. qi yanbai couldn¡¯t remember the feeling of wanting to bite a piece of lu ye¡¯s flesh, which he felt strongly at the time. he only remembered the sense of relief.


    that feeling of surviving a disaster made his mind go blank, leaving him physically drained, limbs weak. that feeling of regaining something lost, like a spring¡¯s source, continuously gushed out of his heart, creating an almost dreamlike sense of happiness.


    at that moment, dopamine secretion had reached its peak, and for qi yanbai at that time, as long as lu ye didn¡¯t take back his happiness, he felt like he could give up anything.


    ¡°i was so relieved back then; you don¡¯t understand that feeling,¡± qi yanbai said truthfully. ¡°actually, when i think about it now, i¡¯m scared¡ªi might have been willing to do anything, even if you had asked me to die back then.¡±


    ¡°why would i want you to die?¡± lu ye found it amusing, then smiled and gently touched qi yanbai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°i mean, when you found out i had lied to you, what did you feel at that moment?¡± lu ye asked.


    these past two days had been too comfortable for qi yanbai, and he almost instinctively avoided thinking about the past. however, lu ye¡¯s question was like the key to the final door, instantly reopening all the things he had instinctively avoided.


    the fear and despair from that day rushed back to qi yanbai¡¯s mind. the smile at the corner of his lips stiffened momentarily, and his emotions dropped, almost about to be overwhelmed by those feelings.


    ¡°i felt like the sky was falling,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°for a moment, i hated you so much¡­ i thought you had betrayed me, and i even doubted if all your kindness and love for me was fake.¡±


    ¡°but after the hatred, i realized it wasn¡¯t your fault; it was my mistake,¡± qi yanbai sighed and said, ¡°in short, it was a mix of despair and discomfort¡ªvery chaotic.¡±


    ¡°when i found out you lied to me, i felt the same way,¡± lu ye said. ¡°the world seemed to be collapsing, and i questioned the meaning of everything in an instant.¡±


    qi yanbai knew that, ultimately, this matter was his fault. he remained silent for a few seconds and didn¡¯t argue. instead, he quietly said, ¡°i¡¯m sorry.¡±


    this time, his apology was more sincere than ever before. it wasn¡¯t just a compromise out of fear of lu ye¡¯s anger; it was a genuine acknowledgment of his mistake.


    ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± lu ye smiled and reached out to put his arm around qi yanbai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°i forgive you.¡±


    ¡°but now you know what that feels like,¡± lu ye said. ¡°do you still want me to lie to you in the future?¡±


    people truly understand only after experiencing things themselves. qi yanbai had tasted the bitterness of being deceived, and lu ye thought that this lesson would probably stay with him for the rest of his life.


    ¡°i don¡¯t,¡± qi yanbai shook his head. his voice choked for a moment, and his throat rolled before he managed to finish the sentence.


    ¡°i don¡¯t want you to ever lie to me,¡± he said.


    ¡°then make a promise with me,¡± lu ye smiled and held out his hand, the one with the cigarette. he made a gesture like a pinky promise. ¡°promise that you won¡¯t lie to me anymore, and i won¡¯t lie to you either.¡±


    his tone was light, but qi yanbai, looking at lu ye, suddenly felt that lu ye¡¯s gaze was unusually serious. it didn¡¯t seem like they were standing on a street corner having a casual conversation; it felt more like they were in a church, solemnly making a life-or-death vow.


    qi yanbai¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he met lu ye¡¯s gaze. however, he also strangely felt that the surging sadness within him was soothed by that look. so, he lowered his head, made a sound of agreement, and reached out his hand, hidden behind the bustling crowd, to gently hook his little finger with lu ye¡¯s.


    people passed by on the street, and not far away, the storefront was packed with people. children¡¯s lively laughter filled the air, creating a chaotic atmosphere. however, as qi yanbai hooked his pinky finger with lu ye¡¯s, amidst the bustling crowd, they found a brief moment of peace.


    ¡°i pinky promise,¡± qi yanbai said softly.

 CH 97

    lu mingming wandered around the store for a while, but in the end, she couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of sweet treats. as she came out of the store, happily nibbling on ice cream, her mood had completely turned around. she began chattering away, calling her teacher and uncle.


    ¡°what were you two talking about just now?¡± lu mingming, with a bunch of snacks in her hands, looked at lu ye and qi yanbai curiously, her gaze wandering between them.


    qi yanbai could speak freely when facing lu ye, but when faced with lu mingming, he still carried a bit of his teacher¡¯s persona and felt hesitant to mention that he had just been coaxed and lectured by lu ye while making a ¡°pinky promise.¡± so, he subconsciously shot a pleading look at lu ye, hoping he would help with the situation.


    ¡°nothing,¡± lu ye simply smiled, put his arm around lu mingming¡¯s shoulder, and smoothly changed the subject. ¡°so, after buying so much, are you feeling better now?¡±


    ¡°much better. fortunately, i¡¯m very forgiving,¡± lu mingming swallowed a bite of ice cream and said seriously, ¡°i forgive you this time, but it¡¯s not going to happen again.¡±


    lu mingming¡¯s temper came and went quickly, and she quickly made peace with the two adults. she returned to being a lively little butterfly.


    with one hand each, she led the two adults through the crowd. they walked and talked for a while, and only then did lu mingming suddenly remember something important. she tugged at the hand she was holding onto lu ye.


    ¡°oh, uncle,¡± lu mingming looked up and said seriously, ¡°mom asked me to tell you that her evening meeting got canceled, so you can come home early. if you and teacher qi have time, you can come over for dinner.¡±


    ¡°dinner?¡± lu ye hadn¡¯t said anything yet, but qi yanbai was the first to pause, looking puzzled. ¡°what dinner?¡±


    this time, lu mingming was surprised. she widened her eyes and exclaimed, ¡°teacher qi, aren¡¯t you coming?¡±


    qi yanbai lowered his head, and the two of them exchanged a glance, both showing the same confusion in their eyes.


    a few seconds later, it was still lu mingming who reacted first. she let go of lu ye without saying a word, turned, and hugged qi yanbai¡¯s legs, starting to act up. ¡°no, no,¡ªteacher qi must come. mom has prepared your portion already.¡±


    ¡°alright, stop making a fuss,¡± lu ye multitasked, tapping his phone while pulling lu mingming away from him. he smiled and said, ¡°he¡¯s coming too.¡±


    after comforting the little one, lu ye turned to explain to qi yanbai. ¡°today is my sister¡¯s birthday, and she invited us to dinner tonight. she called me earlier, but there were too many things going on, so i forgot to tell you.¡±


    ¡°tonight?¡± qi yanbai was somewhat surprised. ¡°but i haven¡¯t prepared anything¡ª¡±


    ¡°prepared what? a gift? she doesn¡¯t lack anything,¡± lu ye casually waved his hand. ¡°just show up.¡±


    ¡°yes.¡± lu mingming enthusiastically chimed in, ¡°uncle has already bought a gift for mom! teacher qi just needs to come and have fun!¡±


    despite their reassurances, qi yanbai still appeared hesitant. even though he had nothing to hide from lu ye anymore, he still instinctively maintained a perfect persona of politeness when dealing with others.


    moreover, his relationship with lu wenyu, lu ye¡¯s sister, made him more cautious. he always wanted to be flawless in every aspect when it came to her, wanting to show himself worthy of lu ye.


    ¡°but¡ª¡± qi yanbai hesitated. ¡°is it appropriate?¡±


    ¡°what¡¯s not appropriate about it?¡± lu ye glanced at him with a hint of humor, saying, ¡°are you feeling guilty? afraid that my sister will object to our relationship?¡±


    qi yanbai certainly wasn¡¯t that petty. he knew that lu ye had no ill intentions, so a few light-hearted jokes like these wouldn¡¯t bother him. even if they were a bit excessive, qi yanbai wouldn¡¯t take offense.


    ¡°no, it¡¯s not that,¡± qi yanbai shook his head.


    ¡°then what is it?¡± lu ye asked. when he saw that qi yanbai was not very enthusiastic. he suddenly stopped and stood in front of qi yanbai, blocking his view. he asked, ¡°why are you nervous?¡±


    qi yanbai who was evidently nervous, couldn¡¯t help but reach out to block lu mingming¡¯s line of sight and leaned in close to lu ye¡¯s ear, whispering, ¡°have you¡­ already told her?¡±


    qi yanbai, who acted tough in front of his students, had suddenly become a nervous little quail. lu ye found it amusing and suppressed a laugh. he whispered back, ¡°guess.¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    qi yanbai wanted an answer, but lu ye seemed to be deliberately teasing him. just before qi yanbai could speak, lu ye interrupted him with a smile and pointed at his phone.


    ¡°let¡¯s not talk about it,¡± lu ye said with a smile. ¡°the car has already arrived.¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    in the midst of their conversation, a white rideshare car stopped right in front of them. before qi yanbai could voice his protest, he was kidnapped into the car by lu ye and lu mingming. nervous and stiff, he didn¡¯t look like he was going for a friendly visit; instead, it seemed like he was heading to jail.


    he remained on edge throughout the journey, and was getting increasingly tense, and lu ye couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. he reached out to hold qi yanbai¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°relax,¡± lu ye said, massaging his stiff muscles and suppressing a laugh. he teased, ¡°my sister is not going to beat you up.¡±


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t seem comforted by his words. he cast a slightly resentful look and said, ¡°i¡¯m more afraid of what she might say.¡±


    lu ye replied, lowering his gaze to look at qi yanbai. he chuckled softly and said seriously, ¡°at most, you might face some moral condemnation.¡±


    it was clearly a joke, but qi yanbai seemed to take it seriously. he glanced at lu ye with a slightly furrowed brow and asked, ¡°is that so?¡±


    lu ye couldn¡¯t help but smile at his reaction. he knew that qi yanbai was not petty enough to hold a grudge over these playful comments. nevertheless, the way qi yanbai looked worried him. he reached out and lightly touched qi yanbai¡¯s face.


    ¡°why so serious?¡± lu ye chuckled and asked softly, ¡°do you think my sister will really disapprove of you?¡±


    qi yanbai, who was still nervous, finally relaxed a little. even though he couldn¡¯t be sure without a clear answer from lu ye, he understood that there was no ill intent behind these words. lu ye was just teasing him playfully.


    qi yanbai simply turned his head to face him and said, ¡°i¡¯m worried that your sister will think i¡¯m a terrible person, not worthy of you.¡±


    ¡°is that all?¡± lu ye chuckled, finding it amusing. ¡°even if she happens to dislike you, do you really think i would stop being with you?¡±


    ¡°well, no,¡± qi yanbai replied confidently.


    by now, he had no doubts about lu ye¡¯s love for him. although he might still have some sensitivities and anxieties deep down, he was unwaveringly convinced of one thing: lu ye loved him.


    ¡°but what if she gets angry with you,¡± qi yanbai said, extending his arm and encircling lu ye¡¯s waist. ¡°you two have such a good relationship; i don¡¯t want to cause any conflicts between you.¡±


    qi yanbai hadn¡¯t interacted with lu ye¡¯s sister much, but he could tell that they genuinely cared for each other. their relationship lacked power struggles and hidden agendas; it was marked by a simple and unspoken mutual affection.


    qi yanbai hadn¡¯t grown up in a normal family, and he had once struggled to understand these subtle emotional connections. however, as he spent more time with lu ye, he gradually realized the value of having a relationship without any worries, whether it was with a lover or a family member.


    initially, lu ye thought qi yanbai was merely seeking reassurance when he asked about lu wenyu. he even considered explaining that he hadn¡¯t actually complained to his sister. however, he was taken aback by qi yanbai¡¯s heartfelt response and found himself at a loss for words.


    ¡°have you had a change of heart?¡± lu ye gently touched qi yanbai¡¯s face and playfully teased, ¡°i remember before, you always wished i wouldn¡¯t associate with anyone else and only stay with you.¡±


    ¡°yes, but it¡¯s different now,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°because you¡¯re so wonderful, i don¡¯t want you to lose anything because of me.¡±


    qi yanbai knew that there was a void in his heart that he could never fill. in the past, he thought that pretense and lies wouldn¡¯t truly win lu ye¡¯s heart. so, he sought reassurance and filled that void with lu ye¡¯s attention, finding some semblance of peace.


    but now, lu ye had filled most of that void with his own presence. qi yanbai no longer needed those fragmented pieces to complete himself.


    with enough love to support him, qi yanbai finally had the capacity to look away from his own fears and insecurities and learn how to love someone from the bottom of his heart.


    lu ye couldn¡¯t quite express whether he felt satisfied or touched. he felt as though he had prepared himself to journey a thousand miles with qi yanbai, but in the blink of an eye, qi yanbai had willingly walked even further than he had anticipated.


    a sense of relief washed over him, followed by a belated surge of warmth that silently spread through his chest. it was like a comforting spring, quietly flowing through his limbs and heart.


    ¡°well, what if she truly doesn¡¯t like you?¡± lu ye chuckled softly and asked, ¡°what would you do then?¡±


    ¡°in that case¡­ there¡¯s nothing much i can do,¡± qi yanbai said, discreetly tightening his embrace around lu ye¡¯s waist. he spoke softly, ¡°i¡¯ll just have to make an effort to win her over.¡±

 CH 98

    lu wenyu built her career from scratch and had a no-nonsense, decisive style. she had even ranked in the top three of the ¡°parents to pay attention to¡± list at a training center, making her an intimidating character.


    fortunately, she had no interest in meddling in her younger brother¡¯s choice of a partner. during the entire meal, qi yanbai ate nervously, fearing that his imagination might come true. however, everything went smoothly, and the atmosphere at the dinner table remained peaceful. lu wenyu¡¯s attitude towards him also appeared natural and relaxed, just like during the chinese new year.


    ¡°how do you feel now? are you more at ease?¡±


    after finishing their meal, lu ye helped clear the table. when he placed the dishes in front of qi yanbai, he paused for a moment. then, he bent down while stacking the plates, lowered his voice, and whispered in his ear.


    ¡°i didn¡¯t say anything to her; lu ye said. ¡°don¡¯t be so tense; you look exhausted.¡±


    although qi yanbai could already tell that lu wenyu¡¯s attitude remained friendly, having lu ye¡¯s assurance made him feel lighter in his heart. his tense shoulders instantly relaxed slightly, as if he were a small animal returning to its safe nest, shaking off all the tension as soon as he entered the door.


    his expressions, which now revealed his emotions much more clearly, were far more lively than when he carried the burden of being ¡°teacher qi.¡± lu ye couldn¡¯t help but smile and look at him for a moment before standing up, lightly pinching his shoulder before finally carrying the dishes and leisurely walking into the kitchen.


    not far away upstairs, lu wenyu was arranging the wine tools. she had a high vantage point and a keen eye, and her eyes took in every detail of their interaction. she raised an eyebrow, intrigued by what she saw, and observed them for a while. she continued to watch until lu ye disappeared from her sight while carrying the dishes. only then did she lean against the railing, smile at qi yanbai, and call out to him.


    ¡°teacher qi.¡±


    qi yanbai looked up at the sound and saw lu wenyu leaning against the railing, shaking two empty wine glasses in her hand. she asked if he wanted to come up for a drink.


    qi yanbai had a low alcohol tolerance. last time, he had nearly revealed everything after just two glasses of wine. given his current anxiety, he was afraid that he might say something he shouldn¡¯t if he got tipsy.


    he didn¡¯t dare to drink with lu wenyu, but he still went upstairs.


    ¡°happy birthday, sister,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°i didn¡¯t have time to prepare a gift for you; i apologize.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s okay, as long as ye bought one, it counts for both of you,¡± lu wenyu said, tilting her head and gesturing towards lu ye in the wine cellar. she smiled and continued, ¡°but what about you two? have you finally made up? no more quarrels?¡±


    pointing out a quarrel between lovers in front of others was always embarrassing. qi yanbai felt a bit awkward, pursed his lips, and nodded gently, saying, ¡°yes¡­ we¡¯ve made up.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s good,¡± lu wenyu teased. ¡°next time you have a fight, don¡¯t involve others. you both even involved mingming and i never heard the end of it. she kept crying that her uncle was leaving.¡±


    upon hearing this, qi yanbai felt even more guilty. he had caused concern not only between himself and lu ye but also with lu wenyu and mingming, which was unfair to them.


    ¡°it¡¯s my fault. i¡¯m not mature enough, which is why i had a lot of conflicts with ye,¡± qi yanbai took responsibility and apologized, saying, ¡°i¡¯m sorry for making you and mingming worry. it¡¯s really my fault.¡±


    ¡°oh, it¡¯s okay,¡± lu wenyu waved it off and casually said, ¡°he¡¯s a formal employee with a position. it¡¯s not that easy to change departments. that excuse to deceive children is acceptable, but it¡¯s too amateurish to deceive adults.¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    as a deceived ¡°adult,¡± qi yanbai¡¯s face stiffened for a moment, and then he furrowed his brows, wondering, ¡°position?¡±


    as soon as he said this, lu wenyu belatedly realized what she had said and couldn¡¯t help but look at him affectionately. she thought, ¡°poor teacher qi, you really don¡¯t understand the situation. that¡¯s why you were fooled by lu ye for so long.¡±


    ¡°in any case,¡± lu wenyu couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, realizing she had accidentally spilled the beans. so, she redirected the conversation, instructing him, ¡°i can¡¯t explain it clearly; you can go and ask lu ye.¡±


    when qi yanbai went downstairs, lu ye had already finished washing his hands and returned to the room. the door to his room was half-open, emitting a narrow strip of light.


    when qi yanbai pushed the door open and saw lu ye¡¯s back, the strange feeling in his heart vanished instantly, leaving him without any inclination to probe further. at that moment, he accepted the fact that he was the only adult besides lu mingming who had been deceived by this lie.


    ¡°why did you come to hide here?¡± qi yanbai said as he walked into the room. ¡°i¡¯ve been looking for you for a while.¡±


    once inside the room, qi yanbai noticed several half-packed suitcases. some of them were placed side by side against the wall, and two were already open, sitting wide open in the middle of the floor. a quick glance revealed that they contained lu ye¡¯s personal clothing.


    ¡°so, you moved in here with your sister?¡± qi yanbai suddenly understood what was going on. he walked over to lu ye, habitually reached out and embraced him, leaning on him while letting out a long sigh of relief. he said, ¡°you really startled me back then.¡±


    lu ye turned around, allowing qi yanbai to lean against his chest. he smiled and asked, ¡°did you really think i was leaving for good?¡±


    ¡°of course, i thought you were going to break up with me for real at that time,¡± qi yanbai said, closing his eyes and nuzzling lu ye¡¯s chest with his face. he whispered softly, ¡°you played your part so convincingly; it was hard not to believe it.¡±


    bringing up this topic, qi yanbai suddenly had an idea. his gaze swept over the suitcases by the wall, and his mind began to work. he couldn¡¯t help but hold lu ye tighter and gently rub against him.


    ¡°by the way, ye ge,¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°you should move back.¡±


    ¡°move back to where?¡± lu ye asked knowingly. ¡°across the hall?¡±


    qi yanbai responded with a ¡°yes¡± and whispered, ¡°i¡¯ve been keeping an eye on that house, and it hasn¡¯t been rented out yet. since you¡¯re not mad at me anymore, why don¡¯t you move back? what do you think?¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m not moving back,¡± lu ye said with a smile. ¡°the rent is too high, and i can¡¯t afford it.¡±


    that statement was obviously nonsense. lu ye had a decent salary, lived a frugal lifestyle without indulging in excesses, and aside from his daily expenses, he might buy a few packs of cigarettes a month. there was no way he couldn¡¯t afford the rent.


    qi yanbai thought he was just in a playful mood and didn¡¯t really want to move back so easily. he didn¡¯t get upset at the response and, instead, changed his approach, attempting to persuade him.


    ¡°how about staying at my place? i can cover the rent.¡±


    lu ye couldn¡¯t help but laugh at qi yanbai¡¯s ability to adapt to different situations. he pushed qi yanbai¡¯s shoulder playfully, creating a bit of distance between them while still smiling.


    ¡°you¡¯re not even going to ask where my money went?¡± lu ye teased, amused by qi yanbai¡¯s flexible nature.


    qi yanbai looked at lu ye blankly for a moment, paused for a few seconds, and then remembered to play along. he quickly asked, ¡°so, where did your money go?¡±


    lu ye chuckled and, after putting out the last cigarette, reached into the crack between the sides of the suitcase. from inside, he retrieved a bunch of keys and casually tossed them into qi yanbai¡¯s lap.


    qi yanbai instinctively caught the keys and, when he looked down, he saw a bunch of them, one red and six blue, all covered in dusty white tape, giving them a very crude appearance.


    ¡°what¡¯s this?¡± qi yanbai asked, ¡°house keys?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± lu ye said after taking the last puff of his cigarette. he crushed the cigarette butt and continued, ¡°it¡¯s a ninety-square-meter apartment by the river¡ªnot far from where we officially became a couple.¡±

 CH 99

    efore knowing qi yanbai¡¯s true personality, lu ye had once thought about compensating qi yanbai with a ¡°home.¡±


    at that time, they had just established a deeper connection, transitioning from the life of a single bachelor to a couple. their mindset and perspectives had changed, and they both desired stability.


    however, later on, when lu ye discovered that qi yanbai was not who he thought he was, at that point, he should have given up on this naive and somewhat foolish idea. but instead, he emptied his savings and exchanged it for this set of keys.


    ¡°the area isn¡¯t too large, but the location is decent.¡± lu ye flicked his cigarette butt into the ashtray and casually remarked, ¡°it¡¯s about the same distance from the police station and school. on a free day, we can go take a look.¡±


    since he received the keys, qi yanbai had been in a daze. he held the keys, still covered in white dust from the renovation, and stared at lu ye for a moment. after a few breaths, he seemed to grasp something and lowered his head to look at the keys in his hand before looking back at lu ye.


    ¡°a house?¡± qi yanbai asked incredulously, ¡°did you buy it?¡±


    lu ye crossed his legs and lazily leaned back against the windowsill, raising an eyebrow when he heard this. he said with a serious expression, ¡°no, i stole it.¡±


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°well, what else could it be?¡± lu ye couldn¡¯t resist teasing him when he saw qi yanbai looking baffled. he playfully flicked his forehead and said with a smile, ¡°do you think it fell from the sky?¡±


    qi yanbai still hadn¡¯t fully grasped the situation. he instinctively held lu ye¡¯s hand, took a few steps closer, and jingled the keychain in front of him, asking, ¡°did you suddenly buy this¡­ to live together with me?¡±


    ¡°of course, if not with you then with whom?¡± lu ye lowered his eyes, used his thumb to wipe off the lime dust from the back of qi yanbai¡¯s hand, and teased, ¡°with my sister? or maybe with mingming?¡±


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t pay attention to his playful remarks. he blinked and almost immediately extracted the key point he wanted to hear from lu ye¡¯s words.


    ¡ªlu ye bought this for him.


    lu ye moved out not just to deceive or scare him but also for this reason.


    lu ye wanted to be with him for a lifetime, and this was not an empty promise. it was a tangible commitment that had run through lu ye¡¯s love for him from beginning to end, even when lu ye was most disappointed with him.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t care about material things, let alone money and houses¡ªwhen he was in the qi family, a painting could buy a whole house, and money was just a number to him. whether it was a lot or a little, it was hard to stir any emotions in his heart.


    but now it was different. this wasn¡¯t just a house; it was evidence of lu ye¡¯s unwavering commitment to him.


    qi yanbai¡¯s excitement surged, and he threw himself into lu ye¡¯s arms.


    ¡°lu ye, i¡¯m so happy,¡± qi yanbai¡¯s eyes lit up, eagerly suggesting, ¡°how about we go see it now?¡±


    ¡°now?¡± lu ye glanced meaningfully at the night outside the window and asked, ¡°are you sure?¡±


    the moon was bright outside the window, and in the vast villa area, it was so quiet that not even the barking of dogs could be heard.


    qi yanbai also knew that it was getting late, but he was too excited. he could hardly wait any longer and wanted to witness everything firsthand.


    ¡°yes now,¡± qi yanbai said with a soft voice, lightly kissing lu ye on the lips, ¡°the timing is perfect. let¡¯s go check it out, and we can grab some late-night snacks on the way back.¡±


    his voice was soft and gentle, and as he spoke, he deliberately got closer to lu ye, kissing his neck and lips from bottom to top, like a cat trying to charm its owner for treats.


    qi yanbai had no patience when he was in a good mood, and he wanted everything immediately. lu ye was amused by his act of cuteness and, seeing his response, playfully poked his forehead with a finger, asking, ¡°are you not going to pretend anymore now?¡±


    lu ye¡¯s tone had a slight teasing lilt, like a little hook, tickling qi yanbai¡¯s heart.


    in response, qi yanbai glanced at lu ye, didn¡¯t say a word, but playfully rubbed his hand against lu ye¡¯s hand, nuzzling it gently.


    in the end, lu ye took qi yanbai to the new house.


    lu wenyu had no choice but to tolerate the impatience of these two young love birds. after making a couple of sarcastic remarks, she finally sighed and called the security booth to arrange for a car to pick them up.


    the new house that lu ye bought was located near the river. it was a high-rise residential complex that had been completed for over three years. the occupancy rate was quite high, and the entire area was well-lit. it was much livelier than the neighborhood they used to live in.


    lu ye hadn¡¯t visited the place much before, so he took a moment to remember the way. he then led qi yanbai to their target building.


    the new house was on the seventeenth floor, considered a mid-to-high level. since nobody had lived there yet, it was still in its original condition. a deep blue film was stuck on the door, and it took some effort to turn the key and open it. as soon as the door was opened, a layer of dust fell onto the floor. the walls were rough, and touching them felt coarse.


    but qi yanbai was in high spirits. he didn¡¯t mind the dust that covered the entire place. he stepped into the apartment ahead of lu ye, looked around for a moment, and then fixed his gaze on the massive floor-to-ceiling window in the living room.


    bright lights streamed in from outside, casting mottled shadows on the concrete floor. qi yanbai walked to the center of the living room, looked around, and suddenly blinked before smiling.


    ¡°it¡¯s not as grand as the qi family mansion,¡± qi yanbai remarked as if lost in thought.


    ¡°really?¡± lu ye playfully replied, ¡°are you disappointed?¡±


    ¡°of course not,¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°i meant that it¡¯s better than any place i¡¯ve ever stayed.¡±


    this place didn¡¯t have anything¡ªdark and unfinished as it was. it didn¡¯t even have clear walls or rooms. but qi yanbai somehow felt that everything was perfect here. unlike the qi family mansion, which was lavish but lacked a sense of homeliness.


    ¡°my sister found this house for me,¡± lu ye explained, knowing that qi yanbai wasn¡¯t one to complain about such things. he continued, ¡°when she was looking for it, i gave her only one requirement, apart from the location, size, and price.¡±


    ¡°what requirement?¡± qi yanbai asked.


    lu ye didn¡¯t answer directly. he casually put his hand in his pocket, strolled toward the massive floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, and then gestured toward a certain direction, saying, ¡°look over there.¡±


    he pointed in the direction of a low building that stood out among the well-lit high-rises nearby. qi yanbai squinted and tried to see, but it was difficult to make out the details due to the darkness.


    ¡°what¡¯s that?¡± qi yanbai asked.


    ¡°that¡¯s the sub-bureau where i work,¡± lu ye said, emphasizing the ¡°i.¡± then he added, ¡°if you stand here, you can see it at any time.¡±


    qi yanbai blinked and then took a few steps forward, almost leaning on the floor-to-ceiling window. it was like he wanted to get a clearer view of the building outside.


    ¡°it¡¯s not very clear,¡± qi yanbai said with a playful tone, ¡°can i use binoculars?¡±


    ¡°no, you can¡¯t,¡± lu ye said with a smile.


    qi yanbai also smiled, but soon, the joyful and excited expression on his face faded away. he couldn¡¯t help but look outside again, beyond the lights and the night, to the small shadow in the distance.


    from this angle, he couldn¡¯t see much, but he couldn¡¯t help but imagine what lu ye looked like in that building. he imagined lu ye¡¯s presence there, feeling the ¡°close at hand¡± and ¡°within reach¡± sensation. suddenly, at this moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of peace.


    this feeling, so relaxing and pure, washed over him in an instant. qi yanbai stood there, and he felt as if his entire heart had silently turned into a pool of water.


    he felt a sense of security, a feeling of complete peace, as if he didn¡¯t have to do anything except wait here for lu ye.


    ¡ªas long as he waited here for lu ye, lu ye would give him everything he wanted.


    this overwhelming sense of security was unfamiliar to qi yanbai, but he found himself strangely addicted to it. he had once detested the feeling of losing control, but this time, he was falling into this feeling of peace without any resistance, letting himself sink deeper and deeper into it.


    because qi yanbai knew that all of this came not just from the nearby building but from lu ye¡¯s care and accommodation, as well as lu ye himself.


    lu ye had done everything he could, and qi yanbai thought there couldn¡¯t be anything better.


    outside the window was the bustling city night scene, with lights from countless buildings flickering. in the distance, neon lights shimmered. qi yanbai stood by the window, gazing at the low building in the distance, and he felt as though he was both looking at the night outside and looking at the person behind him.


    ¡°if we could stay here forever,¡± qi yanbai whispered softly, ¡°i would stand here forever, watching you.¡±


    ¡°watch me forever?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°watch you forever,¡± qi yanbai affirmed.

 CH 100

    as they emerged from the hallway, qi yanbai¡¯s mood was surprisingly good.


    he felt like he had never been this relaxed before. it was as if he was lifted by a soft cloud out of nowhere, no longer dropping endlessly but landing somewhere solid, where he could finally catch his breath.


    his steps were light and brisk, clearly still savoring everything that had just happened. walking beside him, lu ye watched his constantly upturned lips since they left the building and, after a while, couldn¡¯t help but reach out and pull him.


    ¡°still so happy?¡± lu ye chuckled. ¡°keep walking like this, and you might just take off.¡±


    ¡°that would be nice,¡± qi yanbai said with a smile. ¡°then i¡¯d take you to the sky and hide in a place where no one can see us.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s possessiveness over him had always been there from start to finish, and lu ye understood that. even though he had given qi yanbai more security, this aspect of his personality wasn¡¯t something he could change ¨C at most, it would transition from being acted out to just spoken words, becoming less impactful.


    this sounded like a timed bomb, but lu ye didn¡¯t mind it. qi yanbai¡¯s love was passionate and intense, even though it carried uncontrollable risks. as long as lu ye could hold onto that leash, the rewards far outweighed the risks.


    ¡°sure, you can fly, but let¡¯s not hide,¡± lu ye teased. ¡°it¡¯s almost monday, and i have to go to work.¡±


    ¡°can you take a few more days off?¡± qi yanbai was feeling bold, trying to negotiate. ¡°your hand is still hurting. you can rest for a few more days, and i can delay my return to work.¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t very rational when he was in such high spirits. he was enjoying himself, and he didn¡¯t want to let go.


    ¡°sorry, can¡¯t do that,¡± lu ye said.


    qi yanbai knew he wouldn¡¯t agree, but he was still trying to challenge lu ye¡¯s decision. so, he lightly scratched lu ye¡¯s palm with his fingertips and asked pitifully, ¡°why not?¡±


    ¡°because i won¡¯t get paid if i don¡¯t go to work,¡± lu ye replied, lifting their joined hands and pointing to his head. ¡°besides, the house isn¡¯t even renovated yet. do you want to live in an unfinished place?¡±


    qi yanbai chuckled and then burst into laughter. he looked like he had found some hidden humor. without saying anything, he turned and walked toward lu ye¡¯s shoulder, apparently giving up on his previous playful arguments.


    ¡°good thing i know you¡¯re not that kind of person,¡± he laughed strangely, his head buried in lu ye¡¯s shoulder. he sniffed the faint smell of tobacco on lu ye¡¯s collar and inhaled deeply, like a junkie craving for a fix. then he said, ¡°you¡¯re so addictive.¡±


    his warm breath sprayed on lu ye¡¯s neck, making his spine tingle. lu ye let out a soft groan, and before he could stop himself, qi yanbai¡¯s tongue was licking his neck.


    this was going a bit too far in public.


    not far away, the outdoor park in the community was brightly lit. half-grown kids who didn¡¯t have to wake up early on weekends were shuttling between amusement equipment, their cheerful laughter occasionally reaching the small road. the nearest child appeared to be seven or eight years old, chasing after a soccer ball and about to run past a flowerbed. lu ye reached out to hug qi yanbai¡¯s back and took a few steps back before qi yanbai, who was about to stick to him. they hid behind the nearby electrical room before anyone could see them.


    ¡°there are kids around,¡± lu ye said with a smile.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t care much about it. his ¡°teacher qi¡± persona was like a disguise that had integrated into modern society, only useful in front of others. but whenever there was no one around, he would transform into something else, like a wolf under the moonlight.


    ¡°i don¡¯t care,¡± qi yanbai said. today, he was too excited. he was like a playful little wolf, greedy and stingy. he didn¡¯t want to let go.


    ¡°they¡¯ll grow up sooner or later,¡± he said. ¡°life only has so many experiences. sooner or later, they¡¯ll see it.¡±


    lu ye nodded and watched qi yanbai¡¯s eyes, which were sparkling with mischief. he deliberately teased, ¡°for example, you who didn¡¯t have time to grow up as a child, so you¡¯re just now going through your rebellious phase.¡±


    he couldn¡¯t help but laugh a couple of times when he spoke. his chest vibrated slightly, and qi yanbai¡¯s gaze shifted from his lips to his adam¡¯s apple. after a while, he seemed to think of something, and his adam¡¯s apple rolled up and down for an instant as he swallowed a mouthful of saliva.


    behind the electrical room was a blind spot in the lighting. it was surrounded by knee-high shrubs, and there was only a maintenance path hidden in the middle of the shrubs. it looked dark at first glance, appearing quiet and private. however, the distant sounds of playing from the kids were still echoing in their ears, and under the bright lights, half-grown kids were chasing a soccer ball and playing around. parents were gathered in groups, chatting casually. in the distance, the late-night square dance had already ended, and the last ear-piercing sound from the speakers marked the final quiet.


    but here they were, hiding in plain sight, sharing a passionate kiss that no one knew about.

 CH 101

    the clear moonlight silently bathed the stone pathway. not far away, the children had already grown tired of the slide and begun singing nursery rhymes with incomprehensible lyrics.


    their innocent humming blended with the night, gradually becoming a part of the cool evening.


    qi yanbai¡¯s breathing grew gradually deeper. he stood on his tiptoes, leaning against lu ye¡¯s arm, like a delicate flower, greedily and urgently drawing nourishment from him.


    ¡°lu ye¡ª¡±


    as their lips and tongue intertwined, qi yanbai mumbled lu ye¡¯s name indistinctly in between kisses. lu ye responded with a soft grunt, tightening his grip around qi yanbai¡¯s waist.


    ¡°what?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°you think we look like we¡¯re having an affair like this?¡± qi yanbai¡¯s mind wandered freely when he was excited, and he appeared more audacious than usual. he pinched the firm muscles beneath his hand, feeling lu ye¡¯s heightened tension compared to usual. unable to resist, he squinted seductively  and said, ¡°i think you¡¯re more nervous than usual.¡±


    ¡°is that so?¡± lu ye chuckled and followed up on his words, ¡°so with your experience, have you ever had an affair before?¡±


    ¡°of course, after all, you¡¯re the one i stole.¡± qi yanbai¡¯s eyes curved as he reached out to cup lu ye¡¯s face, leaning in to kiss the corner of his lips, his words somewhat unclear. ¡°you¡¯re my treasure.¡±


    qi yanbai never spared affectionate words; he was always extravagant and passionate, eager to assign every term symbolizing ¡°treasure¡± to lu ye. lu ye, as a grown man who had received a reserved upbringing, initially found it a bit cheesy. however, after hearing it countless times, he had surprisingly grown used to it.


    while they spoke, the innocent nursery rhymes from outside had disappeared without a trace, replaced by the clear voice of a child. qi yanbai¡¯s attention was momentarily diverted as he heard a little girl clapping her hands.


    ¡°let¡¯s play hide and seek!¡± she said. ¡°you guys run, and i¡¯ll catch you.¡±


    as soon as she finished speaking, there was a sudden rush of hurried and chaotic footsteps from outside, with most of them running in the opposite direction. only one set of footsteps seemed to be getting closer, almost reaching the edge of the flowerbed.


    ¡°how about hiding here?¡± qi yanbai heard a half-grown boy mutter to himself. ¡°but it¡¯s too dark here¡­¡±


    the voice was too close, almost as if there was only a narrow electrical room separating them. qi yanbai, who still had some dignity left, felt a sudden tightness in his heart upon hearing this and subconsciously tried to separate from lu ye. however, before he could put some distance between them, the hand behind him suddenly exerted force, pulling him back into lu ye¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°ye ge¡ªmmm!¡±


    qi yanbai¡¯s eyes widened suddenly. he didn¡¯t even finish his sentence before lu ye firmly silenced him with a kiss.


    lu ye clearly held a grudge, and he seemed to have been influenced by qi yanbai, kissing him passionately and boldly without hesitation. he pried open qi yanbai¡¯s lips without a second thought, trapping him in place, unable to move.


    qi yanbai had been daring when teasing lu ye before, but now he was the one feeling nervous. he tensed up, his body becoming rigid, and even his breathing became shallow.


    lu ye¡¯s hand slid up and down his waistline while grabbing his butt, feeling his tense muscles. he chuckled softly and asked in a husky voice, ¡°¡­who¡¯s more nervous now, hmm?¡±


    qi yanbai, who had always been under his control, couldn¡¯t speak. he could only look at lu ye, pleadingly, making a faint, animalistic whimper from his throat.


    this kiss was both nerve-wracking and exhilarating. qi yanbai¡¯s adam¡¯s apple bobbed for a moment. in just a few seconds, his legs grew weak, and a thin layer of sweat formed on his back, sticking his shirt to his body.


    ¡°you weren¡¯t afraid earlier, were you?¡± lu ye asked with a smile. ¡°why are you nervous now?¡±


    qi yanbai thought to himself that it was completely different. before, he had at least walked in the open, unlike now, where he was hanging onto lu ye and couldn¡¯t tear himself away.


    fortunately, the child outside perhaps feared the dark and gave up after lingering around the bushes for a while. in the end, they didn¡¯t gather the courage to come in.


    as qi yanbai listened to the fading footsteps, he unconsciously relaxed and nestled in lu ye¡¯s arms.


    this kiss lasted for a long time, only ending when the playful noise in the small garden had completely disappeared. lu ye and qi yanbai walked out of the bushes behind the electrical room one after the other.


    it was dark, and the ground was slippery. when qi yanbai came from behind the electrical room, his clothes were messed up, his collar was open, and his pants were covered in dry leaves. at first glance, it was hard to tell where he had come from, but his entire appearance was like a ¡°crime scene.¡±


    ¡°we¡¯re in trouble,¡± qi yanbai said nervously as lu ye smoothed his collar for him. ¡°it¡¯s going to be hard to explain this.¡±


    lu ye had always been an upright and honest person, and this was the first time he had ¡°committed a crime.¡± it seemed that he had been influenced by qi yanbai and was now stuck in this situation with no way out.


    ¡°it¡¯s better if we can¡¯t explain,¡± lu ye chuckled and said, ¡°congratulations, with your possessiveness, your wish will probably come true soon.¡±


    he lifted his leg to step out of the flowerbed and turned to face qi yanbai, extending his hand. ¡°alright, we¡¯ve had enough fun. should we go home now?¡±


    ¡°go back to my place?¡± qi yanbai asked, feigning ignorance.


    ¡°where else?¡± lu ye raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°am i supposed to take a taxi to my sister¡¯s place now?¡±


    most of lu ye¡¯s belongings were in his sister¡¯s house, and he had initially planned to stay at lu wenyu¡¯s villa for a month or two. but now that he and qi yanbai had reconciled, he had no intention of making a long-distance relationship work.


    qi yanbai hurriedly held onto lu ye¡¯s hand, jumped down from the flowerbed, and shook his head, acting playful. ¡°going home with me is the best option.¡±


    the neighborhood was quiet in the late night, and the adults and children had already gone home, leaving only a few street lamps standing by the small square in the distance, emitting a soft white light.


    unlike the previous noise, now the entire neighborhood was so quiet that they could only hear each other¡¯s footsteps. moonlight gently spread across the night, casting a hazy glow over everything.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t let go of lu ye¡¯s hand. he looked up at him for a while, then suddenly his expression changed, becoming dreamy and absent-minded.


    ¡°it¡¯s really nice,¡± qi yanbai said softly. he gazed at lu ye affectionately for a moment, then smiled and whispered, ¡°it feels as if happiness is just like a dream.¡±


    ¡°do you feel like it¡¯s not real again?¡± lu ye asked.


    over twenty years of fixed thinking couldn¡¯t be changed overnight, and qi yanbai occasionally still felt a lack of security. but this time, he didn¡¯t have to carry that heavy black hole in his heart. instead, he could rely on the person beside him confidently and boldly.


    ¡°not exactly,¡± qi yanbai said, pursing his lips as he looked at lu ye. his eyes were bright and filled with soft love and contentment.


    ¡°i know that all of this is real,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°but i never imagined i could be this happy, that the outcome could be this good.¡±


    lu ye was real, and the love was real. qi yanbai could clearly feel the weight of these feelings, like a thick blanket on a rainy day, heavy, warm, and providing endless security, draped over his heart and soul.


    qi yanbai knew that all of this was real; he was simply marveling at his own good fortune.


    lu ye gazed at him for a while, and the watery light in qi yanbai¡¯s eyes seemed to act as a catalyst, falling into his heart and igniting a growing desire.


    ¡°well then,¡± lu ye suddenly smiled and said, ¡°i can see you¡¯re not in the mood to sleep tonight. so, let¡¯s go.¡±


    he grabbed qi yanbai¡¯s hand, and without another word, walked away.


    qi yanbai hadn¡¯t reacted yet and followed him in a daze until they reached the parking area of their building. there, he watched as lu ye wheeled out his motorcycle and then suddenly realized what was happening. he grabbed lu ye¡¯s arm in confusion.


    ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± qi yanbai asked. ¡°where are we going?¡±


    ¡°to dongshan,¡± lu ye said, tossing a helmet into his arms. he instructed, ¡°put this on.¡±


    qi yanbai was willing to go anywhere with him, even to the ends of the earth, even if lu ye wanted to sell him. he didn¡¯t hesitate and put on the helmet, all while stealing a glance at lu ye¡¯s expression, unsure why he had this spontaneous change of heart today.


    ¡°why are we going there?¡± qi yanbai asked still confused.


    without saying a word, lu ye had already mounted the motorcycle. he held the helmet in his hand, glanced back at qi yanbai upon hearing his question, and then smirked boldly. he smiled at him with an air of excitement.


    ¡°i¡¯m making your dream a little longer,¡± he said.


    before this, qi yanbai had never sat on the pillion seat of lu ye¡¯s motorcycle.


    lu ye was considerate and cautious. he probably thought qi yanbai wouldn¡¯t handle the excitement of a motorcycle well. so, whether he came to pick him up from work or invited him to go out, they either walked or took a taxi. even if they occasionally rode bicycles, lu ye would always park his motorcycle at the police station or training center and walk home together with qi yanbai.


    in the past, when qi yanbai pretended to be a refined and gentle teacher, he would occasionally watch lu ye come to find him in a motorcycle jacket. he couldn¡¯t help but imagine whether lu ye looked more handsome while riding a bike than when wearing a uniform.


    he had imagined countless similar scenes back then, but it wasn¡¯t until now that he realized that lu ye was even more handsome than he had imagined.


    the motorcycle roared down the highway, its bright headlights cutting through the night like a glaring beam. qi yanbai held onto lu ye, listening to the wind howling in his ears as the motorcycle sped along. he could feel lu ye¡¯s warm body transmitting through the fabric, providing a continuous source of heat.


    the visibility at night was low, and besides the illuminated road ahead, the surroundings were blurred by the speed of the motorcycle. qi yanbai unconsciously tightened his grip on lu ye¡¯s waist, feeling as though they were racing through time together.


    the roaring wind isolated him from everything else, and his entire field of vision was filled with lu ye¡¯s back, as though he were embracing the entire world.


    after about an hour and a half, lu ye slowed down the motorcycle, and the roaring wind gradually subsided. qi yanbai lifted his head to take a look, realizing that they had unconsciously arrived at their destination: the middle section of dongshan road.


    this road was mainly used for scenic purposes and was deserted at night. lu ye parked the motorcycle at an observation platform by the roadside and gestured for qi yanbai to get off.


    dongshan was far from the city center. despite having lived there for a long time, qi yanbai had never been before. unfortunately, it was still dark outside, and everything was shrouded in darkness, with nothing visible.


    but the atmosphere here was great. it carried a refreshing mountain and water fragrance. qi yanbai stood by the railing, looking at the pitch-black scenery outside. he suddenly felt an unusual sense of tranquility.


    ¡°the first time i rode here, it was to see the sunrise,¡± lu ye said as he leaned against the railing, still in his motorcycle jacket. he continued, ¡°i had just turned eighteen, didn¡¯t have a motorcycle, so i rode a bicycle here.¡±


    ¡°a bicycle?¡± qi yanbai asked.


    ¡°yeah, an old-style one. i don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve seen it before. it had a horizontal bar in front,¡± lu ye said, laughing as he demonstrated with his hands. ¡°i bought a second-hand one for fifty bucks at a scrapyard. the wheels were crooked, but i fixed it myself.¡±


    at that time, neither he nor lu wenyu had much money. they both came from humble backgrounds and had to make ends meet. they had to pay tuition and cover their living expenses with the meager earnings from summer jobs. even that fifty bucks was scraped together from their meager savings.


    ¡°i had a dream that night and couldn¡¯t sleep afterward,¡± lu ye continued. ¡°so, i came out on a bicycle to clear my mind. i rode for more than four hours, and i ended up here.¡±


    qi yanbai turned to look at him, wanting to ask if it was a nightmare, but before he could speak, lu ye seemed to understand his thoughts and shook his head with a smile.


    ¡°i forgot it as soon as i woke up,¡± lu ye continued. ¡°i spent several hours here, feeling the cool breeze. i don¡¯t know why, but my heart gradually felt more at ease.¡±


    ¡°but there¡¯s nothing here,¡± qi yanbai said.


    ¡°who said that?¡± lu ye smiled.


    qi yanbai looked around, thinking he might have missed something. after scanning the surroundings, he saw nothing except the pitch-black night.


    lu ye seemed to enjoy teasing him. he smiled and didn¡¯t provide a direct answer.


    he took out a small flashlight from his jacket pocket and shone it on the ground, revealing a piece of white paper with some writing on it.


    qi yanbai took the flashlight and read the words on the paper: ¡°the place where the future begins.¡±


    he looked at lu ye, puzzled.


    ¡°that¡¯s what i wrote that night,¡± lu ye said. ¡°i still don¡¯t know what it means, but it felt right at the time.¡±


    qi yanbai was stunned for a moment, then couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°you¡¯re such a mystery.¡±


    lu ye chuckled and winked at him. ¡°mysterious enough to keep you interested, right?¡±


    qi yanbai nodded. he didn¡¯t know what was so special about this place, but with lu ye by his side, it felt meaningful.


    they stood there for a while, enjoying the tranquility of the night. the wind carried a faint scent of the forest, and the sound of leaves rustling was soothing.


    as they continued to chat, the eastern sky gradually began to brighten. dawn was approaching, and the first rays of sunlight were about to break through the darkness.


    qi yanbai looked at the horizon, his heart filled with anticipation. he didn¡¯t know what the future held, but he was ready to face it with lu ye by his side.


    look,¡± lu ye said.


    as that line of light appeared, the night sky began to show its colors. the vast lake gradually gained a thin layer of silver, and the air became more humid. dewdrops formed on the roadside grass, and leaves hung gracefully.


    qi yanbai¡¯s gaze moved away from lu ye¡¯s face, and he took a few steps forward, reaching out to grasp the railing. he leaned out slightly, his eyes following the gradually brightening lake surface, looking towards the distant horizon.


    the cigarette scent on lu ye¡¯s jacket had faded, replaced by the cool and refreshing fragrance of vegetation. qi yanbai took a deep breath, feeling the coolness flow into his limbs and chest.


    he had stayed up all night, but he still felt refreshed. his eyes scanned everything within sight, and finally, he turned his gaze back to lu ye¡¯s face. he looked at him expectantly and asked in a soft voice, ¡°what am i supposed to see?¡±


    lu ye smiled, reached out to pinch qi yanbai¡¯s chin, and turned his face toward the lake. he said, ¡°you¡¯ll find out in a moment.¡±


    as soon as lu ye finished speaking, a bright color suddenly leaped from the gray surface of the water.


    the orange-red glow rapidly deepened within a few minutes, spreading at a visible pace. the hazy and dim lake surface was instantly dyed with a brilliant red, and the ripples on the water reflected a beautiful and colorful spectrum.


    then, a thin line of sunlight emerged from the horizon.


    qi yanbai was almost stunned.


    everything within his sight seemed to be painted with the colors of the sunrise¡ªthe sparkling water surface, the lush greenery, and the unidentified white birds that crossed the sky¡ªall were gradually tinted with the bright colors, as if they were being reborn, infused with new vitality.


    ¡°i used to stand here to watch the sunrise,¡± lu ye said, still leaning against the railing but turning his head to gaze at the rising sun. he spoke softly, ¡°until i saw the sky gradually light up, i knew that the night had passed.¡±


    spectacular scenery often touched the heart. qi yanbai¡¯s hand, gripping the railing, tightened slightly, almost transferring the coldness of the railing into his palm.


    he looked at everything in front of him, experiencing this magnificent and brilliant performance, as if he had suddenly understood the meaning of ¡°seeing the light.¡±


    as the distant sun rose higher, his magnificent and dreamlike dream finally extended from the long night into the early morning.


    the orange-red sunlight spilled onto the earth, and lu ye was bathed in a thin layer of light. he turned his head to look at qi yanbai¡¯s profile, and after a moment, he smiled and asked, ¡°so, is the sunrise beautiful?¡±


    ¡°beautiful,¡± qi yanbai¡¯s eyes shimmered slightly, and he whispered, ¡°this dream is too long and beautiful¡ªit¡¯s long enough to last a lifetime.¡±

 CH 102

    after returning from dongshan, lu ye officially packed up his things and temporarily moved into qi yanbai¡¯s apartment.


    the originally single-rented apartment suddenly had an extra person¡¯s belongings, making it feel crowded. a spare coat of lu ye¡¯s appeared on the coat rack by the door, and the bathroom¡¯s single set of toiletries was neatly arranged to make room for new cups and toothbrushes.


    these small items silently filled qi yanbai¡¯s life. even though the room was still the same, at a glance, it gave qi yanbai a completely new feeling.


    the bedroom¡¯s balcony window was open, allowing the fresh air to flow in. the bedroom carpet, which had been stained the last time, had been replaced with a brand new one. it was a long, soft, beige rug that felt wonderfully plush underfoot.


    the wardrobe by the bed hadn¡¯t been fully organized yet, and lu ye¡¯s suitcase was open, casually resting on the floor. a thick motorcycle jacket slipped out from under the suitcase lid, hanging crookedly on the side.


    qi yanbai picked up the jacket and hung it back in the wardrobe, then casually took out a clean bed sheet from inside the wardrobe and spread it over the bed.


    the dark gray linen still retained the scent of detergent. qi yanbai bent down and smoothed out the wrinkles on the fabric. when he spread it over the bed, he noticed that the chain he had previously used to ¡°restrain¡± lu ye was still in place.


    the cold and heavy shackles hung from the bed railing, with one end dangling into the gap at the bed¡¯s headboard. qi yanbai picked up the fallen circular shackle from the floor and rubbed it in his hand. after a moment of hesitation, he quietly put it back in its original place.


    ¡°why are you keeping this?¡± lu ye, who knows when he walked over from the living room, was standing by the door, holding a water glass, looking at him with a half-smile.


    ¡°are you planning to keep it for future use?¡± lu ye raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°or are you prepared for a ¡®return to prison¡¯ at any time?¡±


    ¡°keeping it as a memento,¡± qi yanbai was caught off guard but remained calm. he blinked his eyes when he heard lu ye¡¯s words, then turned his head to look at lu ye innocently and pitifully, playing innocent, ¡°or, if i misbehave, you can use it to lock me up.¡±


    qi yanbai seemed to have discovered the benefits of being straightforward lately. he neither concealed nor pretended to be ¡°virtuous¡± anymore. all day long, he acted like a spoiled child, talking nonsense.


    but lu ye was sharp and didn¡¯t fall for it. he reached out and pinched qi yanbai¡¯s chin, coldly stopping qi yanbai¡¯s attempt to get closer. he handed the water glass to qi yanbai and said, ¡°i don¡¯t have that hobby.¡±


    while saying this, lu ye walked over to the bed, took over the remaining work, and complained, ¡°it¡¯s all a safety hazard and dangerous.¡±


    however, despite lu ye¡¯s words, he didn¡¯t force qi yanbai to get rid of the ¡°criminal tools.¡± instead, he coiled the overly long chain a few times and tucked it under the mattress.


    qi yanbai knew that lu ye responded better to gentle persuasion than force. so, he curved his eyes and obediently took a sip of water, then took a few steps to pick up the work again, helping to spread the sheets over the mattress.


    with two people working together, it was much faster. a few minutes later, lu ye stood up straight, checked the time on his wrist, and then put down what he was holding. he clapped his hands to get rid of the non-existent dust.


    ¡°if you¡¯re willing to move the remaining stuff for me, go ahead. if not, we can deal with it when i come back from work later,¡± lu ye said as he stepped on the carpet and took a new t-shirt from his suitcase. he casually added, ¡°i¡¯m on duty tonight, so i¡¯ll probably be back late. you can come back home from work on your own. you don¡¯t have to wait for me.¡±


    ¡°on duty again?¡± qi yanbai also put down the glass and walked to the bathroom door. he chatted with lu ye through the closed door, saying, ¡°haven¡¯t you been on duty a lot recently? did the schedule change?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s because the interns have all gone back,¡± lu ye replied.


    while they were talking, lu ye had already changed his clothes. he walked out of the bathroom, adjusting his cuffs. as he walked toward the door, he suddenly remembered something and turned back to look at qi yanbai. he reminded him, ¡°oh, by the way, i¡¯m planning to sell the motorcycle. don¡¯t forget to take the keys with you when you go to work later. give them to mingming during your class, and ask her to take them to my sister.¡±


    ¡°hmm?¡± qi yanbai was slightly surprised. he asked, ¡°why do you suddenly want to sell the motorcycle?¡±


    he paused for a moment and then hesitated, ¡°is it because you need money?¡±


    ¡°where did you get that idea?¡± lu ye chuckled and reached out to comb qi yanbai¡¯s long hair, which had fallen loose. he smiled and said, ¡°it¡¯s just that it¡¯s time to let it go. it doesn¡¯t suit me anymore.¡±


    it was like how people would enter new stages in life at a certain age, and what used to be youthful exuberance and excitement would become immature in hindsight. while it was okay to cherish the memories, it didn¡¯t fit as well when it came to ¡°settling down.¡±


    ¡°we don¡¯t go out together often, and you don¡¯t really like motorcycles. you¡¯ve only ridden it once, so it¡¯s not a big loss,¡± lu ye said. he knew that qi yanbai wasn¡¯t enthusiastic about seeking thrills; he enjoyed the feeling of speed because of the influence of ¡°lu ye.¡±


    qi yanbai initially wanted to dissuade him from selling it, but his words seemed to get caught in his throat, and he swallowed them.


    ¡°alright,¡± qi yanbai changed his tune, ¡°i¡¯ll remember.¡±


    ¡°okay,¡± lu ye nodded and said, ¡°then i¡¯m off.¡±


    ¡°be careful on your way to work,¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°don¡¯t order takeout for dinner tonight. i¡¯ll bring you dinner.¡±


    ¡°you¡¯re still bringing it?¡± lu ye smiled and said, ¡°aren¡¯t you afraid my colleagues will gossip about how domesticated you¡¯ve become?¡±


    perhaps because he had absorbed enough ¡°nourishment¡± and ¡°love,¡± qi yanbai had been quite stable lately.


    the previous monday, qi yanbai unusually accompanied lu ye to work. he carried lu ye¡¯s duty coat in his arms and held a packed breakfast. he looked like a virtuous wife as he walked qi yanbai to the police station¡¯s entrance. then, he stopped on the steps, softly and carefully instructing lu ye about various ¡°precautions¡± for quite some time, from not eating instant noodles to taking care of his arm. he talked for several minutes before being caught in the act by passing colleagues.


    his colleagues didn¡¯t say much at the time, but later, they teased lu ye with glee, asking if they had finally reconciled.


    lu ye couldn¡¯t stand it at the time and admitted to it. but not even ten minutes later, this ¡°good news¡± had spread throughout the office, and even the usually serious li zhiwen came over with two cookies as a ¡°reconciliation gift,¡± congratulating him on escaping the ¡°depressed single youth¡± category.


    lu ye was used to joking around with them and didn¡¯t think much of it. but qi yanbai had thin skin and lu ye was worried that he wouldn¡¯t be able to handle their teasing.


    ¡°it¡¯s okay; they don¡¯t mean any harm,¡± qi yanbai said with a smile, using the coat to shield his hand as he reached into lu ye¡¯s sleeve.


    these days, the chain that qi yanbai had given lu ye was back on his wrist. it seemed like lu ye deliberately teased qi yanbai, occasionally letting it dangle. unfortunately, every time, qi yanbai took the bait, and it always made him itch inside, unable to resist reaching out and touching it.


    ¡°anyway, i¡¯m getting off work early today, and there¡¯s nothing much to do,¡± qi yanbai said, using his fingertip to flick the bracelet on lu ye¡¯s wrist. he said, ¡°i want to give you something.¡±


    ¡°okay,¡± lu ye said helplessly, ¡°i¡¯ll ask the security guard to leave a note for you.¡±

 CH 103

    lu ye was happy in his romantic life, which made his single colleagues in the office quite miserable.


    just last week, his colleague in the adjacent cubicle had gone on his 26th blind date. the woman he met was gentle, considerate, and well-mannered. they had a good first impression of each other. unfortunately, when they were halfway through their meal, he left to buy some bubble tea, and the station called, saying there was an urgent matter that required his assistance in catching a suspect.


    caught up in his professional duties, he didn¡¯t realize he was in the middle of a date. he rushed back to the office, leaving the lady at the restaurant. when he finally finished interrogating the suspect and remembered the girl he left behind, he saw a bright red exclamation mark in his wechat window.


    ¡°at that moment, i wanted to apologize to her immediately, but when i called her, she wouldn¡¯t pick up,¡± his colleague said with a sigh, slumping in his chair. he complained, ¡°such is fate, my friend¡ª¡±


    ¡°that just means it wasn¡¯t meant to be,¡± lu ye consoled half-heartedly. ¡°in matters of love, you should go with the flow. going on blind dates so frequently doesn¡¯t really help.¡±


    ¡°people in relationships have it easy,¡± his colleague grumbled, shooting him an envious look. he continued with a hint of resignation, ¡°for people like us, who are always either on duty or working overtime, if we don¡¯t go on blind dates, how will we meet new friends? if we don¡¯t know new people, how can we find a partner? can a partner just fall from the sky or walk through the door by themselves?¡±


    before he could finish his complaint, someone lightly knocked on the office door.


    following that,¨C qi yanbai ¨C entered with his dinner and coat. he greeted the young colleagues in the room one by one, wearing a knowing smile.


    ¡°good evening,¡± qi yanbai said.


    colleagues: ¡°¡­¡±


    his timing couldn¡¯t have been better; it was as if the heavens had sent him to change the topic just as they were lamenting their fate. the colleagues looked at him with a hint of resentment, then turned their attention elsewhere, gazing vacantly at the ceiling, feeling life had nothing more to offer.


    ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± qi yanbai was puzzled by their strange reactions as he looked at lu ye curiously. ¡°what were you guys talking about just now?¡±


    ¡°nothing,¡± lu ye said with a suppressed smile. he stood up, neatly put away a stack of documents on his desk, then gestured to qi yanbai, saying, ¡°come over here. what¡¯s for dinner tonight?¡±


    ¡°wasabi shrimp balls,¡± qi yanbai smiled and said, ¡°you mentioned that you wanted to eat them last time.¡±


    the reference to ¡°last time¡± seemed to carry a subtle undertone. lu ye couldn¡¯t help raising an eyebrow, giving qi yanbai a meaningful look.


    ¡°now that you mention it, it¡¯s a shame about last time,¡± lu ye laughed and said, ¡°the shrimp balls were so big, but i didn¡¯t even get to taste one.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s not a shame,¡± qi yanbai responded, oblivious to lu ye¡¯s implied meaning, and smiled gently. ¡°this time, i bought them myself, and they¡¯re even fresher than last time.¡±


    as they talked, qi yanbai hung his coat on the coat rack by the door and brought his thermos bag closer.


    lu ye got up from his desk, pulled out a spare plastic stool from behind him, and made room for qi yanbai. he said, ¡°you sit first. i¡¯ll wash my hands first.¡±


    qi yanbai obediently nodded, watching him as he left the office. he then opened the thermos bag and arranged the food containers neatly on the table, removing the lids.


    the warm aroma of the dishes filled the room, and the spicy scent of black pepper beef tantalized the senses. yao xing, who was about to leave work, couldn¡¯t resist the temptation. she walked over as if her soul had been summoned, and her dog-like spirit peeked out from behind lu ye¡¯s computer, swaying left and right as she looked at the food. finally, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°it smells so good, teacher qi. can i have a bite?¡±


    with a mischievous grin, she offered a nutrition bar to qi yanbai, proposing, ¡°i¡¯ll trade you with a snickers.¡±


    qi yanbai wasn¡¯t stingy. he smiled at her and handed her a toothpick, skewering a shrimp ball and offering it to her.


    yao xing happily accepted the treat, thanked him, and left the office in high spirits.


    poor colleagues in the neighboring cubicle had to endure the tragedy of their failed blind date and the torment of the lovebirds. they felt as if their tongues had turned to wood and could only sigh, thinking that fate was truly unfair.


    qi yanbai was used to taking care of lu ye. after opening the lunch boxes, he helped tidy up lu ye¡¯s desk, emptied the ashtray that was half-filled with cigarette butts into the trash can in the corner, and wiped the bottom of the ashtray clean with a damp paper towel.


    a colleague nearby couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°he can handle such a trivial task himself, teacher qi. he¡¯s not incapable.¡±


    ¡°i was just idle,¡± qi yanbai didn¡¯t want to explain their relationship to others in detail. he simply said, ¡°i want to do it.¡±


    ¡°but you shouldn¡¯t spoil him like this. he¡¯s become so dependent on you,¡± the single colleague shook his head and sighed, feeling envious. ¡°i wonder what good deeds he did in his past life to find someone like you in this life.¡±


    he had meant it as a casual comment, but to his surprise, qi yanbai¡¯s response was unexpectedly intense. qi yanbai turned his head to look at the colleague with a furrowed brow, and he retorted emphatically, ¡°that¡¯s not true.¡±


    ¡°these small favors are nothing; anyone could do them,¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°but what he has given me is much more significant than what i¡¯ve given him.¡±


    qi yanbai was always gentle and kind when dealing with outsiders. whether they were familiar or not, he would meet them with a smile. the colleagues were used to seeing him as a gentle and kind person, and they were taken aback when they saw him become serious all of a sudden.


    ¡°it¡¯s not because of his good deeds; it¡¯s because of mine,¡± qi yanbai turned his head back and placed the cleaned ashtray back in its original position. he said softly, ¡°without him, i wouldn¡¯t be this happy right now.¡±


    he said these words lightly, and the colleague only caught a glimpse of their meaning. however, he didn¡¯t want to ask further and quickly changed the subject, laughing it off.


    in the midst of their conversation, lu ye returned. he pushed open the office door with his shoulder, and as he entered the room, he noticed the subtle change in the atmosphere. he wiped the water droplets from his hands and walked over to his desk, all while maintaining a calm smile.


    ¡°what are you all talking about?¡± lu ye was puzzled by the strange atmosphere. he looked at qi yanbai and asked curiously, ¡°what were you guys discussing?¡±


    ¡°just some small talk.¡±


    as soon as qi yanbai saw him, a smile returned to his face. he squinted his eyes and handed lu ye two tissue papers to wipe his hands, saying, ¡°perfect timing, or else the food would have gone cold.¡±


    ¡°you can eat first; i¡¯ll be doing something else,¡± lu ye said. ¡°i ran into our neighbor in the hallway a while ago, and we discussed some case-related matters.¡±


    ¡°i¡¯ve already eaten; this is your portion,¡± qi yanbai nodded and continued, ¡°i have something to attend to later, so i won¡¯t be staying here with you.¡±


    ¡°something to attend to?¡± lu ye exclaimed, surprised. ¡°right now?¡±


    it wasn¡¯t that lu ye couldn¡¯t do without him, but qi yanbai, as a clingy person, would usually find opportunities to be close to lu ye even when there was no reason. now that there was a chance to have dinner together, it was unusual for him to request to leave first.


    ¡°yes, it¡¯s a personal matter,¡± qi yanbai smiled and, as if mindful of the others in the room, slightly bent forward. he used his pinky finger to gently hook onto lu ye¡¯s hand, then leaned closer to lu ye¡¯s ear and whispered softly, ¡°¡ªi promise it¡¯s nothing bad.¡±


    lu ye chuckled, ¡°i wasn¡¯t talking about that¡ª¡±


    he seemed like he wanted to say something, but then he felt that he was overthinking it, so he changed his tone and simply said, ¡°well, go take care of your business then. come home early tonight.¡±


    ¡°alright.¡± qi yanbai reluctantly released lu ye¡¯s hand, opened his palm, and said in a low voice, ¡°by the way, can you give me the key to the new house?¡±


    ¡°why?¡± lu ye asked, teasing him, ¡°didn¡¯t you get enough of it earlier?¡±


    qi yanbai smiled, neither confirming nor denying, and his attitude remained ambiguous. then, he smiled at lu ye and said, ¡°¡ªi won¡¯t tell you.¡±

 CH 104

    it took lu ye more than half a month to find out what qi yanbai had been busy with.


    that day, he happened to be out on assignment when he received a call from lu wenyu. lu wenyu got straight to the point, and as soon as she answered the phone, she started laughing, sending shivers down lu ye¡¯s spine and giving him goosebumps.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± lu ye asked. ¡°have you been possessed or something?¡±


    lu wenyu chuckled but didn¡¯t answer directly. she asked mysteriously, ¡°guess what teacher qi has been busy with lately?¡±


    ¡°how should i know?¡± lu ye lowered his car seat and leaned back in the passenger seat. as he did, he tossed his police coat onto the back seat and continued casually, ¡°he¡¯s been really mysterious lately, either holed up in the art studio all day or wandering around the new house. the last time i asked him what he was doing, he wouldn¡¯t tell me.¡±


    lu ye paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow. ¡°why, do you know?¡±


    lu wenyu teased, keeping the suspense but not revealing if she knew. she chuckled and said, ¡°i sent the decoration company to inspect the new house today. when they asked about the property, the management told them that your renovation and decoration deposit has been paid, and they received the notification from ¡®the owner¡¯s family.''¡±


    lu wenyu emphasized the words ¡°owner¡¯s family¡± and then continued with a smirk, ¡°so, i thought, does my little brother not trust me? he asked for my help, and then he goes behind my back and has someone else pick up the job without even telling me.¡±


    she sighed three times, as if she were here to investigate a serious matter. however, lu ye didn¡¯t buy into it and burst into laughter, realizing what was happening.


    ¡°yanbai has already arranged for someone?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°yes,¡± lu wenyu replied. when she saw that he wasn¡¯t taking the bait, she quickly returned to her usual self and hummed lightly. ¡°when my secretary asked them, the management said it was picked up by ¡®the owner¡¯s family¡¯ in person, and everything was done according to proper procedures.¡±


    she then smiled mischievously. ¡°so, is he planning to surprise you, or are you running short of funds and didn¡¯t want to bother me?¡±


    ¡°no way,¡± lu ye chuckled. ¡°the last time he took the keys from me, i thought he wanted to visit the house, but i didn¡¯t expect him to do this. alright, you don¡¯t need to worry about it. i¡¯ll ask him about it.¡±


    ¡°alright then,¡± lu wenyu had only called to check in with him, and seeing that everything was fine, she didn¡¯t press further. she just reminded him, ¡°if you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to ask.¡±


    ¡°i know,¡± lu ye replied.


    he hung up the call with lu wenyu and immediately dialed qi yanbai¡¯s number.


    at this time, qi yanbai had already finished work. the phone rang twice before he answered it. lu ye listened carefully and heard some faint background noise from the other side.


    ¡°are you at the new house?¡± lu ye asked, hearing the faint sounds.


    ¡°yeah, did your sister tell you?¡± qi yanbai had received a call from the property management today, so he wasn¡¯t surprised. he openly admitted, ¡°they came today to take measurements. by the way, if you have some free time after work, can you drop by?¡±


    ¡°taking measurements?¡± lu ye asked. ¡°did you already sign a contract with them and start construction?¡±


    ¡°yes, i gave them the full payment since there was a suitable discount,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°it¡¯s better to start construction early and move in sooner.¡±


    he had acted without prior notice, and now it was too late to oppose it. lu ye sighed in resignation and said, ¡°alright, i¡¯ll come over in a while.¡±


    he hung up the phone and glanced at yao xing, who was driving. yao xing gave him a knowing look and grinned, ¡°congratulations, lu ge. when did you guys buy a house? there¡¯s been no news at all, and you haven¡¯t even celebrated.¡±


    ¡°we bought it not long ago,¡± lu ye replied with a smile. ¡°let me off at the next intersection; i¡¯ll take a taxi.¡±


    when lu ye arrived at the new house, the decoration company¡¯s designer had already finished measuring and left. qi yanbai was the only one left, sitting pitifully on a small plastic stool that had been brought in temporarily, waiting for him.


    he was sitting right next to the huge floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, looking like a pet dog waiting for its owner to return. he gazed in the direction of the police station as if he were waiting for lu ye.


    outside the window, the city lights were bright, and the bustling streets were filled with led lights that flickered, casting a soft and dim light on him.


    the sound of the door lock being twisted startled him. the moment lu ye entered the room, he transformed from a statue back into a person. he turned to look at the door, and his eyes became lively and excited when he saw lu ye.


    ¡°you¡¯re here?¡± qi yanbai said.


    ¡°yeah, just got off work,¡± lu ye walked up to him, raised his chin with his hand, bent down, and gave him a kiss. he smiled and said, ¡°i haven¡¯t seen you in a few days, and now you¡¯ve learned to make decisions without consulting me first?¡±


    qi yanbai accepted the kiss with satisfaction and licked his lips, then held lu ye¡¯s waist. he stuck to him like glue and said, ¡°i wanted to surprise you.¡±


    he sounded like he was here to report his achievements, with a teasing tone in his voice. his eyes sparkled, and if he had a tail, it would probably be spinning like a propeller by now.


    lu ye looked at him helplessly, smiling as he rubbed qi yanbai¡¯s chin and then used his thumb to touch his lip corner.


    ¡°it¡¯s quite a surprise,¡± lu ye said. ¡°when my sister called me, i was really shocked.¡±


    lu ye stroked qi yanbai¡¯s lip corner and sighed in resignation. ¡°do you know it¡¯s not common for couples in china to do it like this? i buy the house, and you handle the renovation. do you realize that you¡¯re taking a risk?¡±


    ¡°what kind of risk?¡± qi yanbai had a smile on his face, but his eyes were full of seriousness.


    ¡°i know what i¡¯m doing,¡± without waiting for lu ye to respond, qi yanbai continued, ¡°i also know what you¡¯ve done for me.¡±


    qi yanbai loved lu ye without restraint, but he wasn¡¯t a fool. he clearly understood that lu ye was managing him, controlling his emotions, and protecting him. he could boldly do whatever he wanted as long as it didn¡¯t cross the bottom line, and whatever he did, lu ye had his back.


    ¡°besides, it¡¯s not much money,¡± qi yanbai said and immediately returned to being the obedient teacher qi, bending his eyes and saying with a triumphant tone, ¡°from now on, i can take care of you too.¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t take his ¡°showing off wealth¡± statement seriously. some things only needed a casual mention; trying to split everything between partners like it was a transaction was too cold-hearted.


    so, lu ye just smiled and teased, ¡°what if i¡¯m a bad person?¡±


    ¡°then i¡¯ll be a bad person with you,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°we¡¯ll stick together and be naughty until death.¡±


    ¡°in that case, i¡¯ll continue being a law-abiding citizen,¡± lu ye smiled and teased him. ¡°let¡¯s make it easier for society.¡±


    as he was speaking, he suddenly noticed a flash of color in the corner of his eye. lu ye turned his head, reached through the gap near the window, and pulled out a colorful pamphlet.


    it was probably left behind by the decoration company during their inspection. on the blank back page, someone had used a pencil to scribble down some numbers. lu ye absentmindedly unfolded it and saw that it was a price list from a decoration company.


    this company was quite well-known in the city, known for good aesthetics, short project duration, excellent after-sales service, and transparent pricing¡ªexcept for being expensive, it had almost no drawbacks.


    ¡°did you hire this company?¡± lu ye asked casually.


    qi yanbai nodded and leaned over to look at the brochure in his hand. he said, ¡°one of my students¡¯ parents works in their marketing department. i asked my colleague if there was a reliable decoration company to recommend, and he happened to overhear.¡±


    ¡°then he said, it¡¯s the off-season for renovations right now, and they have some unused internal staff discount quotas they can offer me,¡± qi yanbai squinted his eyes, smiling as he made a hand gesture, ¡°30% off.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s not bad,¡± lu ye chuckled, ¡°it¡¯s also a way to save money.¡±


    ¡°well, this is where you and i are going to live in the future, so we need to find a reliable company,¡± qi yanbai said as he stood up from the chair and excitedly took lu ye¡¯s hand, walking to the floor-to-ceiling window. he gestured, ¡°the designer hasn¡¯t drawn up the plans yet, but i told them to leave a small sofa on the balcony for me.¡±


    the room was still a mess, covered in dust, with nothing but cement fragments and bricks everywhere. however, when lu ye saw qi yanbai¡¯s excited expression, he could almost imagine the future from his words.


    ¡°we can also place the easel here,¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°i can paint while waiting for you here.¡±


    as they spoke, the lights of a nearby high-rise office building flickered, casting a bright glow on qi yanbai¡¯s eyes.


    he looked so happy, with his eyes filled with anticipation, like a child going on a spring outing for the first time, finding everything fresh and exciting.


    lu ye watched him from the side, feeling his heart soften. he lowered his head, smirked, and said, ¡°alright, i¡¯ll go along with your plans.¡±


    ¡°what about you,?¡± qi yanbai asked, ¡°how would you like it? tell me, and i¡¯ll talk to the designer.¡±


    ¡°i don¡¯t have any specific requirements; as long as i have a place to stay,¡± lu ye said, tilting his head and gesturing to the nearby guest bedroom, ¡°you can use that room as your studio, and you can decide on the rest.¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t have many demands for living. a roof over his head was enough for him, and he didn¡¯t pay much attention to things like ¡°infrastructure¡± and ¡°lifestyle routines.¡± whether the refrigerator was in the living room or the kitchen didn¡¯t matter much to him; it was just a matter of a few extra steps.


    but qi yanbai was different. he seemed to have a longing for everything, as if he had imagined what his ¡°home¡± should look like countless times in his spare time.


    so, since that was the case, lu ye was willing to indulge his ¡°imagination.¡±


    ¡°since you¡¯re the one paying, you have the final say,¡± lu ye joked, ¡°once you have the design ready, just let me know.¡±


    after some banter, it was time to get down to business. lu ye took out his wallet from his pocket, carefully selected a card, and handed it to qi yanbai.


    ¡°here,¡± lu ye said, ¡°the money from selling the motorcycle is in this card. if you run out of money, just use this card. you know the pin.¡±


    ¡°pin?¡± qi yanbai¡¯s eyes brightened, and he asked, ¡°is it my birthday?¡±


    ¡°¡­it¡¯s my birthday,¡± lu ye corrected.


    qi yanbai: ¡°¡­¡±


    seeing qi yanbai¡¯s disappointment, lu ye couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as he pinched his chin and said, ¡°i¡¯ve had this card for years. my birthday has always been the pin.¡±


    qi yanbai, of course, knew this. he wasn¡¯t really upset; he was just making a playful ¡°demand.¡±


    but before he could carry on with the joke, his phone in his pocket suddenly rang.


    it was already the end of the workday, and the training center had finished its classes. qi yanbai was puzzled as he took out his phone from his pocket, only to find that the caller id displayed an unfamiliar number.


    qi yanbai usually didn¡¯t like to answer spam calls, but he had recently taken over a new class and hadn¡¯t quite bonded with the students and their parents yet. he thought it might be a parent with some questions, so he made a hand gesture to lu ye and walked to the side before answering the call.


    he took a few steps away, and lu ye couldn¡¯t hear what was being said on the other end of the call. however, he noticed that qi yanbai had been overly silent from the moment he answered the phone. the smile on his face gradually disappeared, and within a few minutes, his lively and vibrant demeanor seemed to have turned cold and distant.


    ¡°um,¡± after a long while, qi yanbai finally uttered a few words, ¡°i understand.¡±


    it wasn¡¯t how he usually spoke to the parents of his students. although qi yanbai wasn¡¯t very social, his attitude towards everyone was always gentle and polite. even with nuisance calls, he would politely say, ¡°no, thank you,¡± before hanging up, and he wouldn¡¯t be so dismissive and indifferent.


    so who was the caller, lu ye wondered? was it someone bringing news that qi yanbai didn¡¯t want to hear?


    lu ye¡¯s first thought was of ashley, but from what he knew, qi yanbai¡¯s relationship with her wasn¡¯t so strained that it would lead to such a reaction. so, he thought for a moment and ruled out that possibility.


    the person on the other end of the phone continued speaking, but lu ye couldn¡¯t hear what was being said. however, qi yanbai seemed to be getting impatient. he appeared to want to retort but was held back by some factor, leaving him unable to speak. instead, he lowered his head and impatiently tapped the white lines drawn on the floor with the tip of his shoe.


    the call lasted for several minutes, and qi yanbai seemed to have been passive in listening to the voice on the other end of the line the entire time. he could only occasionally say, ¡°mm-hmm,¡± or ¡°i understand,¡± to indicate he was listening.


    after a while, qi yanbai hung up the phone in silence and turned to walk towards lu ye.


    it was as if he wanted to draw comfort from lu ye, as he walked up to him in silence and reached out to hold his waist, pressing his entire body close to lu ye¡¯s chest to listen to his heartbeat.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± lu ye noticed something was off in his expression, furrowed his brow, and lifted qi yanbai¡¯s chin, saying firmly, ¡°who called you?¡±


    qi yanbai held his phone and glanced at lu ye, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something but didn¡¯t know how to start.


    ¡°what¡¯s going on?¡± lu ye¡¯s tone turned serious, and he said, ¡°tell me.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s nothing,¡± qi yanbai said, ¡°it¡¯s¡­ my father.¡±


    lu ye couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brow.


    it had been a long time since that word had come out of qi yanbai¡¯s mouth. except for the initial period when they first met, when qi yanbai used his family background to test lu ye, he almost never mentioned this stereotypical father again. so hearing the news about him out of the blue, lu ye¡¯s initial reaction was almost absurd.


    ¡°he called you?¡± lu ye asked, his brow furrowing deeper, ¡°why?¡±


    ¡°do you remember the painting in my room, the one hanging right in the center?¡± qi yanbai asked.


    ¡°of course,¡± lu ye said.


    during the time when he was ¡°kidnapped,¡± lu ye had visited qi yanbai¡¯s studio more than once. he had also seen the painting that buried all of qi yanbai¡¯s inner turmoil and desires.


    ¡°i showed that painting to ashley before,¡± qi yanbai continued.


    as he said this, he hesitated for a moment, as if he was contemplating whether to explain the name, but lu ye quickly understood and made a sound to indicate he understood, allowing qi yanbai to continue.


    ¡°at that time, my father also saw that painting, and he wanted to buy it from me. he offered 20 million, but i refused,¡± qi yanbai said, his teeth gritted. ¡°he¡¯s a person who only cares about art, and he¡¯s always been stubborn about emotionally charged artworks. this time, he called to try and persuade me to let him take that painting from me.¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t have a good impression of that dad. if ashley¡¯s actions were driven by a desire for freedom, then qi zhe¡¯s sickening education methods were the root cause of turning qi yanbai and his brothers into half-crazed individuals.


    lu ye couldn¡¯t understand this so-called ¡°artist¡± and had no interest in trying to understand. so he brushed qi yanbai¡¯s forehead and asked, ¡°do you want to sell it to him?¡±


    ¡°of course not,¡± qi yanbai said through gritted teeth. ¡°that painting is of you. even if he offered me 2 billion¡ª¡±


    ¡°2 billion?¡± lu ye raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°well, that might be worth considering.¡±


    qi yanbai burst into laughter at this and was quickly relieved of the icy demeanor that had taken over him.


    ¡°do you really want me to?¡± qi yanbai asked, his eyes sparkling. ¡°in that case, maybe we should think about it.¡±


    ¡°forget it, if that¡¯s not what you want¡± lu ye chuckled and said.


    lu ye, of course, wasn¡¯t really interested in the money. he was used to being a working-class person and had no interest in sudden wealth. moreover, that painting belonged to qi yanbai, and he wanted to keep it. even if it could sell for 2 billion, lu ye felt it had nothing to do with him.


    ¡°since you don¡¯t want to sell, just ignore him,¡± lu ye said. ¡°after all, without him, you¡¯re still doing well.¡±


    ¡°but he¡¯s already here,¡± qi yanbai said helplessly. ¡°he¡¯s a very stubborn person. ashley said he happened to be launching something in shanghai, so he came over.¡±


    qi yanbai, despite his aversion to social interactions, suddenly had the courage to confront qi zhe, perhaps because he had lu ye by his side. he had a sudden desire to prove to qi zhe that he was no longer just a commodity but someone who lived in this world in a completely new way, as someone else¡¯s lover.


    ¡°but i still want to meet him once,¡± qi yanbai finally said, ¡°consider it¡­ a final closure and settle it once and for all.¡±

 CH 105

    lu ye initially thought that someone of qi zhe¡¯s stature, the head of a wealthy ¡°elite¡± family, would arrange to meet qi yanbai differently. he expected a high-end hotel, a reservation for a french dinner, a full band for entertainment ¨C something more refined, much like ashley. but what surprised him was that qi zhe was quite down-to-earth. when he called qi yanbai, both he and ashley were already sitting in the car heading to the rental house.


    lu ye didn¡¯t know how he got qi yanbai¡¯s address, but it was evident that he was eager for this meeting ¨C even more so than qi yanbai and lu ye, who had taken their time strolling back home.


    ¡°he came for the painting, so of course, he wants to see it directly,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°he¡¯s a fanatic about art. compared to grandeur and etiquette, he values whether the painting meets his inner standards.¡±


    qi yanbai spoke as he took out the access card from his pocket and swiped it to open the side gate of the residential area, saying with a smile, ¡°if it meets his standards, you can ask him for anything you want. but if it doesn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°what happens if it doesn¡¯t?¡± lu ye teased. ¡°does he order an execution?¡±


    ¡°not that extreme,¡± qi yanbai chuckled. ¡°he won¡¯t react much; he will simply ignore you, be indifferent, as if you don¡¯t exist. good evening.¡±


    he greeted the security guard who was checking ids and then nodded politely to the person before slightly turning to the side. with one hand, he pushed the iron gate, making way for lu ye to enter.


    ¡°but he doesn¡¯t need any power plays,¡± qi yanbai continued. ¡°for the kids who idolize him, his ¡®indifference¡¯ itself is the best punishment.¡±


    qi yanbai appeared relaxed, but lu ye sensed his dissatisfaction with qi zhe from his words.


    ¡°do you want me with you when you meet him?¡± lu ye turned his head slightly, gesturing toward the bustling basketball court on the other side of the residential area. ¡°if you don¡¯t want me to, i can go play basketball with them.¡±


    qi yanbai had always been concerned about whether he would reveal an ¡°embarrassing¡± side in front of lu ye, and lu ye understood this well.


    living in the qi family in the past was not a pleasant memory for qi yanbai, and lu ye had no interest in making people uncomfortable. he didn¡¯t need to prove qi yanbai¡¯s trust in him with such a trivial matter. if qi yanbai didn¡¯t want him to face qi zhe directly, lu ye would respect his wishes.


    qi yanbai understood the implication in lu ye¡¯s words, but since he had decided to be open and honest with lu ye, he didn¡¯t plan to hide anything from him. he reached down, taking lu ye¡¯s hand and interlocking their fingers.


    ¡°this is our home, and there¡¯s no reason for you to hide,¡± qi yanbai said playfully. ¡°even if someone needs to leave, it should be him. he¡¯s the uninvited guest.¡±


    ¡°moreover¡­¡± qi yanbai said softly. ¡°if he bullies me, i¡¯ll need you to back me up.¡±


    he said this with a mixture of truth and playfulness, sounding like a helpless little cabbage that no one cared about. lu ye chuckled, looking at him, not exposing his intentions. instead, he responded with a simple ¡°hmm¡± and casually held qi yanbai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°alright then,¡± lu ye said, pulling qi yanbai with one hand while the other hand stayed in his pocket, walking leisurely downstairs.


    ¡°if he bullies you, i¡¯ll kick him out of our home,¡± he added.


    recently, the residential area had replaced a batch of light bulbs with higher wattage, providing excellent illumination. when the lights were turned on, the area downstairs was as bright as day.


    from a distance, lu ye saw a man and a woman standing at the entrance to the building. ashley, just like before, was wearing a stunning strapless fishtail gown, paired with a long overcoat clearly designed for men. she was leaning against the flower bed in front of the building, puffing on a cigarette.


    not far from her stood a tall middle-aged man in a well-fitted suit, exceptionally refined despite the obvious streaks of gray at his temples. however, he exuded a sharp and cold aura.


    before this encounter, ¡°qi zhe¡± was merely a symbol in lu ye¡¯s mind. he had imagined what he looked like, but only when he saw him in person did he realize that he was nothing like he had imagined.


    from qi yanbai¡¯s description, qi zhe was self-indulgent, had a distant relationship with his family, and was passionate and only focused on art. lu ye had previously thought of him as an art fanatic lost in the virtual world. however, now that he saw him, he seemed too normal. he appeared almost the opposite of the quirky members of the qi family and didn¡¯t seem like the father of such eccentric individuals.


    ¡°qi yanbai.¡±


    while lu ye was assessing qi zhe, the latter had already approached. he didn¡¯t spare lu ye a glance and didn¡¯t seem to notice the man holding qi yanbai¡¯s hand. qi zhe walked up to them, not as a guest but as if he were at home. he unceremoniously opened several room doors, as if familiar with the layout, and made his way to the studio where qi yanbai stored his artworks.


    the small room was cramped and filled with too many paintings, only allowing two people to enter at most. lu ye didn¡¯t join them but walked into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.


    ¡°could you pour me one too?¡± ashley followed him into the kitchen and didn¡¯t hold back, saying, ¡°i¡¯m dying of thirst after the journey.¡±


    lu ye glanced at her and then retrieved a new glass from the cabinet, pouring her a glass of water as well.


    ¡°thanks.¡±


    ashley took the water glass, strolled into the living room, and curiously looked around, her eyes lingering on a sketch on the living room wall for quite some time.


    ¡°it¡¯s quite cozy here,¡± ashley commented. ¡°i didn¡¯t expect your painting skills to be this good.¡±


    ¡°that¡¯s his work,¡± lu ye replied. ¡°he just put my name on it, but i didn¡¯t contribute much.¡±


    ashley didn¡¯t deny it, slightly raising her eyebrows. ¡°oh¡­ i see. so, you guys have quite the taste.¡±


    while they were talking, the partially closed door to the studio had been slammed shut from the inside. lu ye wasn¡¯t sure if it was qi zhe or qi yanbai, but he looked in that direction and then casually retrieved some scattered paint brushes from the coffee table.


    ashley had been observing his expression all along. she blinked and curiously asked, ¡°you seem not to care much about what they¡¯re discussing inside?¡±


    ¡°there¡¯s nothing to care about,¡± lu ye said. ¡°besides, if it¡¯s something important, he¡¯ll tell me himself afterward.¡±


    ¡°you seem to trust him a lot,¡± ashley smiled slyly. ¡°it seems you¡¯ve built a good foundation of trust in this time.¡±


    ¡°trust goes both ways,¡± lu ye replied, with an ambiguous tone. ¡°you learn from your mistakes. we¡¯ve both made some progress.¡±


    lu ye threw the paintbrushes back into the container, and the plastic container made a slight rattling sound.


    ¡°rather than being curious about whether they¡¯re discussing painting inside or not, i¡¯m more curious about you, ashley,¡± lu ye said. ¡°what are you here for this time?¡±


    ¡°you¡¯re curious about my intentions?¡± ashley raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°actually, i don¡¯t have much say in this visit ¨C qi zhe wanted to see him, and i was willing to accompany him, so i joined him on this trip. it¡¯s that simple.¡±


    ¡°only that?¡± lu ye questioned.


    ¡°of course, i also wanted to take a look around, see how you guys are doing,¡± ashley said, her eyes narrowing playfully. ¡°from what i see now, you¡¯re doing quite well.¡±

 CH 106

    in qi yanbai¡¯s studio, there were numerous portraits of lu ye hanging, densely packed and displaying various expressions. at first glance, it looked like a crime scene from a suspense movie. if someone unfamiliar were to enter, they might get goosebumps and think qi yanbai was some kind of voyeuristic maniac.


    however, qi zhe seemed completely oblivious to this strange atmosphere. his eyes lit up, and he appeared genuinely interested as he looked around. he bypassed the obvious sketches and made his way to the center of the studio, where the largest painting was displayed.


    the massive artwork was properly framed, hanging high on the wall. qi zhe adjusted the spotlight, squinting to examine every brushstroke on the canvas carefully. then, he took a step back, scanning the entire painting from top to bottom, his eyes gleaming with excitement.


    ¡°beautiful,¡± qi zhe softly praised. ¡°absolutely beautiful.¡±


    it was only at this moment that some emotions flickered in his eyes, resembling the expression of an ¡°artist.¡±


    he reached out to touch the cold frame, gazing contentedly at the painting. after a while, he didn¡¯t even turn around before asking, ¡°what¡¯s the name of this painting?¡±


    ¡°¡®wilderness,''¡± qi yanbai replied.


    ¡°wilderness?¡± qi zhe was initially taken aback, then he looked at qi yanbai and, suddenly understanding something, he took a couple of steps back to carefully examine the painting once more.


    ¡°yes¡­ yes, that name suits it perfectly,¡± qi zhe said, finally realizing something. he lightly clapped his hands, appearing genuinely pleased. a rare smile appeared on his lips, and the fine lines at the corners of his eyes extended to his temples.


    ¡°i¡¯m delighted, yanbai,¡± qi zhe seemed genuinely pleased with the painting. while speaking, his gaze never left the frame, and his fingertips followed the embossed decoration on the frame upward until they landed on a central point as if holding the gaze of the person depicted.


    under the bright exhibition light, the black-red pigment in the painting was as vivid as blood. qi zhe¡¯s gaze carefully traced the markings on the figure in the painting. after a while, he chuckled softly, using his fingertip to wipe away a speck of dust from the frame¡¯s crevice.


    ¡°after all these years, you¡¯ve finally transformed from a skilled craftsman into an artist,¡± qi zhe remarked.


    ¡°an artist? you overestimate me,¡± qi yanbai replied coolly. ¡°i¡¯m not a painter, and i don¡¯t have any artistic talent. everything i depict in my drawings is stolen from him.¡±


    ¡°is that so?¡± qi zhe asked, his tone pensive. ¡°it seems like he inspired you, then.¡±


    ¡°ah, so you can see him?¡± qi yanbai raised an eyebrow and sneered, ¡°i thought your eyes had a blocker and couldn¡¯t see my boyfriend.¡±


    he emphasized the term ¡°boyfriend¡± with a hint of defense, implying that qi zhe was unfairly criticizing lu ye. qi zhe didn¡¯t get angry at this remark and brushed non-existent dust off his shoulder, speaking in a calm tone.


    ¡°are you upset? it seems like he¡¯s had quite an impact on you,¡± qi zhe remarked.


    qi yanbai had grown used to being at a disadvantage in front of qi zhe. even though he no longer needed qi zhe¡¯s approval and could live independently, he still approached him with subconscious caution and sensitivity.


    ¡°it has nothing to do with you,¡± qi yanbai stated. ¡°don¡¯t misunderstand. my agreement to meet with you and let you see the paintings doesn¡¯t mean i agree to your conditions.¡±


    ¡°you¡¯re right,¡± qi zhe nodded, nonchalantly adding, ¡°after seeing this painting in person, i¡¯ve changed my mind. its quality exceeds my expectations, and it shouldn¡¯t be sold too easily. conveniently, i have an exhibition in paris in the latter half of the year, and i can reserve a space for this piece.¡±


    qi yanbai ¡°¡­¡±


    qi zhe¡¯s attitude was as expected. he made decisions himself and was used to being in control. however, qi yanbai still had to maintain his stance. ¡°i don¡¯t plan to hand it over to you,¡± he said firmly. ¡°i brought you here just to prove its existence.¡±


    being younger and less experienced in controlling his emotions, qi yanbai still bore the lingering influence of the inner demons qi zhe had imposed on him years ago. even though he no longer needed qi zhe¡¯s approval, there was still an underlying desire to prove him wrong.


    qi zhe, seemingly oblivious to qi yanbai¡¯s complex and sensitive feelings, calmly remarked, ¡°no problem. i can agree to let you take him with you.¡±


    qi yanbai was taken aback, but before he could respond, qi zhe continued, ¡°if you believe he can be a source of inspiration for you, you can take him with you. if you find the visa process troublesome, i can assist in resolving it.¡±


    qi yanbai remained silent for a moment, not yet forming a response. qi zhe had always been this way, and he had lived under these ¡°rules¡± for twenty years. but when the situation involved lu ye, he felt an unusual anger.


    ¡°so, you only see him as my constant source of inspiration?¡± qi yanbai asked sarcastically. ¡°do you think of him as just a painting tool?¡±


    qi zhe replied vaguely. ¡°your siblings all have their sources of inspiration, and you can have one too. i don¡¯t care where you find your inspiration, whether through extreme sports or finding a same-sex partner. it doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°love or physical relationships, as long as you like it, it¡¯s not my business.¡± qi zhe¡¯s tone was natural, but in this strange atmosphere of the studio, it seemed chilling.


    ¡°of course, if he has any material needs that you can¡¯t fulfill, you can ask me for help.¡± qi zhe continued, ¡°i¡¯ve set aside an ¡®inspiration fund¡¯ for each of you.¡±


    this was consistent with qi zhe¡¯s usual style. qi yanbai had survived under these ¡°rules¡± for twenty years, but when this title was suddenly applied to lu ye, he felt an unexpected anger.


    ¡°you¡ª¡± qi yanbai began.


    ¡°if you¡¯re going to keep people as objects, shouldn¡¯t you ask the objects for their opinion?¡± qi yanbai was interrupted before he could finish his sentence. the studio¡¯s door was pushed open, and lu ye leaned casually against the doorframe, glancing at qi yanbai with a faint smile, gesturing for him to calm down.


    qi zhe turned to look at him, and only now did he finally take a proper look at lu ye.


    ¡°this gentleman,¡± qi zhe started.


    he didn¡¯t know lu ye¡¯s name, and it seemed he didn¡¯t think it necessary to ask. instead, he referred to him with a detached address.


    ¡°perhaps you¡¯re not familiar with our family¡¯s rules,¡± qi zhe said. ¡°i won¡¯t make any demands on you. you can enjoy a comfortable material life as long as yanbai continues to produce high-quality paintings at this level. both of you can live in our family without any worries.¡±


    ¡°much like your other hundred or so lovers outside?¡± lu ye asked.


    qi zhe silently watched him, not denying the accusation.


    ¡°that sounds good,¡± lu ye drawled lazily, making a gesture to calm qi yanbai, who was about to interrupt with a retort. he continued with a smile, ¡°but i think you¡¯ve misunderstood, mr. qi. it¡¯s not about whether i¡¯m willing or not. it¡¯s about qi yanbai¡ªhe has no intention of going home with you or having any kind of relationship with you.¡±


    lu ye paused for a moment, then made it even clearer, ¡°neither he nor i have any interest in the ¡®price¡¯ you¡¯ve set. you¡¯re here today because chinese values dictate that we should ¡®respect our elders,¡¯ and we can¡¯t turn away our biological parents when they come knocking on our door¡ªnothing more.¡±


    such straightforward and sharp words finally made qi zhe realize something. he frowned disapprovingly, turned to look at qi yanbai, saw that he had no intention of rebutting, and then asked with a subtle tone, ¡°is what he said true? you¡¯d rather teach a bunch of kids with no technical content than be a real artist?¡±


    qi yanbai was all too familiar with qi zhe¡¯s tone. it didn¡¯t sound like criticism, and it certainly didn¡¯t sound like reprimand. instead, it carried a condescending kind of puzzlement, as if to say that if you dared to object, he would look at you with a pitiful and disappointed expression, making you feel like a fool.


    qi yanbai had been thrown into confusion countless times by this tone and had felt lost and cornered. it had almost become a conditioned reflex for him to instinctively raise his defenses against this emotional pressure.


    but before he could respond, lu ye smiled first.


    he smiled openly, with a hint of mischief in his tone, as if he had hooked qi yanbai¡¯s restless soul gently with a little hook.


    ¡°what¡¯s so amusing?¡± qi zhe asked.


    ¡°i heard him say before that you¡¯re an art fanatic, dedicated to art for your whole life, and now it seems like he¡¯s exaggerated your filter,¡± lu ye said with a smile. ¡°i see that your understanding of money and power is quite profound, and you know how to use money to satisfy your desires.¡±


    qi zhe and qi yanbai both seemed stunned for a moment. qi zhe¡¯s face showed a hint of annoyance, as if he had been disgusted, and his brow furrowed as if he could squeeze a fly to death with it. his gaze turned cold as he stared at lu ye, as if he were looking at an inanimate object.


    ¡°you should be careful about what you say,¡± qi zhe said.


    ¡°am i wrong?¡± lu ye continued in the same manner. he had a slight smile at the corner of his lips, but his face showed little amusement. his gaze remained sharp and cold as he looked at qi zhe, strangely resembling the person depicted in the painting behind him.


    ¡°you create rules with money, control everyone, and then use these rules to indoctrinate everyone. you permit your children to indulge and grow wild, treating them as your unique ¡®works of art.¡¯ afterward, your ¡®works of art¡¯ will be guided by you to create more works and make more money for you. mr. qi, you¡¯re obviously smarter than qi yanbai described.¡±


    ¡°so, you don¡¯t really love art,¡± lu ye no longer used the respectful title to address qi zhe, instead saying sharply, ¡°you look down on children¡¯s creations. what you like isn¡¯t art itself but ¡®art that¡¯s worth admiring,¡¯ to put it more accurately.¡±


    ¡°art itself has no threshold,¡± lu ye continued. ¡°the person who creates a work of art is called an artist, whether it¡¯s a child¡¯s imagination or the work of a person without any professional education. even a stick figure drawn by someone with no artistic training can be called art if they wish.¡±


    ¡°perhaps you¡¯ve been abroad for too long and don¡¯t understand the chinese art scene,¡± lu ye said. ¡°in our country, anyone who can cook quite well is called a chef, and anyone who creates works is called an artist.¡±


    qi zhe didn¡¯t know whether he was shocked by lu ye¡¯s ¡°foolishness¡± or if he truly couldn¡¯t find a counterargument. he fell into a prolonged and stifling silence that seemed to gradually cover the unspoken ¡°rules,¡± bringing about some kind of profound change.


    qi yanbai found it hard to describe his current feelings. he just felt that something solid in his heart was being pried loose by an unknown force, with a glimmer of light seeping through the cracks. something was shaking and on the verge of crumbling, as if it would fall into an abyss at any moment.


    after some time, a slight movement finally came from the living room, and ashley let out a soft chuckle, breaking the silence.


    qi zhe was stirred by the faint noise, emerging from his state of contemplation. he probably had never encountered someone as ¡°rude¡± as lu ye, nor had he ever been taken advantage of like this. consequently, he was genuinely infuriated, a far cry from his usual indifference.


    ¡°are you speaking up for him?¡± qi zhe couldn¡¯t tolerate his artistic soul being insulted by anyone. he sneered and asked, ¡°but have you asked him whether he wants to stay in this small place?¡±


    lu ye seemed to have never expected qi zhe to ask this question. he furrowed his brows slightly and glanced subconsciously in qi yanbai¡¯s direction. however, before his gaze could meet qi yanbai¡¯s, qi zhe took a few steps backward, pointing at the large life-sized oil painting on the wall with a chilling tone. he said, ¡°have you ever examined this painting carefully? do you know what he¡¯s thinking? you thought you understood him, but do you know he also has ambitions? you believed you had a comfortable life together, but when you look at this painting, haven¡¯t you realized that he has always wanted to drag you into hell?¡±


    qi zhe gestured toward the wall with a tone of profound pity in his eyes as he looked at lu ye. he sneered, ¡°or is it that you still haven¡¯t realized that he wants to leave something on you?¡±


    the exhibit light was accidentally tilted a bit by qi zhe. lu ye¡¯s gaze refocused on the painting, and with the help of shadows and obstructions, he finally vaguely saw the shape of the imprint on the figure in the painting.


    ¡ª it was qi yanbai¡¯s name.

 CH 107

    qi yanbai had once said that an artist¡¯s work is a reflection of their self-consciousness. to understand the work is to understand the artist¡¯s heart.


    lu ye had only partially understood this before, thinking it was a professional skill of those within the industry. however, it wasn¡¯t until now that he discovered that this statement was actually true.


    ¡°do you think he¡¯s willing to live such a plain life forever?¡± qi zhe said, turning his head slightly to look at the massive life-sized oil painting behind him. his gaze was complex and deep, not as if he was looking at artwork but more like he was peering through the thick frame in front of him, trying to see the deepest corners of qi yanbai¡¯s soul.


    ¡°every artist is a madman,¡± qi zhe said. ¡°the desire to create nurtures their emotions, amplifies their desires¡ªhis inspiration is born out of love, and in the end, it will go out of control due to love.¡±


    the paintings on the wall continued to stand quietly in their place. the vibrant paints, mixed with an unknown substance, shimmered under the light, and the striking red imprints changed with the shadows, casting a glittering light, resembling a flowing stream of blood.


    lu ye glanced at qi yanbai and noticed that he hadn¡¯t noticed him. he was also looking at the painting in silence.


    ¡°he¡¯s long regarded you as his possession,¡± qi zhe said, looking at lu ye with a pitying gaze. his tone was calm as he continued, ¡°he has the deepest and most malicious possessiveness towards you. he wants to invade you, defile you, control you¡ªand he wants to possess you forever.¡±


    qi zhe¡¯s words were quite sharp and carried a strong sense of insult, but this time, qi yanbai didn¡¯t immediately rush out to refute him, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. instead, he paled and avoided lu ye¡¯s gaze, remaining silent.


    lu ye was all too familiar with this expression on qi yanbai¡¯s face¡ªwhenever he felt guilty, he would avoid eye contact in this manner, as if he believed that as long as he couldn¡¯t see it, he wouldn¡¯t have to face lu ye¡¯s disappointment.


    perhaps it was because he had been looking at the painting for a long time, but now lu ye seemed somewhat immune. the features of the figure in the painting gradually blurred under the shifting shadows, and the bright red imprints became even more noticeable.


    twisted lines formed a pattern-like name, and lu ye narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the faint yet large character ¡°qi.¡± he felt goosebumps creeping up his back.


    mad artists, lu ye thought, were always full of surprises. they could always spring unexpected ¡°surprises¡± on him. not satisfied with being the abductor, qi yanbai now wanted to be the master.


    however, lu ye had some subtle male chauvinism ingrained in him. he adhered to the principle of ¡°not embarrassing his loved ones in front of outsiders.¡± regardless of whether qi yanbai was right or wrong, he wouldn¡¯t stand against qi yanbai in front of qi zhe.


    anything that didn¡¯t stand right with him were things he could discuss privately with qi yanbai behind closed doors. there was no need to make a spectacle of himself in front of qi zhe.


    so he didn¡¯t argue with qi zhe about the authenticity of this matter, nor did he challenge qi yanbai openly with questions like, ¡°what do you really think of me?¡± he simply withdrew his gaze from the painting and uttered a casual ¡°oh.¡±


    ¡°so?¡± lu ye asked.


    ¡°so?¡± qi zhe seemed to have not expected lu ye to choose to ignore the current facts. he raised an eyebrow slightly and spoke, seemingly dissatisfied and a little disdainful, ¡°so, the conditions i¡¯ve given are actually the most suitable for him.¡±


    by using generous amounts of money to bind lu ye to qi yanbai and making him depend on qi yanbai for survival while exchanging love and inspiration for a comfortable life, this was indeed the safest and most satisfying approach for qi yanbai.


    if this had been a year ago, qi yanbai would have unquestionably accepted this proposal. he might even have stood on qi zhe¡¯s side, persuading lu ye to embrace this ¡°favorable¡± way of life.


    but now, he was no longer willing.


    artists were demanding and greedy. qi yanbai had already tasted the warmth from lu ye and was unwilling to return to the cold ¡°mutual benefit¡± arrangement.


    ¡°you don¡¯t have to say more,¡± qi yanbai suddenly spoke. ¡°i admit that everything you¡¯ve said is correct¡ªi am greedy, hypocritical, and my desires for him are insatiable.¡±


    lu ye turned his gaze toward qi yanbai.


    qi yanbai still didn¡¯t look at him. instead, he spoke to qi zhe, ¡°but it doesn¡¯t matter¡ªi¡¯ll do my best to control myself. when the day comes that i can¡¯t control myself anymore, i¡¯ll hand the decision over to him, to determine if i¡¯m still worth saving.¡±


    ¡°i¡¯m willing to teach children the basics of art for a lifetime, and i¡¯m willing to live an ordinary life for a lifetime, enduring the hardships of an ordinary person,¡± qi yanbai clenched his teeth, as if issuing a final ultimatum, and also as if decisively cutting off his past.


    ¡°i¡¯m willing to stay here and paint apples for a lifetime if needed , even if my desires consume me. i want to die by his side,¡± he said.


    in the end, qi zhe didn¡¯t reach a consensus with qi yanbai, and he seemed quite upset. he didn¡¯t say a word and turned to leave.


    ashley followed a step behind him, gracefully draping herself in her coat. when she reached the door, she turned back to lu ye, throwing him a flirtatious glance, and half-heartedly apologized, ¡°i¡¯m really sorry; he¡¯s always like this.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s okay,¡± lu ye said, seeming nonchalant. ¡°but i suppose he won¡¯t be coming back, will he?¡±


    ¡°he probably won¡¯t,¡± ashley said, her eyes narrowing. she smiled like a cunning cat. ¡°although he loves art, he¡¯s not desperate enough to make a ¡®third visit.¡¯ you¡¯ve made him quite angry today, so he probably won¡¯t pay any attention to you anymore.¡±


    ¡°well, that¡¯s good,¡± lu ye exaggeratedly sighed with relief, keeping a straight face. ¡°entertaining someone like him is a real headache. i¡¯d like to live a few more years.¡±


    ¡°hmm,¡± a cool breeze swept through the corridor, and ashley adjusted her coat collar. she pressed the elevator button, then turned to smile at lu ye. ¡°you can relax now.¡±


    she didn¡¯t specify what he should relax about, and lu ye didn¡¯t inquire further. they seemed to reach some subtle understanding between them in just a few words, demonstrating their mutual tacit understanding.


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t come out to see them off, but out of courtesy, lu ye escorted ashley downstairs.


    qi zhe had probably been genuinely upset; he didn¡¯t even wait for ashley. when lu ye and ashley reached downstairs, qi zhe had already disappeared.


    ashley didn¡¯t seem surprised by this. she wasn¡¯t in a hurry to chase after qi zhe; instead, she stood downstairs and lit a cigarette without saying a word.


    ¡°you¡¯re quite an impressive individual, officer lu,¡± ashley said, holding a slender cigarette between her fingertips and smiling. ¡°what we couldn¡¯t achieve, you managed effortlessly.¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s not too difficult,¡± lu replied casually. ¡°love is not so complicated for ordinary people. all it takes is for him to believe in me.¡±


    perhaps this answer struck a chord with ashley. she chuckled softly, then raised her head, lightly sweeping her long hair back over her shoulder.


    ¡°i can rest easy now,¡± ashley said. ¡°i¡¯ll leave him entirely to you from now on, officer lu.¡±


    she extended her hand as if making a gesture, her eyes slightly narrowed, and she added with profound meaning, ¡°you must take good care of him.¡±


    lu ye didn¡¯t respond to that, merely shaking her hand briefly before letting go. he then glanced at their apartment up behind him and chuckled softly.


    ¡°don¡¯t be too confident,¡± lu ye said. ¡°i¡¯ll still have to settle accounts with him later.¡±


    ashley seemed to find his words amusing, and she burst into laughter, her laughter carrying a genuine flavor that reached her eyes and the corners of her mouth.


    after laughing for a while, ashley, having had her fill, flicked the cigarette ash off her finger, sighed in relief, and smiled.


    ¡°i have many vacation plans for the future, so i probably won¡¯t be coming back,¡± ashley said. ¡°goodbye for now, officer lu. i wish you both a long and happy life together.¡±


    when lu ye returned, qi yanbai was still standing in the studio, maintaining the same posture as before, quietly gazing at the painting.


    the display light, previously knocked askew by qi zhe, had been returned to its original position. the features of the person in the painting had become slightly clearer, once again revealing a familiar face.


    lu ye walked over to him, also looking up at the painting. he asked with an ambiguous tone, ¡°yanbai ,did you really want to leave a mark on me?¡±


    the vivid red paint stung qi yanbai¡¯s eyes. he blinked and, after a few seconds, slowly nodded.


    ¡°i did,¡± qi yanbai admitted. ¡°during that time, i thought about leaving my mark on you countless times.¡±


    qi yanbai had unknowingly buried his malicious intentions when he painted, only realizing it when qi zhe pointed it out. the brand in the painting had been drawn large and deep, as if seared with fire, leaving an indelible mark.


    ¡°and now?¡± lu ye asked. ¡°do you still want to?¡±


    qi yanabai continued to gaze at the painting, and this time, his silence lasted even longer. it seemed like an internal struggle was taking place, a battle of conflicting emotions. after several moments, he let out a sigh, confessing, ¡°occasionally, i still have such thoughts.¡±


    lu ye raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly pleased with this answer. his eyebrows curved upwards, indicating his happiness.


    ¡°so honest?¡± lu ye asked in return.


    ¡°you said you wanted me to be honest, and i remember that,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°i don¡¯t want to deceive you anymore, or deceive myself for that matter.¡±


    he could have used a perfect, gentle answer to gloss over the situation, but he had finally removed the ¡°time bomb¡± within himself. regardless, qi yanbai didn¡¯t want to carry the psychological burden of ¡°deceiving lu ye¡± again.


    moreover, he didn¡¯t want to experience the jealousy he inflicted upon himself anymore. he would rather face lu ye¡¯s punishment and scolding than have lu ye fall in love with a false facade.


    ¡°i had nothing before back at home,¡± qi yanbai confessed. ¡°money was given by qi zhe, and painting was a tool to acquire resources. i lived in that house, but i didn¡¯t feel a sense of belonging.¡±


    ¡°i had nothing until i met you,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°you are mine, so i always want to prove this point. however, it¡¯s limited to just thinking about it; i won¡¯t act on it.¡±


    qi yanbai had learned restraint under lu ye¡¯s influence and was no longer obsessed with satisfying every desire. for the current qi yanbai, becoming a ¡°normal person¡± for lu ye had almost become a compulsory course.


    ¡°is that so?¡± but lu ye seemed to have some objections to this answer. he reached out and lightly pinched qi yanbai¡¯s chin, forcing him to raise his face and look at him. then, he lowered his gaze and smiled gently at him.


    ¡°then, do you still have paint left?¡± lu ye asked.


    his topic had taken quite a leap, and qi yanbai blinked, not immediately understanding his intent. he cast a glance, subconsciously, at the paintbox in the corner of the studio.


    people have their quirks when it comes to being stubborn. lu ye didn¡¯t think qi yanbai¡¯s previous actions could be easily justified, but he was willing to guide him onto the right path in a different way from now on.


    besides, qi yanbai had been exceptionally honest today. he had behaved so well that lu ye couldn¡¯t help but want to reward him.


    so, lu ye turned his back to qi yanbai, removing his shirt in front of him. the soft, gentle light from the display soon covered him, leaving a faint silver glow on the well-defined muscles of his body.


    ¡°because of the nature of my work, i can¡¯t get a tattoo,¡± lu ye explained. ¡°but you can paint something on me.¡±


    qi yanbai was momentarily stunned. it took him a few seconds to understand what lu ye meant. then, he raised his head, looking at him with disbelief in his eyes.


    lu ye didn¡¯t say a word, just quietly watching him. his gaze was calm, not urging or teasing, but simply waiting, as if tacitly allowing qi yanbai to paint his body with colors.


    qi yanbai was captivated by his gaze, and he knelt on one knee, extending his hand. he reached for the paintbox next to him, pulled out his most frequently used brush, and let the soft bristles touch lu ye¡¯s skin, creating a slight, cool, tingling sensation.


    stroke by stroke, qi yanbai painted a white swallow on lu ye¡¯s lower back. the lifelike white swallow seemed ready to take flight, surrounded by a few strands of wild grass, cradling it as it prepared to soar into the sky.


    at the moment of completion, qi yanbai didn¡¯t even realize it himself. he stared in astonishment at the white swallow, unable to believe it had come from his own hand.


    late at night, the display light¡¯s glow flickered ever so slightly. lu ye stood in front of the life-sized oil painting, his expression neither sad nor happy. the soft, bright silver light from the display light flowed gently over his shoulders, extending the wilderness in the painting right before qi yanbai¡¯s eyes.


    following the light, qi yanbai looked up and saw lu ye¡¯s slightly lowered brows and eyes. at that moment, he felt as though lu ye had completely merged with the person in the painting.


    for years, qi yanbai had been plagued by his inner demons, and no true ¡°work¡± had emerged from him since then. it was only through lu ye that he had picked up his paintbrush again, but all he could paint were portraits of lu ye.


    and among the many portraits of lu ye, this was the first time he had painted something other than lu ye himself.


    the white swallow nestled against lu ye¡¯s lower back, its outstretched wings rising and falling with lu ye¡¯s breath, as if it would take flight at any moment and break free from its cage.


    after some time, the brush slipped from qi yanbai¡¯s hand, hitting the floor with a crisp sound as the white paint splattered onto the ground. his breathing gradually quickened, and his every exhalation carried a scorching, moist warmth. he placed both hands on lu ye¡¯s waist, leaned in slightly, and lightly kissed the white swallow before turning his head to kiss the tail bone on lu ye¡¯s lower back.


    his kisses lingered for a while, and finally, they rested on lu ye¡¯s neck.


    then, he lowered his head, pressing his forehead against his waist, as if he were worshiping a deity in his heart.


    ¡°¡­it seems like you¡¯ve saved me once again,¡± qi yanbai¡¯s eyes were burning hot, so he closed them, whispering softly, ¡°how can i ever repay you?¡±

 CH 108

    after that day, qi yanbai said he wanted to give lu ye a ¡°surprise.¡±


    he was secretive about it, and even reduced the number of times he went to the new house. besides delivering meals to lu ye every day, he spent most of his time in the art studio.


    lu ye didn¡¯t know what qi yanbai was up to, but the fact that qi yanbai could briefly divert his attention away from him was a good thing. so, lu ye didn¡¯t interfere and let him be.


    the decoration of the new house was progressing steadily. when the design drawings were ready, lu ye took a look. the designer had blended their needs well, and it looked both elegant and carried a touch of artistic design, giving it the appearance of a ¡°home for two.¡±


    days passed like flowing water, and qi yanbai¡¯s art studio remained locked. however, the dusty raw house slowly began to take on the shape of a home.


    on the summer solstice, which happened to be a saturday, the weather forecast predicted a day of light rain. the new district police department held a joint safety seminar, and qi yanbai, as a registered social volunteer, also had a place at the conference, sitting next to lu ye.


    the stern middle-aged leader was seated on the stage, delivering the usual lecture on work safety guidelines that left everyone feeling drowsy. qi yanbai sat in the audience, stifling yawns, while discreetly sketching a small sketch in his notebook with a pencil.


    a white magnolia in a vase on the podium at the front leaped to life on the paper. lu ye lowered his eyes to take a look at the drawing and then pursed his lips, smiling helplessly.


    ¡°i told you there¡¯s nothing important here, but you insisted on coming,¡± lu ye whispered, lowering his voice. ¡°feeling bored?¡±


    ¡°it¡¯s not bad. it¡¯s my first time hearing this, quite refreshing.¡±


    qi yanbai inserted the pencil between the pages of his notebook, closed it, and tentatively reached under the table to hook lu ye¡¯s hand.


    restless as he was, he lightly shook lu ye¡¯s hand with his pinky finger, insisting on making his presence felt. lu ye, annoyed by his antics, gave him a warning look and then withdrew his hand, gently patting the back of it.


    midway through the conference, everyone was yawning, but the two were sneaking glances and indulging in some mischief under the table. qi yanbai didn¡¯t seem to mind the playful teasing until he noticed lu ye¡¯s stern expression. he then lowered himself and behaved, obediently holding lu ye¡¯s hand without moving.


    ¡°by the way,¡± qi yanbai asked in a hushed tone, using his fingertip to trace lu ye¡¯s hand. ¡°after the seminar, do you have any other plans?¡±


    lu ye had originally intended to work extra hours that afternoon, preparing a report for a case. but hearing his tone, he suspected qi yanbai had something in mind. without committing to anything, he asked, ¡°what¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°if you¡¯re free, how about going to an art exhibition with me after this?¡± qi yanbai suggested softly.


    ¡°an art exhibition?¡± lu ye was somewhat surprised. due to his unusual work schedule, qi yanbai typically discussed plans with him a week in advance, and spontaneous outings like this were rare. lu ye wasn¡¯t used to it, so he responded ambiguously, ¡°today?¡±


    ¡°yes, it¡¯s the same gallery we visited last time. this time, it¡¯s showcasing outstanding works by young modern artists. i¡¯ve heard there are some impressive pieces,¡± qi yanbai said, lowering his eyes and gently brushing the cover of his notebook. he whispered, ¡°i¡¯ve already bought the tickets and would like you to go with me.¡±


    his eyes held a hint of a smile, and he seemed eager and in high spirits.


    lu ye, sensing something intriguing, turned to look at qi yanbai¡¯s profile, lost in thought for a moment. he wasn¡¯t sure what had triggered this sudden invitation, but his gaze softened, and he unconsciously smiled a little.


    ¡°alright,¡± lu ye said after a while, softly. ¡°i won¡¯t work overtime today.¡±


    qi yanbai had been anxiously awaiting his answer. when he heard lu ye agree, he visibly relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief without showing it.


    ¡°after the seminar, i have to stop by the training center,¡± qi yanbai explained. ¡°i¡¯ll send you the address later, and we can meet at the entrance of the exhibition.¡±


    ¡°do i need to pick you up?¡± lu ye asked.


    usually, when they went on dates and lu ye had free time, he would go to the training center to pick up qi yanbai after work. whether they were going shopping or out to eat, they always went together.


    however, this time, qi yanbai deviated from their usual routine and declined the offer.


    ¡°no need,¡± qi yanbai replied. his eyes sparkled as he whispered, ¡°i¡¯ll take a taxi after i finish up, and i¡¯ll get there faster.¡±


    qi yanbai didn¡¯t wait for lu ye¡¯s consent, and lu ye didn¡¯t insist. it happened that lu ye had some plans of his own after work, so he simply nodded and agreed to qi yanbai¡¯s arrangement.


    ¡°alright,¡± lu ye said.


    the light rain outside had been falling steadily all day. puddles of water had formed on the streets, and street vendors selling umbrellas sat on the curbs, guarding a plastic bucket filled with transparent umbrellas. they watched the cars zoom by on the road.


    as the raindrops were rolled up by the wheels, lu ye raised his umbrella slightly and saw qi yanbai getting out of a taxi on the opposite side of the road.


    the traffic light happened to turn green, and qi yanbai jogged towards him. then, he bent down, smoothly and naturally slipping under lu ye¡¯s umbrella, all while lightly planting a kiss on the corner of his lips as he looked up.


    ¡°did i keep you waiting?¡± qi yanbai asked.


    ¡°not at all,¡± lu ye replied, tilting the umbrella slightly in his direction. then he held qi yanbai¡¯s hand, wiping off a small water stain from his hand.


    ¡°i just got here myself,¡± lu ye said.


    on rainy days, there weren¡¯t many visitors at the art exhibition. there were only a few scattered couples walking towards the entrance of the gallery. qi yanbai held lu ye¡¯s hand tightly, and as they walked further in, lu ye initially wondered why qi yanbai was in such a hurry. however, the more they walked, the more he noticed that qi yanbai¡¯s breathing became increasingly rapid, and his eyes grew more excited, as if he were anticipating something.


    lu ye watched qi yanbai¡¯s profile and gradually had a feeling of what was coming. he allowed qi yanbai to lead him all the way to a separate exhibition hall at the deepest part of the gallery.


    this particular exhibition hall had been used by qi zhe before, but this time, it showcased the outstanding works of the new generation of young painters. amidst a sea of colorful artwork, lu ye looked around and immediately noticed the large oil painting hanging on the far wall.


    then, lu ye froze for a moment and instinctively turned his head to look at qi yanbai.


    ¡°how is it?¡± qi yanbai¡¯s breath was slightly uneven, but his eyes shone brightly. ¡°do you like it?¡±


    on the wall, the massive oil painting stretched across the exhibition booth. a dazzling sunrise burst from the water¡¯s surface, with ripples glistening on the water¡¯s surface and lifelike waterfowl.


    it was the sunrise over dongshan island, an experience lu ye had shared with qi yanbai before. in the painting, the pale gray dawn colors spread over the metallic railings, and a wild grass swayed gently as it grew from a crack by the roadside, swaying in the morning breeze.


    in the lower right corner of the oil painting was qi yanbai¡¯s name, along with a submission date from last month.


    since qi yanbai had known lu ye, he had rarely seen him working on independent pieces. this was the first time lu ye had witnessed qi yanbai¡¯s true ability, and the first time he had seen scenes painted by qi yanbai that did not include him.


    ¡°it¡¯s beautiful,¡± lu ye said. ¡°have you been working on this for the past few months?¡±


    ¡°yes,¡± qi yanbai replied. ¡°i rushed to finish it in time for the exhibition review.¡±


    lu ye raised his head and carefully examined the painting. he looked at the soaring white birds in the picture and almost felt the cool moisture in the air.


    in this artwork, there was finally no image of lu ye, but upon closer inspection, it seemed that his presence could be felt everywhere.


    ¡°i once promised you that i would give you a better painting,¡± qi yanbai took a deep breath, hugged lu ye from behind, and said with relief, ¡°now i¡¯ve done it, lu ye.¡±


    the huge canvas hung on the wall, its bright light gold shimmering under the lamp. the sun on the horizon burst free from its constraints, casting a vibrant liveliness over the entire painting.


    lu ye looked at the painting and suddenly felt deeply moved.


    qi zhe and qi yanbai had both said that an artist¡¯s work was their heart. as lu ye gazed at the painting before him, he finally understood that qi yanbai had truly taken his hand and walked out of that studio, out of the cage that qi zhe had once confined him in.


    loving qi yanbai was truly worthwhile, lu ye thought. he seemed to always respond to love itself, and all the tolerance and affection lu ye had given him had now transformed into sparkling colors, returning before his eyes.


    ¡°it¡¯s really nice,¡± lu ye said. ¡°this is the most beautiful painting i¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    ¡°as long as you like it,¡± qi yanbai said softly. ¡°i love you, and i want to¡ª¡±


    before he could finish his sentence, lu ye turned his head and gently placed his index finger on qi yanbai¡¯s lips, stopping him from saying anything further.


    ¡°let¡¯s not talk about it for now,¡± lu ye said.


    qi yanbai was interrupted by him, blinked in confusion, and before he could ask why, he saw lu ye lower his head, smile, and say, ¡°should we make it official?¡±


    lu ye seemed to have made up his mind about something. he reached into his pocket, searched around, and then paused for a moment. finally, he pulled out a small square box.


    the box was square, no larger than a palm, and had some leftover gift wrapping paper stuck to it. the edges of the paper were rough and worn, giving it a somewhat mismatched appearance.


    but its shape was delicate and symbolic. qi yanbai suddenly held his breath, and an unbelievable answer popped into his mind.


    ¡°this is¡­¡± he whispered.


    ¡°weren¡¯t you curious about what this was?¡± lu ye smiled and removed the last piece of wrapping paper from the box. then, while using his thumb to open the clasp, he said, ¡°i wanted to give this to you on valentine¡¯s day originally, but we had a fight back then, so i decided to wait.¡±


    inside the box, the rings were revealed. they sparkled brilliantly, and lu ye ran his fingers over the ring band as if he wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t find the words. he finally decided not to say anything, simply took out the rings from the box, and prepared to put one on qi yanbai¡¯s finger.


    ¡°although it¡¯s a bit late, this was meant for you from the beginning, and it¡¯s never too late,¡± lu ye said.


    he reached for qi yanbai¡¯s hand, but qi yanbai hesitated for a moment, subconsciously curling his fingers and preventing lu ye from placing the ring.


    ¡°what¡¯s wrong?¡± lu ye raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    ¡°i¡­¡± qi yanbai shook his head subconsciously, but he still didn¡¯t let go of lu ye¡¯s hand. instead, he accepted the ring and put it on his own finger, his fingertips trembling slightly.


    ¡°i know i¡¯m taking advantage of this moment,¡± qi yanbai said, lips quivering. ¡°but since the mood is right¡­ lu ye, i¡¯ve had something i¡¯ve wanted to say to you.¡±


    he took a deep breath, then placed the ring on lu ye¡¯s finger.


    ¡°i admit that i¡¯m crazy, selfish, and have endless desires for you,¡± qi yanbai continued. ¡°who knows, one day, i might lose control and want to drag you down to hell with me.¡±


    the words sounded completely out of place for a confession, but lu ye watched qi yanbai, not stopping him from speaking further.


    ¡°i don¡¯t know how to love someone, and i didn¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to be loved until i met you,¡± qi yanbai said. ¡°you¡¯ve taken me in and given me a complete, new life.¡±


    as he spoke, there was a warm and moist sensation on lu ye¡¯s finger, and in the vast exhibition hall, qi yanbai¡¯s vow echoed, like a prayer in a church.


    qi yanbai¡¯s hand trembled slightly, and he struggled to control it for a while before finally pushing the ring onto lu ye¡¯s finger.


    ¡°i promise to treat you with respect from now on, to always be honest to you and i promise to be better, please promise me you will never leave me or give up on me.¡±


    then, he lowered his head slightly, kissed the base of lu ye¡¯s finger where the ring now resided, and then lowered his head even further, exposing the back of his snow-white neck.


    a warmth filled lu ye¡¯s heart. he watched qi yanbai for a moment, then suddenly smiled softly. like a god on a high platform who had finally been moved by a believer, he leaned down slightly, took hold of qi yanbai¡¯s hand, and responded with a light kiss.


    ¡°alright,¡± lu ye said. ¡°i promise.¡±


    ¡ª end of the story