Chapter 39: Encounter

Chapter 39: Encounter

When Lu Yan first crossed over, upon hearing Yu Zechuan's fate from the system, he couldn't help but chuckle inwardly: Is this person a fool? To have grown up so much and still be deceived by a man?

Now he understands that Yu Zechuan is truly a fool.

Confined others to the bedroom while he himself slept on the sofa every night.

Yu Zechuan furrowed his brows deeply to evade Lu Yan's kiss, sensing that the man was yet again spouting lies, with not a single truthful word escaping his lips. Instead, he found himself trapped as the other's firm grip held his head in place, forcing an aggressive kiss down upon him like a storm, leaving no room for escape. It wasn't until he could barely catch his breath that Lu Yan finally released him.

Yu Zechuan glared at Lu Yan with fury, though his reddened eyes lacked intimidation. "Lu Yan, do you really want me to kill you?!"

Lu Yan's eyebrows lifted slightly. "I gave you the chance last time, but you didn't take it yourself."

He seized upon that fleeting moment of compassion in Yu Zechuan and acted without restraint. With a sudden movement, he scooped Yu Zechuan up from the ground and strode towards the bedroom.

Alarm surged through Yu Zechuan. "What are you doing?"

He knew this was a redundant question, yet in that moment, he found himself unable to form any other words.

Lu Yan lowered his gaze at him, his handsome face appearing especially gentle under the light. The scorching heat from his body was transmitted in its entirety, his tone deep and low. "Didn't you want to kill me?"

Lu Yan's smile was enigmatic. "How about I let you do it on the bed?"

As the saying goes, fights end in the same bed they started. There was nothing that couldn't be resolved with a good night's sleep. If not, then sleep twice.

Most importantly, Lu Yan didn't know what else to say. He could only resort to this intimate proximity as an attempt to ease his heartache.

Yu Zechuan was roughly thrown onto the bed. Despite being capable of knocking the sickly Lu Yan to the ground with just one punch, he now found himself dizzy and powerless from the fall.

Struggling to escape, Yu Zechuan was instead pulled back by Lu Yan, who grasped his ankles. His back collided unexpectedly into the other man's embrace, surrounded by his dry and refreshing scent.

Lu Yan flipped him over to face him, his gaze intense. "What are you hiding from? It's not like it's the first time."

Yu Zechuan pressed his pale lips together tightly. His eyes were so dark that no light could penetrate them. Every muscle in his body trembled in tension, before he finally whispered in a low voice, "I don't want to do this. Get off!"

Lu Yan seemed intrigued. "Why?"

Yu Zechuan's expression turned grim. "There's no reason!"

Lu Yan chuckled. "Then let's continue."

As he spoke, he had already stripped Yu Zechuan of his clothes. But as he buried his face in kisses, a pair of cold hands suddenly encircled his neck, gradually tightening and suffocating him.

Lu Yan paused in his actions.

"You lied to me about one more thing..."

Yu Zechuan spoke with an emotionless tone, his voice hoarse:

"When you were drunk and we slept together that day, you said it was your first time..."

How could Lu Yan, who was Jiang Boyun's lover, be a virgin? Yu Zechuan didn't mind such details, but he did mind being deceived by Lu Yan about this. His possessiveness gnawed at his heart, making his gaze dark and brooding as if it could drip water.

Lu Yan realized the reason behind it. He pulled away Yu Zechuan's hand. "Believe it or not, I've never had a relationship with Jiang Boyun... If there was, it was under coercion."

After saying this, he brought Yu Zechuan's scarred hand to his lips, planting kiss after kiss on it while continuing to whisper sweet nothings. His tone was gentle, even he couldn't distinguish truth from fiction:

"Yu Zechuan, Jiang Boyun has nothing to do with me. I like you..."

Yu Zechuan's eyelashes quivered upon hearing this, genuine confusion flickering in his eyes. He felt as if Lu Yan had descended from the heavens, for no matter how he scoured his past memories, he could not recall any connection to this person.

Yet, this individual existed sensibly within everyone's memories.

Confused, Yu Zechuan muttered, "Lu Yan?"

Lu Yan continued kissing him, his head lowered. "I'm here."

Yu Zechuan's gaze was unfocused, his breathing unsteady. "Are you really Lu Yan?"

If so, why was he so different from Yu Zechuan's imagination? With Lu Yan's personality, would he really be Jiang Boyun's lover? And someone like Lu Yan, would he truly have gone unnoticed by Yu Zechuan all those years at the company?

Yu Zechuan felt a profound sense of strangeness and irrationality.

Lu Yan, of course, had no way to explain the concept of time travel. His slender fingers threaded through Yu Zechuan's hair, forcing the latter's head up to expose his vulnerable throat. Lowering his head, he kissed Yu Zechuan, his voice muffled. "It's enough for you to remember that I would never harm you."

"And don't believe a single word from Jiang Boyun, understand?"

Lu Yan's words echoed repeatedly in Yu Zechuan's ears, almost like a spell. Unable to resist, Yu Zechuan found himself captivated, sinking deeper. His gaze wandered to the ceiling above, his lips trembling as he whispered silently, "Okay..."

He clung tightly to the man in his arms, veins bulging on his arms as if they were trying to intertwine with each other's souls and flesh. "I only believe in you."

"Lu Yan, I only believe in you."

He wouldn't trust another word or syllable from Jiang Boyun.

Seeing Yu Zechuan let down his guard, Lu Yan felt a weight lifted off his chest that had been pressing down on him for days. He loved how submissive and disoriented the other was in bed, like a hedgehog retracting its spines or a snake hiding its fangs, rendering him harmless.

The medium-sized bedroom was filled with an intimate ambiance that lingered for an indeterminate amount of time before it finally dissipated.

With his eyes closed, Yu Zechuan rested his head on Lu Yan's lap, too exhausted even to move a finger. He hadn't had proper sleep in days, and as his tense nerves relaxed, fatigue washed over him like a tidal wave. Still, he refused to succumb to sleep.

Looking up at Lu Yan, he saw the slight protrusion of his Adam's apple and the sharp contours of his jaw, causing him to squint slightly. "Did you really like me seven years ago?"

It was not the first time Yu Zechuan had asked this question in bed, but not out of doubt; rather, he simply wanted to recapture the memory, for he had no recollection of it.

Lu Yan pulled him closer, answering patiently, "Yes, more real than gold."

Yu Zechuan: "I was in the elevator, and you rushed in and bumped into me?"

Lu Yan: "Yeah, it was my first day at work, and I was almost late. I didn't expect to run into you like that."

To further establish his credibility, he added, "I thought for sure I'd be in trouble, but you were so kind, not even scolding me."

Yu Zechuan thought to himself that it wasn't because of his kindness but rather Lu Yan's luck. He had been rushing to catch a flight to Hong Kong for business that day; there was no time to waste on a trivial matter with a junior employee.

Of course, he couldn't say that out loud.

Yu Zechuan smoothly changed the subject: "What was I wearing that day?"

Lu Yan described it: "A light beige shirt, a diagonal striped tie, and a silver collar pin. You looked so cold and composed in that suit, with your slender waist."

After finishing, he silently criticized himself inwardly. This didn't seem like love at first sight; it was more like lustful admiration.

Yu Zechuan, unperturbed, held down Lu Yan's hand that was stealthily feeling his abs under the covers and pressed on with his question: "And what about you? What were you wearing?"

Lu Yan chuckled. "What could a lowly employee like me wear? Whatever others wore, I wore too."

To Lu Yan's surprise, Yu Zechuan was unexpectedly persistent, insisting on a detailed account of that day, even down to the color of the shoes. At first, Lu Yan didn't understand why, assuming Yu Zechuan still had doubts. It wasn't until much later that he realized it was regret that motivated Yu Zechuan.

Regrettably, it was their first encounter, one that he couldn't recall in the slightest.

Yu Zechuan asked tirelessly, and Lu Yan answered patiently. By the end, even he had lost count of how many times they repeated this cycle. Eventually, his parched throat and drowsiness overtook him, lulling him into a deep sleep.

That night, he slumbered exceptionally soundly. The imagined betrayals and deceptions faded from his dreams, leaving only the memory of their meeting in the elevator.

Filled with remorse, Yu Zechuan thought back seven years when he wasn't yet with Jiang Boyun. If, when exiting the elevator, he had turned to give Lu Yan a careful look, might the outcome have been different?

After all, Lu Yan had suited him in every way, from his innermost being to his outward appearance, down to the finest strand of hair. Had he looked back, perhaps he wouldn't have ended up with Jiang Boyun, wouldn't have been deceived, and wouldn't have landed in prison.

But how many ifs are there in this world...

Yu Zechuan had long since forgotten the specifics of that encounter with Lu Yan. It was now confined to his dreams, where he could only vaguely recall the day he donned the white shirt, the day he tied the diagonal-striped tie, and the day he stepped into the elevator only to have his shoulder brushed by an overly eager junior employee.

He really should have turned back.

Not the years of indifference, not even a fleeting glance, but a direct exit from the elevator as if they didn't exist.

The following morning, Lu Yan was roused from sleep by the ring of his phone. He blearily opened his eyes, fished the device from beneath his pillow, and wondered who could be calling him so early. Upon seeing the caller ID, he instantly snapped awake.

Damn it! Jiang Boyun!

Lu Yan jolted up from the bed as if electrocuted, immediately muting and ending the call. This troublemaker always contacted him for one thing only, and it certainly wasn't anything good. If Yu Zechuan found out, it would be disastrous!

Cross-legged on the edge of the bed, Lu Yan was about to block the caller when a deep, hoarse voice suddenly sounded from behind him, "Who was that on the phone?"

"..."

Lu Yan turned his head slightly late, to find that Yu Zechuan had woken up at some point. The man sat up in bed, with the light gray air conditioner blanket sliding off his shoulders, revealing his sleek body. His pale skin made the scattered love bites even more noticeable.

In just a few seconds, three possible excuses flashed through Lu Yan's mind to deceive Yu Zechuan. However, he ultimately chose to discard his phone and pull the man into his embrace, "It was Jiang Boyun."

The moment those words left his lips, the temperature in the room visibly dropped.

Yu Zechuan's gaze shot towards Lu Yan, his eyes narrowing slightly, "You're still in contact with him?"

Faced with Yu Zechuan's menacing stare, Lu Yan silently buried his face into the crook of his neck, choosing to blame everything on Jiang Boyun, "No, he keeps pestering me."

His voice was low, sounding as if he was trying to portray himself as pitiful.

Yu Zechuan's tone was icy cold. "Why didn't you block him?"

How could he scam the USB drive if he blocked him?

Lu Yan swallowed his words and deliberately sighed. "I still work at the Yinchuan Group. If I offend him and lose my job, I won't even have a livelihood."

It sounded like he had a legitimate concern.

"My parents passed away early, and I relied on my relatives' support to grow up. No one cared, no one loved me, just like an uncultivated weed on the roadside."

His words were becoming more outrageous.

"I'll block him right now. If I lose my job, so be it. Anyway, you'll take care of me, right?"

Yu Zechuan: "..."

Faced with Lu Yan's trusting gaze, Yu Zechuan momentarily found himself at a loss for words. Something felt off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He frowned and said, "Block him first."

Lu Yan handed him his phone to show, "I've already blocked him."

Yu Zechuan glanced at him indifferently before retrieving a wallet from the drawer by the bedside table. He pulled out one, two, three, four, five, and six bank cards, tossing them onto the bed in a colorful array that was almost blinding.

Yu Zechuan kept only one black card for himself, then shared the password with Lu Yan. "You can use any of these cards, each with a limit of ten thousand."

Lu Yan ventured a guess, "Dollars?"

Yu Zechuan lifted his eyelids to look at him, finally cracking a smile – albeit a mocking one – after so many days. "Surely not just one hundred, right?"

Lu Yan: "…"

Alright, it was his lack of experience showing.

Lu Yan never imagined he'd ever be so fortunate as to have such a wealthy sugar daddy. Thus, he found it increasingly perplexing why Jiang Boyun had acted as he did. Wouldn't it be much better to be supported by a handsome and rich boyfriend than to exhaust oneself by fighting for the company? Was this the difference between a couch potato and a workaholic?

Lu Yan couldn't figure it out. Delighted, he stowed away the bank cards and rolled around on the bed with Yu Zechuan once more. With his warm lips close to Yu Zechuan's ear, he showered him with sweet nothings as if they were free.

Infuriated, Yu Zechuan hissed in a low voice, "Lu Yan, you shameless bastard, you're only after my money!"

Lu Yan took it as a compliment. "I'm after your money because I like you. Jiang Boyun is rich too, but why didn't I go after his?"

Yu Zechuan sneered, "You know well enough what you were after!"

After saying that, he threw back the covers and got out of bed. He rummaged through the wardrobe for a change of clothes before heading straight for the outer room.

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"

Without turning back, Yu Zechuan tossed out two words, "Taking a shower."

It was a mystery where Lu Yan, being ill, found such strength on the bed. Yu Zechuan's leg had nearly been dislocated yesterday, and his waist felt like it was about to snap. It wasn't until he got up that he realized how unsteady his steps were.

Closing the door behind him, Yu Zechuan filled the bathtub with hot water, the steam quickly obscuring his vision. He sank into the tub, the warm water enveloping his entire body, providing some relief to his aching muscles.

Exhausted from the previous night, Yu Zechuan had fallen asleep without a clue about what happened later. It wasn't until he was in the shower that he realized Lu Yan had cleaned him up, sparing him further discomfort.

He splashed water onto his face, leaning against the edge of the tub with his eyes closed to regain his strength. Even this simple act caused him to frown and draw in a sharp breath—

At this point, Yu Zechuan truly believed that Lu Yan was a first-timer. The man's stamina on their first night was clearly different from the following days.

How could he put it? A mix of happiness and frustration.

With the bathroom occupied, Lu Yan had no choice but to seize the opportunity between Yu Zechuan's showering sessions to strip off the bedsheet and replace it with a fresh one. However, before he could finish his task, a series of urgent doorbell rings echoed in the adjacent room:

" Ding-dong! "

" Ding-dong! "

Yu Zechuan was in the bathroom, the sound of the running water drowning out the bells. He remained oblivious. Lu Yan thus approached the door and cracked it open, asking, "Who's there?"