Lin Qiong felt aches all over his body as he sat there in bed for a moment. When he tried to stand up and go to the bathroom, his legs gave way as soon as he took a step.
He fell to the floor, fortunately, there was a layer of carpet, but Lin Qiong's body still ached, and he let out a slight groan, gritting his teeth.
Hearing the sound, Fu Xingyun quickly got up and saw the person lying on the floor. At this moment, the other person was naked, and the sunlight pouring in from the French window illuminated the already snow-white skin looking to be even more translucent, making the marks on the body more pronounced.
Fu Xingyun swallowed and quickly lifted the person back onto the bed.
Frowning, Fu Xingyun asked, "Why did you fall?"
Lin Qiong's gaze evaded. "I just wanted to take a shower."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"..."
If I call you, can it still be considered taking a shower?
It would be more like digging my own grave.
But Lin Qiong didn't say that. He glanced at the other person's eyes and silently curled up under the blanket. "I saw you were still asleep, so I thought I'd go by myself."
Fu Xingyun moved his hand to push the stray hair away from his forehead, this movement highlighted the muscular lines across his arm and body.
"Call me next time."
Lin Qiong looked at him with a slightly open mouth, like a dumbfounded goose. Fu Xingyun, in every aspect, was a true man.
He nodded afterward.
Seeing that Lin Qiong remained silent, Fu Xingyun thought it was because he was hurt by the fall. He was about to turn him over to check.
"Where did you fall?"
Lin Qiong, startled, hurriedly wrapped the blanket tightly around himself. "It's okay, it is not painful."
Seeing the person nervously huddling, Fu Xingyun's lips curled up. "Guarding against me?"
Lin Qiong: "You guessed right."
"..."
Saying that he wrapped the blanket around himself even more, acting like a silkworm, and lay with his eyes wide open. "It's okay, it was just a little fall, I didn't feel any pain."
Fu Xingyun, who heard the thump just now, knew Lin Qiong must be in pain.
Fu Xingyun looked serious. "You screamed just now."
Screaming means it hurts.
Lin Qiong: "I also screamed last night."
"..."
Fu Xingyun took a deep breath. "That was different."
Lin Qiong glanced at him. "Actually, it's the same."
"..."
The man who was about to do something froze instantly. His eyes, usually calm and undisturbed, were now filled with shock and disbelief.
For a moment, it seemed as if he had frozen in place.
Lin Qiong looked at him, lips pressed to suppress laughter. He managed to keep a straight face, but his cheeks turned a bit red. Then, he kissed Fu Xingyun on the cheek and quickly went to the bathroom, leaving behind a comment, "Study well and make progress for next time."
"..."
This undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to the male ego.
Lin Qiong wasn't feeling good last night!!!
Fu Xingyun almost sat defeated on the bed, elbows on his knees, propping up his head. His face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
When Lin Qiong came out of the bathroom, the man was still frozen in the same position as when he had entered.
Lin Qiong's legs were trembling as he walked. What he had said earlier was just to tease Fu Xingyun for being too aggressive last night. Seeing the defeated look on his face now, Lin Qiong couldn't bear it and went up to comfort him. "What's wrong?"
Fu Xingyun turned his head away. "Nothing."
"If it's nothing, why won't you look at me?"
"My academic skills are not good."
Lin Qiong couldn't help but stifle a laugh, turning his face red like an apple.
Then he patted the thick back of Fu Xingyun. "It's okay; I know you've tried hard."
This statement was another blow.
Lin Qiong, in his lovey-dovey brain mode, consoled him again, hugging the man's head. "But you should know, no matter how good you are, I love you."
Then he left a kiss on Fu Xingyun's forehead.
Mwah—
Fu Xingyun sat there like a sculpture, his mood changing like he was on a roller coaster. It felt as if he, who had been an outstanding student all his life, suddenly received a failing grade, and the teacher looked at your past performance and raised it to sixty points. But for this nearly thirty-year-old honor student, anything less than a hundred points was almost like zero.
After comforting him, Lin Qiong lay comfortably on the bed, showing only his head. "You should go to work now."
Actually, Lin Qiong still felt shy looking at Fu Xingyun now. In less than ten seconds, he would unconsciously avert his gaze, his heart would beat so fast it was as if a little person with a big hammer was smashing on his heart.
Fu Xingyun was even more embarrassed. He had spent the entire night working hard, not to mention praising him, and now he was being urged to leave.
You can imagine how much he felt rejected.
Fu Xingyun tried to regain some control. "I'll stay at home with you today."
Lin Qiong blushed and withdrew into the blanket, saying shyly, "No need, besides, you can still make it to the office in time."
Fu Xingyun looked at Lin Qiong's adorable appearance and said, "I won't go."
Lin Qiong said, "How can that be?"
In fact, even without Fu Xingyun saying it, Lin Qiong knew the man was busy. He had also read the recent financial news about Fu Xingyun, from the acquisition by the Fu family to the development of fertile land. There were plenty of things to take care of every day, along with social engagements. Yesterday, he had even come home a bit tipsy after the business meeting.
If Fu Xingyun stayed at home with him for a day, he didn't know how long it would take for him to recover afterward. Lin Qiong was reluctant to be apart, but he was even more reluctant to see Fu Xingyun overworked.
So he waved his small hand, saying, "Goodbye."
Fu Xingyun looked numb, "Lin Qiong, we only just reunited yesterday."
Saying this he grabbed Lin Qiong's hand. "Give me another chance."
Lin Qiong's heart sank instantly. He hadn't recovered yet, and here comes another challenge to his body.
Then he gently pushed away Fu Xingyun's hand, "Maybe next time."
"Why?"
"Don't you know why in your heart?"
"..."
In the end, the man, dressed neatly, stood by the door. His gaze contained a reluctant look towards the bed, and his voice remained as calm as ever, "I'm leaving."
The little head that was shaking and moving on the bed for a while stiffened for a moment. Instead of responding, it lay flat and pouted.
Fu Xingyun almost instantly understood what the other meant. He walked to the bed in big steps and then bent down to fiercely kiss the pouting lips.
"I will come back early."
Lin Qiong shrank a bit from the kiss, then embarrassedly said, "I'll be waiting for you."
After hearing that, Fu Xingyun didn't want to leave at all, but after Lin Qiong persuaded him persistently, he finally left for work.
The man's gaze lingered on the person lying on the bed with reluctance before closing the door. Anyone looking in would have assumed he was headed off to war and wasn't coming back.
Lin Qiong looked at the closed door and hugged the pillow that Fu Xingyun had used last night into his arms, then rolled around on the bed in a frenzy.
He smelled the lingering scent of Fu Xingyun on the pillow.
Lin Qiong felt that he would never like someone else as much as he liked Fu Xingyun.
After embracing the pillow for a while, Lin Qiong got up near noon, ordered takeout, and then went out to throw away the garbage.
"Kid!"
Just a few steps outside, Lin Qiong was suddenly called.
Turning around to look, it was none other than the shabbily dressed old man.
The old man looked at Lin Qiong with joy, walked briskly over with the paper he had just picked up, and said, "You finally came back."
Lin Qiong smiled and nodded, "Yeah."
The old man looked Lin Qiong up and down as if seeing his grandson after many years, "Changed quite a bit."
Lin Qiong smiled, "So did you."
Looking at Lin Qiong's awkward walking posture, the old man asked, "What happened to your leg?"
Before Lin Qiong could speak, the old man concluded, "It must be a work injury."
Lin Qiong nodded quickly.
The old man abruptly spoke, "I missed talking to you."
"I am back for good now, I missed talking to you too." Lin Qiong replied.
Lin Qiong felt a little bit guilty. Before, he chatted with him about everything, but then suddenly stopped coming out of the house to visit. Every day after picking up the garbage, the old man would wait by the trash can for a while, but Lin Qiong never showed up.
After chatting for a while, Lin Qiong felt that since he had come out, he might as well buy some vegetables. After all, he hadn't cooked for Fu Xingyun in a long time.
Thinking this, he took small steps toward the vegetable market with a determined spirit despite his physical aches.
——
As soon as Fu Xingyun entered the office, he saw Qin Heng, who was having tea. Qin Heng seemed a bit surprised to see him and spoke, "Oh, you're here. I thought you wouldn't come today."
Fu Xingyun: ...
"Let's get to work. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can relax." Qin Heng stood up, patted Fu Xingyun on the shoulder, and continued, "Your little brother seems like he's been pushed to the limit."
Fu Xingyun's eyes darkened at the mention of this. "Isn't that what I want?"
Qin Heng clapped his hands. Even if Fu Xingyun had been reduced to a wheelchair for many years, his character hadn't changed. Instead of quickly solving the problem in one go, he would accumulate and torment the other party repeatedly, until they were mentally and physically exhausted.
"Your old man hasn't contacted you to ask you to stop?" Qin Heng handed a cigarette to Fu Xingyun, who pushed it away. "He can't control me," Fu Xingyun replied, his gaze dark and intimidating. "After all, he has his share in the deal as well."
Qin Heng handed him the cigarette, "You don't smoke?"
Fu Xingyun shook his head, "Lin Qiong doesn't like it."
Qin Heng's hand holding the cigarette stiffened for a moment. Fine, he's a lone wolf.
Then the two began to work.
The secretary came to deliver a few documents a few times and noticed that the boss's mood today was obviously different from usual, appearing both cheerful and heavy.
Throughout the morning, Fu Xingyun, thinking about Lin Qiong's words in the morning, felt more and more frustrated.
Qin Heng looked at the time, and it was almost lunchtime. "Let's go, time for lunch."
Fu Xingyun: "You go."
Qin Heng: "Aren't you going to have lunch?"
Seeing Fu Xingyun not saying anything, Qin Heng continued, "This won't do."
The man almost instantly turned his head, "Who are you saying won't do?"
Qin Heng: ???
Fu Xingyun looked serious, "Are you saying I won't do?"
Qin Heng: ...
Qin Heng didn't know what was wrong with him, and then said, "What 'won't do'? It won't do that you are skipping lunch."
After hearing this, Fu Xingyun's heart finally settled. He got up and went to the employee canteen.
In the afternoon, when the clock's hands almost pointed to four o'clock, Fu Xingyun stood up almost instantly.
Qin Heng, who had been reading documents until his eyes were sore, glanced at him, "What are you doing?"
"I am getting off work."
Qin Heng looked at the time, "It's only four o'clock."
Suddenly remembering something, Qin Heng asked, "Lin Qiong is back?"
Fu Xingyun put on his suit jacket, "Yes."
Seeing the mountain of documents, Qin Heng glanced at him, "You are going to leave me?"
"I am off of work." Fu Xingyun wore the jacket.
"Before you go, tell me about your plan." Qin Heng frowned.
"I have to head back home."
"Fu Xingyun!" Qin Heng called him, looking helpless he stood up to put his hand on Fu Xingyun's shoulder, "Can't you stay for a while longer?"
Fu Xingyun's face was indifferent as he removed Qin Heng's hand, "I promised him."
Qin Heng: "Indeed, you married men are all the same."
"..."
Fu Xingyun picked up some documents and walked out of the door into the hallway without saying anything.
The secretary rushed out of his own office to inquire, "Boss, is there something wrong? Is there anything I can do?"
Fu Xingyun glanced at him, "I don't need your help getting home."
"... "
The secretary was initially taken aback, then regained his composure. The boss was leaving work at this time!
Usually, he stayed in the office until it got dark, but he didn't expect him to leave now.
Fu Xingyun walked away urgently, eager to get home and see Lin Qiong.
However, just as he was finally out of the office building, someone stopped him.
"Fu Xingyun!"
Fu Xingyun stopped, and his eyes, indifferent, looked at Fu Jinghong.
The security guards nearby wanted to approach, but Fu Xingyun's gesture stopped them.
Fu Jinghong, who had lost some weight, shouted, "Are you going too far?! We are still brothers. How can you treat me like this? Don't forget, that I took over for you when your legs were bad, and I contributed a lot. Who gave you the right to expel me?!"
Fu Xingyun glanced at him as if he were an annoying pest.
Fu Jinghong clenched his fists and repeated. "You should not go too far! After all, we are brothers. Why are you treating me like this? You should not forget that I took over for you at Fu's!"
Fu Xingyun gave no response.
"I didn't do anything to deserve it. Why do you have the right to expel me?!" Fu Jinghong yelled.
Fu Xingyun looked at the disheveled figure before him and smiled with malicious satisfaction.
Fu Xingyun raised his hand to adjust the documents and didn't stay any longer. He walked towards his waiting car.
Fu Jinghong clenched his fists, shaking uncontrollably for a moment.
It was always like this, always like this! Fu Xingyun always looked down on him with that superior attitude, full of disdain and annoyance from the first day he entered the Fu family house. Did he not try to show goodwill towards him, or perhaps flatter and please him enough? In the end, this elder brother of his held a grudge against Fu Jinghong's mother's entry into the family, to the point of...
Fu Jinghong closed his eyes...
...to the point of even killing his mother!
A murderer. Why should he stand on a higher ground? Fu Jinghong had only caused the other to sit in a wheelchair and forced him to yield power, while the other took away his mother's life.
Fu Jinghong clenched his fists, his eyes turning crimson as if blood was about to burst out.
Then, he took out his phone, intending to grasp at the last straw.
After the call connected, Fu Jinghong said, "Dad."
"Jinghong, what's the matter?"
"Big brother expelled me from the company."
"What?! He expelled you?"
"Yes, Dad. Can you see if there's any way to help?!"
The voice on the other side seemed a bit embarrassed. "Jinghong, your big brother..."
Fu Jinghong felt despair in his heart. "Is there really no way, Dad?"
"Dad can't do anything about it."
That brat Fu Xingyun couldn't be controlled now. It was already good if he didn't stir up trouble for him. But Jinghong had been cherished since he was a child, and his father couldn't bear to see him suffer.
"All the real estate under Dad's name will be yours in the future."
But what was the value of that? Compared to the Fu family, it was basically a drop in the ocean. What he had always wanted was the Fu family. His mother's greatest wish was to take him back to the Fu family and recognize his roots.
Fu Jinghong spoke up, "Dad, do you still remember how Mom died?"
There was a pause on the other end, followed by silence.
The police initially ruled it as suicide, but when she jumped off the building, Fu Xingyun and another person were on the rooftop. They didn't know what was said, but his mother jumped off. Although it was considered suicide, in their hearts, it was forced by Fu Xingyun.
This incident made him wary and disgusted towards his eldest son, while simultaneously fostering more love for his younger son.
---
In a hurry, Fu Xingyun returned home and upon opening the door, he saw Lin Qiong bustling around the kitchen.
Wearing an apron with a white strap tied behind, Lin Qiong seemed to be in a good mood, humming a tune.
Fu Xingyun leaned against the door, watching silently.
Suddenly, he felt he should buy more aprons for Lin Qiong.
After Lin Qiong finished cooking, he checked the time on his phone, muttering, "Why hasn't he come back yet."
Then, with an exaggerated cough to clear his throat, he made a phone call.
Two rings simultaneously echoed, and Lin Qiong subconsciously looked toward the direction of the sound. As he turned around, he spotted Fu Xingyun standing by the door.
Almost instantly, Lin Qiong's face lit up with a brilliant smile, full of surprise and affection. "Xingyun."
Seeing that, Fu Xingyun's mind cleared.
Lin Qiong ran full speed towards him and jumped aiming for Fu Xingyun's arms.
Fu Xingyun caught him with a smile and Lin Qiong's legs wrapped around Fu Xingyun's waist as he buried his face in Fu Xingyun's neck.
Lin Qiong didn't ask when he had returned; instead, he softly said in his ear, "Missed you."
"I missed you too." Fu Xingyun was almost entranced by him, and when they met, his brain seemed to stop thinking. Nothing else mattered.
If he could, he would carry him everywhere he went.
Lin Qiong kissed his cheek.
Fu Xingyun noticed that Lin Qiong seemed to prefer kissing his cheeks over other forms of affection.
Fu Xingyun asked with a keen look, "Only a kiss on the cheek?"
Lin Qiong, not quite understanding, kissed the other cheek as well.
Then he chuckled, "Is that enough?"
Fu Xingyun's heart softened. He softly replied, "Hmm."
Lin Qiong looked at him, noticing his good mood, and asked, "How was your day today?"
"It was okay, but..." Fu Xingyun began.
Lin Qiong paused, swallowing nervously. "But what?"
Fu Xingyun lowered his head to his ear. "I didn't have time to study."
Lin Qiong recoiled slightly from the warmth of his breath, but Fu Xingyun continued listing, "I have to go to work from morning to afternoon, then come back for dinner. The only time I have to study is at night."
The implication in his words was clear, almost explicit.
Lin Qiong's cheeks blushed slightly. "Then I won't disturb you. Study well."
"What I mean is..." Fu Xingyun hugged him tightly. "We need to practice."
Seeing Lin Qiong speechless, Fu Xingyun suddenly softened his tone. "Or, do you not want to be with me?"
The sadness in Fu Xingyun's eyes pierced Lin Qiong's heart, his handsome face appearing forlorn, like a lost dog.
Lin Qiong couldn't bear to continue and began fidgeting with the buttons on Fu Xingyun's collar. "I didn't say I'm unwilling."
Fu Xingyun looked at him, his lips curving into a smile.
His slender fingers lifted Lin Qiong's chin, intending to lower his head for a kiss.
Ding Dong!
Lin Qiong shivered suddenly, pushing against Fu Xingyun's chest. "Someone's here."
Fu Xingyun pinched his chin again. "Ignore it."
Saying this, he intended to continue.
Ding Dong!
Ding Dong!
Ding Dong!
Fu Xingyun: ...
Then came a series of urgent knocking on the door, sounding like someone in a hurry, and the voice was loud enough to be heard through the kitchen window.
"Uncle! Uncle, are you there?"
Fu Xingyun took a deep breath.
Lin Qiong was surprised. "Our eldest nephew is here."
"Ignore him."
Fu Xingyun initially thought that Fu Jinglin would give up when there was no response, but the stubborn guy went around and knocked on the living room window.
"Uncle! Uncle! I'm here! Open the door!"
Fu Xingyun: ...
In the end, they had no choice but to separate, and Fu Xingyun went to open the door.
As soon as the door opened, Fu Jinglin stumbled inside.
But he was stopped by Fu Xingyun. "What are you here for?"
Fu Jinglin, with a bag on his back, looked at Fu Xingyun with a bit of guilt in his eyes. In fact, there were three reasons for his visit.
One, he was kicked out by his mom.
Two, he knew Lin Qiong was back and wanted to check on him.
And three, food!
Fu Jinglin picked the most important point and said, "I am here for dinner."
Fu Xingyun saw through his intentions at a glance, but surprisingly, he didn't expose him today. "Really?"
Fu Jinglin, grateful that his uncle didn't see through him, nodded quickly. "Yeah, I just came for a meal."
Fu Xingyun stepped aside to let him in.
Seeing Fu Jinglin, Lin Qiong greeted him with a smile. "Eldest nephew, long time no see."
Fu Jinglin waved his hand. "Long time no see."
Lin Qiong was surprised. "Your temper has improved."
Fu Jinglin said, "I've always been well-behaved."
Lin Qiong couldn't figure out what image Fu Jinglin had of himself in his heart.
Seeing that it was about time, Lin Qiong said, "Let's eat."
---
After the meal, Fu Jinglin had eaten quite a lot, and Lin Qiong stood up and went into the kitchen to start putting away the food.
Fu Xingyun looked at Fu Jinglin, who was belching on the side. "Done eating?"
Fu Jinglin smiled and nodded. "Full."
In the next moment, Fu Xingyun raised his hand and pointed to the door. "Get out."
Fu Jinglin: ...