Chapter 53 (Double Update) “Like Me a Little More,…”

Chapter 53 (Combined Two Parts) "Love Me a Little More..."

The solemn music began to play.

On the petal-strewn lawn, the two walked hand in hand toward the wedding altar. Amid the cheers of the crowd, they exchanged vows, kissed, and swapped rings—indistinguishable from any genuinely in-love couple.

The camera flashes captured this beautiful moment.

Guo Shengyao was crying hysterically, her hands trembling as she handed over the rings.

"You two... you must be happy! Sob... you absolutely must be happy..."

Lin Yunshu chuckled softly and nodded reassuringly at her.

Guo Shengyao started crying even harder, wiping her eyes and howling.

"After all these years shipping couples, I’ve finally witnessed a real one!! Wahhh—"

Laughter rose from the audience.

Tan Cong promptly escorted her away and took over the responsibility of presenting the rings.

As fireworks burst in the sky, Zhou Yu cupped Lin Yunshu’s face and kissed him with deep tenderness.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Amid the pink fireworks, someone tossed petals high into the air, scattering them like a dreamy shower.

The photograph of their embrace was captured forever, resembling an illustration from a fairy tale—so beautiful it seemed unreal.

It was, without a doubt, a perfect wedding.

As the curtains fell, both participants and spectators were left in a daze.

During the toast, the two changed into more understated outfits that complemented each other perfectly. Simply standing side by side, they exuded affection.

Zhou Yu had his arm around Lin Yunshu's shoulder as they entertained their guests, chatting animatedly.

"Congratulations, congratulations!"

"We’ve long heard that you two knew each other since your student days. It’s wonderful that you’ve finally made it official!"

"Cheers to a happy union and may you have children soon!"

Lin Yunshu thanked each one in turn, but after just a few sips of wine, Zhou Yu pulled him away from the crowd.

Still pondering the "may you have children soon" remarks, Lin Yunshu was taken by surprise when Zhou Yu took his glass.

Zhou Yu took a sip and nodded approvingly. "This grape juice is quite tasty."

He had arranged beforehand for Lin Yunshu’s alcohol to be replaced with juice to avoid upsetting his stomach.

In the past, Lin Yunshu could hold his liquor well enough for social occasions. During their business trips and meetings, Zhou Yu had never seen him truly drunk.

But at some point, Lin Yunshu’s stomach had become ruined, and Zhou Yu had been completely unaware.

It wasn’t until he once happened to see Lin Yunshu vomiting in the restroom after a meal that he realized the man could no longer tolerate alcohol.

At that time, Zhou Yu hadn’t yet begun arranging their marriage, and in Lin Yunshu’s eyes, they were just boss and employee.

Thinking back, Zhou Yu felt both anger and frustration.

Lin Yunshu always seemed to view him as an overly nitpicky and unreasonable boss.

Zhou Yu had no doubt that if he hadn’t discovered Lin Yunshu’s health issue, the man would have silently continued drinking at every event as if nothing was wrong, until it destroyed him.

The thought still haunted him.

Yet, when Zhou Yu questioned why Lin Yunshu never spoke up, the latter would respond with a mild but sincere expression, trying to downplay the issue.

Zhou Yu was helpless against such an attitude.

Before he knew it, he had finished Lin Yunshu’s grape juice, licking his lips with satisfaction.

Lin Yunshu watched his glass empty in seconds and sighed helplessly, "That was mine."

Zhou Yu glanced at him, then at the glass, as if suddenly understanding.

"No wonder—I thought this glass tasted especially good."

Lin Yunshu: "..."

Zhou Yu tweaked his earlobe and leaned in to look at his face.

"Blushing?" He laughed. "What’s there to be shy about? I’ve kissed your lips countless times. Sharing a cup shouldn’t make you flush."

Lin Yunshu: "............"

It wasn’t a blush but speechlessness.

Lin Yunshu pushed his hand away and quickened his pace.

When it came to Zhou Yu’s public flirting, he preferred to keep his distance.

Zhou Yu laughed heartily, his cheerful voice trailing behind. He caught up swiftly and slipped an arm around Lin Yunshu once more.

"Yun Shu, let me ask you something."

Lin Yunshu rubbed his ear. "What is it?"

"If I had pursued you back in university, would you have said yes?"

His tone sounded casual, but Lin Yunshu flinched instinctively and looked up at Zhou Yu.

They were walking along a corridor behind the castle, where elegant pillars met intricately carved railings, far from the noise from indoors, with a gentle night breeze blowing.

Zhou Yu’s hair was combed back, revealing his striking features.

He gazed at Lin Yunshu with a faint smile, as if it were just a casual joke.

Yet, Lin Yunshu could still detect a hint of anxious hope in his eyes.

Zhou Yu’s smile faded.

"Don't worry about it." He kept his arm around Lin Yunshu's shoulder but turned his head to look at the scenery downstairs.

"It's nothing, I was just kidding," he said in a light tone. "When you entered university, I was about to graduate and go abroad. How could we have been together? I can't do long-distance."

He raised an eyebrow at Lin Yunshu. "You couldn't either, huh?"

He laughed loudly and unreservedly, and Lin Yunshu was affected by his expression, his lips unconsciously curving upward.

A long-distance relationship...

Lin Yunshu was a little bothered.

Zhou Yu noticed him slightly lowering his eyelashes, thinking carefully, then nodding seriously. "Mm."

"I couldn't handle it," he said.

Zhou Yu’s brow twitched slightly.

Actually, he had only asked casually, aiming to lighten the mood after what he'd just said.

Why did he always ask for trouble? He had to seek reassurance from his wife, who wasn't as invested—a classic case of wanting what he lacked.

Yet Lin Yunshu had thought it over carefully, even looking at him earnestly with those beautiful big eyes.

Zhou Yu felt himself softening helplessly again.

He cupped Lin Yunshu’s face and bit his lip firmly.

"How did I get so lucky with you?"

Lin Yunshu was taken by surprise, his ears reddening in confusion. "...Huh?"

"—Boss?"

Li Xun had somehow found them.

Lin Yunshu glanced over and quickly swatted away Zhou Yu’s hands from his face, coughing awkwardly to cover up.

"Oh, boss, so you really are here!" Li Xun raised his voice.

Zhou Yu withdrew his hands, rubbing his fingers together wistfully. "What is it?"

Li Xun approached quickly, nodding to Lin Yunshu before addressing Zhou Yu. "A bunch of people downstairs are waiting to congratulate you. Chairman Zhao, Old Mr. Song—they’re all here."

These were long-term business partners of the company, and a few elders had watched Zhou Yu grow up. He really shouldn't keep them waiting.

Lin Yunshu perked up. "I’ll go with you."

Zhou Yu almost agreed instinctively, but seeing the obvious fatigue in Lin Yunshu’s eyes, he hesitated.

Having woken up at four in the morning and busy until now, it must have been pushing the limits for someone with Lin Yunshu’s naturally weak constitution.

The words stuck in his throat, and Zhou Yu changed his mind. "Never mind, you don’t have to come. I’ll go alone."

Lin Yunshu was taken aback. "Is that okay?"

"Why wouldn’t it be?" Zhou Yu said carelessly. "It’s our wedding. What matters most is that we're comfortable. Going down means more drinking—why should you suffer through that?"

Lin Yunshu didn’t see it as suffering.

Toasting at a wedding was always something two people did together. It made no sense for Zhou Yu to go alone. If Zhou Yu could drink, so could he. Besides, he wasn’t actually drinking alcohol.

He said uneasily, "But..."

"Be good," Zhou Yu pressed a hand to his temple. "Find a place to rest for a bit and recharge. I’ll come find you later."

As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow meaningfully, giving a somewhat mischievous smile.

It took Lin Yunshu a couple of seconds to catch on, and his face flushed instantly.

"You!"

He was speechless.

Zhou Yu always had a way of severing any tender feelings the moment they arose, leaving behind nothing but an infuriating grin.

The faint guilt in Lin Yunshu’s heart vanished entirely, replaced by the urge to punch him flat or stitch his mouth shut semi-permanently.

He turned away, waving a hand impatiently. "Go already."

"Alright."

Zhou Yu laughed but didn’t leave immediately.

He stepped closer, turned Lin Yunshu’s face toward him, and planted a firm kiss.

Making sure the loud "smack!" reached everyone present, he finally left satisfied and carefree.

Lin Yunshu: "…………"

.

Zhou Yu returned to the banquet hall, where the drinking had already been underway for some time.

He took the glass Li Xun handed him and naturally accepted congratulations from the elders.

"It’s wonderful to finally see you settled, A-Yu," Old Mr. Song said emotionally. "If your mother were still here, she would’ve been overjoyed."

Zhou Yu smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Song. I believe my mother sees it from heaven."

Old Mr. Song nodded approvingly.

"Yun Shu seems like a fine young man," he said. "You must treat him well."

"Indeed," Chairman Zhao agreed. "Last year, our company had a collaboration project he was handling. I met him a few times—a very dignified and good-looking young man."

Zhou Yu nodded repeatedly.

He had long become immune to outside praise, usually letting it go in one ear and out the other.

But if someone praised Lin Yunshu, he had plenty to say.

"You all have excellent judgment," he said modestly. "Back then, I went to great lengths to recruit Yun Shu into the company, and even greater efforts to win him over. The process was tough, but thankfully the result was satisfying."

"Really?" the elders empathized. "Then it couldn’t have been easy for you."

"Exactly," Zhou Yu sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You have no idea how popular Yun Shu was. In university, the line of people chasing him stretched from his dorm to the neighboring school!"

The elders were astonished.

"That exaggerated?"

"But that makes sense."

"I can see that, I can see that."

"You can say that again," Zhou Yu agreed. "I was so anxious back then. I was studying abroad, too far for anyone to control, and it worried me so much I had sleepless night after sleepless night."

"Oh dear, what did you do then?" the elders asked with concern.

"Fortunately, Yun Shu didn’t take a liking to any of them," Zhou Yu said with a modest smile. "I never expected I’d hold such importance in his heart. It’s like, though there were countless others, he chose only me."

Li Xun: "?"

The elders: "o.o?"

Zhou Yu acted as if he didn’t notice the three confused faces and sighed helplessly, "Ah, he really is something…"

"Oh, by the way," he suddenly remembered, "have I ever mentioned that our Yun Shu isn’t just good-looking and capable at work, but he’s also been clever since childhood? He was quite the school celebrity during his school days!"

He was hooked.

Deeply immersed in a vortex called "showing off," he was completely captivated, unable to pull himself out. Once he started talking, he couldn’t stop.

"Our Yun Shu won scholarships all through school!"

"Do you know what his college entrance exam score was?"

"You don’t? No problem, let me tell you!"

Zhou Yu: Blah blah... mumble jumble... chatter chatter...

Accompanied by vivid hand gestures and an expression as persuasive as a pyramid scheme promoter's.

Half an hour later, an image of Lin Yunshu—a combination of Ultraman, Hello Kitty, Doraemon, and Guanyin—was born in everyone’s minds.

Zhou Yu downed a large glass of ice water and sighed contentedly, "Impressive, right?"

Li Xun: "=_="

The elders: "@.@…"

The dark circles under everyone’s eyes suddenly deepened, and their eyes began to glaze over.

Zhou Yu, oblivious, asked, "What’s wrong? Tired?"

He added considerately, "How about we find a place to sit, and I’ll continue—"

"No!"

Old Mr. Song’s voice cracked.

Zhou Yu had never seen his narrow eyes open so wide and asked thoughtfully, "Is there a problem?"

"No, no, not at all!" Old Mr. Song waved his hands repeatedly, backing away with quick, small steps. "I know you two are very much in love. Let’s call it a day here. You should go spend time with your wife."

"Exactly!" Chairman Zhao also stepped back. "Don’t waste your time on us old folks. Hurry along now! May you have children soon, have children soon!"

"Hey, hey! Uncle Song, Uncle Zhao—"

The two vanished like the wind.

Zhou Yu withdrew his hand and pouted, "They bolted just like that."

He turned to Li Xun, looking him up and down as if not ready to stop. "Do you want to hear more?"

Li Xun: "!"

He was terrified out of his wits, nearly stumbling to the ground.

"No need!"

Only then did Zhou Yu retract his earlier flamboyant demeanor, his eyes returning to calmness.

He took out his phone and glanced at it, his expression suddenly turning serious.

"What’s wrong?" Li Xun asked seriously.

"Nothing..." Zhou Yu composed himself and patted Li Xun’s shoulder. "You can clock out for today."

Without looking back, he hurried toward the elevator, his steps unusually hurried.

He frantically pressed the elevator button and dialed Lin Yunshu’s number:

"Baby, where are you?"

.

—[I think my heat cycle has started.]

After sending this message, Lin Yunshu curled into a ball.

The conservatory was unlit, but the abundant moonlight illuminated it brightly.

This was the sunroom at the top of the villa, lush with plants and flowers and filled with an overpowering fragrance, like a dreamy, mysterious world inside a glass snow globe.

The conservatory was not open to guests.

Lin Yunshu was indeed feeling tired. He had originally planned to rest in the bedroom but found himself inexplicably drawn here.

The conservatory was warm, and to allow the plants maximum exposure to sunlight, the walls were entirely transparent.

Moonlight poured in, refracting into scattered halos of light, like powdered sugar spilled from the sky.

Lin Yunshu closed the door, cutting off all noise from outside, as if isolating himself from the world.

He was here for the first time.

From the outside, the sunroom occupied only a tiny fraction of the massive building complex, so small it was easy to overlook.

Lin Yunshu walked to the innermost part and slowly pressed his palm against the spotless glass wall, only to realize he could see the entire estate spread out before him from here.

The vast lawn and dense maple forest no longer seemed endless from this perspective. Further away, the constant flow of the city’s lights was visible.

He couldn’t help but become captivated.

The conservatory was truly fragrant, the scent so rich it made him feel drowsy. Lin Yunshu even found it a little hard to breathe.

He took a few deep breaths, rubbed his still-flushed cheeks, and decided to head back.

But as soon as he took a step, he realized something was wrong.

His steps felt unsteady, as if he couldn’t find solid ground, feeling weightless. Lin Yunshu barely managed to keep himself from collapsing onto the ground by bracing himself against a nearby planter.

His breathing grew rapid, and the sweet scent in the air became even more intense.

It was only then he realized that the intoxicating scent filling the room wasn’t just from the flowers and plants.

A stinging pain throbbed at the back of his neck. He reached up to touch it and felt his soft gland, now swollen and tender. Even the slightest contact sent tremors through him.

During his heat, an omega’s gland becomes exceptionally delicate and sensitive. Due to inflammation and swelling, the skin stretches taut, becoming as transparent as crystal.

It’s also easily damaged.

Lin Yunshu wore a suppressant patch on his gland—a small, normally inconspicuous patch that now felt overwhelmingly intense.

He could clearly feel it being pushed outward by his swollen gland, chafing against his skin and causing distinct pain.

He tried to scratch it but ended up scratching the gland directly since he couldn’t see the back of his neck.

It wasn’t just pain—it was a maddening itch. Lin Yunshu’s eyes instantly reddened, and he let out a muffled, quiet whimper.

He bit his lower lip hard, trying to keep his shaky breathing from sounding too obvious in the silent greenhouse. Leaning on the planter, he slowly straightened up.

Squatting for too long had hindered his blood circulation, and his legs went numb as he stood, losing all sensation. Lin Yunshu closed his eyes for a moment, then stumbled forward with difficulty before sinking onto a bench in the greenhouse.

He took out his phone, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally opened the message thread with Zhou Yu.

"Baby, where are you?"

.

The call connected quickly, but there was no sound from the other end.

Since his heat had arrived, Lin Yunshu would've avoided crowded areas. And with the wedding banquet that night, guests were confined to the lower two floors.

Zhou Yu took the elevator directly to the top floor of the villa. As soon as he stepped out, he detected a faint, sweet scent.

It might have taken others a while to notice, but Zhou Yu had a natural physiological reaction to Lin Yunshu’s pheromones.

The omega was in heat, and the sweet fragrance was more intense than usual, carrying a warmth as if it had been simmering in boiling water, radiating heat as it enveloped him.

Zhou Yu instantly zeroed in on the direction, his gaze fixed on the distant glass room.

It was completely hidden by foliage, with no trace of anyone visible inside.

Without hesitation, Zhou Yu sprinted toward it. At the same time, he heard muffled, choked breaths coming through the phone.

The closer he got to the glass room, the more pronounced the pheromone effect became.

Zhou Yu could clearly feel his pulse quickening, his breathing growing heavier, and a rush of blood surging to his head.

He pushed open the greenhouse door, stepped inside, and clicked the lock shut behind him.

*Click.*

At the sound of the latch, Lin Yunshu opened his eyes.

Zhou Yu’s figure, having rushed over, came into view. Lin Yunshu’s racing heart finally calmed, and in that moment, he felt a profound sense of relief.

Instinctively, he held out both arms toward Zhou Yu.

A moment later, his cold, sweaty hand was grasped by another.

Zhou Yu cradled his face: "Baby?"

"I..." Lin Yunshu’s voice trembled uncontrollably as soon as he spoke, forcing him to grit his teeth and utter the sentence in broken fragments: "I’m... a little... ugh... uncomfortable..."

"Where are you uncomfortable?" Zhou Yu scooped him up into his arms.

Lin Yunshu remained silent, only lowered his head, nuzzling his face into Zhou Yu’s neck, exposing the back of his neck.

Fortunately, the moonlight was bright, and Zhou Yu easily made out Lin Yunshu’s slender nape.

His snow-white skin was sheened with fine sweat, his soft gland swollen and flushed crimson.

And above the gland, there was still a layer of suppressant patch that had long been strained.

The skin around the gland was almost see-through, with tiny scratches—likely from Lin Yunshu’s failed attempt to tear off the patch himself, which had instead scratched the skin.

It must feel awful, being stuck like that.

Zhou Yu’s heart ached. Holding Lin Yunshu, he murmured softly, "I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I got here too late. Let me help you take it off, okay? Gently, it won’t hurt."

Lin Yunshu gave a tiny, barely-there nod, his voice strained: "This stupid thing... it’s useless!"

"Okay, okay, then we won’t use it anymore."

Zhou Yu patted his back gently, carefully lifting a corner of the suppressant patch. Even such a slight movement made Lin Yunshu shiver violently.

Zhou Yu tightened his grip on his waist and, steadily, tore off the entire patch.

"Ah..."

Lin Yunshu let out a sharp, involuntary gasp, then clenched his lower lip tightly to endure.

The tender pink gland was instantly exposed—swollen, glistening, and intense pheromones filled the whole room.

Zhou Yu’s restraint was also nearing its limit.

The veins at his temples bulged. He lifted Lin Yunshu, pulling him onto his lap.

Lin Yunshu’s face was entirely wet. Zhou Yu raised his chin and kissed him roughly.

The wedding attire was too formal, and now it had become a hindrance.

Zhou Yu impatiently unfastened the buttons of Lin Yunshu’s jacket and vest, tossing both aside, only to find the shirt stuck.

Lin Yunshu was also deeply uncomfortable, leaning on his shoulder and breathing raggedly.

Zhou Yu felt as if Lin Yunshu’s tears were about to soak through his clothes, growing even more frantic.

He lifted Lin Yunshu’s thighs, planting a soothing kiss behind his ear: "Hang on a little, baby."

The trousers were tight. Zhou Yu pushed aside the thin fabric, sliding his hand in from Lin Yunshu’s lower back.

The skin was damp and slick, tensed from nervousness. Zhou Yu quickly found and dealt with the troublesome shirt garter.

But his hand did not withdraw.

...

I ended up deleting both intense scenes!

Mods, just so you know - I cut all the explicit parts, everything!

The moon rose high, reaching its highest point before they knew it.

Zhou Yu held Lin Yunshu tightly, their chests pressed together, quietly listening to the other's heartbeat.

Lin Yunshu's breathing gradually steadied, and his body was no longer burning up so alarmingly.

Zhou Yu didn't want this moment to end. He bent down, pressing his forehead against Lin Yunshu's neck and shoulder, nuzzling against him affectionately.

Lin Yunshu tilted his neck slightly, allowing the other to breathe in his scent in this brief moment.

Suddenly, Zhou Yu began kissing his neck.

Very gently, like a cautious animal gently exploring and seeking comfort.

Zhou Yu kissed from the side of his neck to his chin, then slowly and lightly brushed the tip of his nose, before finally pressing a loving kiss between his eyebrows.

This gesture was different from the earlier fervor that felt as if blood might burst through their veins—it was tinged with deep attachment, caution, and even a certain weight.

Zhou Yu's emotions were fluctuating, and his pheromones betrayed that clearly.

Lin Yunshu could even sense his mood through these fluctuations and empathize with it.

He seemed a bit down.

Lin Yunshu felt his own heart ache in response. He reached up to gently touch Zhou Yu's head. "What's wrong?"

Zhou Yu didn't speak, just looked up at him, wordless.

He had drunk quite a bit, and under the influence of alcohol, his emotions couldn't be well concealed—they were plain in his eyes.

Lin Yunshu saw that his dark eyes were bloodshot, so sad he might cry.

Lin Yunshu felt a jolt of alarm. "Are you crying?"

But there were clearly no tears at the corners of his eyes.

Zhou Yu shook his head.

"I'm just drunk," he said.

Lin Yunshu was soft-hearted by nature.

Even though Zhou Yu hadn't said much, Lin Yunshu felt a twinge of sadness himself. He raised his hand and gently smoothed Zhou Yu's brow.

Zhou Yu grasped his wrist and drew him back into an embrace.

They clung to each other, reluctant to let go, for a long time.

Lin Yunshu couldn't find it in himself to push Zhou Yu away no matter what.

After a long while, he heard a soft sigh.

He heard Zhou Yu whisper to him:

"Can you try to like me a little more?"

-----------------------

Author's note: Hah, struggled for a long time but got scared and deleted them [clown emoji]. Hope it's still okay—this should pass... right?