Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Five hours earlier, at the Bodyguard Association.

"Oh my god, who's into torture?"

"If loving Xie Yunshen is like loving torture, then being loved by Xie Yunshen must be torture squared, right?"

Two colleagues hid their inner excitement, feigning pity as they looked at Xie Yunshen.

Xie Yunshen gave them a deadpan look: "Hey, don't make me sound like a psycho. Loving me isn't a fate worse than death, okay?"

"After all, what's the difference between dating a guy as dense as a rock and a fate worse than death?" Colleague A stroked his chin with a scheming look.

"...But he said I'm just the right amount of stupid. Doesn't that mean he likes me?" Xie Yunshen pondered.

"Ew..." The two across from him immediately changed their expressions. Damn it, they just got a faceful of PDA.

"So, what's the process of dating? It can't just be kissing and making out all the time, right?" Xie Yunshen continued his train of thought.

*Thud!* The two opposite him collectively fell over.

Damn it, another direct hit.

Although Xie Yunshen had read many novels, the male-oriented power fantasies weren't worth mentioning, and the romance novels were about a man and a woman, which didn't seem applicable to him and Mr. Yan.

So, he came to consult his two bros, only to be mercilessly mocked.

"You traitor, ditching us for a pretty face, you disappeared for three years and now you come find us just to be your strategists?" A finger poked his shoulder.

"And, are you having delusions again?" Another finger poked his other shoulder.

"No, I'm better now!"

"How? Wasn't it pretty severe before?" Colleague B was suspicious.

Xie Yunshen revealed a meaningful smile: "Secret."

Colleague A and Colleague B exchanged a look. Something's off with this guy.

Finally, with the planning of three mediocre minds, they listed a series of date ideas.

Of course, the "corny" gesture of giving flowers was actually Xie Yunshen's own impulsive decision.

Turns out Mr. Yan liked it quite a bit.

"Mr. Yan, I'm taking you somewhere."

Xie Yunshen held his hand, walking along the road beneath the steel forest, right at the overlapping dusk.

Seagulls flew past the quiet sunset, every alley of the city brimming with the atmosphere of life.

"Taking the bus?"

"Mhm, I heard going there by bus makes it more special."

That's right, it was what his colleague said. They had to take the bus, or it wouldn't count.

To be honest, he was a bit suspicious that his colleague was deliberately pranking him.

"Mr. Yan must have never taken a bus before, right?"

"Yeah, it's my first time."

Xie Yunshen took out his phone: "Our first date is so memorable. Let's take a photo."

Of course, this was also on his colleague's instructions.

"A sweet date must have photos! When you argue in the future, these photos will be your peacemakers!" Colleague B insisted.

Even though he didn't quite get it, Xie Yunshen followed each instruction.

He put his arm around Mr. Yan's shoulders. Looking into the camera, he suddenly noticed something. He used his cheek to rub against Mr. Yan's ear with a bit of force, nudging off the mask strap, revealing Mr. Yan's face.

"That's better."

Then, Xie Yunshen tilted his head, pressing it against Mr. Yan's, making the two people in the frame snuggle close together.

Actually, this was his first time taking a selfie, and also Mr. Yan's first time.

"It didn't capture even one-tenth of Mr. Yan's good looks," Xie Yunshen said regretfully, looking at the photo.

Mr. Yan looked at the person in the photo. From childhood to adulthood, there had only been serious ID photos or professional photos for media events. Family photos were also very few.

A casual, life-like photo like this was too serene, almost unfamiliar, making his dry, indifferent life feel softer and richer.

Xie Yunshen suddenly turned and kissed him on the cheek. *Click!*

Under the bus stop at dusk.

A man in an expensive suit wearing a mask, with a handsome guy next to him taking pictures.

They attracted occasional glances from passersby.

Since this bus route was relatively quiet in the evening, and it was the last bus, the few passengers on board also got off at this stop.

He pulled Yan Shiqi to sit on the empty seats at the back.

The bus drove away, leaving a bouquet of flowers resting on the bench, caressed by the evening breeze.

Xie Yunshen gave Mr. Yan the window seat, sitting beside him. He felt the night wind blow past Mr. Yan's shoulder and then onto him, carrying a hint of fragrance.

He was tired of saying that Mr. Yan had a natural scent.

"Haven't taken the bus in so many years, I kind of miss it."

Xie Yunshen had only taken the bus during his student days. After becoming a bodyguard, he was often assigned important security details, traveling in luxury cars and planes with his clients.

After becoming a Golden Bodyguard, he developed a liking for motorcycles, completely parting ways with slow transportation like buses.

"Why did you want to become a bodyguard?" Mr. Yan asked him.

"It wasn't for any special reason. I've been into combat and martial arts since I was a kid. In high school, I was noticed by an instructor from the Association. That charismatic man convinced me to join the training, saying being a bodyguard was as cool as being a special forces soldier."

"What?" Yan Shiqi frowned, his gaze carrying supreme authority.

Xie Yunshen quickly corrected himself: "No, that's just what everyone called him. Our instructor."

The coldness on Mr. Yan's face did not ease.

"You definitely wouldn't be angry over a forty-year-old man, right?" Xie Yunshen tried to make up for it.

"A Shen, I'm thirty-eight, almost forty myself," Yan Shiqi said with a sharp gaze.

Xie Yunshen froze, feeling as if his world was crashing down. He was digging himself a deeper hole—he had forgotten about age. Flustered, he stammered an explanation, "But Mr. Yan, you're completely different! Whether you're forty or seventy, in my heart, you're perfect from head to toe."

Yan Shiqi looked at him. Xie Yunshen met his gaze with sincere, unwavering eyes, as if taking a solemn vow that this was absolutely true.

Mr. Yan raised a hand to his forehead. Though a seasoned veteran in business, he was always caught off guard by Xie Yunshen's blunt honesty.

Xie Yunshen leaned in and kissed a single white strand of hair at his temple, whispering, "Even the white hairs, I love them too."

Yan Shiqi's heart skipped a beat.

"So, Mr. Yan, please don't be angry with me anymore." Xie Yunshen's eyes implored him, full of hope, their faces less than an inch apart.

A cool breeze ruffled Mr. Yan's hair. He smiled faintly, his expression softening. "Actually, it wasn't really about the instructor. It was mainly because your high school friend pleaded with you to go with him to the training, right?"

Xie Yunshen was taken aback for a moment, a little surprised. "How did you know?"

Yan Shiqi replied, "I looked into it."

Actually, it was written in the book.

Xie Yunshen pondered seriously for a while, then suddenly grabbed Mr. Yan's shoulders, bursting out laughing enthusiastically. "Oh my god, Mr. Yan, you didn't set up a spy network here too, did you?"

Mr. Yan: "..."

The bus stopped at an intersection.

"Do you like this line of work?"

Xie Yunshen smiled. "I wouldn't say I like it. It's just that if I weren't a bodyguard, I feel like I wouldn't know what else to do."

I guess you could say he had some talent in this area; otherwise, he wouldn't have become a Golden Bodyguard.

"...Huh?" Xie Yunshen's mouth fell open, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Whether it was because Xie Yunshen's expression was too funny or because of the joke itself, Mr. Yan started laughing first.

He leaned his arm on the window, his knuckles pressed against his lips, as if trying to hide his amusement.

Xie Yunshen watched him. He had never seen such a relaxed smile on Mr. Yan's face before. He moved his hand away from his mouth and kissed him.

The bus started moving again. The free wind, the evening streetlights, and the kissing couple all passed through the city streets.

During a pause in the kiss, Mr. Yan whispered softly, "I'm serious. Though I'm quite dense when it comes to emotions, I'm very talented in bed."

"Really? Well, since I retired, it's been pretty boring anyway. Maybe I should give it a try." Xie Yunshen looked at him with a deep gaze.

Yan Shiqi's expression remained effortlessly charming and composed. "Oh, that's nice, but I'm not dead yet."

Xie Yunshen laughed. "Mr. Yan, you're so cute."

The bus finally pulled to a stop at the foot of a mountain.

Xie Yunshen helped Mr. Yan off the bus and looked up.

Apart from the streetlights at the base, the entire mountain was plunged into an eerie darkness, like a massive monster staring down at them.

It seemed a bit scary...

The two of them started up the winding mountain path, occasionally hearing eerie rustling sounds from the dense woods on either side.

"Don't be afraid. I'll hold your hand." Xie Yunshen gripped Mr. Yan's hand tightly.

"I'm not afraid," Yan Shiqi shot him a glance.

Suddenly, a cold breeze crept under their collars, sending shivers down their spines.

Xie Yunshen cursed his colleagues hundreds of times in his head. Those guys were definitely jealous of him, absolutely!

Yan Shiqi suddenly said, "If you're scared, walk behind me."

Xie Yunshen grabbed his shoulders from behind, leaning close to his ear and saying in a spooky voice, "Mr. Yan, haven't you seen horror movies? The person at the back is always in the most danger."

"Then walk in front of me."

"No, I could never let Mr. Yan walk behind me."

Yan Shiqi stopped short for a moment, his eyes gleaming in the darkness.

Xie Yunshen took hold of his hand. "Let's go, Mr. Yan."

After nearly an hour of walking, they finally reached the mountaintop.

The temple at night was quiet and still, with only a few lanterns and one or two volunteers. The air was filled with the scent of incense and candles, solemn and serene.

"You believe in this too?" Yan Shiqi looked at the stone cave before them.

Xie Yunshen picked up two wish slips. "I didn't used to believe, but ever since Mr. Yan reappeared in my life, I can't help but believe. Maybe there really are gods."

Yan Shiqi gazed at the small cave opening. It probably only worked if you tossed the wish paper in from outside the railing.

Xie Yunshen placed the wish slips on the stone railing and handed him a pen. "It might be cliché, but everyone says this place really works, so we've got to try."

Mr. Yan took the pen and wrote two lines on the paper.

"Is throwing it in enough?"

"Yes. I'll throw Mr. Yan's wish in together with mine."

Xie Yunshen wrapped his own wish paper around Mr. Yan's, wrapping a coin inside.

*Thump!* The coin, along with the two wish slips, landed inside the narrow, tricky cave opening.

"It went in." Even though he expected it, he was still delighted.

The two had to head back down the mountain.

"Mr. Yan, you must be tired from work. I really shouldn't have made you come up here at night." Xie Yunshen said, reflecting.

Yan Shiqi said, "Isn't this a date?"

"Then let me give you a piggyback ride down the mountain."

Yan Shiqi's eyes scanned his face. "No, I want to walk with you. I think we can become each other's source of strength."

Xie Yunshen hurried to catch up, once again looking at him with unmistakable admiration. "Mr. Yan, you really are an angel."

Yan Shiqi smiled.

The two of them returned to Xie Yunshen's small building in unspoken agreement.

When they got back, it was already past ten at night.

Yan Shiqi came out of the bathroom and saw that Xie Yunshen had dinner ready for him.

He was wearing Xie Yunshen's shirt, which was slightly loose.

"There's still a bunch of things left to do," Xie Yunshen said while eating, opening his phone's memo app.

"Mr. Yan, isn't tomorrow Saturday? You'll give me all your time, right?" He looked at Mr. Yan expectantly.

Yan Shiqi just looked at him without speaking.

"Hmm? Mr. Yan?" Xie Yunshen leaned closer, urging him for an answer.

Mr. Yan didn't answer. Instead, he asked: "Weren't you always in a daze whenever you left me before?"

Xie Yunshen was startled.

"Are you better now?" Yan Shiqi asked.

"Yeah, I think I'm better."

"Just like that? All of a sudden?"

"Yeah."

He was uncharacteristically brief, and Mr. Yan was uncharacteristically persistent.

"Why is that?"

Xie Yunshen's eyes burned brightly: "Can I say it?"

"Go ahead."

"Because I know, even if it were a delusion, I couldn't possibly imagine making love with Mr. Yan." Xie Yunshen looked at him lovingly. "So, the Mr. Yan before me is real."

Yan Shiqi, however, didn't show much surprise, as if he had expected it all along. He looked at him calmly, then stood up and went over to him.

Xie Yunshen looked at him, puzzled. "Mr. Yan, are you angry?"

But Mr. Yan kissed him.

A lingering, passionate kiss answered him. Mr. Yan, rarely so impatient, began unbuttoning Xie Yunshen's pajamas.

He embraced Mr. Yan, pulling him tightly against himself.

Mr. Yan held him like this, lowering his head as his hot, heavy breaths washed over Xie Yunshen's ear and throat.

This version of Mr. Yan was utterly irresistible. Xie Yunshen's mouth went dry. He clasped Mr. Yan's waist through the fabric and kissed his shoulder.

The flowers of the night slowly bloomed under the gentle caress of the breeze.