The atmosphere at the entrance of the house exuded subtle tranquility.
As Yu Baihan faced his boss’s family, he swiftly adjusted his expression.
It was quite a perilous moment, he had almost let slip that dog-like look he was giving.
Playing along, Lu Huan embraced Yu Baihan, anchoring him securely on the ground. He asked with concern, “Feeling tired from the car ride? Would you like to walk in on your own, or shall I carry you inside?”
Yu Baihan, “…”
Being fatigued by a ride in a Maybach is quite the feat, he must admit.
Lowering his gaze, he gently shook his head.
Si’s housekeeper, the responsible figure leading them, wore an incredulous expression, only snapping out of it when Fan Lin reminded him. He turned around stiffly and gestured, “Please, everyone.”
There was still a stretch of path between the courtyard gate and the old house.
Yu Baihan was cradled in Lu Huan’s embrace as they moved forward. Lu Huan’s hold was both secure and tight, to the point that it felt like he was about to be squeezed to death and strangled at the same time.
The “Si Baihan” character setting was holding him back a bit!
A couple of steps in, Yu Baihan leaned in towards Lu Huan’s ear and said, “Lu Huan.”
A rush of heat surged up, and the arm around his waist suddenly tightened a little more. Lu Huan appeared to turn his head slightly, inquiring, “What is it?”
Yu Baihan whispered, “I need to let you know beforehand, I can’t be too overly enthusiastic today, so please don’t be disappointed.”
While he really wanted to indulge himself in Lu Huan’s embrace, he had to exercise restraint.
“………”
A “huh” transformed into a tender chuckle before it could escape.
Lu Huan responded softly, “It’s alright, I adore you just the way you are, like a stubborn piece of wood.”
Yu Baihan lowered his head, “…understood.”
Then you’re truly amazing.
Si Housekeeper, leading the way, faintly caught the phrase “I adore you” from behind, his expression twitched, and he turned his head: Lu Huan was still holding Yu Baihan affectionately, their heads bent close in conversation.
This “trashy” individual, well-known to the Si family, had undoubtedly captured Lu Huan’s attention.
…
Shortly thereafter, the group arrived at the entrance of the manor.
From the exterior, the Si family’s manor bore the appearance of a traditional courtyard-style building, but within its walls, modern decor prevailed.
The ancient stone walls were adorned in an unbroken array, casting an initial chill upon entering the threshold. Yu Baihan’s glance toward Lu Huan caught the flicker of shadow beneath the eaves, etching a touch of coldness into the latter’s expression.
He blinked, and in the next heartbeat, he locked gazes with Lu Huan.
Within those deep eyes, a soft radiance now emerged, as if the prior moment had been a mere mirage. Lu Huan’s tone held a warm undertone as he cautioned, “Mind your step, don’t stumble upon the doorstep of your own home.”
“…” His skill with words was truly remarkable.
Yu Baihan bashfully rested his hand on his lower back, his fingers slowly curling in as if they were inspecting his spine. “Yes.”
Moving beyond the hallway brought them into the living room.
Si Housekeeper, leading them, had already halted and announced, “Eldest Young Master, Third Young Master, Mr. Lu, and the rest are here.”
As the sight opened up, the entirety of the living room lay before them.
An ensemble of furniture crafted from exquisite wood dominated the space, exuding a blend of simplicity and grandeur. The floor tiles glistened under the light, reflecting the two figures seated on the sofa.
Yu Baihan’s attention shifted.
One figure was Si Wei, resembling their previous encounter, his relaxed posture transformed from legs outstretched to getting up leisurely.
The other individual was tall and slender, sporting silver-framed glasses on his narrow face, enhancing his air of refinement with a hint of wickedness, almost dog-like.
Undoubtedly, it was Si Yanting.
Their gazes collided abruptly, and the deep pools of the opposing eyes seemed to hold an unfathomable depth as they landed on Yu Baihan.
Silently, Yu Baihan lowered his gaze once more.
If his plan went awry, it wasn’t as if this crazy bunch had lost their eyesight.
Fan Lin handed over the welcoming gifts to a servant standing beside him, with both sides exchanging polite greetings. Yu Baihan scanned the surroundings, yet the other members of the Si family were conspicuously absent.
He mused internally: Are they all locked up or something?
Evidently, Lu Huan also observed the lack of attendees.
His brows lifted slightly, and when he spoke again, his voice dripped with affection. “Why doesn’t anyone else seem to be here? Baihan has been missing all of you very much. He’s been restless in my arms at night, struggling to sleep.”
Yu Baihan’s cheeks burned, and he nestled bashfully deeper into Lu Huan’s embrace, a desperate effort to prevent any risque thoughts from escaping the confines of his mind.
Both Si Wei and Si Yanting remained unresponsive to the exchange for several moments.
A few seconds later, Si Wei was the first to break the silence, offering an explanation with a smile, “Our second sister is married and resides far away, and her health isn’t the best. Hence, she won’t be able to attend today.”
Oh… the second miss of the Si family.
Yu Baihan mentally traced the plot: A more intriguing character than Si Yanting. It seems he won’t cross paths with her anytime soon.
Lu Huan’s smile held a hint of scorn as he replied, “No problem. How about the elders?”
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.
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The hand around Yu Baihan’s waist subtly paused, before Lu Huan’s voice, warm and deliberate, resonated, “Shouldn’t we, as the juniors, pay our respects?”
Si Yanting chimed in, “I believe the time is right; allow me to escort Mr. Lu and my brother there.”
His words concluded rather nonchalantly, awaiting Lu Huan’s response.
—
They strolled down the promenade that bordered one side of the atrium, heading toward the Buddhist hall at the back.
Si Yanting flanked Yu Baihan on his left and Lu Huan on his right. The two engaged in conversations that seemed mundane and gentle, their words flowing comfortably.
In the midst of this, Yu Baihan meticulously managed his micro-expressions. Before the Si family, he aimed to convey that Lu Huan was smitten with him without appearing excessively responsive. Striking a balance was key, a display of partial eagerness, supplemented by a touch of Si family adulation.
Lu Huan’s part was not hard—just lavish him with affection to an extravagant degree!
As Yu Baihan was absorbed in his character calculations, Si Yan suddenly halted, questioning, “Didn’t my brother mention missing us today? I don’t recall hearing it.”
“…” Yu Baihan pressed his lips together and said, “Well, I guess you’re right.”
Si Yanting raised his hand and started to place it on Yu Baihan’s shoulder, “Don’t forget…”
Yu Baihan’s nerves bristled: Damn, don’t touch me!
Just as the hand was on the verge of contact, the arm encircling him withdrew abruptly, shifting to Yu Baihan’s shoulder first.
Lu Huan blocked Si Yanting’s impending touch, pulled Yu Baihan slightly closer, and grinned at Si Yanting, whose expression was inscrutable, “Apologies, but I’m a possessive person.”
Si Yanting’s hand lingered in mid-air for a beat, then he nonchalantly withdrew it, adjusting his glasses as if to shrug off the incident, “Mr. Lu is overly sensitive; after all, I am Xiaohan’s older brother.”
A wry smile played on Lu Huan’s lips, “I don’t recognize relatives when I’m in love.”
“………”
Yu Baihan: Lu Huan, our roles are well-established.
Indeed, he was caught in his own act, nearly mistaking it as reality.
Si Yanting remained silent, but his gaze held a knowing quality as he observed Yu Baihan, who had lowered his head and remained speechless.
On the other side of a small courtyard stood a Buddhist hall.
The courtyard exuded an air of tranquility, accompanied by the fragrance of incense wafting in the air. Adjacent to the Buddhist hall was a tea room, where Mr. Si and Mrs. Si were seated, engaged in tea drinking.
Gazing through the two antique, red-lacquered wooden doors, the scene resembled that of a feudal aristocratic family.
Si Yanting ushered them in and addressed the two seated figures. “Father, mother, Mr. Lu, and… Xiao Han has arrived.”
It was reminiscent of the portrayal often found in commercial war saga novels. Si Yunxian, the patriarch, bore a stern countenance, his temples peppered with gray hair, eyes still vibrant. Beside him sat Yuan Ying, the matriarch. Her gaze cast downward with an air of traditional homemaking.
“He’s here?” Si Yunxian’s gaze swept across Yu Baihan and Lu Huan, lingering for a few additional seconds on Lu Huan. “Let’s start with serving some tea.”
Yu Baihan: …
In this fantastical novel, they’ve even woven a tea ceremony into the “returning home” event?
The tea set had been arranged nearby.
Si Yanting remained present, a quiet observer on the sidelines.
Yu Baihan took a subtle breath, grasped the teapot, and was about to approach when Yuan Ying unexpectedly gestured with a lift of her chin toward the polished floor before them, remarking, “Have you forgotten all decorum? Kneel.”
“………”？
The master of the house invoked vestiges of feudal traditions.
Yu Baihan could hardly keep up the charade and felt like he could punch something twice in frustration, one blow after another.
Beside him, Lu Huan suddenly spoke in a casual tone, “He won’t kneel again.”
From their seats, two sharp gazes fixed on Lu Huan.
Lu Huan placed his hand on Yu Baihan’s back, as though offering support, his tone carrying a hint of resistance, “I exhausted his knees last night, and he can’t kneel anymore.”
“……”
The already hushed tea room grew even quieter.
The room was filled with the sound of restrained breathing from the seated individuals, while Si Yanting’s gaze seemed to penetrate his glasses as if they weren’t there.
Lu Huan’s flirtatious excuse managed to bring Yu Baihan back to his senses. He lowered his head and murmured softly, “It’s fine, just a bit painful.”
Lu Huan carried on, “You’ve been spoiled since childhood. How could you have experienced such hardships?”
“That’s enough!” Si Yunxian’s voice came from his seat, accompanied by a furrowed brow. He restrained his annoyance as he spoke. “Just stand and show respect.”
The ceremonial ritual was executed in the quickest manner possible, and Si Yunxian and Yuan Ying gestured for them to leave, showing no intention of engaging in further conversation or hospitality.
It seemed that adhering to Lu Huan’s script could indeed save one’s life.
———
Leaving the tea room, Si Yanting accompanied Yu Baihan.
As they walked from the Buddhist hall back to the living room following the same path, Yu Baihan observed Si Yanting’s back, sensing an eerie quietness in the atmosphere.
It felt like the calm before a storm.
Upon entering the living room, the thought of calling Lu Huan to come with him crossed his mind. However, he caught himself just in time and gave a subtle pinch to Lu Huan as a hint.
Lu Huan turned towards him.
Yu Baihan addressed the figure in front of him, “Brother.”
Si Yanting, who was facing them, turned around. Yu Baihan leaned in slightly and whispered, “I need to use the restroom.”
It was close—he nearly placed the wrong character in front of the formidable boss during this critical moment.
Si Yanting appeared quite content with Yu Baihan’s response, his demeanor loosening somewhat. “Sure, go ahead.”
Just as the words left Si Yanting’s mouth, Lu Huan interjected, “I’ll accompany him.”
A glint as sharp and cold as the ice was reflected from the lenses of Si Yanting’s glasses. He gave Lu Huan a lingering look and inquired, “Does Mr. Lu consider everyone so highly?”
Lu Huan entwined his fingers with Yu Baihan’s and gently rubbed his knuckles while averting his gaze, adopting a genuinely puzzled tone. “I can’t help it. I feel uneasy when I’m not around Baihan.”
“……”
Under the watchful gaze of Si Yanting, the two of them headed to the bathroom together.
Adjacent to the living room was a communal restroom. The Si family’s substantial staff count warranted a spacious facility.
Confirming the absence of other occupants, Yu Baihan promptly loosened his neckline. Observing his actions, Lu Huan inquired, “What are you up to?”
“Creating our unique blend of romance and passion.”
After a night of kneeling, he was eager to rectify the situation swiftly.
As he spoke, Yu Baihan turned his head, exposing the back of his neck to Lu Huan, and suggested, “Quickly, apply a few marks here.”
“…”
Lu Huan lifted his collar and marked several reddish spots on his fair neck.
With the ‘bugs bite’ resolved, Yu Baihan readjusted his attire. As they stepped out of the bathroom, they found Si Wei positioned in the living room, his gaze directed toward them, as if in waiting.
Upon spotting their emergence, Si Wei walked over to Lu Huan. “Lunch is still a while away. I’ve got a new project here. Would you like to take a look, Mr. Lu?”
A faint frown marked Lu Huan’s features, discerning Si Wei’s unspoken message.
Turning to Yu Baihan, Si Wei added, “Xiao Han can stay in the living room. My younger brother and Mr. Lu have some work matters to discuss.”
An obedient nod from Yu Baihan followed. “Alright.”
He was determined to witness what sort of schemes they were brewing this time.
——
Si Wei summoned Lu Huan.
Fan Lin was uncertain about his whereabouts.
Yu Baihan remained seated in the living room for some time, and eventually, Si Yanting returned after being absent for more than ten minutes.
With Lu Huan no longer present, the façade of brotherly camaraderie seemed to fade.
Si Yanting stood before Yu Baihan. While his voice retained its characteristic gentle and measured quality, his words were as succinct as the few text messages they had exchanged. “Follow me.”
Following Si Yanting, Yu Baihan ascended the stairs to the second floor. Turning down the corridor, they reached an isolated corner.
A window lay behind this corner, surrounded by white walls. An extension of the area held white-clothed desks and drawing boards. Stepping within, one could appear as though framed within a window or canvas.
This peculiarly neurotic aesthetic was unmistakably Si Yanting’s domain.
As Yu Baihan surveyed the space calmly, Si Yanting abruptly raised his hand, pressing it to Yu Baihan’s neckline. Before he could react, deft fingers were in motion.
The button on his collar was released, revealing a pattern of red marks, some faint and others more pronounced.
Yu Baihan: …
What had he been saying just now?
Si Yanting’s fingers lingered over the marks for a moment before he averted his gaze. “It appears that indeed, the effects lingered from that night.”
True enough, his suspicions about something peculiar transpiring in the tearoom were justified.
Lowering his gaze and re-buttoning his collar, Yu Baihan heard Si Yanting continue, “Upon your return this time, I have something to deliver to you personally.”
With these words, Si Yanting retrieved a small USB flash drive from his trouser pocket.
“The recently developed one has the capacity to breach the highest-level firewalls.” Si Yanting explained, “Find an opportunity to connect it to Lu Huan’s personal computer, and the rest will be entrusted to others.”
Yu Baihan is fixated on the USB flash drive.
The newly developed versions certainly exceeded a six-figure price tag.
Once he takes it back and hands it over to Qin Lun for reverse engineering, won’t it be a gift for Lu Huan’s homecoming.
“Alright,” he asserted.
As he reached out to accept it, the hand on the opposite side abruptly pulled back the flash drive.
Si Yanting raised Yu Baihan’s face with a hand, tracing delicate brows and pale skin with his gaze. The countenance remained unchanged, yet something had shifted.
“No rush. Before that, I need to verify something,” Si Yanting stated.
The hand on his face released its hold, and shortly after, Yu Baihan’s vision dimmed.
Yu Baihan:?
What kind of plot was this?
Even he and Lu Huan hadn’t played like this before.
His hands gently pushed against his back, urging him forward.
—
They ascended the stairs, traversing a lengthy corridor.
Throughout the ascent, Yu Baihan remained anxious about any inadvertent revelation of his secrets.
Si Yanting only prompted him forward when they reached the last flight of stairs. Yu Baihan was about to speak when he suddenly realized that his hands were trembling slightly.
It began with his fingertips and then extended to his slender back, where a faint quiver could be discerned.
Meanwhile, Si Yan, who had maintained silence until now, halted abruptly. “Where are we? Enlighten me.”
“……”
No wonder he had been blindfolded earlier.
Why not play the classic “Trust the Chicken” game with him?
In an attempt to steady himself, Yu Baihan deliberated within his mind.
Si Yanting had brought him to this place, emphasizing that it was somewhere “Si Baihan” could identify even blindfolded. Now his hands were quivering for no apparent reason, yet Si Yanting didn’t appear surprised.
A sudden recollection struck Yu Baihan concerning the “world setting” that had affected his body: the trembling, presumably, was a manifestation of fear.
Fear is etched into the fabric of the world’s setting.
This means…
Before them lay the very space where Si Yanting had previously hypnotized “him”.
After a two-second pause, Yu Baihan spoke in a hushed tone, “It’s my brother’s consultation room.”
The site of your initial transgressions.
The blindfold was loosened, and the world regained its brilliance. Yu Baihan gazed at the white door situated at the end of the corridor, with a small portion of the glass window within it slightly ajar.
His speculation was on point.
Simultaneously, his trembling hands became more pronounced.
Yet, in Yu Baihan’s heart, there was little perturbation. The reaction was simply a repercussion of the world’s parameters.
Si Yanting cast a glance at Yu Baihan’s quivering hands, a stone dropping from his chest. After all, physiological responses couldn’t be feigned.
This internal turmoil resulted from excessive speculation. He had momentarily entertained a preposterous hypothesis…
“It’s good that you haven’t forgotten.” Si Yanting handed over the USB flash drive to Yu Baihan. “Take this. Follow my instructions.”
With hands that still trembled, Yu Baihan accepted the device.
A lucrative proposition indeed! Exceeding six figures, no less.
Si Yanting turned and began his descent down the stairs. “Let’s go. It’s time to return.”
One trailing the other, they had just retraced their steps to the second-floor corner when Lu Huan ascended the staircase.
Upon spotting them, a fleeting shadow crossed Lu Huan’s eyes. He quickened his pace, closing the distance until his outstretched arms ensnared Yu Baihan from behind Si Yanting, drawing him to his side.
Si Yanting smiled, unperturbed, as if nothing had occurred. “Why did Mr. Lu head upstairs?”
Lu Huan’s smile lacked warmth. “Well, I returned and didn’t find Baihan. Naturally, I was a bit flustered.”
Yu Baihan caught his words, the recitation of “five obsessions and three roads,” and then cast a sidelong glance at him. That smile, seemingly sinister, reflected Lu Huan’s typical countenance.
Evidently, this wasn’t a moment of pretense.
A sense of relief washed over Yu Baihan. At least he still has a bit of conscience. He’s giving the equipment away for nothing.
Si Yanting smiled and remarked, “We’ve located the individual. Let’s head downstairs.”
Concluding his sentence, he advanced towards the staircase, passing by both Yu Baihan and Lu Huan. However, neither of them followed suit.
Yu Baihan’s fingertips still quivered, a fact that hadn’t escaped Lu Huan’s attention. Having observed this when he pulled Yu Baihan close earlier, Lu Huan lowered his gaze at the present moment. “What’s the matter?”
Si Yanting, having advanced a little farther, turned his head upon hearing these words.
With his back turned to Si Yanting, Yu Baihan slightly shook his head in response to Lu Huan’s inquiring gaze. He sensed Si Yanting’s gaze trailing behind him from behind.
Frowning, Lu Huan was poised to speak when, all of a sudden, he perceived the lowered head before him tilting upward. The dark eyes held a radiant gleam, and the light-colored lips curled into a smile, revealing a glimpse of two small canines.
In silence, the lips moved. Lu Huan comprehended Yu Baihan’s unspoken message:
“I swiped my brother’s equipment to support you~”
Author’s notes:
Yu Baihan: Stealing Crazy Brother’s equipment to support my poor, wronged Lao Gong! OuO
Lu Huan in the second week: Poor? Wronged??
‘I exhausted his knees last night’ 😳😳😳
+1 😂 I died at that part
These two are incredible in acting OuO
Feel bad for the original Si Baihan.. That older brother of his is a pyscho!
Why did the description of making hickey dissapear???
Huh, really? But it’s there? Those bug bites
What I mean is, how did Lu Huan make those hickeys. Did he put his lips on Baihan’s back or did he pinch them lol
Oh we don’t know, use your imagination, dear 😂
In the raws it’s just like that hahahaha
Typo in the name
Meanwhile Si Yan who had maintained silence till now ….
And the award for the best male actor goes to …… 😂😂😂❤️❤️
“I exhausted his knees last night” 🤭😂
Thanks for the chapter 💞
Love it when Baihan shows his back to his brother pretending to be docile, but flirts while facing Lu Huan, my fav 😭😭😭