"Yang Ge," Lin Mu called out from his spot on the kitchen counter.
"Yes?" Yu Yu Yang replied, continuing to stir the pot on the stove, the aroma of dinner wafting through the air.
"Do you… do you think Yan Ge… will… umm… ever… love me?" Lin Mu asked, his gaze fixed on his hands, nervously twisting a napkin.
Yu Yu Yang sighed deeply, setting aside the spoon and turning to face Lin Mu.
"Little one, it's a complex situation, but not entirely without hope. It will be challenging, especially given the history and emotions involved," Yu Yu Yang said thoughtfully.
"But I've never made any rash decisions," Lin Mu protested, his voice trembling.
"Ask yourself," Yu Yu Yang replied with a gentle, probing tone.
Lin Mu 's heart sank as he looked up, realization dawning on him with the gravity of his actions and their consequences.
"I… I'm sorry," Lin Mu said, tears streaming down his face, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I know you're sorry," Yu Yu Yang said, his tone soft but firm. "But Lin Mu, imagine being in Xiao Yan's position. Could you forgive someone who caused so much upheaval and distress in your life?"
Lin Mu shook his head, the thought too painful to contemplate.
"That's why it's hard for Xiao Yanto accept you right now," Yu Yu Yang continued. "It's not that he doesn't care or isn't capable of caring, but his trust has been deeply shaken. However, it's not impossible to mend, given time and effort."
"What should I do to make him love me?" Lin Mu asked earnestly, his voice full of desperation.
"Xiao Yan still yearns for love, care, and tenderness. You just need to show him these qualities consistently and prove to him that you won't abandon him, like others have in the past," Yu Yu Yang advised, a sad smile touching his lips.
"But he doesn't even talk to me," Lin Mu said with a pout, frustration evident in his voice.
"Find a way to communicate with him," Yu Yu Yang suggested with a grin, his eyes twinkling with a mix of mischief and encouragement.
"He isn't even interested in me," Lin Mu said, his gaze dropping to the floor.
Yu Yu Yang laughed heartily, the sound echoing through the kitchen.
"Little one, you don't fully understand your husband," Yu Yu Yang said, still chuckling. "Xiao Yanis very assertive. If he wants something, he will find a way to get it. The same goes for his emotions. He can be very protective, so be cautious not to provoke him too much."
Lin Mu blushed deeply, feeling a mix of embarrassment and hope at Yu Yu Yang's words.
"Oh, Lin Mu, I almost forgot something," Yu Yu Yang said, his voice taking on a note of concern.
"What is it, Yu Yang Ge?" Lin Mu asked, confusion evident in his tone.
"You, little one, come with me," Yu Yu Yang said, guiding Lin Mu away from the kitchen.
Lin Mu followed Yu Yu Yang through the sprawling mansion, his curiosity piqued. They stopped at a room in a corner of the house, and Yu Yu Yang opened the door with a flourish.
Lin Mu 's eyes widened in surprise as he saw a fluffy cat lounging in the room.
"Oh my God, so cute!" Lin Mu exclaimed, almost jumping towards the cat with excitement.
But he pouted when the cat ignored him and moved away to a corner, causing Yu Yu Yang to laugh heartily.
"Hahaha… Lia doesn't seem to like you," Yu Yu Yang said, picking up the cat with a grin.
"Don't make fun of me," Lin Mu protested, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"This is Xiao Yan's beloved cat," Yu Yang said proudly, showing off Lia. "She's quite particular about who she likes, just like her owner."
"Oh, just like him, ignoring me," Lin Mu said, pouting further.
"That's true. Their personalities are quite similar, but both are endearing in their own way. Sometimes I wonder if she might be related to Xiao Yanin some odd cosmic sense," Yu Yang said with an amused smile.
"No, only my baby can be Gege's child," Lin Mu whimpered, a touch of possessiveness in his voice.
Yu Yang couldn't believe his ears and burst out laughing again, finding Lin Mu 's words both endearing and humorous.
"Alright, let's feed Lia," Yu Yang said, retrieving the cat's food from a cabinet.
Lin Mu whined continuously, wanting to touch Lia, but the cat remained aloof.
"Alright, let's call Xiao Yan. It's lunchtime," Yu Yang said, guiding Lin Mu to the dining table.
"Yay!" Lin Mu shouted in excitement, having missed Xiao Yan and eager to spend time with him.
"Little one," Yu Yang said, shaking his head slightly with a smile, and went off to fetch Xiao Yan.
Lin Mu sat pitifully at the table, whimpering and feeling a bit bored while waiting.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Yan asked, taking his place at the table and noticing Lin Mu 's distressed demeanour.
"I just missed you, Yan Ge," Lin Mu said cheerfully, his eyes lighting up at Xiao Yan's presence.
Yu Yang laughed loudly as he joined them at the table. Xiao Yan shook his head, amusement and affection in his eyes.
"Eat up," Xiao Yan said, starting to eat his food.
After lunch, Xiao Yan and Yu Yang resumed their work, and Lin Mu, feeling a bit out of place, sat obediently, watching Xiao Yan with adoring eyes.
"Yu Yang, did you feed my cat?" Xiao Yan asked, looking up from his paperwork.
"Yes," Yu Yang replied with a nod.
"Thanks," Xiao Yan said, giving Yu Yang a grateful smile.
"No problem," Yu Yang winked.
"Oh, I remember now. Xiao Yan, Lia is just like you—ignoring your partner," Yu Yang said with a smirk, which made Lin Mu whimper in response.
" Yang Gege, please…" Lin Mu pleaded, his eyes wide with a mix of embarrassment and frustration.
Xiao Yan chuckled at Yu Yang's comment about his cat ignoring Lin Mu, finding the humour in the situation.
Lin Mu pouted cutely at the two men who were busy teasing him, his eyes filled with a mix of amusement and dismay.
They shook their heads slightly and continued with their work, the atmosphere light and filled with camaraderie.
After a while, Xiao Yan noticed that Lin Mu was getting sleepy. His concerned gaze fell on Lin Mu, who was struggling to keep his eyes open.
"Lin Mu, go to your room," Xiao Yan said gently, his tone firm but caring.
"No, I want to stay here," Lin Mu said with pleading eyes, wanting to remain close to Xiao Yan.
"You're ill. Go to sleep," Xiao Yan said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"But I'm feeling fine now. I'm not sleepy," Lin Mu whined, trying to stay.
"I said go to your room, right now," Xiao Yan ordered, his voice unyielding.
Yu Yang shook his head at the couple—one who was too stubborn to leave and the other who was too concerned to let him stay.
"I'm not going," Lin Mu said stubbornly, crossing his arms.
That was the final straw for Xiao Yan. He snapped; his patience worn thin. Without a word, he lifted Lin Mu onto his shoulder and began walking towards Lin Mu 's room, ignoring his shouts, whimpers, and pleas to stay.
Xiao Yan placed Lin Mu gently on his bed, who was pouting furiously, and smirked slightly at his stubborn behaviour.
"Little puppy, sleep now," Xiao Yan said, his voice softening as he tucked Lin Mu in.
"Yan Ge, wait," Lin Mu cried, sitting up in bed with a determined look in his eyes.
"What is it?" Xiao Yan asked, bending down slightly to meet Lin Mu 's gaze.
Lin Mu smirked and pulled Xiao Yan towards him, kissing him on the lips. The kiss was sudden and intense, filled with a mix of desperation and affection.
Xiao Yan trembled at the unexpected intimacy. He was stunned, caught off guard by Lin Mu 's boldness. For a moment, he was lost in the kiss, but then he pulled away, his face flushed with a mix of surprise and irritation.
"I need a doctor. Damn," Xiao Yan thought in exasperation, shaking his head as he left the room abruptly, leaving Lin Mu blushing and flustered.
"Hey guys!" a girl's voice called out as she entered the mansion.
Yu Yang let out a huff, clearly annoyed by the interruption. Xiao Yan sighed, recognizing the familiar voice.
"Guys, don't just ignore me," Lu Wei pouted, making her way into the room with a playful bounce.
"Why are you here?" Yu Yang asked, his tone slightly irritated.
"Because I just got back today and wanted to see you all," Lu Wei said with a flirtatious wink.
Yu Yang rolled his eyes, not entirely pleased with Lu Wei's presence.
"XiaoYan, did you miss me?" Lu Wei asked, her voice dripping with charm as she sat next to Xiao Yan, giving him a playful nudge.
"Yeah, I missed a mean girl who always teases me," Xiao Yan said with a smirk, clearly enjoying the playful banter.
"So mean! Xiao Yan," Lu Wei said, pouting as she leaned in close to him.
"Ugh, if you don't have work, please leave," Yu Yang said in annoyance, disliking Lu Wei's flirtatious gaze.
"Xiao Yan," Lu Wei whined, her tone turning melodramatic.
"Ugh, another whiny baby," Yu Yang said, shaking his head.
"Oh, who is the other one?" Lu Wei asked, picking up some of Xiao Yan's files and starting to check them, as she sometimes helped him with his work.
"Who else? Your Xiao Yan's partner," Yu Yang said with a hint of sarcasm.
"Oh my, I forgot about Xiao Yan's partner," Lu Wei exclaimed, her eyes widening as she realized her mistake.
The two men flinched at her words.
"What is it?" Xiao Yan asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Did you already… have an intimate moment with your partner?" Lu Wei asked innocently, her tone making it clear that she was teasing.
Yu Yang burst out laughing, nearly falling off the sofa at Lu Wei's bold question. He couldn't believe he had a crush on someone who could be so chaotic.
"You…" Xiao Yan was so embarrassed that he didn't know what to say. His face turned a deep shade of red.
"Oh, so you did. Was it good? Did you enjoy it?" Lu Wei asked with a smirk, clearly enjoying Xiao Yan's discomfort.
That was the last straw. Xiao Yan's face flushed with even more embarrassment, and Yu Yang fell off the sofa, nearly crying from laughter. He was both entertained and saddened by the realization that Lu Wei always brought chaos into their lives.
"Ugh, you're shameless, Lu Wei," Xiao Yan said, his face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment.
"Sorry, baby Xiao Yan. I didn't know you were still so shy," Lu Wei said with a wink, clearly relishing in her teasing.
Yu Yang continued to laugh, rolling on the floor with mirth.
Xiao Yan got up and went to the kitchen, seeking cold water to cool down and compose himself.
"Xiao Yan got shy," Lu Wei sang while looking at her file with a smirk.
"Okay, stop it or we'll be up all night," Yu Yang said with a sigh, trying to regain his composure and focus on their pending work.
"Okay, okay, no more teasing," Lu Wei said, sending a flying kiss to Yu Yang, making him pretend to gag in response.
"That's enough, guys. Do your work," Xiao Yan said, returning and taking his place next to Lu Wei, clearly trying to move past the awkwardness.
It was past 7 PM, and Lin Mu woke up from his nap, feeling refreshed as the medicine had worked. He stretched lazily and blushed as he remembered how Xiao Yan had taken care of him earlier.
He slowly made his way downstairs, his curiosity piqued by the sounds of conversation coming from the living area.
His eyes widened when he heard a woman's voice, and his mind raced with questions:
"Who is she?" "Why is there a girl here?" "Yan Ge said this is his house. No one is allowed here without his permission. So why is there a girl?"
He stood on the stairs, his gaze falling on Lu Wei, who was smiling brightly at Xiao Yan. Lu Wei was saying something that made Xiao Yan blush furiously.
"Yan Ge, you've never blushed in front of me. Why are you making that kind of face in front of her? It hurts…"
Lu Wei was teasing Xiao Yan about his new partner when she noticed Lin Mu standing on the stairs, watching them intently.
She smirked slightly and suddenly turned Xiao Yan towards her, getting close to his lips and winking provocatively.
Lin Mu 's heart ached as he saw the girl seemingly kissing his husband. It was an act meant to provoke jealousy and watch Lin Mu 's reaction.
Furious at the sight of another girl kissing his husband, even if it was a show, Lin Mu rushed down the stairs, dragging Lu Wei away from Xiao Yan with a burst of energy.
Only then did Xiao Yan and Yu Yang come to their senses, shocked by the turn of events.
Lu Wei smirked at the reaction. She knew Xiao Yan had been forced into marriage and wanted to ensure that his partner was genuinely worthy. However, she trembled slightly under Yu Yang's piercing gaze, realizing that her feelings were reciprocated. Yu Yang had feelings for her as well. Lu Wei had achieved two goals in one go.
Xiao Yan, sitting on the sofa with wide eyes, was bewildered by the situation. He widened his eyes further as Lin Mu sat on his lap, looking angry and determined.
Yu Yang and Lu Wei looked at them in confusion, unsure of how to handle the escalating situation.
"Lin Mu," Xiao Yan said, bewildered and trying to regain control.
"What do you think you're doing?" Xiao Yan's words were muffled by a sudden kiss. He took a moment to process what was happening and then realized that Lin Mu was kissing him passionately, with an intensity that was both surprising and disconcerting.
Xiao Yan pushed him away in anger, his patience wearing thin.
"How dare you!" Xiao Yan shouted; his voice filled with outrage. He couldn't believe he had been taken advantage of in front of his friends, who were now giggling at the scene.
"Yan Ge, don't shout. If she can kiss you, why can't I?" Lin Mu shouted back, equally angry, pointing at Lu Wei.
"Don't talk nonsense without knowing what actually happened," Xiao Yan said, frustration evident in his voice.
"Oh, really? I saw you two kissing with my own eyes!" Lin Mu screamed at Xiao Yan, his frustration and jealousy reaching a boiling point.
"Get away from me," Xiao Yan said, his voice filled with disgust at Lin Mu 's accusations. Despite his tough exterior, he had never been intimated with anyone before today.
"Oh, so she can sit on your lap?" Lin Mu said furiously, his eyes blazing with anger.
For the first time, Lu Wei felt regret. She had only wanted to provoke Xiao Yan's reaction but never anticipated the situation escalating this way. She looked at Yu Yu Yang worriedly, who stared at her with disappointment. Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt the weight of her actions.
"Lin Mu, listen. It's not what you think. Let me explain," Lu Wei said, trying to hold Lin Mu 's trembling hand, her voice pleading.
"Let go of me!" Lin Mu snapped, pulling his hand away as if it were burning.
"Lin Mu, I'm sorry. Please listen…" Lu Wei began, but her words were cut short when Lin Mu, in a fit of frustration, slapped her across the face, causing her to stumble. Xiao Yan reacted quickly, catching her before she hit her head on the side table.
"Lu Wei, are you okay? Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm really sorry," Xiao Yan said, his concern evident as he looked at Lu Wei with genuine worry. His mind flashed back to a past incident where Lin Mu had pushed his crush into the pool, and his heart raced with fear as he realized troubling patterns were repeating themselves.
Lu Wei looked at Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with pain and confusion. She shook her head, tears streaming down her face as she tried to comprehend what had just happened. Yu Yu Yang stood by, his expression one of concern and frustration, knowing that this incident had further complicated the delicate situation between Lin Mu and Xiao Yan.