It was past 3 p.m., and Lin Mu was sound asleep on the living room sofa. The stillness of the house had a calming effect, lulling him into a deep, uninterrupted slumber. He had always been a bit of a lazy head, but today, the silence seemed to envelop him like a blanket, coaxing him into forgetting all about lunch. His mind drifted into dreams, leaving him oblivious to the world around him.
On the other side, Xiao Yan's worry was mounting. He had tried calling Lin Mu multiple times, but his calls went unanswered. The nagging sense of anxiety was hard to shake off, and it was eating away at his focus. Unfortunately, he was stuck at work, bound by an important meeting that he couldn't afford to miss. His attempts to focus on the task at hand were thwarted by the persistent concern for Lin Mu's well-being.
Yu Yang walked into the office, immediately sensing the tension that clung to Xiao Yan like a heavy fog. "Xiao Yan, what's wrong?" he asked, his concern evident in his voice.
Xiao Yan let out a heavy sigh, his frustration palpable. "It's already 3 p.m., and that awful brat isn't picking up my calls. I'm getting really worried."
Yu Yang's frown deepened as he noticed the distress in Xiao Yan's eyes. "Why don't you ask security to check on him? It might help ease your mind."
Xiao Yan shook his head, his frustration morphing into helplessness. "He locked the door from the inside. I can't just barge in. And I'm stuck here with this meeting. It's driving me crazy."
Yu Yang, sensing how much this was affecting Xiao Yan, offered a sympathetic look. "Do you want to leave? I know you're too distracted to work properly right now."
Xiao Yan hesitated, torn between his responsibilities and his worry for Lin Mu. "No, the project is important. I can't just leave. I have to stay."
Yu Yang's face lit up with a sudden idea. "Oh, I've got an idea! It might be a bit unconventional, but it could work."
Xiao Yan's curiosity was piqued. "What's your idea?"
Meanwhile, Lin Mu remained blissfully unaware of the growing anxiety on the other side. As he slept on the sofa, he felt a persistent, gentle shaking that slowly intruded into his dreams. His mind, still foggy with sleep, registered the sensation as an unwelcome disturbance.
"Yan Ge… let me sleep, please…" Lin Mu mumbled groggily, his voice muffled by the cushions.
A voice close to his ear hissed sharply, "You sleepyhead, wake up!"
The sudden sound jolted Lin Mu from his dream, and he groaned in irritation. "Yan Ge… please, just a little more!" he whined, his limbs flailing like a child reluctant to wake.
The voice next to him, now tinged with frustration and affection, continued, "Ugh… Xiao Yan, he's not waking up."
Lin Mu, still half-asleep, struggled to clear the fog in his mind. He was irritated by the intrusion, and his sleepiness made it hard for him to process who was calling his husband so sweetly. He tried to push through the drowsiness, but it clung to him like a shroud.
"I'm putting you on loudspeaker, Xiao Yan. You talk to him; I can't handle your puppy," the voice said with a hint of teasing.
The term "puppy" seemed to register with Lin Mu, causing him to stir more awake. The sound of Xiao Yan's voice coming through the speaker was like a blast of cold water, jolting him fully into consciousness.
"You brat, wake up right now!" Xiao Yan's voice, amplified through the speaker, was both commanding and laced with frustration.
Lin Mu's eyes flew open, and he sat up quickly, disoriented. He looked up to see a woman, who was giggling at his dazed expression. The realization hit him like a wave—she was the same woman he had slapped the night before. His heart sank as he remembered his previous actions.
"Are you awake yet?" Xiao Yan's voice came again, darker and more intense.
Lin Mu shivered at the tone. It was a voice that signalled not just irritation but a deep-seated frustration that made him feel like a child who had disappointed a parent. The fear of Xiao Yan's anger was overwhelming.
"Yan Ge… I… I'm awake… Please, don't be mad…" Lin Mu's voice trembled with fear and guilt. He was acutely aware of how Xiao Yan's anger could be fierce and unrelenting.
"Don't be mad? Am I a joke to you, brat? Do you have any idea what time it is?" Xiao Yan's voice was a mix of anger and genuine concern, and it struck Lin Mu like a blow to the chest.
"I'm sorry, Yan Ge… Please don't be mad…" Lin Mu's voice broke, and tears welled up in his eyes. The fear of Xiao Yan's anger, of being hated, was almost unbearable.
Xiao Yan's frustration boiled over. "You keep your apologies to yourself. It's past 4 p.m. Have you eaten? What about your medicines?" His words were sharp, and his anger was palpable.
"I… Yan Ge… I… I forgot…" Lin Mu stuttered, the words coming out in a choked whisper. He felt like a failure, his heart aching with every harsh word from Xiao Yan.
"I knew it! Why can't you be a little responsible, Lin Mu? It's not like you have anything else to do other than taking care of yourself. I have so much to deal with—why are you adding more to my plate?" Xiao Yan's anger was fierce, and it made Lin Mu's heart ache even more.
Lin Mu's tears flowed freely, his heart breaking under the weight of Xiao Yan's words. He felt guilty, worthless, and scared that he was becoming a burden to the person he loved most. The pain of letting Xiao Yan down was almost too much to bear.
Before Xiao Yan could continue, Lu Wei, the woman who had been a witness to the scene, spoke up with a sharpness that cut through the tension. "Xiao Yan, you shut your mouth right now! Is this how you talk to your husband?" Her voice was firm, filled with a reprimanding tone.
Xiao Yan, taken aback by the sudden intervention, fell silent. The reality of his behaviour hit him like a cold wave. He had been so consumed by worry that he had failed to see how his anger was hurting Lin Mu. The realization made his heart sink.
"Do you have any idea how scared he is? Don't be so cruel, Xiao Yan. If you're worried, show it with kindness, not anger. Scolding him isn't the way to show your concern," Lu Wei continued, her voice steady and compassionate.
Xiao Yan's heart pounded with guilt and regret. How could he have been so blind to Lin Mu's feelings? He had let his worry turn into something damaging, and the thought of how his actions had hurt Lin Mu was almost too much to bear.
"Lu Wei, I…" Xiao Yan began, but the words faltered. He had no defence, no way to justify his actions.
Lu Wei cut the call, leaving Xiao Yan alone with his mounting guilt. He stared at his phone, the silence in the office now overwhelming. He was consumed by a deep sense of remorse, each memory of Lin Mu's tear-streaked face and trembling voice haunting him.
"Ugh… I messed up again," Xiao Yan muttered to himself, frustration and regret bubbling inside him. He pounded his fist on the table, feeling the sting of his own shortcomings.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. "Sir, it's time for the meeting," his secretary announced, her voice trembling slightly as she noticed the dark aura surrounding Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan sighed deeply, feeling the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him. There was no time to reflect on his actions now; he had to face the meeting. The guilt and regret would have to wait.
Back at home, Lu Wei sat next to Lin Mu, who was still sobbing, his face buried in his hands. "Hey, don't cry. That idiot didn't mean what he said," Lu Wei said softly, her voice filled with warmth and sympathy.
"But… Yan Ge is mad at me…" Lin Mu's voice was muffled by his hands, but the sadness in it was unmistakable. It was the sound of a heart breaking, and it made Lu Wei's heart ache.
"Oh my God… why is he crying so cutely?" Lu Wei thought to herself, her heart melting at the sight. Lin Mu's tear-streaked face, his red nose, and his pitiful sobs were too adorable, and she felt an overwhelming urge to protect him. She pulled him into a comforting hug, her arms wrapping around him like a protective shield.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to worry Yan Ge… I was just bored and fell asleep…" Lin Mu cried, clutching Lu Wei's dress with a desperate grip. His small frame trembled with the intensity of his emotions.
Lu Wei's heart ached for him. How could someone so delicate and fragile be subjected to such pain? She patted his back gently, her voice soothing. "I know, little one. It's okay. It's really okay to fall asleep. It's not your fault, okay?"
"Yan Ge… hates me now…" Lin Mu's voice was barely audible, filled with a deep sense of despair.
"Aww, how could he hate such a cutie?" Lu Wei said, cupping Lin Mu's flushed face with her hands. She searched his eyes, trying to convey her belief that he was loved and cherished.
"But… but…"
"No buts," Lu Wei said firmly, her voice carrying a reassuring tone. "He won't hate you for something so silly. So, stop crying. He's just worried, and it came out wrong. You have to believe that."
Lin Mu nodded, his trust in Lu Wei helping to ease some of his anxiety. He wanted to believe in Xiao Yan's love, to trust that it wasn't fragile and that it would withstand the insecurities that plagued him.
"Now come and eat," Lu Wei said, gently guiding Lin Mu towards the dining table. She seated him in a chair and went into the kitchen to bring out the food she had prepared.
As Lin Mu sat at the table, he tried to push past the cloud of insecurity and guilt that hung over him. It was only then that he realized the woman he was leaning on was the same one he had hurt the night before. His heart ached with the realization of how he had treated someone who was so kind and understanding.
Lu Wei returned with a plate of food and placed it in front of Lin Mu. Her eyes were filled with concern, and she sat down across from him. "Why are you sulking?" she asked gently.
"I… I'm awful…" Lin Mu's voice broke, and tears continued to flow as he stared down at his plate. His heart was heavy with guilt, and the weight of his actions was almost unbearable.
"Eh? Why?" Lu Wei asked, her confusion evident. She had seen Lin Mu's vulnerability but didn't understand the depth of his self-reproach.
"I… hurt you last night. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please forgive me," Lin Mu said, his voice breaking with emotion. The tears flowed freely, a manifestation of the guilt and regret he felt.
Lu Wei's heart softened further. She reached out, brushing away the tears from Lin Mu's cheeks. "Aww, little one, don't cry. I was never angry. I'm sorry, too. It was my fault for making you feel insecure."
"But… I…" Lin Mu tried to protest, but Lu Wei silenced him with a gentle shake of her head.
"No more buts. I said I was never angry. But you need to trust in your relationship and in Xiao Yan. He's not someone who would cheat. Don't let your insecurities hurt you or him. Okay?" Lu Wei said firmly, her voice filled with determination. She patted Lin Mu's head gently, trying to instil confidence in him.
Lin Mu nodded, taking her words to heart. It was a struggle to trust and overcome his insecurities, especially when he viewed Xiao Yan as so perfect and faultless.
"Now eat, or your husband will have my head," Lu Wei said with a playful chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.
Lin Mu managed a small, grateful smile. He began to eat slowly, the comforting presence of Lu Wei, her kindness, and understanding helping to ease the pain in his heart. Though there was much work to be done, he felt a flicker of hope. With Xiao Yan's love and Lu Wei's support, maybe things could improve. The journey ahead would be challenging, but he was not alone.