Chapter 279
When Yuan Ran arrived in the modern world, he took over the body of this world’s Chu Lishu and began a new life. This time, it was as if the heavens were compensating him—they gave him inner energy, allowing him to practice martial arts, but did not bring back any of the madness he had suffered before.
He stayed with the Lin family for two years. In those two years, Chu Lishu turned eighteen and fully integrated into this world.
During that time, he recruited people who could be of use to him. His secret control over the Lin family also reached its peak; he could break away from them at any moment.
Everyone in the Lin family harbored ulterior motives. Perhaps the only one who genuinely saw him as family, as a brother, was the fool in his arms. In his past life, Chu Lishu had been betrayed most by his own relatives and brothers—who would’ve thought he’d get a second chance to make up for that in this life?
So he protected this fool for two years. Even his nightly transfers of inner energy never stopped, and now Lin Qingyang’s internal injuries were nearly healed.
Still, he had the hospital fake medical reports to claim Lin Qingyang’s health was poor, just to keep the rest of the Lin family from trying to harm him.
The person in his arms shifted slightly. Chu Lishu adjusted his position accordingly, and when he lowered his head, he happened to catch a glimpse of Lin Qingyang’s face.
Over the past two years, they had faced many dangers and accidents together. Lin Qingyang’s genuine care and selfless protection had deeply moved him. At some point, he realized he could no longer see any trace of that scumbag from the past in Lin Qingyang’s face. On the contrary, he felt it was an insult that someone like that once shared the same name.
As for why he always slept while holding Lin Qingyang—not counting the transfer of inner energy—there wasn’t any special reason. It was simply because he could finally sleep well that way.
In the first few days at the Lin household, he used to just hold Lin Qingyang’s hand, transfer energy for a while, then go back to sleep alone. But he discovered he couldn’t sleep alone—just like when he was emperor. He had endured countless sleepless nights, too afraid to fall asleep, fearing the nightmares of the pain and the people he hated. The few times he did sleep were due to pure exhaustion, not rest. As time went on, his temper worsened, becoming violently uncontrollable—he only wanted to kill.
After getting this new body, he thought things would improve. It was a completely new vessel, after all. Except his hyper-alertness meant he still couldn’t sleep if there was anyone else in the room—yet oddly, being alone didn’t help either.
What he didn’t expect was that he still couldn’t fall asleep. While he could sleep peacefully in the same hospital room as Lin Qingyang and didn’t even have nightmares, he found it inexplicable that he couldn’t sleep alone in his own bedroom.
So after going three days without sleep—and even then only managing an hour before nightmares from his past life startled him awake—his still-developing body couldn’t take it anymore. While transferring inner energy one night, he dazedly watched Lin Qingyang’s sleeping face, wondering how he could sleep so soundly, and why his bed looked so soft. Watching him, Chu Lishu grew drowsy. Before he knew it, he’d climbed into bed, leaned against Lin Qingyang’s gently rising back, and fell into a deep sleep.
From then on, he treated that bed like his own dragon bed and slept there in peace.
Just like now—holding Lin Qingyang in his arms, watching him sleep peacefully—sleepiness overtook him again.
And so, he slept soundly until daylight.
The morning sun had yet to pierce through the thick curtains, but Lin Qingyang was already beginning to stir.
In a daze, Lin Qingyang felt unbearably hot all over—his usual wake-up routine.
He was being tightly hugged by someone again, and the morning radio in the background only added to his embarrassment.
His cousin was growing up—healthy and full of life. But the fact that two grown men were pressed together like this… didn’t he find anything wrong with it? Didn’t he feel even a little embarrassed?
Anyway, every morning, Lin Qingyang had to endure this awkwardness, quietly get up, and quickly escape the situation. But most of the time, the moment he moved, Chu Lishu would wake up too.
Actually, it hadn’t always been like this.
Just a few days after returning to the Lin household, Lin Qingyang had discovered Chu Lishu sleeping in his bed. He had been surprised in the morning, but when he saw the beautiful man waking up—eyes half-lidded and drowsy—he was utterly defenseless. All he could do was gently ask if Chu Lishu wasn’t used to sleeping alone or if he felt uneasy in a new place.
Chu Lishu had looked stunned for a moment, then blushed awkwardly before his face turned pale. Without saying a word, he ran out.
That left Lin Qingyang completely confused. Even during the day, when the family arranged for a tutor to teach them, Chu Lishu gave him the cold shoulder.
Lin Qingyang thought he had crossed a line somehow. He was already considering how to fix things, since they had become quite close by then.
But then they faced a crisis—the tutor turned out to be an assassin sent to kill Chu Lishu.
At that moment, Lin Qingyang instinctively stepped in front to shield Chu Lishu. What he didn’t expect was that the assassin—perhaps due to lack of proper training—slipped and fell on the spot, breaking his leg. It was nothing short of a miracle. The bodyguards arrived in time, and neither of them was hurt.
The tutor was taken away, but they never managed to get a clear answer. Who kept trying to kill Chu Lishu? Lin Qingyang began to suspect it was someone from the Lin family. From then on, he became extra cautious about Chu Lishu’s safety.
That very night, Chu Lishu came to his room, awkwardly admitting he didn’t dare sleep alone.
Lin Qingyang found his cousin both adorable and amusing. Besides, it really was safer to sleep together, so he generously gave up half his bed for Chu Lishu.
And so, they began sleeping in the same bed. Lin Qingyang assumed Chu Lishu would eventually get used to things—especially since the Lin family had beefed up their security, and nothing bad had happened in a long time. But six months passed, and then one morning, Lin Qingyang was woken by a strange sensation.
Embarrassed and helpless, he tried to move slowly, only for Chu Lishu to wake up instantly.
“Where are you going?”
“Getting up, where else could I go?”
Lin Qingyang was so embarrassed he couldn’t even look at Chu Lishu.
“Oh,” Chu Lishu murmured lazily, turning over.
Lin Qingyang glanced back, confused at Chu Lishu’s completely relaxed expression. He didn’t know how to bring up the awkward moment just now, so he simply said, “You still haven’t gotten used to sleeping alone? Maybe you should go back to your own room. You don’t sleep well anyway, using me as a body pillow—I’m sweating to death. Try sleeping in your own bed. You might’ve already adjusted by now. You’re a grown man; people will laugh if you still need someone beside you to sleep.”
Chu Lishu stayed silent for a long time, as if weighing something in his mind. Then he finally explained, even giving a demonstration.
It was only then that Lin Qingyang realized why he had survived this long, why his body had gradually been recovering. It turned out that he had suffered internal injuries, just like the rumors said, and Chu Lishu—who miraculously knew martial arts—had been healing him all along. This theory, which shattered his worldview, completely stunned him when he saw Chu Lishu actually performing martial arts.
Though he didn’t understand why healing had to involve being held like that, Lin Qingyang knew his life had been saved thanks to Chu Lishu’s silent dedication.
In that moment, Lin Qingyang felt like he had been reborn. Overcome with emotion, he threw himself at Chu Lishu and hugged him tightly, asking again and again whether he was really going to get better—if he truly had a future to look forward to.
With Chu Lishu’s reassurance, Lin Qingyang broke down in tears. Chu Lishu patiently comforted him until he finally calmed down.
Lin Qingyang had never imagined he could survive, let alone recover his health. To him, Chu Lishu was nothing less than a godlike savior.
But Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but wonder why Chu Lishu hadn’t told him earlier.
Chu Lishu had answered bluntly, “Because I couldn’t fully trust you, and I don’t share my secrets lightly.”
So direct—it stung a little. But once he processed it, Lin Qingyang felt even more touched.
“So you trust me now? I’m the only one who knows your secret?”
“Mm. That’s why I can finally tell you the truth. And let you know that as long as I’m here, you will live. You don’t need to worry about your future anymore. You can do whatever you want now. Just one condition: wherever I am, you have to be there too.”
Lin Qingyang broke into tears again as he listened to Chu Lishu’s words. It didn’t feel strange—only as though someone had become inextricably linked to his very life. He no longer felt like a lonely existence in this world.
If at the beginning, Chu Lishu had simply been a relative, a friend, a brother, then now, to Lin Qingyang, he had become the most special person. Even though he had recovered his health, even though he was deeply afraid of death, he still felt that if Chu Lishu were ever in danger, he could, without hesitation, give his life to protect him.
It had nothing to do with Chu Lishu being his cousin. He was just that special.
And later on, Lin Qingyang really did act that way. After two years, he believed they had become kindred brothers who could stand back to back and face danger and the future together.
That kind of brotherhood, however, did not include being woken up every morning by Chu Lishu’s early-morning broadcasts.
Still, since Chu Lishu never brought it up, Lin Qingyang didn’t dare say a single word. After all, the man had saved his life—how could he nitpick? The only thing he dared ask was, “How long until I’m fully recovered?”
“What, are you trying to get rid of me sooner, cousin?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I just don’t want you to have to keep working so hard.”
Chu Lishu narrowed his eyes and looked at him. When he saw Lin Qingyang’s guilty glance shift away, he instantly understood.
Alright, he had lied to Lin Qingyang. In truth, there was no need for constant hugging—just holding his wrist for a while would have sufficed. But one time, after sleeping for a long while, he had woken up with Lin Qingyang in his arms, and it had felt incredibly comfortable. The peaceful lifestyle had made him give in to comfort. Eventually, even in his sleep, he naturally sought out Lin Qingyang to hold in his arms. Chu Lishu gave up resisting and simply treated him like a body pillow. Since he had already given a reason and Lin Qingyang cooperated, both of them slept well, so there was no need to make a fuss.
There had only been one time when he suddenly discovered his morning condition and had been shocked for quite a while, even feeling a wave of self-loathing. Later, he realized it had nothing to do with gender—it was just a natural physical reaction. He had no romantic or sexual feelings toward men. So, every time he woke up, he would adjust his energy with inner force and move on. In his previous life, when he hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep for years, Chu Lishu had come to treasure the quality of sleep he now enjoyed. As long as he could sleep well, everything else was a minor issue.
But for Lin Qingyang, it seemed to be gradually turning into a major one.
At first, Chu Lishu had suspected that Lin Qingyang might be into men—what people now called gay—but after observing him for two years, he hadn’t shown any clear signs. Especially not toward him. Besides, marriages between blood relatives were now strictly regulated—even cousins were considered close kin. Since Lin Qingyang didn’t know they weren’t actually related, he probably wouldn’t do something so taboo. So, Chu Lishu still couldn’t figure Lin Qingyang out. Maybe it was just simple embarrassment.
After all, if the guy really was gay, then what Chu Lishu was doing wasn’t very fair—it could give the wrong idea. That’s why he had always pretended to have a girlfriend: to constantly remind Lin Qingyang not to get any funny ideas.
They got up to wash up. Since only the two of them lived on this floor, they didn’t have to worry about being seen sleeping in the same room.
After breakfast, the two went downstairs to start studying.
“This question…” Lin Qingyang turned his head to ask Chu Lishu.
Chu Lishu took the paper, solved it in a few quick moves, and handed it back. Lin Qingyang was just about to speak when a familiar, mocking voice interrupted.
“Bro, you’re five years older than your cousin, and you still need him to teach you high school problems? Isn’t that pathetic? Are you sure you can even take the college entrance exam this year? Should Mom ask Dad to hire a few more tutors for you? Oh, and by the way, did you even get a health check? Do you really need to take the exam?”
Lin Qingyang’s expression changed. He raised his hand and flung a nearby ornament straight at the speaker.
The person dodged just in time, glaring viciously at Lin Qingyang. “I’m your real little brother! How could you hit me? I’m telling Mom and Dad!”
“Go ahead, tell them. It’s not like you, a grown man, have any other tricks besides tattling.”
Chu Lishu added, “I don’t mind playing the recording I just made in a public setting. Let everyone hear how the ‘real little brother’ mocks and curses his own big brother. I doubt that’s the kind of heir Uncle is looking for.”
“You… you two! Cousin, why are you hanging out with that dying ghost? You should be—”
Before he could finish, an apple hit him square in the mouth, knocking out a tooth.
Lin Qingyang’s little brother howled miserably and ran out.
But as just one of many illegitimate children, their father wouldn’t pay much attention. At most, Lin Qingyang’s doting mother might kick up a fuss, but even she wouldn’t dare offend Chu Lishu. She needed his help and support. Unfortunately for her, Chu Lishu only got along with Lin Qingyang, so she was out of luck. After stirring up a few incidents, she eventually gave up and just warned her son not to offend Chu Lishu. She figured that even if Lin Qingyang was sickly, as long as he was still alive, he should at least be loyal to his own family.
Unfortunately, her youngest son wasn’t all that smart.
And Lin Qingyang had long since been worn down by all their torment. Whatever familial affection he once had was gone. From then on, he only cared about Chu Lishu as his true family.
“Forget about him, cousin. Look at the problem again. Could you please stop insulting my intelligence and just give me a simpler solution?” Lin Qingyang looked at Chu Lishu with a pitiful expression.
At some point, Chu Lishu realized he could no longer resist that pleading look. Whenever Lin Qingyang begged him for something, he found himself willing to agree to anything. So, he wrote out several different solutions until Lin Qingyang was satisfied. In his past life, he would’ve never gone through that much trouble.
After that tutoring incident, the two began taking online classes at home. Chu Lishu had graduated from middle school, but Yuan Ran’s knowledge had been absorbed halfway. Lin Qingyang hadn’t even finished middle school—so they both had to start from scratch.
But Chu Lishu’s learning progress was meteoric. By the time Lin Qingyang finished reviewing junior high material, Chu Lishu was already working on college entrance exam problems. His intelligence was so overwhelming that Lin Qingyang wanted to call him “older brother” out of sheer respect.
So Chu Lishu decided to take the college entrance exam directly—and ordered Lin Qingyang to do the same. Lin Qingyang shook his head, saying, “I can’t. Please don’t force a seedling to grow faster.”
Thus, Chu Lishu became his private tutor.
Given how things were progressing, Lin Qingyang started to feel like maybe he could take the college entrance exam after all—except…
“Lishu, I don’t think I can get into the same university as you,” Lin Qingyang said, frowning at the just-finished mock exam. “There’s still a gap between our scores. You can get into the best one, but I…”
“If you don’t get in with me, and I have to live on campus, what will you do? Your body’s still not fully recovered.”
“You’d live on campus? My dad wouldn’t agree to that, would he?”
“Oh, he would,” Chu Lishu said meaningfully. “Which is why you must get into the same school as me. I told you, wherever I go, you go.”
“I want to, but some gaps can’t be closed just by trying harder—”
“I’ll predict the exam topics. You just follow my cram plan for the final sprint,” Chu Lishu said confidently.
In the past, Lin Qingyang would’ve been skeptical. Even veteran teachers couldn’t guarantee they could predict the questions. But over the past two years, Chu Lishu had made the impossible happen more than once. He was just that capable. So Lin Qingyang believed him.
“Alright, I’ll follow your lead.”
A month later, it was the day of the college entrance exam. The Lin family paid quite a bit of attention to Chu Lishu but treated Lin Qingyang as an afterthought—since, in their eyes, he was still someone who could drop dead at any moment.
But before heading out, only Lin Qingyang had been thoughtful enough to remind Chu Lishu to apply a thick layer of sunscreen, bring a spray-on one for reapplication, a sun hat, a large mask, UV-protective clothing, and a parasol.
It wasn’t until everything was ready that others finally remembered: Chu Lishu’s skin had undergone restoration two years ago, making it extremely sensitive to UV rays. Since he rarely went outside, everyone else had forgotten—but Lin Qingyang remembered clearly.
Chu Lishu looked at him with a smile in his eyes and said, “Isn’t this a bit much? I’m fine.”
“No way. What if you get a rash? How will you take the exam then?”
Chu Lishu didn’t argue anymore. He fully enjoyed Lin Qingyang’s wholehearted, meticulous care and concern. He basked in the way Lin Qingyang had eyes only for him, and the fact that there were people watching made him feel even more smug. Such a wonderful person—only he had noticed, while everyone else had treated him like nothing. It just proved how many blind people there were in the world.
The two of them made it to the exam without any issues. Even though Lin Qingyang was already in his twenties, he looked young, so he didn’t attract any unusual attention. Only the teacher checking admission tickets looked a little surprised, but since the photo matched, they didn’t say much.
However, when the teacher checked Chu Lishu’s ID, they couldn’t help but compare it several times. His stunning looks made even the teacher and the other test-takers at the venue momentarily dazed. What puzzled the teacher, though, was how different Chu Lishu looked from his photo. The picture was supposedly taken only two months ago—could someone really change so much in such a short time?
Still, it was clear that it was him, just with a noticeable difference.
Lin Qingyang had actually noticed the same thing. He had felt for a while now that Chu Lishu’s appearance had changed a lot over the past two years. He used to have a softer look—so much so that even straight guys would be caught off guard by it. But now, he had become increasingly masculine, like a top model. His figure and facial features were sharply defined and well-proportioned.
One time, Lin Qingyang had casually posted two pictures of Chu Lishu on social media, and the response was explosive—his inbox even froze from the traffic. He had to delete the post right away. When he went through his private messages later, he was stunned to see that several entertainment companies were reaching out for collaboration. Chu Lishu, of course, turned them all down. He had no interest. He already had a very clear plan for his future. Lin Qingyang often felt that Chu Lishu’s mindset was far too mature for someone his age. But at the same time, his everyday behavior was full of youthful energy, sometimes even a bit clingy or childish.
They both got through the college entrance exam smoothly. Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that Chu Lishu’s predictions had actually hit a few similar questions, Lin Qingyang wasn’t sure he could’ve scored so high. Even before the results were out, they received a call from the top university.
Chu Lishu’s only request upon admission was that he and Lin Qingyang be placed in the same double dorm room.
Such a simple request was easily accepted by the school.
Afterward, Chu Lishu pursued a double major in software development and finance, with minors in law and architecture.
Lin Qingyang was in awe of his learning ability. His own academic path was much simpler—he just studied architecture and kept up with his painting hobby on the side.
Both of them getting into the top university wasn’t something that could be done through family connections alone—it was a tremendous honor even for elite families.
To celebrate, the Lin family hosted a ball and invited many prestigious families, including the Yuan family. Currently, the Yuan family was headed by Madam Yuan, and the moment she laid eyes on Chu Lishu, she froze.
Lin Qingyang didn’t understand and joked with a smile, thinking that even someone as worldly as Madam Yuan had been stunned by his cousin’s jaw-dropping beauty. After all, none of the women present could easily take their eyes off Chu Lishu’s face.
With a laugh, Lin Qingyang said, “Cousin, you really charm everyone, young and old alike.”
Chu Lishu casually glanced at Madam Yuan and noticed the way she was already beginning to doubt his identity.
“Cousin, if one day you’re no longer my cousin, and I get kicked out of the Lin family, would you leave with me?” Chu Lishu suddenly asked.
Lin Qingyang was startled and replied with confusion, “What are you talking about? That could never happen.”
“I said, if,” Chu Lishu replied with a smile, but the look in his eyes made Lin Qingyang freeze. It didn’t feel like a hypothetical at all—it was as if he was waiting for a real answer.
Without even thinking, Lin Qingyang said, “This family means nothing to me. I only came back because of you.”
Chu Lishu was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected Lin Qingyang to say it so directly. His words went straight to his heart and warmed it. “That’s good.”
And soon, Lin Qingyang found out exactly why Chu Lishu had asked that question.
Midway through the ball, just when the two of them were at the center of attention, Lin Qingyang’s younger brother suddenly jumped out and played some files on the big screen. With a passionate speech, he tried to prove one thing: that Chu Lishu had no ties to the Lin family—that he was not the child of Miss Lin.
The entire room erupted in shock. Chaos broke out in the Lin family. President Lin stormed up and gave the younger brother a hard slap, knocking out one of his teeth. The younger brother insisted he was helping their father see the truth, but he didn’t realize that what he had done had completely disrupted their father’s plans.
Naturally, the rest of the Lin family seized the opportunity to strip Chu Lishu of his status and shares.
The farce came to a bitter end. Chu Lishu was mercilessly kicked out, and no one noticed that Lin Qingyang had quietly left with his suitcase as well.
They didn’t even have a car. With just the scholarship money they had received, they hailed a cab and left the Lin family estate.
Lin Qingyang took one last glance at the house through the car window.
“Can’t bear to leave?”
“No, it just feels like I’ve finally escaped a cage. From now on, it’s just us brothers, depending on each other.” Lin Qingyang smiled.
“But we’re not related by blood.”
“So what? You’re still my brother—the best brother.”
“Alright, best brother,” Chu Lishu smiled and gave the driver an address.
Lin Qingyang asked where they were going.
“To our new home,” Chu Lishu replied.
When they arrived at an apartment complex near the university, Lin Qingyang was stunned to find out that Chu Lishu had already bought a new place. It was a two-floor unit—his studio was downstairs, and the living area was upstairs. In the studio, Lin Qingyang ran into the assistant who had resigned from his father’s company and a few young staff from the corporation. Inside the living quarters, he saw the bodyguard and the nanny who had taken care of them before. Apparently, at some point, they had all become part of Chu Lishu’s circle.
And Lin Qingyang had no idea when Chu Lishu had learned to invest in stocks and run a business—all of it completely hidden from the Lin family. Even he, who was with him every day, hadn’t noticed.
From the moment they got out of the car, Lin Qingyang had been in shock. He had already prepared himself to take on the role of the elder brother, to start from scratch and support Chu Lishu through college without a care in the world. He had even planned to take on freelance art commissions to earn some money.
But it turned out—he didn’t need to do anything at all. Chu Lishu had already taken care of everything.
Truly, he never fought a battle he wasn’t sure he could win. And it seemed that the fiasco last night was something he had long expected. He had been fully prepared for it.
Chu Lishu brought Lin Qingyang into their new home, and Lin Qingyang, thrilled, asked, “Where’s my bedroom?”
Chu Lishu paused for a moment and pointed to the master bedroom.
“Isn’t that the master bedroom?” Lin Qingyang blinked. “We’re still sleeping together?”
Chu Lishu nodded. “Of course. Where else would you sleep?”
Lin Qingyang was speechless for a while. Something about it felt off, but at the same time, it made sense. Right, he still needed treatment, after all.
So he simply patted Chu Lishu on the shoulder and said, “Once I’m cured, I’ll fix up the room next door and move in there. And if you ever want to bring your little girlfriend home, your big brother will know to stay out of the way. Can’t keep holding you up. Once we graduate, I’ll work hard, save money, and move out as soon as possible.”
Although Lin Qingyang had never met Chu Lishu’s girlfriend, the fact that they hadn’t seen each other in two years and still hadn’t broken up convinced him it must be true love. So in his eyes, the two living together was only a matter of time. He figured Chu Lishu had only stayed with him out of consideration for his illness, and once he got better, he wouldn’t keep him tied down anymore.
“Moving out? This is your home. Where would you even go?” Chu Lishu suddenly asked coldly.
Lin Qingyang was stunned for a moment, a little puzzled by Chu Lishu’s sudden gloomy tone. “Even real brothers don’t live together forever. Eventually, we’ll each start our own families and move out.”
What he said was completely ordinary and sensible, but to Chu Lishu, it sounded harsh.
He frowned and said, “It might not happen that soon.”
“College is four years. Based on what you said, that’s not too long, right?”
“Who knows? It depends on how things turn out. I’m not a doctor.”
“Really? I feel like my body’s already fine. I can even exercise now.”
“It’s not fully cured.”
“Well, alright then.” Lin Qingyang looked a bit disappointed.
Chu Lishu, however, looked at Lin Qingyang quietly, recalling what he had just said. He found it hard to imagine a life where he was no longer by his side.
Feeling agitated, Chu Lishu left Lin Qingyang to finish packing upstairs and headed downstairs instead. The people in the studio, seeing him arrive, quickly began reporting on work. But when they noticed their boss was absent-minded and distracted, they couldn’t help feeling confused. Wasn’t he really happy just earlier when he brought Lin Qingyang around?
“What’s wrong, boss? Did you have a fight with Lin Qingyang?”
Chu Lishu hesitated for a moment, then almost muttered to himself, “He said he wants to move out after graduation.”
“Well, isn’t that—” Someone nearly blurted out that it was perfectly normal, but someone with higher emotional intelligence quickly stopped them and said, observing their boss’s expression, “Boss, if you don’t want him to leave, there are plenty of ways. He’s soft-hearted and usually listens to you, and besides, you still have four years. No need to worry.”
“Yeah, boss. Four years is a long time.”
“You’re right. What was I even thinking?” Chu Lishu shook his head, confused, and turned his attention back to work. His business empire was just getting started. He didn’t care about the Lin family or the Yuan family. He was going to build everything on his own—and trample both families underfoot.
As for how his feelings toward Lin Qingyang were shifting, Chu Lishu hadn’t noticed yet. Not until after the semester began and they had a course in architecture, where they met a male teaching assistant—someone who instantly recognized Lin Qingyang as a former classmate from elementary and middle school.
Back then, Lin Qingyang had been very popular. When he suddenly fell ill and left, no one even knew which hospital he’d gone to. Eventually, everyone lost contact. So when they met again, everyone was excited. The teaching assistant gathered a bunch of old classmates to catch up. They often held get-togethers at school, especially his former soccer teammates, who frequently met up for games.
That afternoon, Chu Lishu checked his watch. Lin Qingyang had been gone for about the length of a soccer match—probably enough playing time. With a grim expression, he interrupted the girl confessing to him and said bluntly, “Sorry, I already like someone.” He tossed his hat in the library and turned to leave, heading straight to the soccer field.
From a distance, he saw the game had ended. Lin Qingyang was shoulder-to-shoulder with others, laughing freely. In the sunlight, he didn’t seem warm anymore—just blinding.
Chu Lishu didn’t call out to anyone. He just found a place to sit down. On the field, the players were discussing playing another match.
Someone suddenly asked, “Why are there so many girls over there?”
The teammates who were with Lin Qingyang immediately reacted, their faces showing hesitation. But Lin Qingyang had already looked over—and sure enough, saw Chu Lishu surrounded by several girls.
Seeing Chu Lishu out in the scorching sun without a hat, and noticing from afar that his fair cheeks were already turning red, Lin Qingyang rushed over anxiously. He grabbed his discarded short-sleeved shirt, pushed past the girls, and covered Chu Lishu’s head with it. Bending down, he frowned while checking his face and asked, “Why didn’t you put on sunscreen again?”
Chu Lishu said innocently, “I left my hat in the library. I only just remembered.”
“Then why didn’t you go back and get it?” Lin Qingyang asked with a chuckle.
“I thought you’d be done soon. I was planning to wait for you,” Chu Lishu replied, then blinked. “Are you not done yet?”
Lin Qingyang paused and could only say, “I’m done. Let’s go back.”
Just as they were about to leave together, their friends approached from behind.
“Qingyang, Lishu’s here too.”
“Yeah, we’re heading back first. Not playing another round.”
“Hey, come on. We just said we’d play a second match.”
“It’s okay. Next time,” Lin Qingyang said apologetically.
“If Lishu has something to do, let him go first. We’ll keep playing. Qingyang, don’t be so cold. I came all the way from the east side of the city just to play with you, and now only one match?”
Lin Qingyang frowned slightly, clearly torn. But then Chu Lishu suddenly said, “Brother, stay. I’ll head back myself. It’s rare for you all to hang out together.”
“Then don’t forget to apply the medicine,” Lin Qingyang reminded him after a moment of hesitation.
Chu Lishu smiled and nodded. But after turning to leave, he discreetly scratched his back with his arm.
Lin Qingyang immediately grabbed his hand. “Is your back itchy now too?”
Chu Lishu quickly replied, “No. Don’t worry. Go enjoy your game.”
How could he feel at ease after that? Lin Qingyang immediately said firmly, “You guys go ahead. I’ll treat you next time to make up for it.”
He then raised his shirt again, making sure Chu Lishu’s entire body was shielded from the sun.
The teaching assistant quickly added, “Qingyang, you don’t have to play, but you better come to dinner tonight. Almost everyone’s coming—don’t stand us up.”
Lin Qingyang was stunned, and the others nearby laughed and chimed in, “Yeah, it’s fine if you skip the game. Just go take a nice shower and get all cleaned up—we’ll all be waiting for you tonight.”
Lin Qingyang found their enthusiasm baffling. This semester alone, there had been so many get-togethers. What was so special about this one?
But under the shirt’s shade, Chu Lishu narrowed his eyes slightly. From the tone of their voices, he sensed something was off.
Suddenly, the teaching assistant said, “Since it’s a classmates’ gathering, a teacher might be there too. So sorry, Lishu, maybe next time. You’re not feeling well today anyway—just rest up in the dorm, okay?”
Chu Lishu instantly realized they were trying to get rid of him. His expression turned slightly sour, but the other side had already blocked all his options. He could only nod and say, “Alright. Fine.”
Then the teaching assistant turned back to Lin Qingyang and said, “Qingyang, don’t let something come up at the last minute again, or I’ll think you’re doing it on purpose. If that happens, we’ll come straight to your dorm to get you.”
Lin Qingyang gave an awkward smile. It was true—so many times before a gathering, something unexpected had popped up, especially recently. But it couldn’t always be such a coincidence, right?
However, Chu Lishu’s mood had already darkened. That teaching assistant seemed quite clever, realizing he had been deliberately blocking their meetups. Chu Lishu didn’t think there was anything wrong with what he was doing. Lin Qingyang was his—how could he spend so much time with other people? Who were they anyway? In Lin Qingyang’s life, they meant nothing. He was the only one who truly mattered. He had already given Lin Qingyang some freedom, but these people looked like they were trying to steal him away from him—and that, Chu Lishu could not allow.
“Feels like you don’t really like Qingyang’s little brother, huh, bro? Even though that kid always ruins the mood whenever he shows up, you should still give Qingyang some face.”
“Little brother? He’s just a fellow patient from the hospital, nothing more. Don’t you think Chu Lishu’s personality is kind of strange? It’s like he wants to monopolize Lin Qingyang. It’s not normal. He keeps interfering with his social life. I don’t think he’s doing it for his sake. Maybe in his eyes, Lin Qingyang is just his personal toy. You haven’t spent time with him—he’s actually terrifying. Crazy high IQ and EQ, always wears a different face for different people. Only Lin Qingyang gets completely fooled, thinking he’s a gentle little bunny. But deep down, he’s a devil who doesn’t even spit out the bones after eating someone. He’s dangerous. Someone as kind as Lin Qingyang shouldn’t be under his control.”
“You’re exaggerating. But you are smarter than us, so maybe you see more than we do. Still… do you think Chu Lishu might be, y’know, from the other side? Living so closely with Lin Qingyang and all…”
“No way. I heard from Lin Qingyang that he has a girlfriend. He should be straight. And Lin Qingyang is straight too, which makes it even worse. Anyway, she’s coming tonight. She’s liked Qingyang for years. She’ll definitely make her move tonight.”
“With that bold and fiery personality of hers, she’s a perfect match for someone like Lin Qingyang—gentle and easy-going. Hahaha.”
“Well, we’ll see if Lin Qingyang’s willing.”
On the other side, after Chu Lishu and Lin Qingyang returned, he started applying ice and medicine to his injuries. Lin Qingyang lectured him for a while, when Chu Lishu suddenly asked, “Are you going tonight?”
“Mm, didn’t we already agree on this?”
“Then come back early. Don’t forget, you still need to get treatment.”
“Of course.”
“Oh right, lend me your phone for a bit,” Chu Lishu suddenly said.
“Take it yourself,” Lin Qingyang replied without any suspicion.
That night, as soon as Lin Qingyang walked out the door, Chu Lishu put on his headphones. With a blank expression, he read through work reports while listening to the sounds coming from the other end of the line through the eavesdropping app on the phone.
Lin Qingyang had no idea that every single move he made was being transmitted directly into Chu Lishu’s ears.
The party was cheerful, filled with excitement from a female classmate who had just returned from overseas. Lin Qingyang vaguely remembered her—she had confessed to him once, but back then he hadn’t given an answer before being hospitalized. What he did recall was that she had a rather difficult personality. Now that they were seeing each other again, she seemed much more refined. After a brief greeting, she asked if he was single. As it turned out, both of them were, and the people around them started teasing and hyping them up. Although the noise died down quickly, when it came time to play games, it felt like everyone was deliberately trying to match them together. There were a few awkward moments for Lin Qingyang, and all he could do was drink as punishment. In the end, he drank so much that he got dizzy.
Meanwhile, in front of Chu Lishu lay the shattered remains of several grip strengtheners of different sizes. Even the dumbbells beside him had been crushed into powder.
It wasn’t until he heard the female classmate say she was going to help Lin Qingyang upstairs to rest at the hotel that Chu Lishu could no longer sit still. He threw on a coat and left the house.
The security guard at the gate thought he had seen a ghost—a tall figure in black clothing, white headphones on, with a face darker than the night flashed by so quickly he didn’t even have time to react before the man vanished.
Chu Lishu, hearing the sound of a door opening and then the rustle of Lin Qingyang being laid on the bed, didn’t even bother calling a cab. He used light footwork techniques to leap between high-rise buildings, darting through the city like wind.
“Qingyang, are you feeling unwell? Should I help you take your clothes off?”
When Chu Lishu heard this, it felt like his head exploded. Then he heard Lin Qingyang whimper, followed by a sudden gasp as if he had just woken up.
“Wh-why am I here?”
“You drank too much. I brought you up here to rest.”
“Uh… I-I should be heading back.”
Only then did Chu Lishu finally breathe a sigh of relief, though his pace didn’t slow. He soon arrived at the hotel entrance.
At that moment, things had escalated on the other side—his female classmate had blocked Lin Qingyang.
“Qingyang, I like you. I really like you. All these years, I’ve only ever liked you. Please, give me a chance, okay?”
“I’m sorry. Honestly, I wanted to tell you back then—I only see you as a friend. Nothing more, and there’ll never be anything more. So please, forget about me.”
“No, I won’t. After I found out you were still alive, I decided to give up my job and life overseas. I want to come back, to be by your side. I believe that one day you’ll accept me. I’m not worse than anyone else.”
“You… you’re just clinging to a feeling from the past. You might not even like the person I am now.”
“That’s not true. I know I like you—I can prove it. Qingyang, let’s just try, just one night. If you still don’t feel anything after that, I’ll give up. Please?”
Lin Qingyang was stunned by how bold she was. He started wondering if he had stayed in the hospital too long and missed how much the outside world had changed.
But seeing the seriousness in her expression and the way she was preparing to throw herself at him, Lin Qingyang could only reject her as firmly as possible. “I’m sorry. I really don’t like you. I will never try anything with you. Please step aside—I’m leaving.”
His words wounded her pride.
“Why, Lin Qingyang? Tell me—do you like men?” she burst into tears and continued blocking his way, demanding an explanation.
She had heard some unreliable gossip from old classmates. She had heard about a certain someone, about that person’s abnormal relationship with Lin Qingyang, and many other things. And so, she couldn’t help but speculate. Why would someone like her, perfectly fine, be rejected even for just one night? What an insult. She had worked up so much courage to confess again.
Lin Qingyang stood there, full of confusion, but suddenly a face flashed in his mind—Chu Lishu’s. It didn’t make any sense, but the image sparked an idea.
That’s right, he could lie and get the girl off his back for now. Once she gave up, even if the lie spread, he could always explain it later.
“Yes. I like men.”
The moment those words left his mouth, the female classmate froze—and so did Chu Lishu, who had just stepped through the hotel doors.
He really liked men.
For a moment, Chu Lishu didn’t know whether to take another step forward or turn back. He should’ve been the one most unable to accept Lin Qingyang being into men. And yet, his heart held not a shred of disgust—in fact…
“Sir, may I ask—”
“Quiet.” Chu Lishu immediately cut off the hotel manager who had approached to ask something. His sharp eyes warned the man to stay silent—he didn’t want to miss a single word from Lin Qingyang.
“You—so it’s true. Do you like that guy… Chu Lishu?” the girl broke down and shouted.
Lin Qingyang almost twitched at the mention of that name. How did she even know about Chu Lishu? But fine—might as well go all the way with the lie.
“Yes, I like him.”
“I—I don’t believe it.”
Downstairs, Chu Lishu stood frozen. His eyes showed a flash of confusion, and though he tried to twist his face into one of disgust, when he looked into the glass door, the reflection showed nothing but a blank expression.
“You think of him as a brother, right? How could you possibly like a man? That’s right, he already has a girlfriend, and he—” The girl was all over the place, trying to deny the truth even after hearing it.
Lin Qingyang had no choice but to lie all the way to the end. “I know he has a girlfriend. But I still like him. I’ve been secretly in love with him. I never disturbed his life—I just stayed quietly by his side as a brother. Can’t I at least do that? Besides him, I can’t see anyone else anymore.”
Even Lin Qingyang felt moved by his own words. The girl in front of him was dumbfounded.
“But you’ll suffer so much… why not forget him and give me a chance?”
“I can’t forget him. Not in this lifetime. You and I are different. You’re holding on to a nostalgic, youthful crush from our school days. But you don’t know who I am now. Chu Lishu and I have lived together for many years. I’ve loved him for many years. These feelings run deep—too deep to be shaken. So I can’t accept you. Please forget about me. Go back to where you belong, live your life well, and find someone who truly belongs to you.”
It wasn’t until he heard the door open that Chu Lishu snapped back to his senses. For a moment, he was completely at a loss. Should he leave, or should he wait for Lin Qingyang to come down? He didn’t know how to face Lin Qingyang now.
Lin Qingyang actually liked him—had liked him for so many years—and had hidden it so well. He must have gone through so much pain and effort. But all Chu Lishu could offer was an apology. He only wanted to be Lin Qingyang’s closest brother. He couldn’t accept being with a man—never could, not even this version of Lin Qingyang.
When Lin Qingyang stumbled downstairs, Chu Lishu had been hiding. He followed him all the way back to school only after watching him drunkenly get into a taxi. When Lin Qingyang crashed into the dorm room door, it swung open and he fell right into Chu Lishu’s arms.
Chu Lishu was stunned and awkwardly tried to push him away, but Lin Qingyang just mumbled, “Lishu, I’m back,” before passing out.
After hesitating for a long time, Chu Lishu sighed and carried him in. But as soon as he got close, he caught the scent of another woman on Lin Qingyang. He was about to help him wash up but paused before entering the bathroom. He knew he shouldn’t be this close to Lin Qingyang anymore. So, he didn’t bathe him, didn’t change his clothes—just tossed him onto the bed and didn’t plan to sleep next to him either. He simply sat nearby, transferred the necessary internal energy, and left it at that.
Chu Lishu was immensely grateful he’d always pretended to have a girlfriend. Otherwise, if Lin Qingyang had pursued him earlier on, he probably wouldn’t have been able to handle that kind of affection.
Now, at least, he could tolerate it.
Lost in thought, he suddenly noticed Lin Qingyang shifting in his sleep, exposing the side of his neck—where a vivid red lip mark stood out starkly.
Chu Lishu froze in place, his pupils contracting. He felt like a tiger whose territory had been invaded and prey stolen. Every inch of his body bristled. He immediately grabbed a wet wipe and scrubbed at the mark until the skin turned red and swollen before finally feeling satisfied. Then, staring blankly, still uneasy, he pulled off Lin Qingyang’s shirt to inspect more carefully. Only then did he stop.
But then his eyes flicked downward—Lin Qingyang’s lips were abnormally red. Had someone kissed them?
Chu Lishu couldn’t be sure, but just the thought drove him mad. Even though the wipes didn’t show any lipstick, he couldn’t be certain, so he desperately wiped at them with his fingers.
As if completely losing control.
“Lin Qingyang, if you dare let someone else kiss you, I’ll—” Chu Lishu panted softly, then suddenly bent down as if out of his mind. It wasn’t until he bit down on those soft lips that he came to his senses.
Startled by his own reaction, he tried to pull away instantly. But at that moment, Lin Qingyang, pained by the bite, instinctively stuck out his tongue to push him away.
In that instant, everything spiraled out of control.
By the time Chu Lishu realized what was happening, he was already entangled with Lin Qingyang. Lin Qingyang lay beneath him, hands pinned down, passively enduring his kiss. Chu Lishu’s eyes were half-closed, his mind slowly returning to clarity, yet he made no effort to move away.
After all, Lin Qingyang liked him.
After all, he’d let someone else kiss him—so why not him?
Lin Qingyang belonged to him. He shouldn’t be doing intimate things with anyone else—only with him.
These warm lips, this soft tongue, that sweet taste—all of it should belong to him.
Why could a kiss feel this amazing? Why did he feel like a clueless teenager, thrilled and overwhelmed? Why could he so easily accept kissing a man? Was it because this man was Lin Qingyang?
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. “Lin Qingyang, are you in there? Are you okay? Is Chu Lishu inside? Open up, I need to talk to Lin Qingyang.”
It was the teaching assistant’s voice.
Chu Lishu was still pressing down on Lin Qingyang, kissing him deeply and hungrily. He couldn’t bear to stop and couldn’t be bothered to respond.
But the assistant, seeing the light on inside and getting no response, grew worried. He was afraid Lin Qingyang had come back drunk and was alone, thinking Chu Lishu wasn’t there. So he decided to open the door to check. Chu Lishu hadn’t locked it earlier, so it swung open easily.
Chu Lishu reacted quickly and rolled them over in an instant.
So when the assistant walked in, he saw Lin Qingyang, shirtless, straddling Chu Lishu and kissing him passionately. Though the lower half was covered by a blanket, the assistant clearly saw movement underneath. Not realizing they’d just switched positions, he jumped to a very different conclusion, blushed furiously, and quickly apologized before backing out.
The assistant had come because a female student had complained in tears. He hadn’t expected his own buddy to like Chu Lishu and was totally confused. He’d always thought Chu Lishu was the suspicious one. But now that it looked like Lin Qingyang was the one initiating things—even pinning Chu Lishu down—the assistant felt like all his worries had been for nothing and made a quick exit.
Once the assistant was gone, Chu Lishu waved his hand, and the door locked shut. But the kissing didn’t stop. He realized Lin Qingyang was kissing him back, even in his drunken state—clearly not willing to let the chance slip by.
Interrupted by the assistant, Chu Lishu regained his senses and began to feel a bit of self-disgust. There was still a line he couldn’t cross, especially when he was the one pinned down. So he pushed Lin Qingyang away and stopped everything. But after catching his breath, Lin Qingyang curled up against him again—this time just out of habit, snuggling up in his arms to sleep.
Chu Lishu sighed and still wrapped his arms around him.
The next morning, Lin Qingyang woke up with a splitting headache from his hangover, and it was Chu Lishu who took care of him. Chu Lishu couldn’t help but ask about the red mark on his neck. Lin Qingyang was stunned. He only remembered a female student brushing against him before he woke up and avoided her. How had it turned into a hickey?
In truth, Chu Lishu had been unable to contain his frustration and added that mark himself—then blamed it on someone else.
Lin Qingyang tried to explain.
But Chu Lishu asked, “She must be a very determined girl. How did you get her to give up?”
Lin Qingyang choked on his words, his guilty expression tinged with pink.
Chu Lishu didn’t press further. Maybe he was also afraid Lin Qingyang would confess directly, and then he wouldn’t know how to respond. So why had he even asked? He didn’t understand himself. Thankfully, Lin Qingyang didn’t answer.
Even though he’d lost control and kissed him last night, it didn’t mean he could accept being with a man. That had just been a moment of confusion. It wouldn’t happen again.
Still, Chu Lishu found himself paying extra attention to Lin Qingyang’s every move. It felt like each one carried hidden meaning—as if love was overflowing despite being desperately suppressed. It troubled him deeply.
They used to bathe together with no problem, but one day, Lin Qingyang suddenly refused.
He also started asking anxiously why hiss illness hadn’t gotten better yet.
And he tried to ask about Chu Lishu’s girlfriend, wanting to know how their relationship was going.
Just how much did Lin Qingyang like him, to be so conflicted—unable to hold back, yet trying so hard to restrain himself? If Lin Qingyang were a woman, Chu Lishu would’ve married him without hesitation. But he was a man, and Chu Lishu knew he just couldn’t accept that.
Over the past year, Lin Qingyang had been especially troubled. Hadn’t Chu Lishu noticed? Every morning when they woke up, his morning movements had gotten more intense. Before, they’d just slept close together. But several times now, Lin Qingyang had been woken up by being gripped tightly around the waist and unconsciously moved against.
And Chu Lishu had developed very well. That part of him was no longer something to overlook. Lin Qingyang was speechless—felt like Chu Lishu must have some serious frustrations, which explained his urgency to ask about his condition and his girlfriend. If that was the case, then he should be dealing with it with his girlfriend, not making things awkward between brothers. They really needed to start sleeping in separate beds.
Even the assistant and his group of friends had been treating him strangely. Even after he explained it had all been to trick the female student, they didn’t believe him. It was like he was trapped in some bizarre love triangle.
Lin Qingyang was completely exasperated.
He had thought this kind of awkward situation would eventually resolve itself peacefully. But then something unexpected happened.
Chu Lishu’s appearance had become increasingly stunning—stunning in that masculine, hormone-charged way. From the Chu Lishu of the past to now, four years later, he seemed like a different person altogether. Sometimes, even Chu Lishu would stare blankly at his own face in the mirror, probably just as surprised by how much he had changed.
Because of his stunning looks, Chu Lishu was targeted by a rich heiress at a youth entrepreneurship summit. After he rejected her, she became furious and things spiraled into a dramatic mess. But Chu Lishu wasn’t someone who could be easily manipulated—he managed to escape the setup. Unfortunately, Lin Qingyang wasn’t so lucky. While helping Chu Lishu, he ended up affected by the drug meant for him.
That night, Lin Qingyang felt like he was going insane. In the bathtub of their apartment, his whole body went limp and powerless, yet it felt like he was about to explode. Not even cold water could save him.
Chu Lishu said he would help him. Lin Qingyang thought he meant calling an expert doctor. He never expected Chu Lishu to jump into the cold water himself and actually use his hands to help.
At first, Lin Qingyang resisted. But that night, his face flushed so red it looked like it could bleed, and he wished he could just faint and escape it all. Yet he couldn’t fight his instincts. In the end, Lin Qingyang had already lost awareness of what was happening, but Chu Lishu didn’t stop. Outside the bath, their underwear lay in a heap.
In a daze, Lin Qingyang only remembered the sound of Chu Lishu’s restrained, sexy breathing—it made his ears burn and go numb.
And there was that one sentence: “I want to try it too, Qingyang. Help me.”
After that night, things got weird between them. Even though they said it was an accident, just brothers helping each other, no big deal—Lin Qingyang still felt extremely awkward. Chu Lishu, too, was clearly avoiding him. He even applied for a student exchange program abroad.
Before leaving, Chu Lishu told Lin Qingyang that his body had fully recovered and there was no need to worry.
Lin Qingyang didn’t think too much about it—he just felt the farewell was kind of strange. After all, it had been almost five years, and they hadn’t spent a single day apart.
Whether he returned to their apartment or the dorm, being alone just felt off. Seeing Lin Qingyang so lost and out of it, the teaching assistant and the others all thought he’d finally had his heart broken—that Chu Lishu had found a girlfriend. They didn’t know whether they should comfort Lin Qingyang or congratulate him on finally moving on from an inappropriate relationship.
After all the comforting, Lin Qingyang started to genuinely feel like he’d been dumped. He missed Chu Lishu—missed him terribly. It felt like Chu Lishu’s shadow lingered in every corner of his life. But whenever he looked closely, he wasn’t there.
Even though Chu Lishu had left, the care arrangements for Lin Qingyang continued. His nutritional supplements, his diet, his sleep and exercise routines—all of it stayed on track. It’s just that the person doing it now was the family’s housekeeper.
Even when Lin Qingyang took the initiative to message him, Chu Lishu only gave brief replies—or sometimes didn’t reply at all. It felt as if their bond was slowly fading.
But on the other side of the world, Chu Lishu kept checking his phone to see whether Lin Qingyang had sent a message.
“What’s up? Missing your girlfriend again?” a foreign classmate asked.
“Not a girlfriend.”
“Oh, boyfriend then.”
“Not yet. He just has a crush on me. That’s all.”
“You know he likes you, and you’re still hesitating?” the classmate asked.
“It’s not that I can’t accept being with a man,” Chu Lishu said. After that night, he’d been a little lost himself. He found it harder and harder to restrain his feelings toward Lin Qingyang. The boundaries between them had blurred. But the traumatic memories from his past life still haunted him. He believed that no matter what, he couldn’t do this—he and Lin Qingyang could never have a future.
“If you really couldn’t accept it, you wouldn’t still be hung up on him. You clearly like him a lot.”
Chu Lishu froze. “Don’t talk nonsense. It’s just… he’s the only person in this world who belongs to me.”
“I don’t get what you mean. But let me remind you: if you’re not there, someone else will be. If he’s the kind of person you could fall for, then he’s probably pretty great. When he gives up on you and ends up with someone else, are you sure you won’t regret it?”
Chu Lishu’s expression instantly turned cold. The other guy laughed and walked away.
There’s no way he’d end up with someone else.
He likes me that much—even if I can never accept him, he’ll still stay by my side. Forever.
But that day, Lin Qingyang’s messages stopped.
Chu Lishu didn’t sleep that night. Three days later, he received news from back home—Lin Qingyang’s health check records had been discovered by the Lin family. They had already sent people to bring him back and had even arranged a marriage. They were about to announce his engagement.
At the Lin family’s banquet, Lin Qingyang looked dumbfounded at the situation in front of him. He had been forcibly dragged into a car by a bunch of unreasonable bodyguards who claimed his parents wanted to see him. He had already refused them many times, but they went ahead and used force anyway.
At the banquet, Lin Qingyang was even more stunned by the Lin family’s overbearing attitude. They actually wanted to force him into an engagement on the spot. It was laughable—what era did they think they were living in? Lin Qingyang rejected them on the spot and turned to leave. The scene turned ugly, and just as President Lin flew into a rage—
A group of bodyguards suddenly pushed into the venue like blades cutting through the crowd.
Everyone was shocked. Amid the chaos, Lin Qingyang was stunned to see Chu Lishu walking through the middle of the crowd. Dressed in formal wear, elegant and striking, his face made everyone present pause. Many didn’t even recognize him at first. They just felt that this man had an extraordinary presence—no spotlight could outshine him.
Lin Qingyang stared at him in a daze. It had only been a few months, but it felt like he didn’t recognize him anymore. Yet he knew—this was Chu Lishu. Chu Lishu had come back. At that moment, an overwhelming rush of emotion surged in Lin Qingyang’s chest—he nearly burst into tears.
He had been trapped in a hopeless situation, and now it felt like he’d spotted an oasis in the desert. Until Chu Lishu walked up to him, took his hand, and said, “Come with me.”
Lin Qingyang almost couldn’t process it, but he instinctively followed Chu Lishu to leave. Someone tried to stop them, but Chu Lishu’s bodyguards blocked the way.
Seeing that they couldn’t stop him, Lin Qingyang’s mother finally started crying and pleading, trying to guilt-trip him with family ties.
Lin Qingyang was fed up and was about to lash back when Chu Lishu suddenly pulled him into his arms. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, under the colorful lights—
Chu Lishu lifted Lin Qingyang’s chin and gently kissed him. It started as a soft touch, but then turned into a deep, lingering kiss.
Lin Qingyang was stunned—completely stunned. He couldn’t react for a moment and just let Chu Lishu do as he pleased. It wasn’t until Chu Lishu let go that Lin Qingyang gasped in shock for breath.
His ears were ringing. In a haze, he heard Chu Lishu say clearly: “Lin Qingyang and I are in love. We’re already together. He will never accept any arranged marriage you set up. So please, stop interfering with us.”
To announce something like that in front of everyone—let’s see which other heiress would be willing to sacrifice herself for a political marriage after this.
Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Chu Lishu wrapped an arm around Lin Qingyang, whose legs had gone weak, and led him out.
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