Chapter 56, Part II: I want you to take the initiative.

He Guan feigned composure, replying, "Of course, I'm on top. Didn't you hear me call him 'wife' during the live broadcast? And he didn't object, did he?"

Though unsure of what 'top' and 'bottom' precisely meant, he decided to bluff his way through.

Ren Ning gave him a skeptical glance, typing out: "Really? Guanzi, it's not that I don't trust you, but given your physique... can you really play that dominant role?"

He Guan breathed a sigh of relief.

This analogy made it clear to him. Being on top = the dominant role.

But he felt the need to continue his act. Also, he was genuinely irked. He rapidly typed in response.

He Guan: "???"

He Guan: "What's wrong with me? Is there something lacking about my physique?"

His original body had been that of a celebrity. He Guan was naturally lean, perhaps even a bit on the slender side.

Although he'd been eating well at home recently, he was also busy with work and didn't gain weight.

Always prideful, He Guan asserted, "Wait and see, I'll call him. Isn't it better to get the answer straight from his mouth? You'll believe it then, right?"

Ren Ning remained skeptical.

By then, the car had arrived at the entrance to the Star Domain.

Yan Xu got out, bidding farewell to the group.

Today, He Guan only had the task of picking up Ren Ning. He wouldn't be working in the afternoon.

Du Junyan drove the two directly to Ren Ning's rental place.

He Guan scrolled through his contacts, selecting the number he'd labeled as "Wife."

The call was promptly answered.

Ren Ning snatched the phone and turned on the speaker.

He Guan lunged to wrest control of the phone, but Ren Ning lifted it out of reach and pinned He Guan's arms behind him, refusing to let go.

Meanwhile, the person on the other end answered, "What's up? What made you think to call me?"

As He Guan struggled with Ren Ning for the phone, he tried to formulate a suitable response to Lou Dongzang's question: "Uh, oh, well... nothing much. I just thought of something and wanted to ask you."

There was a brief pause before Lou Dongzang asked, "Is someone with you?"

He Guan replied, "…You can tell? How? Do your ears have some kind of magic?"

Lou Dongzang chuckled, "Normally, when you call me, it's either from your office or the car. The office is quiet, and the car sounds different. Right now, it sounds tense. Is someone holding your phone?"

He Guan shot a challenging glance at Ren Ning.

His eyes seemed to spell out:

See how clever my husband is?

Ren Ning, having no choice, identified himself, "Hello, I'm Guanzi's older brother, Ren Ning."

Lou Dongzang quickly responded, "Hello, he's mentioned you before."

However, he didn't introduce himself in the same way Ren Ning had.

He Guan gave Ren Ning a glance, subtly shaking his head, signaling him not to press further.

Currently, Lou Dongzang preferred to avoid new acquaintances.

Ren Ning caught the hint and didn't press on, a mix of surprise and happiness evident.

He was pleased that He Guan had spoken about him to Lou Dongzang.

He began, "Well, it's not about anything particular, just—"

He Guan quickly interjected, "To put it simply, my brother here is suspicious of whether you're truly my husband. He's convinced I've entered a sham marriage. Darling, please don't be mad at him; he sometimes speaks without thinking..."

He emphasized the word "darling."

What He Guan said was miles away from what Ren Ning had wanted to ask.

Ren Ning glared at He Guan but, out of respect for social etiquette, held back. Moreover, his question was quite personal, so he couldn't really intervene.

He couldn't risk embarrassing He Guan in front of Lou Dongzang.

He Guan's voice gradually faded until it disappeared.

He realized the person on the other end had stopped speaking.

For once, He Guan felt a hint of unease.

Previously, he had only teasingly called Lou Dongzang "wife" in jest, always informally.

Now, if he truly expected Lou Dongzang to admit to being his spouse, He Guan wasn't sure if he'd be willing.

And He Guan suspected...

With Lou Dongzang's sharp wit, he probably deduced what Ren Ning initially intended to ask.

There was a soft chuckle from the other end before the smooth response, "Of course. Isn't he? Husband?"

His voice was so soft and low, almost ethereal, that it took He Guan back to their encounter that morning.

Overwhelmed by the endearment, He Guan scrambled to turn off the speakerphone.

Clutching the phone, he said awkwardly, "There, he's answered, brother. You heard him, right? I've turned off the speaker."

While he was addressing Ren Ning, he wanted Lou Dongzang to hear it.

Naturally, Lou Dongzang caught on, laughing lightly, "Your brother can't hear now?"

He Guan sheepishly rubbed his nose: "Mm-hmm."

Lou Dongzang continued, "Did I do well?"

He Guan: "Mm-hmm."

Lou Dongzang: "Is there a reward for me?"

He Guan closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, nodding in resignation, "...Yes."

Lou Dongzang: "Then kiss me."

He Guan, flustered: "What? Over the phone?"

Subconsciously, his gaze flickered to Ren Ning, seated beside him, eagerly awaiting more details.

Lou Dongzang clarified, "No, when you get home. I want you to take the initiative."

He Guan: "..."

Lou Dongzang: "Is that not acceptable?"

He Guan, gritting his teeth: "...Fine."

A teasing smile evident in his voice, Lou Dongzang continued, "Great, I'll wait for you. When will you be home today?"

He Guan: "Soon, on the road now. I'm dropping off my brother. I'll be home in about an hour."

Lou Dongzang instructed, "Buy me some Turtle Back Bamboo, Jade Hairpin, and Bird of Paradise from the Flower and Bird Market. If they have Alum Root, get some of that too. Any amount will do."

He Gu: "Alright, why the sudden interest in buying these?"

Lou Dongcang: "Bulb begonias are too hard to cultivate. I'm likely to kill them off, so I thought of getting something easier to care for."

He Gu chuckled, "Okay. I'll be sure to bring them back for you."

Lou Dongcang: "Alright, I'll hang up now."

He Gu: "Okay."

He Gu held his phone close to his ear, pressing it deliberately to muffle the sound, afraid that Ren Ning might overhear.

From the other end, he heard the sound suddenly draw closer, prompting a reflexive "Hmm?" from him. "What's up?"

The person on the line left a faint kiss, so soft that one would miss it if not listening intently.

He even said it with a smile.

"Nothing else, just wanted to say I'll be waiting for you."

The call ended, replaced by a busy tone.

It took He Gu a while to come back to reality. He pocketed his phone and covered his flushed face.

Ren Ning, having witnessed the entire interaction, almost dropped his jaw in astonishment. "Are you for real?"

He Gu, basking in the afterglow of the call, responded smugly, "Does it look like I'm joking?"

Ren Ning: "...You've really outdone yourself."

He Gu waved dismissively, "Get out of the car, hurry up."

Looking out of the window, Ren Ning realized they had unknowingly arrived at their destination.

He stepped out, grabbing his suitcase, and declined He Gu's offer to carry it up the stairs for him.

After a moment's hesitation, Ren Ning called out to him, "Gu-Zi."

He Gu, about to get back into the car, paused, "You have something else to say? I need to go buy flowers for my wife."

Ren Ning gazed at him for a moment, seemingly wanting to say something but held back due to mixed feelings. He couldn't help but blurt out, "Damn, just imagining you constantly talking about your wife in front of me in the future makes me feel hopeless."

He Gu flashed him the middle finger and walked away.

*

By the time He Gu returned home with the flowers, it was still early. Carrying several pots of flowers, he heard a rhythmic tapping sound coming from the courtyard.

Confused and drawn towards the sound, he followed it to its source.

At the entrance of the main compound, He Gu saw a figure.

... it was Lou Dongcang.

Lou Dongcang, with his white cane in hand, wandered around the Winter Garden.

The white cane serves as an extension of a blind person's hand.

Lou Dongcang was using it to gauge the items and space around him, tapping and sweeping the ground, trying to familiarize himself with the place mentally.

He Gu stopped in his tracks, holding the pots of flowers by the entrance, watching him intently.

The man suddenly spoke, "Move on. Don't stare at me."

Don't gaze upon this clumsy, helpless version of me.

He Gu: "... But I want to see you."

Even if he doesn't move gracefully or effortlessly, He Gu wanted to watch him.

This version of Lou Dongcang felt more real, more resilient, and to He Gu, even more... dashing.

After all, one doesn't need to be flawless to be loved and respected.

He Gu wanted to convey this sentiment, but the words eluded him.

Surely, there was a better way to say it.

Setting down the flower pots, he approached Lou Dongcang.

Lou Dongcang lifted his head, turning towards the direction of He Gu's footsteps.

He Gu wrapped his arms around him, avoiding the cane, found a comfortable spot on Lou's shoulder, and nestled in, murmuring, "I'm so tired."

He Gu nuzzled his head against Lou, eyes closed, longing for a conversation.

It was a while before Lou Dongcang responded, "Tired?"

He Gu: "My back hurts, been sitting all morning. First in the office and then in the car."

Lou Dongcang: "Well..."

He Gu: "Could you give me a massage?"

Setting his white cane against the wall, Lou Dongcang replied, "...Okay."

Lou Dongcang's reluctance to be seen stemmed from feeling... inadequate.

So, he'd become indispensable.

He'd show He Gu how much he was needed and depended upon.

He Gu wouldn't readily admit it, but the truth was undeniable. At some point, Lou Dongcang had become someone he could lean on with unwavering trust.

Lou Dongcang's hands were always on the cooler side, even more so during summer.

As He Gu entered, he draped his coat over his arm and was now only in a shirt. When Lou Dongcang's cool hand touched him through the fabric, He Gu let out a contented sigh, asking, "Am I sweating?"

Lou Dongcang: "No."

This time, He Gu was mentally prepared, and unlike yesterday, when his waist was grabbed, he only tensed up slightly, quickly relaxing under Lou's touch.

Lou Dongcang's movements massaging his back were fluid and practiced.

After all, over the days, he had touched He Gu multiple times and had often imagined He Gu resting comfortably in his embrace.

But now that it was happening so suddenly, the one who felt unprepared was Lou himself.

After methodically massaging He Gu's lower back for several minutes, Lou Dongcang stopped.

He Gu turned slightly, rubbing his nose against the side of Lou's neck, "Why did you stop?"

Lou Dongcang suddenly uttered, "He Gu, this is the second time."

He Gu: "What? The second time for what?"

As Lou Dongcang resumed the massage, he replied, "It's nothing. If you don't understand, it's okay. I'll explain later."

He Gu: "Huh? Why later? Can't you explain now?"

His voice was slightly elongated, an unconscious whimper; he didn't even realize he was being coy.

Lou Dongcang tersely denied him with two words, "Not now."

He Gu: "Tsk, so stingy... but since you've said so, I'll magnanimously wait for you."

Three times.

Only once more to go.

Holding Lou Dongcang tight, He Gu failed to see the tumultuous emotions surging in Lou's eyes.

For someone who couldn't see, the depth and intensity of emotions in Lou's gaze were astonishing, reminiscent of a brewing storm where conflict and decisions clashed.

He didn't want to let go.

He wished to keep He Gu close forever, to bind him so tightly he could never escape, to ensure he could never leave his embrace, to have him stay forever in this garden, never venturing out.

But he couldn't.

Lou Dongcang, you mustn't lose yourself.