Lu Xingmian’s message had just been sent when their eyes met.
Lu Xingmian: [Ge, I had braised pork ribs and mapo tofu at the school cafeteria.]
Braised pork ribs? Mapo tofu? Lu Shiran looked at the person eating a “big meal” with a half-smile.
Lu Xingmian calmly finished his noodles, took a slurp of the soup, pushed the instant noodles aside, and walked toward Lu Shiran. He then jumped into his arms and held him tight.
“Ge, you’re back.”
He said he would be back the day after tomorrow. How did he come back today? Lu Xingmian missed him so much.
Lu Shiran hugged the person he hadn’t been able to hold for several days while taking a deep breath of his scent. That sweet scent unique to Lu Xingmian finally made him understand what it meant to come home. He had someone he missed dearly waiting for him, and the moment he saw Lu Xingmian, his whole heart melted. All his fatigue completely disappeared.
This person “teased” and “seduced” him in various ways through their phone every day, and today he finally got to hold him in his arms.
“Zai Zai, I’m back,” Lu Shiran said, his voice filled with an overwhelming emotion.
Lu Xingmian was also incredibly excited to see Lu Shiran. He still couldn’t quite believe that Lu Shiran had suddenly returned.
But he was truly holding Lu Shiran right now, hearing him call him Zai Zai, hearing his breathing, and feeling Lu Shiran kissing his ear. This was real; it wasn’t a dream.
He didn’t know why, but when Lu Shiran was gone, Lu Xingmian didn’t really feel anything, probably because he had been alone for a long time and was used to it. But the moment he saw Lu Shiran, he couldn’t hold his emotion back.
Lu Shiran had left him alone at home for several days, and every night, he was the only one in their large bed.
“Ge, I missed you so much.” Lu Xingmian said, refusing to let go of Lu Shiran.
These were Lu Xingmian’s true feelings.
Hearing Lu Xingmian’s soft, slightly hurt voice, Lu Shiran’s heart ached, which was why he rushed back without a moment’s delay.
“I’m sorry. I’m back.”
Seeing Lu Xingmian eating instant noodles when he got home, Lu Shiran decided he would try to avoid business trips in the future.
They hugged quietly for a long time. Just when Lu Xingmian thought he might get away with it, Lu Shiran began “settling the score.”
“Zai Zai, were you just eating instant noodles? Where are the braised pork ribs and mapo tofu? Hmm?”
Lu Xingmian: “……” How could he still remember that?
Lu Shiran: “Zai Zai, I’ve told you before that instant noodles have no nutritional value. Why are you eating them again? You haven’t been eating instant noodles these days, have you? Didn’t you promise me something?”
Lu Xingmian quickly said, “I only had them today! And I’d just taken one bite when you just happened to see me.”
“Really?”
“Really, it’s absolutely true,” Lu Xingmian insisted. “Ge, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? Let’s go out for dinner. I’m hungry.”
As soon as he heard that Lu Xingmian hadn’t eaten, Lu Shiran immediately took him out for dinner.
On the way, Lu Xingmian asked him why he came back early, saying he wanted to pick him up when he returned.
Lu Shiran said that since the issue had been settled without trouble, he came straight back, thinking he could make it home in time to have dinner with Lu Xingmian.
Lu Shiran took Lu Xingmian to a restaurant with a great atmosphere and delicious food. The Lu clan also has business in the catering industry, and this restaurant was one of theirs.
Knowing Lu Xingmian’s taste, Lu Shiran ordered all of his favorite dishes.
When the food was served, Lu Xingmian’s eyes lit up. Although he was sentimental about the taste of instant noodles, after taking one bite of the dishes, he realized they were just so-so, and he wasn’t really craving them anymore.
Of course, compared to instant noodles, he’d rather have the grand feast in front of him, especially the live shrimp, which looked delicious. He had actually wanted to eat shrimp at noon.
Without him needing to lift a finger, Lu Shiran had already peeled and dipped the shrimp in sauce and placed it in his bowl. Lu Xingmian only had to eat.
As Lu Xingmian ate, his gaze lingered on Lu Shiran. Even the simple act of peeling shrimp looked so graceful that it heightened his appetite, and before he realized it, he had already finished a bowl of rice.
Lu Shiran looked at Lu Xingmian. “Zai Zai, have you not been eating well these past few days?”
Lu Xingmian said, “I’ve been eating well.”
This was true. He ate the snacks and fruit Lu Shiran prepared for him every day.
The refrigerator always had fresh fruit. Butler Hou would come over every day to stock the freshest fruits, vegetables, and various other fresh ingredients.
Naturally, Butler Hou chose to come while Lu Xingmian was at school, concerned that meeting him directly might make things awkward.
Lu Shiran said, “Why do I feel like you’ve gotten thinner? Before I left, you still had a little bit of fat on your face, and now it’s gone.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Xingmian touched his face. It was the same as before. He wasn’t thinner. How could Lu Shiran tell?
During dinner, Lu Shiran was looking at Lu Xingmian almost the whole time, which made Lu Xingmian feel shy, and his ears turned red.
This Lu Xingmian was completely different from the one on video calls. Lu Shiran laughed, knowing that Lu Xingmian dared to act so unscrupulously on video calls only because he was abroad.
Knowing that Lu Shiran must be tired from the long flight, they went home after dinner.
After washing away the dust of travel and changing out of his formal suit into home clothes, Lu Shiran transformed into a handsome young man.
The handsome young man walked over, picked Lu Xingmian up from the sofa, and placed him on the digital scale.
He squatted in front of Lu Xingmian to check the number, which stopped at 118.2.
He glanced at Lu Xingmian, who quietly exhaled in relief, and said in an even tone, “Zai Zai, take out what’s in your left pocket.”
Lu Xingmian was stunned and looked at his bulging pocket. He had no choice but to take out an apple. The number on the scale slowly dropped a little, but it was still set at 118.
Lu Xingmian said, “Ge, can I get down now?”
“Wait a moment.” Lu Shiran looked at Lu Xingmian again. “Zai Zai, can we also take out what’s in your right pocket? Isn’t it a bit too obvious?”
Lu Xingmian lowered his head and noticed the bulge in his pocket. Since it was clear he had already been discovered, he had no choice but to take out what was inside.
It was a can of soda.
Lu Shiran was amused. When did he put these things in his pocket? How could someone be so adorable?
After taking out everything he was carrying, Lu Xingmian watched the number on the scale slowly drop from 118 to 117.5 before it settled.
Lu Xingmian was surprised. How was that possible? He had lost half a jin! He had been eating on time and eating snacks and fruit, so how could he still lose weight? Lu Xingmian thought to himself.
Lu Shiran lifted him off the scale and looked at him meaningfully. “Zai Zai, you’ve lost weight.”
Lu Xingmian thought for a moment and said, “Maybe I lost weight because I missed you so much.”
This line hit Lu Shiran right in the heart.
Lu Xingmian felt the temperature in the room instantly rise. Before he could react, he was already pressed down on the bed by Lu Shiran. Lu Shiran’s gaze made Lu Xingmian feel hot all over.
Lu Shiran’s voice was incredibly hoarse and low, like the excited growl of a beast that had just caught its prey. Lu Shiran was holding back.
“Zai Zai, I missed you too.”
As expected of a man who accomplishes great things, the longing and desire of an entire night finally began to release at this moment.
Having not seen each other for several days, Lu Xingmian really missed Lu Shiran and quickly sank into the deep kiss.
Lu Shiran unbuttoned his shirt with both his hands and his mouth at the same time. Soon, Lu Xingmian’s clothes were completely stripped away, and his neck quickly turned a light shade of pink.
Lu Shiran’s breathing became heavier. “Zai Zai, do you remember what I said? I’d punish you if I came back and found you had lost weight.”
Lu Xingmian: “How are you going to punish me?”
Lu Shiran gently bit his ear, his voice full of temptation. “Later, you are not allowed to cry or beg for mercy.”
After an indeterminate length of time, Lu Xingmian was quietly sobbing, clutching tightly at Lu Shiran’s hair as his voice trembling.
“Ge, that’s enough, that’s enough.”
Lu Xingmian didn’t know that his tearful pleas for mercy only made a certain old man more excited.
After everything was cleaned up, Lu Xingmian lay limply on the bed.
Lu Xingmian thought it was over after Lu Shiran used his hand on him. Who would have thought he’d also use…
Lu Shiran’s kisses were far too skilled, so much so that even after one round, Lu Xingmian still couldn’t resist.
Looking at Lu Xingmian’s red, tear-filled eyes, Lu Shiran smiled and said, “Zai Zai, this is also a punishment for secretly eating instant noodles.”
Once he was satisfied, Lu Shiran knew he needed to properly comfort Lu Xingmian, whom he had brought to tears, and in the end, he succeeded in soothing him.
Lu Xingmian seemed exceptionally excited tonight. When it was time to sleep, he didn’t want to. He just lay in Lu Shiran’s arms, playing on his phone.
Lu Shiran thought to himself that he would let Lu Xingmian play for a bit, and when the time came, he would naturally fall asleep.
But at eleven o’clock, Lu Xingmian was still playing.
Lu Shiran: “Zai Zai, it’s eleven. Time to sleep.”
Lu Xingmian wasn’t worried about not being able to sleep anymore. “Ge, can I play for a little longer? Just ten more minutes.”
His snake was ranked first in the game, almost occupying the entire screen. Lu Xingmian slowly trapped the other players, waited for them to die, and then swallowed them to grow stronger.
In the game, Lu Xingmian’s score was far ahead. He couldn’t bear to quit. He circled around and around, watching himself get bigger and longer.
Lu Shiran put his arms around him and watched with him for more than ten minutes.
“Zai Zai, it’s time to sleep. Come on, give me the phone. No more playing.”
Lu Xingmian asked again, “Ge, just a few more minutes.”
Lu Shiran: “If you keep playing, the sun will come up. You have class tomorrow.”
Lu Xingmian glanced at the time. “Ge, it’s not even midnight yet.” He used to be unable to fall asleep, yet now he doesn’t want to sleep.
Lu Shiran raised an eyebrow. “Good Zai Zai, give me the phone.”
Lu Xingmian acted like a child. “Just a little longer.”
Lu Shiran hugged him, his voice laced with laziness. “Zai Zai, I’m tired. Will you sleep with me?”
Just as always, Lu Xingmian had no resistance to Lu Shiran’s voice and obediently handed over his phone.
Lu Shiran kissed him. “Zai Zai is so good. Close your eyes and sleep. I’ll hold you while you sleep.”
Within minutes, Lu Xingmian had fallen asleep. Lu Shiran whispered, “Good night, Zai Zai,” and holding him close, he too drifted into a deep sleep.
