Chapter 26: Coming Out to Master Lu

Lu Tingshen suddenly remembered that Ji Jinbai had gone out to dinner with that junior tonight, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

He wrapped his arm around Ji Jinbai’s shoulder and asked casually, “By the way, is that junior of yours also an art student like you?”

Ji Jinbai yawned and leaned his head against Lu Tingshen’s chest, not noticing the subtle tension in his words. “No, he’s a sports student. Why?”

“Nothing, I just feel like he’s been coming up in your conversations a lot recently.” Lu Tingshen continued, “What did you two talk about tonight?”

Ji Jinbai closed his eyes and leaned against him, answering naturally, “He just asked me some questions about changing majors.”

Lu Tingshen instinctively frowned. A sports student asking about changing majors? Lu Tingshen found the excuse a bit far-fetched.

He lifted Ji Jinbai’s chin, his expression serious. “Is that all you talked about?”

Ji Jinbai looked into Lu Tingshen’s suddenly stern eyes and playfully rested his feet on Lu Tingshen’s under the blanket, gently tapping them. He didn’t feel there was anything to hide.

“He also asked one more question,” Ji Jinbai said, pausing for a moment. He glanced up at Lu Tingshen, their eyes meeting.

“He asked if I had a girlfriend.”

Lu Tingshen tightened his grip around Ji Jinbai’s waist, his eyes narrowing slightly, his expression turning serious. “And how did you answer?”

Ji Jinbai smiled, his eyes crinkling as he buried his face in Lu Tingshen’s chest. “I said I don’t have a girlfriend, but I have a boyfriend.”

The young man looked up at Lu Tingshen with bright, expectant eyes, hoping for praise.

Lu Tingshen gazed at him tenderly, gently stroking his head, his voice deep and husky. “You did well. That deserves encouragement.”

Ji Jinbai secretly touched the tip of his ear, thinking how irresistibly sexy that voice was.

Suddenly, Ji Jinbai jolted upright, nearly hitting Lu Tingshen’s chin.

Lu Tingshen looked at him with a mix of amusement and exasperation, silently asking what was wrong.

Ji Jinbai said, “I think he might have been trying to set me up with someone.”

Lu Tingshen was momentarily stunned, then chuckled softly. “Oh? How do you know he wanted to introduce you to a girlfriend?”

Ji Jinbai looked at Lu Tingshen with innocent confusion. “Why else would he ask me that?”

The boy hadn’t done anything overt, but if Lu Tingshen told Ji Jinbai that the guy might have been interested in him, what if Ji Jinbai started to realize it? Though Lu Tingshen didn’t think Ji Jinbai would be interested in that guy anyway.

Lu Tingshen vaguely brushed it off. “Maybe.”

“Don’t get too close to him from now on, okay? And if you’re going anywhere with him, let me know first.”

Ji Jinbai rested his hand on Lu Tingshen’s shoulder and kissed his neck. “You’re so possessive.”

Lu Tingshen watched as Ji Jinbai clung to him like an affectionate kitten. He held the back of Ji Jinbai’s neck, gently massaging it. “Hmm?”

“Delicate darling, did you hear what I just said?”

Ji Jinbai nodded. He realized that Lu Tingshen was gradually but firmly taking over more of his life. Instead of feeling annoyed, he found himself enjoying it. Ji Jinbai knew that no matter what, Lu Tingshen would never hurt him.

“Got it. I’ll let you know before going anywhere with him.”

Ji Jinbai rubbed his eyes and pulled the blanket over both of them. “Alright, I’m so tired. Let’s go to sleep.”

Lu Tingshen lowered his head and planted a kiss on Ji Jinbai’s forehead. “Delicate darling is so well-behaved, sleep now.”

Ji Jinbai quietly nestled in his arms as the man reached out to turn off the bedside lamp.

…

Early the next morning, Ji Jinbai was awakened from his sleep.

He let out a groggy “Hmm.”

Ji Jinbai: “You… what are you doing?”

Ji Jinbai: “Didn’t you… say… you’d let me…”

Before he could finish his sentence.

Lu Tingshen’s voice carried the unique hoarseness of the morning. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m doing you.”

Lu Tingshen: “Sorry, Bao Bei, I couldn’t hold back anymore, so bear with it, hmm?”

Ji Jinbai, pouting and trembling, tried to escape his control, complaining pitifully, “I… I haven’t slept enough yet…”

Lu Tingshen had no intention of letting him go.

Lu Tingshen: “You can sleep later.”

More than two hours later.

Lu Tingshen helped him clean up, then went into the walk-in closet to get dressed. Checking the time, he realized he was already an hour late for work.

As the boss, being late a few times didn’t matter much.

He walked to the bedside, looking at the small lump under the covers. Lu Tingshen brushed aside his hair, gently kissed his lips, and then planted another kiss on his forehead.

Caressing his reddened eyes, he said softly, “Rest well for a while. I’ve taken the morning off for you.”

Ji Jinbai lay in the bed with his eyes closed, sniffing pitifully, his voice slightly nasal. “Hmm… got it.”

Lu Tingshen adjusted the blanket for him, gently patted it, and said tenderly, “Then I’ll head to work now. You stay home and rest.”

Ji Jinbai furrowed his brows, seemingly annoyed by the noise. He turned his back to Lu Tingshen, pulling the blanket over his head in a small tantrum, ignoring him.

“Little thing,” Lu Tingshen chuckled helplessly.

Worried he might suffocate, Lu Tingshen pulled the blanket down slightly to expose his nose.

“Remember to eat breakfast when you wake up. Auntie left it in the microwave to keep it warm.”

Knowing the person in bed was listening.

The man walked out of the bedroom and gently closed the door.

…

The Lu family’s old residence was located on Linshan Road in Fengxi District. The area was serene, with a large maple forest, and the land here was extremely valuable, almost impossible to buy.

The old residence was situated in the center of this area. Currently, only Lu Tingshen’s family lived there, as he had moved out a few years ago.

His current place was close to the company, making it convenient for commuting. This had initially upset Master Lu, and it took a lot of coaxing to calm him down.

Lu Tingshen received a call from his mother this morning, asking him to return to the old residence at noon. She didn’t specify the reason, so he drove over at eleven.

The tall, imposing gate slowly opened, and a black Passendi SUV drove in.

In the main hall, Master Lu was sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper. Lu Tingshen walked over and sat on the adjacent sofa.

He poured a cup of tea and handed it to Lu Qingshan.

Master Lu took the teacup and took a sip, and the father and son began to chat.

Lu Tingshen looked at his mother bustling in the kitchen and smiled helplessly.

“You could leave this to Sister He. Every time Mom cooks, we both pretend to enjoy it and finish everything. I think my stomach is going to suffer today.”

“Keep your voice down. Don’t let your mom hear you.”

Lu Tingshen straightened up and asked, “Dad, why did you call me back?”

Lu’s father put the newspaper on the table and looked at him, giving him a deep, meaningful glance.

Although he was getting older, Lu’s father still exuded the aura of a man in power, with sharp eyes that gave off an intense sense of pressure.

“Give me a straight answer. When are you going to bring a daughter-in-law home for me and your mom? You’re already 36, not young anymore. If you don’t get married now, when will you, huh?”

“With your looks and status, it shouldn’t be hard to find someone.”

“I haven’t seen anyone around you either. Cough, don’t tell me it’s because you’re… incapable.”

Seeing the subtle yet probing look in his father’s eyes, Lu Tingshen sighed helplessly and decided to be honest.

“I already have someone.”

Lu’s father looked at him in surprise, thinking to himself that this kid had finally come to his senses.

His gaze now carried a hint of approval as he straightened up and asked with a smile, “Which family’s daughter is it? How long have you been together? When are you getting married? Let me think about how much dowry we should prepare.”

Lu Tingshen rubbed his forehead, looking at his excited father, and interrupted him. “We just started dating not long ago. We’re still building our relationship.”

He glanced at his father and then spoke slowly, “It’s a boy.”

Lu’s father froze for a few seconds, then looked at Lu Tingshen in astonishment. “What did you say? A boy?”

Lu Tingshen didn’t speak, just nodded.

Lu’s father leaned back on the sofa, took a deep breath, and his hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. He spoke with difficulty, “Since when have you liked men?”

Lu Tingshen lowered his gaze to the floor, then looked up into his father’s eyes, his expression resolute and without any hint of concealment. “Always.”