Chapter 70 Sharing a Bed

Chapter 70: Sharing a Bed

Whether it was Xi Yan showing up that hit a nerve in Lu Lin, triggering his instinctive fight-or-flight response, Shen Qingci noticed Lu Lin had gotten super clingy.

Clingy to the point where he wouldn't leave his side.

When Shen Qingci was in a meeting, Lu Lin would just plop down in the corner, bold as brass.

He didn't participate in the discussion, but his eyes were glued to Shen Qingci.

Every time Shen Qingci's voice got a little sharp during the meeting, Lu Lin's eyes would go red, then he'd silently lower his head, tears silently streaming down his face.

His demeanor was like the world was ending, as if he had suffered immense grievance.

After a few times, the senior executives in the meetings were all terrified, dropping their voices to a whisper when reporting, afraid that if they accidentally provoked Shen Qingci's harsh tone, that "Lu Yama" guy next to him would start crying again—which was way scarier than getting yelled at.

Shen Qingci was beyond annoyed but couldn't blow up in front of everyone.

He could only coldly end the meeting early and, under the complex gazes of the crowd, drag home the big, red-eyed shadow that followed him every step.

Back home, Lu Lin got even clingier.

When Shen Qingci went to the study to check emails, Lu Lin would pull up a chair and just sit there, staring without a word.

When Shen Qingci got up to pour water, Lu Lin would immediately follow.

When Shen Qingci wanted some peace and told him to go watch TV, Lu Lin would pout, his eyes all wet and pitiful, like a puppy about to be left behind.

Shen Qingci had no choice but to keep working in the study. Lu Lin sat on the chair, then suddenly leaned over to pick up his phone, saying pitifully, "Brother, I'm bored. Can I borrow your phone to mess around on for a bit?"

Shen Qingci couldn't be bothered to fight over something so small, so he just gave him a look and let him do whatever.

That evening.

After Shen Qingci finished showering and came out drying his hair, he saw Lu Lin half-kneeling on his bed, holding a soft, fluffy pillow, carefully setting it on the other side of the bed, even patting it to smooth out the wrinkles.

His handsome, always-frosty face went completely dark.

"Lu Lin."

Shen Qingci spoke, his voice quiet but cold as winter frost, cutting to the bone.

Lu Lin froze, then jumped off the bed like a scared rabbit, turning to look at Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci's hair was half-dry, a few strands sticking to his forehead. He was wearing dark silk pajamas, looking both cold and somehow really tempting.

Lu Lin's eyes flickered, and he looked away, quickly grabbed the hairdryer, and looked at Shen Qingci with anticipation, patting the spot on the sofa, motioning for him to come sit.

The "Get out" on the tip of Shen Qingci's tongue died in his throat.

He looked at Lu Lin's bright, hopeful eyes.

In the end, he pursed his lips, leaned on his cane, walked over, and sat down on the sofa, silently giving in.

Warm air brushed through his hair, and Lu Lin's fingers ran through Shen Qingci's half-dry black hair, gentle and careful.

From an angle Shen Qingci couldn't see, Lu Lin's gaze slowly turned stubborn and dark.

His fingertips lingered on the soft, smooth hair, like he was stroking a rare treasure.

"Brother," he suddenly spoke softly, his voice a little muffled by the hairdryer, "Are you planning to grow your hair out?"

Shen Qingci closed his eyes, feeling the warm air and the touch of fingertips. At this, he parted his thin lips, his answer as short and cold as ever, totally flat.

"Yeah. Short hair looks too much like ten years ago. It's hard to explain."

Lu Lin's eyes went dark, and he didn't say anything else.

But his movements seemed to slow down even further.

His fingertips would occasionally, almost accidentally, brush super gently against the back of Shen Qingci's neck.

Shen Qingci's body gave an almost imperceptible shiver.

He suddenly opened his eyes, turned his head, and shot Lu Lin a cold look, annoyed at being disturbed.

Lu Lin immediately stopped, his face instantly switching to an innocent, confused look. He blinked and asked, "What's wrong, brother? Did I hurt you? Are you uncomfortable?"

Shen Qingci looked at him, studied him for two seconds, then leaned back against the sofa, closed his eyes, and said flatly, "No."

Behind Shen Qingci's back, Lu Lin's mouth curled up quickly, a flash of triumph in his eyes.

He knew.

His brother's body was super sensitive in certain spots, especially his lower back and the back of his neck.

The warm air continued to blow.

Lu Lin's gaze landed on Shen Qingci's completely exposed, fair, slender nape, bared by his turned head.

The skin there was smooth and delicate, glowing like jade under the light, with a faint pink from the bath.

Lu Lin's eyes went completely dark, deep and sticky, like thick ink, clinging to that defenseless patch of skin.

Finally, the hair was dry.

Shen Qingci was about to speak, to tell Lu Lin to get out.

The door was gently knocked.

Uncle Fu entered with two cups of warm milk, placed them on the nightstand, and quietly withdrew.

"Brother, I had Uncle Fu prepare it."

Lu Lin quickly picked up one cup, drank it in a few gulps, rinsed his mouth, then lifted the covers and slipped into the side of the bed where he had placed the pillow earlier.

His movements were swift, happening in the blink of an eye.

Seeing Shen Qingci look over, Lu Lin even excitedly patted the empty spot beside him, his eyes sparkling with invitation.

Shen Qingci closed his eyes, a vein throbbing at his temple.

He drank the milk, then went to the bathroom to freshen up again. When he came out, he leaned on his cane, walked to the bed, and tapped the end of the cane lightly but firmly on Lu Lin's leg, which was wrapped in the blanket.

"Lu Lin," he said, his voice suppressing a thin layer of anger, "Get off my bed. Now."

Lu Lin shrank his head deeper into the blanket, leaving only half his face exposed, his voice muffled but stubborn.

"No."

Then, he curled his entire body into the blanket, refusing to budge no matter how much Shen Qingci said or poked him with the cane.

Shen Qingci stood by the bed, staring at the large lump on the mattress, his chest rising and falling a few times.

Finally, he took a deep breath, pulled out a spare blanket.

He spread it out at the farthest spot from Lu Lin, climbed in, and turned his back to him.

"Turn off the lights."

Lu Lin instantly scrambled up and switched off all the lights in the bedroom.

In the darkness, Shen Qingci's cold voice rang out again, with a clear warning:

"Don't do this again."

Hearing this, Lu Lin held back the wild joy and excitement in his chest, his voice hoarse as he quickly replied:

"Okay."

The bedroom fell back into silence, with only the faint sound of their breathing.

Shen Qingci, already tired from the day's work and dealing with Lu Lin's clinginess, soon felt the warmth envelop him. Before long, his breathing became steady and even, and he fell asleep.

But Lu Lin remained awake.

He lay on his side, facing Shen Qingci's direction, his eyes open in the darkness, hungrily watching the slender silhouette with its back to him.

After waiting a long while, he tentatively whispered:

"Brother?"

There was no response.

He waited another five minutes patiently, confirming Shen Qingci's breathing hadn't changed at all.

He slowly sat up, reached out his hand, slipped it under the blanket, and gently pulled the sleeping Shen Qingci closer, still with his back to him.

His eyes, now used to the dark, traced stubbornly and excitedly the outline of Shen Qingci's sleeping form.

That usually cold and distant face looked soft and defenseless in sleep, with long lashes casting small shadows beneath his eyes, pale lips slightly parted, breathing lightly.

Lu Lin's gaze in the dark grew deep and burning, like two smoldering embers.

He stared for a long time, as if etching this scene into the depths of his soul.

Then, he finally stopped restraining the surging desire within him, a craving that threatened to consume him.

With immense reverence, he slowly leaned down and pressed his cool lips against the soft lips he had yearned for, dreamed of, and obsessed over.

The warm, soft touch brought with it Shen Qingci's unique, crisp fragrance.

Lu Lin's heart pounded wildly in his chest.