Chapter 37: An Excuse – Is Displaying Authority a Problem?

The restroom door was frosted glass.

He Gu, noticing that Lou Dong's hand wasn't on the door, opened it and announced, "I'm coming out."

Lou Dong: "You smell good."

He Gu: "..."

Lou Dong: "He Gu, don't avoid me."

He Gu: "Who's avoiding you? I'm acting completely normal now."

Lou Dong: "Are you?"

Before He Gu could finish his sentence, the man before him took a step closer.

He held his breath for a few seconds.

Lou Dong stood still without attempting to get any closer, observing him.

On the surface, his eyes seemed faultless. No trace of sleep deprivation or bloodshot veins. No one would suspect, just by looking, that he was blind.

It was as if he was saying: See, you're still bothered by it.

After a few seconds under his gaze, He Gu, feeling defeated, said: "It's just... it makes me uncomfortable. Don't push me. Let me take a moment on my own."

Lou Dong: "I can wait. But aren't you attending the dance later?"

He Gu: "Are you going? If so, we'd have to dance together."

Lou Dong: "Right. You tense up like a log when I get close to you now, but you're promising me a dance later?"

He Gu: "..."

With difficulty, He Gu replied: "... Let me think about it."

True to Lou Dong's words, He Gu was struggling to come to terms with being kissed by another man.

Lou Dong: "I'll give you ten minutes."

He Gu: "What? I didn't bring my phone..."

Lou Dong: "There's a clock here."

He Gu: "Really? I didn't hear it."

Lou Dong: "Listen closely. It's ticking."

He Gu turned his head to see the mechanical clock on the wall.

Lou Dong: "Ten minutes. After that, join me downstairs. We can skip the dance."

He Gu, sitting on the sofa, remarked, "Feels like you've issued me some sort of ultimatum."

Lou Dong: "Indeed, I have."

He Gu, leaning back on the sofa and looking up at the ceiling, said resignedly, "You're really pushing my limits. Ever consider my orientation?"

Lou Dongzang: "But you promised me."

He Guan leaned back against the sofa and chuckled, exhaling upwardly: "Using a feather as a command arrow, Lou Dongzang, I've seen right through you."

Lou Dongzang slightly curved his lips, offering no reply.

The fact that He Guan didn't deny it means the statement holds weight.

Sigh...

How can someone be so invasive of one's private space?

This was indeed... something He Guan hadn't expected.

Lou Jun Duo's sudden appearance was an unforeseen circumstance, especially when He Guan had already braced himself for an approach.

But to think that the other party didn't intervene and instead turned away in disdain.

Such unconventional gentlemanly behavior.

It's almost as if he's afraid of Lou Dongzang.

After a moment of thought and still puzzled, He Guan asked, "How did you know Lou Jun Duo would leave?"

From a few steps away, Lou Dongzang stood still: "Perhaps he thought I was seeking revenge."

He Guan: "??"

Lou Dongzang: "Back in school, he often took away those who confessed to me, just like a moment ago, kissing them in front of me."

It took He Guan several seconds to understand: "He took away those who liked you?"

Lou Dongzang: "Yes."

He Guan: "When?"

Lou Dongzang: "Middle school? High school? It's been like this for so long, almost a tradition."

He Guan: "You two are of the same age."

Lou Dongzang: "Yes."

They were so alike in many ways, even sharing the same age, both from the Lou family.

However, due to Lou Dongzang's excellence and seniority, Lou Jun Duo wasn't favored in the Lou family during their childhood.

Coupled with Lou Yi's infrequent visits to the main house, it was assumed from the day Lou Dongzang was born...

That he would be the next head of the Lou family.

He Guan: "Having many family members is... inconvenient at times."

Lou Dongzang: "Do you regret it?"

He Guan: "Where is this coming from?"

Lou Dongzang: "I mean marrying me."

He Guan pondered for a moment: "Not at all. It's actually quite lively. I've always been an only child, so I envy you."

Lou Dongzang hesitated slightly: "You have no siblings?"

He Guan grinned, showing his teeth: "Of course not. Why would I lie to you?"

Lou Dongzang: "I forgot to apologize for asking Lou Qiu to tease you earlier."

He Guan picked up a throw pillow to toss at him: "If my sister heard what you said..."

Lou Dongzang caught the pillow with pinpoint accuracy: "He Guan."

He Guan: "Yes?"

Lou Dongzang: "How many years is your contract for?"

He Guan: "Two..."

Before he could finish, he realized the contract was just something he had made up, yet Lou Dongzang remembered it.

Left with no choice, He Guan had to spin another lie: "Two years."

Lou Dongzang: "That's not too long."

He Guan: "Why bring it up now?"

Lou Dongzang: "He Guan, I won't terminate the contract on my own."

Holding the emerald velvet throw pillow, he looked towards He Guan. Although He Guan couldn't see him, he felt his gaze sweeping over him, but never settling on his face.

Lou Dongzang continued: "During the contract, my family is your family. My eldest brother does prioritize wealth due to historical reasons which I can't intervene in. My second brother and third sister also place importance on inheritance. But aside from that, they're all pretty decent people."

Lou Dongzang: "You can use my things freely."

"But He Guan."

"Even if it's a contractual marriage, we are still married."

"If a situation like this arises again, I'll react the same way."

"Do you plan to keep this up for the next two years?"

It's the most economical, convenient, and normal way.

Is there an issue with one of the newlyweds asserting his authority to others?

None.

He Guan: "So you're suggesting I just accept things as they are?"

Lou Dongzang nodded gracefully: "If you're willing."

In truth, if He Guan isn't willing, there's not much Lou Dongzang can do.

Now, he can only cling to the premise of 'willingness' to coax He Guan.

He Guan: "But I..."

Lou Dongzang: "But for now, you're struggling with this, so I'm simply offering a reminder."

These truths have always held and are inevitable during the course of their agreement.

He Guan blinked, looking at the gentle and grand painting on the ceiling.

Lou Dongzang was right.

Regardless, He Guan is somewhat part of the Lou family. In Lou Dongzang's eyes, He Guan is here to assist him.

Now, this man is flustered, all because of a mere kiss.

He Guan's current hesitancy over their intimate contact seemed more like...

Being overly sensitive.

He Guan sighed: "Master negotiator. I get it. I'm just a pawn you use to irritate Lou Jun Duo."

Clearly, he found this explanation more palatable, visibly relaxing.

Having come to terms with it, he started discussing other matters with Lou Dongzang: "When you have time, teach me. I have a meeting with the department head in a few days, and I'm not sure how to handle it."

Lou Dongzang: "What happened?"

He Guan: "The fashion department. The outfits they've provided for the idols in recent years are questionable. The department head is an old hand and uncooperative; I'm thinking of letting him go."

Lou Dongzang: "That's not ideal."

He Guan: "Recruiting someone else seems even harder... I'd hoped to talk to him and smooth the transition rather than let him slack off."

Lou Dongzang: "Issue a firm directive to HR, show no leniency. If he's an old hand and still doesn't get your message, he'll only become a problem later. You'll be there for the transition, won't you?"

He Guan: "Yes."

Lou Dongzang: "Has it been ten minutes?"

He Guan stood up: "More than that. Fifteen minutes."

Lou Dongzang extended his hand towards him: "The ball is about to start. We're running late."

He Guan gathered his thoughts.

The hand Lou Dongzang stretched out hung in mid-air, motionless.

He reached out, fingers slightly uplifted, in a tender...waiting posture.

Awaiting for you to place your hand in mine, so I can grasp it tightly.

Let's go together.

He Guan: "No choice then."

He almost whispered the words, snatching the throw pillow from Lou Dongzang's hand and tossing it back onto the sofa. Taking his hand, he said, "Let's go."

It felt just as He Guan had imagined.

Cool, dry, and firm.

*

The ball was about to commence. In the grand hall, a Western orchestra sat poised and ready, as if waiting for an inspection, preparing to play.

After the dinner, aside from some older guests who had departed early, the rest remained in the banquet hall, chatting with Lou Yingjie.

The younger attendees, who had come with their elders, had already grouped together, sharing news about Huaiyin, or the entire southern region.

He Guan and Lou Dongzang found a spot near the dance floor to sit.

Having been recuperating at home, Lou Dongzang hadn't been out in a while.

Few of his peers had achieved what he had, and perhaps due to He Guan's presence, they found it hard to approach him.

Seeing this, He Guan felt relieved. Engaging in social niceties now might lead him to blunders.

He initially thought he'd step onto the dance floor only when necessary, but then Lou Qiushou approached, intending to whisk Lou Dongzang away.

He Guan demanded a reasonable explanation.

Lou Qiushou hadn't expected such stringency: "What, afraid I'll take my brother away? You..."

He Guan: "It's not that complicated."

Lou Qiushou: "Oh? Do tell."

He Guan: "If you want to take him, fine, but I'm coming too. After all, he's my spouse. I can't just let him go."

Moreover, up to this point, He Guan wasn't sure if Lou Qiushou knew about Lou Dongzang's blindness. It was safer to assume she didn't.

Lou Qiushou's gaze shifted between the two, noticing Lou Dongzang's lack of reaction to the word "spouse" and his playful interaction with He Guan's fingers. She discerned the decision-maker in their duo.

Lou Qiu Shou compromised, "Then you can only wait at the door."

He Guan asked, "Shall we go?"

The one being asked wasn't Lou Qiu Shou.

He Guan was inquiring whether Lou Dong Cang would agree.

If Lou Dong Cang refuses, naturally He Guan wouldn't have to accept the terms either.

Lou Dong Cang responded, "Hmm, let's go."

He Guan said, "Alright, let's move."

As they stood up, they naturally drew the attention of someone in the corner who had been watching them all along.

When Lou Dong Cang entered, He Guan deliberately took a glance inside.

At least within his line of sight, there was no third person in the room other than Lou Dong Cang and Lou Qiu Shou.

They might be discussing inheritance matters.

Lou Qiu Shou and Lou Dong Cang were closest. Now that Lou Dong Cang was indifferent about the inheritance, Lou Qiu Shou's first instinct would be to rally him.

He Guan stood at the door, leaning against the wall, looking down and counting the patterns on the carpet.

Debut songs... He Guan planned to write three. Although he majored in composition, he had taken courses in songwriting and had been best at it, having written many before.

For the arrangements of the songs thereafter... He Guan didn't intend to do it himself.

Simply put, arranging was too mentally draining.

In the group, Gan Qing was musically trained and had composed before, but his style was a bit naive. He Guan was considering having him compose one of the songs.

Creative teams tend to last longer. This way, even if they lost their company support later on, they could still release new songs on their own.

He was still pondering whether the other two songs should be in the same style as the main track when he was distracted by someone walking briskly in the hallway.

Lou Jun Duo stood before him, eyes blazing, clearly on the verge of exploding, "He Guan, come with me."