Chapter 16

Chapter 16

"Ding-dong—"

Again.

Lin Xingshu closed his eyes for a moment before opening the door. No one stood outside. Lowering his gaze, he was met with a lush bouquet of freshly bloomed roses, accompanied by an elegantly wrapped birthday cake.

He bent down to pick up the bouquet, still damp with dew. His long fingers brushed against the petals as he casually picked up the card nestled among them. His eyes settled on the message.

"Ah Shu, happy birthday ^＿^! The gift is in the flowers!"

The handwriting wasn’t exactly ugly, but it was sloppy and uneven—there was no need to guess who had written it.

True to the card’s words, hidden among the rose petals was a velvet box. Opening it, he found a gleaming diamond ring nestled in dark red velvet.

The brilliance and size of the diamond made it clear that the ring was expensive.

Lin Xingshu’s expression remained impassive as his fingers slowly traced over the ring.

At that very moment, a tall man hid in the darkness.

Huddled behind the wall of the stairwell, he watched his beloved, holding his breath, his dark eyes overflowing with emotion that threatened to spill over.

As Lin Xingshu’s fingers grazed the diamond, the man trembled with excitement, a blush spreading across his pale face. He bit his lip hard, desperate not to make a sound.

Unconsciously, he pressed a hand to his chest, where his heartbeat pounded loudly, growing faster and faster.

That was the gift he had carefully picked—would Ah Shu accept it?

"I know you’re there. Stop hiding."

The man flinched, his dark eyes widening in shock. Instinctively, he shrank further into the shadows, peeking out with just his head and eyes to observe Lin Xingshu.

"Xie Guan, I see you."

Hearing his name called so directly, Xie Guan’s eyes flickered with dismay. Carefully, he stepped out from behind the wall, offering a tentative, nervous smile.

"Ah Shu, you noticed me."

Lin Xingshu didn’t answer his question. Instead, he stuffed the velvet box back into the bouquet and, along with the cake, handed them back to Xie Guan.

"Xie Guan, thank you, but I’ve told you many times—I don’t want to get back together."

Lin Xingshu’s words were a flat refusal, without hesitation, his gaze never once lifting to meet Xie Guan’s.

Lately, Xie Guan had been trying to reconcile.

Every morning, a breakfast and fruit would appear on his desk. He knew Xie Guan was the one leaving them, so he refused to eat them—yet the next day, new ones would still appear.

Whenever they had a moment alone, Xie Guan would cautiously strike up a conversation, treading carefully to avoid upsetting him.

Not only that, but every night, someone would ring his doorbell right on time. Opening the door revealed no one, only a still-warm food container left on the ground as proof that someone had just been there.

At first, he hadn’t realized that Xie Guan never left after delivering the food—instead, he would hide in the dark hallway, secretly watching him.

That was, until one day, when Lin Xingshu, against his usual habit, picked up the meal box. Xie Guan, too excited, accidentally made a noise. Though it was faint, Lin Xingshu had caught it.

He should have called Xie Guan out then and there, berating him for being a stalker, a creep—but he hadn’t.

He couldn’t bear to see that heartbroken expression in Xie Guan’s eyes.

It made him soften.

"Ah Shu, I wanted to celebrate your birthday..."

Xie Guan’s voice snapped him out of it. Lin Xingshu didn’t accept his kindness, shutting him down cold instead.

"Thanks, but take it back."

Watching Lin Xingshu’s indifferent expression, a hint of disappointment passed through Xie Guan’s dark eyes. He took a step back, stubbornly refusing to take the items.

"A gift given shouldn’t be returned. If... if you don’t want it, then just throw it away."

"Xie Guan, I don’t understand—why does it have to be me?"

Lin Xingshu finally looked up, clutching the bouquet as he gave Xie Guan a confused look.

"There are so many people who like you. Why are you so hung up on me?"

"Because I love you..."

Faced with Xie Guan’s stubborn gaze, Lin Xingshu went quiet. Pursing his lips, he pushed the items toward Xie Guan again. "Take them back."

Xie Guan didn’t speak, standing his ground. He took two steps back, turning to leave. Without hesitation, Lin Xingshu steeled himself, grabbing Xie Guan’s sleeve and shoving the bouquet and cake into his hands.

"I—I told you, these are for you..."

Xie Guan desperately tried to push them back. In the struggle, the bouquet and cake slipped from their hands, crashing to the ground. Instantly, bright red petals scattered everywhere, mingling with the ruined cake.

The diamond ring tumbled out of the velvet box, buried in the frosting.

Both Xie Guan and Lin Xingshu went still.

Almost instinctively, Lin Xingshu wanted to apologize—but the moment he looked up, he saw Xie Guan dropping to his knees in dismay, picking up the ring first, his expression like a scolded kid.

His heart twinged again. Lin Xingshu opened his mouth, but the apology never came. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself not to look at Xie Guan’s sorrowful eyes and snapped instead.

"I’ve told you a hundred times—there’s no chance of us getting back together. None. Can’t you understand that?!"

"I don’t like you! You annoy me. Just stop harassing me, will you?!"

The air froze.

Xie Guan looked up dazedly, his eyes filled with disbelief. His face had gone ghostly white, his lips shaking badly.

"You... you mean it? You... hate me?"

"Yes! I hate you! Just go!"

Lin Xingshu turned and walked away, slamming the door shut with a loud "bang!" He rushed to his room, burying himself face-first into the blankets.

He had expected Xie Guan to pound on the door, begging—but nothing happened. The surroundings were dead silent, the only sound the light rain tapping outside.

After a moment of hesitation, Lin Xingshu slowly lifted his head from the blankets. Biting his lip, he crept back to the door, checking the peephole.

The hallway was empty. The items on the ground were gone, leaving only streaks of frosting behind.

Xie Guan was gone.

Lin Xingshu bit his lip and sat numbly on the sofa. Outside, the rain began to fall again. His gaze settled on the window, rattled by the rain, as he whispered to himself:

"Gone... Maybe it's for the best..."

Anyone who heard such harsh words from him would leave, let alone when his original intention had been to drive Xie Guan away.

Now, Xie Guan probably wouldn’t come looking for him again.

He wasn’t a cold-hearted person. Since childhood, only Xie Guan had treated him so well... Despite knowing his unpredictable temperament, Xie Guan had still made him fall.

He had fallen for Xie Guan.

But reason told him he couldn’t be with Xie Guan. Xie Guan’s erratic personality made him unsuitable as a partner. He absolutely couldn’t let himself become a lovesick fool.

Lin Xingshu repeated these reassurances to himself over and over, but the pain in his chest felt all too real and sharp. His nose burned, and his eyes grew hot.

In the end, he couldn’t hold back. Covering his face in agony, choked-back sobs escaped him in the quiet room. He could only curl up helplessly on the sofa, feeling the ache in his chest.

The rain grew heavier. Hiccuping between sobs, Lin Xingshu eventually cried himself to sleep on the sofa.

But before he could sink into deep slumber, the doorbell startled him awake.

Sleepiness vanished instantly. Lin Xingshu hurried to the door, and when he saw the scene through the peephole, his breath hitched—his eyes widening in shock.

Unable to control his emotions any longer, he flung the door open and cried out hoarsely, "Xie Guan, have you lost your mind?!"

Outside, Xie Guan was drenched from head to toe, his clothes clinging to his body. His face was ghostly pale, his eyes empty and exhausted. But the moment he saw Lin Xingshu open the door, his gaze brightened. Carefully, he handed over the bouquet and cake he had been cradling carefully in his arms.

The petals were vibrant, the cake perfectly intact—both freshly bought in the pouring rain.

"Ah Shu, happy birthday... I know you hate me. I don’t expect to be your partner. I just... I just wondered if... if..."

Xie Guan lowered his head, his tall frame trembling slightly.

"...you’d let me be your hidden lover."

"What?" Lin Xingshu froze. "Hidden lover?"

"Ah Shu, I don’t expect much love from you. Even without a proper title, I just want to stay by your side... Whether you treat me as a pastime when you’re bored or an outlet for your needs, I’m fine with it..."

Xie Guan’s voice shook uncontrollably as he pulled out a waterlogged piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Lin Xingshu.

"This is my medical diagnosis. Ah Shu, the one who hurt you wasn’t me. I’ve been following the doctor’s treatment, taking my medication. The other Xie Guan won’t appear again. Ah Shu... Can you believe me just this once?"

Lin Xingshu took the paper with trembling hands and scanned it quickly.

Xie Guan wasn’t lying. He truly had dissociative identity disorder. The diagnosis was from a highly reputable public hospital in their city. Even if the signature could be faked, the hospital stamp couldn't.

Xie Guan hadn’t deceived him.

"That other Xie Guan won’t appear again. I’ll obediently be your hidden lover... Mmm—"

Lin Xingshu could no longer suppress his emotions. He threw himself forward, wrapping his arms tightly around Xie Guan, burying his face in his chest.

"Hidden lover?! What nonsense! Wouldn’t it be better to be an official couple?!"

Xie Guan stood frozen, staring at Lin Xingshu in his arms, barely trusting his ears. Had he misheard?

"Ah Shu, what did you say... Am I dreaming? Lovers?"

"Xie Guan, I... I like you. I don’t want you as some hidden lover..."

"But you said you hated me..."

The next moment, Xie Guan felt Lin Xingshu’s grip around his waist tighten even more. A muffled voice came from his chest:

"I lied..."

"Ah Shu..."

Overwhelming joy flooded through Xie Guan. Unable to contain his love any longer, he bent down and pulled Lin Xingshu tightly into his arms. Inhaling his familiar scent, he let out a contented hum, holding him even closer.

He couldn’t keep denying his feelings. He liked Xie Guan—this gentle Xie Guan.

He couldn’t hurt the only person who had ever treated him so well.

"Xie Guan, let’s start over."

Xie Guan’s eyes widened in disbelief, the corners of his eyes and his nose turning red. Tears welled up, falling as fast as the rain outside.

Lin Xingshu stood frozen. Xie Guan... was crying?

"Ah Shu, I... I’m sorry you have to see me like this. But I can’t help it. I’m so happy. I really, really like you..."

Seeing this tall, strong man broken down crying before him, Lin Xingshu didn’t know what to do. Panicked, he comforted him, cupping Xie Guan’s face gently and wiping away his tears.

"Don’t cry. From now on, we’ll be together properly."

Lin Xingshu pulled Xie Guan’s tall frame into his embrace. Xie Guan bent slightly, resting his head obediently on Lin Xingshu’s shoulder as he continued to sob.

Lin Xingshu’s warm fingers rubbed gentle circles over Xie Guan’s trembling back, like comforting a child.

Unbeknownst to Lin Xingshu, Xie Guan had already stopped crying at some point. His dark eyes were fixed intently on Lin Xingshu, overflowing with desperate devotion.

He wiped away the remaining tears and twitched his lips into a victorious smirk.

Just as Shi Zheng had said—whether it was feigning vulnerability, playing the victim, or resorting to dirty tricks, none of it mattered as long as he could regain his beloved’s forgiveness.

Xie Guan’s eyes crinkled with joy, his dark pupils dropping lower to fixate on Lin Xingshu’s slender waist. Breathing in that addictive fragrance, he unconsciously darted out his tongue, wetting his parted lips.

His beloved had finally consented to be his.