Chapter 12

“Still working overtime?” Shen Yan glanced at the time—it was almost ten.

“Almost done. You? Busy too?”

“I’m waiting for you.” Shen Yan’s voice was clear and light, as if waiting itself was a pleasure.

“Where are you?”

“Downstairs at Qingchuang Company.”

Xu Zhou: “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I’ll come down right away.”

Shen Yan chuckled softly. “Mm.”

When Xu Zhou appeared at the company entrance, he saw Shen Yan leaning against a car door, staring in his direction. In that moment of eye contact, Xu Zhou felt a tiny seed planted in his heart start to take root and grow…

A few long strides brought him to Shen Yan. Before Xu Zhou could speak, Shen Yan wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close.

“I missed you.”

“Shen Yan, we’ve only been apart half a day.”

“I miss you every second we’re apart.” Shen Yan kissed his earlobe.

Xu Zhou pushed him away slightly. “Company entrance… someone might see us.”

“Then shall we go home?”

Xu Zhou cleared his throat, uncertain. “To my place?”

Shen Yan gently squeezed his hand, signaling agreement.

“Okay.”

…

“Do you want to shower first?”

“But I want to—”

“Mm?”

Xu Zhou paused while looking for clothes for Shen Yan and glanced at him. Why leave a sentence unfinished?

Shen Yan stepped behind him, pulling him into his arms. He whispered by Xu Zhou’s ear, “But I want to shower together.”

The voice carried a charm impossible to refuse. The moment it reached Xu Zhou’s eardrum, his heart tingled as if touched by a tiny electric current.

“No—”

“Yes.” Before Xu Zhou could finish, Shen Yan pressed his lips to his, and in a daze, lifted him into his arms and carried him into the bathroom.

Soon after, the sound of rushing water filled the room, accompanied by faint, indescribable noises…

Fifty minutes later…

“Shen Yan, stop…”

“Good boy, I’m done. Let me dry your hair…”

“Mm…”

Another forty minutes passed…

Shen Yan carried him to the bed and lay down beside him. Seeing Xu Zhou’s flushed face, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, and he gently pecked his lips in a teasing rhythm.

Xu Zhou weakly poked his waist. “Are you done yet?”

Shen Yan pinched his cheek and buried his head in his neck, inhaling his scent. He murmured softly, “Zhouzhou…”

Xu Zhou froze. “What did you call me?”

“Zhouzhou.” Shen Yan repeated it, then kissed the corner of his lips and asked softly, “Can I call you that?”

Xu Zhou’s eyes reddened. At that moment, his heart felt like sunlight warming every corner, sweet and comforting, impossible not to sink into.

“Mm.”

Shen Yan kissed his eyelids gently. “From now on, I’ll always be with you, always.”

“Mm.”

He leaned down and kissed Xu Zhou’s lips—a tender kiss, full of love and desire. His hands roamed along Xu Zhou’s waist, brushing against his skin.

Xu Zhou felt heat spreading through his body. As he turned his head to breathe, Shen Yan’s kisses trailed down his neck. Xu Zhou’s pale, smooth skin flushed under Shen Yan’s heated breath.

“Zhouzhou…” Shen Yan’s voice, low and impassioned, was more intoxicating than any flame.

Xu Zhou let him do as he pleased.

When turned over, Xu Zhou buried his head in the pillow, feeling Shen Yan kiss every inch of his back.

“Zhouzhou…”

Shen Yan lifted his hips, leaning down to lick his earlobe.

Xu Zhou’s eyelashes trembled. Outside, the wind rattled the window, sharp and clear in the quiet room.

After a while, water flowed in the bathroom again, stopping quickly this time.

When placed back on the bed, Xu Zhou, exhausted and drowsy, murmured, “Shen Yan…”

Shen Yan leaned close, kissed his nose, and carefully brushed the stray hair from his forehead. “I’m here.”

“So annoying…” Sleepiness swept over him, and after saying just a word, he drifted completely into slumber.

Shen Yan gazed at the sleeping boy with a hint of a smile. “Yes, he’s annoying, but what can I do? He’s stuck with me for life now.”

He pulled him close, ready to sleep when the phone rang.

It was Xu Zhou’s phone. Shen Yan frowned, reaching to pick it up.

Lu Feng?

He answered.

“Great! Xu Zhou, you’re still awake. I’m downstairs. Remember to open the door…”

Shen Yan’s frown deepened with every word.

“He’s asleep.”

“Wha—” Lu Feng checked the contact. Yup, it was Xu Zhou. Carefully, he asked, “Are you his boyfriend? At his place?”

“Yes.”

Living with your boyfriend and agreeing to host him? He felt like crying tears of joy. So what was he supposed to do—be an enormous, glaring third wheel?

Sorry for bothering.

“Oops, wrong number.” After hanging up, the voice sounded strangely familiar…

That voice—it was unmistakable. Shen Yan!!!

Once the thought clicked, everything suddenly made sense.

The Lingqi Group contract, the company inexplicably receiving five billion, Shen Yan personally coming to Xu Zhou’s office, even making Li Xu’s attitude do a complete 180… Only a top-tier powerhouse like Shen Yan could do that.

It was all so obvious. And he only realized now…

…

The next morning, Xu Zhou’s eyelashes fluttered. He turned in Shen Yan’s arms, glanced at his phone—seven a.m.—and rolled back over to sleep.

Shen Yan woke when Xu Zhou shifted, wrapping him tighter and staying in bed with him.

By nine, Shen Yan gently removed his arm from Xu Zhou’s waist and quietly got out of bed. Xu Zhou woke.

“Shen Yan…”

“Mm, sleep a bit longer. I’ll make breakfast.”

“Mm…”

Half an hour later, freshly washed, Xu Zhou stumbled to the bedroom door. Hearing movement, Shen Yan set down what he was carrying and walked over. Xu Zhou, still groggy, practically collapsed into his arms, wrapping around his waist like hugging a giant pillow.

“Still sleepy?”

“Mm…”

“Sorry, my fault.” Warm breath against his ear woke him halfway. His ears turned slightly red.

“Not sleepy anymore…”

Shen Yan chuckled. “Then sit on the chair. The porridge will be ready in a few minutes.”

“Mm.”

Xu Zhou scrolled through his phone, casually flipping through Moments.

Lu Feng: Lonely, isolated, cold (photo).

He seemed to… have forgotten something again.

He called, and Lu Feng had just woken up.

“Hello?”

“Uh… sorry, yesterday I—”

Lu Feng interrupted. “No need to explain. I understand.”

“Then move in tonight.”

Shen Yan, stirring the porridge, paused and shot a displeased glance. Xu Zhou pretended not to notice.

“No no no… I don’t deserve that. I’ll stay lonely, isolated, and cold at a hotel for a few days.”

Shen Yan: eh, not someone you can offend.

“Uh…?”

“Porridge’s ready.” Shen Yan brought it to Xu Zhou, along with two fried eggs and some fruit.

“Thanks.”

Lu Feng on the other line froze. Wait—what did he just hear? Shen Yan personally made breakfast for Xu Zhou? This was the same person people described online as cold, heartless, and impossible to approach?

Despite being young, nobody dared underestimate his business influence. By age twenty, he had founded Lingqi Group, turning it into an industry giant in under five years.

So… who’s the person cooking porridge in front of him?

Sure enough, the internet couldn’t be fully trusted.

Xu Zhou was about to say something when he noticed Lu Feng had already hung up.

A call record from after two a.m.—Shen Yan must have answered. No wonder Lu Feng changed his mind.