CFRFGC Chapter 106

⌈As your boyfriend, I must help you.⌋

After the confession, it seemed as though not much had changed.

After having dinner together, Lu Ran and Ji Min returned to the second floor.

Exiting the elevator, Lu Ran turned his head to glance at his room on the east side of the hallway.

Then he twisted his neck to look toward Ji Min’s room at the far west end, his gaze brimming with unconcealed curiosity.

“What are you looking at?” Ji Min raised an eyebrow.

“Nothing!” The young man quickly shook his head.

However, his dark, sparkling eyes darted around restlessly, making it obvious that it was far from “nothing”.

Ji Min pressed his fingers against his temple.

Then, without warning, he reached out and patted the young man’s waist, saying helplessly, “Go to bed.”

The unexpected smack made Lu Ran jump forward.

Even though their relationship had suddenly shifted, Lu Ran still felt a mix of respect for Ji Min as both an elder and his boss. He couldn’t adjust right away.

So, he obediently replied with an “Oh,” and walked back to his own room.

Standing outside the elevator, Ji Min watched the young man’s figure disappear into his room.

He lingered for a moment in the dimly lit hallway.

Realizing how dazed he was, he shook his head with a smile and turned to his study to deal with work.

Lu Ran didn’t have much homework to do.

But lying in bed that night, he couldn’t fall asleep, tossing and turning endlessly.

After what felt like the nth roll, he finally flipped over, grabbed Da Huang who was sleeping on the carpet, and hauled the dog onto the bed.

The young man hugged the little dog and gave it an enthusiastic rub several times.

Then, with a swift movement, he sat up on the bed like a carp flipping out of the water, looking smugly at the dog and declaring: “Da Huang, I’m amazing! I managed to get myself a boyfriend!”

Da Huang yawned lazily, clearly unimpressed by his claim of “getting”.

Still caught up in his own amazement, Lu Ran sighed, “Turns out those online tutorials are really effective.”

After saying this, he placed the dog across from him.

Sitting cross-legged, he straightened his posture and spoke to Da Huang in all seriousness.

“Da Huang, you need to remember—our boss is no longer just your and my boss. Now, he’s your other dad!”

The moment those words left his mouth, Lu Ran found it hilarious and rolled onto the bed, laughing while holding Da Huang.

The next morning, after a night’s sleep, the memories of the previous day felt hazy and indistinct.

Lu Ran, like usual, went downstairs with Da Huang after freshening up, his mind preoccupied with worries about his midterm exam results.

It wasn’t until he entered the dining room and saw the man waiting by the dining table that his thoughts shifted.

The moment the man turned his head to look at him, the joy hidden deep in Lu Ran’s heart blossomed like tender shoots breaking through the snow.

Lu Ran’s eyes lit up and he immediately greeted him loudly: “Good morning, boyfriend!”

His voice was extremely cheerful, without the slightest trace of embarrassment.

Butler Chen, who was busy arranging dishes in the dining room, instantly displayed a gossip-filled expression.

He glanced at the excited young man walking over, then shifted his gaze to Ji Min at the table.

His look seemed to say: “Finally couldn’t hold back, huh?”

Ji Min, caught off guard by the young man’s open enthusiasm and direct address, turned red in the face.

He lowered his head and gave a light cough, trying to suppress the heat rising to his ears.

“What’s with all the shouting so early in the morning?” the man said softly.

Butler Chen: “…”

If only the corners of his mouth weren’t curved up so much, that tone might have sounded more convincing.

Lu Ran grinned as he approached the table.

Sitting down next to Ji Min, his dark eyes darted toward him mischievously, as if he were cooking up some kind of mischief.

But after sneaking a glance at Butler Chen and the chefs coming and going with breakfast, he quietly reined in his thoughts and lowered his gaze.

After breakfast, Ji Min’s assistant hurried in, looking flustered.

There had been a lot on Ji Min’s plate recently, which meant the whole team had been running non-stop.

The assistant, spotting Lu Ran in the room, didn’t seem to mind and immediately began asking about work-related matters.

But Ji Min cut him off, saying, “No rush.”

He pulled out a napkin to wipe his hands, then turned to the young man beside him and asked, “Are you full?”

“Huh?” Lu Ran looked at him, puzzled.

“If you’re done eating, I’ll take you to school,” Ji Min said.

Lu Ran was a little surprised.

He asked, “But haven’t you been really busy these past few days?”

Ji Min paused slightly in the middle of wiping his hands.

Ji Min: Some people could be truly dense at times, yet sharp enough when it mattered.

Even with Lu Ran being preoccupied with exams and confessing his feelings, he had still noticed Ji Min’s busyness.

Ji Min looked at him, sighed softly, and said, “No matter how busy I am, I still have to take my boyfriend to school.”

Though his tone appeared calm, from last night to this morning, Ji Min’s inner thoughts had been anything but calm.

He found himself distracted more often than usual and his work efficiency had dropped noticeably.

It wasn’t until they got in the car, with the scenery outside the window gradually shifting closer to Y University, that Ji Min’s mind began to wander again.

What replayed in his head was the young man’s earnest voice from yesterday, introducing himself: “I’m 19 years old this year and currently studying at Y University…”

Unconsciously, the corners of his lips curled upward.

Thinking back to how he, almost on impulse, had gone along with Lu Ran yesterday and given his own “self-introduction”, Ji Min couldn’t help but feel amused.

He turned his head to glance at the young man beside him.

Noticing Ji Min’s gaze, Lu Ran instinctively wanted to call him “Boss”.

But after mumbling to himself for a moment, he swallowed the word and asked instead, “What are you looking at me for?”

“Yesterday… you were pretty well-prepared.”

Ji Min suddenly felt like teasing him and asked on purpose, “You even prepared your health checkup report. Were you not worried I’d reject you?”

Hearing this, Lu Ran gave Ji Min a puzzled look and replied, “Why would I worry? Haven’t you always been head over heels for me?”

That familiar confidence radiated from his words.

Ji Min: “…”

So, you’ve figured it all out, huh?

Before long, they arrived at the gates of Y University.

The car slowed to a stop.

But after the car came to a complete halt, Lu Ran didn’t get out right away.

With the engine turned off, the car became unusually quiet.

Outside the window, the campus was bustling as students rushed to make it to their first class of the morning.

Day students and returning faculty bustled about outside, filling the air with lively, noisy energy.

Lu Ran reached out to grip the door handle.

He held it lightly for a moment, then turned his head to look at Ji Min.

Just in time to meet the man’s gaze.

“You’ve been staring at me like this since breakfast. What are you looking at?” Ji Min asked softly.

Lu Ran glanced toward the front seats.

The partition in the car hadn’t been lowered.

The seats were tall, with wide backs that completely blocked the driver and Butler Chen sitting in the front passenger seat from view.

It truly felt like no one was paying attention to what was happening back here.

Lu Ran withdrew his fingers from the door handle.

Carefully, he scooted closer to Ji Min’s wheelchair.

Leaning over the armrest, he tilted his face upward and stared at the man, speaking in a quiet, breathy tone: “Boyfriend, give me a kiss.”

Ji Min was momentarily stunned.

But before he could respond, the young man boldly leaned in, crashing into the corner of his lips.

A fresh, soft sensation.

The one who cautiously initiated the kiss was ready to flee as soon as it was over.

But just as Lu Ran tried to pull back, he was stopped.

A firm hand clasped the back of his head.

The man’s heated breath brushed over him as their lips met again, this time directly.

Ji Min’s hand, broad and strong, pressed against the back of Lu Ran’s head with unyielding strength.

The warmth of his breath was almost searing, adding an unexpected intensity to what should have been a light, tender goodbye kiss.

Lu Ran was startled for a moment but kept his head tilted up, obedient to the point of heartbreak.

The pressure from Ji Min’s hand involuntarily grew stronger and his breathing deepened slightly.

As their joined lips parted slightly and the urge to go deeper surged within him, Ji Min forcibly reined himself in.

He reminded himself of the inappropriate time and place.

With great difficulty, he turned his head aside and pulled away from Lu Ran’s lips.

A low breath escaped him, heavy and restrained.

After a long pause, Ji Min ultimately couldn’t resist and leaned in to nibble on the tip of the young man’s ear.

His teeth gently grazed the soft edge.

“Ah!” Lu Ran quickly covered his ear with his hand.

His cheeks flushed bright red.

Though he had been the one to initiate mischief, he now seemed a bit embarrassed.

He sneaked a glance toward the front seats.

Seeing that everything was still and quiet, with only the two wide, tall seatbacks standing in view, he let out a small sigh of relief.

Then he threw a glance at Ji Min, signaling that the people in the front hadn’t noticed.

Ji Min saw his expression and sighed softly near his ear.

“Fool, there’s a rearview mirror.”

Lu Ran: “…”

His face turned crimson instantly.

He didn’t dare look up at the rearview mirror and instead hurriedly pulled open the car door, ready to hop out.

Just as he was about to leave, Ji Min seemed to remember something.

He reached out to grab Lu Ran and said, “I’ve arranged for a few more people to follow you. Be mindful of them. And even if you’re going to the lab, let them stay close.”

Lu Ran: “…”

Though he understood rationally that Ji Min was doing this for his safety, afraid something might happen to him again, the thought of having so many people tailing him made him instinctively uncomfortable.

Noticing his displeasure, Ji Min leaned in and placed a light kiss on his lips, saying, “Please?”

Lu Ran: “…Fine.”

Dazed, the young man got out of the car.

After closing the door, he suddenly remembered he had forgotten his backpack.

He quickly opened the car door again, grabbed his bag, waved at Ji Min inside, and then rushed into the school just in time.

Ji Min lowered the car window and watched Lu Ran’s figure disappear into the distance.

Only then did he pull his gaze back and dial his assistant.

As the assistant reported his packed schedule, Ji Min skipped over a series of important business activities and said, “Have the trust company people come over first.”

“Understood,” the assistant replied.

But after a moment of thought, he asked, “Since this is related to Young Master Lu Ran, should we wait until he’s free this weekend…”

Ji Min lowered his eyes and replied calmly,

“It’s nothing important. Why would I involve him?”

For the next two weeks, Ji Min worked tirelessly, almost without rest.

Only after the work for the next six months had been arranged did he finally take a breather.

He urged Dr. Keimler to speed up his preparations and began adjusting his own physical condition as well.

By the weekend, Ji Min still hadn’t fully cleared his schedule.

When Lu Ran saw his agenda, he eagerly prepared himself.

As Ji Min was about to leave the house, Lu Ran slipped into his car with him, deliberately wearing his favorite pair of shoes.

Seeing the young man’s excited demeanor, Ji Min froze for a moment, then felt a pang of guilt.

Could he be expecting… a date?

He’d been so busy lately. And as someone with zero experience in relationships, the concept of “dating” hadn’t even crossed Ji Min’s mind.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, he said apologetically, “Sorry… This time, I’m just attending a salon. It won’t take long—I only need to make an appearance. After it’s over…”

“Huh?”

Lu Ran looked visibly disappointed. “Just making an appearance? But I’ve been preparing for this for ages!”

Ji Min was taken aback.

“Preparing for what?” he asked.

“Of course, preparing to do what boyfriends are supposed to do!” Lu Ran declared.

Ji Min had to admit, his thoughts briefly strayed.

But before he could linger on the idea, Lu Ran enthusiastically rubbed his hands together and said,

“I’ve been so busy earning credits lately that I haven’t had the chance to attend any events with you.”

He even sighed, looking concerned. “Who knows what kind of rumors have been spreading? This time, I’ve got to help you clear things up properly!”

Ji Min: “…”

Great. It seemed he wasn’t the only one who’d forgotten about dates.

Here was someone else completely immersed in their previous “work mode”.

But still…

As someone in a romantic relationship, do you need your partner to play a role to prove you’re capable?

That was just embarrassing.

Ji Min closed his eyes briefly and tactfully said, “Didn’t you tell me before that I’m too vain and that it’s not a good thing?”

Lu Ran looked at him and said earnestly, “Being vain isn’t great. But since you are, as your boyfriend, I have to support you!”

Ji Min: “…”

Thank you.

He was genuinely moved.

As soon as they got out of the car, Ji Min once again witnessed a scene that used to give him a headache.

The young man stiffened his back, walking with an unnatural gait in his legs.

This time, the posture was far more convincing than before.

Anyone unaware of the truth might genuinely believe something had happened between them last night—something so intense it left such an effect after a sleepless night.

Lu Ran even turned his head to seek validation, proudly saying,

“Does it look real? I really did my homework this time.”

As he said this, his ears turned faintly red for a moment.

But soon after, he excitedly looked toward the venue, seemingly ready to make a grand entrance.

Ji Min stared at him for a while, then suddenly said, “There’s a posture that would look even more convincing.”

“Huh? What is it?” Lu Ran asked, a hint of competitiveness in his voice.

After asking, he saw the man leaning back against the seat, his gaze lowered.

Slowly and deliberately, Ji Min extended his finger, pointing at his own knee, and said, “Sit here.”

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