Chapter 16

After finishing his shower, Xu Zhou just happened to hear the doorbell ring.

He frowned. Who would come at this hour? Could it be Shao Guangming?

Cautiously, he peered through the peephole. Xu Zhou froze for a moment, then quickly opened the door.

Standing before him was someone half a head taller, with deep, mesmerizing black eyes that shimmered in the dim light, like a ray of dawn breaking through the night.

Xu Zhou’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What… what are you doing here…”

Before he could finish, Shen Yan took two steps forward, lifted him into his arms, and closed the door behind them.

“Why are you here?”

It was sudden, yet thrilling.

“I missed you…”

Shen Yan cupped the back of his head. Without a word, he leaned down and kissed him.

After a long while, the man finally let go, his large hands roaming to undo the belt of Xu Zhou’s bathrobe.

Xu Zhou pushed against his shoulders, sitting up, eyelashes trembling. Emotions churned inside him, overwhelming and uncontainable.

His voice quivered slightly. “I didn’t expect you to come…”

Shen Yan pinched his face gently. “I wanted to see you immediately. I didn’t want to wait even a single day.”

Shen Yan’s words echoed in his mind, sending shivers through his heart, as if a warm hand had brushed against it.

Xu Zhou remembered something and lifted his head, whispering, “When did you start… having a crush on me?”

Shen Yan brushed the stray hair from his forehead. “A very long time ago…”

From the moment he understood what it meant to like someone.

Xu Zhou frowned, dissatisfied with such a vague answer.

Shen Yan chuckled softly, leaning close to whisper in his ear, “I’ll tell you later.”

Xu Zhou recoiled slightly.

“Why later…?”

Shen Yan pulled him back, pressing close, and whispered two words into his ear.

Xu Zhou instantly blushed furiously.

“No… you…”

The hand on his waist heated up. With a slight push, the belt came undone, the bathrobe slipping off his shoulders.

The scent of Xu Zhou’s freshly showered skin filled Shen Yan’s senses. His breath grew ragged, voice low and husky. “…Stay and take another shower with me…”

Xu Zhou had already loosened his tie.

Before Xu Zhou could respond, Shen Yan easily lifted him and carried him into the bathroom.

Steam filled the air. Xu Zhou’s eyes glimmered with emotion, lightly pushing at Shen Yan, who teased him relentlessly.

Shen Yan moved across his lips, hands wandering.

“Mm…”

Xu Zhou couldn’t help but whimper.

Feeling shy, he buried his face against Shen Yan’s chest, refusing to look up no matter how coaxing the other man was.

“Zhouzhou? Wife?…”

Xu Zhou shivered at the cheesy words, brows furrowed, looking at him silently.

“Wife?”

Shen Yan’s hand at his waist tugged him closer, lips twitching in amusement at Xu Zhou’s words.

Water droplets ran across his brow. His pale lips tinged pink. Xu Zhou had rarely seen Shen Yan smile, and for a moment, he was entranced.

Shen Yan leaned down, the high bridge of his nose brushing against Xu Zhou’s. Mischief danced in his dark eyes, voice low and husky.

“Then… call me… Husband.”

Xu Zhou’s gaze faltered, heart racing uncontrollably.

Shen Yan’s long fingers traced lightly downwards…

Entranced, Xu Zhou wrapped his hands around Shen Yan’s waist, gently kissing his throat. Before he could go further, Shen Yan lifted him, strode out of the bathroom, placed him on the bed, and leaned down over him.

“Zhouzhou…”

The low, velvety voice made Xu Zhou’s heart pound.

“…”

…

“Zhouzhou…”

Shen Yan pulled him into his embrace.

Xu Zhou shifted slightly, eyes red, voice hoarse. “Are you trying to make me oversleep tomorrow?”

Shen Yan shook his head.

“So… you want me to nod off in the conference hall?”

Shen Yan shook his head again. “I was wrong…”

Xu Zhou moved the hand wrapped around his waist aside, scooting a bit, closing his eyes to sleep.

Hearing his breathing settle, Shen Yan clung to him again, finally closing his own eyes.

—

Nine o’clock in the morning.

Xu Zhou, completely bare, opened his eyes in Shen Yan’s arms.

The seminar was in the afternoon, so they could linger in bed a little longer.

He shifted into a comfortable position and closed his eyes again.

Shen Yan wasn’t one to sleep in. Before Xu Zhou awoke, he was already up.

Seeing him still asleep, Shen Yan kissed his cheek, got out of bed, and went to buy breakfast for his “wife.”

By the time Shen Yan returned, Xu Zhou had finished washing and was standing by the window, on the phone.

“Where to meet?”

Xu Wensong: “Wang Xiang Pavilion, I…”

“Don’t forget to bring what I asked for,” Xu Zhou said, ending the call.

Turning, he noticed Shen Yan standing nearby and froze. “I thought you left.”

Shen Yan stepped forward, locking him into his embrace.

“You hope I left?”

Xu Zhou shook his head, then added, “Aren’t you very busy these past two days?”

“Even if I’m busy, it’s not as important as spending time with my wife.”

Xu Zhou reached out, hugging his waist.

“Shen Yan…”

“Mm?”

“You heard me on the phone just now.”

“Mm.” Shen Yan knew it was about something that would upset Xu Zhou.

“I’m planning to cut ties with my family completely. Would you…”

“No.” Shen Yan ruffled Xu Zhou’s messy hair. “If Zhouzhou doesn’t like someone, I don’t either.”

Xu Zhou lifted his head, kissed Shen Yan’s chin, a small smile in his eyes.

“Mm.”

He hugged him close and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

After breakfast, Xu Zhou lay on the bed replying to Lu Feng’s messages.

Lu Feng: “Old Xu! Why don’t you skip the seminar and come back? The company can’t do without you! (cry.jpg)”

Lu Feng was running ragged in the office. Qingchuang had signed cooperation deals with two major companies, leaving everyone too busy even to eat.

Xu Zhou: “I’ll fly back immediately once I finish here.”

Lu Feng: “Exhaustion counts as work injury, right…”

…

After finishing the chat, Xu Zhou closed his phone, glancing at the man who had just hung up.

“When are you leaving today?”

“Not leaving. Waiting for you.”

Xu Zhou was taken aback, secretly pleased.

Shen Yan circled around, placing him on the small sofa, then leaned over to straighten the messy bed.

While tidying, he looked at Xu Zhou.

“What do you want for lunch?”

Xu Zhou propped his head on his hand. “The fried rice noodles place near our high school. We used to go all the time. I wonder if it’s still open.”

“Shall we check it out?”

“Mm, yes.” Xu Zhou nodded eagerly.

He got up to get ready to go out.

A phone notification chimed.

Shao Guangming: “We’re organizing a class reunion tonight. Xu Zhou, are you free?”

Shen Yan glanced at the screen, mood darkening instantly. A class reunion? Couldn’t it wait and leave their private time alone?

Xu Zhou noticed the light on the phone as he put on his coat. He picked it up.

“Class reunion?”

Xu Zhou: “Who’s going?”

Shao Guangming: “Tang Xing, Li Wei, Xia Muxun, Chu Xuanyuan who had a crush on you back then, plus Xiao Pang… around thirty people.”

Xu Zhou: “That many? How did you contact them?”

Shao Guangming: “Found my old high school phone and got in touch with everyone. They just created a group. I’ll add you.”

Watching Xu Zhou type without looking up, Shen Yan felt slighted. He moved behind him, wrapping his arms around Xu Zhou’s waist.

Xu Zhou typed while asking, “Do you want to go?”

Shen Yan held him tighter, tone curt and direct. “No.”

“…”