It was a bright and pleasant morning, and Lin Mu was lost in his own little world. He couldn't stop blushing, his cheeks tinted with a rosy hue as he replayed Xiao Yan's words in his mind:
"His husband… He called me his husband…" Lin Mu muttered to himself, a wide grin spreading across his face as he jumped up and down in excitement. "Yan Ge said I'm his husband! My Yan Ge called me his husband!"
Xiao Yan's every word echoed repeatedly in his heart, making Lin Mu feel like he was soaring above the clouds. He had never imagined that Xiao Yan, his beloved Yan Ge, would ever acknowledge him in that way. In his mind, only he could be Xiao Yan's husband, the only one to make him feel protected, safe, and loved. It didn't matter if Xiao Yan didn't love him the same way—at least there was no one else that Xiao Yan loved. That was enough for him.
After savouring his thoughts for a while, Lin Mu got ready quickly, eager to see Xiao Yan. He ran downstairs and found Xiao Yan sitting in the living room, holding Lia in his arms. Xiao Yan seemed lost in his thoughts until he felt someone sit beside him. As he looked up, he was greeted by the sight of Lin Mu's bright smile.
"Why is he so happy?" Xiao Yan wondered to himself, noticing the unusual glow on Lin Mu's face.
"Yan Ge, good morning!" Lin Mu greeted cheerfully; his smile brighter than the morning sun. He wanted to lean in and kiss Xiao Yan but held back, not wanting to make things awkward.
"Morning," Xiao Yan replied, his voice soft as he returned a faint smile. He was relieved to see Lin Mu in high spirits, especially since Lin Mu hadn't cried the previous night, something that Xiao Yan had feared would happen.
"Let's have breakfast," Xiao Yan said, leading the way to the dining room, followed closely by an elated Lin Mu. Xiao Yan couldn't help but wonder what was making Lin Mu so cheerful; it was unusual to see him in such a good mood.
After seating himself, Xiao Yan focused on feeding his daughter, while Lin Mu sat beside them, giggling at Lia's antics. Her adorable expressions were enough to melt anyone's heart.
As Xiao Yan sipped his coffee, he noticed Lin Mu grinning to himself. "Why are you smiling like a madman?" Xiao Yan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yan Ge, I'm not a madman!" Lin Mu pouted, feeling a bit hurt.
"Oh, sorry. I forgot, you aren't exactly a man," Xiao Yan teased with a sly grin.
"Yan Ge!" Lin Mu whined, his voice sounding like a scolded puppy.
"What is it, little puppy?" Xiao Yan asked playfully, pretending to be clueless.
Lin Mu huffed and turned his attention to his food, sulking in silence. Xiao Yan couldn't help but smirk; he preferred this sulky version of Lin Mu over the overly cheerful one. It was easier to deal with, and in some strange way, it made him happy.
Just then, Xiao Yan's phone rang, interrupting the playful atmosphere. He picked up the call, and his face instantly turned pale. Lin Mu's smile faded as he noticed the sudden change in Xiao Yan's expression, and his heart ached seeing his love look so troubled.
After ending the call, Xiao Yan turned to Lin Mu. "Lin Mu, did you not call your parents?" he asked, his tone stern but not angry.
Lin Mu's face fell. He knew this was his fault. He had forgotten to call his parents, and he knew how much Xiao Yan despised his mother. She was the only person who could make Xiao Yan this anxious.
"I... I'm sorry, Yan Ge," Lin Mu apologized softly, his eyes welling up with tears as he looked down, feeling guilty.
"There's no need to be sorry. Just call them, or go see them once you've fully recovered. Your mom is getting on my nerves," Xiao Yan sighed, rubbing his temples. Lin Mu was complicating his life in ways he hadn't anticipated.
"I'm really sorry, Yan Ge," Lin Mu sobbed, tears streaming down his face. He was terrified that Xiao Yan might start to hate him because of his meddling mother.
"Why are you crying, brat? I didn't even scold you," Xiao Yan said, his voice tinged with irritation.
"No, but... it's because of me that you're upset," Lin Mu replied, looking up with tear-filled eyes, resembling a sad puppy that had just been kicked.
"I'm not upset, Lin Mu. Stop crying so early in the morning; people will think I've been bullying you," Xiao Yan said, trying to calm him down.
Lin Mu sniffled and nodded, wiping his tears away. Xiao Yan's concern always made his heart flutter, even when Xiao Yan was scolding him.
"Now, finish your breakfast," Xiao Yan instructed, trying to distract Lin Mu from his tears.
Lin Mu obediently resumed eating, though slowly. Xiao Yan watched him closely, making sure he ate everything on his plate. He didn't trust Lin Mu to eat properly on his own.
After breakfast, Xiao Yan washed the dishes while Lin Mu stood beside him, pouting slightly. He was disappointed that Xiao Yan didn't let him help with anything. When the cleaning was done, Xiao Yan headed to his room, leaving Lin Mu alone with Lia, who seemed content ignoring him.
Hours passed, and it was almost 9 AM when Xiao Yan re-emerged in the living room, dressed for work. The sight that greeted him made him want to laugh, but he controlled himself. There was Lin Mu, making silly faces and gestures to get Lia's attention, but the little girl remained completely unimpressed.
Xiao Yan cleared his throat to get Lin Mu's attention, but Lin Mu was so engrossed in entertaining Lia that he hadn't even noticed Xiao Yan standing there. When Lin Mu finally looked up, his heart skipped a beat at the sight of Xiao Yan looking so dashing.
Lin Mu couldn't help but stare, his eyes shamelessly trailing over Xiao Yan's form as if undressing him with his gaze.
Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at the sight of his shameless husband drooling openly. "Yan Ge, are you going out wearing that?" Lin Mu asked, pointing at Xiao Yan's outfit.
"Why? Is there a problem?" Xiao Yan responded, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, there's a huge problem! You look way too hot! What if you walk down the street and people start jumping into water to cool off? What if they can't swim and end up drowning? What if someone has a heart attack? You could be jailed for causing such chaos with your hotness. How will I live without you?" Lin Mu rambled dramatically; his voice filled with exaggerated concern.
Xiao Yan stared at him, stunned. He had never heard anything so ridiculous in his life. He genuinely considered if Lin Mu might need to see a doctor. No sane person would come up with such a bizarre scenario.
"You brat, stop with your nonsensical talk. You're getting more shameless by the day," Xiao Yan scolded, shaking his head.
"Yan Ge…" Lin Mu whined, looking up at him like a scolded child.
"Don't 'Yan Ge' me. Listen carefully: your lunch is in the fridge. Eat on time, and take your medicine—I left it on your table. And let me be very clear: if you don't take your medicine, you'll be punished when I get back," Xiao Yan warned, sounding more like a parent than a partner.
Lin Mu nodded obediently, like a child being lectured.
"You're not allowed to go out today, understand? You're still not fully recovered. Don't give the guards a hard time—they're under strict orders not to let you leave. Call your mom, but if she asks about this address, refuse to tell her. I don't want her knowing where I live. If you want to visit your parents, you can go after you're properly healed," Xiao Yan continued, his tone firm.
Again, Lin Mu nodded, taking in every word.
"Okay then, take care. I'll be back by 7 PM," Xiao Yan said, picking up his things and getting ready to leave.
"Bye, Yan Ge. I'll miss you!" Lin Mu called out, suddenly springing forward and planting a quick kiss on Xiao Yan's cheek before he could react.
Xiao Yan stood frozen in place; his eyes wide in shock. "Shameless…" he muttered, feeling slightly flustered at the unexpected kiss. Lin Mu had caught him off guard once again, taking advantage of the moment.
With a hurried pace, Xiao Yan left the house, shaking his head. He needed to leave before Lin Mu could do anything else to make him blush. Meanwhile, Lin Mu watched him go, feeling his heart swell with love. He knew his feelings were complicated, but being close to Xiao Yan, even if it meant just these small moments, was enough to make him happy.
As the door closed behind Xiao Yan, Lin Mu turned to Lia, who was still ignoring him. He tried making faces again, determined to win her over.
"You're just like your dad, aren't you? Ignoring me all the time," Lin Mu said playfully, smiling at Lia's indifferent expression.
But deep down, he didn't mind. He was content, happy even, just to be part of Xiao Yan's world, even if it meant facing some teasing and indifference along the way.