Assist him in changing?
Yu Baihan was taken aback. His face flushed momentarily, and the vigilance that had just sprouted vanished instantly.
He cast a sheepish glance at Lu Huan, realizing he had misunderstood him completely. What impure thoughts had he suspected Lu Huan of harboring?
It wasn’t anything more than wanting to present a generous “return gift.”
Yu Baihan promptly extended his hand to cradle the gift box. He feigned a modest air, muttering, “… Would that really be appropriate?”
But his hand, gripping the gift box, was freed without resistance.
After two half-hearted flinches, Yu Baihan peered at Lu Huan with skepticism, his brows slightly furrowed:?
His gaze lifted to meet Lu Huan’s deep eyes. The trace of a smile that had played at the corner of Lu Huan’s lips was gone. Instead, he looked at Yu Baihan intently, his grip on the gift box unwavering.
Yu Baihan shot him a shy look, questioning, “Is it really that hard to let go?”
Lu Huan pursed his lips, seemingly grappling with his thoughts. “You…”
“Let it go, no need to explain.” Yu Baihan surrendered the gift box to Lu Huan’s hold, extending his hand to retrieve the belt and shirt clip. “Hold these. I’ll take care of the rest.”
It was hard to tell which words had set off a spark within Lu Huan’s mind. For an instant, his posture tensed, yet he didn’t retreat.
Yu Baihan noticed this while removing the protective film from the clothing accessories. He offered some reassurance, “Relax, no need to be nervous.”
A hush fell over them.
Then, a chuckle rippled from Lu Huan’s lips. “Nervous? Who’s nervous? I’m looking forward to it.”
Yu Baihan raised his gaze, mirroring Lu Huan’s mirth, “So am I.”
“……”
A few minutes passed.
The jacket he had worn for the initial part of the banquet hung casually over the bed’s edge, replaced by a more relaxed shirt underneath.
Lu Huan had set aside the gift box, letting his hands fall by his sides.
Sitting on the bed’s edge, Yu Baihan positioned himself so that their eyes could meet at the same level. He placed his hand on the belt’s metal buckle, lips slightly pursed, his gaze on Lu Huan was bright. Perhaps it was the proximity of the vivid roses beside him, but a blush adorned his cheeks.
He was completely immersed in the excitement of unveiling a gift.
Yu Baihan announced, “Shall we begin? You just need to cooperate.”
Lu Huan raised an eyebrow, suppressing the restive emotion within him. Instead of correcting Yu Baihan’s phrasing, he simply said, “As you wish.”
Oh, just follow his lead.
It was ideal, embracing a casual spirit he favored.
Yu Baihan initiated the process with a touch of directness.
The metal buckle produced a soft double click as he unfastened the old belt and set it aside. After a brief pause, his fingers danced again, and the shirt material slipped gracefully off his frame.
Yu Baihan was adeptly fastening shirt buttons for Lu Huan, though his attention wavered halfway, straying sideways.
And then—a sudden, subtle weight descended!
As expected from the script of a romance novel, even rereading it still…
A muffled sound of discomfort reached his ears, accompanied by the sensation of a hand gripping his wrist.
Startled from his reverie, Yu Baihan looked up apologetically. “Did I startle you?”
Lu Huan’s gaze bore a certain intensity, fixated on Yu Baihan’s visage. He retorted, “What do you think?”
“Apologies, I’m not an expert at this~” Yu Baihan’s words came rushed.
He promptly freed his wrist.
Moments later, the shirt buttons were fastened, and a new belt was secured.
Satisfied, Yu Baihan stood up, admiring his “handiwork.” He reluctantly averted his gaze only when Lu Huan remarked lightly, “Had enough staring?”
Yu Baihan chuckled shyly. “Are you still going with the gloves?”
“No.”
Lu Huan bent down, closing the gift box.
As he leaned, the shirt stretched taut, creases seemingly erased into an invisible realm beneath the waist.
Yu Baihan’s face flushed with heat.
This gift turned out exceedingly well. Having foreseen Sun Yiqing’s involvement, he realized its potential.
Now dressed for the second part of the evening, Lu Huan was about to depart. Yet before leaving, he inquired of Yu Baihan, “Are you coming?”
“Go.”
After all, how could there be no wave like him in calm waters of the realm of youth?
—
The night’s festivities were divided, with half taking place within the villa’s entertainment area and the other half in the lawn adjacent to the swimming pool behind the manor.
While Lu Huan went to receive and interact with the guests, Yu Baihan initially headed for the lawn by the rear garden to locate the four golden flowers.
The backyard resembled an ocean of merriment. Beside the luxurious pool, there stood a bar and a dance floor, with a pianist seated nearby, playing melodies that resonated in the night air. The lawn was illuminated by numerous beam lights, casting an enchanting radiance over the entire outdoor banquet space.
Surveying the venue, Yu Baihan eventually spotted a vivid sight—Yang Xinyuan’s golden mane stood out prominently.
Navigating through the crowd, he confirmed that indeed, it was Yang Xinyuan, the hardware wholesaler, who sat within a sofa booth.
“Baihan!” Qi Jue noticed his arrival and motioned for him to join them. “Where did you and Brother Lu go just now?”
Yu Baihan settled in, replying, “We went to open the present.”
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.
Instantly, several pairs of curious eyes focused on him. Sun Yiqing brushed his fingertips together and casually inquired, “How did it go?”
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Collective relief spread among the group:
“I knew it…”
“That’s right, how could Brother Lu not appreciate your gift?”
Wen Lou’s curiosity persisted, “So, what exactly was the ‘skin’ you gave?”
Yu Baihan began to explain, “It’s just the skin of…”
His words were swiftly cut off.
Qi Jue nudged Wen Lou with his elbow, signaling him to be quiet. “Don’t ask again! Brother Lu has a fondness for wild things, it must be something for B…”
His lips moved, and a fragment of “BDSM” was discernible.
Yu Bai squinted his eyes:?
What are they insinuating?
Wen Lou was taken aback and hastily gestured, “No need to ask, no need to ask.”
Just as Yu Baihan was attempting to distance himself from the awkward topic, Qi Jue’s expression shifted to one of concern.
Following his gaze, Yu Baihan spotted a group of people approaching. Among them, a young man met his gaze and sneered, quirking the corner of his mouth disdainfully.
Yu Baihan turned to Qi Jue and inquired, “What’s going on with him?”
Qi Jue explained, “It’s them! They were talking at the banquet, claiming that Brother Lu didn’t value you. They even insinuated that Brother Lu took you home to ‘teach you a lesson’ because you failed with the gift!”
Yu Baihan’s heart skipped a beat, “…teach me a lesson?”
And did they mean that Teacher Lu, the one with the gloves, was going to be his teacher?
Qi Jue hesitated, then remembered the couple’s penchant for playful acts, “…”
Before much more could be said, the approaching group had already reached their booth.
As they passed by Yu Baihan, the “Crooked-Mouth Dragon King” suddenly halted, studying him from head to toe.
Yu Baihan allowed the scrutiny, maintaining the posture of “the delicate flower of the Si family.” He then turned to Qi Jue and whispered, “Who is this?”
Qi Jue rolled his eyes, exasperated, “This is Zhu…”
Yu Baihan interjected gently, “I know that I’m asking for the name.”
Hardware Wholesale’s Expression: …
Crooked-Mouth Dragon King’s Expression: …
Qi Jue sighed, “He’s Zhu Jin, from the Zhu family.”
Yu Baihan suddenly understood, “I misunderstood.”
Zhu Jin appeared to be deeply embarrassed, and he couldn’t hold back his outburst, “He’s nothing but a pawn in a business marriage!”
“Hey!” Qi Jue and the others furrowed their brows, rising from their seats in an instant, “What did you just say?”
Someone from the opposing side nudged Zhu Jin as if cautioning him. He shot a final glare at Yu Baihan, then pivoted and left, accompanied by his companions.
Their voices gradually faded:
“Even if Lu Huan doesn’t have feelings for him, the Si family still has influence…”
“Tsk, they’ve entered a business marriage, do you really believe that the Si family values them as anything more than pawns?”
Yu Baihan thought, “That statement actually holds some truth.”
I stand with you, Xiaowai, in revealing the Si family’s hypocrisy.
“Pay no mind to his nonsense,” Qi Jue retorted upon sitting back down, his frustration palpable, “Such dogs, thinking too highly of themselves!”
“Exactly!” Wen Lou was so infuriated that he trembled, forcefully thumped the table, and bellowed towards the dance floor, “They’re ignorant! They don’t even know how a waterbed is—”
The sound attracted the attention of those around them.
Yu Baihan’s pupils contracted.
No, you guys don’t know either…
Swiftly, Qi Jue and Yang Xinyuan moved to cover Wen Lou’s indiscreet mouth, signaling him to halt: That’s enough, shut up!
—
After a bit of jostling, the restless Wen Lou was finally pacified.
Yu Baihan was perplexed, “Did I offend that Zhu?”
The latter half of the statement prompted the four friends to glance at each other with a sense of relief. Sun Yiqing offered a concise explanation, “Innocent when single, guilty when taken.”
“Innocent? Guilty of what?”
What could he possibly be guilty of?
“Lu Huan.”
“……”
Yu Baihan instinctively placed his hand on his belly.
Simultaneously, the four friends’ lips twitched, and they clarified for him—
In essence, these individuals sway with the wind, shifting their allegiances as the circumstances change. When Lu Huan’s popularity surged, they all attempted to cozy up to him. Previously envious of Yu Baihan’s connection to the Lu family, they now seize the opportunity to take advantage of his waning popularity.
“They can’t have it, so they won’t let anyone else have it either. Get it?”
Yu Baihan comprehended, sighing, “It’s Lu Huan attracting all the attention, this tormented celestial being.”
His companions were rendered speechless.
Just as they were conversing, a figure emerged from the opposite direction.
The figure, tall and slender, walked amidst the hazy night and dim illumination, evoking a sense of mystery.
Yu Baihan sat up straight: his little celestial being had arrived.
Qi Jue swiftly adjusted his position, allowing Yu Baihan to slide over and occupy the outer side of the booth. Lu Huan took the seat on the other side, facing him.
“Brother Lu is here!” The group greeted each other.
“Yeah,” Lu Huan responded in a subdued tone.
Upon returning from the party venue, he seemed detached from the festive ambiance, his gaze reminiscent of a deep abyss, veiled by an air of aloofness.
Upon scrutinizing, Yu Baihan’s dark eyes seemed to be spiraling: black screen loading…
Was he imagining things?
“Lu Huan,” Yu Baihan called out, diverting the other’s gaze smoothly, “Were you playing Werewolf just now?”
Lu Huan glanced at him, baffled. “What?”
“Your eyes seemed like you were plotting a murder.”
“……”
Lu Huan’s lips curved into a sudden smile. “You misread.”
Yu Baihan looked again, his heart rate slowing when he saw that Lu Huan’s eyes were serene, the spinning loading having vanished.
Relieved, he suggested, “Maybe the light caught your eyes.”
Lu Huan quirked an eyebrow. “Must be.”
As they engaged in their silent exchange, Qi Jue suddenly slammed the table, exclaiming, “Brother Lu, you should’ve stabbed him!”
With that, he recounted Zhu Jin’s instigations, fanning the flames with relish.
Lu Huan rested one hand on the table, listening with downcast eyes.
Yu Baihan observed him, his gaze unintentionally drifting from that handsome countenance to the region between Lu Huan’s waist and legs.
Around his waist was the belt he had gifted, and beneath the formal trousers lay the shirt clip he had expertly fastened.
Seated nonchalantly amidst the illuminated crowd.
A sight only visible to him.
Yu Baihan indulged in these private thoughts when a flicker of awareness caught his peripheral vision.
Turning his head, he met Sun Yiqing’s gaze.
Though Sun Yiqing’s expression remained composed, after a few seconds of eye contact, he looked away, feigning casualness as he took a sip of his drink.
Yu Baihan, “…”
It appears he’s been caught.
Turning slightly red and flustered, he raised his drink to his lips for a sip.
—
Meanwhile, Qi Jue’s complaints grew increasingly impassioned, culminating in a resounding table slap!
The abrupt noise attracted the attention of Zhu Jin and his companions nearby.
Seeing Lu Huan, Zhu Jin’s countenance froze momentarily. After a brief pause, he approached with a wine glass in hand, addressing Lu Huan, “Mr. Lu.”
Yu Baihan observed the scene quietly, watching the interplay between the two.
Coming to a halt before Lu Huan, Zhu Jin cast a fleeting glance at Yu Baihan. The tension in his expression appeared to ease upon noticing the significant distance between them, and he spoke again, “I had a minor disagreement with one of Mr. Lu’s acquaintances earlier. I apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
The four individuals at the booth exchanged knowing glances, wearing expressions that seemed to say, “Oh, how interesting.”
Seated like a modest blossom in a corner, Yu Baihan shifted his gaze to Lu Huan’s composed visage, which exuded an air of detachment.
Privately, Yu Baihan felt a tinge of delight.
Zhu Jin, who had come to curry favor, likely hadn’t anticipated this turn of events.
After all, Lu Huan still wore the items Yu Baihan had assisted with fastening beneath his clothes.
As Zhu Jin stood there, maintaining his gesture of offering a toast, Lu Huan remained resolute, not budging an inch. He merely raised an eyelid slightly, his tone cool, “I don’t have any interest in wine.”
Zhu Jin’s expression shifted, a hint of exasperation surfacing.
A brief yet charged silence hung in the air. Then, beside him, Wen Lou rolled his eyes repeatedly and broke the deadlock by suggesting, “Drink what Bai Han has!”
Yu Baihan gave Wen Lou a grateful look.
That’s right, drink together. Why not irk this individual a bit more?
Simultaneously, Lu Huan directed his attention toward him. Yu Baihan extended the cup in Lu Huan’s direction, offering, “Want some?”
However, Lu Huan merely flicked a lemon seed back into the cup, leaving everyone uncertain whether he had a problem with it…
A brief pause ensued, and then an arm extended, lifting the wine glass from the table.
Though Yu Baihan nudged it closer, when Lu Huan reached for the glass, he stood up, the fabric of his shirt stretching across his back. Seizing his own wine glass, Yu Baihan followed suit, preparing to take a sip. However, just as the glass touched his lips, his brows knit in sudden discomfort.
Lu Huan ceased his movement, freezing in place.
All eyes fixed on him, brimming with curiosity: What’s the matter?
Inside, Yu Baihan’s heart raced. Did Lu Huan discover the lemon seed he had spat into the glass?
Swiftly, Lu Huan lowered his wine glass, his stance unwavering, and his legs shifted slightly.
Yu Baihan felt relief wash over him. Maybe it was not about the lemon seed after all.
Softly, he called out, “Lu Huan.”
Lu Huan, who had been in silence, turned to him, his gaze intense.
“…”
Right, just as he suspected. It was merely the shirt clip slipping.
After a two-second gaze, Lu Huan shifted his attention away. Disregarding Zhu Jin’s presence nearby, he turned and headed briskly toward the villa.
Without hesitation, Yu Baihan rose and trailed behind him.
The two figures vanished at the entrance of the villa, leaving the booth occupants exchanging puzzled glances.
Half a minute later, the hushed atmosphere was punctuated by a low, almost hummed, conversation at the table.
Zhu Jin stared at the wine glass untouched by Lu Huan, attempting to decipher the puzzled expression that had momentarily graced his face. “Isn’t it clear that you’re avoiding sharing the same glass?” he mumbled, trying to rationalize the situation.
Yang Xinyuan, in a tone laden with bitterness, fired back, “There must be more to it. They’re so entangled with each other!” He seemed to emit sourness each time he spoke on this topic.
Zhu Jin was prepared to scoff at Yang Xinyuan’s usual jealous remarks, but when he looked into his friend’s resolute gaze, a hint of uncertainty crept into his mind.
What if… what if there’s some truth to this?
Just then, Sun Yiqing, who had maintained silence throughout the discussion, spoke up in her usual composed manner. “If you’re investing this much time pondering about others, why not take the opportunity to investigate firsthand?”
Zhu Jin’s heart skipped a beat, his attention now drawn to the direction where Yu Baihan and the others had gone.
After a brief pause of internal contemplation, he swiveled and decided to follow their path. Having already incurred the displeasure of “Si Baihan,” Zhu Jin knew he needed to confirm whether Lu Huan truly wished to avoid him or anyone else. Only then could he regain his sense of ease.
—
Within ten meters from the lawn to the villa, there was a restroom conveniently situated. Lu Huan entered and headed straight for the farthest cubicle. Yu Baihan trailed behind him, asking, “Did it come loose?”
The grip on the doorknob tightened, causing veins to strain beneath the skin.
Lu Huan turned his head, his features illuminated by the overhead light, presenting a face etched with sternness. He scoffed, “What do you think?”
Yu Baihan swiftly apologized, “It was my first time assisting someone with this, so I’m not proficient yet.”
A few seconds later, the intensity in Lu Huan’s gaze eased slightly.
His eyes closed as he said, “Never mind, just reattach it.”
As his eyes shut, Yu Baihan made a rather slick sideways entrance into the cubicle, gently closing the door behind him. “It’s not too late, let’s fix it quickly.”
Lu Huan’s eyes opened in surprise.
Taking a deep breath, he clarified, “I meant I’ll fasten it myself.”
Acknowledging his personal space, Yu Baihan took a step back, nodding. “Alright, let me observe so I can learn.”
“You want to watch me here?”
“I’m in the after-sales service department.”
With a resigned sigh, Lu Huan asked, “Could you not be so shameless?”
Yu Baihan’s lips quirked into a half-smile.
He explained himself further, “It’s only natural, you have to understand.”
“Natural?”
Yu Baihan tried to provide a fresh perspective, saying, “Imagine if I were standing in front of you right now, putting on the shirt clip you gave me…”
His fingers hesitated mid-action, and Lu Huan suddenly lifted his gaze, interjecting, “Enough, shut up.”
Yu Baihan’s pale lips formed a suppressed grin.
There you go, rendered speechless, aren’t you?
The clothes were tidily arranged once again, and the faint sound of metal buckles echoed within the confined space.
Lu Huan lowered his hands and addressed Yu Bai, who was stationed near the door. “You can step out now.”
“Sure.” Yu Baihan pivoted and unlatched the compartment door.
As the door crept open slightly, his gaze met Zhu Jin’s, who appeared to be gazing outside.
Zhu Jin stood rooted to the spot, his expression a mix of astonishment and shock.
Yu Baihan halted in his tracks, locking eyes with Zhu Jin for a fleeting second. Just then, Lu Huan’s voice, deep and composed, drifted from behind the slightly ajar door, “Why…”
Reacting swiftly, Yu Baihan pivoted and nudged Lu Huan into the compartment, promptly slamming the door shut with a resounding thud.
In the confined space, the light was scarce, casting a cool ambiance.
Lu Huan lowered his gaze, questioning, “What was that about?”
Yu Baihan’s voice was hushed, “Zhu Jin was outside. I met his gaze.”
“…”
“A quick reaction, right? Your reputation remains unblemished.”
Within the hushed confines, the rhythm of their heartbeats appeared almost audible.
Lu Huan fixed a steady gaze on the bright eyes before him and murmured, “Don’t you find this even more peculiar?”
Yu Baihan’s response was rendered mute…
If you tell me SY didnt do that on purpose knowing what he would find I wouldn’t believe you. How do they keep being in such easily misleading circumstances. If everyone already thinks you’re guilty may as well just do it. Why take all the embarrassing parts but not the fun ones.
+1
‘Zhu’ also seems to be the pronunciation for the word ‘pig’… Quite unfortunate, ah.
Man, all those embarrassing situations, the tension, makes me so anxious, I just want them to hug, hold hands and kiss and ruin the Si family.
Thank you for the chapter!
Ohhh, I see! I’ll edit the T/N later. Thanks for the info! ❤️
Pftt Yu Baihan’s thought process is intriguing indeed! 😂 Aite, may as well give that Zhu Jin a show~
I Love how many times they don’t actually intent to create misunderstanding but people still misunderstood anyway! But not the bad kind of misunderstanding… Hehe ( ͝° ͜ʖ͡°)
But seriously this novel is Epic Fun so far!
ML’s Friends was the best kind of bunch!!!
THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR THE HARDWORKS IN TRANSLATION!!! 🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇 FOREVER ETERNALLY GRATEFUL
Pigsy’s contemplating his life choices rn. SY casually being the best wingman as usual, no big deal lol
Thanks for the chapter!!
This looks like a fun story! I’ll probably wait until it’s finished to read it, because I don’t think I’m going to keep track of all the different names in it, but you definitely have a reader in me, even if I don’t comment!
Do you want me to make a glossary? Because even I made notes in my personal discord server for names and such 😂
Oh, that would make a big difference. I can never keep names straight if I’m reading a chapter every few days, and I had a hard enough time when I was reading them all consecutively.
And the misunderstandings keep piling on! Lu Huan’s reputation..🕯️
Thanks for the chapter 💞
Typo.
There are two occasions of Yu Bai. Sun Yiqing …. Spoke up in her [his] usual ….
I LOVE LU HUAN’S FRIEND GROUP SO MUCH SJAKWKWKWJ