In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. Lin Qiong accompanied the crew for promotional activities, going out early and returning late every day. His popularity slowly accumulated, not a lot, but his Weibo followers were no longer just zombie fans.
After finishing the day's schedule, Lin Qiong sat in the hotel lobby looking at the itinerary for the next stop. The promotional event at the next location was near his home.
The multimedia big screen in the hotel lobby was broadcasting financial news.
Lin Qiong didn't understand anything that was being said and didn't pay attention, but he raised his head when he heard news about "Fu Corporation."
The female host on the screen was well-dressed and had a delicate appearance. "In the recent period, the fluctuation of stocks indicates that Fu Corporation has continuously experienced a low stock price for two months, and it's uncertain whether a real estate project, which was halted midway, will proceed as planned, incurring losses that cannot be estimated."
After listening, Lin Qiong pondered for a moment and came to a conclusion: Fu Corporation was losing money.
Wang Cheng walked over and looked at him, "What are you smiling about?"
Lin Qiong raised the itinerary in his hand, "I'll be able to go home in a few days."
Wang Cheng glanced at it and indeed.
"Going back to see your elderly baby."
Lin Qiong nodded, "Among other things."
"Anything else?"
"The jacuzzi."
"..."
Wang Cheng looked at the itinerary, "It's almost Chinese New Year. The publicity team mentioned that after the next promotional event, we can take a two-day break before moving on to the next location."
Lin Qiong's eyes lit up, "Really?"
Wang Cheng nodded.
Because Lin Qiong was uncertain about the exact date of his return, he didn't inform Fu Xingyun about this news.
After staying in this city for a few more days, he took a plane to the next destination.
This time, Lin Qiong didn't check in at a hotel. The handsome photographer looked curious, "Brother, why aren't you going through the procedures to get a room?"
Lin Qiong smiled, "I'm going home."
The photographer was surprised, "You have a house here?"
In this big city, the price of houses in first-tier cities was unimaginably high.
Lin Qiong nodded, "Sort of."
The photographer asked tentatively, "Renting?"
Lin Qiong shook his head, "I have a registered residence."
"!!!"
Lin Qiong was about to send a message to inform Fu Xingyun that he had returned when he heard the photographer say mysteriously from the side, "Brother if it weren't for the fact that your style clashes with mine, I would definitely be yours."
Lin Qiong: ???
The photographer continued, "I don't know how much longer I have to endure these lonely and top-less days."
"..."
In the end, due to the urgent event schedule, the message was not sent.
But fortunately, the event ended in the afternoon today, and Lin Qiong had plenty of time to go home.
He first packed his luggage, then got into the familiar small van and made his way home.
Lin Qiong gently pressed the password lock, thinking that he could give someone a surprise.
After changing his shoes, he tiptoed like a thief, relieved to find no one on the first floor. Then he took the elevator to the third floor.
As soon as the elevator door opened, he unexpectedly bumped into the nurse who was organizing things.
The two locked eyes and the nurse's eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost.
"Lin..."
Lin Qiong quickly stepped forward, covering the nurse's mouth. Then, he placed a finger against his own lips, "Shh, I want to give Xingyun a surprise."
The nurse, with his mouth covered, looked into Lin Qiong's eyes and nodded. Lin Qiong loosened his grip only to hear the nurse take a deep breath and loudly exclaim, "Mr. Lin, you're back!!!"
Lin Qiong: ...
What's going on?
This exclamation echoed for days and could probably be heard throughout the entire villa, not just the third floor.
With this shout, sounds suddenly came from the study, footsteps in disarray, followed by a thud.
Lin Qiong was about to walk over, but the nurse grabbed him, "Mr. Lin!"
Lin Qiong turned to look at him, "What's wrong?"
"It's been... a long time," the nurse struggled to find words, "You seem to have gained some weight."
Lin Qiong glanced at himself, "Really? That's good."
As he was about to enter the study, the noises inside did not stop.
The nurse said, "Mr. Lin, are you going in?!"
In the study, two people were searching for the wheelchair, and between their foreheads, sweat began to form.
When Lin Qiong walked into the study, he saw Fu Xingyun sitting in a wheelchair, reading a book.
"Xingyun, I'm back!"
Lin Qiong spoke, and the man finally looked up at the person who had walked to his side.
After a month, Fu Xingyun carefully observed the other, finding no significant changes. However, the emotions in his chest seemed to burst out.
"When did you come back?"
Lin Qiong pointed to the suitcase at the door, "Just now."
As soon as he spoke, Lin Qiong seemed to notice something wrong, "Xingyun, you..."
Fu Xingyun swallowed and unconsciously glanced at the position where the crutches and cane were hidden. He spoke, "What's wrong?"
Seeing this, the doctor shifted to that side, discreetly covering the area where the things were hidden.
Lin Qiong stared intently, "You..."
Fu Xingyun involuntarily took a deep breath.
"Your book is upside down."
Fu Xingyun: ...
Then, Fu Xingyun neatly flipped the book and dryly said, "Thank you."
Lin Qiong smiled, patting the man's shoulder, "You're welcome."
Saying that, he turned around, intending to go back to his room to put away his luggage.
Seeing Lin Qiong leaving the study, the doctor quickly adjusted the position where the crutches were hidden.
Fu Xingyun spoke, "You two can go back today."
The doctor nodded without further questions and started packing up to leave. Lin Qiong came out of his room and coincidentally met them. He politely asked, "Are you leaving now?"
The doctor nodded.
Lin Qiong said, "Thank you for your help during this period."
The doctor smiled, "No trouble at all. If Mr. Lin doesn't have any other matters, we'll take our leave."
It seemed as if they were avoiding some kind of flood or wild beast.
Seeing this, Lin Qiong quickly asked, "Is Xingyun recovering well recently?"
The doctor's smile stiffened, and then he shook his head with a heavy tone, "We are trying our best."
Lin Qiong's expression drooped, "It's okay, as long as you're trying your best."
Watching the doctor's departing figure, Lin Qiong's mind raced. According to the plot in the book, Fu Xingyun's legs should have recovered by now. He wondered why there hadn't been any improvement yet.
Lin Qiong then looked towards the study. If Xingyun didn't recover, so be it. If the other didn't recover, he wouldn't divorce; he wouldn't risk his life.
With an open mind, Lin Qiong gracefully ran into the study like a butterfly. "How was this month for you, Xingyun?"
Fu Xingyun responded indifferently, "It's okay."
"I was tormented by thoughts of missing you day and night."
Seeing the lack of response, Lin Qiong asked, "You don't believe it?"
"Believe." The man's voice remained steady, showing no discernible emotion. Looking at Lin Qiong's slightly fuller face, Fu Xingyun couldn't resist reaching out and pinching it. "You've gained weight."
Lin Qiong replied shyly, "Thinking about you makes me eat more."
"Thinking about me leads to you gaining weight?"
Lin Qiong blushed and lowered his head, "It's the love effect."
"..."
Even knowing that the other was most likely just teasing him, Fu Xingyun still loved to hear it.
"Is work over?"
Lin Qiong picked up a yellow snow pear from the fruit tray on the side. "No, but I can take a few days off."
Taking a bite and finding it quite sweet, he raised his hand to bring it to Fu Xingyun's mouth. Over the past six months, Lin Qiong had developed a habit of sharing anything appetizing with Fu Xingyun. Initially resistant, the man had eventually accepted it.
Normally, Lin Qiong would choose a spot on the fruit that he hadn't bitten yet to share with Fu Xingyun, but this time he forgot.
Fu Xingyun looked at the spot Lin Qiong had bitten and was about to open his mouth when the pear was suddenly taken away.
Confused, Fu Xingyun asked, "What happened?"
Lin Qiong took another bite, feigning seriousness, "I forgot that pears shouldn't be shared like this. It's not good."
Fu Xingyun raised an eyebrow, "That's just superstition."
Lin Qiong, reaching out again, said, "Do you want to eat it?"
Fu Xingyun remained silent, his actions contradicting his words. In the end, he didn't eat that bite of the pear.
----
The next day, when Lin Qiong returned from work, Fu Xingyun looked at him and asked, "Do you have work tomorrow?"
Lin Qiong shook his head, "No, the crew gave me a two-day break, so I have nothing to do."
Fu Xingyun nodded, "Accompany me out tomorrow."
It was rare for him to take the initiative to go out, and Lin Qiong's eyes lit up, "Where are we going?"
"To a charity auction."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qiong's eyes widened instantly. There was a description of this charity auction in the book.
The antagonist, who was recovering from rehabilitation with the pressure of a psychological burden, encountered the protagonist at this auction. After the protagonist suffered an accident, the antagonist's infatuation with him became unstoppable. The protagonist also provides care and encouragement during the antagonist's rehabilitation, bringing warmth to the cold world.
Fu Xingyun noticed Lin Qiong's prolonged silence and asked, "Don't want to go?"
Lin Qiong's expression became somewhat unnatural. For some reason, he felt a sudden tightness in his chest. "It's nothing, I want to go."
Although he said he wanted to go, there was no anticipation in his heart.
The protagonist brings warmth and affection to the antagonist after they meet. The description of such emotions in the book was something Fu Xingyun had never experienced before. It was like a ray of light breaking through the darkness, a depiction of the intersection of dawn and night. After tasting this kind of emotion, Fu Xingyun couldn't help but be deeply immersed, like a beast giving up struggle or prey sinking into a swamp.
Lin Qiong curled his lips, then involuntarily glanced at Fu Xingyun. This big ice block needed to be warmed up; otherwise, it wasn't conducive to health.
Seeing that Lin Qiong's mood wasn't too good, Fu Xingyun coughed, "If you don't want to go..."
"Go! Why wouldn't I go?!" Lin Qiong answered emphatically. He also wanted to see what kind of person could melt this Arctic glacier.
The charity event took place in the evening. Lin Qiong ate something in advance to avoid getting hungry later. Then, he carefully chose a suit in front of the wardrobe.
Fu Xingyun waited at the door, raising an eyebrow as he saw Lin Qiong coming out. "Are you going to get married?"
Lin Qiong was surprised, "You shouldn't say that."
Fu Xingyun: ?
Lin Qiong said seriously, "Polygamy is against the law."
"..."
Then, he glanced at Fu Xingyun left and right, "Did you wear thermal pants?"
The man was stunned.
Seeing that he didn't answer, Lin Qiong knew he hadn't worn it.
After quickly returning to the room, Lin Qiong pulled out a set of thermal pants. "Put these on."
Fu Xingyun: ...
Finally, the man was forced to put them on before leaving the house.
On the way, they also picked up Qin Heng.
As soon as Qin Heng got in the car, he saw Fu Xingyun's poorly arranged suit hem. "Damn, old Fu, did you actually wear thermal pants?"
Fu Xingyun froze.
Qin Heng looked at him unbelievably, then burst into laughter.
"Damn, you actually wear this kind of thing, hahaha."
Lin Qiong, seeing Qin Heng laughing at his man, said with a stern face, "What do you know? This is a necessity of life!"
Then Lin Qiong leaned in and whispered to Fu Xingyun, "Don't listen to him nonsense. You look the most handsome when you tuck your thermal shirt into your thermal pants."
Fu Xingyun: ...