Chapter 34

034.

Lu Yuan had originally expected to sleep extremely well tonight, but the opposite turned out to be true. Lying in bed, unable to catch the faint, gentle sleep-inducing fragrance in the air, he felt like something was missing.

By the time he finally drifted into a hazy dream, he was still thinking that tomorrow, when he went next door to visit, he'd have to ask Bai Yu or the old butler what exactly was in that tabletop humidifier that made it so irresistible and memorable.

Late at night.

Bai Yu rubbed his aching temples, flung back the soft blanket with his long fingers, and got up to open the door. In the dim hallway light, Stinky sat at the doorway, a tiny little thing, clutching his little dinosaur toy in his mouth. Seeing Bai Yu come out, he eagerly nuzzled against Bai Yu's calf.

The message was clear—he didn't want to sleep by himself.

Bai Yu stared at him for a moment, then said, "Stay right there. I'm going to grab my phone."

The door closed, then opened again a moment later. He snapped a photo of Stinky looking all well-behaved—just as Lu Yuan had sent him a message in the middle of the night complaining about Stinky disturbing his sleep, Bai Yu now sent the photo to him.

The only difference was that he did it on purpose.

Stepping aside, Bai Yu made way for him, watching the little kitten trot in with his beloved toy in his mouth, tail swishing, strutting in like he owned the place. Bai Yu smirked and said, "If you'd looked at him like that last night, he definitely wouldn't have wanted to leave."

Then he glanced at his phone—no reply. The guy was probably sound asleep.

As dawn broke, the entire Songlan Estate was once again shrouded in thick white snow. Lu Yuan, who hadn't slept well, poked a pale arm out from under the covers, fumbled for his phone charging on the other side of the bed, and spotted the red notification dot on WeChat.

Looking closer, the time was 3:20 in the morning.

Then he checked the profile picture—oh, a familiar face.

Lu Yuan didn't even need to think to guess that Stinky had probably been disturbing someone again. He opened the chat with a smirk, ready to laugh at the situation, only to be caught off guard by the adorable sight of Stinky carrying his little dinosaur, clutching his chest and squealing.

The cozy bed suddenly lost all its appeal. Lu Yuan tossed and turned, dying to go see the cat but worried it was too early. He hesitantly typed in the chat: "You awake?"

No reply.

Sleeping that good, huh?

Jealous that Bai Yu got to sleep so well with an adorable cat by his side instantly flooded his heart. Lu Yuan scrambled out of bed and got to the living room by 6:20 in the morning.

The moment Chen Chi, who had just gotten up, saw Lu Yuan appear, his mind went blank for a few seconds before he looked down to check the time.

His watch was fine—but Young Master Yuan's habits were another story entirely.

He asked curiously, "You're up this early today?"

Lu Yuan was busy stuffing a measuring tape into his pocket, which was spacious enough to hold half the globe. He mumbled a vague response and explained, "I want to head over next door early."

Thud.

That simple reply hit Chen Butler's heart like a bomb, shattering the fragile peace he'd rebuilt since Lu Yuan came home.

He'd only been back for one night, and now, before seven the next morning, he was already rushing off next door. Had Chen Chi done something wrong, making this home lose all its appeal? His throat tightened, but he didn't dare show it on his face. He could only wipe at nonexistent tears and pretend to say nonchalantly, "Alright."

Then he asked, "What about breakfast—"

Lu Yuan waved a hand. "I'll skip it. Charlie said he's baking little buns today and invited me to try them."

Chen Chi: "...Okay."

*

Ever since his fingerprint was removed from the door's access system, Lu Yuan treated entering Villa No. 1 like coming home. Pushing open the door and stepping into the living room, Butler Wei, an early riser, greeted him with a smile: "Good morning, Young Master."

"Good morning!" Lu Yuan waved, then spotted the big-bearded chef poking his head out of the kitchen. He hurried toward the kitchen but remembered to look back and ask, "Grandpa Wei, has Mr. Bai gone to the gym?"

The old butler shook his head. "No."

Oh, so he really hadn't gotten up yet.

Stinky's future cat resume could read: The first cat to throw the Bai Group's top executive's schedule off track.

Lu Yuan ducked into the kitchen, letting Charlie feed him, enjoying the soft, sweet buns with his eyes half-closed. He then took the milk Charlie handed him and asked, "Are you sure you don't want to come back next door with me? Whatever Bai Yu pays you, I'll double it."

This time, the big-bearded chef didn't play dumb about not understanding Chinese.

Not only that, he spoke frankly: "Mr. Bai said if I ran off with you, he'd—"

He didn't finish, but Lu Yuan, well-versed in CEO romance novels, smoothly finished the sentence: "Teach you a lesson, make sure you can't make a living in this country."

Charlie: "..."

Lu Yuan blinked. "Did I get it wrong?"

Charlie: "Way worse than that!"

Lu Yuan: "!"

What? Even worse? Was Bai Yu going to commit murder or arson?

His mind started spinning with crazy scenarios, his expression growing stranger and stranger, until Charlie's heavy voice finally rang out: "Mr. Bai said my Raphael would never see his girlfriend again."

Lu Yuan: "...Huh?"

He scrunched up his face, one hand holding a bun, the other raised. "Quick question—Raphael is your...?"

Charlie: "My fur baby. Mr. Bai's special assistant has a female dog of the same breed as Raphael. They clicked the moment they met, and now they're officially a couple. Assistant Ye and I are planning to throw them a wedding after the New Year!"

Lu Yuan: "..."

Talking about his precious fur baby, Charlie's eyes lit up. "If you're up for it, Young Master, would you be the witness at their wedding?"

Lu Yuan: "..."

Even more absurd than Bai Yu threatening his chef with a dog to stop him from quitting was Charlie trying to invite him to be the witness at two dogs' wedding. He had no problem with it—he'd actually love to go—but he didn't know either dog at all.

Besides.

He asked sincerely, "Have you asked Bai Yu? I think he'd fit that role better."

The second those words came out, Lu Yuan cracked himself up.

No need to guess—Bai Yu would just give Charlie an icy stare and ask, "You should get your head checked."

Pfft, he snorted.

He patted Charlie's shoulder, telling him to relax. "For the sake of your and Assistant Ye's dogs' love story, I'll never try to poach you with a higher salary again."

He grabbed two more buns, threw the big-bearded chef a compliment that made him beam, and then sauntered up to the second floor. He peeked into the guest room first—no sign of Stinky. So he just plopped down cross-legged in front of the master bedroom door, staring at it with puppy-dog eyes.

After about five minutes, he heard a low voice from inside the room. Lu Yuan's eyes lit up. He scrambled to his feet just as the door swung open.

Bai Yu looked up and caught sight of a pair of eyes full of anticipation.

He paused briefly, about to speak, when Lu Yuan brushed past him, exclaiming, "Quick, quick, Stinky, let me see how you carry your beloved little dinosaur toy... Huh?"

Unexpectedly, he didn't manage to meet Stinky, because as he passed Bai Yu, the man mischievously grabbed hold of his hat.

Once again yanked back by the hood of his hat, Lu Yuan whipped his head around, looking annoyed: "Why are you pulling me?"

Seeing him stop, Bai Yu released his long fingers and calmly met his eyes, saying, "I thought you couldn't see me."

...He could see him, just that the appeal wasn't as strong.

Especially since that silk robe had been torn and discarded, and today Bai Yu had changed into an ordinary set of pajamas. Though his physique was still impressive to look at, it didn't have the same wow factor as that smooth, clingy fabric.

There was no way he could say that out loud, so Lu Yuan could only play dumb: "How could I not see Mr. Bai standing right there, so tall and imposing? It's just that the photo you sent me was so cute, right? Where's our Stinky?"

Tsk.

You could tell at a glance the difference between his flippant remarks and real affection.

"In the bedroom."

"Then I'll go in to find him."

The words had barely left his mouth, and he'd barely taken a step, when his hat was grabbed again.

Lu Yuan almost lost his composure, his tone even sharper than before: "What is it this time?"

Bai Yu said expressionlessly: "Take measurements first, then go find the cat."

Lu Yuan: "...Can't you go eat or exercise first, let me play with Stinky for a bit, and then I'll take your measurements? It's not like it's urgent."

Bai Yu replied tersely: "No."

Lu Yuan: "!"

What a jerk!

His shoulders slumped, and his earlier excitement faded into a dull look. He nodded: "Fine, where do we measure?"

Since he wasn't allowed into the bedroom to play with the cat, it definitely couldn't be there. Sure enough, the man tilted his chin and pointed a long finger toward the guest bedroom.

The two walked in one after another.

Lu Yuan followed behind, hoping Stinky would rush out upon hearing his voice, but unfortunately, Bai Yu closed the door tightly—not a cat, not even a single fur in sight. With an inward sigh, Lu Yuan pulled his hat back on, walked up to Bai Yu, and asked, "Should we start with the shoulders?"

Bai Yu looked at the ugly big-mouthed fish hat in front of him with a complicated expression—its lips like two sausages, with a thick but messy mop of 'short hair' on top. He pressed his lips together: "Do you have to wear that while measuring? It's kind of gross to look at."

Lu Yuan: "...Why are you insulting my looks?"

Bai Yu: "Change it."

Lu Yuan: "..."

Bai Yu: "Don't want to play with the cat anymore?"

Lu Yuan: "..."

Damn, he really was a boss—he knew exactly how to get what he wanted.

Lu Yuan pulled off the ugly pajamas and tossed them onto the bed, leaving him in just a thin T-shirt and pants. Though the guest bedroom was unoccupied, the heating was still blasting, warming Lu Yuan's exposed skin from all sides, and he didn't feel cold at all.

Seeing the sharp collarbones and pale skin revealed by the boy's loose neckline, Bai Yu's gaze deepened.

He asked: "Should I take my clothes off?"

Lu Yuan was bent over, digging a measuring tape out of the pocket of the discarded pajamas, and replied casually: "Suit yourself. A looser fit is more comfortable, so no need to—"

When he turned around, the pajamas flashed past his eyes and landed on the bed, right on top of his own.

Lu Yuan: "..."

He sure got those off fast.

Bai Yu spread his arms, his lean muscles wrapping around his arms, the lines so perfect that Lu Yuan couldn't help but sneak a few looks. He stepped forward, standing in front of Bai Yu, so close that if he tilted his head down, his chin would nearly graze the man's skin. He pressed his lips together, his fingers pressing the tape against the pulse point on Bai Yu's wrist.

He stretched the tape out—his arm span was clearly shorter than Bai Yu's, so he had to step closer, two more steps forward, pressing his left hand against the man's chest to reposition the start of the tape.

A strong, steady heartbeat thrummed through the skin, hitting Lu Yuan's palm unexpectedly.