AAWOMAHI Chapter69

[Close your eyes, don’t think about anything, and get some good rest. Today I’ll tell you about…]

 

[Lu Xingmian, smoking is bad. Don’t pick up the habit. I’ll try to smoke less from now on too.]

 

Judging by the content, it was evident that these clips had been recorded after he and Lu Xingmian had spent some time together. Lu Xingmian had secretly clipped his words, created audio files, and saved them on his phone.

 

The folder contained over a dozen such audio files, each more than half an hour long. Lu Shiran looked at the play counts and noticed that each clip had been viewed at least a hundred times. One of them had been played over 200 times and was also the shortest.

 

Curious, Lu Shiran opened it. A tone-deaf voice came through. It was his singing. Lu Xingmian had once remarked that his singing was enjoyable to listen to, and it was clear he hadn’t been speaking merely out of politeness.

 

His little secret was out. Lu Xingmian rubbed his reddened ears. “I recorded these. When you were busy, I’d just listen to your voice, and I could fall asleep.” He suddenly realized this behavior might seem a little strange.

 

Back then, Lu Shiran wasn’t able to tell Lu Xingmian a story every night. Sometimes he was at an important business conference, sometimes he was traveling, and other times he was just too exhausted from a long day. Whenever he told Lu Xingmian that he couldn’t lull him to sleep, Lu Xingmian would gently reply that it was alright. At that time, Lu Xingmian thought he was an overworked employee and would always affectionately remind him to drink less alcohol. Many times back then, he wanted to be honest with Lu Xingmian.

 

Lu Shiran pictured Lu Xingmian wearing headphones, listening to the audio files on the nights he couldn’t be there. Lu Xingmian, who was alone in bed with headphones on, curled up, and desperately trying to fall asleep. The thought was heartbreaking and left Lu Shiran feeling a profound shock. His chest ached and tightened as he breathed. Why was Lu Xingmian always so endearing and pitiful?

 

Lu Shiran hugged him. “Zai Zai, don’t listen to these anymore. From now on, just listen to me directly. As long as you want me to, I’ll be here to talk to you.” He was filled with profound regret, questioning why he hadn’t been just a little kinder to Lu Xingmian back then, even if only in the smallest way.

 

Lu Xingmian was surprised by Lu Shiran’s reaction. He rarely saw him like this and noticed the deep pain in Lu Shiran’s eyes. Someone was feeling pain for him. Lu Xingmian’s heart softened. He rested his head on Lu Shiran’s shoulder. “I rarely listen to them anymore, really. Besides, I don’t have insomnia anymore. The symptoms are all gone, and it’s all because of you. If I hadn’t met you, I don’t know what my life would be like now. Thank you, Ge.”

 

“Thank you for showing up in such an important year of my life. You went to meet my teacher when they called, you spent the New Year with me, and you were there for me during my college entrance exams. You were with me through it all.”

 

Lu Xingmian’s voice flowed like a clear spring through Lu Shiran’s heart, dissolving the tangled feelings within him.

 

Lu Shiran noticed the two audio files at the bottom of the folder. Both had been played only once. Lu Xingmian said they weren’t important, but Lu Shiran asked, “Can I listen?”

 

“Of course,” Lu Xingmian replied. “But there’s nothing interesting about it.”

 

Lu Shiran tapped the play button, and Lu Sihang’s arrogant and overbearing voice filled the room.

 

[Lu Xingmian, I deliberately framed you. Go ahead and tell Mom and Dad if you’re so brave. Do you really think they’ll believe you? I did everything.]

 

[Lu Xingmian, I just hate you. I just want to drive you out of our family.]

 

These were things Lu Sihang said to provoke Lu Xingmian when he went back to the Lu family. Lu Xingmian couldn’t be bothered to argue, so he simply recorded his voice. When he played the recording for Lu Sihang, Lu Sihang’s face was more sour than if he had swallowed a mouse whole.

 

He was terrified that Lu Yan and Xia Yuefang would find out about the recording. For a while, Lu Sihang tried everything to get the phone back and destroy it. He succeeded, but he didn’t know that Lu Xingmian had already uploaded the audio file to the cloud. He did it for no reason other than being cautious.

 

This audio was short, Lu Shiran listened to the whole thing, and he understood everything.

 

“Zai Zai, this is Lu Sihang admitting that he framed you.” Lu Shiran said.

 

Lu Xingmian nodded. It was a series of schemes by Lu Sihang shortly after he returned to the Lu family, which led to him being sent away. Unconsciously, Lu Xingmian had settled into Lu Shiran’s lap.

 

Lu Shiran wrapped his arms around him and played the last audio file. The shrill voice of Xia Yuefang came through.

 

[Lu Xingmian, from now on you have no relationship with the Lu family. Lu Sihang is our family’s only heir…]

 

This was from the day Lu Yan wanted Lu Xingmian to approach Lu Yu, but Lu Xingmian refused. Lu Yan and Xia Yuefang then kicked him out and declared he had no further ties to the Lu family.

 

Perhaps because so much time had passed, and because Lu Xingmian no longer cared, he was calm when he heard the words again. He was calm, but the man holding him was furious.

 

Lu Shiran was aware that the Lu family treated Lu Xingmian poorly, both from what he had heard and from observing Lu Xingmian’s situation firsthand. But hearing these recordings, he finally understood just how bad it was. It was worse than he had imagined, worse than what his sister-in-law had told him. And these were just a few sentences; what about all the times he didn’t know about?

 

The audio made it clear that Lu Yan and Xia Yuefang didn’t see Lu Xingmian as their child at all. They treated him with disdain, a clear sense of superiority. It was because of what he endured at the Lu family that Lu Xingmian suffered from insomnia, unable to sleep for entire nights, forcing himself to sleep with medication despite the severe side effects.

 

He thought back to the first time he saw Lu Xingmian, how much thinner he was than others his age. Lu Xingmian had been through so much.

 

He hugged him tightly. “Zai Zai, I will never let you go through something like this again.”

 

Lu Xingmian leaned against him, listening to his heartbeat, knowing Lu Shiran was feeling his pain. “Ge, I’m fine now, really.”

 

Lu Shiran replied with a soft “En.” He knew that Lu Xingmian was resilient. He was able to remain positive and optimistic even in the most difficult situations, without feeling sorry for himself. With him by his side, Lu Shiran vowed he would never let Lu Xingmian be harmed again.

 

Late that night, Lu Xingmian refused to go to sleep, insisting on playing on his phone for a bit longer. Lu Shiran felt a headache coming on. He knew a way to make Lu Xingmian fall asleep quickly, but he had promised someone he wouldn’t touch him today. That “someone” said his back was still a little sore, so Lu Shiran had to endure.

 

Once a man who has “tasted meat” gets a taste, he’ll want to have it every day. But Lu Xingmian couldn’t handle being “eaten” by the old man daily. So, Lu Xingmian stayed up late with his phone, just like most young people.

 

Lu Shiran had no choice but to start coaxing him to sleep, but it was a different kind of coaxing than before. “Zai Zai, it’s time for bed. It’s late already.”

 

Lu Xingmian glanced at the time. “Ge, it’s only a little past midnight. It’s still early. I’ll play for a bit longer.”

 

His young boyfriend was full of energy and refused to sleep. Lu Shiran felt a mix of relief and helplessness; his boyfriend’s sleep schedule was a bit unhealthy.

 

To get Lu Xingmian to go to sleep, Lu Shiran had to use his ultimate weapon. “Zai Zai, if you go to sleep now, I’ll let you hold it.”

 

Lu Xingmian immediately put down his phone, his voice filled with excitement. “Really?”

 

Lu Shiran’s tone was full of doting affection. “It’s true.”

 

Without another word, Lu Xingmian turned off his screen and handed his phone to Lu Shiran, afraid his Ge would regret his offer a second later.

 

Lu Shiran took the phone and set it aside. “Close your eyes and be a good boy and go to sleep.”

 

Lu Xingmian looked at him with wide eyes. He had given him the phone, so why wasn’t he fulfilling his promise?

 

“Zai Zai,” Lu Shiran gently guided Lu Xingmian’s hand under the covers. “You can do it yourself.”

 

Lu Xingmian eagerly clutched on, and Lu Shiran emitted a soft, nearly inaudible groan.

 

Ever since that one accidental touch, Lu Xingmian loved to hold onto something when he slept, saying it helped him sleep soundly. Lu Shiran couldn’t just let Lu Xingmian hold him, fearing he would lose all self-control. Yet, Lu Xingmian kept provoking him. This action was nothing short of “playing with fire.”

 

Holding Lu Shiran, Lu Xingmian slept very soundly, but it was Lu Shiran who suffered. He didn’t want to tire Lu Xingmian, so he endured an extremely challenging night. This is why he would typically only allow Lu Xingmian to hold him once every few days.

 

But tonight, to get Lu Xingmian to go to sleep early, he made the offer himself. As expected, Lu Xingmian immediately tossed his phone aside and curled up in his arms to sleep. He nestled against Lu Shiran, sleeping soundly, his warm breath fanning against Lu Shiran’s chest.

 

Lu Shiran’s expression was a mixture of comfort and discomfort. He gritted his teeth and held the person in his arms tightly. The one who caused all this trouble was already fast asleep.

 

Lu Xingmian woke up around 9 a.m. and felt that something was wrong with his hand. It was slightly pink and sore. Lu Xingmian tried to remember what he had done the night before. Was it because he had been on his phone for too long?

 

When he went to the bathroom to wash up, Lu Shiran had just finished shaving, so Lu Xingmian told him about it. “Ge, my hand is a little sore and red. Are there mosquitoes in the house?”

 

Lu Shiran’s movements as he put away his razor paused slightly. “There are no mosquitoes in the house.”

 

Lu Xingmian figured as much; it was winter, so how could there be mosquitoes? He thought he must have accidentally rubbed it against something while he was asleep.

 

Lu Shiran was still worried about his hand. “Let me see.” He saw that Lu Xingmian’s palm was very delicate and slightly red. “Does it hurt?”

 

Lu Xingmian smiled. “No, it doesn’t.”

 

Lu Shiran leaned in and kissed his palm.