Chapter 27 Let’s Be Together Forever

Chapter 27: Let’s Be Together Forever

In the blink of an eye, Chi Luoxi and He Angxiao had been together for nearly a year.

For Chi Luoxi, a little radish spirit who had stumbled naively from the deep mountains into the human world, this time scale represented over three hundred days of earth-shattering change.

He was now completely different from the person he had been a year ago—wearing shabby clothes, newly arrived in the city, lost and bewildered.

He was like a radish forcibly transplanted from barren mountain soil to another place. Though he initially suffered from transplant shock, wilting and drooping, under the care of his new gardener, He Angxiao—a mix of indulgence, control, and occasional awkward tenderness—he had somehow, haltingly, put down a few shallow roots, sprouted a few new leaves, and barely adapted to this strange, dazzling new flowerpot that he had turned into a stable little world for him.

The changes were quiet yet pervasive.

Chi Luoxi’s previous knowledge had been as barren as that mountain pond that dried up whenever there was a drought—you could see the bottom at first glance, completely empty.

But over these past months, under a little bit of watering, fresh water had finally been added to it, drop by drop. Now, if you dropped a pebble in, you could still hear an echo.

Chi Luoxi learned more characters and could stumble through a short English passage, though his understanding might be completely off. Numbers were no longer like reading gibberish. He even began to have vague concepts of words like history and geography, realizing the world was big, not just Wushan and Jiangzhou.

Chi Luoxi also felt firsthand the gap caused by unequal educational resources.

Back in the mountains, there was only one school, only a few teachers, and chalk was used sparingly. Everyone learned the same things. Chi Luoxi always thought he couldn’t learn because he was stupid, lacking talent.

Just like Grandpa said, he wasn’t cut out for studying.

But now, sitting in a spacious, bright family classroom, facing patient, meticulous top-tier private tutors in one-on-one sessions, enjoying a learning environment where he could ask questions anytime and wouldn’t be ridiculed for mistakes, he only realized belatedly that not being able to learn sometimes really wasn’t entirely the fault of talent.

Time and money were truly the most magical and cruel things in the world. They could easily smooth over many innate gaps and fill huge disparities.

Like a super-strong, infinitely extendable transparent tape that could perfectly paste over and cover the holes and cracks left on a person by ignorance and poverty from the outside, so that to an outside observer, it appeared smooth and pristine, as if it had always been that way, showing no trace of past shabbiness.

So Chi Luoxi naively expressed his innocent wish to He Angxiao.

He hoped that children who weren’t particularly gifted and learned things slowly could all be born into rich families. That way, they wouldn’t have to feel ashamed or sad just because they didn’t learn as fast or weren’t as smart as others. They could also have good teachers and eventually learn something.

When He Angxiao heard this, he said, “Chi Luoxi, you’re so naive.”

That was true.

Chi Luoxi also thought he was a bit naive, a bit silly.

Probably only someone like him, who had little worldly experience and had just tasted the benefits of resources, would say such a thing.

People couldn’t choose their birth.

Even as a spirit, there were differences in species and luck.

Teacher Hua was a pendulous crabapple, while he was a wild little radish.

Sometimes Chi Luoxi would think, if only he weren’t a radish spirit, if he were really Grandpa’s biological grandson, a truly ordinary human being, then that would be great.

Then he might be able to stand a little taller, not have to always hide and worry about his identity being exposed, and boldly and courageously ask He Angxiao for a normal, stable relationship.

Instead of being like now, stuck with only a kept relationship contract, silently counting time in his heart, thinking that He Angxiao would surely leave him in five years.

As Chi Luoxi read more books and was exposed to more information, he also began to vaguely understand some rules of the adult world—that no one had to rely on someone else to survive.

Especially someone like He Angxiao: strong, wealthy, seemingly possessing everything, yet with a wall built inside his heart, a person who instinctively feared and rejected responsibility and permanence. He would rather use money and clear exchanges of interests to define a relationship than get involved in any emotions that might bring entanglement and trouble.

Chi Luoxi could feel the existence of that wall.

Sometimes He Angxiao was very good to him, so good that he had the illusion that they could go on like this forever. Other times, He Angxiao was very cold, very fierce, reminding Chi Luoxi of the insurmountable boundary between them.

But Chi Luoxi felt that he seemed to already be very dependent on He Angxiao.

Rely on the stable life he provided, rely on his indulgence and tenderness, and even rely on his bad temper and strict discipline.

He Angxiao had a sharp tongue and always interfered with his making friends.

But he was also truly good to him.

He would stay with Chi Luoxi when he was sick, remember what he liked to eat, buy him many things he liked, defend him when he was bullied, and even pass out from worry when Chi Luoxi went missing.

If one day the contract expired, or He Angxiao got tired of him, bored, and didn’t want him anymore, what would Chi Luoxi do?

Could he go back to the mountains? But Grandpa was no longer in the mountains. Could he survive alone in human society, like Teacher Hua?

Chi Luoxi grew anxious.

After much thought, he could only think of one solution.

What if he made He Angxiao fall in love with him?

Not the kind of kept relationship, but truly the kind of love described in books and shown on TV.

The kind that fascinates, makes you willing and eager, and makes you want to be together forever.

If He Angxiao fell in love with him, would he then not easily leave him? Would he be willing to have a stable relationship with him? Even if He Angxiao never knew that Chi Luoxi was a radish spirit.

He Angxiao didn’t like spirits, so he just wouldn’t let him know.

Bury this secret forever, deep in his heart, and carry it to the grave.

Chi Luoxi had no romantic experience. The most straightforward way he could think of to make someone fall in love with him was to be good to him, extra good, to agree to every request and be completely obedient.

So during that period, He Angxiao clearly felt that Chi Luoxi was a bit off.

Specifically, he was abnormally docile and cooperative. Whatever he said, Chi Luoxi agreed. Whatever request he made, reasonable or not, Chi Luoxi tried his best to satisfy. Even at night in bed, where before he would resist a little or beg for mercy out of shyness or tiredness, now he was exceptionally proactive and submissive, letting him do whatever he wanted, even if his eyes were teary, he would still try to comply.

He Angxiao was a bit puzzled at first, thinking Chi Luoxi might be under too much academic pressure, or had secretly watched some strange TV drama and learned some messy things.

He observed for a few days and found that apart from behaving like this in front of him, Chi Luoxi was normal in other aspects—eating and sleeping as usual.

He thought maybe Chi Luoxi was studying too hard and needed an outlet, so he decided to oblige. Coincidentally, around that time, He Angxiao had just ended that brief and awkward attempt at male self-discovery. He thought Hua Ai’s talk about having a self was complete bullshit—maybe that Hua guy just had it out for him and deliberately said things to annoy him and drive a wedge between them.

Now Chi Luoxi was so clingy, so unable to leave him. As for “having no self,” he was now quite enjoying this feeling of being fully depended on and wrapped in gentleness.

The two of them spent that period in utter debauchery.

Every corner of the apartment bore traces of their wild antics.

From the living room sofa to the bathroom mirror, from the broad solid wood desk in the study to the floor-to-ceiling window on the balcony, He Angxiao guided Chi Luoxi through many things he had never dared to imagine before.

Chi Luoxi often wore the choker He Angxiao had bought for him, which he often paired with the furry animal-ear headband and fluffy tail he was coaxed into wearing.

He Angxiao seemed to have an unusual enthusiasm for acquiring various accessories for Chi Luoxi, not just expensive jewelry and watches, but also more private, intimate little items.

Bracelets, anklets, even waist chains—he had bought them all, made from materials ranging from precious metals to soft leather, with designs ranging from simple to elaborate.

He had even bought several pairs of earrings, some inlaid with tiny diamonds and uniquely designed, now lying quietly in a velvet jewelry box. Chi Luoxi liked them, but he had never dared to get his ears pierced.

Chi Luoxi thought all those earrings were beautiful and sparkly. Every time he saw them, he would pick them up and hold them up to his earlobes in front of the mirror, imagining how they would look on him.

When Chi Luoxi finally made up his mind, "Honey, I want to get my ears pierced. Will you come with me?"

He Angxiao double-checked, "Seriously? Not just a spur-of-the-moment thing?"

Chi Luoxi, "Mm, I think they're so pretty. They must look really good on the ears."

He Angxiao, "Alright, I'll take you tomorrow."

He Angxiao thought that Chi Luoxi was already good-looking, and this would just make him even gayer.

The next day, He Angxiao took him to a professional piercing studio. The piercer was a young girl with a cool vibe.

When it was Chi Luoxi's turn, he still felt a little nervous looking at the piercing needle, clutching the hem of He Angxiao's shirt.

He Angxiao reached out and put his arm around his shoulders, pulling him into his embrace, turning his back to the piercer and burying his face in his chest. "How about we don't do it?"

Chi Luoxi, "...Honey, since we're already here."

"Don't be scared. It'll be quick, just a moment." He Angxiao's voice came from above, unusually gentle.

Chi Luoxi buried his whole face into He Angxiao's suit jacket, which carried a crisp scent, when he felt a sharp pain, like being bitten hard by an ant.

"Done, left side." The piercer's voice came.

The whole process only took just a few seconds.

It wasn't until the piercer said it was done that He Angxiao let him go and let him raise his head.

"Does it hurt?" He Angxiao looked down at his ear.

Chi Luoxi shook his head, then nodded. "It's just a little numb; it doesn't hurt anymore."

It actually still hurt a bit, but being asked by He Angxiao somehow made it feel less painful.

Their interaction was noticed by a young girl nearby, and that day, the studio was buzzing about how there was a little bottom who was super good at acting cute, pure yet sexy, who kept calling his man "honey," and how only a man knows how to find a good man.

Chi Luoxi looked up at He Angxiao, his eyes bright, and said to him, "Honey, I checked online last night. The person who accompanies you to get your ears pierced, the two of you will be together forever."

Everything he read online was gospel truth to Chi Luoxi.

But He Angxiao was quite pleased to hear that. "Stop reading those baseless things online. They're all made up, just tricking little silly ones like you."

He said that, but that night after Chi Luoxi fell asleep, He Angxiao leaned against the headboard, phone in hand, and, as if possessed, opened a search engine and typed in the keywords "getting your ears pierced together means being together forever."

The page refreshed, and quite a few related posts popped up, but the gist was pretty much the same as what Chi Luoxi had said, like an old wives' tale.

He Angxiao stared at those search results for a long time, then turned his head to look at Chi Luoxi, who was sleeping soundly beside him, lying especially straight because of his new piercings.

Forever? He thought about being with Chi Luoxi forever—strangely, it didn't feel repulsive. He Angxiao closed his eyes and pushed that absurd yet sweetly tempting thought to the back of his mind.

Not long after, Chunhui transferred the money, down to the last cent, exactly according to the court's judgment into Chi Luoxi's bank account.

That sum of money was still an astronomical figure that didn't feel real to Chi Luoxi. When he received the bank notification, he was stunned for a moment, counting the zeros over and over before confirming the money had truly arrived.

"Honey, the money came through. Chunhui paid back the breach-of-contract damages."

Although this money meant a lot to him, and although Chi Luoxi wasn't short of money now, it felt more like a symbol of victory, the justice Lawyer Hao had won for him.

He felt so vindicated.

He Angxiao, "Good, it's here. Keep the money for yourself, spend it or save it, whatever you want."

Shortly after the money arrived, Hao Fan sent Chi Luoxi a message.

Hao Fan: Mr. Chi, hello, regarding the case you entrusted to us against Chunhui Entertainment Club, the judgment has been fully executed and the funds transferred. Thus, our entrusted agency relationship is officially concluded. Thank you for your trust and cooperation during this time.

The message was very official and polite.

Chi Luoxi: Lawyer Hao, thank you so much. I really appreciate everything you've done, helping me win the case and recover the money. Thank you for all your hard work.

He sent it, thinking the conversation would end there. Unexpectedly, after a while, Hao Fan sent another message.

Hao Fan: Mr. Chi, you're welcome, it's my pleasure. Also, there's something I'd like to tell you privately... please don't tell Mr. He.

Chi Luoxi: What is it?

Hao Fan's message came back quickly.

Hao Fan: It's about the contract Mr. He signed with you before. From a legal perspective, that contract doesn't actually restrict you in any significant legal way. The so-called term and obligations agreed upon within are legally difficult to constitute valid binding clauses; they are more like a one-sided statement of intention. Moreover, the property Mr. He gave you, legally, they are more like voluntary gifts. Once the gift is completed, unless there are specific legal exceptions, the donor generally cannot recover them.

Chi Luoxi stared at his phone screen, reading this long paragraph over and over. He recognized every word, but the meaning when strung together, he needed time to process.

No restrictions in the contract? Voluntary gifts? He can't take them back?

Half-understanding, half-bewildered, Chi Luoxi responded: Lawyer Hao, do you mean it doesn't matter if I wait five years? I can leave anytime I want?

Hao Fan: Of course. That contract actually gives you a lot of freedom. Mr. He hasn't bound you with any legally enforceable clauses.

Chi Luoxi stared at the word "freedom" and froze.

Hao Fan's message came again: Mr. Chi, I can see that Mr. He really cares about you. That's why he gave you the freedom to choose and a way out. Of course, this is just my personal guess.

Hao Fan: However, law is law, and feelings are feelings. No one's time or companionship can be easily measured by money. The value of this freedom might only be something you can measure yourself. I wish you all the best going forward. If you encounter other legal issues in the future, feel free to contact me anytime. I'd be happy to help.

With that, the message ended.

Chi Luoxi held his phone, not moving for a long time.

Having been burned by Chunhui's contract, Chi Luoxi had always thought of contracts as shackles.

But now Lawyer Hao was telling him that it was the freedom He Angxiao had given him.

Had He Angxiao done it on purpose? Chi Luoxi was lost in thought. He Angxiao was also giving himself freedom, wasn't he?

Unable to figure it out at all, Chi Luoxi gave up trying. Who knew how He Angxiao thought?

Chi Luoxi promised Hao Fan to keep it secret, so he wouldn't ask.

The friend of He Angxiao's who had supposedly disappeared for a while in pursuit of his wife finally had news. He was said to be back in Jiangzhou.

He Angxiao, who rarely brought things up himself, said he wanted to go pay a visit.

But that friend named Jiang Ran told them to come back in a few months—said now wasn't a good time.

"Not convenient"?

He Angxiao said sarcastically, "...Did you get disfigured or something? That hard to show your face?"

What could be so huge that even a meeting wasn't convenient?

On the other end of the phone, Jiang Ran was clearly much more patient than He Angxiao, long used to He Angxiao's foul mouth that never says anything decent. Hearing this, he didn't get angry, too lazy to bother with such a petty person: "Life has its inconvenient moments—it's unavoidable. He Angxiao, can you stop acting like the center of the universe, expecting everyone to revolve around you and be at your beck and call whenever you show up?"

"Your mouth is impossible. Nobody can stand you."

He Angxiao: "Don't worry about me. I've got someone who can stand me."

Chi Luoxi could put up with him.

Jiang Ran on the other end clearly picked up on the subtle smugness in his tone: "Who? Someone who can tolerate that kind of attitude from you?"

He hadn't planned to say much; he wasn't the type to share his love life with friends. But last time, he had accidentally let slip a little with Jiang Ran.

He Angxiao just wanted to show off a bit, to prove he wasn't universally hated, so he told Jiang Ran that he and Chi Luoxi were together.

Jiang Ran: "...You animal."

He Angxiao was proud of it rather than ashamed.

Being an animal suited him.

At least it's better than being a sanctimonious fake who desperately wants something but puts on a dignified front, only to end up empty-handed.

He was talking about that Han Wenbin.

As the winner, He Angxiao didn't argue, just grunted and dropped the topic.

Just like students have winter and summer breaks, Chi Luoxi, as a student with a private tutor, naturally had a schedule for breaks too—when he was told he'd have to pause lessons for a while and take a vacation, Chi Luoxi felt a little disappointed inside.

"I won't get to see Teacher Hua for quite a while..."

So He Angxiao loaded Chi Luoxi's tablet with online courses recorded by famous teachers, filling it to the brim.

"Go ahead and study." He Angxiao handed him the tablet.

He Angxiao thought, his kid had gotten hooked on studying—hopeless.

A few days later, He Angxiao pulled Chi Luoxi away from his sea of online courses and said, "Stop studying. Take a real break now that it's vacation. I'll take you out to get some fresh air."

Chi Luoxi's eyes lit up: "Where to?"

He told him to pack a few clothes, saying they were going somewhere not far and would stay for two days.

Chi Luoxi happily packed his luggage, secretly hoping it would be a fun place, like the beach? He'd never seen the ocean before.

But when the car left the city and turned into a quiet, tree-shaded villa area, stopping in front of an old two-story house with a small garden...

This place didn't look like a tourist spot or a hotel.

He Angxiao: "We're here. Get out."

The small garden was nicely kept, with common flowers and a trellis where wisteria was halfway up.

He Angxiao walked to the door and rang the bell.

Not long after, the door opened.

An elderly woman with full silver hair, wearing a neat Chinese-style button-up top, appeared at the doorway—spirited and sharp-eyed. In her arms was a fluffy brown Teddy (toy dog).

The old lady had a stern face, and even through her reading glasses, you could feel an imposing, unapproachable aura.

She first glanced at He Angxiao, then shifted her gaze to Chi Luoxi behind him, sizing him up from head to toe.

That Teddy, named Lailai, seemed like a pretty kind dog—glossy coat, gentle eyes, well-behaved in the old lady's arms. But the moment it saw He Angxiao, it instantly turned into a fierce evil Teddy, ready to fight off the intruder.

He Angxiao was clearly used to the dog's mood swings; his expression didn't even twitch. He gave it a sidelong glance.

He casually put an arm around Chi Luoxi's shoulder, pulled him forward, and introduced him to his grandmother: "Grandma, this is Chi Luoxi."

And that was it.

Chi Luoxi, still holding the supplements He Angxiao had told him to bring, quickly offered the gifts with both hands and bowed deeply: "...Hello, Grandma. My name is Chi Luoxi. I wish you good health and all the best."

Grandma He didn't immediately take the gifts. She pushed up her reading glasses and asked, in a tone just as sharp and blunt as her grandson's: "Where did you manage to trick this naive kid from?"

Chi Luoxi felt unfairly treated.

"Well, he's not that silly really." Chi Luoxi nodded in agreement.

Grandma He: "Come in. Don't stand at the door."

As Chi Luoxi went inside, he secretly tugged at He Angxiao's sleeve: "Honey, what's this about you bringing me here?"

He Angxiao's tone was deliberately casual and dismissive: "Grandma's been sick. She was in the hospital recently, just got home to recover. I came to check on her. Thought I'd take you out for a ride and also see Grandma."

Chi Luoxi felt disappointed. He'd thought He Angxiao had specifically brought him to meet the family.

Even though it was just incidental, facing his grandmother still made Chi Luoxi incredibly nervous.

The old lady was too imposing.

Back when He Angxiao's parents were going through years of mutual torment and tug-of-war over assets, a young He Angxiao, caught in the middle like a ball being kicked around, had been practically dumped on his grandmother to raise.

Grandpa He had passed away early, so this old house with the little garden was left for Grandma He alone.

The old lady was tough and disliked crowds. There was a cook and a housekeeper for daily chores, but that was it. She was used to living quietly alone.

As He Angxiao grew up, busy with school and then his business, he rarely visited—only on holidays or when she was sick, staying half a day, eating a meal, exchanging bland pleasantries.

They weren't exactly close, but the blood tie and early dependence remained, wrapped in similarly hard, inexpressive shells.

Grandma He let them in and then turned to go to the living room.

Soon the housekeeper came out with a tray of delicate porcelain dishes—cookies, biscuits, cream cakes, and a neatly arranged fruit platter.

Chi Luoxi quite liked the slightly old-fashioned atmosphere, with hints of camphor wood and old furnishings. As soon as he entered, he couldn't help sneaking glances at everything.

There were also photos of He Angxiao as a child hanging on the wall.

He Angxiao took the bewildered Chi Luoxi by the hand and guided him to sit down on the sofa.

Chi Luoxi stared at the tempting array of treats, craving them but not daring to reach out. He sat perfectly still, hands on his knees, back straight as a rod.

Grandma He, seated on another single sofa, ignored them both. She picked up a half-knitted sweater from the wicker knitting basket beside her, put on her reading glasses, and began knitting skillfully, so absorbed that it was as if the two grown-ups and the hostile teddy dog Lailai, which was eyeing He Angxiao menacingly, might as well not exist.

“I’m just an old woman with nothing fun for you young folks. Make yourselves at home.”

He Angxiao grabbed a cookie and offered it to Chi Luoxi. “Come on, let me show you the yard.”

Chi Luoxi, as if let off the hook, quickly stood up and said softly to Grandma He, still knitting, “Grandma, I’ll just step outside for a bit.”

Then he trotted after He Angxiao.

The garden wasn’t big, but it was lovingly maintained.

It was planted with a tasteful mix of roses, climbing roses, hydrangeas, and a few lush clumps of mint and rosemary.

In the corner stood a tall osmanthus tree that looked quite old, with lush branches and leaves. Beside it was a small, old basketball hoop, its paint chipped and faded, standing alone—the net half-torn and swaying gently in the breeze.

He Angxiao took Chi Luoxi on a slow walk through the garden, their footsteps making a soft rustling sound on the damp cobblestone path.

Chi Luoxi followed half a step behind him. “Hubby, does Grandma not like me?”

He was sure of it.

Grandma hadn’t really looked at him, hadn’t spoken to him much, just kept knitting.

He Angxiao: “No, you’re overthinking it.”

Chi Luoxi’s worry was completely unnecessary.

Grandma He had high blood pressure and followed an extremely light diet, strictly controlling sugar intake. The treats she usually prepared for guests were also mostly light tea snacks. The spread she’d put out today—practically a dessert buffet—was something He Angxiao only remembered her doing that when he was very, very small, when she used sweets to coax him.

A few days ago, when He Angxiao said he was bringing a young man back, Grandma He had just said casually, “Suit yourself.”

It wasn’t dislike—quite the opposite.

“I grew up here.”

He Angxiao pointed at the old basketball hoop. “See that? I installed it myself. After school when I had nothing better to do, I’d practice shooting here on my own.”

Then he pointed at the tall osmanthus tree. “That tree—I planted it when I was a kid. It grew from a tiny sapling into this huge tree.”

“Hubby, you were amazing when you were little, to install a basketball hoop all by yourself.” Chi Luoxi said softly, his tone full of admiration.

They walked on, and Chi Luoxi, distracted by the various flowers and plants in the garden, forgot his earlier worries for a moment.

He crouched down curiously to look at a cluster of tall, pale purple hydrangeas in full bloom, and as he stood up, he suddenly felt something soft under his foot.

Chi Luoxi let out a puzzled “Huh?” and looked down.

There it was—the sole of his new canvas shoes, which He Angxiao had bought him, was planted right on a pile of dog poop.

Clearly the work of Lailai, the teddy dog who held a grudge against his (Chi Luoxi’s) husband.

Chi Luoxi: “…………”

He Angxiao saw it too, and his face instantly darkened.

He was always a germaphobe, so he didn’t like having pets. No matter how much Chi Luoxi begged for a kitten or a puppy, he never agreed. He Angxiao muttered: “Damn dog! Pooping all over the place.”

He Angxiao quickly pulled Chi Luoxi a few steps onto the clean grass, away from the crime scene, then pointed at Chi Luoxi’s dirty shoe. “Take it off and throw it away. Disgusting.”

But Chi Luoxi thought he was overreacting. He looked at the faint stain on his shoe sole, then at He Angxiao’s alarmed expression, and said softly, “But if I take it off, I won’t have any shoes to walk back in. Let me just scrape it off on the grass.”

From here back to the house, there was still a long stretch of cobblestone path. Walking barefoot would hurt a lot, and besides, it was just a bit of dog poop—it could be washed off.

When he lived in the mountains, Chi Luoxi often stepped in chicken and duck poop. He thought He Angxiao, the neat-freak city boy, would never survive mountain life.

But He Angxiao simply crouched down, took off Chi Luoxi’s shoe and threw it aside with a look of disgust, then turned around and knelt down with his back to Chi Luoxi.

“Get on.”

Chi Luoxi blinked. “…Huh?”

“I’ll carry you back. Hurry up,” He Angxiao urged.

Chi Luoxi clambered onto He Angxiao’s broad, sturdy back, wrapping his arms around his neck.

He Angxiao straightened up, steadying him securely.

Chi Luoxi pressed his cheek against the side of his neck, catching that familiar, crisp scent He Angxiao always had. He unconsciously tightened his arms around He Angxiao’s neck. His legs dangled, swaying gently with the rhythm of He Angxiao’s steps.

Chi Luoxi: “Hubby, you’re so strong. Can you carry me around for one more lap?”

He Angxiao: “…Don’t push your luck.”

Yet, even as he said that, he kept walking.

The garden was very quiet—only the steady sound of He Angxiao’s footsteps on the grass, and the faint chirping of birds somewhere in the distance. The sunset’s glow filtered through the leaves, scattering dappled light onto the two of them. The air was moist, carrying the earthy fragrance of rain-washed soil.

Chi Luoxi suddenly felt that this moment was almost unreal in its perfection.

Lying on He Angxiao’s warm, strong back, he looked at his husband’s jawline and the shell of his ear, tightened his arms, pressed his face deeper into the crook of He Angxiao’s neck, his lips almost brushing against the warm skin.

Then, in a very soft, very gentle tone—as if pleading for happiness—Chi Luoxi whispered into He Angxiao’s ear: “Hubby, let’s stay together forever, all right?”

At the sound of those words, He Angxiao’s steps abruptly halted.

His arms, which were holding Chi Luoxi’s legs, tensed up. His heart began to pound with an intensity and speed he’d never known—thudding so hard it hurt his chest, ringing in his ears until he could barely hear anything else.

Wait—was Chi Luoxi proposing to him?

But it couldn’t be now.

Not here.

Not under these circumstances.

They were standing in the rain-soaked garden, damp from the rain, a bit disheveled—especially since Chi Luoxi had just stepped in dog poop. There were no flowers, no rings, no candlelit dinner, none of the ceremony or solemnity a proposal deserved.

He Angxiao firmly said: “…No.”

Chi Luoxi: “…………”

He was still on He Angxiao’s back. Hearing those two words, the arms hugging his neck suddenly tightened so hard they almost choked He Angxiao.

In an instant, He Angxiao couldn’t breathe properly. His face turned red as he coughed and choked, urging him between coughs: “…Chi Luoxi… are you trying to kill your—husband!”

Chi Luoxi struggled to get off He Angxiao, then limped hurriedly back into the house.

He Angxiao recovered and quickly gave chase, only to step in dog poop and fall flat.

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Author's note: The time to win him back is coming—and there’s plenty of drama.

This is the price of rejecting our Little Luobei.

Lailai: I hate He Angxiao, take my revenge!

President He: ............