Chapter 14

“Business trip? You mean, you’re going on a business trip?”

Faced with Bai Wei’s skeptical gaze, Lu Sen could only brace himself and insist, “It’s very important to exchange ideas with seasoned professionals and improve my repair skills. Also, I want to take this opportunity to see how other bed-and-breakfasts are run…”

“Don’t talk to me about that crappy B&B!” Bai Wei pressed, unable to believe how lucky he had been.

He had just come up with a new plan when Lu Sen handed him a pillow. How is this not telepathy?

“Alright, where are you going on the business trip?” Bai Wei asked.

“Black Harbor City.” Lu Sen quickly spat out the prepared three words, and indeed, he saw Bai Wei’s expression change.

He hadn’t meant to make his wife sad! But when it comes to familiarity and convenience for back-and-forth travel, the only place near Snow Mountain Town that made sense was Black Harbor City. He could also stash his discarded shell in the large freezer in his Black Harbor City vault. His only worry now was that Bai Wei, being so in love with him and not wanting to be separated, might demand to come along.

Fortunately, Bai Wei only reminded him to be safe and didn’t argue. This made Lu Sen overjoyed, feeling that Bai Wei respected his independence as a husband.

Tonight, the two of them would sleep in the small bed in the repair shop room again. After Lu Sen returned from Black Harbor City, they would move into their new house and sleep on the large bed where they could lie in any position. But as he curled up in the small bed, surrounded by Bai Wei’s scent, Lu Sen found himself incredibly reluctant to leave the little bed.

This was the only place where he could naturally pull Bai Wei into his arms, with the excuse of it being cramped.

Thinking about it, he held Bai Wei tighter. Bai Wei shivered slightly, clearly unable to bear the pain of separation from his husband—this made Lu Sen feel even more pity for him.

But he would get him a gift when he returned. Lu Sen thought. He had successfully synthesized something that would bring Bai Wei joy. After returning from Black Harbor City, he would give Bai Wei this gift, along with some travel souvenirs, in their new home.

But Bai Wei said, “Darling, when do you leave?”

“Tomorrow,” Lu Sen replied.

“Tomorrow? So soon? I won’t have time to prepare…” Bai Wei’s voice faltered, and he quickly explained, “Isn’t tomorrow the day we move into the new house? You want me to move in alone?”

“Oh. Is that a problem?” Lu Sen said. “But I really have to leave tomorrow…”

Lu Sen had to stick to his decision. He knew that over the next week, his behavior would be quite unusual. The seven-day shedding period would start the day after tomorrow and end in seven days. For safety’s sake, he had to reach Black Harbor City tomorrow, build his nest the day after, and peacefully shed his shell in his room after that.

How could Bai Wei act so impulsively, giving him no time to prepare! Bai Wei was furious, but lying in Lu Sen’s arms, he said sadly, “But I want to see our new home with you…”

“Oh, Awei…”

“And you want me to sleep alone in a strange bed? In a strange new home, with no trace of you…” Bai Wei felt disgusted inside. “I’ll be scared. Darling, if you’re not here…”

Bai Wei wanted to give himself a day to plan. But Lu Sen firmly shook his head.

“Sorry, darling. That’s not going to happen.”

…Fine, very well! Lu Sen actually dared to refuse him!

Another reason to murder Lu Sen had just appeared. Bai Wei was held in Lu Sen’s arms, facing away from him, but his half-open dark cat-like eyes looked like a predator planning an assassination. He said, “But according to tradition, at least on the first night of moving in, we should be at home… What if the townspeople think there’s trouble in our relationship? I really don’t want that. They’ll definitely ask me what’s going on. I don’t want to be the one to answer…”

“Oh, I’ll call them tomorrow and explain the situation,” Lu Sen replied.

All the preparations were done. Bai Wei snuggled into Lu Sen’s arms, a satisfied smile curling on his lips. But Lu Sen, holding him, for the first time felt troubled.

He realized at that moment that perhaps a small action could cause such trouble for his partner. Not being home on the first night in their new house, the bed smelling of him nowhere, and the townspeople might become curious and question the state of their marriage…

At that moment, Lu Sen realized that even a small gesture could bring so much trouble to his companion. But he decided that when tomorrow came, he would show an excited expression. He had already made a mistake; he couldn’t bring worse emotions to Bai Wei.

The next morning, Lu Sen called his friends and the clients at the store to inform them that he would be going on a business trip. Only the editor from the newspaper, Wei Lian, asked, “What about Bai Wei?”

“Bai Wei will stay at home and write,” Lu Sen said. “You haven’t forgotten that his primary job is a writer, have you?”

Bai Wei was the one driving. He felt the sunlight was bright and his mood was excellent.

Lu Sen inspected the work done by the renovation crew. Bai Wei stood by, almost not believing that this was the same house from more than half a month ago.

The townhouse was completely transformed, even the garden looked different. The chaotic, overgrown garden had been tidied up, and a variety of expensive flowers had been brought in.

The basement, which had buried countless secrets, was completely hidden from view.

“The neighbor was right. This is just the first step. When I return, I will continue with the gardening,” Lu Sen kissed his hand.

Thinking that Lu Sen would soon be dead, Bai Wei tolerated his actions.

The soft and spacious cotton-candy-like sofa was placed on the first floor. The large display screen, piano in the corner, and the easel made it look like a home. Bai Wei saw a blank photo wall and display cabinet, wondering what Lu Sen planned to do with them later.

“Regarding the basement, I’ve placed the workbench, shelves, and freezer you need,” Lu Sen said, “I won’t touch anything there—since you said you wanted it to be your private space.”

“Thank you, hubby,” Bai Wei said with a rare, genuine smile.

The second floor and attic were also completely refurbished. Aside from the study, which Bai Wei cared about most, even their bedroom had been renovated. Bai Wei looked at the large bed in front of him, thinking that from now on, this place would be his alone.

Oh no, after Lu Sen died, his plan was to leave Snow Mountain Town and also leave this house… As he thought about it, Bai Wei felt a bit regretful.

“Through this door, you can enter the other half of the townhouse,” Lu Sen opened the door in the second-floor corridor, “Darling, take a look.”

Bai Wei toured the other half of the house and then fell silent.

That idiot Lu Sen really planned to turn the other half of the townhouse into a guesthouse!

“Actually, I think there are some things in this house that aren’t ideal,” Lu Sen said, “The furniture and decorations were all bought from outside, and there aren’t many things we personally like. When I return from Black Harbor City, I’ll buy some decorations we like to put here.”

As he spoke, under the sunset’s glow, he kissed Bai Wei’s eyelashes: “Darling, don’t worry about me. I’ll be back in eight days.”

“You need to tell me the hotel you’re staying at and your daily schedule,” Bai Wei repeatedly reminded him, “Otherwise, I’ll worry.”

Lu Sen smiled as he saw how much Bai Wei cared about his whereabouts.

“See you in eight days!”

“See you in eight days.”

—-

In the evening, Lu Sen drove off from Snow Mountain Town. Bai Wei stood behind the curtains on the second floor, watching his retreating figure. Then, he raised his phone and smiled coldly.

The small light on the screen was moving. He had already installed a tracking system on Lu Sen’s phone.

The family tracking system.

Who could say it’s wrong for a wife to install a tracking system on her husband? Bai Wei sat on the soft large bed, with a small bag beside him. Everything he needed was in that bag.

“Lu Sen, let’s keep you in Black Harbor City and never let you come back.”

Late at night, Bai Wei also drove away from Snow Mountain Town. He exchanged his rental car at the car rental shop and drove toward Black Harbor City. The tracking system showed that Lu Sen had stayed at one spot for two hours. Bai Wei guessed that Lu Sen had probably stopped to refuel or eat.

At that Black gas station, a person’s head was slammed into the glass counter, shattering it.

Blood flowed down the broken glass. Lu Sen stood up from the weak groans, wiped his hands with a tissue, and looked at the only store clerk who could still move and was terrified. He said in a calm and natural tone:

“Now, can you give me regular gas?”