MTY chapter 56

Lin Yu struggled for a moment before reluctantly saying, “Come in.”

Lu Ziqing pushed the door open, carrying a neatly packed, dark brown food container.

Lin Yu busied himself typing on his computer, putting on an air of serious concentration.

Lu Ziqing set the container on his desk. “Eat while it’s hot.”

Lin Yu didn’t look up. “Just leave it there.”

His eyes stayed glued to the computer screen.

Might as well have said, Get lost already.

Lu Ziqing sat down across from him, his tone gentle but firm. “No. Eat now.”

Lin Yu: “…”

This guy just sat there, staring at him with a half-smile—looking absolutely punchable.

Lin Yu finally looked up and met his gaze across the desk. “…Are you ordering me around?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Lu Ziqing sighed. “But, honestly, babe, you’re way fiercer now than you were last night in my arms.”

Lin Yu: “…”

Could he stop bringing that up?!

“Just eat.” Lu Ziqing softened his tone. “I know you barely ate today. You must be hungry.”

He opened the container and shoved a pair of chopsticks into Lin Yu’s hand.

The steaming hot pig stomach chicken soup smelled incredibly rich, its milky-white broth wafting into the air.

Lin Yu’s stomach betrayed him with a loud grumble.

Lu Ziqing chuckled. “Come on, eat.”

Lin Yu had no way out. His stomach was empty, and he couldn’t refuse anymore. He gave up.

He sulkily picked up a piece of pig stomach and muttered, “…Last night was an accident.”

“Oh?” Lu Ziqing tilted his head. “When you say ‘accident,’ do you mean the drunk love confession or the part where you pinned me down and kissed me?”

Lin Yu: “…Shut up!”

“Alright.” Lu Ziqing smirked, licking his lips. “Then let me say something else instead.”

Lin Yu bit into his chicken and kept quiet, watching him.

Lu Ziqing’s voice was soft but firm. “The reason I brought Wu Yu to that dinner last night was because he was making a huge scene, disrupting the team’s work. That’s all.”

“For the past while, I’ve kept my relationship with him strictly professional.”

“I’m sorry that my dad brought him into the company. I know he’s been bothering you, and I’ve been trying to ease that burden.”

Lu Ziqing’s gaze was steady and unwavering.

“My phone died last night. I was talking to the project team and didn’t notice.”

“I had no idea you’d sent me so many messages. If I had known, I would’ve come home to you immediately.”

Lu Ziqing gently held Lin Yu’s wrist and said, “I’ve finished explaining… Can you forgive me?”  

Lin Yu stared at the bamboo fungus floating in the pork tripe soup and muttered softly, “…I’m not that petty.”  

Lu Ziqing didn’t call him out on it and simply smiled. “I know. I just wanted to explain anyway.”  

He slowly and tenderly stroked the back of Lin Yu’s hand, as if caressing a fragile piece of jade.  

As he continued, his body leaned in slightly. In a low voice, he asked, “Does your butt still hurt?”  

Lin Yu’s face instantly flushed red.  

“Sorry, I lost control toward the end last night,” Lu Ziqing sighed. “You’re too adorable—your waist is so slender and soft, and you kept calling my name while lying in my arms. I just couldn’t hold back…”  

To cut him off, Lin Yu quickly interjected, “I’m fine!”  

“But I’m not,” Lu Ziqing smoothly continued. “My collarbone, shoulders, chest, and even my lips still hurt.”  

Lin Yu: “…”  

“Ah, it hurts so much. Only your kisses can make it better.” Lu Ziqing exaggeratedly clutched his chest. “I’m so pitiful—I’m in so much pain, yet here I am apologizing, and I don’t even get a little comfort or a hug. So tragic…”  

Despite his dramatic act, the scabs on his exposed collarbone were real.  

Lin Yu hesitated for a moment before whispering, “I’m sorry… I thought I was dreaming at the time…”  

Lu Ziqing continued wailing, “Even in your dreams, all you want to do is beat me up. You don’t even want to kiss me…”

Lin Yu pursed his lips and stared at him.  

Lu Ziqing stopped acting pitiful, squinted at him, then shamelessly leaned in, offering his cheek.  

“Oh, poor Xiao Lu,” he sighed, gazing out at the night. “He’s already served himself up on a silver platter, yet he still won’t get a kiss. What a miserable Alpha.”  

Lin Yu seemed a little hesitant, but finally, he moved.  

Slowly, very slowly, he leaned forward, his lips inching closer to Lu Ziqing’s cheek.  

The corners of Lu Ziqing’s mouth lifted slightly.  

Then, just as there were only five centimeters left between them, Lin Yu suddenly stopped.

Lu Ziqing: “?”

“…I—I can’t kiss you,” Lin Yu hesitated for a moment before suppressing his impulse. “I still can’t guarantee that I can take responsibility for the rest of your life.”

Lu Ziqing: “…?”

“I know you like me. And I’ve been thinking seriously about it too… I do have feelings for you.”  

“You can express your emotions freely, but I can’t.”  

“I’m older than you. There are many things you don’t have to think about yet, but I have to. For you, and for our future.”  

Lin Yu wasn’t used to saying things like this—it felt too sentimental, too cheesy.  

But he still gathered his courage and spoke seriously.  

“If your father finds out about us, he’ll definitely try to stop it.”  

“I don’t have enough power or savings right now. If things really blow up, I’ll most likely be fired. Even if I find another job, my income might not be as good, and I could end up struggling.”  

“I don’t mind that—I’ve been used to hardship since I was young. But you’re different. You grew up in comfort. I can’t let you suffer with me.”  

Lu Ziqing: “…Is there a chance you’ve forgotten that I’m already twenty-three? I’ve been an adult for five years.”  

Lin Yu: “Your father has high expectations for you. He won’t accept someone like me.”  

Lu Ziqing: “And what’s wrong with you? You graduated from a prestigious school, you’re talented, you work diligently—”  

“You don’t understand. Hard work helps, but only to a limited extent,” Lin Yu said with a wry smile. “People like me… we spend our whole lives running just to reach your starting line.”  

Lu Ziqing: “I can find a job on my own. You don’t think I’d just rely on you if we were together, do you?”  

“I actually do think that,” Lin Yu replied without a hint of humor. “You’re much younger than me. Being with you is already an advantage for me—I should take responsibility.”  

“You’re still in the early stages of your career, figuring out your path. It’s okay if you don’t have everything sorted out yet… I’m willing to wait for you.”  

Lu Ziqing was momentarily stunned.  

He had assumed that Lin Yu didn’t want to be with him because he wasn’t interested.  

But now he realized—Lin Yu had already considered everything, weighing every possible outcome.  

Even without knowing his future plans, Lin Yu was willing to wait for him.  

To wait for him to grow, to spread his wings.

Lu Ziqing looked at him. “…Then what did you mean earlier when you said you couldn’t take responsibility for me yet?”

Lin Yu bit his lip. “I meant… I wanted to ask you one more time.”

“I might never be rich. I can’t provide you with the kind of luxury your family can… If your father finds out, he will do everything to stop us… Have you really thought this through? Do you truly want to be with me?”  

“If you decide to leave now, I won’t blame you.”  

“After all… we haven’t even really started yet. There’s still time to walk away.”  

The last few words were spoken through clenched teeth.  

Lin Yu was visibly tense.  

His brows furrowed slightly, his gaze reserved, his right hand gripping the webbing between his left thumb and index finger.  

His eyelashes trembled, fragile like butterfly wings on the verge of breaking.  

He was waiting.  

Waiting for his young lover to hand down the final verdict.  

Outside, the cold wind howled through the night, occasionally slipping through the cracks in the window.  

Inside the warm, small office, they sat facing each other.  

Their unspoken thoughts swirled like a pot of simmering soup, gradually revealing themselves under the clear glow of the moon.

The butterfly is sensitive and fragile—just the faintest ripple of moonlight is enough to send it into a panic.  

Lu Ziqing leaned forward and kissed the restless butterfly.  

“Idiot,” he murmured. “I’m not going anywhere.”  

His kiss was warm and damp, lingering for two or three seconds before pulling away.  

Lin Yu looked utterly dazed.  

He sat there flustered, not daring to look at Lu Ziqing or turn his head. His face was flushed red.  

Lu Ziqing straightened up, walked around the desk, and leaned against the edge, tilting his head as he gazed at Lin Yu. “Can we continue?”  

Lin Yu couldn’t find his voice.  

After a long pause, he let out a small hum—whether it was agreement or refusal, even he wasn’t sure.  

Lu Ziqing chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”  

This time, the burning kiss landed on his eye, gently brushing against his eyelid before slowly sliding downward.  

Over his delicate, straight nose.  

Then to his flushed, tender cheeks.  

And then…  

The moment Lu Ziqing’s lips met Lin Yu’s, he could clearly feel the slight tremor running through him.  

“Lin Yu, if you’re uncomfortable, tell me,” he murmured against his lips. “Of course, if it feels good, you should tell me even more… Calling out my name is fine too.”  

Lin Yu wordlessly punched him in the stomach.  

Lu Ziqing took the chance to grab his hand, curling it into his own palm, as if cradling a tiny pearl within an oyster shell.  

“Your hands are so small,” he whispered. “Stop reminding me that you’re older than me… You’re only in your twenties, yet you always act like an old man in front of me.”

He gently traced his fingers along Lin Yu’s palm.

Lin Yu shivered again.

…A sensation that spread from his palm, rippling through his entire body.  

His whole being tingled—soft and numb, itchy even.  

But… it wasn’t unpleasant.  

Taking advantage of Lin Yu’s dazed moment, Lu Ziqing’s tongue pressed against his lips and slipped inside.  

Grasping both of his hands, he pinned him firmly against the chair.  

Lin Yu had no strength to resist, his whole body melting like water.  

Their lips and tongues tangled, their faces brushed against each other, hands intertwined.  

The sounds of friction and kisses drifted through the cracks of the window, merging into the cold, howling night wind.