Chapter 77: Playing a Role - Drop Dead.

He Guan couldn't possibly keep going to the therapy center. Given the previous events on the cruise, he speculated their main battleground to be on the ship.

Moreover, the fact they brought out Lou Dongzang today proves that a conflict between He Guan and Lou Dongzang was expected by them.

Lou Dongzang, after disappearing for weeks, now wishes to align with He Guan to prevent further complications.

Yet, he's unaware that He Guan is accompanied by the police and that He Guan himself has become involved.

He Guan had been pondering why he was detained by the waiter. He suspects that he is a crucial element in either Lou Junduo's or Yan Fengqing's plans.

And Lou Dongzang wants to extricate He Guan from this matter, even if He Guan doesn't even know what's truly going on.

Now, by saying this, He Guan is simply clarifying his stance to Lou Dongzang.

He's already involved.

Protecting him is futile, unless the situation is resolved. Otherwise, Lou Dongzang's efforts are merely in vain.

Lou Dongzang tilts his head to kiss him.

The kiss is soft, a mere brush against the lips, lightly tasting, then quickly pulling away, leaving no trace.

Lou Dongzang pulls back, resuming the earlier argumentative tone, asking, "Who's this woman?"

He Guan chuckles, "Which woman? Oh, you mean Xiaoyu? She's far better than you..."

But as he speaks, his gaze is fixated on Lou Dongzang's eyes.

The difference between seeing and not seeing is vast.

It's like night and day.

Those eyes, inherently crystal clear, now sparkle with life, staring intently, clinging to He Guan's face as if unwilling to let go, giving He Guan the illusion of being tightly embraced.

Lou Dongzang lowers his eyes in thought, a fleeting smile appearing on his typically stoic face, holding He Guan's neck to stifle his words.

The second kiss.

While the kiss seems gentle at first, it quickly becomes impassioned, their lips and tongues intertwining. Clearly, it's for show.

He Guan, breathless from the kiss, pushes him away, exclaiming muffled words, "Mmm... Go away! Kissing you for what?"

But when Lou Dongzang actually tries to pull away, He Guan bites his tongue's tip.

An alarm interrupts their kiss.

He Guan coughs, pushing Lou Dongzang's face away. Due to the recent kiss, his voice softens, "Three minutes are up! Enough with the sentimentality, remove these cups first."

Lou Dongzang, without leaving, sadly begins to remove the cups, murmuring, "Guan Guan."

Only after the cups are removed does He Guan, wrapped in his bathrobe, sit up. Seeing Lou Dongzang approaching, he playfully pushes his face away, feigning anger, "Go away!"

Yet his actions contradict his words.

His fingers linger on Lou Dongzang's face, gently pushing it aside, teasingly caressing.

As Lou Dongzang is pushed away, his gaze remains locked onto He Guan.

He Guan sits on the bed, swinging his legs leisurely, finishing his statement.

"Lou Dongzang, after weeks of not coming home and with our agreement expiring, I've decided to break up with you. Do you understand?"

"We have no ties now. Don't be so clingy. If one didn't know better, they'd think I'm the one who wronged you."

"I see you're doing well in your career now, so let's each go our separate ways. Besides, I've found someone new. Didn't you hear? I was just on the phone with her."

"I still prefer women, after all."

"What are you doing—don't grab me!"

Lou Dongzang takes a step forward, seizing He Guan's fingers.

Though He Guan seems to shout loudly, it's merely for show. In reality, he offers no resistance. He entwines their fingers, casually sets his phone aside, and playfully pinches Lou Dongzang's waist.

Hard, muscular.

Lou Dongzang quickly relents, standing before him, allowing He Guan's playful advances.

Lou Dongzang appears to be in good shape. Whatever he's been up to, he looks more robust than before. Though slim in clothing, his body is chiseled beneath, more defined than ever.

At least he hasn't been mistreated. If only he could strip down and reveal a better view than before...

He Guan quickly dismisses his wandering thoughts.

Lou Dongzang ties up his bathrobe for him, saying, "He Guan, the situation is complex. I can't just be dumped by you without reason. At least give me a chance to explain."

He Guan's voice cools, spreading his arms for Lou Dongzang to tie his belt: "What's there to explain? I don't want to hear it now. Shut up and let me go. Stop holding onto me. Consider this a warning."

Pulling the bathrobe belt tight, with an even colder voice, Lou Dongzang inquires, "What should I do for you to break up with her? Anything else goes, but I can't allow a third person in our home."

He ties the belt into a perfect bow, then smooths out He Guan's collar.

His touch is gentle, but his voice frosty.

Between the two present, it's a toss-up as to whose acting is more convincing. It's hard to tell.

He Guan retorts, "Lou Dongzang, do you really have no shame? Are you that willing to be the third wheel? Truth be told, not only is there a third person at home, but also a fourth, and soon a fifth will join..."

In extreme rigidity, Lou Dongzang cuts him off, "Whatever you say goes. As you wish, just don't bring anyone else home."

He Guan grips his collar, playing with his Adam's apple, chuckling, "Home? Interesting. You never return, yet you still call it home? So tell me, what were you thinking, walking away in the rain that day? Speak up. If you explain well, I won't bring anyone home."

Tickled, Lou Dongzang lowers his voice, warning him menacingly, "He Guan, you shouldn't treat me this way."

With feigned innocence, He Guan challenges, "I shouldn't treat you this way? Don't you want to prevent me from bringing others home? Fine, explain. If you're clear, I won't trouble you. What have you been up to? Have you evolved into a tight-lipped person?"

He playfully rubs his dangling leg against Lou Dongzang's pants, creating a rustling sound.

Lou Dongzang firmly grips his ankle, caressing it, "... on the ship."

The residual warmth from the medicinal oil on his hands is felt on He Guan's ankle—warm and utterly comfortable.

He Guan jests, "On the ship, on the ship, I've heard it so much I could get calluses on my ears. Were you giving massages to sailors on the ship?"

Lou Dongzang: "...Hmm."

He Guan's tone became suddenly intense, he grabbed the medicinal oil from beside him and threw it, "Do you think I believe you? Lou Dongzang, at least make your lies convincing!"

The aroma of the medicinal oil began to spread, filling the room with a rich fragrance.

Lou Dongzang could feel the vibrations of He Guan's body from his acting, which transmitted to the ankle he was holding, involuntarily making him smile.

After a moment, He Guan caught his breath, seeing the smile, he gestured a cross with his fingers.

Lou Dongzang: "?"

He Guan typed on his phone and showed him: [Stop laughing. If you keep it up, mind you, I'm not dressed yet.]

It took Lou Dongzang a moment to find his voice: "...He Guan."

His voice even wavered for a moment, as if pleading.

As for whom he's pleading to...

Hmm...

He Guan: "Pleading won't help. Either you take me to where you work, or I'll go home to cook for my current partner. Xiao Yu is getting impatient."

Lou Dongzang exclaimed, "Don't rush..."

He Guan moved his ankle and said, "Enough talk. Decide. You have two minutes. Before I finish dressing and walk out of this door, make up your mind. If not, I'm never coming back, and you can forget about coming home too. Stay here and work forever. We'll go our separate ways."

He began to open the package with the clothes the attendant had brought.

For a moment, only the sound of crinkling plastic filled the room.

With his back to Lou Dongzang, as he adjusted his robe, it hiked up slightly, revealing the soft curve of his legs and a fleeting glimpse of his thigh.

Lowering his robe, He Guan felt as if he were wearing a skirt, especially with the continuous gaze on him from behind.

He Guan rubbed his ear, finding it a bit difficult.

It was somewhat embarrassing.

Since the moment he could see, Lou Dongzang's eyes remained fixed on He Guan, making him feel on fire. Even when he occasionally looked away, his gaze soon returned, lingering on him as if tangible.

It was only slightly better with his back turned.

Lou Dongzang: "I can bring you, but..."

He Guan: "But what?"

Lou Dongzang: "But you can't bring her along."

He Guan had his hand on the doorknob, but at those words, he walked back to face Lou Dongzang.

He steeled himself, enduring the awkward discomfort of being scrutinized. Feeling as if every inch of him had been touched by a gaze, he tried to distract himself by doing something else.

With a mocking smile, He Guan slapped his face lightly and said, "Do you think you're in a position to negotiate with me? Lou Dongzang, you're just an ex. Either tell me and see if I might grace you with my presence or don't say anything and watch me leave. Understand?"

A crisp sound.

They stood in a tense standoff for a few seconds.

Lou Dongzang: "...Is there no room for compromise?"

He Guan: "You know how I am. If you waste any more time, I'll leave. Five, four, three, two..."

Just as He Guan was about to finish counting, Lou Dongzang pulled a sticker from his pocket.

It was white, rectangular, a quarter of the size of a palm, wrapped in a transparent film.

He Guan: "What's this?"

Lou Dongzang succinctly replied: "A ticket."

He Guan: "Where to?"

The performance was over; it was time for He Guan to leave.

Lou Dongzang, caressing his hair with affection, said, "The day after tomorrow, at the harbor, 10 p.m., only you..."

He Guan took two stickers, laughing, "Lou Dongzang, what are you daydreaming about? Trying to negotiate with me again? Thinking we still have a marriage agreement?"

Despite the words, he offered no resistance to Lou Dongzang pulling him closer by the waist and leaned up to give him a fleeting kiss.

A touch as light as a dragonfly skimming water.

He Guan urged, "Only two tickets? Give me one more. In case I lose one, I have a backup. If Xiao Yu can't get on the boat, you'll answer to me."

Holding him by the waist, preventing further cheeky remarks, Lou Dongzang whispered, "I can give you another, but I need to stick this one on you now."

He Guan pondered for a moment, extended his hand indifferently, and said, "Hmm, that's fair. Go ahead."

Lou Dongzang unwrapped the sticker, placing its adhesive side on the back of He Guan's hand.

On the non-adhesive side of the sticker was a clear protective film. He peeled it off and threw it in the trash can.

He Guan watched as Lou Dongzang took out his phone and typed something.

[The two stickers have nothing on them. Wear them. Hand the extra one to the police. Bring it with you on the day of the boat trip, or you won't be allowed on.]

Having gotten what he wanted, He Guan didn't linger. He nodded, "I'm leaving."

Lou Dongzang stood still, making no effort to hold him back. His gaze was deep and silent, standing as if he had a lot to say, but in the end, no words left his lips.

Like a dog that waits for its owner the moment they step out the door.

As he left, He Guan encountered the attendant at the entrance, humming a tune as he took the storage locker key from him.

The attendant struck up a conversation, giving a slight bow. His gaze drifted to He Guan's wrist, noticing the sticker well-affixed to his palm, and commented, "You seem in good spirits. Did you have a good session with the masseur?"

He Guan's eyes narrowed dangerously, "Are you always this nosy? Nothing better to do?"

Naturally handsome, and of a similar height to the attendant, He Guan exuded a commanding presence, especially with those cold, narrowed eyes.

The attendant slapped himself, "My apologies for the indiscretion. I didn't mean to offend."

He Guan's expression neutralized, he nodded slightly, "Remember, if you pair me with him for massage sessions again, I won't be returning. Understood?"

The attendant: "Yes, of course."

He Guan strode out like a triumphant rooster, only relaxing once he reached home.

The family doctor introduced to him by Lou Yingjie lived right above him.

He had to ask about the item he had received...

What exactly was it?

It looked identical to the inconspicuous sticker that Jing Jiahao had applied to him during their encounter.

The very sticker that had caused an allergic reaction upon slight contact.