Sponsored chapter (3/3)
Yu Baihan was momentarily stunned, and then realization hit him like a truck.
Damn it, the camera was on!
When had it been activated? Had he inadvertently triggered it while fiddling with the bracelet on the shelf?
In a hurry, he lowered his gaze and examined the bracelet. “Where is the switch to turn it off?”
Lu Huan’s voice filtered in from outside, “Slide it open along the gap on the side, and there’s a tiny hole that serves as the main switch.”
Yu Baihan, frustrated, stood up abruptly in the bathtub, causing a splashing noise. He scanned the bathroom for anything that could be used to toggle the switch.
Through the closed door, the sounds of clinking and clanging could be heard from the bathroom. It was accompanied by Yu Baihan’s muttered voice, “Why does it have to be so complicated?”
Lu Huan remained outside the door, not leaving. His hand, gripping the phone, twitched slightly. “It’s a survival device; it’s better for it to be easy to activate and hard to deactivate. Have you switched it off yet?”
The commotion inside ceased for a moment.
Two seconds later, the bathroom door in front of Lu Huan abruptly swung open with a resounding bang.
Steam and the faint fragrance of bath products poured out. Yu Baihan, still dripping wet, carelessly threw on a bathrobe and stood before Lu Huan. He extended his hand bashfully. “Lu Huan…I can’t seem to switch it off. Can you help me, please?”
The bathroom door fell silent.
Lu Huan did not budge for a few seconds as he examined the bracelet.
With a firm grip on his phone, Lu Huan strode over to the bed and tossed it behind it. He then searched the room, picking up a needle pen from the desk.
Returning to Yu Baihan’s side, he tugged at his wrist and commented, “We specially designed the left and right rocker buttons for activation. Baihan, you’re quite skilled.”
There was a hint of sarcasm in his light tone.
Yu Baihan felt a pang of guilt, but he tried to regain some moral ground. “You could’ve left your phone out of this.”
Lu Huan sneered, “And let your floating window display itself prominently on my screen, broadcasting the live feed?”
“……”
Oh.
Yu Baihan, known for his cheeky demeanor, felt a twinge of embarrassment at Lu Huan’s words. He quickly deflected the matter, his back to Lu Huan. “I’d been soaking for a few minutes before you got here. How much did you see? Be honest!”
The tip of the pen had poked into the small hole, but it suddenly veered off course.
Lu Huan pursed his lips and cleared his throat. “Nothing.”
Oh~ no. Yu Baihan pretended to believe him.
The pen’s tip was now inside the hole, but it needed to be held there for a few more seconds.
Yu Baihan was looking down at the tip of the pen when his gaze suddenly froze. In the summer, the trousers were thin and snug, leaving little to the imagination.
The surrounding warmth engulfed his cheeks. Wait, was Lu Huan…
“Alright.” A deep voice sounded in front of him.
Before Yu Baihan could react, Lu Huan swiftly turned him around with one hand and nudged him back into the bathroom.
The door shut behind him with a firm thud.
The figure reflected on the frosted glass wavered for a moment, and Lu Huan had already grabbed his phone and made his way out of the room.
Yu Baihan stood in the center of the bathroom for a moment, then covered his flushed face with his hands and sank back into the bathtub. He submerged himself in the hot water and gazed at the shimmering ripples with moistened eyes.
Commander Lu…
Is he really that formidable?
—
After a rather eventful day, Yu Baihan finally retired to his bedroom after a refreshing shower.
The next day, a weekend, he noticed Lu Huan’s absence when he woke up in the morning. During breakfast, he inquired with Uncle Feng, “Where’s Lu Huan?”
“Mr. Huan went to the company for some overtime work.”
“Oh,” Yu Baihan replied, taking a bite of his egg roll.
Lu Huan has been incredibly busy lately, especially since the meeting with Mr. Huo yesterday. There were bound to be more intense arrangements in the days ahead. The cutthroat business world wasn’t within Yu Baihan’s purview, so he stayed home, dedicating his time to reading and studying. Strangely, after a week, he had received numerous well-wishing messages, perhaps due to the increased external noise.
[Qi Jue]: How have you been lately? I asked Brother Lu, and he said things weren’t too bad. [Tucks in my little blanket.jpg]
[Sun Yiqing]: Study well and trust Brother Lu.
[He Yue]: Gosh, what’s going on? There are so many rumors about the Lu family out there. Is your brother Lu Huan really on par with the Huo family? It’s all just rumors, right??? [Terrified and blurry.jpg]
“…”
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.
Qbk, cfk fwbplr.
Yu Baihan first discreetly saved them one by one, then replied with a [Little parrot knocking on wood] and turned off his phone. He ran his fingers along the page’s edge and gazed outside the window at the lush courtyard. After a while, he let out a soft sigh.
Pa jqqfjgfv atja Oe Lejc’r yjgujlclcu mtlq atlr alwf kjr fnfc wbgf rluclolmjca atjc tf tjv lwjulcfv.
Ktf klcv bearlvf kjr yglrx, jcv Oe Lejc tjv rmjgmfis gfaegcfv tbwf jii kffx. Lf tjv fnfc bqafv ab rajs ja atf mbwqjcs obg rfnfgji vjsr ragjluta.
Yc j qjgalmeijg cluta veglcu atf rfmbcv kffx, Te Djltjc kjr olcjiis mbcogbcafv ys atf rafgc biv yeaifg.
Uncle Feng fixed his gaze on Yu Baihan, his eyes capable of deciphering a multitude of emotions, and filled with an imploring expression. “Master hasn’t been home for three days. Shouldn’t Master Baihan go and check on him?”
“……”
The overwhelming sensation was hard to ignore.
Yu Baihan pursed his lips, glancing at the still-open listening software on his phone, and then nodded, saying, “Yes.”
He then turned and ascended the stairs, guided by Uncle Feng’s approving gaze.
An hour later, Hua Wu escorted Yu Baihan to the Lu Corporation.
He looked up at the imposing twin towers, their lights still visible.
Entering through the ground floor lobby, he encountered the night duty security guard at the entrance. Just as he was about to explain his reason for being there, the guard smiled and held the door open, saying, “Please come in.”
Yu Baihan asked in surprise, “Do you know me?”
“Of course! You’re Mr. Lu’s…um, husband?”
“Husband,” Yu Baihan couldn’t help but compliment, “You’ve got a bright future ahead.”
The security guard blushed, “Thank you~”
“…”
Lu Huan seemed to attract quite a crowd of talented people.
As he rode the exclusive elevator straight to the top floor, Yu Baihan emerged from the elevator doors and bumped into Yao Xingran, who was exiting the secretary’s office.
Yao Xingran looked surprised, “Why is Master Baihan here?”
“I came to check on Lu Huan.”
“Boss Lu is probably still in his office.”
Yu Baihan nodded, then glanced at the secretary’s office.
Besides Yao Xingran, there were several subordinates working late. He inquired about the number of people still in the office and then took out his phone to order some late-night snacks. “You’re welcome. I’ll have the food delivered to the front desk.”
Lu Huan was swamped, so he tried to take care of his employees, treating them like family.
Yao Xingran was pleasantly surprised. “Oh, thank you!”
Her eyes sparkled with admiration: No wonder he’s known as the Demon Queen… Oh no, the Immortal Empress. It’s clear how he managed to capture Mr. Lu’s heart and leave him so infatuated!
—
The president’s office door was closed shut.
As Yu Baihan pushed the door open and stepped inside, he found that the overhead lights remained off, casting a dim, subdued atmosphere. The only source of illumination was a lamp on the desk.
In this subdued lighting, Lu Huan leaned against his desk, his gaze downcast. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, the vast city night sprawled, bustling with activity, yet he appeared to be lost in solitude.
Yu Baihan couldn’t help but think:
See, even the tiniest detail of Lu Huan’s appearance seems dull without him by his side.
Perhaps believing it was his secretary who had entered, Lu Huan, still without lifting his gaze, supported his forehead and spoke in a low, composed voice, “What do you need?”
Yu Baihan replied softly, “Surprise~”
Lu Huan raised his eyes in sudden surprise.
The shadow of his hand momentarily danced across his brow, while a flicker of emotion darted through his eyes. Then, he lowered his hand and asked, “Why are you here?”
“The president’s been absent for three days.” Yu Baihan took a few steps towards him, a playful smile on his face, “Feng Shuzhui’s book series. Well, you probably haven’t heard of it.”
He moved a nearby stool and settled beside Lu Huan.
Though Lu Huan’s lips twitched slightly, his eyes revealed a whirlwind of emotions for a brief moment. He seemed on the verge of saying something but held back, simply responding, “Yes.”
“Busy?” Yu Baihan inquired.
“It’s manageable,” Lu Huan replied, his voice carrying a hint of dryness.
His face remained expressionless, yet an air of unease lingered about him.
Yu Baihan’s gaze drifted from Lu Huan’s profile down to the tidy desk in front of him, noting the untouched documents and an inactive computer. It appeared he had a grasp of Lu Huan’s current state—
In reality, there might not be much actual work to be done, but the sense that things could spiral out of control at any moment if they were to let their guard down clung to them like an oppressive weight. Anxiety had piled up inside like a looming mountain.
It seemed the stakes of their bet had reached a critical point.
Lost in his contemplation, Yu Baihan was brought back to the present as Lu Huan casually inquired, “What persona is Baihan adopting today?”
Regaining his composure, Yu Baihan shot Lu Huan a playful, knowing look, his eyes twinkling with the anticipation of a small surprise. “You’re going to like this one.”
Lu Huan, arching an eyebrow, responded as if he hadn’t a clue.
The meaningful look in Yu Baihan’s eyes seemed to say, ‘I think you’re going to like it a little too much, my mischievous Lu.’
He turned around, rummaging in the backpack he had brought with him.
And then, with a jingle, a pair of furry cat ears suddenly adorned his head.
Yu Baihan turned back to face Lu Huan, his eyes alight with mischief. “Today, I am Maomao Baihan.”
Lu Huan appeared genuinely taken aback for a moment, fingers curled on the desk. However, he quickly regained his composure and inquired in a calm tone, “Where did you find those?”
“You didn’t leave them in the bedside drawer?” Yu Baihan countered with a sly smile.
Lu Huan’s response was a subtle pursing of his lower lip.
Yu Baihan leaned in closer, his tone playful. “Go on, give them a touch. They’re brimming with life!”
An almost imperceptible eye-roll from Lu Huan, and then, begrudgingly, a hand reached out and gingerly pinched one of the cat ears. “Noisy.” The tinkling bells stopped their merriment.
Yu Baihan leaned in further, his hands now bracing on either side of Lu Huan, his voice almost a purr, “You say that, but you’re intrigued.”
The cat ears dangled and swayed, and after a short while, they were firmly pinched again. “…Quit it.” This time, the bells fell silent.
Taking advantage of the moment, Yu Baihan leaned even closer, beckoning Lu Huan’s ear with a mischievous grin.
…
Two hours slipped away in the confines of the office.
Gradually, the entire company began to dim as one by one, the lights were turned off. The employees who had stayed late all went home, leaving only Lu Huan and Yu Baihan behind.
Yu Baihan checked the time, nearly midnight. “Aren’t you going to sleep?” he asked.
Lu Huan lowered his eyelashes, his voice quiet, “Can’t sleep.”
The turning point in the destiny was nearing, causing anxiety to grip his spirit. Whenever he closed his eyes, the vivid, blood-soaked scenes from his past life would haunt him, making sleep elusive.
Lu Huan began to say something, but a hand promptly covered his mouth.
Yu Baihan gently moved him aside. “Step aside.”
Lu Huan didn’t quite understand, but complied, nonetheless.
Yu Baihan switched on his computer, efficiently downloaded a game, and logged into his account. He maintained a light and indulgent tone, offering Lu Huan an easy-going invitation, “Today, you have my permission to play on my account.”
Lu Huan’s eyebrows knitted in confusion, and he wondered what Yu Baihan was up to.
·
The late-night gaming community was still bustling with players.
With Lu Huan at the controls, Yu Baihan sat beside him, providing technical guidance.
Lu Huan demonstrated remarkable skill, while Yu Baihan contributed with commentary. The two of them played with the in-game voice chat on, and their teammates on the opposing team were evidently high school students on summer vacation. The office was soon filled with their expletive-laden banter:
“Do you even know how to play?”
“I’m an idiot. Who blindly guides like that?”
“I can’t believe it. These two idiots are playing together.”
Lu Huan: …
Yu Baihan: …
Unfazed by the harsh language, they both continued to play the game seriously, ignoring the abuse.
As they battled relentlessly into the late hours of the night, they began to encounter fewer players, and the comments from their teammates grew sporadic. Eventually, Lu Huan pushed away the computer and said, “I’ve had enough of this.”
Yu Baihan nodded in agreement, glancing at the time; it was already four in the morning.
No wonder they were both feeling so sleepy.
Suppressing a yawn, he looked at Lu Huan, who was unexpectedly chuckling beside him.
It was a pure, unadulterated laugh, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders in that moment.
Yu Baihan turned his head, puzzled.
Lu Huan gazed down, his eyes moist with tears. “Tired?”
Yu Baihan roused himself, “I’m alright.” Lu Huan didn’t sleep, so he wouldn’t either. He was going to be the caring one in this situation.
Lu Huan observed carefully, “But your eyes were flashing with a bunch of goodnight emojis just now.”
“…Seriously?” It was astonishing how he could read that. Yu Baihan looked at Lu Huan. “How about you?”
“I’ll take a short nap,” Lu Huan replied.
He raised a hand and playfully pinched his own cat ears, the little bells tinkling. “I was quite abused for being sleepy.”
Yu Baihan couldn’t help but laugh. “You’ve got quite the sense of humor.”
The legendary C University god and the president of the Lu family had spent their night playing video games and getting roasted by high schoolers.
Yu Baihan was still chuckling when he said, “You should Google this…”
…
Adjacent to the office was a lounge area.
The lounge featured a restroom, and both of them freshened up quickly. Yu Baihan retrieved a large T-shirt from Lu Huan’s closet to use as pajamas and slipped beneath the covers.
He peered out from under the quilt, “Is it okay if I wear this?”
Lu Huan saw through his act, “You’ve already put it on without asking, so why bother now?”
A bashful smile crept onto Yu Bai’s face.
As if to confirm his manners, he reached out and patted the quilt, then shifted the conversation back to Lu Huan, “Come on, get in and let’s sleep.”
Lu Huan stood beside the bed, observing him for a few moments before tossing off the quilt and laying down.
After a night of gaming, exhaustion quickly overcame Yu Baihan as soon as he touched the pillow. Just before slipping into slumber, his voice, laden with drowsiness, murmured, “Goodnight…”
There was a moment of silence on the other side of the pillow, “Goodnight.”
…
When he awoke the following day, it was already half-past ten in the morning.
Yu Baihan sat up in bed and could faintly hear voices coming from outside. The sounds were hushed, as though deliberately hushed.
He rose from the bed and partially opened the door.
The movement caught the attention of the people in the office. Lu Huan and his subordinates all turned to look at him.
One of the subordinates was momentarily startled: …!
Lu Huan appeared nonchalant, “You’re up?”
Yu Baihan nodded through the narrow door gap, and inquired somewhat self-consciously, “Did I wake up at the wrong time?”
Lu Huan tugged at the corner of his lower lip, “For our Baihan, it’s hardly a concern.”
Yu Baihan cast a quick glance at the subordinate across from him, who appeared unsure whether to leave or stay, and retreated modestly, “I’ll go freshen up, you guys continue.”
“Mm.”
…
After Yu Baihan finished washing up, he opted to simply wear Lu Huan’s T-shirt instead of changing back into yesterday’s clothes.
With silence reigning outside, he opened the door and stepped out.
Lu Huan was seated behind his desk, a fresh pile of tasks awaiting him. Upon hearing the movement, he turned his head, his gaze momentarily resting on Yu Baihan’s loose-fitting T-shirt.
Drawing nearer, Yu Baihan inquired, “What’s your schedule for the rest of the day?”
Lu Huan withdrew his gaze, shifting his attention to his itinerary, “I have a lunch appointment with a partner at noon.”
Yu Baihan nodded, “In that case, I’ll have Hua Wu pick me up.”
“No need to call Hua Wu, I’ll arrange for someone to drive you directly.”
“Oh, that’s even better.”
With that, Yu Baihan happily slung his schoolbag over his shoulder, making sure to put in the cat ears. Lu Huan observed this with a quick glance, then got up and walked out of the office door with him.
As they traversed the lengthy corridor, they chatted casually. They unexpectedly encountered Yao Xingran once more. Yu Baihan exchanged pleasantries with her, then resumed his conversation with Lu Huan.
As they passed each other, a bell rang.
The sound of the bell blended with the gentle breeze and gradually faded into the distance.
After taking a few steps, Yao Xingran halted abruptly, puzzled… a bell?
She turned her head to see the two of them entering the elevator.
With his back to the elevator doors, Yu Baihan asked Lu Huan, “Are you coming home tonight?”
Lu Huan’s gaze, for a moment, ventured through the elevator’s transparent glass, fixating on the business empire he had constructed single-handedly.
After a brief pause, his attention returned to Yu Baihan.
Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a low voice emanated from within, “Go back.”
Hehe they’re so smitten with each other~ love how yu baihan went and accompany lu huan and cheered him up ♥ they’re so sweet and adorable together aaaa
Aww, so heartwarming~
I like that the development of their relationship is slow. It makes everything feel cozier and sweeter, because that means they get to know each other a build a stable foundation, confirming that they have each others back and will accompany each other through all kinds of difficulties.
Thank you for the chapter!
Yes!
While I agree a part of me is also the embodiment of the devil on their shoulders whispering for them to give into temptation, why struggle so hard
aaaaaaaaah they’re so cute!! KISS ALREADY!!!
I love the care they have for each other ! Thank you for the chapters and the sponsors 💐
I absolutely love this couple, especially Baihan! The author did such a great job making these characters interesting and complex, without swinging too far into the hardcore angst drama. Thank you so much for translating this!
💜
Thanks for the chapters
Aww, supporting each other + cat’s ears make another appearance 🤗😻
Thanks for the chapter 💞
Thank you so much
🥰🥰🥰🥰