After the awards ceremony, Ye Qingyun took Gu Shenyuan back to their residence.

As they got closer to their destination, he noticed that Gu Shenyuan seemed to be getting more and more tense.

On the surface, Gu Shenyuan didn’t seem any different from usual. He looked at the shops below the spaceship and said to Ye Qingyun, “Let’s not go back just yet. This place is quite bustling, and since you’ve never been here, I can take you around.”

“Huh? What’s there to see?” Ye Qingyun glanced down but wasn’t interested. He shook his head.

“Let’s just go back first. I… I just want to be with you.”

They had just shared their first kiss, and now all he wanted was to be alone with Gu Shenyuan, to cuddle and spend some intimate time together. He had no interest in wandering around outside.

Gu Shenyuan remained silent, his expression growing more serious.

…Ye Qingyun didn’t want to give him more time, didn’t want to continue pretending they were in love. Was he eager to go back and confront him?

Gu Shenyuan didn’t want to face this so soon. He was trying his best to show off his strengths, hoping that Ye Qingyun would see his power and status.

“Ye Qingyun… I’m not the same as before. Whatever you want, I can get it for you. I’ll make sure to get you everything you like, and no one will use their status to bully you. Everyone who sees you will treat you with the highest respect.”

Ye Qingyun: ‘??’

Why was Gu Shenyuan suddenly saying all of this? He was talking so much and praising himself—it didn’t quite match his usual demeanor.

Gu Shenyuan kept talking quickly, addressing everything in a way that didn’t feel spontaneous, almost as if he had prepared this speech in advance, dumping it all on Ye Qingyun at this moment.

Gu Shenyuan’s behavior was so obvious, it was impossible for Ye Qingyun not to notice. His mind quickly formed a rough guess.

He had initially thought that after comforting Gu Shenyuan like that, Gu Shenyuan would calm down and realize that Ye Qingyun had always been on his side.

But now it seemed that Gu Shenyuan wasn’t soothed at all—in fact, he was even more anxious.

Gu Shenyuan seemed to think that their relationship was facing a major crisis.

Why was Gu Shenyuan behaving like this? Who was the “big boss” that the strange person mentioned, someone who could make Gu Shenyuan so defensive?

…Had he really liked that person for so many years, and had Gu Shenyuan killed them?

Looking at Gu Shenyuan’s reaction, could it really be true?

But deep down, Ye Qingyun still wanted to believe in Gu Shenyuan.

He furrowed his brow slightly.

No, he had to get to the bottom of this. If they were going to be together, they couldn’t keep secrets from each other.

Ye Qingyun thought for a moment, then relaxed his body and leaned against Gu Shenyuan, speaking softly, “I’m so tired, I don’t want to go play anymore. Let’s just go back.”

Gu Shenyuan held him silently for a while, before turning the spaceship around and heading back to their place.

This temporary residence wasn’t too large but was cozy, the perfect layout for two people. Passing through a small garden upon entering, they reached a bright, relaxed living room.

During the non-competition days, Ye Qingyun liked sitting on the large, soft sofa, talking to Gu Shenyuan while leaning on him.

This time, as soon as they returned, Ye Qingyun sat on the sofa again and motioned for Gu Shenyuan to sit beside him. “Gu Shenyuan, come. Let’s talk.”

Gu Shenyuan didn’t respond, nor did he look at Ye Qingyun. Instead, he walked straight toward the back. “You’re tired, take a bath and rest early. We can talk tomorrow. I’ll help you run the bath water.”

What bath water? What era was this? They weren’t living in a remote mountain village, and all their furniture was high-tech and automated. Why did Gu Shenyuan insist on doing it himself? What a bad excuse!

Ye Qingyun angrily punched the sofa. The more Gu Shenyuan acted like this, the more he felt something was off.

Since Gu Shenyuan wasn’t coming over, Ye Qingyun decided to go to him. He stood up and walked to the bathroom, where he saw Gu Shenyuan, his back turned as he prepared the bath.

Looking at Gu Shenyuan’s back, the word “lost” flashed through Ye Qingyun’s mind.

His heart softened. “Lost” wasn’t a term that should be used to describe Gu Shenyuan.

Ye Qingyun went up to him and wrapped his arms around him. “Why are you putting in so much water? Do you want to bathe with me?”

Gu Shenyuan turned his face to look at him, his features tight, lips pressed together, as if he were afraid of what Ye Qingyun might suddenly say.

Ye Qingyun blinked. “Normally, our relationship shouldn’t have progressed this quickly, but since you won the championship today, let’s celebrate.”

Gu Shenyuan: “Ye Qingyun…”

He originally thought that after Ye Qingyun came over, he would sternly ask him about what happened earlier, but now, he couldn’t understand what Ye Qingyun was thinking and didn’t know what he wanted to do.

Was he trying to leave him with one last beautiful memory before leaving?

But he wouldn’t let Ye Qingyun go. Even if it meant going against his will, he would keep him here.

… If things really developed like this, maybe it truly would be their last beautiful memory together.

Ye Qingyun: “What about the Stone of Love? Do you have it with you?”

Gu Shenyuan reached into his pocket and pulled out the pendant with the Stone of Love embedded in it.

Ye Qingyun extended his hand, and Gu Shenyuan was about to place the pendant in his palm when Ye Qingyun quickly withdrew his hand.

Gu Shenyuan unconsciously tightened his grip on the pendant, looking at Ye Qingyun with stiffness in his voice: “Ye Qingyun… You don’t want it anymore?”

Not wanting the stone of love… meant not wanting him anymore.

A chill ran through Gu Shenyuan’s body, his fingers white from gripping the pendant.

Ye Qingyun shook his head and shot him a glare: “What are you doing? How can you just give me the necklace? I should wear it, especially since it’s the Stone of love. You have to put it on me!”

Gu Shenyuan was stunned for a moment, his hand tightening on the necklace before loosening. He then lowered his head to unclip the necklace to put it on Ye Qingyun.

Ye Qingyun thought for a moment and, with his ears flushed red, stopped him: “Wait, not yet.”

Gu Shenyuan paused, not lifting his head, but simply asking: “Are you having second thoughts?”

“Mm.” Ye Qingyun nodded, feeling his face heat up as he thought about what would happen next. But he still tried to act confident and provocatively touched Gu Shenyuan’s wrist.

 “There’s too many clothes on right now, it’s not convenient. So, later, when we’re in the bath, you can put it on me, okay?”

Gu Shenyuan listened to Ye Qingyun and nodded in agreement, lowering his gaze to the shimmering Stone of Love in his hand.

If this was the fake happiness Ye Qingyun had given him, he hoped this moment would last forever.

How he wished everything was real, that this was a reward for him winning the championship, not the last memory before they parted. But did Ye Qingyun really forget Pu Tian? After hearing such words, could he still be with him without any reservations?

He had never been lucky, and most of the things he encountered always turned into the most twisted and difficult paths. This time, he couldn’t trust his luck either.

If this was the last night of his happiness, then he should… savor it and leave no regrets.

The bathtub was already full, with a thick layer of foam on top. The bathtub was large enough for two people to lie comfortably in.

Ye Qingyun reached for the buttons on his shirt. He wanted to confidently undress and step into the bath in front of Gu Shenyuan, but having never shared a bath with anyone, he felt a bit embarrassed. So, he pushed Gu Shenyuan, who had been staring at him, and said gruffly, “What are you staring at? Turn around!”

Gu Shenyuan obediently turned around. Ye Qingyun hurriedly removed all his clothes and stepped into the bath, burying himself under the thick foam, leaving only his head above the surface.

Ye Qingyun coughed to get Gu Shenyuan’s attention and reminded him: “Your turn, do you need me to look away?”

Gu Shenyuan shook his head, reached up to unbutton his shirt.

Ye Qingyun was originally excited, but then his eyes widened in surprise.

Oh my god, Gu Shenyuan, as a submissive, his body was too perfect.

Was this why Gu Shenyuan hadn’t found the right person in the original story? No one else was worthy of him, so Gu Shenyuan was unsatisfied?

Fortunately, they were just in the “kiss all over” stage of their relationship, and nothing would go further. He didn’t have to worry about not being able to handle it.

Gu Shenyuan also stepped into the bath, but instead of sitting beside Ye Qingyun, he sat facing him.

Ye Qingyun’s legs brushed against Gu Shenyuan’s, and he awkwardly tried to move away, but Gu Shenyuan followed him. To avoid it, Ye Qingyun kept widening his stance until he realized his legs were almost pressed against the side of the tub.

This position… wasn’t it…

Ye Qingyun instantly snapped his legs together, trapping Gu Shenyuan between his legs.

Ye Qingyun wasn’t naive and immediately kicked Gu Shenyuan lightly: “Are you being a pervert?”

“No,” Gu Shenyuan denied.

Ye Qingyun didn’t believe him but decided to skip the subject. He asked Gu Shenyuan, “Do you want to wash first, or put on the necklace first?”

Gu Shenyuan reached out and picked up the sparkling necklace from the small table beside them, silently gazing at Ye Qingyun.

The meaning was clear—he wanted to put the necklace on first.

Ye Qingyun had no objections but quickly noticed a new problem.

Sitting down was different from standing up. With them facing each other, it was hard to get close enough to do anything.

Ye Qingyun complained, “See, we should sit side by side, not face to face. We can’t get close like this. Move over, I want to sit next to you.”

However, after hearing this, Gu Shenyuan didn’t move aside. His dark eyes grew deeper as he stared at Ye Qingyun.

“Not side by side,” Gu Shenyuan’s voice lowered, “Come over here, sit on my lap.”