Early morning. Capital International Airport.
A man in a black windbreaker, baseball cap, and mask moved swiftly through the terminal, his small suitcase rolling behind him. His entire face was covered, making it impossible to tell if he was a man or a woman. The moment he stepped outside, he got into a waiting black nanny van.
"Mr. Mu," the assistant and driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Should we take you home now? Or...?"
The person in the back seat removed his cap and mask, revealing a strikingly beautiful face—clear, almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose, naturally red lips, and a lingering drowsiness between his brows.
Mu Qingtang offered a faint smile. His voice, hoarse from exhaustion, still carried a touch of gentleness. "Home."
"Got it."
On the way, Lin Yang, the assistant, kept glancing at him in the rearview mirror, hesitating to speak.
After sending a text, Mu Qingtang looked up. "What is it?"
"Uh... Mr. Duan..."
"What about him? Just say it."
"He... placed a little celebrity under Sister Luo's management and has been bringing her along to social events lately."
Mu Qingtang lowered his eyes, showing no obvious reaction. "Oh."
As an employee, Lin Yang didn't dare comment too much on the affairs of the big boss and fell silent.
After a while, Mu Qingtang suddenly asked, "Is she prettier than me?"
"Uh… no."
That was the truth. The young starlet was attractive, but compared to Mu Qingtang, she was still lacking. In an industry full of beautiful faces, Mu Qingtang's looks were among the best—even his harshest critics couldn't find fault with them.
Mu Qingtang nodded and closed his eyes for a nap.
Forty minutes later, the car pulled up in front of an apartment complex.
Before Lin Yang could speak, Mu Qingtang opened his eyes. His sleepy gaze was misted with confusion. "Are we home?"
Lin Yang got out, opened the door, and took out the suitcase. "Yeah, we're here."
Mu Qingtang stepped out and took the suitcase from him. "Thanks for the hard work. I can go up by myself. You should head back and rest."
"Alright."
"I'm taking a break for the next two days. I'll let Sister Luo know to give you some time off—go spend it with your girlfriend."
Lin Yang chuckled. "Thanks, Teacher Mu."
He had worked with many celebrities, big and small, but none had treated their staff as well as Mu Qingtang. In an industry where people flattered the powerful and stepped on the weak, Mu Qingtang was widely recognized for his good character.
Mu Qingtang waved. "I'm heading up. Drive safely."
"Goodbye, Teacher Mu. Have a good rest."
"Mm."
Mu Qingtang entered the building, keyed in the passcode, and stepped inside. The moment he switched on the lights, his gaze landed on a pair of men's leather shoes at the entrance. He paused briefly before walking in softly.
After a shower, he pushed open the bedroom door, dressed in a loose bathrobe.
The room was dim, but the slight bulge under the quilt was unmistakable.
A faint scent of tobacco lingered in the air. It was barely noticeable, but his sensitive nose caught it immediately. His delicate brows furrowed for a second before smoothing out.
He climbed onto the bed, his cheeks slightly puffed, and slipped under the covers. Wrapping his arms around the man's solid waist, he tilted his head back, kissed his chin, then nestled against his bare chest, rubbing against it like a kitten before closing his eyes.
Duan Qiyan stirred at the disturbance, frowning slightly but not opening his eyes. His strong arm wrapped around Mu Qingtang's waist, pulling him closer. His voice was low and raspy. "So noisy."
Mu Qingtang kissed his Adam's apple again and whispered, "I'm sorry."
Duan Qiyan lazily pinched his waist. "Go to sleep."
"Mm…"
—
Mu Qingtang was deep in sleep when he suddenly felt suffocated. He struggled to open his eyes, only to find an intense, handsome face hovering over him.
Before he could react, Duan Qiyan pressed his lips against his.
"Mmm…"
Mu Qingtang let out a muffled protest, but Duan Qiyan deepened the kiss before finally pulling away.
"Ugh…" Mu Qingtang whined softly. "I'm sleepy…"
Duan Qiyan's dark eyes burned with a smoldering heat. His Adam's apple bobbed. "You can go back to sleep later."
And with that, he claimed his lips again, this time more aggressively.
"Mmh…"
Much later, a satisfied Duan Qiyan carried Mu Qingtang out of the bathroom, tucked him under the covers, and walked over to the closet to dress.
Curled up under the quilt, Mu Qingtang yawned, his half-lidded gaze following the man as he transformed from a beast into a refined, suited businessman. He pouted and mumbled something under his breath.
Duan Qiyan, adjusting his sleeves, glanced at him. "Not sleepy anymore?"
Mu Qingtang hummed and stretched out a hand. "Kiss…"
Duan Qiyan strode over, bent down, pinched his chin, and gave him a deep, lingering kiss. When he finally pulled away, his lips curled into a smirk.
"Want another one?"
Mu Qingtang shrank back into the quilt, blinking sleepily. "Bye, Brother Yan. Go to work."
Duan Qiyan snorted, grabbed his phone from the bedside table, and walked out.
The sound of the door closing echoed in the quiet room. Mu Qingtang yawned, hugged the quilt, and drifted back to sleep.
—
When he woke up again, it was already past one in the afternoon.
Dragging his sore body out of bed, he stumbled into the bathroom to freshen up. Afterward, he changed into a white sports outfit, pulled on a cap and mask, and headed out. He hailed a taxi straight to Duan Qiyan's company.
He had been there many times before, and despite being wrapped up tightly, the security guard and the receptionist still recognized him. They greeted him with a smile and let him through without question.
It was lunchtime. Outside Duan Qiyan's office, the assistant's workstation was empty.
Mu Qingtang removed his cap and mask, walked up to the office door, and knocked.
"Come in."
A deep, magnetic voice responded from inside.
He pushed the door open, poked his head in, and called out softly, "Brother Yan."
Duan Qiyan, who had been reading documents at his desk, looked up, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Mu Qingtang stepped in, tossed his hat and mask onto the small sofa, walked around the desk, and straddled his lap. Holding Duan Qiyan's face, he kissed him, then rested their foreheads together, murmuring, "Brother Yan, I missed you so much."
Duan Qiyan's hands settled on his waist, a small smile playing at his lips. "Why are you so clingy today?"
"I haven't seen you for two months. I missed you." Mu Qingtang pouted, puffing up his cheeks. "You didn't even call me—not even once."
"You didn't call me either," Duan Qiyan countered.
"There was no signal where I was. It was in the desert."
"Then you wouldn't have been able to answer even if I called."
"That's not the point!" Mu Qingtang muttered. "Calling and not getting through is different from not calling at all…"
After his little complaint, he wrapped his arms around Duan Qiyan's neck and whined, "I'm hungry."
Duan Qiyan touched his flat stomach. "Didn't you wake up for lunch?"
Mu Qingtang shook his head. "No, I was too sleepy."
"Want me to order something for you?"
"I want food from Yuweixuan."
Duan Qiyan smirked, picked up his phone, and sent a message to place an order.
Mu Qingtang's eyes curved into a smile as he kissed the corner of Duan Qiyan's lips. "Thank you, Brother Yan. I like you the most."
Duan Qiyan pinched the back of his neck, his gaze dark. "Don't say things like that."
Mu Qingtang's cheeks flushed. "Hate…"