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The kitchen was bathed in a hushed stillness, with the two individuals standing there.
Yu Baihan paused for a brief moment, then averted his gaze. Hehe
He almost fell for Lu Huan’s “photographic memory.”
Senior Lu must have felt his speech had diminished his dignity, and now he was attempting to rebuild his image?
Yu Baihan received the booklet and feigned composure, moving to the sink to retrieve a glass for water. “Senior Lu,” he said, in a playful tone, “You might want to update your speech with something like, ‘Have you ever seen someone raiding the refrigerator at two o’clock in the morning?'”
Lu Huan, turning off his phone screen with the same calm demeanor, retorted, “I’ve seen my classmates doing just that at two o’clock in the morning.”
Yu Baihan was momentarily lost for words.
Their exchange took a turn towards mutual mockery.
Yu Baihan took his glass and walked towards Lu Huan. “Pour me some water.”
Lu Huan compiled without a word, retrieving cold water from the fridge.
A lot of cold water.
Yu Baihan raised his glass in a toast. “Here’s to our sham friendship!” His dark eyes gleamed softly in the fridge’s gentle light.
Lu Huan’s gaze met his.
Yu Baihan corrected himself. “I stand corrected; let’s toast to our genuine love!”
“Hehe.”
The glasses met with a crisp clink.
Yu Baihan had originally intended to have a small drink before heading back to bed. However, having stumbled upon Lu Huan secretly observing him in the kitchen in the middle of the night, he felt invigorated after downing a glass of ice-cold water.
He decided to step outside into the courtyard to savor the night breeze.
Lu Huan, for some reason or another, followed him out.
And so, in the middle of the night, the two found themselves strolling together in the courtyard.
The temperature at this hour was neither too hot nor too cold. The night sky was adorned with stars and the moon’s glow.
With the gentle breeze caressing them, Yu Baihan stood upon the lush pathway with his eyes closed, basking in the serene moment.
After a silence that seemed to stretch on for an eternity, he suddenly opened his eyes, unable to resist the stillness of the night.
His idle hands reached for his phone, and he launched the Palms Word Book app.
Lu Huan, catching this action out of the corner of his eye, voiced a note of caution. “What are you doing?”
Without any pretense, Yu Baihan calmly shared his screen with Lu Huan, responding with a nod and a quick tap of his finger. “The Word Book app. Care to join me in some reading?”
It was time for them to be honest with each other.
Lu Huan positioned himself by Yu Baihan’s side, gazing at the screen with determination.
In the next moment, a clear pronunciation emerged:
“Abandon, give up.”
Both individuals froze.
The sound mingled with the night breeze, then swiftly dissipated into nothingness.
After two seconds of silence, Yu Baihan stashed his phone back into his pocket. “It’s three in the morning… Does Boss Lu have work tomorrow?”
Lu Huan also stayed quiet for a couple of seconds before responding with a faint “mm.”
Suggestively, Yu Baihan proposed, “Perhaps it’s time for us both to return to our slumber.”
“….Okay.”
Their mutual sincerity was confirmed in the exchanged glances, and they proceeded to ascend to their respective rooms, succumbing to sleep.
…
The following day, the agreed-upon spot check didn’t come to fruition.
Yu Baihan had trouble getting out of bed in the morning, oversleeping, but fortunately, he didn’t have any early classes on Monday.
While he had the luxury of skipping morning classes, Lu Huan wasn’t so fortunate.
Early in the morning, Lu Huan, who had managed only a meager five hours of sleep, descended the stairs, his furrowed brow and unmistakable weariness evident on his face.
Uncle Feng dutifully served breakfast to Lu Huan and asked, “Did you manage to get a good night’s rest?”
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.
“Pa kjr jigluta,” gfqilfv Oe Lejc, werafglcu eq tlr fcfgus ab ajxf j rlq bo mbooff.
Rbalcu atja Oe Lejc rffwfv ab yf gfmbnfglcu rbwfktja, Fcmif Mfcu uijcmfv abkjgv atf eqrajlgr jgfj. “Ljr Zjrafg Djltjc jkjxfcfv? Vtbeiv P qgfqjgf ygfjxojra obg tlw abb?”
“Rb cffv.” Oe Lejc rfa tlr mbooff meq vbkc, atf gfwcjcar bo fztjeralbc ralii nlrlyif bc tlr ojmf. Coafg j yglfo qjerf, tf jvvfv, “Lf’r ralii jriffq. Gbc’a vlraegy tlw.”
Uncle Feng nodded understandingly, a tinge of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. “Oh! It’s wonderful to see the close bond between Sir and the young master.”
“……”
Lu Huan raised his head and glanced quietly at his old housekeeper.
—-
Yu Baihan woke up at nearly ten o’clock.
When he descended the stairs, he was met with the concerned gaze of Uncle Feng, who said affectionately, “Is Master Baihan awake? I’ve asked Aunt Zhou to prepare some light, warm dishes for you.”
Yu Baihan raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the emphasis on “light” dishes.
Before he could inquire further, Uncle Feng continued, “Mister suggested that you get more rest this morning.”
Yu Baihan’s attention swiftly shifted as he responded with contentment, “How considerate of him.”
Inwardly, he knew that this whole situation was the result of his fanciful playacting.
Feeling quite pleased, he noted Uncle Feng’s natural expression.
After a pleasant brunch, Hua Wu drove Yu Baihan to school.
In the car, Hua Wu engaged in some casual chatter, “Young master, why are you running so late today?”
Yu Baihan gazed out of the window at the receding scenery, a tinge of regret in his eyes. “It’s all due to a man’s stubborn pride.”
Hua Wu seemed puzzled, “Whose pride are we talking about?”
“Mine and Lu Huan’s.”
Silence filled the car once more.
Yu Baihan waited for a couple of minutes but didn’t receive the expected response from Hua Wu. He couldn’t help leaning back into his seat and prodded, “Why aren’t you asking?”
He had already formulated a plan to narrate this captivating story in vivid detail.
Hua Wu stared ahead at the road, his expression unchanged. “I’d rather not know too much.”
Yu Baihan blinked in surprise.
Hua Wu’s “don’t want to hear it” attitude was evident in the rearview mirror, and realizing there was no point in pushing, Yu Baihan begrudgingly withheld the tale of his playful showdown.
…
Upon arriving at school, Yu Baihan didn’t forget to send Lu Huan a thoughtful text message.
[Yu Er]: If you’re feeling tired, take a nap at noon. [Pats the dog’s head]
Lu Huan’s response came after a while.
[Fish]: I’ve had five hours of sleep, no need for a nap.
The tone was just like yesterday when he declared he’d “finish it in one go.”
Yu Baihan, “…”
He had mixed feelings. While he admired Lu Huan’s refusal to show weakness, he didn’t see the point in being overly stubborn.
[Yu Er]: I’ve cast an instant sleep spell on you; now you’ll feel sleepy. [Abracadabra, you’ll be asleep in seconds.jpg]
[Yu Er]: Go ahead and sleep; I’m making you do it.
[Fish]:……
After sending his messages, Yu Baihan put away his phone and headed to the classroom.
He loved his stubborn wife like this.
Each day, he unveiled a small trick to see through the facade.
…
To indulge Lu Huan’s affectionate request, Yu Baihan decided to head home straight after classes for these two days.
Their relationship had also mended after their playful banter and sneakiness that night, leading to relatively peaceful days.
Thursday came, and Yu Baihan stuck to his usual routine of staying at school. During lunchtime, Sun Yiqing visited him and invited him for dinner on Friday night.
“Since the semester is nearly over, let’s have an early celebration.”
Yu Baihan considered he would be on break next week too. “Will all the hardware wholesalers be there?”
“The others won’t make it. It’s just Qi Jue and me. You can ask Brother Lu to join.”
“Alright.”
After agreeing, Yu Baihan messaged Lu Huan that evening.
[Yu Er]: Qi Jue and Sun Yiqing have invited me for dinner tomorrow night. Are you coming?
[Fish]: Sounds good.
Yu Baihan responded to the message, then closed the chat window to message Sun Yiqing. Just as he did, he received another message from Lu Huan.
[Fish]: I’ll pick you up tomorrow night.
“Lu’s family chauffeur service,” Yu Baihan quipped, sent his reply, and powered off his phone.
—
On Friday at five o’clock in the afternoon, Yu Baihan quickly tidied up and positioned himself at the school gate, waiting for Lu Huan. His evening plans meant he needed to temporarily store his school bag and luggage in the dormitory, and Hua Wu would later assist him in transporting them home.
As he strolled toward the school gate, Yu Baihan spotted a black private car parked alongside the road. He checked the time:
“I left early today, how did Lu Huan arrive so quickly?”
He approached the car, but as he neared, he realized it wasn’t Lu Huan’s Maybach. About to turn away, feigning ignorance, he suddenly noticed the rear window of the car slowly rolling down.
…Yu Baihan had a sense of impending doom.
The tinted glass descended, revealing a familiar face.
Si Yanting was seated in the back, observing him through the glass.
Yu Baihan sighed inwardly. He now understood why he’d had such an ominous feeling; he had smelled trouble brewing.
It had been a while since they’d last met, and Si Yanting’s usually composed countenance appeared somewhat haggard. Evidently, the Si family’s “little lucky star” had been causing him quite a bit of trouble.
Yu Baihan locked eyes with his elder brother for a moment, then stood his ground and addressed him, “Brother.”
Si Yanting halted briefly before speaking, “Get in.”
Yu Baihan followed his instructions, moving around the car to the other side, opening the door, and taking a seat inside.
As soon as the car door closed, the two of them found themselves sitting face to face in the confined space.
After a moment of silence, Si Yanting began with an inquiry, “Do you know why I’ve come to find you?”
Yu Baihan thought to himself: Seriously? Do you have to make it this complicated? Why can’t you be straightforward like Shan San’er?
He replied, “I don’t know.”
– As if the man had set up a riddle for him.
Couldn’t he just ask straightforwardly, like his third brother?
“I don’t have a mental illness,” Yu Baihan firmly declared in response.
– Well, mental illness does run in your family.
He wore his conviction on his face, which seemed natural enough that Si Yanting, after a careful observation, appeared to believe him.
“Good,” Si Yanting said, “Don’t let others influence you. Just listen to me.”
Yu Baihan nodded obediently.
Si Yanting’s gaze remained fixed on Yu Baihan’s face. After a brief pause, he extended his hand, nearly touching Yu Baihan’s shoulder.
Yu Baihan’s heart raced as he contemplated how to tactfully remove the intrusive hand. However, before he could formulate a plan, the car door behind him was suddenly flung open—
He instinctively leaned away.
Simultaneously, a surge of bright light flooded the entire car from behind as Mingguang entered, illuminating Si Yanting’s mildly astonished expression.
A hand swiftly grabbed onto Yu Baihan’s arm, preventing him from slipping back further. Then, with a gentle tug, he pulled Yu Baihan out of the car, away from the overpowering scent of the dog.
Yu Baihan’s inner monologue: A living Bodhisattva! Where did he come from?
Staggering back a couple of steps, Yu Baihan stood outside the car door. He turned to look, meeting the reproachful gaze of Lu Huan.
Yu Baihan’s thoughts: Seriously, can’t take a taxi ever again.
In the car, Si Yanting raised an eyebrow and gazed calmly at Lu Huan. “What’s Mr. Lu doing?”
Lu Huan, with his arm wrapped around Yu Baihan’s back and nearly cradling him, peered down imperiously and uttered in a possessive tone, “I don’t want my wife sitting in another man’s car.”
Si Yanting, stunned, glanced between Lu Huan and Yu Baihan for a few seconds before addressing Yu Baihan directly. “Mr. Lu truly cherishes Xiaohan. I won’t overstep my bounds.”
He instructed the driver to close the door before turning to Yu Baihan and Lu Huan. “Please close the door.”
Yu Baihan was about to do just that, but Lu Huan swiftly stopped him, saying, “Don’t touch the door of another man’s car.”
With a flourish, he opened the car door himself with a loud thud.
Yu Baihan: …
The black private car sped away rapidly.
The car exhaust seemed to offer an inexpressible ellipsis, disappearing from view in the blink of an eye.
Once the car was gone, Yu Baihan turned his head and met Lu Huan’s gaze.
Lu Huan peered down at him for a moment, then calmly withdrew his hand. He smirked and commented, “Get in the car.”
“……”
Fan Lin was nowhere to be seen in the driver’s seat, indicating that Lu Huan had driven here himself. Finally, things were back to normal.
Yu Baihan touched his chest with a slight shiver. He realized that he had almost missed Lu Huan’s deadly serious expression just a moment ago.
Lu Huan’s inconspicuous Maybach parked about five or six meters away from their location. Yu Baihan followed him, opened the passenger door, and settled into the car.
In the driver’s seat, Lu Huan reached out to fasten his seatbelt. Yu Baihan glanced at his familiar movements with contentment. His mood swiftly rebounded, and he reverted to his favorite playful persona.
He feigned innocence. “How did you talk to your brother-in-law just now, Senior Lu?”
Lu Huan held the steering wheel with one hand, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. “Was I impolite to my brother-in-law?”
Yu Baihan admired Lu Huan’s profile. “Is that okay?”
Lu Huan replied calmly, “Didn’t I pay for the hamster food you bought?”
“…So it was the hamster brother-in-law.”
Yu Baihan couldn’t help but chuckle and quickly shared Lu Huan’s adept “family recognition” skills with their “hamster mom” on his phone.
As he typed his praise, he added, “Very impressive. As a reward, maybe next time you can let your brother-in-law take a nap on your head!”
Lu Huan placed his knuckles on the leather-covered steering wheel, tapping them lightly with his fingertips. “That won’t be necessary.”
Yu Baihan turned to him, a sharp glint in his eyes for a moment. “Why not?”
“Having him in your blind spot, I’m worried he might follow us home again.”
“……”
—
Dinner in the evening was not at Qing Yu Yuan. The location had been chosen by Qi Jue, who suggested a revolving restaurant that offered a splendid night view.
The restaurant was situated atop a five-star hotel in the city center. It encircled the exterior of the hotel in a ring shape, and an internal elevator led directly to the hotel suite on the terrace.
Upon their arrival, Yu Baihan and Lu Huan found Qi Jue and Sun Yiqing waiting outside on the terrace.
“Brother Lu, Baihan!” Qi Jue enthusiastically waved at them.
Yu Baihan inquired, “Have you been waiting long?”
Sun Yiqing responded, “Not at all, we just got here.” He had removed his glasses when they stepped out, tucking them into his pocket.
Lu Huan nodded and said, “Let’s go inside.”
Their reservations had already been made, and a waiter guided them into the terrace.
Qi Jue hadn’t seen Yu Baihan in a while, and he walked alongside him, engaging in non-stop chatter.
He was speaking animatedly when suddenly he caught sight of something in a particular direction. Qi Jue turned sharply and patted Yu Baihan’s arm. “Look over there!”
“What?” Yu Baihan followed his line of sight and turned to see what had grabbed his attention.
A couple was strolling towards the terrace’s exit. The man was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, while the woman wore a white dress.
Seeing that Yu Baihan’s gaze remained unfocused for a while, Qi Jue prompted, “The one in the white dress.”
Ah, the one in the white dress.
Yu Baihan focused his gaze for a moment, then turned to Lu Huan and playfully slapped his arm, not too strongly. “Qi Jue asked me to check out other women.”
Qi Jue: …?
Lu Huan halted and glanced at Yu Baihan. Then he raised his eyes to the woman in the white dress who was about to leave the restaurant.
With one hand on Lu Huan’s arm, Yu Baihan put on an expression of faux bashfulness. “But don’t worry, you’re the only one in my eyes.”
“……”
Even Sun Yiqing turned to look at him this time.
Yu Baihan and Lu Huan exchanged glances, not waiting for any response after their playful exchange. Yu Baihan then looked up, meeting Lu Huan’s gaze, which seemed to be smiling yet not quite. What kind of smile was this? It was far from affectionate.
His eyes held a sort of reproach, as chilly as a spring breeze.
Lu Huan paused for a few seconds and responded softly under his scrutiny, “Our Baihan, don’t you know your second sister?”
“………”
Yu Baihan: Who???
🤣
Uh oh, he slipped up BIG TIME 😂😂
Oupsie ~
Thank you for the chapter
🤭
Thanks for the chapter 💞
Typo
Si Yan was seated in the back….
Oops 😬 second sister??? I have one??!!
LMAAOOOOOOOO baihan 😭😭😭
Omgggg hahahahahah