Chapter 61: Coquetry - My love for you surpasses even my wildest imagination.

Throughout his walk down the lavender field, He Guan was filled with regret.

Regret…

Would things have been better if I hadn't given out my contact information back then?

For many days now, Chu Li's daily greetings have appeared on his private WeChat.

A message in the morning, one at noon, and another close to midnight—no extra words, as punctual as a clocking-in machine.

He Guan never responded.

At first, he promised Lou Dongcang that he wouldn't breach their agreement. Now that he's in a romantic relationship with Lou Dongcang, He Guan never considered the possibility of being with someone else, let alone give Chu Li any…

False hope.

Previously, when Chu Li mentioned his crush, He Guan let it slide. But if Chu Li truly intended to pursue it, who knows when He Guan might be exposed, leading to a string of troubles.

Thus, He Guan promptly put a stop to it.

He Guan initially asked Ren Ning to give his WeChat to Chu Li as a gesture of appeasement. But with the situation as it is now...

Chu Li might only be upset for a while, right? He should be over it by the time he debuts, shouldn't he?

Seeing that Chu Li has been doing well lately, did he move on from that ferry incident?

Were my words too harsh…?

But He Guan has other matters to attend to.

He quickly put the matter behind him and acquired the drone from Jing Jiahao.

The drone didn't have real-time transmission. According to the personal assistant, the director intended to switch to a new model with real-time transmission. However, due to the MV shoot and a visit to Miaopu, they didn't pick one in time. Now, only the SD card needs to be retrieved—fortunately preventing the spread of this incident.

He Guan confirmed with the producer: the SD card contained footage planned for the last few days, lasting thirty seconds.

The original director had left, and the next one's vision would be different. Coupled with the mediocre results from Jing Jiahao's recent shoots, it was best to discard it all.

He threw the shredded SD card into the trash bin at the entrance and drove home.

On the way, he switched on the intercom but didn't speak, turning it off three seconds later.

Then, the intercom's light switched from red to green—

Someone on the other end spoke.

"The dirty work left is none of your concern. Mr. Lou has instructed us; we'll handle it."

"Understood."

He Guan turned off the intercom, sank into a moment of silence, and suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion.

Leaning against his car seat, he felt a slight itch on the hand he had shaken with Jing Jiahao. Scratching it, he noticed that his entire hand was turning red.

He's allergic to something.

The car arrived at Zang Dong Garden's entrance. He Guan alighted, resisting the urge to scratch the itch, and answered his phone.

“Hello? Dad.”

Lou Yingjie coughed twice before saying, “He Guan, is everything alright on your end? Attorney Rong mentioned something… Do you need assistance? I can send some people over. Just be cautious.”

He Guan replied, “Dad, that won't be necessary. I just need a doctor on call. Preferably… well, an experienced psychologist or psychiatrist.”

Lou Yingjie chuckled, “I appreciate your concern, but don't expect such a doctor to be of much use for the fourth brother. He's met the best doctors across Huaiyin… and the country. Requesting a psychiatrist from me? You might as well ask for a surgeon; they'd suffice as a family doctor.”

After pondering Lou Yingjie's words, He Guan agreed, “Alright.”

Lou Yingjie continued, “Isn't it a bit inconvenient staying over there now?”

Playing innocent, He Guan responded, “Hm? Not at all. The place is spacious.”

Lou Yingjie remarked, “My boy… Do you really not understand what I'm getting at?”

He Guan chuckled, “Dad, you don't need to offer a house. Keep it for yourself. Our place is already quite ample.”

Lou Yingjie insisted, “You should have it. Everyone else does. Your family should too. You didn't even have a wedding ceremony back then; you should at least have a marital home now. Just accept this small token from me.”

The word "family" momentarily stunned He Guan.

He and Lou Dongcang truly had formed their own little family.

“You've been doing quite well lately. I look forward to seeing your results. Without saying much, you give me more peace of mind than the second and third ones… those two good-for-nothings…”

He Guan, snapping out of his reverie from the latter part of the sentence, chose to divert the topic, “Thanks, Dad. Have you been coughing a lot lately? Take care of your health as the seasons change. I'll visit you in a few days.”

Lou Yingjie responded, “You'll come to see me? That's great. I've felt a bit weary recently and wished for some company…”

He Guan confirmed, “How about this Sunday? I'll visit then.”

Lou Yingjie agreed, “It's a date then… I'll rest for a while now.”

He Guan replied, “Alright.”

Aging can be rapid, and often unexpected.

The last time He Guan met with Lou Yingjie, the elder was lively and full of jest with his friends. Today's conversation suggested that he might indeed be unwell, with noticeable fatigue in his voice.

Soon after, He Guan received a call from Attorney Rong, mentioning a property under Mr. Lou's name that would be transferred to him, and asked He Guan to prepare the necessary documents.

He Guan acknowledged each point and inquired about the property's location.

Attorney Rong sent him an address along with a map. It was centrally located, close to the company, and was a spacious ground-floor apartment in a community with excellent amenities. Access was convenient.

He Guan jotted down the house details in his notes before heading home.

As he stepped through the door, the itching in his hand subsided noticeably, and the redness faded. However, his fatigue grew.

Recently, He Guan had been experiencing this “symptom.” As he approached and entered the garden, he felt more relaxed and would involuntarily grow tired.

Entering the house, he placed his jacket on the hallway cabinet just as Lou Dongcang emerged from the study.

Lou Dongcang closed the study door behind him, remarking, "You came home early today."

By this point, He Guan's eyelids were drooping from fatigue, "Mhm... An unexpected matter came up. Once resolved, I headed straight back. So tired."

Guided by the sound of He Guan's voice, Lou Dongcang approached and tenderly caressed the back of his head.

He Guan took a step closer, embracing Lou Dongcang and murmured affectionately, "Let's go to the couch, I want to lie down..."

Lou Dongcang softly replied, "Alright."

The man in his arms, still wearing his house slippers, shuffled towards the sofa. The soft scuffling of slipper soles against the carpet echoed gently.

Noticing him about to sit on the sofa, He Guan quickly advised, "Don't sit, lie down."

Lou Dongcang: "?"

Although puzzled, he complied, shifting his position to lie horizontally on the couch.

He Guan stood by, deliberately waiting for a moment before stepping onto the sofa and draping himself over Lou Dongcang, embracing him.

Burying his face into Lou Dongcang's chest, he murmured, "Lou Dongcang, let me recharge for a bit."

The two held each other in silent embrace for a while.

Once He Guan felt re-energized and less drowsy, he chuckled softly against Lou Dongcang's chest, "You were anticipating me joining you on the sofa just now, weren't you?"

Lou Dongcang burst into laughter.

His laughter was brief, and he quickly steadied himself, holding He Guan tighter, "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. I thought..."

He Guan prompted, "Thought what?"

As he finished speaking, he felt a cool sensation by his ear, followed by a kiss.

"I thought you were coming to check on homework."

He Guan couldn't stop laughing.

As they held each other, He Guan's boisterous laughter caused both of them to shake, their mirth echoing within the confines of the sofa.

Once his laughter subsided, He Guan teased, "This 'checking homework' isn't the same as what I had in mind... is it?"

Lou Dongcang gently massaged the top of He Guan's head, replying, "That homework isn't finished yet."

Lifting his head slightly and enjoying Lou Dongcang's touch, He Guan playfully chided, "Slacking off, are we? Can't even finish three hundred words."

After being pampered for a few minutes, sensing his chin might be poking into Lou Dongcang, He Guan adjusted, nestling his face in the crook of Lou Dongcang's neck, pondering aloud, "Should we consider moving somewhere else?"

In his movements, he inevitably came closer to Lou Dongcang.

Lou Dongcang affectionately stroked He Guan's hair, replying softly, "Hmm? Why so sudden?"

He Guan confessed, "It's too inconvenient. I want to move."

When He Guan spoke with Lou Yingjie over the phone and was asked if their current place was inconvenient, he replied it wasn't and that it was quite handy.

But in conversations with Lou Dongcang, He Guan wasn't as guarded, bluntly stating...

"It's inconvenient here, I don't want to stay."

Such a tease.

Lou Dongcang: "Alright."

He Guan pondered for a moment: "But you won't be able to feed the birds or plant flowers."

Lou Dongcang: "Birds are quite a handful, requiring daily care. As for flowers, they can be potted and brought to our new home."

He Guan: "Really?"

After asking, he second-guessed himself, "But you're so familiar with this place..."

Lou Dongcang's tone hardened: "Do you plan to leave me here alone?"

He Guan: "Wait, wait! That's not what I meant. How did you jump to such a conclusion? Why did your mind wander so far off—"

His tone changed abruptly, "I apologize! Stop tickling me! Hahaha! Hands off! That's cheating!"

Their playful tussle escalated; with Lou Dongcang's impressive core strength, he sat up and chased He Guan, tickling him.

He Guan, out of breath from laughter, rested his forehead against Lou Dongcang's shoulder, gasping for air in his embrace.

Seated atop Lou Dongcang, He Guan gripped his arms tightly, dodging and pleading while panting, "Stop tickling... I can't take it anymore, really..."

Lou Dongcang withdrew his hands, listening to He Guan's labored breaths return to normal, then tenderly caressed his forehead.

After these days of adjustment, He Guan had become quite accustomed to such gestures and would even reciprocate.

For instance, now, He Guan would nuzzle back with his forehead.

But that wasn't enough.

Such a tender He Guan had chosen a moving method that Lou Dongcang would least resist.

A method of sacrificing for He Guan.

Your agreement to move represents a sacrifice for my sake, a compromise to improve our lives together. It holds great significance.

It is not "meaningless" at all.

During the period right after his blindness, Lou Dongcang often wondered: What's the purpose of his existence?

Is reading incomprehensible books and living dependent on others meaningful?

It might be better to just end it all.

However, after He Guan's arrival, especially since He Guan promised to give it a try with him, that thought hasn't crossed his mind for a long time.

He began to have expectations.

He would anticipate the tone of He Guan's voice every time he returned home. Was he too exhausted from work? Did something happen during the day?

Could he confide in him? Could he rely on him? Could he lie in his arms, close to him, and share his feelings?

Can we rest together after meals? Can I suddenly lean on his lap while reading a book? Can we check on the progress of the flowers we've planted together?

Yes, we can.

Everything He Guan does suggests, we can.

We can hold hands, embrace, kiss, indulge in trivial activities, and share laughter.

And none of these things ever feel... meaningless to him.

This intensifies his desire to see like never before.

Initially, he yearned to see what He Guan looked like, but not anymore.

That wish has now taken a backseat.

Currently, what he finds overwhelmingly irresistible is...

The desire to gaze into He Guan's eyes and say...

I love you.

I deeply love you.

I love you more than I ever imagined.