Chapter 53 Nod If You Like It

Chapter 53: If You Like It, Just Nod

Lin Haoda pressed his slender fingers against the mirror, stunned for a moment before frowning in confusion. "I don't understand what you mean."

His patience exhausted, he said coldly, "Get out."

Guan Junshan ignored him entirely, standing still under the light as he watched him. The watch's hands continued to spin in his palm, a faint mechanical sound. The glass face was indeed scratched—Guan Junshan had used it to block the door, leaving a noticeable dent near the edge.

Lin Haoda's gaze fell on it, flickering uneasily.

Finally relenting, he conceded, "I can... pay for it."

Desperate to get rid of him as soon as possible, he turned without hesitation and walked into the bedroom to grab his phone.

"How much?"

The words had barely left his mouth when he noticed Guan Junshan had followed him without him realizing. He stood outside the doorframe, his eyes sweeping over the simply decorated room, naturally landing on the suitcase Lin Haoda had packed before bed, tucked away in the corner.

Sensing danger, Lin Haoda quickly closed the bedroom door, deliberately avoiding his gaze. "Let's talk in the living room."

Guan Junshan chuckled behind him, turned around, and said, "Leaving?"

Lin Haoda kept his head down, pretending not to hear. He walked over to the sofa and glanced at the clock on the wall.

"What time is your flight?" Guan Junshan unbuttoned his coat and sat down on the other end of the sofa. "Looks like I was right. You really are detached."

Lin Haoda didn't want to continue this topic. He interrupted, "I've already transferred the money."

Guan Junshan pulled out his phone, glanced at it, and laughed—whether teasing or joking, it was unclear. "That's a lot."

Then he said, "Lin Haoda, since when have you been so generous?"

Lin Haoda steadied himself and called out politely, "President Guan," reminding him, "The compensation has been made."

Guan Junshan fell silent, looking at him wordlessly for a few seconds before suddenly leaning in. The space on the three-seater sofa instantly shrank. Lin Haoda's fingers tightened on the armrest, and he swallowed nervously.

"What are you nervous about?"

Guan Junshan mocked him, flicking the watch onto his lap with a fingertip. "I was planning to give you a better one."

Lin Haoda caught the strap; it still carried a faint warmth against his fingertips. Not knowing how to end this, he stood up from the sofa. "It's late. Goodnight, President Guan."

Guan Junshan nodded agreeably, stood up, and brushed the wrinkles off his trousers. As he walked toward the entryway, he asked casually, "Will we meet again?"

At this point, Lin Haoda didn't want to keep lying. Besides, the project still needed to move forward after he stepped back.

He thought for a moment and answered euphemistically, "The company might assign someone more suitable to take over my work."

"I see." Guan Junshan suddenly stopped, turned around, and locked eyes with him. "So that's how you're getting rid of me?"

Lin Haoda hesitated, trying to decipher his meaning, but Guan Junshan turned fully, his tone cold. "More suitable? Or are you planning to find someone else to sleep with?"

Lin Haoda felt he wasn't being rational and didn't want to argue. Frowning slightly, he still couldn't help explaining, "That's not it. It's just about work..."

"Lin Haoda." Guan Junshan cut him off coldly. "When you first approached me, wasn't that what you were thinking?"

"...I," Lin Haoda's voice choked. "I didn't."

Guan Junshan stepped forward, completely enveloping him in his shadow. "No?"

Lin Haoda was silent for a moment, then turned to leave. But the next second, Guan Junshan grabbed him by the waist and pulled him back.

Up close, Guan Junshan caught the familiar scent of him again, and his voice deepened. "Lin Haoda, you've really learned some tricks."

"To keep appearing in front of me and then expect me not to care."

Guan Junshan slowly lowered his head, his hot breath brushing against Lin Haoda's ear. "To ask me to pretend with others, yet forbid me from falling for you."

"I didn't..." Lin Haoda's arms weakly pressed against his chest, the exposed patch of neck below his bathrobe turning red inch by inch, as if about to burn. "Let go!"

"Didn't what?" Guan Junshan gripped his waist, finally pinning him against the mirror. He reached out and grabbed his chin, forcing him to meet his eyes. "Then let me ask you—can you really get aroused by a woman?"

Lin Haoda froze slightly, his lips trembling, his gaze suddenly losing focus.

"I'm warning you," Guan Junshan said icily, staring into his eyes, his expression terrifying. "Don't make me angry again."

Lin Haoda lowered his face slightly, his lips parting and closing soundlessly. Seeing him like this, Guan Junshan knew his earlier words at the hospital were deliberately fabricated—just to distance himself, spouting such nonsense without restraint.

Unable to contain himself any longer, Guan Junshan wrapped one arm around Lin Haoda's waist and lifted him completely. He strode quickly to the bedroom, kicked the door open, and threw the man onto the bed.

Lin Haoda winced in pain, his body bouncing on the mattress. The moment he tried to get up, Guan Junshan had already taken off his coat and was standing at the foot of the bed under the light, his eyes locked onto him. "What are you moving for? Stay put."

The plain knit sweater outlined his shoulders and back perfectly. Beneath the thin fabric, Guan Junshan's upper body was lean and powerful. Lin Haoda struggled to prop himself up, watching as Guan Junshan slowly rolled up his sleeves, revealing a forearm that was firm and long, with faint blue veins pulsing under the skin.

Their eyes met across the air. Lin Haoda instinctively recoiled, avoiding his gaze. "I didn't mean to lie to you."

"Lin Haoda." Guan Junshan looked up and smirked at him, his expression mocking. "Now you know fear."

"I gave you a chance." The tip of his shoe brushed against the carpet, making a soft rustle. Guan Junshan pulled his phone out of his coat pocket and paced back to the bed. Lin Haoda still didn't dare look up, his face pale in the dim light.

"Otherwise, you should have been more ruthless just now and not let me in."

Lin Haoda's heart pounded. He bit his lip, tears glistening in his eyes. After a long silence, he struggled to ask, "What exactly do you want?"

Guan Junshan laughed at that, his sharp features softening slightly. He tapped the screen a couple of times, then lifted his foot onto the bed, leaving a dark mark on the pristine white sheets.

Before Lin Haoda could react, Guan Junshan bent down, grabbed his slender ankle, and dragged him back from the edge of the bed with ease.

"Didn't you say you could be fine with a woman?" Guan Junshan looked at his suddenly wide eyes, his voice hoarse. "Come on, prove it to me, and I'll let you go."

Late at night, in the hotel bedroom.

Lin Haoda's cheeks were flushed, his lowered lashes trembling incessantly. Sweat beaded on the tip of his nose, rolling off with the slightest movement. Even so, he bit his lips hard, refusing to make a sound.

The mattress creaked slightly, then sagged a little as Guan Junshan, unable to stand it any longer, flipped Lin Haoda over. "Planning to hurt yourself to death?"

With two fingers, he gently pinched Lin Haoda's jaw. Even though he was reluctant, Lin Haoda had no choice but to open his mouth. When he bit down hard, Guan Junshan didn't even flinch. "That's all the courage you have."

Lin Haoda, forced to open his mouth, gasped for air instinctively. His eyes were still red, and he rasped angrily, "Get lost!"

Guan Junshan looked down at him, his expression complicated. His phone had been tossed somewhere and, after a short ring, fell silent. The room fell quiet again, with only the hum of the ceiling ventilator working tirelessly overhead.

"One last time." Guan Junshan wiped the tears from the corner of his eye with his thumb, softening his voice. "Do you love me or not?"

If he hadn't asked, it might have been fine. But hearing this, Lin Haoda couldn't hold back anymore. Tears poured out even more fiercely, and he couldn't speak at all.

It was as if all his grievances had finally found an outlet.

Guan Junshan let out a quiet sigh, and at last, unable to restrain himself, he leaned down.

Lin Haoda was completely exhausted, wanting to push him away but unable to even lift his hands. Guan Junshan occasionally loosened his hold, letting him catch his breath, pushing him back just a little, and using his fingers to part his sweat-drenched bangs. "Now that I know you like it, I won't force you anymore."

Lin Haoda gradually steadied his breathing and opened his eyes to look at him. There were clearly still tears in his eyes, glossy and shimmering with moisture, but his gaze was direct and clear—just like the first time they met.

Guan Junshan touched his eyes again, not knowing what to do with him. "If you like it, just nod."

After a long moment, a slight tremor came from his arm. Lin Haoda nodded, then didn't dare to look at him, twisted out of his embrace, pulled up the blanket, and curled into it.

Guan Junshan stared at the smooth nape of his neck exposed above the blanket, his eyes dark and unfathomable. After a while, he spoke, "That's good. Leave the rest to me."

Lin Haoda honestly couldn't recall how, after their big argument that night, something else ended up happening between them.

After a brief rest, the second time around, they switched to facing each other. Guan Junshan was bare-chested, his abs hard, occasionally digging into Lin Haoda.

But Lin Haoda never once cried out in pain.

They kept going until the sky outside the window began to show a hint of pale, hazy blue. Once the bathtub was nearly full, Guan Junshan picked up the exhausted Lin Haoda, who couldn't speak anymore, and carried him inside to clean him again.