UNCLTRD chapter 38

The private car drove steadily down the road. Yang Tao leaned against the window, peering through the tinted glass. Even from behind it, he could see the lanterns outside. The festive atmosphere of the holidays hadn’t waned, despite the cold winter.

“Daddy, it’s almost New Year,” Yang Tao mumbled, his voice slurred with sleep as he leaned against the door.

Chen Qiusu glanced in the rearview mirror. “Yang Tao is dozing off.”

Seeing how uncomfortable Yang Tao looked sleeping sitting up, Yang Shao sighed. “Pull over. I’ll sit in the back with him.”

Once the car stopped at the roadside, Yang Shao switched to the backseat. He unbuckled Yang Tao’s seatbelt and let him lie down with his head resting on his lap. As he settled in, Chen Qiusu handed his coat over.

“It’s still a bit chilly sleeping in the car. Cover him so he doesn’t catch a cold.”

Yang Shao looked at Chen Qiusu for a moment, said nothing, and took the coat to drape over Yang Tao.

The car began to move again. Yang Shao leaned against the window, watching the scenery blur by. He couldn’t help but reflect on how close the New Year was.

What had he been doing at this time in past years? Probably working through rain and wind, worrying if Yang Tao had eaten properly at home, stressing over whether the money he saved was enough for a short New Year break, or if he could afford new clothes for Yang Tao. Always anxious about the next year, about dwindling opportunities to make a living.

But now? Now he had the luxury of idling like this. He glanced at the driver’s seat. Some of this peace was thanks to Chen Qiusu, directly or indirectly.

Fate, it seemed, was full of surprises.

Out of the corner of his eye, Yang Shao caught Chen Qiusu’s gaze through the rearview mirror. Their eyes met briefly before Yang Shao quickly turned to look out the window.

Why wasn’t he focusing on the road instead of sneaking glances at him?

What Yang Shao didn’t know was that his own gaze had been just as intense. Every time Chen Qiusu glanced up, he saw Yang Shao staring toward the driver’s seat with the faintest smile on his lips.

So… who was watching whom?

The music in the car played softly, a slow rhythm that was almost lulling. Determined to avoid another glance from Chen Qiusu, Yang Shao rested his head against the window and soon fell asleep.

Once he was sure Yang Shao was asleep, Chen Qiusu pulled over again. He took off his blazer and gently draped it over Yang Shao as well.

After driving for another half-hour, they finally reached home. Instead of waking them immediately, Chen Qiusu sat in the car for a while, enjoying the quiet.

The enclosed space amplified even the smallest sounds. The synchronized rhythm of their breathing turned into an oddly comforting melody.

When Yang Tao stirred, nearly rolling off the seat, Chen Qiusu reached out instinctively to steady him. Only then did he turn off the engine and step out of the car.

The sound of the car door woke Yang Shao. He opened his eyes groggily, still disoriented by the dim light. Before he could fully gather his senses, the car door swung open.

Chen Qiusu leaned into the backseat, his scent filling the small space. Cool cedar, clean and familiar, washed over Yang Shao, making him instinctively relax further.

“Are we home?” Yang Shao’s voice was hoarse with sleep.

Chen Qiusu originally intended to carry Yang Tao, but when Yang Shao spoke, his entire body froze. He lingered, caught off guard by the intimate tone of the question.

“Yes…”

The two were so close now. Yang Shao, still groggy, was oblivious to the proximity. His breathing was heavier than usual, his exhaled warmth brushing against Chen Qiusu’s cheek.

“What time is it?” Yang Shao murmured.

Chen Qiusu took the opportunity to draw nearer. Resting an arm above Yang Shao, he replied, “Eleven o’clock.”

It was late. At this hour, Chen Qiusu’s family would have already gone to bed, and even Yang Tao was clearly exhausted. Yang Shao himself was used to going to bed early now that he wasn’t doing late-night chores.

“Mom and Dad are probably asleep by now, right?”

Hearing Yang Shao casually refer to his parents as mom and dad, Chen Qiusu felt a warm ache in his chest. How he wished for Yang Shao to accept his family and feel at home among them.

Without realizing it, his fingers brushed against Yang Shao’s hair, softly raking through his fringe. He traced the outline of Yang Shao’s face with his eyes, as if memorizing every detail.

The light touch of Chen Qiusu’s fingers on his forehead tickled Yang Shao. He instinctively reached up to touch his forehead, only to meet Chen Qiusu’s hand.

Their eyes met in the dim light, and Yang Shao’s breath hitched. His heart skipped a beat, lost in the depths of Chen Qiusu’s gaze.

Chen Qiusu gently caressed his forehead, testing his reaction. When Yang Shao didn’t pull away but instead averted his gaze, it only emboldened him further.

Some things never changed. People, once given an inch, always wanted a mile.

At first, Chen Qiusu just wanted to move closer to Yang Shao for a better look at him. But before he realized it, his hand had instinctively brushed through Yang Shao’s hair. When he noticed Yang Shao didn’t resist, greed stirred within him—he wanted to kiss him.

After all, beneath the mask of civility, human nature is greedy. Who would be satisfied with just holding hands?

Somehow, Chen Qiusu’s hand ended up cupping Yang Shao’s chin. As their breaths intermingled, he gave Yang Shao one last second to back out. In that second, Yang Shao didn’t push him away, and Chen Qiusu’s fingers felt the slight tremor of Yang Shao’s Adam’s apple.

Without hesitation, he leaned down and captured Yang Shao’s lips, parting them gently with his tongue. Their lips and teeth meshed together, tongues meeting and entwining. The wet sound of their kiss echoed through the car’s confined space.

The tingling sensation spread from the tip of Yang Shao’s tongue to his brain. Drenched in the scent of cedar, he instinctively wrapped his arms around Chen Qiusu’s neck.

Both were left gasping for breath. The kiss turned into messy, uncoordinated licking, their lips brushing together lightly and repeatedly. Instead of moving away, Chen Qiusu knelt on one knee on the back seat, his large hand pressing down on Yang Shao’s shoulder.

Yang Shao’s mind went blank. Obediently, he shifted back to make more space for Chen Qiusu, forgetting that Yang Tao was asleep on his lap. As he moved, Yang Tao rolled off with a soft thud, landing on the car floor.

“Ugh…”

Yang Tao’s noise snapped them back to reality. Yang Shao pushed Chen Qiusu away and quickly picked Yang Tao up from the floor, cursing silently to himself. Damn it!

Chen Qiusu cleared his throat and pressed his lips together, silently reprimanding himself for forgetting about Yang Tao too.

“Let me carry Yang Tao,” he offered.

Yang Shao’s mind felt like fireworks were going off. Without a word, he handed Yang Tao to Chen Qiusu, grabbed Chen Quisu’s jacket, and stepped out of the car. Noticing how lightly Chen Qiusu was dressed, he looked down at the suit jacket now draped over himself. When had it ended up on him?

Hearing the commotion, the housekeeper came out of the house. Chen Qiusu held Yang Tao in his arms as she approached to help, but he gently refused.

“Let him sleep. I’ll carry him upstairs. You go rest.”

The housekeeper nodded and glanced at the door, noticing Yang Shao lingering in the back, his cheeks slightly flushed.

“Mr. Yang, are you feeling unwell?”

Startled, Yang Shao shot a glance at Chen Qiusu, only to find him looking back. Heat surged up his face. He quickly rubbed at his cheeks and snapped, “No, no!”

While Chen Qiusu carried Yang Tao to his room, Yang Shao rushed to the bathroom with his sleepwear, shutting the door behind him.

He wasn’t drunk tonight; his mind was entirely clear. If he could blame their previous mishap on intoxication, what about tonight? Was it the moonlight? Or was it the scent of cedar pheromones that stirred him?

Yang Shao stood in the bathroom, washing his hair, but the more he thought about it, the less sense it made. Hiding in the bathroom wouldn’t solve anything—he’d have to face Chen Qiusu sooner or later.

He slowly opened the bathroom door. The room was quiet, with no sign of Chen Qiusu except for his discarded clothes.

Just then, the door creaked open. Chen Qiusu entered in his sleepwear, his hair half-dried, likely having used another bathroom to shower.

Yang Shao glanced at the time. He had spent nearly an hour in the bathroom, lost in thought.

The tension between them was sticky and palpable after that kiss.

Yang Shao found himself pacing, his thoughts a mess, until he ended up by the sofa where Chen Qiusu was sitting and looking at him. Scratching his head, Yang Shao forced a laugh and asked, “Who’s supposed to sleep on the sofa tonight?”

Why had the sofa become such a coveted spot? If Chen Qiusu liked sleeping there, let him. Yang Shao wouldn’t fight him for it.

Just as he was about to walk away, Chen Qiusu gently held his hand. His fingers loosely clasped around Yang Shao’s, absorbing his warmth before gradually tightening his grip.

“Last time I asked you, you said you didn’t know. Do you know now?”

Caught off guard, Yang Shao quickly covered Chen Qiusu’s eyes with his hand, but after a moment, he sighed and removed it. Steeling himself, he turned to face Chen Qiusu directly. He wasn’t the type to beat around the bush—dodging the question again would feel like playing games.

“Chen Qiusu, I couldn’t refuse you outright before, and now I can’t either.” He pursed his lips, giving in. “I guess I do have feelings for you.”

Chen Qiusu’s fingers lightly caressed the back of Yang Shao’s hand, spreading a warm flush over his skin. His forehead leaned forward, resting gently against Yang Shao’s.

Yang Shao pulled his hand away and pressed a finger to Chen Qiusu’s forehead, tilting it back slightly to meet his gaze. “Chen Qiusu, I’m a terrible person with a bad temper. Don’t regret it later.”

“Thank you.”

That “thank you” wasn’t because Yang Shao agreed to be with him, but because he forgave him. It felt like they had known each other for a long time, yet it also felt like they were just beginning.