Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Lin Juan quickly lay down, pulling the covers over himself. "I didn't say anything. You weren't awake—you didn't hear a thing."

By the dim light, Lu Yanzhou watched the quilt form a lumpy mound, finding it oddly amusing.

The tension from his unexpected confession eased considerably.

"Juanjuan?" he called softly.

"What Juanjuan? There's no Juanjuan here—only Lin Juan, asleep."

Seeing that Lin Juan truly had no intention of emerging, Lu Yanzhou worried he might suffocate and edged closer. "I won't say anything else. Don't bury yourself like that."

Silence followed his words.

Lin Juan waited a moment—but when Lu Yanzhou remained quiet, he cautiously parted the quilt just enough to peek out.

A nightlight bathed the room in a warm, hazy glow, softening everything into a gentle blur. Lin Juan tilted his head upward.

He met a pair of eyes brimming with deep, tender affection.

Dark pupils held his gaze, unwavering. Lin Juan blinked, staring back—momentarily forgetting how to react.

Neither spoke. A charged stillness hung between them.

Lin Juan felt an indescribable strangeness well up inside him.

Did Lu Yanzhou really love him?

When had it begun?

Had he truly just confessed—like that?

What was he supposed to do?

Questions tumbled through his mind, one after another.

He knew he should say something—opened his mouth—but the words lodged in his throat, uncertain how to voice them.

Should he ask?

But it would be so awkward.

He shouldn’t have said anything at all.

If he’d just pretended to be asleep from the start, maybe none of this would’ve happened.

Lost in his turbulent thoughts, Lin Juan failed to notice the intensifying heat in Lu Yanzhou’s gaze.

Since the words were already spoken—and Lin Juan’s first reaction hadn't been rejection (though the question had momentarily stunned him, leaving him unsure how to respond)—luckily, the young man was too absorbed in his own emotions to notice, giving Lu Yanzhou time to gather his thoughts.

"Earlier, Juanjuan asked if I’d done it on purpose. My answer is no."

Lu Yanzhou certainly hadn’t acted deliberately. No matter how tempted he’d been, he wouldn’t exploit the situation.

Yet, in a sense, Lin Juan’s suggestion that it *had* been intentional wasn’t entirely off the mark.

Fully awake, he’d never cross any boundary with Lin Juan—but at that moment, he’d believed he was dreaming.

"Not intentional doesn’t mean I’m blameless. Juanjuan, I must admit: without your permission, I won’t touch you in reality. But dreams… are harder to control."

Lin Juan clutched the quilt tighter. "What else did you do in your dreams?"

Lu Yanzhou fell silent.

Would voicing those dreamt actions frighten Lin Juan?

He truly didn’t want to scare him away on the very day of his confession.

He shifted the subject to divert Lin Juan’s attention: "This wasn’t a proper confession. Juanjuan only needs to know my love for you is the kind that leads to marriage. I’ll plan a proper one. There’s no need to rush your answer."

Lin Juan’s attention indeed shifted. His awkwardness softened, replaced by curiosity: "When did you start liking me?"

Lu Yanzhou actually loved him.

It felt surreal.

Not that he felt unworthy—just that, after spending so much time together, he’d noticed no shift in their dynamic. Had Lu Yanzhou hidden his feelings *that* well?

"Probably the moment I woke from unconsciousness and saw you for the first time." Love at first sight.

Lu Yanzhou used to scoff at the phrase—yet when it happened to him, he realized no other words captured his feelings for Lin Juan more precisely.

"I really couldn’t tell!" Lin Juan sat up, startled. "You liked me the *first* time you saw me? We didn’t even know each other back then!"

In his astonishment, he completely forgot he was the one being confessed to—nearly leaning in toward Lu Yanzhou to scrutinize him.

"I always thought ‘love at first sight’ only existed in novels and films. So it *does* happen in real life?" Lin Juan’s curiosity flared, bright as an inquisitive cat’s. "Then tell me—what’s it like?"

Lin Juan was too close.

The slow-burn approach had worked.

Like now—the young man didn’t feel their proximity was uncomfortable.

Too close.

Close enough for Lu Yanzhou to catch his faint scent, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from him.

Curiosity widened Lin Juan’s eyes. Lu Yanzhou reached out, gently lifted his chin, and studied his face.

Lin Juan tilted his chin up slightly. "What are you doing?"

His eyes widened further—like a startled cat—instinctively recoiling.

Lu Yanzhou released his chin.

He was telling the truth.

When you love someone—body and soul—you crave closeness. Since recognizing his feelings for Lin Juan, Lu Yanzhou found it increasingly difficult to suppress inappropriate thoughts.

Especially since the young man was so unguarded around him—sleeping so relaxed, so boldly, beside him on quiet nights.

Sometimes, Lu Yanzhou marveled at his own restraint—for holding back this long.

"If you don’t want to talk about it, fine. I won’t ask again—okay?" Lin Juan murmured, ducking back under the covers.

"I'm going to sleep, don't bother me."

After pulling up the covers, Lin Juan closed his eyes.

Lu Yanzhou watched him for a while, then couldn't help but lean closer: "Juanjuan, are you angry?"

Just moments ago, he had complained about Lin Juan being too close, but now he was the one moving closer.

A faint breath brushed against his cheek, impossible to ignore. Lin Juan kept his eyes closed: "I'm not angry, I'm going to sleep."

A long time passed, and Lin Juan was almost asleep when he heard Lu Yanzhou's deep voice: "It's probably that, the moment I saw you, I liked you immensely."

What?

His groggy mind processed it slowly. Lin Juan realized belatedly that Lu Yanzhou was answering his earlier question.

He drifted into sweet dreams.

Making sure Lin Juan was asleep, Lu Yanzhou held back and gently kissed the young man’s hair.

Two hours later, sunlight streamed in. Lin Juan stirred and woke up.

The bed was empty except for him.

Lin Juan got up as he always did, washed up, and changed clothes.

The clothes had been picked out by Lu Yanzhou on his way. Lin Juan didn’t care much about what he wore, so he usually just wore whatever Lu Yanzhou brought him, saving himself the trouble of searching through the wardrobe.

Once he was done, he was fully awake.

Did something happen last night?

Memories of the previous night surfaced in his mind. Lin Juan’s hand, fiddling with his phone, paused.

Lu Yanzhou… seemed to have… confessed to him in the middle of the night…?

Who confesses in the middle of the night?!

Was it a dream?

The impact of the confession and the concept of love at first sight was so overwhelming that Lin Juan subconsciously overlooked the context of the confession itself.

Lin Juan thought that after Lu Yanzhou’s confession, how they interacted would change. When Lu Yanzhou returned that day, Lin Juan still felt a bit awkward, but Lu Yanzhou’s behavior was the same as always. Their interactions remained unchanged, and Lin Juan gradually relaxed without realizing it.

Lin Juan wasn’t the type to hide his feelings. Those familiar with him could easily sense his mood changes.

During dinner, Old Mr. Lu noticed Lin Juan's discomfort as soon as he entered the room, but it passed quickly.

Thinking the two might have had a disagreement, Old Mr. Lu found an opportunity to ask Lu Yanzhou privately.

"Did something happen between you and Xiao Juan?"

Lu Yanzhou: "Dad, why do you ask?"

Old Mr. Lu: "It’s just that during dinner today, Xiao Juan seemed noticeably more uneasy than before."

He smiled faintly: "It’s nothing. He might just be feeling a bit awkward after hearing my confession."

"You confessed?" Old Mr. Lu was surprised. "When did that happen? Did Xiao Juan accept?"

His son had been so quiet about it; he had thought Lu Yanzhou would keep it to himself.

"I didn’t ask for an immediate reply. The confession was a bit rushed, so I’m planning a formal one later." Lu Yanzhou wanted to leave Lin Juan with a good memory of the confession, not one where years later, Lin Juan would recall it as something that happened hastily in the middle of the night.

"A bit of ceremony is nice," Old Mr. Lu agreed.

Lu Yanzhou acted quickly. The next morning, he took Lin Juan to a private restaurant.

When Lin Juan entered, he found the restaurant empty but beautifully decorated with flowers everywhere.

Soft music filled the air. The man standing beside him, dressed in a suit, magically produced a bouquet of flowers and knelt on one knee: "Juanjuan, there’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time. I like you. Will you be mine?"

Petals fell like rain. Lin Juan stood in the shower of petals, looking down at the man gazing up at him, waiting for an answer.

The man gazed deeply at him, his dark eyes reflecting Lin Juan’s figure. It felt as if the world had narrowed down to just the two of them.

Lu Yanzhou was nervous. He didn’t know what reply awaited him. By nature, he shouldn’t have been so impatient; he should have taken it slow, ensuring everything was perfect before confessing.

But emotions are the most uncontrollable thing in the world.

No matter how rational one is, it’s no match for the love that surges from the heart.

Lu Yanzhou couldn’t wait.

Sometimes, a sudden move yields unexpected results.

Lin Juan remained silent.

Lu Yanzhou didn’t rush him, just watched.

From his kneeling position, he looked up at him.

After a long moment, Lin Juan took the flowers: "Lu Yanzhou, what would you do if I said no?"

"I’d reflect on it and prepare for the next confession," Lu Yanzhou said stubbornly.

Letting go was not an option. If it didn’t work once, he’d try twice, three times… Call him stubborn if you will, but giving up on Lin Juan was impossible.

"How can you be like this? Shouldn’t you know when to quit?"

"Those who give up easily never loved deeply enough in the first place."

Lin Juan tugged his arm: "Alright, get up now."

"Then will you agree to be with me?" Lu Yanzhou didn’t move.

"Aren’t we already together?" Lin Juan leaned forward slightly. "We’re already married, Lu Yanzhou. I’ve never liked anyone before, so I’m not sure if I like you as much as you like me. But I’m certain I don’t mind living with you."

At first, Lin Juan had wanted to wait for Lu Yanzhou to wake up and discuss divorce. But after bringing it up a few times without getting a response, he gradually let the idea go. After all, life with Lu Yanzhou at Lu Manor hadn’t given him any reason to feel uncomfortable.

As time passed, Lin Juan thought it wouldn’t be so bad to continue like this.

Just as he grew accustomed to the status quo, Lu Yanzhou confessed.

This confession made it clear to Lin Juan that Lu Yanzhou wanted to solidify their marriage.

"Did Juanjuan agree?" Overwhelming joy burst in Lu Yanzhou’s heart, making him feel light-headed.

In his emotional high, Lu Yanzhou didn’t notice a dark mark flash briefly across his skin, hidden beneath his clothes.

Something briefly surfaced on his skin and was gone in a flash.

"Hmm..." Lin Juan murmured, "I don't tolerate betrayal or lies. If I ever discover either, I will end this relationship."

"Get up first." Lin Juan pulled firmly on his hand.

Lu Yanzhou let himself be pulled up and, without a word, swept him into his arms, spinning around. "Juanjuan, I’m so happy!"

Unable to resist, Lu Yanzhou pecked the corner of Lin Juan’s lips.

Lin Juan shoved him away playfully. "Didn’t you say you were taking me out for good food? Where is it?"

"This way."

Lu Yanzhou kept hold of Lin Juan’s hand, not wanting to let go.

The private dining room was beautifully decorated, surrounded by vibrant roses. Lin Juan sat opposite Lu Yanzhou, surrounded by their fragrance.

Lin Juan picked up a rose from the vase on the table and sniffed it. "So fragrant."

"The chef here is skilled at making dishes with flowers. Later, Juanjuan can try the rose cakes and rose syrup."

Lu Yanzhou was right—the restaurant’s dishes were unique and delicious. Lin Juan ate until he couldn't stop.

Throughout the meal, Lu Yanzhou doted on Lin Juan, serving him various dishes and explaining the ingredients of each.

Lin Juan ate enthusiastically.

Whenever he encountered something particularly tasty, he would offer a bite to Lu Yanzhou. "Try this, it’s especially delicious."

Lu Yanzhou chewed a few times and swallowed. "Very sweet."

"This is salty, though," Lin Juan said helplessly. "Lu Yanzhou, you need to snap out of it soon. The way you are now makes me feel like I shouldn’t have agreed to this."

"No way," Lu Yanzhou’s smile faded at once. "Juanjuan, you can’t go back on your word. Once you’ve agreed, no backing out."

"Then behave normally."

After the formal confession, something seemed to change between them, yet nothing seemed to change at all.

The most noticeable difference for Lin Juan was that Lu Yanzhou had become even more affectionate.

If he had shown restraint before, now he seemed to want to be glued to Lin Juan at all times.

When they left the capital for Rongcheng, they traveled on the Lu family’s private jet.

The flight attendants were dismissed, leaving only Lin Juan and Lu Yanzhou in the cabin.

Despite having plenty of space, Lu Yanzhou insisted on squeezing next to Lin Juan, eventually settling Lin Juan in his lap while he worked.

Lin Juan resisted a few times, but Lu Yanzhou wouldn’t listen, so Lin Juan eventually relented.

Fortunately, the air conditioning on the plane was strong, so Lin Juan didn’t feel too hot curled up in Lu Yanzhou’s arms.

After landing, Qi Ruilin, who had been notified in advance, came over to meet them. "You’re finally here. Come on, let me take you to eat something delicious."

Having been on the plane for hours, Lin Juan was a bit hungry. His eyes lit up. "Are there any specialties in Rongcheng that aren’t available in the capital?"

"Plenty," Qi Ruilin replied, knowing he was his friend’s beloved and showing him great respect. "Do you prefer sweet or savory flavors?"

"I’m fine with either, as long as it’s tasty." Lin Juan wasn’t particularly picky about food—he could eat anything, especially if it was well-prepared.

They were even more intimate, making it hard for others to intrude.

What surprised him most was that Lu Yanzhou, known during their school days as an ice-cold heartthrob, had turned out to be such a clingy person after falling in love.

If his former classmates who had pursued him unsuccessfully saw this, they would be totally stunned.

What’s more, the feeling was mutual. Lu Yanzhou was clingy, taking care of Lin Juan’s every need personally, and Lin Juan allowed it. From the moment they met, Qi Ruilin hadn’t seen them let go of each other’s hands.

Even before eating, Qi Ruilin felt completely full.

Stuffed, in fact.

During the meal, aware of the outsider, Lu Yanzhou showed more restraint than he did at home.

Even so, his behavior had Qi Ruilin in shock.

Was this really the Lu Yanzhou he knew?

When had he become so...

Qi Ruilin didn’t know how to describe it.

The restaurant Qi Ruilin had chosen was famous for its fish. Half of the large table was filled with various fish preparations.

Some were river fish, others sea fish. Since sea fish have fewer bones, Lin Juan ate more of those.

Noticing Lin Juan didn’t like picking out bones, Lu Yanzhou moved the fish to his own bowl, carefully removed the bones, and placed the fish meat into Lin Juan’s bowl.

For most of the meal, he was focused on helping Lin Juan eat.

Lin Juan was accustomed to sharing tasty bites with Lu Yanzhou.

He picked up a piece of fish. As Lu Yanzhou was busy peeling shrimp, his hands full, Lin Juan thought for a moment and held the chopsticks to his mouth. "Lu Yanzhou, try this."

Lu Yanzhou opened his mouth and ate the fish.

"Tastes good."

"I think so too. It’s different from the fish we eat at home—it has a unique flavor."

Watching Lu Yanzhou eat from Lin Juan’s chopsticks without hesitation, Qi Ruilin was dumbfounded.

What happened to his well-known fastidiousness?

He used to throw away clothes if someone so much as touched them, and now he was eating food from someone else’s chopsticks?

Had he really changed that much?

Noticing Qi Ruilin’s gaze, Lu Yanzhou gave him a sharp look. Qi Ruilin looked away quickly, his astonishment known only to himself.

After eating their fill, Lu Yanzhou and Qi Ruilin discussed business matters. Lin Juan, drawn to the massive aquarium in the hall, went to look at the fish.

Halfway through their discussion, Qi Ruilin couldn’t hold back. "You’re a changed man, President Lu."

Lu Yanzhou: "Hmm?"

"Has your cleanliness obsession been cured?" As he spoke, he made a tentative move to touch him.

Lu Yanzhou flinched away instinctively: "Do you not want your hand anymore?"

Clearly not.

Qi Ruilin was burning with curiosity: "I saw you eating food from Mr. Lin’s chopsticks without your germophobia kicking in. Is the power of love really that great?"

"Lin Juan is different from others." Lu Yanzhou hadn’t told anyone else, but he himself found it strange. He didn’t know when his cleanliness obsession had started—it had been really bad at first and only improved after some treatment.

But it was just enough to get by, not to affect his daily life.

He could barely stand being touched by anyone, including Old Mr. Lu.

Lin Juan was the exception.

Normally, waking up from a coma to find someone in his bed, his first reaction should have been to chuck the whole bed, sheets and all.

But at that time, he didn’t feel even a hint of disgust.

It was as if the young man was accepted by his very being, as if he were a part of himself.

After that, he tested the theory and concluded that his cleanliness obsession wasn’t actually cured—it just selectively didn’t act up around Lin Juan.

Lin Juan ate and lived with him, and he felt no discomfort at all.

"Talk about a miracle cure," Qi Ruilin marvelled. "It seems you two are even closer than you were before this time. Have you taken things to the next level?"

"We’re married now. Isn’t it normal to be more intimate?" Lu Yanzhou rapped his knuckles on the table. "I wasn’t aware that CEO Qi had become so curious."

"Okay, okay, I’ll stop," Qi Ruilin threw up his hands. "Let’s talk business."

"The new energy source we discovered is a special kind of crystal. Our team has tested it and found that this crystal can release immense energy through specific reactions, though extracting it is a bit tricky."

"What about its safety and stability?" Lu Yanzhou asked the most critical question.

"It’s not as stable as other energy sources, but the risk isn’t particularly high." Qi Ruilin went over some of their findings.

They went back and forth discussing it, the atmosphere turning serious.

When discussing official matters, Lu Yanzhou reverted to that cold, all-business work machine, making Qi Ruilin somewhat miss the times when Lin Juan was around.

If Lin Juan were here, would Lu Yanzhou be easier to deal with?

As it turned out, Lu Yanzhou was only more accommodating when it came to matters related to Lin Juan.

Lu Yanzhou’s visit this time was only for a preliminary assessment. Whether to cooperate or develop the new energy source would require further comprehensive evaluation.

After their discussion, Lu Yanzhou and Qi Ruilin stepped outside.

Lin Juan tugged Lu Yanzhou along to look at the fish: "I asked the staff here. They said all the fish in the tank are on the menu. There are so many different kinds—many I’ve never seen before."

Lu Yanzhou followed him to the first floor.

The fish tank was enormous, wrapping around most of the lobby. Different sections housed different fish, with labels outside the transparent tank indicating the species and how to prepare them.

The tank was decorated with aquatic plants, flowers, and rocks, with colorful fish swimming freely inside, looking more like display fish.

"We ate these three types today. Next time, we can try these." Lin Juan was excited.

"If Lin Juan likes it, we can work our way through the whole menu here." Lu Yanzhou was happy to indulge Lin Juan’s preferences.

"I also want to try other delicacies." Lin Juan rubbed his stomach wistfully—his appetite just wasn’t big enough.

"If we can’t try them all this time, we’ll come back next time." Lu Yanzhou thought that when they returned to the capital, he’d take Lin Juan out to sample all the food and drink.

"Sounds good!"

"In the future, when I go on business trips, would you like to come along, Lin Juan?" Lu Yanzhou said in a coaxing tone. "Every place has its local specialties. Bringing them back for you is never as good as having them fresh. If you come with me on business trips, you can taste all kinds of delicious food."

The Lu Group was involved in various industries, and as someone in his position, business trips were unavoidable. In the past, traveling alone was no big thing—he wasn’t a child who needed company.

But now it was different. With Lin Juan, he wanted to take him everywhere. If only Lin Juan could shrink down small enough to carry around at all times.

He had a trip abroad scheduled for the second half of the year. Just the thought of being separated from Lin Juan for over half a month made him reluctant to leave already. So he decided to try to persuade Lin Juan to accompany him.

It had to be said, he knew Lin Juan well and understood how to hit all his buttons perfectly.

Lin Juan seriously considered the feasibility of going on business trips with Lu Yanzhou.

It seemed possible.

His work schedule was completely flexible—he could work when he wanted and relax when he didn’t. After all, Lu Yanzhou was loaded, so there was no worry about being unable to support him.

The key point was being able to taste delicacies from all over!

Lin Juan’s greatest wish had always been to eat his way around the world. It was a dream he hadn’t been able to fulfill before, but now it seemed possible.

"If I have time then, I’ll go with you." Lin Juan didn’t give a definite answer. "But won’t it be inappropriate for you to bring me along while you’re working?"

"The CEO going on a business trip with one more assistant—what’s wrong with that?" Sensing Lin Juan’s interest, Lu Yanzhou pulled the younger man close and kissed his hair.

Oh, right.

Lin Juan remembered he still had the identity of an assistant. Thinking about getting paid without really earning it, he felt a bit guilty. "Then I’ll go with you."

Since he was getting paid, he ought to do some work. Lu Yanzhou was just a regular person, and with the world being unsafe these days, accompanying him would ensure Lu Yanzhou’s safety to the greatest extent.

Lin Juan quickly convinced himself.

Rather than a business trip, Lu Yanzhou’s visit to Rong City felt more like a vacation. For most of the day, he took Lin Juan around to play.

They visited the city’s famous large park, tried an escape room with great reviews, and then went to an amusement park.

Lin Juan, holding an oversized heart-shaped cotton candy, was led by Lu Yanzhou to queue for the Ferris wheel.

"Lu Yanzhou, you’re such a kid at heart." Lin Juan took a bite of the cotton candy. They had just ridden the carousel.

Lin Juan sat on it while Lu Yanzhou took photos of him from below.

Amid a group of children, Lin Juan, as an adult, really stood out.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Lin Juan wanted to get off, but Lu Yanzhou held him in place. "Whatever the other kids have, our little Lin Juan should have too."

"I’m not a kid." Blushing under the curious gazes of several children, Lin Juan felt warm.

"The money’s already paid," Lu Yanzhou said seriously. "If Lin Juan doesn’t ride, it’d be a waste."

Lin Juan thought about it and agreed. Besides, he was quite curious. As a child, watching other kids play these rides with their parents, Lin Juan had been dying to try them. As he grew older, his interest had faded somewhat.

But he wasn't completely uninterested either.

Lin Juan sat on the carousel as it began to spin. The gentle breeze brushed against his face, and as he looked down at the man holding up a phone to take pictures of him, just like the other parents, Lin Juan felt a moment of disorientation.

He thought: So this is what it feels like.

A smile spread unconsciously across his face.

The Ferris wheel came to a stop, and it was their turn.

Lin Juan and Lu Yanzhou had a cabin to themselves as the Ferris wheel, glowing with colorful lights, began to move.

Lin Juan stood by the window, his gaze rising gradually with the ascent.

Lu Yanzhou had eyes only for him.