Chapter 73 I’ve Always Liked You

Chapter 73: I’ve Always Liked You

The bed at home was indeed massive.

When Lin Yunshu bought this apartment, he hadn't thought of Zhou Yu. When he picked out this bed, Zhou Yu hadn't crossed his mind either.

Back then, Zhou Yu was simply his boss—someone who, when not acting crazy, could be considered a good senior. Compared to other bosses, the only real difference was that he paid better.

But now, this guy had practically moved in, and both the bed and the apartment had somehow become his personal domain.

Lin Yunshu had spent a fortune and countless hours choosing this smart floating bed, all to ensure his own comfort after long days of work, hoping to soothe his prematurely aching back.

A few months ago, he never would have imagined that two people would end up sharing this bed—let alone that the other person would be Zhou Yu.

Yet, as time went by, he had somehow grown accustomed to it.

After returning from the hospital, Zhou Yu insisted on sleeping with him every night.

Nothing else—just sleeping.

A day or two was fine, but as time stretched on, Lin Yunshu couldn’t help but wonder.

After all, Zhou Yu hadn't always been like this.

Just a month or two earlier, Zhou Yu had been as insatiable as an animal—the thought of a night of chaste sleep would have been more torturous than death itself.

But now… Lin Yunshu counted the days. They had already spent a full week just sleeping, and if he included the days Zhou Yu was away on business, it had been almost half a month.

Something wasn't right. Seriously not right.

When things get weird, there's usually a reason.

Lin Yunshu glanced back slightly.

Zhou Yu was holding him tightly from behind, his strong arms wrapped around Lin Yunshu’s waist, his face buried in the crook of Lin Yunshu’s neck, fast asleep.

The rhythm of Zhou Yu’s breathing against his neck sent alternating waves of itchiness and numbness through Lin Yunshu. He shifted slightly, but Zhou Yu didn’t wake—instead, he just tightened his grip drowsily.

Out cold.

Lin Yunshu: “…”

He forced down the urge to roll his eyes.

Where had that handsome, refreshing senior gone?

Lin Yunshu couldn’t help but reminisce, recalling Zhou Yu’s confident and spirited demeanor during their university days.

Back then, Zhou Yu had a certain charm—tall, with a cool expression.

On summer evenings, he’d lead club promotions on the sports field, and his voice had a pleasant tone, nothing like a boss—more like… cool mint.

Lin Yunshu often missed those days.

So what was this warm, 1.9-meter-long lump of burning charcoal behind him now?

Where had the minty senior gone?

Lin Yunshu turned over to face Zhou Yu, not bothering to be gentle since the guy wasn't going to wake up anyway.

Zhou Yu just instinctively wrapped his arms around Lin Yunshu’s back, his warm hand patting Lin Yunshu’s head gently. “Don’t move, baby.”

A small nightlight glowed in the bedroom.

On nights without any "action," they always left a light on—the warm, orange glow made everything feel cozy.

Lin Yunshu stared at Zhou Yu’s face. Maybe it was the lighting, but his eyes seemed deep-set, his brow bone prominent. His looks hadn’t changed—he was still handsome.

Lin Yunshu ran his hand over Zhou Yu’s body—his waist was slim, his chest solid. His physique was in good shape, not only unchanged but even more toned than during their university days.

So what was going on?

Lin Yunshu was confused.

“Zhou Yu,” he called out softly.

Zhou Yu mumbled half-asleep. “Hmm?”

“Do you remember when we first met?” Lin Yunshu asked.

Zhou Yu’s hand slid from Lin Yunshu’s head to his back, patting gently. “Can’t sleep?”

“I asked if you remember,” Lin Yunshu insisted.

After a few back-and-forths, Zhou Yu finally became more awake. He pulled Lin Yunshu closer and kissed the tip of his nose.

“Of course I remember,” Zhou Yu said, his voice slightly hoarse from sleep, speaking slowly. “You were a freshman, on the sports field.”

Lin Yunshu asked again, “What was your impression of me?”

“Impression?”

Zhou Yu sounded surprised, then chuckled softly as if recalling something.

Lin Yunshu was puzzled. “What are you laughing at?”

Was he that funny back then?

“Did you know you looked really cute back then?” Zhou Yu said.

The answer surprised Lin Yunshu. He cleared his throat awkwardly. “Really?”

“Yeah, definitely,” Zhou Yu said, eyes closed, playfully pinching Lin Yunshu’s cheek as if searching for the memory. “Your face was so round that day.”

Lin Yunshu’s ears turned slightly red as he swatted Zhou Yu’s hand away. “You remember wrong. I was never chubby.”

“Not chubby,” Zhou Yu mused. “Just round. I don’t know how to describe it, but it was round—very round, like a little ball of dough. I couldn’t take my eyes off you, and you even asked me why I was looking.”

The more he spoke, the more he smiled. “I couldn’t just say, ‘Hey, junior, you’re so round,’ could I? That would’ve been rude for a first meeting.”

“So you just handed me a bunch of club flyers instead?” Lin Yunshu said, annoyed.

Now he understood why Zhou Yu had silently shoved a stack of flyers into his arms back then—all while thinking these unspeakable things.

Lin Yunshu scoffed. “But you weren’t exactly polite later on either.”

Zhou Yu knew immediately what he meant.

“I couldn’t help it,” he said, his chest shaking with laughter. “You were just too much fun back then.”

Lin Yunshu didn't like what he was hearing: "Fun?"

"Yeah," Zhou Yu couldn't resist pecking his cheek a few more times. "I still don't get it. You were already in college back then, an adult, so how did you still look like a kid? Even carrying a little backpack. I called you 'Little Miss Backpack'."

Lin Yunshu: "..."

Screw your "Little Miss Backpack."

Those six words—Zhou Yu called him that for a full six months, until Lin Yunshu's baby fat completely faded.

Even now, thinking about it, Lin Yunshu still wanted to punch him a couple of times.

So he kicked Zhou Yu twice under the covers, making Zhou Yu keep laughing.

He's losing it again.

Lin Yunshu pushed down his slight irritation, turned his back to Zhou Yu, moved to the edge of the bed, and tried to convince himself to fall asleep quickly.

The next second, the familiar warmth behind him predictably pressed close again.

Zhou Yu reached out and pulled him back, his chest wrapping around Lin Yunshu's back as he gently kissed the nape of his neck.

"I've always liked you," Zhou Yu said softly.

Lin Yunshu's eyelashes trembled uncontrollably.

Zhou Yu sounded like he was about to fall asleep, his voice slurred with sleep, his breath slow and long, drifting softly against Lin Yunshu's ear.

"I liked you when you were round, I liked you when you were thin, I liked you in the past, and I like you now... So what impression should I have of you?" Zhou Yu chuckled:

"I don't know either. It's like I can only objectively remember you standing there."

Lin Yunshu lowered his eyelashes, a faint tremor stirring somewhere in his heart, his back burning from Zhou Yu's body heat.

"I can only remember you standing there too, and strangely, the longer time passes, the clearer it becomes."

"What?" Zhou Yu didn't hear clearly.

"Nothing," Lin Yunshu patted the back of Zhou Yu's hand. "Let's sleep."

Zhou Yu then kissed his earlobe. "Goodnight, baby."

"Goodnight."

He slept dreamlessly.

Early in the morning, as the first faint light of dawn crept across the sky, Zhou Yu's phone on the bedside table blared loudly.

Lin Yunshu jolted awake, frowning deeply.

The next second, his ears were cupped.

"It's okay, it's okay."

Zhou Yu kissed his temple reassuringly, picked up the phone, and answered without looking.

"Yeah?" he said impatiently. "What is it?"

Lin Yunshu closed his eyes and pulled the covers up.

Zhou Yu gently rubbed the back of his head. "Sleep, baby. It's nothing."

Lin Yunshu couldn't hear the voice on the other end of the call, but he could feel Zhou Yu's hand on his head freeze for a moment.

Lin Yunshu opened his eyes and looked curiously at Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu's face was serious as he slowly sat up.

"Who is it?" Lin Yunshu mouthed.

Zhou Yu shook his head and patted his cheek lightly.

"Alright, I understand," he said into the phone. "Book me the earliest flight."

"What's wrong?" Lin Yunshu sat up immediately.

Zhou Yu handed him a jacket, his eyes now wide awake.

He seemed utterly stunned, his dark eyes fixed on Lin Yunshu.

"My dad is dead."

·

Half an hour later, Zhou Yu was fully dressed, his phone kept ringing incessantly as he took call after call.

Lin Yunshu handed Zhou Yu a cup of hot milk, still struggling to process the shock.

In his memory, Zhou Xingde had always been in robust health.

"What exactly happened?" Lin Yunshu asked.

"Brain hemorrhage," Zhou Yu said, downing the milk in one go. "It happened last night around midnight. A massive brainstem hemorrhage. They couldn't save him."

Lin Yunshu fell silent, his brow furrowed, feeling a chill run down his spine and a heavy weight in his chest.

"Scared?" Zhou Yu pressed his thumb to Lin Yunshu's furrowed brow.

"No..." Lin Yunshu lowered his head. "It's just... so sudden."

Zhou Yu pulled him into an embrace, gently massaging the back of his neck. "Don't be afraid. Birth, aging, sickness, death—these are all part of life."

"I know," Lin Yunshu mumbled into his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Even though he knew Zhou Yu and Zhou Xingde had never been close, he was still his biological father. No matter how much they clashed normally, at a time like this, it was impossible not to be affected.

"I'm fine," Zhou Yu said, stroking the soft hair at the back of Lin Yunshu's head. "It's okay."

Despite his words, he made several uncharacteristic mistakes while tying his tie.

Lin Yunshu didn't say anything. He took the tie from Zhou Yu and carefully tied it for him.

"Are you leaving now?" he asked.

A few months ago, Zhou Yu had sent Zhou Xingde abroad. No one had expected then that he would stay there forever.

"I have to go sign the cremation papers," Zhou Yu said. "And bring his ashes back."

Lin Yunshu nodded. "Of course."

"Do you want me to go with you?" he asked again.

Zhou Yu gave Lin Yunshu a few looks, then suddenly raised an eyebrow. "Can't bear to see me go?"

"..." Lin Yunshu couldn't help but pat him on the chest. "Can you stop joking around at a time like this?"

"I'm not joking," Zhou Yu said seriously, holding Lin Yunshu's hand. "I'll miss you."

Lin Yunshu's heart suddenly softened. "Then I'll go with you."

Zhou Yu smiled. "Better not. Your body can't take the strain."

"I'm fine—"

"Yun Shu," Zhou Yu interrupted gently, "I need you to stay and keep tabs on those old foxes in the group for me."

Lin Yunshu's gaze flickered, and his emotions gradually became steady.

He nodded. "I understand. Don't worry."

Before heading out, Zhou Yu took the overcoat Lin Yunshu handed him and planted a soft kiss on his forehead.

"I'll be back soon."

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

Author's note: I rummaged through my drafts, and there aren't many chapters left for this book. But I still want to get on another ranking list, so I'll slightly reduce the word count—just a little bit. I'll pause tomorrow and continue the day after (I won't suddenly stop updating again, I promise!).