Lu Huan maintained a prolonged silence, his brows furrowed, leaving his expression unclear.
Just as Fan Lin pondered which planet Qin Lun might be exiled to this time, Lu Huan’s benevolent voice echoed from the terrace, “Understood, let’s go.”
Fan Lin, observing Lu Huan’s demeanor, inquired, “What about Qin Lun…”
“It’s the Chinese New Year.” Lu Huan glanced at him, “Let’s not set precedents during this time.”
Fan Lin sighed in relief and thanked his considerate brother, “Thank you, sir.”
He quickly left, likely to gently awaken Qin Lun’s bewildered mind.
Once people departed, Yu Baihan, checking his non-existent conscience, suggested to Lu Huan to leave this place of confusion and head back to the house. “Shall we go back?”
“Yeah.” Lu Huan took a couple of steps into the room, then turned to glance at the mark above his neckline. Gently lifting the edge of his collar, he touched it with his fingertips, asking, “Does it still hurt?”
“It won’t hurt if you don’t touch it.” Yu Baihan gazed at him with relief, sighed, and pointed, “With such a big appetite, only Baihan can satisfy you.”
Lu Huan, “…”
He extended his hand and urged the clueless radish back to the house. “Hurry in. It’s so cold, and things are getting confusing out here.”
Amid the midwinter chill and festive atmosphere, New Year’s Eve finally arrived.
On the thirtieth day of the new year.
All the servants and associates in Lu Villa had gone home for the holidays. Only Uncle Feng and Aunt Zhou remained in Lu Villa to have the traditional New Year’s Eve dinner with Lu Huan.
The feast was meticulously prepared, and the table was laden with dishes.
Yu Baihan sat on one side of Lu Huan, while Uncle Feng and Aunt Zhou occupied the other side.
Together, the four of them sat beneath the bright light above the dining table, casting a warm glow on the small Chinese knot hanging at the restaurant’s entrance.
Facing Uncle Feng, Yu Baihan had an unobstructed view of his performance.
Uncle Feng wiped away imaginary tears from the corners of his eyes and sniffled. “It’s been twenty…five or six years, and this is the first time this old Feng has seen Sir having a New Year’s Eve dinner.”
Simultaneously, Lu Huan and Yu Baihan turned their gazes towards him: …
Yu Baihan thoughtfully handed him a tissue, saying, “Uncle Feng, don’t wipe the corners of your eyes with the hands that just peeled shrimp.”
Uncle Feng withdrew his hand cautiously, accepted the tissue, and wiped the oil from the corners of his eyes. “Oh!”
Lu Huan calmly remarked, “Did I always go on a hunger strike on this day in previous years?”
“…” Uncle Feng, with a blush on his elderly face, bowed his head, “Oh, sir, you know that’s not what I meant. I just said that this year’s New Year’s Eve dinner tastes better.”
This time, Lu Huan chose not to respond.
Yu Baihan turned to look at Lu Huan, coincidentally meeting his gaze.
Their eyes locked, and Yu Baihan found himself immersed in Lu Huan’s focused and deep gaze. His heart skipped a beat, prompting him to lower his head.
Lifting the bowl, his heart raced.
Their Senior Lu truly had a knack for creating such ambiguous moments. Was this a natural flirt after uttering such suggestive words?
After some contemplation, Yu Baihan stole a glance at Lu Huan once more.
New Year’s Eve held a different significance for Lu Huan…
He pondered secretly: Why not make things a bit different~ =u=
…
At the age of thirty, the habit of staying up late persists.
So, everyone planned to stay awake past midnight tonight.
Yu Baihan and Lu Huan spent some time watching TV with Uncle Feng in the living room and didn’t head upstairs to get ready for bed until around eleven o’clock.
After Lu Huan finished his shower, he found Yu Baihan lying on the bed post-shower. The main lights in the bedroom were turned off, leaving only a soft bedside lamp.
In a hushed tone, he asked, “Tired? Are you still planning to go downstairs to watch TV?”
What are you even talking about?
Yu Baihan glanced at Lu Huan, propped himself up on the bed, and motioned, “Come here~”
Lu Huan obediently approached and sat on the edge of the bed, asking, “What’s going on?”
In the next moment, he was playfully tossed down by Yu Baihan.
Yu Baihan lay on his chest, extending a hand to gently pat his handsome face, “I’m already in bed; why are you talking about going downstairs to watch TV? Is this a new trick to catch a certain radish?”
…Clearly, he was the one caught by the radish.
Lu Huan’s lips moved, his voice caught in his throat, and his gradually reddening chest was revealed beneath the collar of the loosely tied bathrobe.
He gazed at the figure of Yu Baihan lying on top of him, and the other’s long eyelashes seemed to delicately brush against his heart. Lu Huan couldn’t resist reaching out to grasp Yu Baihan’s waist, steadying his breath, “It’s only been four days, not even a week…”
Yu Baihan adjusted his neckline and remarked disapprovingly, “Special times call for special treatment! Don’t be so uptight, Xiao Lu.”
Today is New Year’s Eve!
After expressing himself, Lu Huan stayed still, but there was a subtle flicker in the other’s deep eyes. Yu Baihan leaned in, caressing his earlobe, “Give me another…”
The fingertips on his waist quivered.
Lu Huan gazed deeply at him for a moment, unable to contain his breath any longer. He rolled over, pressing on top of him, “Sure.”
Just as he was about to lean down for a kiss, his shoulder was suddenly touched.
Lu Huan raised his drooping eyelashes and saw Yu Baihan’s eyes sparkling with a newfound excitement, “Don’t just lie there. New year, new vibes. Let’s do something different~”
After Yu Baihan spoke, he retrieved something from under the pillow with a quick movement.
Wow… He took out the silk belt clip he had prepared for a while. Then, he pushed Lu Huan away and sat up.
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.
Lu Huan:?
—
Ktf qglralcf ktlaf oibkfgr mbcalcefv ab yibbw ja wlvcluta.
Ktf yfvrlvf ijwq rajsfv bc ecali ijaf lcab atf cluta, gfwjlclcu liiewlcjafv obg jc fzafcvfv qfglbv.
Ktf cfza wbgclcu.
Oe Lejc kjr jkjxfcfv ys atf glculcu qtbcf. Cr tf ralggfv, atf ygluta rxs bearlvf kjr jigfjvs oliafglcu atgbeut atf rilutais bqfcfv megajlcr.
Beside him, Yu Baihan was still wrapped up in the quilt, sound asleep.
Lu Huan silenced the phone’s ringtone, got up from the bed, and walked a few steps to the window sill. There, he observed faint red marks on his wrist.
After a moment, he exhaled and picked up the incoming video call.
Upon connecting, Qi Jue’s face appeared on the screen. He cheerfully raised an imaginary toast, “Happy New Year ~ Brother Lu, I’m here to send my New Year greetings. Where’s Bai Han?”
Lu Huan lowered the phone’s volume to a minimum and replied in a hoarse voice, “He’s still sleeping.”
Having just woken up, there were signs of disheveledness and passion above the neckline of Lu Huan’s casually pulled-up pajamas. A face that still exuded a lingering ardor, satisfied yet fierce.
A portion of the bed was exposed behind him, the quilt slightly raised, giving a glimpse of the ruffled sheets.
On the opposite end, Qi Jue immediately exclaimed——
As expected of their brother Lu, the man who could dismantle a water bed in twenty minutes!
He covered his eyes with his wide fingers, saying, “Carry on, I won’t watch… I’ll greet you later.”
Just before ending the video call, Qi Jue added quickly, “Oh, by the way, both of you rejoin our group. We’ll celebrate the New Year together. It’ll improve efficiency and save time.”
“…” Lu Huan, “Sure.”
An hour had passed since Yu Baihan woke up.
Upon waking, he stretched on the bed and then found himself tucked under the quilt by a large hand, his face exposed.
“Did you sleep well?”
Yu Baihan fluttered his eyelashes and opened his eyes, only to find Lu Huan leaning on his side, holding the quilt down with one hand. There was a ring of marks on the wrist that was within reach.
A realization struck, and he was immediately wide awake!
He grasped Lu Huan’s wrist and sat up from beneath the quilt, feeling sore all over. With genuine concern, he asked, “How was your night?”
A gentle yet commanding demeanor.
To an uninformed observer, it might seem like Lu Huan had undergone some ordeal.
Lu Huan pursed his lower lip and glanced meaningfully at Yu Baihan, “It’s mostly healed.”
Yu Baihan, “…”
When he met Lu Huan’s gaze, memories flooded back, and he lowered his head in guilt – attempting the royal road for the first time with the meaning of “ascending step by step,” he lacked strength and almost couldn’t undo his belt.
Yu Baihan rubbed Lu Huan’s wrist, asking, “Does it hurt?”
“It doesn’t hurt.” Lu Huan gazed at him with a flushed face; his throat moved, and he looked away with lingering embarrassment. “It just almost went off track.”
“……”？
Yu Baihan glanced to the side for a moment: Is that what concerns you the most?
There was still some time before lunch.
Yu Baihan tried to initiate again, but Lu Huan held him down, saying, “Stop fooling around.”
Lu Huan’s low voice carried an implicit warning, “Non-relatives or relatives won’t tolerate a second time.”
Yu Baihan immediately looked sharply at him, “Is it about a relationship or an event? Can’t it be tolerated?”
On the first day of the new year, what kind of unauthorized sadomasochistic script does Xiao Lu intend to follow?
Lu Huan clarified, “I meant Zhong Bingxi.”
At the start of another new year, they couldn’t keep pushing people into the same pit.
“……”
Yu Baihan composed himself and admitted casually, “Yes.”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but express his sentiments, “Medical staff Zhong’s words have come true, it really is the ‘three visits to the thatched cottage’.”
Look, it’s been taken care of multiple times.
Lu Huan corrected, “Seven captures of Meng Huo would be more accurate.”
They were the ones who brought him here.
Yu Baihan clapped his hands abruptly, “You’re so smart, senior.”
—
After Yu Baihan had showered, Lu Huan shared the news of Qi Jue’s morning video call for New Year’s greetings with others.
“Let’s join the group; it’s a good time for wishes.”
Yu Baihan admired Qi Jue’s efficiency, “Why didn’t he just record a New Year’s greeting video and post it online, so he could greet people across the country at once?”
Lu Huan lowered his head, turned on the phone, tugged at the corner of his lips, and repeated the same phrase, “People who are not relatives or relatives may not be able to tolerate it.”
Yu Baihan wholeheartedly agreed, “Exactly, we can still tolerate him.”
Seeing that Lu Huan had joined the group, Yu Baihan didn’t enter again; instead, he initiated a video call using Lu Huan’s mobile phone.
Entering the [Hardware Wholesale Market] group again, the familiar chatter filled the screen.
[Qi Dajin]: Happy New Year!
[Wen Erjin]: Brother Lu, Bai Hanzao! Oh no, it’s almost noon; it’s not early~~~~ [Beating gongs and drums]
[Yang Sanjin]: [Beating gongs and drums]
[Sun Sijin]: [laugh]
“……”
[Lu Huan]: Do you want to pay New Year’s greetings?
Lu Huan’s gaze seemed to penetrate through the screen.
Two seconds later, the group swiftly initiated a video chat.
The faces of the four golden flowers appeared in their respective small windows, surrounded by a festive atmosphere.
After exchanging New Year’s greetings with a dazed golden flower, Yu Baihan watched Lu Huan end the video. Qi Jue’s message quickly appeared in the group.
[Qi Dajin]: Since they are all back
In the next moment, Lu Huan promptly exited the group.
The previously noisy world instantly fell silent.
Yu Baihan gazed at Lu Huan’s phone screen and sighed softly. “You just briefly fell into their world.”
Lu Huan calmly put away the phone. “It’s not falling; at most, it’s just passing through their world.”
“……”
Is this a case of a new year and a new crush?
After the New Year’s greetings with the hardware wholesalers concluded, Yu Baihan diligently followed his list and extended New Year’s greetings to all his friends one by one.
He didn’t forget to make video calls to Qiao Yun and Huo Ming.
When the video was picked up, Qiao Yun on the other side was elated, even introducing the long-lost three brothers—the three furry ones—in front of the screen, celebrating the New Year with Qiao Yun.
“Happy New Year! Baihan, Xiao Lu.”
“Happy New Year ~ Aunt Yun.” Yu Baihan said while pulling Lu Huan closer, pointing to a few little hamsters and saying, “Hurry up and say hello to your brothers-in-law.”
Lu Huan, “…”
Qiao Yun and Yu Baihan looked at him expectantly.
Several hamsters also sensed something, gazing at the screen together.
Under the watchful eyes of all, Lu Huan glanced sideways at Yu Baihan, then turned to the screen and moved his lips, “Brother-in-law.”
Qiao Yun and Yu Baihan immediately exclaimed in unison, “He heh he heh!”
Lu Huan: …
The two laughed until the screen shook.
Lu Huan reluctantly took the phone from Yu Baihan, and Huo Ming, on the opposite side, also took Qiao Yun’s phone.
The two men faced each other.
Huo Ming extended regular New Year’s greetings, “I need to take care of you in the new year, Xiao Lu.”
Lu Huan nodded, “Certainly, I’ll need Uncle Huo’s assistance.”
The New Year’s call ended on a serious note.
Lu Huan handed the phone back to Yu Baihan and said, “Continue with the New Year’s greetings.”
Yu Baihan took it and proceeded to greet everyone on the list.
After completing all the calls, he leaned on the sofa and pondered, “Did we miss anyone?”
Lu Huan opened his mouth and took a breath. Just as he was about to correct his phrasing, he seemed to remember something. He was silent for a while, then got up and said, “I also need to pay New Year’s greetings to our business partners.”
After uttering those words, he grabbed his computer and headed to the study.
Um? Yu Baihan looked at Lu Huan’s departing figure, took a moment to react, and then understood: Oh…
Alright, he’ll cooperatively indulge Xiao Lu~
—
Lu Huan spent some time in the study before returning.
Post-lunch, Yu Baihan, not revealing the truth, pulled out his computer, telling Lu Huan that he wanted to play a game for a while.
Glancing at him, Lu Huan casually agreed, “Sure.”
Under Lu Huan’s watchful gaze, Yu Baihan logged into the game.
Upon entering, a [System Prompt] appeared, accompanied by a burst of splendid fireworks on the page.
The player [Li Shizhen’s Skin] gives you a firework.
[Li Shizhen’s Skin]: Happy New Year.
Yu Baihan couldn’t help but smile, his lips curling up, and he responded by typing a message.
[Li Shizhen’s Dog]: Happy New Year.
He then succumbed to the allure of the in-game purchases, gifting Lu Huan a “Fu character blind box” gift package.
This was made possible by the savings accumulated from their frequent interactions in the past.
With Yu Baihan’s return to the past, the intimacy between them surpassed even that of Qin Lun, reaching an impressive 1275.
Just as this unfolded, Lu Huan casually approached, glancing at the screen and witnessing Yu Baihan’s success.
Seeing Lu Huan approaching, Yu Baihan looked up at him.
Lu Huan’s gaze immediately fixated on the “intimacy” area, his eyes seemingly aflame, almost threatening to burn out the computer in the air.
With a thoughtful narrowing of his eyes, Yu Baihan asked provocatively, “What are you looking at?”
Lu Huan averted his gaze, saying, “It’s nothing.”
After looking away for a couple of seconds, he returned as if drawn back, focusing once again on the top position in the intimacy ranking.
Understanding Lu Huan’s fixation, Yu Baihan finally grasped it:
So, Lu Huan’s obsession was this!
Indeed, secretly harbored a desire for Baihan’s top position in intimacy; no wonder he felt embarrassed to admit it.
Having understood Lu Huan’s fixation, when he left the room again under the guise of “Happy New Year” with the computer, Yu Baihan had a revelation and sent a message to Lu Huan’s in-game persona.
[Li Shizhen’s Dog]: How about becoming a sworn master and apprentice?
Increasing intimacy is quicker with such a relationship. Since Lu Huan is fixated on intimacy, Yu Baihan decided to fulfill this minor wish.
With the new year’s atmosphere, he aimed to bring joy to Little Lu Huan!
Not long after Lu Huan left the room, Little Lu Huan in the chat box actually logged in.
After Lu Huan logged in, there was a brief silence, as if he were stunned by this unexpected surprise.
A minute later, the dialogue box lit up.
[Li Shizhen’s Skin]: Okay.
Yu Baihan assembled the group and headed towards the “Teacher Apprentice Tree” in the game.
In reality, the in-game intimacy relationship can be more than just “teacher and apprentice”; there’s also the option of a “love relationship.” However, Yu Baihan’s ultimate desire was to form a “love relationship,” but given Little Lu Huan’s current setting in a small vest, it wasn’t suitable. Hence, he reluctantly abandoned that aspiration.
Viewing it from another perspective:
Master and apprentice isn’t bad either… Raising wolves is a challenge, and next up is handling guilt~
From now on, Lu Huan would be his Han disciple. Cluck cluck!
Soon, Yu Baihan and Lu Huan officially became master and apprentice.
Excitedly, Yu Baihan immediately urged:
From this day forward, he would be Lu Huan’s master, and Lu Huan must obediently address him as “Master.” Understood?
The Little Lu Huan, in a cute vest, fearlessly responded: Shizun.
Yu Baihan blushed at being called that.
It was more touching than he had imagined.
Fantastic! He was very content with this relationship!
After the joyful apprenticeship ceremony, Yu Baihan exited the game.
…
Perhaps due to the rapid development of their relationship, Lu Huan was particularly cheerful today.
It wasn’t the type of exuberant joy that one might expect.
Rather, it was a joy infused with Lu Huan’s distinct personality:
He would cast occasional glances at him, the corners of his lips slightly raised more than usual, and every now and then, he’d playfully pinch his earlobes.
Yu Baihan tolerated his antics.
How could one act against their Master? What a rebellious Little Lu Huan!
It’s just an early phase; will it persist as he matures?
This joyful atmosphere persisted until the evening meal.
Now, it was New Year’s Eve.
Even though Uncle Feng remained in the main house, he was on vacation and didn’t need to join Lu Huan and the others for meals.
As Yu Baihan and Lu Huan were eating, they heard a familiar voice reciting from the side hall:
“The apprentice, once raised by a single hand, now talks about it. Unbelievable, yet he can’t resist!”
“The old master-student relationship has long transformed.”
“The man before him gazes with intense possessiveness, his voice husky as he declares: Master, do you know what the most dangerous job in the world is?”
…
Yu Baihan paused mid-meal, instantly turning his head with keen interest: Mmm!? What’s this? Good stuff!
Unbeknownst to him, Lu Huan’s chopsticks also came to a halt. He furrowed his brow slightly, sensing a subtle disturbance in his heart.
Wait, something feels off.
Unaware of Lu Huan’s hesitation, Yu Baihan couldn’t contain his excitement, eager to inquire about the intriguing book from Uncle Feng later.
Coincidentally, they had just paid respects to their master and apprentice earlier in the day.
This perfectly resonated with his current sentiments!
The delight on Yu Baihan’s face was evident, revealing his genuine fondness for the content of this audiobook.
Lu Huan turned his head to observe Yu Baihan.
The subtlety in his heart began to intensify.
After a moment,
Lu Huan slowly lowered his head, lost in contemplation: …Huh?
💖💖💖💖
Lmao there’s no way is he about to be jealous of himself???