Lu Huan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, and a barely noticeable lift of his eyebrows followed.
Si Yanting’s gaze lingered on Yu Baihan for a moment, and then he turned and departed.
As the sound of footsteps gradually faded, Yu Baihan relaxed his tense posture. He moved closer to Lu Huan, his eyes filled with excitement, and quietly asked, “What is the usual value of that recently developed advanced technology?”
Lu Huan responded calmly, “At least eight figures.”
Yu Baihan: !!!
A surge of emotions filled his chest, and he patted Lu Huan on the shoulder with an air of superiority, saying, “You have to spoil me well.”
Lu Huan fell silent for a moment.
A soft chuckle escaped his lips as if he had been reminded of something amusing.
They stood there for a couple of minutes before Yu Baihan suggested they move downstairs for lunch.
Once they had secured the equipment, his plan was to make a swift exit after the meal.
However, just as they began to turn, Lu Huan gently tugged him back. With nimble fingers, Lu Huan adjusted the open neckline of Yu Baihan’s attire, buttoning it up.
Lu Huan’s movements were deliberate and measured. “Let’s conceal our brand of romance and passion.”
Yu Baihan’s lips curled into a shy smile.
Side by side, they descended the stairs to the dining area, where the servants were ready to lead them to the table. Fan Lin, who had previously left, reappeared with an apologetic expression.
“Sir, I—”
Lu Huan interrupted, gesturing for him to stay quiet. “Let’s head to the dining room,” he said, effectively stopping any further explanation.
In the dining room, Si Yanting and Si Wei were already present.
As Yu Baihan and Lu Huan took their seats, they waited for what felt like an eternity before the elders finally made their entrance.
Si Yunxian and Yuan Ying not only arrived late but also remained silent for several minutes after seating themselves. The silence in the room was so profound that a pin dropping could have been heard, while the attending servants averted their gazes, not daring to disturb the atmosphere.
Observing the scene, Yu Baihan’s eyes flickered with curiosity.
If the two figures seated at the head of the table had their framed photograph positioned in a certain way, the scene could easily be mistaken for a memorial service.
Three minutes later, the chopsticks finally clicked together.
Si Yunxian concluded his pre-meal speech and then picked up his chopsticks and bowls, urging, “Let’s eat.”
As his words broke the silence, the atmosphere in the dining room began to flow once more.
Yu Baihan enjoyed his lunch in a relatively relaxed manner.
At the dining table, Si Yunxian remained relatively quiet, while Si Yanting and Lu Huan engaged in harmonious conversation on the surface.
As the meal drew to a close, Si Wei put down his chopsticks and asked, “What’s planned for this afternoon for Mr. Lu and Xiao Han? If there are no prior engagements…”
Lu Huan responded, “We’re meeting a friend this afternoon.”
Si Wei’s speech momentarily faltered before he broke into a pleased smile, “Is that so, Xiaohan and Mr. Lu, go ahead and have fun. The third brother won’t keep you.”
On the main seat, Yuan Ying glanced at Yu Baihan but refrained from speaking this time.
As lunch concluded, the Si family promptly escorted Yu Baihan and Lu Huan.
Exiting the Si residence, Lu Huan led Yu Baihan to where Fan Lin was already waiting outside the gate.
Si Yanting also came to see them off. After bidding farewell to Lu Huan, he turned his gaze toward Yu Baihan and said slowly, “Stay in touch with your brother whenever you have time.”
Yu Baihan responded, “Sure.” You, too, should keep in touch with your own kind.
“Let’s go.” Lu Huan placed a hand on Yu Baihan’s shoulder and guided him into the backseat of the car. As the door closed, it shut off the sight of Si Yanting’s smiling countenance outside.
The private car soon left the premises of the Si family’s ancestral house, distancing itself from the imposing structure and the surrounding woods.
Once inside the car, Yu Baihan glanced toward the trunk.
Observing his behavior, Lu Huan turned to him, his lips curving slightly as he asked, “What are you looking for?”
“Do you have spare clothes in the car?” Yu Baihan tapped the backrest and said, “Even if it’s pajamas, can you lend me something to change into?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Lu Huan’s lips twitched, resisting the temptation to comment on the practicality of having pajamas in a car. He reached out and pressed a button, causing a compartment in the middle of the seat to slowly open.
“Lfiq sbegrfio.”
Cwerfv, Te Djltjc gewwjufv atgbeut atf mbwqjgawfca.
Pr Oe Lejc rfmgfais j Gbgjfwbc? tf kbcvfgfv.
Lf obecv j tbbvfv rtbga-riffnfv rkfjafg jcv yfujc ecyeaabclcu tlr rtlga. Lf vlvc’a kjca ab vfijs; joafg jii, Vl Tjcalcu’r abemt tjv ifoa jc ecrfaailcu rfcrjalbc. Jtjculcu delmxis rffwfv ilxf atf yfra mbegrf bo jmalbc.
However, Lu Huan’s expression turned stern as he reached out and restrained Yu Baihan’s hand, “Si Baihan.”
Fan Lin, who was in the front seat, glimpsed the situation in the rearview mirror. He quickly averted his gaze and even raised the middle partition in a rush.
The partition effectively separated the front and rear sections of the car.
Yu Baihan gently patted Lu Huan’s hand, asking, “What’s the matter?”
Lu Huan’s demeanor was complicated. He opened his mouth to speak but seemed to struggle to find the right words. He eventually lowered his hand and massaged the space between his brows in apparent frustration.
Yu Baihan: …?
Could it be that Lu Huan was still engrossed in that “paranoid possessiveness” and hadn’t engaged in any playful activities yet?
Taking advantage of the situation, Yu Baihan quipped, “Alright, alright, Fan Lin has raised the partition.” He followed it with a gentle coax, “Don’t be stubborn, just say it.”
This person has such a possessive streak.
Lu Huan, “…”
Having gently pushed away the persistent Lu Huan, Yu Baihan efficiently changed his clothes. The hooded sweater’s neckline naturally formed a V shape, exposing most of his neck when he put it on.
Lu Huan’s gaze lingered on the red marks on Yu Baihan’s neck, the marks they had both created. Silence fell between them.
Yu Baihan followed Lu Huan’s gaze and fell into contemplation.
The private car continued its smooth journey towards their destination, the party.
After a moment, Yu Baihan pursed his lips slightly and broke the silence by asking, “Do you think your friends might find us too scandalous?”
A wry smile played on his lips as Lu Huan responded, “What do you think?”
“……”
—
Qi Jue’s provided address led them to a famous scenic river on the eastern side of the city.
When he mentioned it was “in the river,” Yu Baihan jokingly zoomed in on the map, only to discover that it was literally “inside” the river.
Yu Baihan:? Alright, it’s quite river-themed.
Qi Jue had organized the party on his newly acquired yacht, which he had procured the previous year and had secured all the necessary permits for hosting events. The yacht was audaciously docked at a spacious riverside pier.
Upon Yu Baihan’s and Lu Huan’s arrival, Qi Jue stood at the pier, ready to welcome them.
Spotting them getting out of the car, Qi Jue waved his hand in a windshield-wiper fashion, “Brother Lu, Bai Han!”
Approaching him, Yu Baihan inquired, “Where are the others?”
“They’re all on board,” Qi Jue’s voice trailed off as he caught sight of the varying shades of red marks on Yu Baihan’s neck.
Oh, my… well, things seem quite passionate.
His gaze involuntarily shifted downwards, taking in Lu Huan’s attire once again.
Qi Jue moistened his dry lips, shooting Lu Huan a look that was both curious and “beastly.”
Lu Huan remained impassive, quipping, “Aren’t you going to lead us up?”
Qi Jue took a deep breath, quickly averting his gaze, and guided Yu Baihan and Lu Huan onto the yacht.
Ascending to the deck, a spacious view opened up before them. Deck chairs were arranged neatly, a bar was tucked in a corner, and in the center stood a sliding door from which faint music and chatter emanated.
Qi Jue led the way, stating, “They’re all inside.”
He turned his head slyly, adding with a grin, “I’ve prepared a little surprise~” accompanied by a mischievous giggle.
Seeing his familiar expression, Yu Baihan’s wariness heightened subtly.
Reaching the sliding door, Qi Jue cleared his throat and called out, “Brother Lu and Baihan have arrived!”
With a resounding “wow—,” he swung the door open.
As the door parted, three synchronized voices shouted in unison, “Surprise!”
Crack! A thin wire snapped and tugged.
The suspended metal sphere above the door plummeted, striking Lu Huan’s regal head with a loud thud, witnessed by the trio standing before him.
With a muffled sound, the sphere split in two.
A cascade of confetti burst forth from above Lu Huan’s head, some of it landing on Yu Baihan’s attire and cascading down his open neckline.
Everyone, “…”
For half a minute, none of the people at the door spoke.
Only dynamic music came from the house.
The colorful moving headlights swept across Lu Huan’s calm face, which was so calm that it made people panic.
Wen Lou, who was closest to the console, couldn’t resist reaching out to turn off the inappropriate music.
After turning it off for a second, he found that the atmosphere was even more silent, so he turned it on again.
The newly cut song came out from inside: Why don’t you break me.
All eyes turned to him.
“……”
Wen Lou felt flustered, his eyes swept around in front of him and finally landed on Yu Baihan. He seized a glimmer of life and expressed friendship, “Hi, welcome.”
Yu Baihan tugged on the sweater to adjust his appearance.
With a shake of his clothes, golden fireworks crumbs rustled down from his hem. “Hello.”
After a pause for a second, he seemed to be admiring, “…very lively.”
Several people,”……”
—
After five minutes, several individuals settled onto the central circular sofa.
Yu Baihan took a glass of the special blend and sipped it leisurely.
Beside him, Lu Huan sat at ease, holding a wine glass in one hand, his fingertips lightly brushing against its rim.
On the opposite side, the hardware wholesaler began explaining somewhat guiltily:
“The quality of the golden ball surprise wasn’t all that great.”
“The string at the top was too thin, and it snapped when pulled.”
Yang Xinyuan attempted to infuse some cheerfulness. “Actually, the situation isn’t the worst. Initially, we were thinking of suspending it from the upper flybridge deck…”
Qi Jue promptly handed Yang Xinyuan a cracker, urging him to cease talking!
Yu Baihan looked up through the skylight at the flybridge deck, which was six meters above his head.
Quite daring to conceive such a notion.
Lu Huan set down his glass and grinned, “I guess I got lucky, then.”
Hardware wholesaler: …
Considering that they were well-intentioned and that the malfunction hadn’t harmed him, Lu Huan decided to let the matter rest for now.
Today’s gathering was primarily organized for the hardware wholesalers to acquaint themselves with Yu Baihan, and they were currently engaged in enthusiastic self-introductions.
Yu Baihan made mental notes of each individual:
Wen Lou, the one who exhibited excellent song selection skills earlier;
Yang Xinyuan, is adept at creating a jovial atmosphere;
Sun Yiqing, is remarkably skilled at remaining inconspicuous.
Lu Huan’s friends indeed possessed their own unique qualities, but the common thread among them was their privileged social backgrounds.
He gazed at the few individuals and inquired modestly, “By ‘hardware,’ you mean…?”
Qi Jue twirled his fingers and grinned, “Of course, we’re referring to our ‘Five Golden Flowers‘!”
Lu Huan, why are your friends like this.
Yu Baihan, “…”
Quitting, indeed, seemed like a good idea.
…
The ice breaking session had concluded.
The club had sprung back to life, pulsating music filling the air as the lights danced in synchronization.
Seated on the sofa, Lu Huan inhaled the lingering scent of wine. This vibrant and dynamic scene unfolded before his eyes, momentarily transporting him to another world.
As he observed, Yu Baihan returned to his seat after engaging in conversation with Qi Jue and the others.
Lu Huan cast a languid glance his way.
Yu Baihan carefully gauged his expression. “You’re unusually quiet. Is the impact from the ball still affecting you?”
“…”
In an instant, his train of thought snapped back to reality.
Because the impact was indeed quite real, the spot where the ball had struck was still tender.
Lu Huan took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead, “Si Baihan.”
Seeing him struggling, Yu Baihan kindly extended his hands toward his head, offering to help, “This patient should have addressed me as Dr. Baihan.”
“…”
“Lu…” Yang Xinyuan had just approached from the other side, intending to invite them to join in the fun, but upon hearing this, he froze in his tracks!
He was uncertain whether he should approach or not.
Lu Huan seized Yu Baihan’s mischievous hands, which were now on his head, and looked up at Yang Xinyuan, who stood a short distance away, “What’s the matter?”
Yu Baihan also turned his head inquisitively.
With a slightly redundant air, Yang Xinyuan suggested, “We’re thinking of relocating. The sun’s great outside. Why not head to the outdoor pool at the back for some fun?”
Yu Baihan’s eyes lit up. “Can I swim?”
“Sure, do you enjoy swimming?”
“Who doesn’t like a good splash?”
“…” Can’t argue with that.
On the other end, Qi Jue was already beckoning them. Oblivious to Yang Xinyuan’s conflicted expression, Yu Baihan, brimming with eagerness, got up from the sofa, “Is there a changing room and swimsuits?”
As he took a step, his sweater’s hood was suddenly tugged.
Lu Huan caught the brim of the hood, pulling him back onto the sofa. Yu Baihan flopped back, turned to face Lu Huan, and inquired, “What’s the matter?”
“Are you planning to swim?” There was a hint of teasing in his tone.
Yu Baihan scrutinized the tone, sensing an underlying peculiarity about his intention for swimming.
“Can’t I swim?”
Lu Huan’s gaze locked on Yu Baihan’s suspicious look. After observing for a couple of seconds, he then glanced at the mark left by the impact on Yu Baihan’s neck, as if doubting his own thoughts. Subsequently, a wry smile played on his lips.
He had only lightly tapped Yu Baihan’s neck.
Author’s note:
Yu Baihan was thoughtful: Are you hitting on me?
Lu Huan’s group of friends is,,,,,quite something lol
Thank you for all the chapters so far!! I look forward to seeing more <3<3<3
This is quite entertaining, and the long chapters are also great!
Thank you for the chapter!
Thank you for the mass release! I love this new story. 😍
Ahaha i love their dynamics \(>o<)ﾉ✧
Thanks for the mass release!!
Thanks for the bundle of chapters! Hardware Wholesale Market are my type of friends 😂 will never get bored of them in a lifetime hahaha
This is really interesting. I love the main character interactions. Thanks for the chapters!
What a gem. Thank you so much 😊
Lu Huan’s friends are fun!
Thanks for the chapter 💞
Thank you for the chapters! The story is such great fun to read! 😂
Okay I haven’t laughed so much in a while, during that falling ball scene lol I spent more than 5 mins rereading and laughing every time
The one who exhibited excellent song selection skills
earlier…. 🤣🤣🤣 poor Wen Lou.. If I’m not currently in the office I would have laughed out loud
Five Golden Flowers is a 1959 movie with strong Communist themes. It’s about a boy who falls in love with a girl and only learns her first name Jin Hua (lit. “golden flower”). They agree to meet again, but they miss each other (no phones back then). The boy goes searching for her and discovers that Jin Hua is a common name in the area. He meets four other women of the same name before finally finding the fifth Jin Hua, the girl he loves.
I see! Thanks for the insight, I’ll include it in the notes. Thank you for the explanation <3