“Why are you so loud?”

“It’s too deep…”

……

In the early hours of the morning, Shi Sheng curled up in bed, watching Lin Lin busy inside, secretly dismantling the window seat cushion and washing it, quickly blow-drying it.

He blinked and looked at the window glass. It was already dimly lit outside, making it hard to imagine his bold actions last night, being confined in front of the window and doing as he pleased.

Shi Sheng still looked a little worriedly at the building across the street. Out of embarrassment, he always felt like there were eyes peering through the curtains all night, but in reality, there was nothing.

“Is the noise from tidying up bothering you?” Lu Lin waved his hand towards his eyes. “You can sleep a little longer after I leave.”

“Okay.”

After Lin Lin finished, he squatted down, grabbed the back of Shi Sheng’s neck, and kissed him. Their lips intertwined and made ambiguous sounds. He was kissed until his face turned red, then he pushed Lin Lin away.

“Go to work.”

“Does it hurt?” Lin Lin reached into the quilt and touched him, “Seems a bit swollen.”

Shi Sheng slapped his hand away aggressively.

Lin Lin chuckled and rubbed his waist with his fingertips, causing a slight itch. There were still five minutes left on the bedside clock, and he climbed onto the bed again.

Shi Sheng squinted, nestled in his arms, feeling his heartbeat pounding through their clothes.

The tip of his nose was filled with a faint milky fragrance. The bed was cool, the blanket he hugged and Lu Lin’s warmth were just right, and he could still hear the long breaths.

“I’m leaving…” Lu Lin gently touched his hair.

Shi Sheng was already half-awake, murmuring softly in response. Lu Lin then lowered his head again, bringing his warm breath against Shi Sheng’s forehead. “I really can’t bear to leave you, you rascal.”

He carefully kissed Shi Sheng’s forehead and soon withdrew his body. On the bed, only Shi Sheng remained, curled up with the blanket, sinking deeply into his dreams.

Lu Lin went downstairs and, as expected, saw Lu Songnian sitting at the dining table.

“Dad.” Lu Lin went to the kitchen, grabbed some parchment paper, wrapped the breakfast bread, and put it in his bag, “I’ll be late for work, so I won’t eat with you.”

“In the early morning, using a hairdryer, making the house restless.” Lu Songnian glanced at him, stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth, and tapped the table with his fingers. “Those who come and go early and late are not as good as those who work diligently in the headquarters. Always thinking about going home every day, so lacking in ambition.”

Lu Lin halted his steps to the door, turned back with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, I’ve only been home for two days and you’re already complaining. Then, when I’m not home, you’ll let mom and Ah Yin drop hints for me,” Lu Lin shrugged, “Dad, you can’t just put on a new suit and start despising your own son.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Songnian picked up a tissue from the table, as if he was about to throw it.

“You little bastard, who are you thinking about when you come home?”

“I have no choice, I can’t let him face your stormy temper alone.” Lu Lin raised his hands in surrender.

Lu Songnian sat back in his seat. “As an adult, the most important thing is to take responsibility for your family and work. Look at you, still acting like a child, immature.”

Lu Lin raised an eyebrow, slung his bag, and walked out.

He always felt that the old man had something to say but wouldn’t express it directly, and he couldn’t be bothered to guess.

---

Shi Sheng slept until almost eleven o’clock, the curtains tightly drawn by Lu Lin, leaving the entire room in darkness. When he saw the time, he felt doomed.

Lu Lin asked him if he was awake, still using the message from eight o’clock.

He needed to go to the studio in the afternoon, so Shi Sheng quickly got up, fearing being questioned by Zheng Ma about why he woke up so late. He had already prepared his words, intending to say that he stayed up late watching scripts due to insomnia.

“Are you awake?” As he descended the stairs, Lu Songnian’s voice came from the study. He was startled, touched his head, and then saw Lu Songnian walking out.

“Uncle, you… you didn’t go to the company?”

“Follow me.”

Lu Songnian glanced lightly at him and then walked into the study.

This drastically different cold attitude made Sheng feel uneasy. Even his face turned pale. Thinking about Lu Lin’s repeated reminders last night to keep his voice down, did their house’s soundproofing really suck, or did Uncle Lu overhear…

Shi Sheng suddenly felt stiff all over, almost mechanically walking into the study. He could feel the sticky sweat oozing from his palms, and his heart was pounding. The short distance to the study seemed endless, and he didn’t know how he ended up standing in front of Lu Songnian.

“Why does your face look so terrible?” Lu Songnian frowned as he looked at him. “Didn’t sleep well? Disturbed by Xiao Lin? Indeed, he’s so loud.”

Shi Sheng’s face turned even paler.

He lowered his head, almost stuttering, pleading, “Uncle, last night I really…” He pinched his fingertips, trying to find the right words, but couldn’t. He thought, maybe he should just pack up and go home, flee this dead-end place overnight.

“The sound of the hairdryer was a bit loud. I’ve told him many times not to wash his hair and blow-dry it in the morning, but he doesn’t listen,” Lu Songnian furrowed his brow tightly, tapping the table. “At noon, I’ll ask Chengxin to buy a noise-canceling hairdryer and bring it back.”

What? Shi Sheng looked up in surprise.

“Xiao Lin is still not mature enough, not attentive or considerate. I have watched you grow up, but I don’t know why you’ve taken a liking to this kid.”

“Ah… He, he’s pretty good, really, Uncle. Lu Lin is very caring and makes people feel secure.” Shi Sheng nodded, not sure what he was saying.

Lu Songnian spoke to Shi Sheng for a while longer, and Shi Sheng finally walked out, dazed, with the bank card Lu Songnian gave him.

“I originally wanted to ask you to stay for a while, but unexpectedly, it’s been our family causing you trouble all along. Keep this bank card; consider it pocket money from me.”

He scratched his head, finding it hard to imagine Lu Songnian saying such words with a straight face and in a cold tone. It was as if he was not good at being emotional; the more he tried to express his feelings, the more serious he appeared.

Like a stubborn old child.

Back in his room, Shi Sheng changed into clothes to go to the studio. He calmed down his tumultuous emotions and told Lu Lin about the ups and downs of the story, but Lu Lin seemed busy and didn’t respond.

Meanwhile, Lu Lin was standing outside a jewelry store, pondering the meaning of his father’s words about responsibility.

When Lu Songnian married Cui Hong, due to it being a second marriage and his older age, Cui Hong’s original idea was to have a hasty wedding and live her life behind closed doors. However, Lu Songnian insisted on having a grand wedding, even took time off from work, and honeymooned like young people.

It was because of this that Lu Lin rarely went home afterwards. But he had to admit that his father’s approach was the best for Cui Hong, fulfilling a woman’s entire fantasy about love.

He saw the message from Shi Sheng and knew that his father had given him a bank card. He understood the significance of this action; it was a formal acknowledgment. So, he probably understood what Lu Songnian meant with his words before leaving this morning. His dad wanted him to show the proper respect and seriousness towards this relationship.

Lu Lin didn’t know why Lu Songnian suddenly showed this side, and theoretically, he shouldn’t be someone easily swayed by a suit. But regardless, some things should indeed be prioritized.

“Sir, can I help you with anything?” The jewelry store staff saw him standing there for a while and reached out. “Would you like to come in and take a look?”

Lu Lin hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Actually, he had this idea for a long time, but he wasn’t sure if he could fulfill the promises he made or had some worries about the future, but he wanted to give Shi Sheng the best.

His phone lit up with a message from Shi Sheng, asking what he was doing.

Lu Lin stared at the message for a while, then took a deep breath and walked in. His shoes stepped on the smooth tiles, and even his fists were clenched.

“Hello, how may I help you—”

“I want to see engagement rings… big ones.”