Sponsored chapter (3/4)
Yu Baihan was carried back to the back room and gently placed on the bed. As Lu Huan settled him down, he stayed close, almost as if he was hovering over him. Yu Baihan could feel his own heart racing, wondering if Lu Huan had something mischievous in mind.
With bated breath, Yu Baihan reached out and gently touched Lu Huan’s wrist, ready for whatever playful move might come next.
Seconds ticked by, and Lu Huan eventually shifted his position. Yu Baihan couldn’t help but think, “This is the perfect moment!”
He cautiously extended his fingers to graze the back of Lu Huan’s hand…
But suddenly, Lu Huan halted.
Yu Baihan’s heart skipped a beat. “Si Baihan,” came a deep voice from above him.
Their breaths mingled, and Yu Baihan hesitated for a moment before reluctantly opening his eyes. He found himself face to face with Lu Huan, who was peering down at him.
Lu Huan locked eyes with him, his gaze intense. “Were you pretending to be asleep?” he asked.
“No,” Yu Baihan replied with all the innocence he could muster. “You woke me up when you put me down.”
“Is that so?” Lu Huan’s scrutinizing gaze lingered on him.
For a brief moment, Yu Baihan felt a pang of guilt, but he quickly reasserted himself. He put on an air of suspicion. “Why do you seem so nervous? Did you do something to me while I was asleep?”
Lu Huan fell silent for a moment, then chuckled softly. “Hehe, would I do that?”
With that, he pulled the quilt up, straightened himself, and turned his back to Yu Baihan. Sensing an opportunity, Yu Baihan sat up and suggested, “I’m not sleepy anymore. How about we go for a walk?”
Lu Huan glanced out the window. The rain was still falling, but it wasn’t too heavy. “Sure,” he replied.
Yu Baihan translated this as a “yes” and reached out to lift the quilt. Lu Huan’s coat was still draped over him, so Yu Baihan slipped his arms into the sleeves and got dressed.
Lu Huan found an umbrella in the house, and as he was about to head out, he received a couple of affectionate pats on the back from Yu Baihan.
“Lu Huan, assist me in closing the zipper.”
“What zipper?” Lu Huan furrowed his brow. He shifted his gaze, only to find Yu Baihan donning his coat, his back turned, engrossed in some activity.
“…What are you up to?”
“Making the most of the space.”
Yu Baihan turned around, and his coat’s hood was now filled with an assortment of water, snacks, and tissues.
Lu Huan raised an eyebrow. “Empty it out.”
“Don’t linger; soon you’ll be holding an umbrella while I take a photo. The situation is perfect right here.”
In one concise statement, he laid out their roles. Lu Huan pondered for a moment, then raised his hand to zip him up.
…
Five minutes later, they exited the hotel.
Walking on the asphalt road that led up the mountain from the hotel, the light drizzle freshened the air.
Two individuals, sharing an umbrella, walked closely together.
After ascending a bit, Yu Baihan retrieved his mobile phone to snap a photo.
Deliberately, he captured the umbrella’s edge in the frame, revealing a winding asphalt road outside, lined with tall trees enveloped in drizzle and lush greenery.
Yu Baihan shared this moment on his Moments with the caption:
[Yu Er]: Two People [picture]
Within minutes, their friends on social media began to like the post one after another. Thanks to “Dan Cong,” they were now well-versed in these scenarios.
[Qi Jue]: I recognize you and Brother Lu, but who’s that behind you?
[Wen Lou]: Does this imply a third wheel situation? [nervous]
Yu Baihan sighed, “…”
Sometimes, imagination was lacking. It felt like he was facing an open-book exam. How could they not see the large umbrella in the picture?
He turned his phone sideways and showed it to Lu Huan, saying, “Take a look.”
Lu Huan glanced down at the phone. Yu Baihan rotated the phone once more, lowering his head to type: “Two people, one umbrella!”
As he replied, Lu Huan, out of the corner of his eye, pulled out his own phone. Shortly after, Lu Huan’s likes appeared on his friends’ feed.
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.
Then, the buzzing comments section fell silent.
Pa kjr jr tertfv jr lo atf vfjc tjv yffc mjeuta rcfjxlcu bea atf yjmx vbbg.
[Wen Lou]: Darn it!
[Wen Lou]: [This comment has been deleted]
…Qfii, ktja mbeiv sbe fzqfma ktfc sbe’gf vjcmlcu gluta ecvfg Oe Lejc’r cbrf?
Te Djltjc rlutfv, rajrtfv tlr qtbcf jkjs, jcv atfc ibkfgfv tlr tfjv ab fzagjma rcjmxr jcv kjafg ogbw tlr mbja’r tbbv ab wecmt jcv rlq.
Turning to Lu Huan, he suggested, “Have some snacks too, it’ll lighten my load.”
Lu Huan peered at his hood, which was essentially a treasure chest for their outing, and his gaze settled on the heaviest water bottle. He then reached out and handed the umbrella to Yu Baihan.
Yu Baihan accepted the umbrella, watching as Lu Huan unscrewed the water bottle and took a few sips. He lifted his head, drank, and repeated…
He couldn’t help but feel pleased: Commander Lu was quite practical and knew what mattered.
Lu Huan was taller than him, so when Yu Baihan held the umbrella, he had to stretch his arms. The umbrella tilted slightly, allowing fine raindrops to graze his shoulders.
After downing half the bottle of water, Lu Huan placed it back in his hood.
A few tourists descending the mountain glanced their way, their attention piqued by the scene— a slim young man was bravely holding up a large umbrella in the wind and rain, his shoulders and back getting soaked.
On the other hand, the tall man facing him was enjoying a meal, and after taking a drink, he casually stored the water back in his hood and continued walking!
What kind of moral compass did they have?
…
Yu Baihan noticed that Lu Huan had finished drinking the water and was about to offer him the umbrella when he suddenly felt an intense, sidelong gaze.
The two turned their heads and were met with a sea of accusatory and judgmental eyes. The blame seemed to be squarely on Lu Huan, while the burden of embarrassment weighed heavily on Yu Baihan.
“…”
“…”
Yu Baihan took the initiative to explain, his voice feeble and hoarse amidst the wind and rain. Several passing tourists shook their heads with sympathy, offering silent respect and good wishes as they continued on their way.
A few people even wiped away tears.
Yu Baihan raised his head, locking eyes with Lu Huan.
Under the shelter of the umbrella, a moment of silence enveloped them.
Lu Huan restrained a smile for a while, but ultimately couldn’t hold back. He reached over and extracted all the snacks from Yu Baihan’s coat hood, stuffing them into his own trouser pocket. With the umbrella in one hand and half a bottle of water in the other, he was ready to go.
Yu Baihan immediately relaxed.
He glanced quietly at Lu Huan, noticing how his slender pants now bulged, making him look less like a stern boss and more like a precious dragon.
Lu Huan gazed back at him and said, “Let’s keep moving.”
Yu Baihan withdrew his gaze, blushing slightly, and mumbled, “How embarrassing…”
Lu Huan chuckled, “Hehe.”
He had come to understand that, no matter what this man did, he always ended up as the victim.
—
The duo continued their ascent up the mountain, and it soon became dinner time.
There was only one dining option at the base of the mountain. Yu Baihan checked his mobile phone, and one of the options had excellent reviews. “How about trying this place?” he suggested.
Lu Huan glanced at it and replied, “It’s your call.”
Upon entering the establishment, they chose a window-side table and settled in. The restaurant lacked private rooms; instead, it featured simple wooden tables and seating areas separated by flower troughs.
Yu Baihan inquired, “The ambiance here is quite modest. Does it suit you?”
Lu Huan let out a chuckle. “What’s wrong with it? I didn’t come from a wealthy background.”
Oh, right. After spending so much time dining and spending time with Lu Huan, Yu Baihan almost forgot that Commander Lu had started from scratch and worked his way up.
He couldn’t help but touch the back of Lu Huan’s hand affectionately and add, “I understand. The struggle of having nothing is what motivated you.”
“…”
A large hand promptly swatted his hand away, and Lu Huan regarded him intensely from across the table.
Yu Baihan withdrew his hand with a loving smile.
Okay, okay, he wouldn’t say anything more.
As they sat at the table, waiting for their food, Yu Baihan suddenly felt a few pairs of eyes on them. He looked up, only to spot a group of people a few tables away, their heads turning to sneak glances at them.
When they saw him looking, the group quickly averted their gaze.
Yu Baihan wondered, ‘What’s going on?’
Before their food arrived, he excused himself and headed to the restroom.
There was a flower trough separating the tables. As he walked behind their table, the people at that table were engrossed in conversation and didn’t notice him:
“Is that Lu Huan? From the Lu family in the southern part of the city…”
“That’s him. It seems like the Lu family is really on the decline. Lu Huan has come here to retire, haha.”
“The person with him is from the Si family. I wonder what it would take to irritate him. Did you see? Lu Huan just lost his patience with someone.”
“The family fortune is gone; how well could he be feeling?”
“…”
Yu Baihan silently moved past them from behind.
This was the joy of him and Commander Lu; what did those two know?
…
Upon returning from the restroom, Yu Baihan shared what he had overheard with Lu Huan.
With a grin on his face, Yu Baihan relayed, “They were saying that the Lu family is on the verge of disappearing, and you’re apparently quite ineffective and furious about it.”
Lu Huan rested one hand on the table, lowered his gaze, and offered a half-smile, “If the Lu family truly goes bankrupt, what would all our efforts have been for?”
Yu Baihan mused, “I just checked the price list at the B&B. With the eight-digit card you gave me, we could probably afford a lifetime package for two here.”
“…” A lifetime package for two.
Lu Huan gave a sincere nod, “It’s still Bai Han who plans meticulously.”
Yu Baihan modestly looked down with his reputation intact.
After a moment, Lu Huan’s smile softened, “Unfortunately, I might not have the chance for such a set meal.”
—
After their dinner, the rain outside had finally ceased.
Yu Baihan and Lu Huan made their way back to the bed and breakfast. Upon returning, Yu Baihan took a quick shower, while Lu Huan followed suit afterward.
Sounds of water splashing echoed from the bathroom.
Yu Baihan sat at the table, taking his medicine. While sipping water, his gaze shifted from his own bed to Lu Huan’s.
The space between the two beds felt as vast as the Milky Way.
Setting down the water glass, he eagerly moved to Lu Huan’s bed.
Half an hour later, the bathroom door swung open.
Lu Huan emerged in a nightgown. As he approached his bed, he noticed a lump in the covers, and his head popped out.
Yu Baihan blinked his eyes open. “Come over here.”
“…” Lu Huan stood beside the bed, not moving. He said, “If I recall correctly, this should be my bed.”
Yu Baihan shuffled over and said sheepishly, “I’ve already kissed you, so why bother with yours and mine?”
Lu Huan took a deep breath. “Where did you kiss…” His voice trailed off as his gaze followed Yu Baihan’s dark eyes and ventured beneath the quilt.
After a few seconds of silence, he knelt at the edge of the bed and reached out with his long arms to lift Yu Baihan up. “Go back to your own bed.”
Yu Baihan coughed weakly, clutching the quilt and wearing a somber expression. “Nurse Baihan attended to patient Lu, but Patient Baihan is going to suffer alone.”
“…” Lu Huan’s outstretched hand hovered at the edge of the quilt. After a moment, he pulled it back, lifted the covers, and settled in. He gazed down at a certain carrot that had suddenly become hazy and then clear. “Lie down.”
Yu Baihan compiled, moving obediently. “Alright.”
The single bed was so narrow that the two of them were practically touching with their arms and legs. Yu Baihan gazed at his phone on the bed for a while, and when it was nearing midnight, Lu Huan turned his head and switched off the room’s lights.
As soon as he lay down, a certain radish nestled into his arms.
Lu Huan’s throat tightened. “What are you doing?”
“Searching for a comfy radish pit.”
Yu Baihan wriggled a bit, attempting to find an angle in the darkness, secretly plotting:
How can I casually lie on my back and have my lips land on Lu Huan’s by accident?
As he moved around, his knee brushed against Lu Huan’s leg, lifting his nightgown slightly.
Lu Huan took a deep breath and reached out to catch him. “What are you up to?”
Yu Baihan protested, “Why does a nurse like you want to restrain a patient?”
“Heh, I dare to resist workplace harassment.”
“…”
“Sleep well.” Lu Huan finally released his restless limbs and adjusted a comfortable spot for the radish. “I have to head to the office early in the morning.”
Yu Baihan didn’t budge. “How early?”
“Leaving at six.”
So early. The bed and breakfast was quite a distance from the office.
Yu Baihan propped himself up on the pillow, thinking about the phrase “close the net” that Mr. Huo had mentioned on the phone yesterday. He sighed, “Well, then, let’s sleep. We still have six hours.”
Lu Huan paused. “You don’t have to come along.”
“Then what should I do?” Yu Baihan replied sweetly. “You’ve already returned, so why am I still here?”
“Hehe, that wasn’t the mindset of our Baihan when he came along.”
“…” Yu Baihan pulled Lu Huan closer and leaned on him. “What~”
The person in front of him remained silent. After a while, a hand rose and pinched the nape of his neck, and in a hoarse voice, he said, “Sleep.”
…
The next day, at six in the morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
Yu Baihan stirred from his drowsiness, and as he did, he noticed Lu Huan getting up.
Rain had returned, with the gentle patter of droplets on the window creating a soothing ambiance. Yu Baihan had taken cold medicine before bed, and now, as he tried to get up, he found himself struggling to overcome the inertia of sleep, ultimately flopping back down.
He blinked groggily at the figure of Lu Huan standing in front of the bed.
Lu Huan had his back turned as he dressed, his form robust and graceful. His broad shoulders curled slightly, and his waist was encircled by the snug black belt, vanishing beneath the waistband of his pants.
Yu Baihan’s thoughts: …Gulp.
The view from behind was so captivating that Lu Huan met Yu Baihan’s fervent gaze the moment he turned around.
He paused for a few seconds, then rolled up his shirt and approached. Under Yu Baihan’s expectant gaze, he reached out to wipe his eyelids.
“…” Yu Baihan blinked. “Eternal sleep?”
“Hibernation.”
Lu Huan straightened up, adjusted himself, and headed for the door. “Hua Wu will pick you up later.”
The partition door slid open.
However, just before he left, Yu Baihan’s voice suddenly floated from behind him. “Lu Huan.”
Lu Huan turned to look, and Yu Baihan had risen from the bed, gazing at him with a hint of uncertainty.
In the quiet room, only the rain outside provided background noise. The floor lamp in the corner still emitted a warm, orange glow, enveloping the room.
The two stood silently, several meters apart, and an indescribable warmth slowly filled the space.
In a hushed tone, Lu Huan asked, “What is it?”
Yu Baihan replied, “Your pants seem to be caught in your socks.”
Lu Huan’s expression froze.
He bent over, slamming the door shut with a loud thud!
The door closed, and Yu Baihan retreated under the covers, closing his eyes.
Even Commander Lu could get flustered and disheveled, it seemed.
He inwardly prayed, “Go for it, Commander Lu. Make them speechless and I await your victorious return!”
LMAO YU BAIHAN way to ruin a good moment 🤣
Yu Baihan making his movesss!! And also missing some 🥲
Commander Lu of to his mission 💪
Thanks for the chapter 💞
😍
i thought he was finally going to ask for a kiss lol