As Yu Ju gradually calmed down, he realized that the road felt odd—it wasn’t the one leading to his apartment.

Yu Ju sat up straight. “Where are we going?”

Gu Qianxing replied, “My place.”

Yu Ju asked, “Why are we going to your place?”

Gu Qianxing turned to him and asked, “What time is it?”

Yu Ju glanced at his watch. “It’s eleven.”

Gu Qianxing said, “I’m hungry.”

Yu Ju raised an eyebrow. “So?”

Gu Qianxing responded, “I made you dinner.”

You’re hungry.

You made me dinner?

What kind of logic is this?

Though it was clearly absurd, Yu Ju found himself at a loss for words, only able to respond with a quiet, “Oh.”

It was indeed mealtime, and Gu Qianxing was hungry. Plus, he had made dinner for Yu Ju.

It seemed there was no reason to refuse.

So, Yu Ju ended up following Gu Qianxing to his place.

When they reached the door, Yu Ju finally figured out what he should say to Gu Qianxing.

“Why didn’t you ask if I had time?” Yu Ju said, taking a small step towards Gu Qianxing. “What if I had other plans?”

Gu Qianxing was unlocking the door with his fingerprint. He listened to Yu Ju’s words with no sign of concern, simply responding with a casual “Oh,” before asking with an almost teasing tone, “Mr. Yu, may I ask, do you have time?”

Yu Ju: “…”

Yu Ju felt like a complete fool for asking such a pointless question.

In an instant, Yu Ju deflated. He asked softly, “What did you cook?”

Gu Qianxing opened the door. “What do you want to eat?”

Yu Ju smiled. “So, if I tell you what I want, will you just magically cook it for me?”

Gu Qianxing replied, “If you tell me what you want, I’ll make it.”

Yu Ju blinked, confused. “Huh?”

Gu Qianxing pulled out the slippers he had given Yu Ju last time. “Actually, the meal isn’t ready yet.”

Yu Ju was stunned.

Yu Ju: “??”

Then he heard Gu Qianxing say, “Otherwise, how would I have gotten you to come here?”

Yu Ju: “…”

Yu Ju: “Are you seriously trying to trick me like this, so confidently?”

Gu Qianxing: “It’s not about being confident; it’s about being open and aboveboard.”

Yu Ju had nothing more to say.

How could someone like Gu Qianxing even exist?

After changing into the slippers, Yu Ju couldn’t help but mutter, “The older brothers I know aren’t like this.”

It was soft, almost a whisper, just loud enough for Gu Qianxing to hear.

Gu Qianxing chuckled at Yu Ju’s words. “What are the older brothers you know like?”

Yu Ju complained, “At least they’re not big liars.”

Gu Qianxing nodded. “Because you’re not that little ‘ju’ anymore.”

Yu Ju: “What do you mean I’m not anymore?”

Gu Qianxing: “You’re not as obedient as you used to be.”

Yu Ju responded with a soft, curt “Bullshit.”

If he were still the same obedient “little ju” who followed his older brother’s every word, that would have been a whole different story.

That would have been something else entirely.

Once the door closed, Yu Ju asked, “I’ve heard you’re really good at cooking. Can you cook anything?”

“It’s more attractive that way,” Gu Qianxing paused for a moment. “As for people, well, that’s how it is.”

Yu Ju couldn’t help but feel that when he said “people,” he actually meant “you.”

Yu Ju: “In that case, I’ll just order whatever.”

Gu Qianxing chuckled. “I bragged about it, so now you can order whatever you want.”

Yu Ju: “What if you can’t cook it?”

Gu Qianxing: “It’s just food.”

Hey!

Alright then.

Since he had already been tricked into coming here, and since Gu Qianxing had said that, Yu Ju naturally started picking dishes.

A yam and pork rib soup, garlic pork, braised pork, a plate of seasonal vegetables, and steamed bass.

He ordered everything clearly and specifically, even making sure to ask for the garlic pork to be rolled up just the way he liked it.

Not too difficult, but not too simple either.

Go ahead and get busy, Mr. Gu.

Last time he came, it was evening, and everything was dark. But now, in broad daylight, Yu Ju’s view was much clearer.

However, he still only sat in the living room, too shy to wander around.

Unlike last time, this time he noticed that on the right side, there was a larger balcony.

Looking out, if he wasn’t mistaken, there was a small swimming pool outside.

A swimming pool.

Yu Ju recalled his naïve sixth-grade self when he had designed his future house on a piece of homework paper.

The first thing he had wanted was a swimming pool.

Having a pool at home was so cool, right?

“Would you like some coffee?”

Gu Qianxing suddenly appeared, and Yu Ju pulled his gaze away.

Yu Ju noticed that Gu Qianxing seemed quite relaxed. “Aren’t you going to buy groceries?”

Gu Qianxing replied, “Want to go buy groceries together?”

Yu Ju nodded. “Sure.”

Gu Qianxing paused for a moment. “Oh no, I’ve already ordered delivery.”

Yu Ju said, “Well, that’s not bad.”

Gu Qianxing shook his head. “Not good.”

Yu Ju looked up at Gu Qianxing, but as soon as their eyes met, he quickly looked away.

Gu Qianxing chuckled. “Next time,” he said, a hint of dissatisfaction in his voice as he placed his hand on Yu Ju’s head. “I’m going to make coffee. Come over and watch.”

If Gu Qianxing was making coffee, Yu Ju would usually go watch, but since Gu Qianxing said it like that…

“Why do I have to come over and watch?” Yu Ju asked.

Gu Qianxing replied, “Isn’t it that you like watching others make coffee?”

Yu Ju was puzzled. “When did I say I like watching others make coffee?”

Gu Qianxing paused for a few seconds. “So, are you going to watch or not?”

Yu Ju, being contrary, replied, “Not watching.”

Gu Qianxing fell silent for a moment before saying, “I beg you.”

Yu Ju burst out laughing.

“You’re so funny,” Yu Ju said, his eyes curving into a smile. “Shouldn’t you be a little more humble when begging? What’s with that attitude?”

Gu Qianxing made a small sound, lowering his head to stare at Yu Ju.

Yu Ju felt a little uneasy under the gaze. He was about to look away and avoid eye contact, but suddenly, Gu Qianxing bent down, scooped him up by the waist, and hoisted him up.

“Hey, hey, hey!”

Yu Ju cried out in surprise.

Just like back then, Gu Qianxing could handle Yu Ju with one hand.

But what was different this time was that Gu Qianxing was a lot rougher now.

And so, Yu Ju was carried over to the bar counter and placed onto a chair.

Yu Ju tilted his mouth, lowered his head, and then lifted his eyes to look at Gu Qianxing, his gaze full of resentment.

Gu Qianxing, of course, was pleased with himself. He laughed and reached out to flick Yu Ju’s forehead before circling around to the other side of the counter.

Making coffee could either be a quick task or a meticulous one.

Clearly, Gu Qianxing chose the latter.

Yu Ju propped his head on the counter, watching as Gu Qianxing took out the coffee beans, poured them in, and then leaned in close to Yu Ju.

“Smell good?” Gu Qianxing asked.

“Yeah,” Yu Ju nodded. “It’s different from the one you gave me last time, right?”

Gu Qianxing replied, “Different.”

Once Gu Qianxing began, Yu Ju quietly sat there and watched.

As he ground the coffee, Gu Qianxing spoke up. “You used to be like this, not saying a word.”

Yu Ju retorted, “That wasn’t because I was watching you make coffee.”

“True,” Gu Qianxing nodded. “Seems like you’ve learned from it now.”

Yu Ju withdrew his gaze.

He felt a little light-headed.

He had to admit, Gu Qianxing’s coffee-making was indeed more enjoyable to watch than Zhang Qiye’s, especially considering Gu Qianxing’s looks and height.

Of course, it also made him want to sleep more.

The sound of the coffee grinder hummed softly in his ears, almost like a gentle lullaby.

But just as he was about to drift off to sleep, his phone rang.

It was a message from the group chat, asking Yu Ju to send over the data sets he had taken from the live event yesterday.

Yu Ju opened his album, scrolling and selecting images. As he went through the pictures, the screen suddenly landed on a screenshot.

It was a screenshot of Gu Qianxing’s Weibo fans calling him “husband.”

Yu Ju curled his lip.

So, after all the times he’d been scrutinized, Yu Ju still didn’t know how it felt to have Gu Qianxing called “husband” by someone else.

After sending out the data, Yu Ju returned his focus to watching Gu Qianxing grind the coffee beans.

But he was just so tired, and the chair was incredibly comfortable.

It was hard to stay awake, and before he knew it, Yu Ju had slumped over and fallen asleep.

To his surprise, such a light nap led him to dream about Gu Qianxing.

Yu Ju muttered in his sleep, still caught in the lingering haze of his dream.

In his dream, he had asked Gu Qianxing, “Tell me, how do you feel when so many people call you ‘husband’?”

Gu Qianxing, with a playful smirk, looked at him and asked, “What do they call me?”

Yu Ju replied without hesitation, “Husband.”

Gu Qianxing raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Yu Ju repeated, “Husband.”

It was only when Gu Qianxing laughed that Yu Ju realized the situation. He shot a glare at him, but Gu Qianxing continued, “It doesn’t feel anything when others call me ‘husband,’ but when you do, it’s different.”

Yu Ju, still dazed from the dream, asked, “How does it feel?”

Gu Qianxing’s smile turned wicked, “Want to know?”

Before Yu Ju could respond, a voice from reality pierced through the dream.

“Did you sleep?”

Yu Ju opened his eyes, only to find himself face to face with the same mischievous person from his dream.

Yu Ju was surrounded by the rich scent of coffee, still a little dazed, unsure of how long he had been asleep. At that moment, Gu Qianxing held a cup of steaming coffee in his hand.

Still feeling a bit disoriented, Yu Ju reached out to take the coffee, but before his hand could touch the cup, Gu Qianxing pulled it back slightly.

Yu Ju looked up at him, only to see Gu Qianxing smiling faintly and offering the cup again.

As Yu Ju reached out again, Gu Qianxing pulled it back again.

Yu Ju raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

Gu Qianxing’s voice was low, almost soothing. “What do you say?”

Yu Ju thought for a moment. “Thank you.”

Gu Qianxing kept the smile, still lowering his voice, “Thank you for what?”

Yu Ju met his gaze, his mind still fuzzy but his response clearer. “Thank you.”

Gu Qianxing shook his head, still not giving the coffee. “Not right, think again.”

Yu Ju was almost too far gone in his daze, and the next second, he said, “Thank you, husband.“