Thank you Anonymous for the ko-fi! There’s no cliffhanger today, here’s your bonus chapter!
Sponsored chapter (1/1)
The banquet was scheduled to commence at six o’clock.
As the guest of honor, Lu Huan arrived over thirty minutes early.
A receptionist stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, overseeing the registration of guests and the collection of congratulatory gifts.
With the gift box cradled in his arms, Yu Baihan accompanied Lu Huan as they entered the venue.
Right after passing the entrance, the receptionist addressed Yu Baihan, “Master Baihan, you can leave the gift here.”
Yu Baihan contemplated briefly. Carrying the gift around during the banquet could slightly interfere with his meal. Thus, he handed over the gift box, saying, “I’ll collect it after the event.”
He was determined to personally present this gift to Lu Huan.
The receptionist assured him, “Of course.”
The gift box was entrusted to the counter, and Yu Baihan turned his gaze toward Lu Huan’s profile.
Lu Huan’s attention remained on the gift box, seemingly hesitant to store it.
Yu Baihan patted Lu Huan on the back, teasing, “Stop staring. What’s meant for you, is meant for you. It’s not going anywhere.”
As the last word left his mouth, he felt a slight tremor under his palm.
Lu Huan exhaled slowly, pivoted, and walked into the venue, instructing, “Let’s go inside.”
Approaching six o’clock, guests started arriving at the manor.
Dignitaries of high status graced the event, all elegantly attired. The entire manor was adorned with vibrant flowers.
The hardware wholesalers also arrived early.
Upon reaching the venue, they headed straight towards Lu Huan and Yu Baihan, extending warm greetings, “Happy birthday, Brother Lu!”
Lu Huan nodded with a simple, “Thank you.”
Observing the coordinated attire of the two, Yang Xinyuan couldn’t suppress his wistfulness and commented, “Matching outfits, it’s nice…”
Yu Baihan’s curiosity was piqued, what do you mean?
It was just a darker shade and a lighter one. He hadn’t realized they were wearing a couple’s attire.
He cast a glance at the group of four in front of him, suggesting, “If you envy it, you guys can also wear four different shades of gray.”
Yang Xinyuan seemed a bit taken aback. “Couple’s outfit?” Referring to all four of them?
Yu Baihan tilted his head, clarifying, “It’s a family uniform.” What were you thinking?
Seeing that their conversation was flowing smoothly, Lu Huan excused himself to greet other guests.
Yu Baihan didn’t follow him.
Most of the attendees at the banquet were prominent figures from C City, and they were acquainted with the Si family.
He lingered, enjoying a comfortable conversation in the hardware wholesalers’ congenial area.
After a while, Sun Yiqing discreetly signaled him to look toward Lu Huan, whispering, “He Yue and Mr. He have arrived?”
Yu Baihan turned his head and indeed spotted He Yue standing opposite Lu Huan, accompanied by an elderly man with a kindly demeanor.
He felt a surge of enthusiasm, thinking, “It’s time for some like-minded camaraderie!”
“I’ll go say hello.”
He declared and made his way toward Lu Huan.
Approaching Lu Huan’s side, he arrived just as the two parties were finishing their courteous introductions. He Yue had initially seemed a bit wary, but her eyes brightened when she caught sight of Yu Baihan, “Baihan!”
Yu Baihan responded with equal enthusiasm, “You guys made it.”
After his initial words, the elderly gentleman extended his hand towards him, wearing a genial smile, “Baihan, is that right? I’ve been looking forward to this interaction for quite a while.”
Yu Baihan took the hand readily, the familiarity in his grip evident. “Mr. He, I’ve been friends with you for a while now.”
The connection between the two clicked seamlessly.
Recognizing the familiar scene, Lu Huan instinctively turned his head.
Sensing his confusion, Yu Baihan gave a nod of acknowledgment to Mr. He. He then gently steered Lu Huan aside and whispered, “Remember when I mentioned your ‘little fan’ last time?”
Lu Huan appeared puzzled. “What?”
Yu Baihan conveyed the message with his eyes, directing Lu Huan’s attention toward Mr. He.
An almost palpable silence hung between them for a few seconds.
Eventually, Lu Huan’s low voice emerged, each word carefully enunciated, “So you’re introducing me as a friend to the He family…”
“Mr. He,” Yu Baihan confirmed.
Lu Huan closed his eyes, a trace of wry amusement flashing across his features.
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.
He should have known it wouldn’t be that simple.
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With his eyelids lowered, Lu Huan’s countenance resembled that of a chiseled sculpture.
Yu Baihan gently prodded, “Alright, go on. Mr. He has especially come to meet you.”
To meet him face to face.
Lu Huan quelled the turmoil within him and opened his eyes once more. He gave a fleeting glance in Yu Baihan’s direction before turning to approach Mr. He on the opposite side.
—
Observing that the other side had smoothly immersed himself in the ongoing conversations, Yu Baihan retreated to the more familiar territory of hardware wholesale.
Qi Jue was busy socializing, leaving only Wen Lou, Yang Xinyuan, and Sun Yiqing still engaged in discussion.
As Yu Baihan rejoined them, he overheard their topic revolving around ‘gifts’.
Wen Lou promptly steered the conversation towards Yu Baihan, inquiring, “So, what did you give to brother Lu?”
Yu Baihan replied calmly, “Sun Yiqing knows. He’s my consultant.”
His words seemed to catch both of them off guard, evident in the subtle widening of their eyes.
Yang Xinyuan turned a puzzled gaze toward the ever-serious Sun Yiqing, asking, “You consulted with him?”
Yu Baihan nodded matter-of-factly. “Yes.”
Why not? He’s the most straightforward option available.
Yang Xinyuan hadn’t spoken yet when Qi Jue reappeared from the other side. Anger marked his countenance, and his strides were purposeful.
“These gossipers!” he fumed.
Yu Baihan couldn’t help but commend him, “You’re quite fiery.”
Qi Jue’s indignation surged once more.
He addressed Yu Baihan with a hint of bitterness, saying, “I’m angry for you, alright! Just now, as I walked past, someone pulled me aside and told me that brother Lu left you standing alone, completely ignoring you.”
Yu Baihan’s gaze drifted toward Lu Huan, who was still engrossed in a cheerful conversation with Mr. He.
Following his line of sight, Qi Jue hastened to explain, “It’s not what it seems, Baihan. Lu is just incredibly busy. Don’t get the wrong idea…”
Yu Baihan understood perfectly, responding with a simple “No”.
After all, it was he who kept Lu Huan engrossed in work.
…
With the arrival of the night, the first segment of the banquet gradually drew to a close.
The event was structured in two parts: the first section was dedicated to business networking and socializing, while the latter half was designated for the young heirs and heiresses of the various families to revel in their own party.
As the evening progressed, guests began to say their farewells, individually bidding adieu to Lu Huan, who stood at the heart of the venue.
Amidst the gathering, Yu Baihan noticed the receptionist arranging the gifts at the entrance. He promptly approached, interjecting, “I’ll take my gift box.”
Their classmate, Lu, was still awaiting his present eagerly.
“Of course, Master Baihan,” replied the receptionist, handing over the gift box.
Once the box was securely back in his possession, Yu Baihan’s attention turned toward the staircase. Lu Huan’s bedroom was located upstairs. Given that the birthday celebration would carry on into the night, it was only logical for Lu Huan to spend the night here.
His eyes darted toward Lu Huan, temporarily trapped amidst the crowd. After a brief contemplation, Yu Baihan decided to ascend the stairs with the gift box in hand.
As he maneuvered through the guests, a voice unexpectedly pierced the air, “Oh? Is this the birthday gift Master Si prepared for Mr. Lu?”
Yu Baihan’s steps stuttered.
Simultaneously, all eyes pivoted, converging on the gift box in his grasp.
Amid the throng, Lu Huan lifted his head, locking his gaze on Yu Baihan from across the room.
Yu Baihan exhaled inwardly, his eyes narrowing slightly. Who was hidden within the crowd, directing him this way?
Before he could identify the instigator, a ripple of agitation swept through the atmosphere. Numerous inquisitive and speculative gazes converged on both him and Lu Huan—
Enter the newlywed, Who could possibly predict what the Si family’s young master would present to Lu Huan, making his inaugural appearance in the social circle?
Amidst the crowd, sporadic jeering and teasing emerged, as voices chimed in, expressing their curiosity about the congratulatory gifts.
Even Wen Lou joined in the excitement, gesticulating animatedly, “Brother Lu, go on and open it!” He shouted, only to catch Sun Yiqing half-stepping away into the midst of the assembly.
Wen Lou pivoted, baffled: What’s the meaning of that half-step retreat? Is there some unspoken tension between them?
The crowd’s focus was split between the central figures of Yu Baihan and Lu Huan, with their eyes locking onto one another across the space.
In the midst of the burgeoning fervor, Yu Baihan felt the agony of his soul: Is this truly an exceedingly romantic gift suitable for unveiling in the present company?
He fumed inwardly: What’s with that gaze of Lu Huan’s? Is he questioning the last iota of my innocence?
At this juncture, secrecy appeared to be the guilty party. Regaining his poise, Yu Baihan stepped through the assembly, cradling the gift box.
Given the gravity of the occasion, there was no cause for obfuscation.
Halting in front of Lu Huan, he issued a formality. “You should open it.”
Lu Huan lowered his gaze, lips gently pursed, and gave his assent, “Yes.”
With Lu Huan as the intended audience, Yu Baihan turned the gift box towards him, gradually prying open the lid like a mollusk’s shell. A slender leather strap emerged into Lu Huan’s line of sight as the box creaked open.
Lu Huan seemed to lock onto it, his focus was unwavering.
Yu Baihan clarified, “This is the skin—”
In the very next moment, the box’s lid was abruptly slammed shut by Lu Huan, the sound resounding like a thunderous boom.
Yu Baihan’s expression froze: …
Everyone else in the vicinity: ? ? ?
What just happened? Skin? Did he say skin? Was it meant to be read like that?
Lu Huan gripped the lid of the box firmly, his lowered lashes concealing the emotion in his eyes. Only his fingertips, barely perceptible, betrayed a tremor.
A few seconds elapsed, and then he addressed the onlookers, “My apologies, please excuse me.”
With that, he clutched the gift box in one hand and Yu Baihan in the other, pivoting towards the staircase leading to the second floor.
·
Yu Baihan trailed Lu Huan, traversing the corridor to the second floor.
The surroundings were devoid of people, and Lu Huan came to a halt, turning around to face Yu Baihan. His typically composed eyes were now in tumultuous flux, “Si… Bai… Han!”
Yu Baihan discerned that Lu Huan had misconstrued things from his agitated demeanor.
As expected, his assumptions were wild enough.
Maintaining a calm composure, Yu Baihan retorted nonchalantly, “What’s the matter? Your reaction is so intense. Is it so irresistible that you can’t wait to try it on?”
“…” Try it on.
At this moment, the veneer of Lu Huan’s usual composure exhibited cracks.
Suppressing his twitching brow, he reached out and unsealed the gift box, revealing its contents, “What is this?”
The box opened to reveal a three-piece suit.
With it laid bare before him, Lu Huan’s incredulity was palpable as he directly scoffed and plucked the lapel pin from the box, “This.”
Setting it aside, he pointed at the belt and said, “And this…”
Hold on, what’s amiss with this? Yu Baihan interjected.
His cleverness perhaps warranted some guilt, especially when it came to the lapel pin. But what could possibly be wrong with the belt?
Lu Huan halted abruptly, his gaze affixed to the belt, and he fell into a contemplative silence.
Yu Baihan stood before him, regarding the dual belt for a moment, and ventured hesitantly, “Do you not think that this is a…”
“Si Baihan!”
… It seemed his aim had been accurate.
Instantly, Yu Baihan assumed the moral high ground and shot him a look of stern reprimand, stating with conviction, “See? You’re overthinking it. This is clearly a sincere gift from me.”
A pause stretched through the corridor.
Soon after the lid had been closed on the gift box, Lu Huan raised his head, massaging the space between his brows.
After an extended interval, he uttered each word with emphasis, “Fine, then take it to my room and store it.”
Yu Baihan murmured softly, “There’s no rush.”
He pulled out his phone and checked the time. The bouquet of roses had just been delivered to the manor a few minutes ago. He intended to bring it upstairs along with the cake, a balm for their classmate Lu’s spiraling thoughts.
“I still have a gift for you. You take the gift box back to your room and wait for me.”
Lu Huan’s agitated heart stirred once more, “What gift?”
Yu Baihan was about to say, “This time it’s truly romantic”, but reconsidered Lu Huan’s calibration of romanticism mid-sentence. Thus, he modified his statement, “It’s the kind that exudes elegance.”
Concluding his words, he identified the door and, under Lu Huan’s watchful scrutiny, descended the stairs.
…
In an instant, the slender figure vanished at the foot of the stairs.
Lu Huan lingered for a moment before retracing his steps back to the room, gift box in hand.
Upon entering, he switched on a floor lamp, placing the gift box next to the bed in the soft illumination. His tie was loosened, and he pivoted towards the bathroom.
The room, veiled in darkness and tranquility, offered respite from the activity downstairs.
Lu Huan turned on the tap, cupping his hands under the stream to splash his face with cold water.
The coldness triggered his nerves, and the tension that had gripped him finally began to ease.
This day wasn’t as carefree and joyous as he’d hoped. Not all the guests he’d invited were kin and confidants. Some belonged to families that had remained indifferent as he struggled in his previous life, families that had exploited his hardships and taken advantage of his struggles…
The animosities were unforgotten, yet he still had to cater to them.
Gently tugging at the corner of his lower lip, Lu Huan turned off the tap and raised his gaze to meet his reflection in the mirror.
The bathroom’s dim lighting was augmented by a mirror light casting a soft glow on his face. Beads of water traced his cold forehead, and the outlines of water droplets were etched onto his reddened, slender lips.
Suddenly, his gaze sharpened.
Within the mirror, a cluster of flickering candles materialized. Their flames danced faintly, revealing the ethereal contours of a face behind him.
His pupils constricted subtly, and his throat worked.
The candlelight swayed, revealing the pair of dusky eyes behind it.
Lu Huan’s eyelashes fluttered, “…Witchcraft?”
Yu Baihan shook his head and parted his lips, breaking into a cheerful melody:
“Wave goodbye to your troubles~ bye-bye~
Say hello to joy~ hi-hi~”
“My dear student Lu, happy birthday.”
“Every day’s a wonderful day~”
Before him, the cake spun and gleamed, and Yu Baihan offered his heartfelt wishes, “May your day be filled with wonder~”
Lu Huan, “…”
Before the dim bathroom mirror, the two locked eyes through the faint glow of the candles.
Gradually, the frenzied thudding of Lu Huan’s heart settled into a tranquil rhythm.
With both hands, he accepted the cake. His voice carried an ethereal quality in the bathroom’s ambiance as he spoke, “Thank you, this is already so exciting.”
Yu Baihan’s lips curled into a subtle smile, “Quick, make a wish, just before the lights come off.”
Lu Huan took a deep breath and shut his eyes.
Only three minutes prior, the faces of those unforgettable foes had consumed his thoughts. Yet now, as he closed his eyes, revenge was the farthest thing from his mind.
In his heart, Lu Huan offered a sincere prayer: May the years be serene and uneventful, free from malevolence.
Having made his wish, he opened his eyes and gently blew out the candle.
Extinguished. Yu Baihan turned on the bathroom light, filling the space with instant brightness.
The small cake rested in Lu Huan’s hands, their joint creation on full display.
Its cream base gleamed white, crowned by a pink birthday peach. Because of its diminutive size, only one candle adorned it, standing proudly at the peach’s center.
Yu Baihan’s eyes lit up, “Isn’t it lovely? I made it myself.”
For a moment, Lu Huan’s gaze remained fixated on the pink peach. He then turned and carried the cake back to the bedroom, remarking, “Of course it looks great, Baihan.”
Yu Baihan’s smile grew bashful as he trailed Lu Huan into the bedroom.
Upon entering, their attention was promptly drawn to the sizeable bouquet of roses adorning the bed.
A vibrant bouquet of red roses adorned the bed, but an unusual sight met their eyes: a trail of petals ran from the door to the bedside, engulfing half of the mattress, with some even cascading over the partially opened gift box.
The room’s dim illumination lent an air of subtlety to the scene.
Lu Huan came to a halt, his attention held by the display before him.
Yu Baihan stepped forward, a hint of bashfulness playing on his features as he swept his fingers over the petals. “I was carrying the cake and the bouquet simultaneously, and I accidentally brushed against the door frame as I entered the room.”
Lu Huan shifted his posture and placed the cake on a nearby table. “No harm done.”
There was an air of composure in Lu Huan’s demeanor, an aftermath of life’s trials.
Yu Baihan exhaled in relief. He had known that there was little Lu Huan couldn’t accept.
Carefully, he gathered the petals from the bed. Glancing back, he spotted Lu Huan producing a small spoon from thin air and taking a taste of the cake.
“Delicious?” Yu Baihan inquired.
A soft, affirmative hum was Lu Huan’s response.
Yu Baihan wasn’t taken aback. “It’s made from animal butter from the prairie. How could it be anything but delicious?”
An air of mild annoyance flickered across Lu Huan’s expression.
As Lu Huan’s mood seemed good, Yu Baihan proceeded to open the gift box on the bed, addressing him by name.
Lu Huan put down the spoon, pivoting his head to gaze at the open box.
With a generous air, Yu Baihan stated, “Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, remember to wear the serious gift I’ve given you.”
His gaze briefly wandered, particularly focusing on the shirtpin.
For three or four seconds, the room was enveloped in silence.
Just as Yu Baihan was preparing to offer further words, Lu Huan’s chuckle pierced the stillness, tainted with familiar mischief.
Yu Baihan’s cautious gaze met Lu Huan’s. He watched as Lu Huan moved toward the bed, picked up the gift box, and, in an unflinching tone, proposed, “I was considering changing for the second half. Since it’s such a great gift, why don’t you, our Baihan, assist me in changing?”
Our poor boy. Keep forgetting he probably has PTSD from the first timeline/the notion of fate. Honestly the MC is probably the only thing keeping him sane. Something that is so markedly different from before can help releive the anxiety that fate is fixed and nothing you do can protect you from it.
This chapter is soooo good! Yu baihan’s heartfelt gift ended up being misunderstood by all the other guests outside their bedroom thanks to lu huan’s intense reaction 🤣
What’s up with the shirt pin?
Basically, the stuff he got sort of looked like bondage gear at a glance, and that item was the worst offender. But it’s all just innocent stuff to hold fancy suits in place
Ohhhh!! I couldn’t understand his reaction until now, thank you! ( ꈍᴗꈍ)
he thought the imp gave him a leather sex harness infront of everyone?! 🤣🤣🤣
🤣💜
Love those shenanigans ! Thank you for the chapter
Lu Huan get your mind out the gutter lmaoooo!!! Don’t blame him for that reaction tho, everything baihan says to him is flirty and suggestive in one way or another lol
Lu Huan’s life is never boring with Yu Baihan around! 😂 Glad that LH got to celebrate his birthday with Baihan 🥰
Thanks for the chapter 💞
That reaction was priceless and everything leading up to it was just stirring the pot!! 😂😂