Shoutout to nyanmaru for the commission!
Because he had to work the next day, Ye Mu only got a few hours of sleep before getting up. After washing up, he left the house with dark circles under his eyes.
After the last incident, Chen Mo was a bit on edge, so without saying much, he quickly threw on a jacket and followed him out.
Ye Mu was a bit troubled and tried to stop him, “You should stay in the apartment. I’ll be back by five in the evening.”
Chen Mo didn’t listen, closing the door and walking beside him with his hands in his pockets, “I’m just going out to clear my mind anyway.”
Ye Mu knew he was afraid of him leaving without saying goodbye again and sighed internally, “I already promised you. Do you think I’d go back on my word?”
Chen Mo’s handsome face was expressionless, his long legs steadily keeping pace, “Who knows?”
Ye Mu tried to reason with him, “There’s a lot of work at the shop. I won’t be able to take care of you.”
Chen Mo pressed his lips together, his voice low, “No problem. I’ll just stand by and wait for you to finish.”
Ye Mu glanced at him and said lightly, “Go get a haircut first. Look at the state you’ve let yourself get into.”
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, half-squinting, “What, are you disgusted by me now?”
Ye Mu stared straight ahead and stated bluntly, “A little.”
Chen Mo’s face darkened, “Tch, you’re really superficial.”
After saying this, he noticed Ye Mu’s lack of response and awkwardly added, “Fine, I’ll get it cut when I have time.”
Ye Mu gave a faint hum and then said, “By the way, Jiang Xu will be at the shop later. You should go in and apologize to him.”
Chen Mo frowned, “Don’t push your luck. If he hadn’t looked at you that way, I wouldn’t have misunderstood.”
Ye Mu asked, “What look?”
Chen Mo walked beside him, sneering, “It’s something only males in competition can understand. You wouldn’t get it.”
Ye Mu sighed, “Believe whatever you want. We’re almost there. Are you sure you want to go in looking like this?”
He wasn’t being harsh, but Chen Mo currently looked like he had just crawled out of a garbage dump. His hair was messy, his stubble covered his chin, and his clothes were sloppy, making him look nothing like his former self.
However, Chen Mo didn’t seem to care much, “Alright, let’s just go in.”
Ye Mu glanced at him, realizing he couldn’t argue with him, and reluctantly led the way for several dozen meters, opening a transparent glass door and entering the shop.
The owner had been busy with other things recently and rarely came to the shop, leaving it entirely to him and Jiang Xu.
When they arrived, Jiang Xu was already there.
“Good morning, Ye Mu.”
Ye Mu nodded slightly and led Chen Mo over, “Morning. How’s the injury from yesterday?”
Seeing the large bruise on Jiang Xu’s face, he couldn’t help but feel guilty.
Jiang Xu smiled, the sunlight hitting his fair, handsome face, making his smile even more attractive, “It’s fine. It will heal in a few days. But what about you? Nothing happened after you went back last night, right?”
Ye Mu pressed his lips together and replied calmly, “No, thanks for asking.”
Jiang Xu smiled politely, glancing at the person beside him.
Noticing this, Ye Mu stepped aside and said, “He insisted on coming, so I brought him along today. It was a misunderstanding yesterday. I hope you don’t mind.”
“I don’t. Meeting is fate,” Jiang Xu replied politely, then extended his hand with a friendly smile, “Hello, I’m Jiang Xu.”
Chen Mo’s sharp gaze swept over him. With an aloof attitude, he kept his hands in his pockets and didn’t move.
Jiang Xu’s hand hung awkwardly in the air. Just as he was about to withdraw it, Chen Mo finally grasped it.
Chen Mo’s face remained cold as he spoke in a low voice, “Hello, I’m Chen Mo, Ye Mu’s boyfriend.”
Jiang Xu raised an eyebrow, looking at Ye Mu with some surprise.
Ye Mu frowned, feeling a headache coming on but chose not to say anything, letting his silence speak for itself.
Jiang Xu withdrew his hand, smiling knowingly, “I see, you two make a good match.”
Chen Mo caught the faint hint of sadness in Jiang Xu’s eyes and curled his lips slightly, “Glad you know.”
His tone was arrogant, paired with his broad shoulders and tall, slender frame, making him appear quite provocative.
Jiang Xu felt uncomfortable under his gaze and quickly changed the subject, “I still have some work to do. You two carry on.”
“Alright,” Ye Mu replied perfunctorily, watching Jiang Xu return to his seat before glancing at Chen Mo, “I need to get to work. If you get bored, feel free to wander around the street.”
But Chen Mo had no intention of leaving. He shrugged his shoulders and sincerely suggested, “Why don’t you find something for me to do? Since I’m here, I might as well help out.”
Ye Mu looked at his stubborn expression, thought for a moment, and pointed to a spot near the entrance, saying, “Go be the cashier over there. It’s the weekend, so there might be a rush, and we could be short-handed.”
Chen Mo accepted this without hesitation and obediently went to sit down. He had never done this kind of work before, so he found the cash register rather intriguing, spending nearly ten minutes figuring out how it worked.
It wasn’t long before the flower shop welcomed its first customer.
A pretty young girl walked in, looking unsure of what flowers she wanted to buy. She spent quite some time chatting with Ye Mu, asking about different options.
Ye Mu, who was handsome and had a good temperament, wore a sweater that gave him an air of elegance. He patiently introduced various flowers and their meanings to her.
The girl seemed quite pleased, and without realizing it, she started to develop a bit of a crush on him, her face turning pink as she ordered a bouquet of carnations.
Ye Mu then began to wrap the flowers for her.
The girl, admiring his refined profile, hesitated for a long time before quietly murmuring, “You’re really good-looking.”
Ye Mu smiled and pointed to Jiang Xu, who was sitting in the corner editing photos, with a slight smile on his lips. “There’s someone over there who’s even better-looking. You can go take a look.”
Jiang Xu, hearing this, smiled as he stared at his computer and responded, “Don’t tease me.”
The girl actually went over to take a look, her face turning even redder, and shyly said, “He really is.”
Ye Mu found it amusing. Having interacted with many young women recently, he realized they were all particularly bashful. “Here’s your bouquet. If everything is fine, you can pay over there.”
The girl looked up at his gentle features, her heart pounding, but she didn’t dare to flirt with him. She did as he said and walked over to the cashier.
Chen Mo, noticing her infatuated gaze, felt a bit annoyed. With an unhappy expression, he removed the price tag and quoted a price in a low tone, “One hundred sixty-eight.”
The girl, hearing his voice, initially thought he might also be handsome. However, when she glanced at him, she realized his appearance left much to be desired. She didn’t blush this time and simply took out her wallet to pay.
Chen Mo took the two hundred yuan from her and leaned closer, his lips tense and sharp, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear, “He’s taken, so don’t get any ideas.”
The girl was startled and looked up at him but said nothing.
Chen Mo, still with a cold expression, gave her the change and then adopted a stance that clearly signaled he wanted her to leave.
The girl, feeling overwhelmed by his intimidating presence, left within a few seconds.
Ye Mu didn’t pay much attention and continued tending to the flowers. As the number of customers increased, he became busier.
Chen Mo observed this and gradually began to feel uneasy.
Most of the customers were young women who didn’t seem to be there to buy flowers. Instead, they gathered around Ye Mu, chatting with him. Some even took the liberty of tugging at his clothes and acting coy.
Ye Mu didn’t seem to mind, interacting with them courteously while introducing and explaining the flowers. He appeared very gentlemanly.
The flower shop, along with Ye Mu’s gentle demeanor, seemed to attract a lot of romantic attention. These girls, as if under some spell, kept sending flirty looks at Ye Mu.
Chen Mo’s brows furrowed deeply, a hint of anger showing on his face. Whenever anyone came to pay, he would always repeat that Ye Mu was taken, causing most of the girls to look disappointed, though some remained determined.
He wasn’t sure how he felt, but there was a sourness in his chest, making him feel uncomfortable.
Ye Mu was busy all day and only noticed that Chen Mo was gone when it was nearly 5 PM, close to closing time.
“Hey, where are you?” he asked, calling because he was worried.
Chen Mo’s breath was a bit ragged, as if he was running, “I’m almost there. Wait for me.”
Ye Mu noticed this and reminded him, “Slow down. We’re not closing for another half hour.”
Chen Mo hummed in acknowledgment before hanging up.
Ye Mu stared at the screen for a moment, not thinking much of it, and then turned to continue his work.
As dusk began to settle, time passed quickly.
Jiang Xu left at the end of his shift, and Ye Mu was responsible for closing the shop.
Just as he pulled down the shutters and turned around, he collided with someone rushing towards him.
He looked up to see that it was Chen Mo.
In just a short time, Chen Mo had gotten a haircut, making him look cleaner and more handsome than before. He had also changed into a new white shirt, which, along with his well-defined features, made him look much younger and more attractive. Due to the exercise, he was slightly out of breath when he arrived.
Ye Mu smiled, just about to make a playful remark, when he suddenly saw Chen Mo drop to one knee.
“What are you doing?” He was a bit taken aback, frowning slightly.
Chen Mo swallowed and, after a brief struggle, took out a small dark blue velvet box from his pocket and held it up.
Ye Mu quickly realized what it was and, in his surprise, found the situation absurd. Noticing the curious glances from those around them, he immediately bent down and tried to pull Chen Mo up by the arm. “What the h*ll, Chen? Get up.”
But Chen Mo remained resolute, still kneeling as he slowly opened the box in front of him.
Ye Mu saw the exquisite ring inside, and his face grew hot, feeling both bewildered and embarrassed.
He really couldn’t understand why Chen Mo was suddenly giving him something like this. There had been no warning, no time to prepare, leaving him completely dumbfounded.
Chen Mo’s gaze was intense and determined as he swallowed and said, “I just feel like I need to keep an eye on you.”
As he spoke, he took the platinum ring from the box and took hold of Ye Mu’s hand.
Ye Mu, feeling a mix of emotions, stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do. He couldn’t help but curse, “For the love of—stand up already.”
He felt his face burning. He’d seen romantic scenes like this countless times in TV dramas, but now that it was happening to him, there was a strange sense of discomfort that he couldn’t shake.
Chen Mo didn’t stand up. He pressed his lips together, his gaze focused as he gently slipped the ring onto Ye Mu’s finger, his eyes deep and serious. “Wearing this means you’re mine. No more flirting with anyone else, got it?”
Ye Mu’s ears turned red, and he felt so embarrassed that he just wanted to leave. Seeing the surprised expressions of those around them, he quickly pulled Chen Mo to a nearby alley.
Chen Mo knew Ye Mu was feeling shy but didn’t let him off the hook. “Where are we going? You haven’t put mine on yet.”
Ye Mu’s face was burning, and he thought Chen Mo was being ridiculous. Glancing at the pointing and whispering passersby, he just wanted to get it over with. He grabbed the other ring and slipped it onto Chen Mo’s finger.
Chen Mo hadn’t expected it to be so easy. He was just about to say something when Ye Mu pulled him along.
Ye Mu kept his head down, dragging Chen Mo toward his apartment. “What kind of shock did you get that made you pull this stunt?”
Chen Mo looked down at their intertwined hands, now both wearing matching rings, and felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. “Nothing, I just wanted to send a message to those people to let them know they don’t stand a chance.”
Ye Mu kept walking quickly, asking angrily, “What people? The girls who came to the flower shop today?”
Chen Mo hummed in agreement, his sharp features softened by his smile. “You didn’t see the way those girls were looking at you, like wolves and tigers ready to strip you down.”
Ye Mu took a deep breath. “I don’t even like women, so why are you getting so worked up?”
Chen Mo grumbled, “I know you don’t, but I can’t stand seeing them eyeing you like that, alright?”
Ye Mu’s head was throbbing. After holding back for a long time, he finally spat out, “Childish.”
Chen Mo found Ye Mu’s flustered behavior adorable and couldn’t resist pulling him into a corner. “Isn’t this exactly the kind of thing you like about me?”
Ye Mu turned his head away, avoiding Chen Mo’s gaze, and muttered a low curse under his breath.
Chen Mo brushed his lips against Ye Mu’s nose, his voice deep and magnetic, “Ye Mu, I’m not good at sweet talk, but starting today, I promise to treat you well for the rest of my life.”
Ye Mu felt a surge of embarrassment and lowered his eyes slightly, responding with a hint of reluctance, “That’s enough. If you keep this up, I might actually puke.”
Chen Mo’s narrow eyes half-closed, his expression calm and steady like when they first met. “Give me a brief reason why you’re willing to be with me.”
Back then, when Chen Mo asked Ye Mu why he wanted to join his company, Ye Mu had answered that the salary was good, the benefits were appealing, and he wanted a change of environment.
After all this time, Chen Mo still remembered Ye Mu’s expression back then—dazed, rigid, his body covered in scars, but his exterior was tough, hiding all his vulnerabilities. So stubborn, so infuriating.
Ye Mu met his gaze, stayed silent for a moment, then spoke with a blank expression, “No reason. I just find you insufferable—so arrogant, so full of yourself. I don’t want you causing trouble for anyone else. If someone has to go to h*ll, it might as well be me.”
Chen Mo stared at him, a handsome smile curving his lips, his eyebrows raising slightly. “So I’ve reached the point where no one wants me except you?”
Half a year had passed, and Chen Mo realized that Ye Mu was still as blunt as ever, his words making him look like he was just asking for a punch, stirring a mix of fondness and frustration.
Ye Mu’s eyelids drooped, trying to hide his embarrassment, but he coldly replied, “It’s good to be self-aware.”
Chen Mo lowered his head, his Adam’s apple moving slightly as he conceded, “Given how perceptive I am, how about a response from you?”
His handsome face held a youthful sharpness, an air of arrogance. In the fading sunlight, his profile appeared exceptionally striking, enough to make one’s heart skip a beat.
Ye Mu snorted, stood there hesitantly for a moment, then reluctantly grabbed Chen Mo’s chin and, with a bit of reluctance, kissed him.
Chen Mo’s arms tightened slightly as he closed his eyes, deepening the kiss. The sensation of their lips and tongues intertwining sent tingles through him, making it impossible not to get lost in the moment, yet his mind couldn’t help but silently mock himself.
Stupid Ye Mu, it’s not that no one else wants me—it’s that I don’t want anyone else but you!
