Yunfeng hopped into the car silently, his arms folded across his chest as he avoided looking at Muchen. They had been apart for only ten days, yet it felt like a lifetime. Muchen seemed so much thinner now, his cheeks pale and hollow, and a part of Yunfeng desperately wanted to reach out and touch him, to feel his warmth. But he stopped himself.
*I'm supposed to be angry at him,* he thought, biting his lip. *Yeah, I won't touch him. Not now.* With a huff, he turned to stare out the window, determined to keep his walls up.
"I… I'm so sorry for what you went through, Yunfeng," Muchen's voice broke the silence, soft and trembling. "I didn't know my fans could be this mean. I'll arrange a press meeting and make it clear to everyone that you're my beloved. Hurting you will hurt me."
Yunfeng's chest tightened, his resolve wavering for a brief moment. The words were tender, and yet… they weren't enough. Not after everything. His lips pressed into a thin line as he refused to look Muchen's way.
Being harassed by the fans had been painful, sure, but it wasn't the worst of it. No, what hurt the most was Muchen's silence—his complete absence during those ten long days. It had been hell. His mind had spiraled into endless doubts: *Does he even love me? Was I just some fleeting conquest to him?* Sleepless nights had plagued him, his pillow wet with tears as he clutched his phone, hoping for a call or even a single text.
But there had been nothing.
Yunfeng's glare snapped toward Muchen as the car slowed to a stop at a traffic light.
"Yunfeng…" Muchen reached out tentatively, his hand hovering close.
Yunfeng pushed it away without hesitation. "Don't."
"I'm sorry," Muchen's voice cracked, his hand retreating. "I'll… I'll understand if you hate me. But I'm really, truly sorry."
Yunfeng let out a derisive snort, his anger flaring again. "Why are you sorry?"
Muchen hesitated, his mouth opening and closing like he was searching for the right words. "Because… because my fans hurt you, and I didn't do anything to stop it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Yunfeng's glare darkened. "Is that all?"
"Uh… isn't it?" Muchen's brows furrowed in confusion.
Yunfeng gaped at him, utterly stunned. *He doesn't even realize what he did wrong! Ghosting must come so naturally to him. Is this just his thing? Fuck them and ghost them?*
Then his hand unconsciously drifted to his abdomen. A new thought pierced through his anger. *Wait… I wasn't just a fuck. He knocked me up.* His glare sharpened as his resolve solidified. He had so much to say to this clueless man.
The car pulled into the parking lot of a high-end apartment building, and Yunfeng wasted no time. As soon as it stopped, he threw the door open and stormed out, his footsteps quick and furious.
"Wait!" Muchen called, scrambling to catch up. "Yunfeng, please!"
"I'm not talking to you, Muchen!" Yunfeng shot back, his voice laced with venom.
Muchen awkwardly reached for his hand but hesitated. "Actually… my house is this way," he muttered, tugging Yunfeng gently toward the building's entrance.
Yunfeng yanked his hand free, glaring daggers at him. "Why did you bring me here? What's your plan, huh?" he grumbled under his breath. *Does he want another night with me? This scummy man!* His eyes flicked up to Muchen's face. *Damn it, why is he still so handsome? And that scent…*
The subtle fragrance of roses clung to Muchen, stronger now than before, making Yunfeng's heart race and his thoughts scatter. He sniffed discreetly, catching traces of it even on his own sleeves. *It's everywhere. He's everywhere.*
The elevator dinged softly, pulling him from his thoughts as they reached the top floor. Yunfeng stepped out with a huff, his eyes scanning the pristine apartment. Everything was immaculately clean, the minimalist decor exuding Muchen's signature style. But what struck Yunfeng most was the scent. The entire space smelled like him.
It was maddening.
His eyes landed on the kitchen counter. Fresh fruits were arranged in a beautiful way enticing him entirely. The sight made his stomach growl, but he quickly sat on the sofa instead, arms crossed as he stared at the blank TV. *He better feed me after this.*
Muchen sat beside him, fidgeting nervously. His usually confident demeanor was nowhere to be found. He glanced at Yunfeng, his mind racing as he tried to piece together the source of his lover's anger.
"I… I don't know why you're so mad at me, Yunfeng," he finally said, his voice low and uncertain. "Please tell me. I'll do whatever it takes to make it right."
Yunfeng turned to him, his expression a mix of disbelief and heartbreak. "You really don't know, do you?" he whispered. "You didn't call me for ten days, Muchen. Ten days! I waited for you. I needed you. I wanted just one word from you, to tell me that everything would be okay. I was willing to endure hell for you, but you… you left me hanging. You left me all alone."
Tears streamed down his face, his voice breaking as the words spilled out.
Muchen's heart clenched painfully at the sight. Without thinking, he pulled Yunfeng into his arms, holding him tightly. "I'm so sorry," he murmured, his voice shaking. "Shao said your phone might be hacked, and our conversations could be leaked. I thought I was protecting you, but… I was wrong. So wrong. I'm sorry, Yunfeng. I should've been there for you. I'll never make that mistake again."
Yunfeng's sobs grew louder as he clung to Muchen's shirt. The anger he'd held onto for days began to melt away, replaced by a deep, aching sorrow.
"Don't cry, please… it breaks my heart," Muchen whispered, his fingers gently wiping Yunfeng's face clean.
"I'm not crying. Who is crying for you, asshole?" Yunfeng shot back, his voice cracking.
Muchen stifled a laugh. "Yes, yes, you are sweating from your eyes."
"Yeah, it's just sweat." Yunfeng hurriedly wiped his face clean with the back of his hand, avoiding Muchen's gaze. "So… will you do that again?"
"Never. I promise. I will always connect with you. Even if you run away from me, I will try my best to find you."
"Who's gonna run away?" Yunfeng clicked his tongue, but a small smile threatened to break through.
Right then, his stomach growled loudly, breaking the emotional scene. Yunfeng froze, his face flushing red.
Muchen couldn't control his laughter any longer. He threw his head back, the sound ringing through the room. "I'll fix you something."
"Don't laugh! I haven't eaten anything for ten days," Yunfeng grumbled, his voice almost a whine.
"Tsk, my poor child. Why did you show your anger at food? You must remember, even if you are angry at me or saddened by anything, you should always eat." He gently kissed Yunfeng's forehead before getting off the sofa and walking to the kitchen.
A few minutes later, he returned with a sandwich on a plate. "This is all I had. I'll order you something else if you want."
"No, this is enough," Yunfeng muttered as he grabbed the plate and took a bite. The cheese melted in his mouth, and he chewed with relish. Muchen sat beside him, switching the TV on.
The news channel was the first to pop up. The anchor's voice was tense. "Country A enraged as their president's child killed in Country C," the reporter stated heatedly, diving into a discussion on how this would impact global peace.
Yunfeng froze, the sandwich halfway to his mouth. Fuck! It's escalating much faster than I realized! Soon, Country A is going to release the Tera Virus on us! He glanced at Muchen, his face pale and his thoughts racing. And we can't do anything to stop it…
"Let's watch something else," Muchen said quickly, changing the channel. He didn't miss the look of fear flashing across Yunfeng's face.
The cheerful tunes of The Sound of Music filled the room. On the screen, children ran about singing and dancing happily. Yunfeng's glum mood lightened slightly as he watched the carefree scene.
"Do you like children?" Yunfeng asked softly, almost hesitantly, as his fingers brushed against his abdomen.
Muchen's gaze followed the small action, and he froze. A pang of guilt and confusion hit him. They were both men; it was impossible for them to have a child. Hell, even adopting was out of the question due to their country's laws. They were bound to be childless.
"No. I hate them," Muchen said resolutely, his voice colder than he intended.
Yunfeng stiffened, his expression shuttering. "Oh."
Muchen forced a smile, gazing back at the TV. 'We don't need children. Our love will last a lifetime, after all.'
But Yunfeng didn't smile back. His hand drifted protectively to his stomach as his face paled even more.