Day: September 6, 2023

Chapter 3: Lost You

 

Tan Xilu had a dream, a dream of his twenty-year-old self and a twenty-two-year-old Xu Huaiming.

 

At that time, they were still in the ambiguous stage of their relationship. Tan Xilu was majoring in Chinese literature at a normal college, and Xu Huaiming had a dessert shop near the school.

 

Tan Xilu had a sweet tooth, and whenever he had free time, he would visit the dessert shop. However, desserts were often high in calories, so Xu Huaiming tried to make some low-calorie yet delicious desserts for him.

 

During that time, Xu Huaiming created a dessert using toast, milk, and various fruit jams. It had less cream and lower calories but was incredibly delicious. Tan Xilu loved it, and Xu Huaiming even gave it a rather romantic name – “Love Harmony.”

 

Tan Xilu would eat it three to five times a week because it was simple to make and tasted amazing. The dessert became popular, with many regular customers. However, after Xu Huaiming disappeared, no one had tasted that dessert again.

 

It had been a long time since Tan Xilu dreamt of eating dessert, and he was surprised to find himself standing in front of a cooking counter with Xu Huaiming.

 

Xu Huaiming was very serious when making desserts. He would decorate ordinary pieces of bread into various shapes, adorn them with strawberries, kiwis, and other fruits, and sprinkle them with powdered sugar, making them look incredibly enticing.

 

The Xu Huaiming in Tan Xilu’s dream was the same Xu Huaiming who had kissed him for the first time at the dessert shop.

 

Xu Huaiming had just prepared a strawberry dessert and placed it in front of Tan Xilu, who was sitting at the bar counter. Tan Xilu picked up a fork and played with the strawberry. It was the largest one Xu Huaiming had chosen, and when Tan Xilu took a bite, he could only eat half of it. He ate very elegantly, keeping his mouth closed, chewing slowly, and then swallowing.

 

However, because the strawberry was so large, juice overflowed when he took a bite, flowing down to the corners of his mouth. Tan Xilu’s lips were as red as if they were painted with rouge.

 

Xu Huaiming watched him, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. Tan Xilu, still unaware, continued to eat the remaining half of the strawberry. Then he heard Xu Huaiming’s voice, “Ah Lu, do you like the strawberries?”

 

Tan Xilu glanced up at Xu Huaiming and nodded.

 

“I want to eat too,” Xu Huaiming smiled.

 

Xu Huaiming rarely smiled, but he was undeniably attractive, with his eyes that could easily make people’s hearts flutter, just like Tan Xilu, who couldn’t resist such a person.

 

Tan Xilu fell silent for a moment, then made a sound of agreement and reached out to stroke Xu Huaiming’s face.

 

The dessert shop was empty at this time, so Tan Xilu felt free to be more forward. With one hand supporting himself on the counter, he closed his eyes and leaned in to kiss Xu Huaiming’s lips.

 

Xu Huaiming’s lips were cool, without much warmth. As their lips met, he fed the strawberry into Xu Huaiming’s mouth.

 

Xu Huaiming seemed surprised by Tan Xilu’s sudden initiative, but he quickly reciprocated. His large, firm hand gently cupped the back of Tan Xilu’s head.

 

This was their first kiss at the dessert shop. The strawberry was soft and juicy, but very sweet.

 

Their kiss was interrupted by the sound of the shop’s entrance bell as a customer walked in. When they pulled away, Tan Xilu’s lips were even redder.

 

Tan Xilu didn’t understand why he had this dream. Later, in the dessert shop, they would often exchange kisses, but such intimate feeding was rare. It was too ambiguous, and at that time, they hadn’t officially become a couple.

 

Both of them were slow to express their feelings and slow to warm up to each other, even in their relationship. It wasn’t until they had been in bed together a couple of times that they realized they were in love.

 

Tan Xilu’s dream was romantic, as it involved kissing, and, for him, kissing was the most passionate act. While intimacy in bed was a physical response, kissing, when their lips met, was an irresistible display of emotion.

 

Why was it irresistible? Tan Xilu’s rigid belief was that it was because they were in love.

 

When Tan Xilu woke up, his heart was still racing. It had been a long time since he had dreamed of Xu Huaiming. In fact, shortly after Xu Huaiming had left, it was as if this person had gradually faded from Tan Xilu’s mind like a slowly erasing file.

 

Tan Xilu often had to look at their photos to remind himself. He felt that he loved Xu Huaiming, but after Xu Huaiming left, he could quickly forget the person’s face. Tan Xilu was afraid that one day he would forget everything.

 

“Are you awake?” Xu Huaiming reached out to touch Tan Xilu’s forehead, which was no longer as hot as before.

 

Tan Xilu blinked, feeling the slightly cold touch of Xu Huaiming’s palm. It took him a moment to realize that this was a living person in front of him, the real Xu Huaiming, not the one from his dream.

 

“Xu Huaiming,” Tan Xilu called out.

 

Xu Huaiming looked at him and responded, his hands busy with the hot water he had just poured from the bedside table.

 

Lin Changyu had suggested giving Tan Xilu a cup of hot water once he woke up.

 

“Have some hot water first,” Xu Huaiming said.

 

Tan Xilu didn’t move. He called out again, “Xu Huaiming?”

 

Xu Huaiming didn’t understand why Tan Xilu kept saying his name, but he didn’t contradict him. His programming told him to respond to Tan Xilu, so he spoke again, “I am Xu Huaiming.”

 

Xu Huaiming thought that Tan Xilu would be satisfied now, but suddenly, Tan Xilu burst into tears. Tears flowed from his eyes, traced his temples, and wet the pillow.

 

Tan Xilu looked very well-behaved, at least in Xu Huaiming’s definition. His chin was sharp, indicating his leanness, and his face still had a hint of baby fat. His almond-shaped eyes made him look innocent. Xu Huaiming thought that perhaps no. 7 had created him this way so that Tan Xilu wouldn’t feel lonely.

 

Tan Xilu climbed out of bed, reached out to touch Xu Huaiming’s face, as if to confirm that this person was real.

 

Of course, Xu Huaiming was real. He was a replacement created by no. 7, a genuine AI. Tan Xilu didn’t know this; he would only think that this was his Xu Huaiming.

 

So, for the next five minutes, Tan Xilu held onto Xu Huaiming tightly and cried. This was the culmination of seven years of waiting, and his Xu Huaiming had finally returned.

 

“Don’t cry,” Xu Huaiming said, pressing Tan Xilu’s head against his shoulder, letting Tan Xilu’s tears wet his clothes. However, he felt uncomfortable with the dampness, so he used his hand to cover Tan Xilu’s eyes, feeling the tears falling into his palm, wet and itchy. He repeated, “Tan Xilu,don’t cry.”

 

Tan Xilu didn’t stop crying because of his words; instead, his sobbing intensified.

 

Xu Huaiming found human emotions strange. He had once taken emotional courses in his AI training at the lab, but he had performed poorly in the “sadness” category. He couldn’t empathize with human emotions like this. He had never cried, never felt like he would shed tears for someone or something.

 

But now, he seemed to understand a bit, because Tan Xilu was crying so intensely. Xu Huaiming realized that he had come seven years too late. In those seven years, Tan Xilu had missed someone whose fate was unknown, and this longing had likely become a habit. Now that the habit was broken by Xu Huaiming’s return, it released seven years of pent-up emotions like a flood. Tan Xilu needed to vent.

 

So, Xu Huaiming didn’t tell Tan Xilu not to cry again. Instead, he found another way to comfort him.

 

The pressure around his neck was slightly heavy, and Tan Xilu could smell a faint, refreshing scent from Xu Huaiming’s body. Xu Huaiming gently bit Tan Xilu’s lips, silencing his cries.

 

Tears streamed down Tan Xilu’s cheeks like fine threads, falling at the corners of his mouth. Xu Huaiming could taste the saltiness of his tears.

 

Xu Huaiming’s kiss came suddenly, and Tan Xilu wasn’t prepared for it at all. His lips were seized, and Xu Huaiming’s kiss, just like before, was not a gentle lip-to-lip kiss, nor was it a wet one. It was a bite. Tan Xilu felt like a lamb, and Xu Huaiming was a hungry wolf eager to devour him. However, his actions were clumsy at best, like a newborn wolf, lacking any real threat.

 

But Xu Huaiming didn’t see it that way. He had learned about kissing in his training, and he had kissed a silicone model back then. The model’s lips were very soft, and Xu Huaiming felt that Tan Xilu’s lips were even softer. He couldn’t resist the urge to take a bite, so he did.

 

“Mmm…”

 

Tan Xilu found it hard to breathe. He resisted by pounding Xu Huaiming’s shoulders and finally, Xu Huaiming let go of him, realizing that his actions had been somewhat extreme.

 

“It hurts,” Tan Xilu said, and Xu Huaiming saw that the corner of his mouth was cut, and it had turned slightly red.

 

Xu Huaiming felt like he had made a mistake. Although Tan Xilu had stopped crying, he had hurt him.

 

“Is it really painful? I’m sorry.” Xu Huaiming furrowed his brow. “I’ll get some ointment.” With that, he stood up and was about to leave.

 

“Hey…” Tan Xilu grabbed Xu Huaiming’s arm lightly and smiled, “It’s not that painful, actually.”

 

Xu Huaiming paused, pondering the meaning of Tan Xilu’s words. Was it painful or not? Did this mean he didn’t want him to leave?

 

After a ten-second pause, Xu Huaiming decided to let it go. Humans seemed much more complicated than he had imagined, and he couldn’t understand these strange word games.

 

At this moment, blood began to flow from Tan Xilu’s lips. Blood droplets emerged from the cut, and Xu Huaiming was about to grab a tissue to help him wipe it away, but Tan Xilu had noticed and reacted quickly. He extended his tender, red tongue and licked it away.

 

Xu Huaiming’s hand holding the tissue froze in mid-air. He watched as Tan Xilu bit his lip, and his heart couldn’t help but stir. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to keep his emotions calm and steady.

 

Tan Xilu was really playing dirty.

 

Were all humans like this? Xu Huaiming understood why the no. 7 was so reluctant to let him go.

 

“Thank you,” Tan Xilu said when he saw Xu Huaiming holding the tissue, completely unaware that he was a replica.

 

---

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 2: The two of us

 

After getting off on his stop, he felt like he was perfectly clear-headed, yet also terribly confused. He had seen Xu Huaiming, but it couldn’t be him. It wasn’t until a familiar voice spoke out, “Ah Lu, it’s me.”

 

Only then did it hit him. It had indeed been him.

 

In his blurry vision, Tan Xilu rubbed his eyes with his wet hand, the rainwater stinging his eyelashes, making them ache. He desperately tried to see Xu Huaiming clearly, fearing that this might be an illusion, that the person he had longed for might not be real.

 

“Mr. Tan, is this your friend?” Lin Zhiyuan asked, looking at Tan Xilu, who seemed dazed.

 

Tan Xilu seemed to come to his senses at this point. He turned to Lin Zhiyuan and let out an “Hmm,” followed by, “Mr. Lin, maybe you should go ahead. I might have some personal matters to attend to.”

 

Lin Zhiyuan hesitated, glancing at Xu Huaiming and then at Tan Xilu. He felt that there was a story between these two, so he said, “Alright.”

 

Tan Xilu had thought that when he saw Xu Huaiming again, he would be overwhelmed with emotions, perhaps shouting and hitting him, crying and asking, “Where have you been all these years? Why couldn’t I find you?”

 

Or maybe they would have a good cry together and formally break up. After all, he had spent seven years waiting.

 

However, when he actually saw the person, Tan Xilu found himself surprisingly calm. The intense desire he had once had to find Xu Huaiming had gradually faded over the years, replaced by a sense of emotional stability. He felt no strong emotions, just a slight physiological chill when he laid eyes on him.

 

He walked up to Xu Huaiming, gazing at this person he hadn’t seen in seven years.

 

Xu Huaiming seemed unchanged, at least in Tan Xilu’s eyes.

 

He was still not prone to smiling, and he was undeniably good-looking. That was why when Xu Huaiming had confessed to Tan Xilu all those years ago, he had accepted without hesitation.

 

Tan Xilu, someone who swung the other way, couldn’t resist when a handsome man confessed to him. Why would he?

 

Tan Xilu’s gaze moved down from Xu Huaiming’s beautiful peach blossom eyes to his rosy lips. He had kissed those soft lips countless times, even leaving a scar from a love bite during one passionate encounter.

 

“Ah Lu, are you feeling unwell?” The man’s voice was deep and magnetic.

 

Xu Huaiming lowered his head, his peach blossom eyes gazing at Tan Xilu affectionately. If Tan Xilu tilted his head just a bit, he could kiss Xu Huaiming.

 

But he didn’t, because his body felt weak at the moment.

 

Just as he was wondering why Xu Huaiming had suddenly asked if he was feeling unwell, the next moment, he got the answer.

 

His vision turned black in an instant, and then he felt numbness. In his fading consciousness, he sensed himself falling into warm arms. It was different from the unfamiliar embrace on the bus; this one radiated safety, familiarity, and comfort.

 

—He had fainted.

 

Xu Huaiming lifted Tan Xilu’s limp body into his arms. It was like a programmed memory; as soon as he touched Tan Xilu’s body, he recalled all the things they had done together.

 

Kissing, watching movies, going on dates… and being in bed together.

 

They had been so intimate, deeply in love.

 

With the implanted programs, Xu Huaiming remembered that Tan Xilu’s apartment was on the second floor, but he didn’t know the door code.

 

—The previous door had a lock.

 

He carried Tan Xilu to the front of the apartment door, where Tan Xilu’s face was flushed due to the rain, his entire body drenched. His wet hair clung to his cheeks, and he frowned, looking uncomfortable.

 

He must be sick, Xu Huaiming thought.

 

Tan Xilu’s body was burning with fever. For a normal human, their body temperature should be around 37 degrees Celsius, but Xu Huaiming felt that Tan Xilu’s temperature was higher than that. He needed medicine or something to bring down the fever.

 

The door code was a mystery after failing to input it the second time. Xu Huaiming attempted to rouse Tan Xilu, using his slender fingers to move aside the wet strands of hair and gently massaging his forehead. He leaned down, whispering softly in Tan Xilu’s ear, “Ah Lu, what’s the door code?”

 

Tan Xilu seemed to respond slightly but didn’t fully wake up. He just moved a bit and weakly called Xu Huaiming’s name, “Xu Huaiming…”

 

Xu Huaiming paused for a moment, realizing that it was pointless to ask a sick person for a door code. But Tan Xilu’s body was so hot that he was worried it might get worse. So, he cradled Tan Xilu in his arms, providing some temporary relief from the fever.

 

But this could only be a temporary solution.

 

Xu Huaiming hadn’t expected that on the first day of his visit to Tan Xilu, he would encounter such a challenging situation.

 

No. 7 had implanted many memories, but it hadn’t prepared him for how to handle a situation like this.

 

With Tan Xilu in his arms, Xu Huaiming pondered for a moment. He couldn’t just stand there indefinitely, waiting for Tan Xilu to wake up. It might take a while.

 

After some thought, Xu Huaiming heard some noise from the neighbor’s apartment.

 

He adjusted Tan Xilu’s position, holding him closely. Then he approached the neighbor’s door and knocked.

 

The door was opened by a seven or eight-year-old boy holding a video game controller. He looked up at the unfamiliar man and asked, “Mister, do you need something?”

 

Xu Huaiming didn’t expect a young boy to answer the door. He hesitated for a moment and said, “My partner has a fever, and I can’t get into our home. Can you help us?”

 

“Your partner?” The young boy hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the drenched person in Xu Huaiming’s arms. “Is that Mr. Tan?”

 

Recognizing him, Xu Huaiming breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, we need help.”

 

The young boy turned and called out to someone inside, “Brother, Mr. Tan is here, and he’s sick. There’s another man who says he’s Mr. Tan’s boyfriend, and they came to our house.”

 

“Boyfriend? How is that possible?” A male voice from inside called out, “Mr. Tan’s boyfriend isn’t…?”

 

But when the voice trailed off and the person saw Xu Huaiming, he stopped abruptly. “…dead?”

 

“You’re not dead?” The man named Lin Changyu widened his eyes in surprise.

 

In the seven years since Xu Huaiming had disappeared without a trace, no one had been able to contact him. Most people had assumed he was dead. Xu Huaiming paused for a moment, then awkwardly replied, “I’m still alive.”

 

“Ah,” Lin Changyu said, looking at him and then at Tan Xilu. “Is Mr. Tan running a fever?”

 

Before Xu Huaiming could answer, Lin Changyu added, “I don’t have any medicine at home. Mr. Tan should have some at his place. I usually go to his place to get it.”

 

As Lin Changyu spoke, he stepped out of the door, bypassing Xu Huaiming and heading to Tan Xilu’s apartment. He pressed a few buttons and, with a beep, the door unlocked.

 

Xu Huaiming, still holding Tan Xilu, watched Lin Changyu’s actions with a slight squint in his eyes.

 

“Seems like there’s no hot water,” Lin Changyu said as he walked to the kitchen, filling a kettle with water and plugging it in.

 

Seeing Xu Huaiming standing in the living room without moving, Lin Changyu shook his head and said, “Big brother, Mr. Tan is still wet. You should at least change his clothes for him.”

 

Xu Huaiming seemed a bit slow to react, but after Lin Changyu’s reminder, he replied with an “Hmm” and carried Tan Xilu into the bedroom.

 

Xu Huaiming remembered where the bedroom was; it was the room furthest inside. Program 7 had implanted the memories, and he pushed the door open with his arm, entering the room.

 

The room was clean, and there was a faint scent of lemons in the air.

 

Xu Huaiming laid Tan Xilu on the bed and then turned to search for clean clothes in the wardrobe.

 

Tan Xilu’s wardrobe was unusually monotonous, filled with light-colored clothes, particularly white shirts. Xu Huaiming found a gray T-shirt and knee-length shorts that seemed suitable for home wear, hidden deep inside.

 

However, when he was about to change Tan Xilu’s clothes, he hesitated.

 

Tan Xilu’s white shirt was completely soaked, clinging to his body and outlining his slim, beautiful figure. Xu Huaiming could even see the buttons fastened tightly under the collar, revealing the prominent collarbones.

 

Xu Huaiming furrowed his brows and pursed his lips. In the past, it had been no. 7 that had been intimate with Tan Xilu. Now, having to undress Tan Xilu, who was essentially a stranger to him, felt somewhat awkward.

 

“Uh, that someone… Mr. Tan’s boyfriend, are you still with him? And has Mr. Tan’s clothes been changed?” Xu Huaiming heard Lin Changyu’s approaching footsteps outside, and he looked at Tan Xilu, pausing for a moment, uncertain of what to do next.

 

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T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

 

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 1 : The wind is picking up

 

The sky was gloomy, covered with thick dark clouds, and there was a hint of rain in the air. Outside, a chilly wind was blowing, not too strong but making a howling sound. The creaky window let in a cold breeze and Tan Xilu was abruptly awakened from his slumber due to the cold. His desk was right in the path of the wind and it ran past his legs, making them shiver uncontrollably. He couldn’t help but want to cough but was afraid of disturbing others, so he covered his mouth and suppressed it instead.

 

The wind grew stronger and Tan Xilu couldn’t bear it any longer. His long eyelashes trembled and his brows furrowed slightly. He looked at the other teachers in the office and spoke in a low but hoarse voice, “Could someone please close the window?”

 

There was an unnatural flush on Tan Xilu’s cheeks, tiny beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and his lips were an abnormal pale color, making him look very weak.

 

One middle-aged male teacher, seeing his condition, couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Tan, is your illness not better yet?”

 

Tan Xilu pursed his lips, his amber eyes watery. He raised his gaze to the teacher, his expression somewhat distant. “It might be because of the cold weather. I almost recovered, but then I caught a cold.”

 

“Young man, you should take better care of your health. Back in my day, I could go for several years without getting sick,” the male teacher sighed and turned to close the window. “I say, Mr. Tan, you should find a companion. There’s no one to take care of you now if you get sick. What about Mr. Lin I introduced you to last time? He seemed nice. Did you not continue to contact him?”

 

Tan Xilu reacted a bit slowly since he was ill, He paused for a moment, searching in his mind for the Mr. Lin that was mentioned by the teacher. He seemed to be a young and promising male professor from the neighboring medical school, who bore some resemblance to Xu Huaiming but was a few centimeters shorter. Tan Xilu had tried to be with him, but the memories of Xu Huaiming were too deep, making it difficult for him to wholeheartedly pursue a relationship with Mr. Lin.

 

Shaking his head and hoarsely clearing his throat, Tan Xilu replied, “We’re not quite suitable for each other.”

 

“That’s a pity,” the male teacher said. “I’ll introduce you to someone better next time.”

 

“Oh, come on! Why are you in such a rush?” A female teacher next to him teased. “Not everyone is in a hurry to find a spouse like you, we’re not almost forty and ready to settle down.”

 

“Hey, you wicked woman,” the male teacher retorted playfully. “I’m just worried about the young people nowadays.”

 

The two of them started bickering.

 

Tan Xilu furrowed his brow slightly. His head felt like it was about to explode from the noise in the office.

 

How annoying.

 

If only Xu Huaiming were here.

 

He would surely take him away from here, to a quiet place, buy him a bottle of hot milk, and pinch his cheeks while he drank it. Whenever he got angry, he would placate him with a kiss tasting of milk.

 

That way, he wouldn’t stay angry for long.

 

Xu Huaiming understood him the most and loved him the most.

 

But now, he was all alone.

 

Tan Xilu managed to endure it until the end of the workday, spending it in a daze. Unfortunately, it even started raining outside.

 

—And he had forgotten to bring an umbrella.

 

At least the rain wasn’t too heavy. As long as he walked quickly, Tan Xilu could reach the bus stop outside the school gate before the rain poured down, avoiding getting soaked.

 

However, Tan Xilu clearly hadn’t expected to encounter an unexpected person while waiting for the bus.

 

When Tan Xilu saw that face so similar to Xu Huaiming’s, he was momentarily dazed. It wasn’t until the person waved a hand in front of him and spoke with a cold but very pleasant voice, “Mr. Tan, are you waiting for the bus?”

 

It was too polite. This warmth and the lack of Xu Huaiming’s usual slowness made it clear that it wasn’t him.

 

Tan Xilu snapped out of his brief daze and nodded, “Yes, Mr. Lin.”

 

“Mr. Tan, there’s no need to be so formal. Just call me Zhiyuan,” Lin Zhiyuan smiled.

 

With a mumbled “Hmm,” Tan Xilu lowered his head to check the time left for the bus to arrive on his phone.

 

“Excuse me, coming through.” A student with a backpack hurriedly passed by, and Tan Xilu, caught off guard, swayed to the side.

 

“Be careful.” Lin Zhiyuan instinctively reached out and steadied Tan Xilu’s body. His hand touched Tan Xilu’s waist, and Lin Zhiyuan froze for a moment. His first thought was, ‘Why is his waist so slender?’

 

“Thank you, sorry… Mr. Lin…” Tan Xilu straightened his posture, seemingly recalling that Lin Zhiyuan had asked him to call him Zhiyuan earlier. He tried to find the right words but felt awkward, finally saying in a dry tone, “… Zhiyuan.”

 

The person in front of him looked so obedient and cute, clearly not at fault, yet seemed a bit aggrieved. His gaze lowered, and his ears turned bright red. Lin Zhiyuan noticed a small mole on his earlobe, tempting him to reach out and touch it.

 

However, the next moment, the bus’s announcement sounded, and Tan Xilu raised his head, turning to board the bus.

 

Lin Zhiyuan hesitated for a moment and then followed him onto the bus.

 

The rain fell steadily, and the sound outside the bus was hollow.

 

“You…” Tan Xilu looked at Lin Zhiyuan, who sat beside him, and paused. “Why did you get on the bus too?”

 

“You don’t look too well. I’ll take you home,” Lin Zhiyuan said.

 

Tan Xilu responded with a simple “Oh” and didn’t say anything more.

 

Two minutes later, the bus’s engine started and it moved slowly. Tan Xilu sat by the window, gazing outside. The fine raindrops tapped against the window, making a crisp sound, which had a somewhat hypnotic effect. His vision gradually blurred and his consciousness became a bit hazy.

 

“Don’t lean against the window, especially when it’s rainy and windy. No matter how tightly the window is closed, it can still be drafty. You know what’s the point of having a boyfriend? When you have a boyfriend, you can lean on him, Ah Lu,” Lin Zhiyuan said gently.

 

Suddenly, a shadow of the past flashed by the window. Tan Xilu saw a familiar figure and panicked. He got up from his seat and hurriedly approached the driver to try and get him to stop the bus.

 

The driver, already irritated by the complaints of the passengers, was getting impatient. When Tan Xilu pushed the issue, the driver snapped, “We don’t have such a rule. We don’t stop midway; we only open the doors at bus stops!!!”

 

Just then, the green light came on, and the driver accelerated, continuing on his route.

 

Tan Xilu watched helplessly as that figure disappeared from his view, his heart suddenly aching once more. It was always like this, over and over again.

 

How could he ever see Xu Huaiming again?

 

Standing there in a daze, Lin Zhiyuan grew concerned when he saw Tan Xilu’s intense reaction. He gently touched Tan Xilu’s arm and asked with care, “Mr. Tan, are you okay? Did you see someone you know?”

 

“Oh,” Tan Xilu snapped out of it, swaying a bit. He shook his head and sat down, saying, “I must have mistaken someone else for him.”

 

Indeed, how could someone who had been gone for seven years suddenly appear on a busy street in broad daylight?

 

“You got so worked up just now, your forehead was sweating. It startled me,” Lin Zhiyuan took out a packet of tissues from his jacket pocket, and his slender fingers picked out a tissue, using it to wipe Tan Xilu’s forehead.

 

As Tan Xilu settled into his seat, he gradually calmed down. The intense emotions that had surged within him a moment ago subsided, replaced by a sense of absurdity.

 

It had been seven years, and he had remained trapped in this deep bondage, unawakened and unwilling to wake up.

 

He couldn’t believe that the person who had promised to be with him for a lifetime had suddenly passed away.

 

“I’m sorry for scaring you,” Tan Xilu looked at Lin Zhiyuan with remorse in his eyes. “I’m too useless, Lin… Zhiyuan. I know you like me a lot, but I’m not ready to start anew with someone else. Please… don’t waste your time on me.”

 

Even in rejecting someone, Tan Xilu was gentle. Lin Zhiyuan wondered what kind of person could make him lose control on a bus like this.

 

“I understand, Mr. Tan,” Lin Zhiyuan reached out and ran his fingers through Tan Xilu’s hair, feeling the wet strands before embracing him.

 

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T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

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