The empty doorway of the bedroom felt like dead yellow leaves swirling down in the wind.
As the person ran off, Lu Chengxuan reached behind him and closed the door. When he turned around, he saw Lin Shen staring at him in shock.
“…Did he hear that?”
Lu Chengxuan replayed the last thing Lin Shen had said, lips twitching like he was about to speak, but no words came out.
The second Lin Shen saw the look on his face—that complicated mess of emotion and panic—he suddenly remembered what he’d just blurted out. He sucked in a sharp breath on the spot. Chasing after Lin Wangye to explain would only make things worse.
He didn’t even want to imagine what kind of wild ideas Lin Wangye might come up with.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Lin Shen pinched the bridge of his nose, then gave up trying to salvage the situation. Whatever. He bent over and kept washing his face like nothing happened.
Originally, the four of them were supposed to head back home today. But since Lin Shen had twisted his ankle, Lu Chengxuan decided they’d stay another night at the hotel to rest and head back tomorrow.
It was winter break anyway, so Lin Wangye and Shi Yuan didn’t mind.
Especially for two people who’d just started dating—going home meant having to split up again. Being able to spend a little more time together sounded way better. Here at the scenic spot, they could go sightseeing during the day and stick together 24/7. Why wouldn’t they want that?
Actually, when Lin Shen had opened the door just now, the two of them were already half-awake. But from the angle at the bedroom doorway, you couldn’t tell if the people in bed had their eyes open or closed.
Not that Lin Shen or Lu Chengxuan had dared to look too closely anyway.
After Shi Yuan finished brushing his teeth, Lin Wangye came back into the room with two cups of water. He crept over like a thief and grabbed Shi Yuan’s arm, tiptoeing to whisper into his ear.
When he finished whispering, Shi Yuan turned around, wide-eyed.
“Lin Shen’s that blunt?”
“I heard it myself! That’s exactly what he said!” Lin Wangye explained in a perfectly logical tone, “Think about it—normally the big bed means it’s the master bedroom, right? What if we accidentally stole their room without realizing it? I didn’t think that far at the time!”
The more he thought about it—especially with everything from his past life in mind—the more convinced Lin Wangye was that his suspicions were right on the money.
And now, with this new info? Things had just gotten way beyond anything he could’ve imagined.
Honestly, the way his dad and Lu Chengxuan talked… it didn’t sound like they were just a couple.
It sounded more like… friends with benefits.
Lin Wangye’s face was getting redder by the second, like he’d just stumbled upon something scandalous—and it wasn’t even the kind of couple dynamic you could tell was real or fake. It was that shady, hard-to-explain kind of vibe.
Shi Yuan had never really paid much attention to the relationship between Lin Shen and Lu Chengxuan.
Most of the time, his focus was completely on Lin Wangye.
Still, he could vaguely sense something was off between those two.
Whatever it was, it definitely didn’t feel like the kind of romance Lin Wangye had assumed.
In the end, Shi Yuan didn’t think other people’s relationships were any of his business—especially when it came to feelings and stuff like that.
So instead of overthinking it, he just followed Lin Wangye’s lead and asked, “Should we switch rooms with them?”
“Wouldn’t that be way too obvious?” Lin Wangye scratched his head, looking more and more embarrassed. “They probably already figured out I overheard them… I seriously didn’t do it on purpose! Lin Shen was talking super loud—I thought he was arguing with Brother Lu again, so I got closer to check.”
Shi Yuan thought for a second, then reached up and patted Lin Wangye on the head.
“Then let’s just act like nothing happened.”
With that, he walked to the closet and started getting changed, right in front of Lin Wangye without the slightest hint of hesitation. He slipped off his loose bathrobe without a care. The moment his bare shoulder was exposed, Lin Wangye sucked in a sharp breath and shot his hands up to cover his eyes.
But the second the robe hit the floor, those hands stopped moving. He didn’t even blink—just stared, eyes wide, with a gleam in them brighter than the ceiling lights.
That shoulder, that defined back, that waist…
Shi Yuan took maybe five or six seconds to change out of his robe and pull on a sweater. As he reached for his pants and looked back, he saw Lin Wangye crouched in the same spot, elbows resting on his knees, hands cupping his cheeks, eyes glued to him. And the second Shi Yuan met his gaze, Lin Wangye threw his hands over his face like he’d been caught.
Too bad the bright red tips of his ears gave him away completely.
Shi Yuan took a deep breath, bent over, grabbed the hood of Lin Wangye’s hoodie, and yanked him up.
“I really wanna know what goes on in that head of yours all day.”
Lin Wangye peeked through his fingers, leaving just enough of a gap to stare at him.
“I was thinking… you didn’t look tired at all while climbing that mountain…”
His voice trailed off like he wasn’t sure if he should say more, but the way he dragged it out made it pretty obvious. Shi Yuan let go of his hoodie, folded his arms, and raised a brow, silently telling him to continue.
“You must have crazy stamina.”
As soon as he said it, Lin Wangye spun around, yanked open the door, and darted out without even glancing back.
Shi Yuan stood frozen for a good ten seconds before he finally processed what that line actually meant. He sucked in a deep breath as all kinds of emotions rushed through him at once.
And in the end, they all settled into a helpless, indulgent smile.
When Lin Wangye walked into the living room, Lu Chengxuan was already sitting at the dining table. The hotel was clearly prepared—right after he gave the word, breakfast had been delivered promptly.
There was chicken congee with side dishes, as well as milk, bread, and steak.
This ancient-style town had a traditional Chinese theme, and the hotel leaned heavily into that aesthetic—think classic garden-style decor and old-school charm. Normally, breakfast would stick to Chinese-style dishes to suit local tastes.
But seeing sausages and steak on the table? That meant the hotel had picked up on Lu Chengxuan’s preferences and was now giving him the five-star treatment.
Seeing the living room in such a mess, Lin Wangye scratched his nose awkwardly.
“They’ll send someone to clean it up,” Lu Chengxuan said.
Ever since Lu Chengxuan had promised to support him in business, Lin Wangye had basically started treating him like a big brother—super obedient, hanging on every word.
He nodded eagerly and sat down at the table, quickly explaining, “I lost my necklace yesterday. I was searching all over for it.”
Lu Chengxuan took a sip of congee, tone flat as ever. “Did you find it?”
Right then, Lin Shen came limping out of the room and sat down next to Wangye.
“Yeah, I found it!” Wangye said, pulling the necklace out of his pocket and laying it on the table for Lu Chengxuan to see. His voice was practically dripping with sweetness. “The spring clasp on it snapped while we were out playing yesterday. Xu Sui—he helped me find it super late at night.”
“Ooooh~”
Lin Shen let out a sarcastic smirk and clicked his tongue. “So you found it, big deal. Why are you looking so smug?”
Lin Wangye immediately shot him a glare and snapped back, “Why are you so salty?”
“What am I salty about?” Lin Shen, who never lost a verbal battle, fired back instantly. “Salty that you lose your stuff all the time, or that you were crying like a baby looking for it?”
Lin Wangye opened his mouth, ready to argue—but couldn’t find a solid comeback. In the end, he just turned his head and ignored him.
“Want me to get someone to fix it for you?” Lu Chengxuan said all of a sudden.
“Huh?” Lin Wangye looked at him, then glanced down at the necklace still lying on the table. He immediately nodded, reaching over to slide it toward him. “Sure! Thanks, Brother Lu.”
Lu Chengxuan didn’t pick up the necklace right away. He kept eating his breakfast, but his eyes never left the little bell-shaped pendant.
While they were still making small talk, Shi Yuan came out after tidying up the room a bit. He sat down across from Lin Wangye like usual, nodded at the other two in greeting, and glanced at the spread of food laid out on the table.
Lin Wangye knew Shi Yuan didn’t like salty congee, so he stood up, poured a glass of milk, and handed it over. “Here, eat the same stuff as me!”
Shi Yuan smiled faintly and reached for a piece of bread. “Okay.”
“What about me?” Lin Shen turned around, glaring. “Does no one care about how I feel? Aren’t I the one who’s injured?”
Wangye blinked, confused. “But… it’s your foot that’s hurt, not your hands.”
“You’re hurting my heart right now,” Lin Shen said, his expression dead serious even though he was talking total nonsense. He even pressed a hand to his chest, looking solemn. “Would it kill you to pour me a glass of milk too? Your indifference and emotional neglect are hurting me deeply. I’m gonna sue you.”
Lin Wangye sighed and gave in, pouring him a glass as well.
“Ugh, fine, fine, there, happy now?”
Lin Shen let out a mocking chuckle and spread his hands. “Too little, too late. Your love is lighter than grass.”
Lin Wangye was officially done. He opened his mouth a few times, clearly tempted to throw out something harsh, but good manners and family hierarchy held him back. After a few seconds of struggling, he finally turned to Lu Chengxuan with a desperate look on his face and complained, “Brother Lu, when exactly did he hit his head!?”
As always, Lin Shen cracked up at making Lin Wangye lose his cool. He laughed out loud, gave Lin Wangye’s head a pat, then took a sip of milk and grabbed the still-steaming steak on the table.
“I’m a classy man—I eat the most expensive thing!”
Lin Wangye had long gotten used to his dad’s occasional insanity when he was acting like a chaotic teenager. He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and focused on eating. But when he glanced up across the table, he saw Shi Yuan watching him with a smile.
Their eyes met, soft and lingering, and that unspoken something between them quickly heated up—even with other people sitting right there at the table.
Lin Wangye couldn’t help but start smiling too.
“So what are we all doing today? Kinda feels like a boring one,” Lin Shen said as he chewed, unable to keep his mouth shut even during breakfast. Seeing that it was still early, he turned to the pair and asked, “Did you two have fun at Yingfu Temple yesterday?”
“Honestly? Not really,” Lin Wangye told him. “It’s just a regular temple up there, full of people burning incense. But the view from the top of the mountain? That was insane—way better than what you see from halfway up. Clouds all over, and they were moving too. But climbing up was rough. I almost gave up halfway. Glad I pushed through, though.”
Lin Shen looked regretful after hearing that. “Ugh, I can’t believe I missed it. What a waste—I really wanted to go pray and make a wish or something.”
“What were you gonna wish for?” Lin Wangye asked, curious.
Lin Shen paused, then said, “I was gonna ask Buddha to help me win every game I play. Seriously, I don’t know what’s going on—I barely get bad teammates, but somehow I still lose every damn day! I’m starting to think I’m cursed or something.”
“If you feel like your teammates aren’t the problem, but you still lose all the time…” Lin Wangye sighed, patted Lin Shen’s shoulder meaningfully, and said, “Then who do you think the problem is?”
Lin Shen answered almost instantly, “You.”
Lin Wangye, who had been mentally preparing to throw some subtle shade about Lin Shen being the weak link in their games, was totally thrown off. “Me?”
“You never team up with me! How am I supposed to win with Lu Chengxuan dragging me down?” Lin Shen said it with complete confidence, then turned to glance at Shi Yuan. “Ever since you met him, you’re with him all the time. How many games have you even played with me since then? If I keep losing, who else can I blame but you? You think I’m gonna blame myself?”
As ridiculous as that sounded, it did bring something to mind.
Lin Wangye realized he really had been hiding his relationship from Lin Shen for a bit too long.
Now that things were official between him and Shi Yuan, it felt kind of wrong to keep lying about it.
Even Lu Chengxuan already knew—if his dad found out on his own one day, he might actually be mad.
Thinking that far, Lin Wangye quickly peeked at the guy sitting across from him.
Shi Yuan must’ve guessed what was going through his head, because he gave him a calm little smile—like he was saying, ‘go ahead, it’s okay.’
After a bit of inner struggle, Lin Wangye finally pushed through the mental block. He cleared his throat with a couple of coughs, then mustered up the courage to say, “I’m with him.”
The words dropped—and the entire table went dead silent.
Lin Shen and Wangye locked eyes for a second. Then Lin Shen tilted his head and said, “So?”
“So…” Lin Wangye scratched his head, totally lost. “Don’t you have anything to say about that?”
There was no way Lin Shen was about to admit that he’d been completely blind to what was going on between them. If Lu Chengxuan hadn’t dropped a hint the other day under the pretense of being a third wheel, he probably still wouldn’t have noticed a thing.
Realizing that so late made him feel like a total idiot.
And there was no way he was gonna admit to that level of cluelessness out loud. So he crossed his arms, huffed, and acted all mysterious. “Please. You think I didn’t see it coming? Childish.”
Lin Shen’s reaction was the complete opposite of what Lin Wangye had expected. He just sat there stunned, then turned to Shi Yuan, and finally looked over at Lu Chengxuan, hoping for some kind of confirmation. “Wait, was it really that obvious?”
Lu Chengxuan put his spoon down and answered honestly, “You might as well have had it written across your forehead.”
Only an idiot wouldn’t have noticed.
The more Lin Wangye thought about it, the more he realized that was probably true. Not to mention, in his last life, his dad and Shi Yuan had been friends for years. That in itself made things pretty convenient. On top of that, there was the huge age gap between him and Shi Yuan—almost twenty years.
Shi Yuan had literally held him as a baby back then.
That’s why, in Lin Wangye’s mind, this relationship had always felt like there was this massive, unbridgeable gap between them.
But now?
Now it just didn’t seem like such a big deal anymore.
After turning it over and over in his head, Lin Wangye finally realized—he’d been overthinking everything.
Not that you could blame him.
There was just so much going on, it was hard not to feel a little guilty and overwhelmed!
But now that it was all out in the open, he let it go. He turned to Lin Shen and asked, “So… will you give us your blessing?”
“Bless your ass, bless!” Lin Shen snapped.
Annoyed, he barked, “Weren’t you the one who promised to carry me to Diamond rank? I’m about to drop all the way back to Silver! If you two get married, don’t even think about asking me to be the best man!”
That caught Lin Wangye off guard—he burst out laughing, caught totally by surprise. He was just about to say something to tease and cheer up his dad, when suddenly his phone started buzzing like crazy in his pocket.
He pulled it out—and saw it was a call.
From Lin Qianqian.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
