Chapter 81.2 Savage Expansion (14)
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Yun Yuzi, who had received the photo from Huo Nanjing, exclaimed, “Oh, Lin Zhaohe, Lin Zhaohe! Who would have thought that you, with your prominent eyebrows and big eyes, would make such rapid progress with the boss?”
Lin Zhaohe’s heart turned to ashes. He was already contemplating the educational requirements for becoming a monk.
Yun Yuzi circulated the photos to everyone, and of course, Zhuang Lao saw them too. Lin Zhaohe initially thought he would say something, but after Zhuang Lao finished looking at the pictures, he simply said, “Nicely taken.”
Huo Nanjing laughed and said he appreciated the beauty of adults.
“Wait a minute,” Mr. Li sensed something amiss, “Lin Zhaohe, where did your ears go in this photo? Wasn’t it just taken?”
Lin Zhaohe said sullenly, “So, you think you’re a detective, huh?”
Huo Nanjing didn’t expose Lin Zhaohe. With an innocent smile, he waved his hand at Lin Zhaohe and said, “Brother Lin, I hope you find happiness. If you like someone, you have to bravely express it so that the other person can feel it! Look, the world is so dangerous, we never know if we’ll be here tomorrow. Remember to cherish every moment you spend now!”
Lin Zhaohe thought, “I get it, I get it. So, you think you know all about love, huh?” But his gaze involuntarily drifted towards Zhuang Lao, and their eyes met. Lin Zhaohe had planned to put up a strong front and say that he didn’t like anyone, but the words got stuck in his throat and he swallowed them forcefully.
“Xiao He.” Zhuang Lao smiled gently without making things difficult for him. “Let’s go home.”
Yes, let’s go home. Lin Zhaohe was once again embraced by Zhuang Lao, curling up into a ball in his arms.
They separated from Mr. Li and his group at a fork in the road, leaving an empty street with only Lin Zhaohe and Zhuang Lao.
There were no streetlights, but the moonlight illuminated the surroundings, bringing a sense of peace.
Lin Zhaohe cautiously observed Zhuang Lao. From his perspective, he could see the graceful contour of Zhuang Lao’s jawline, the high bridge of his nose, and his eyes filled with a smiling expression.
“What are you looking at?” Zhuang Lao asked.
“I’m looking at boss,” Lin Zhaohe honestly replied, “Boss looks really handsome.”
Zhuang Lao said, “Xiao He, do you like me?”
Without any forewarning, Zhuang Lao calmly said these words in a conversational tone. It was like a bolt from the blue, leaving Lin Zhaohe’s mind numb. His initial reaction was to deny it. Zhuang Lao was so good-looking, surely there were many people who liked him. If he discovered that Lin Zhaohe also had feelings for him, would he be fired? Lin Zhaohe’s brown eyes widened in astonishment, and even his ears perked up on his head like a startled puppy. His eyes were filled with confusion and panic.
This reaction unexpectedly pleased Zhuang Lao. He couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Why are you so scared? Did someone discover the hidden bones?”
Indeed, the carefully concealed bones had been completely exposed. In fact, Lin Zhaohe hadn’t realized his feelings for Zhuang Lao until he saw that scene in the library. It was then that he vaguely sensed that his emotions towards Zhuang Lao went beyond the usual superior-subordinate relationship. Deep down, he even cherished the days when he turned into a little dog. Despite the inconvenience, he could receive gentle care from his boss, with gentle head pats every day.
“I…” Lin Zhaohe mumbled.
“Does Xiao He like me?”
Lin Zhaohe hesitated, contemplating the consequences of admitting his feelings. The worst-case scenario seemed to be Zhuang Lao firing him. He gritted his teeth, but before he could speak, he heard Zhuang Lao calmly say, “I don’t know if Xiao He likes me, but I certainly like Xiao He.”
Lin Zhaohe’s head was struck by this straight-forward response, leaving him in a state of tremendous dizziness.
Zhuang Lao continued, “When did I start liking you? Was it the day I found you, or the day I saw you transform into Yellow Banana Girl, or the day I saw you transform into a little puppy…” He pondered earnestly for a moment before adding, “It seems that I fell in love with you unconsciously. So, does Xiao He like me?” Zhuang Lao provided his own answer, returning to the initial question.
“I… like you,” Lin Zhaohe’s voice was barely audible.
Zhuang Lao: “What do you like about me?”
Lin Zhaohe: “I like… I like your handsome face, Boss!”
Zhuang Lao: “……”
The air grew quiet for five seconds, and the tenderness on Zhuang Lao’s face turned into silence. “Lin Zhaohe, I think I understand why you’ve been single for twenty years.” When someone asked him what he liked, he simply said he liked people’s faces. It was straightforward yet superficial, making one feel both angry and amused.
“And I also like how kind you are to me, Boss,” Lin Zhaohe hurriedly tried to amend his response.
Zhuang Lao: “How am I kind to you?”
Feeling embarrassed, Lin Zhaohe said, “Boss, you always give me raises.”
Zhuang Lao: “……”
Lin Zhaohe: “Now I have the highest salary in the company!”
Zhuang Lao’s expression remained unchanged. So, it was because he was good-looking and rich, huh?
Sensing that Zhuang Lao’s expression wasn’t quite right, Lin Zhaohe, who had no experience in love, finally realized something was amiss. He quickly tried to salvage the situation, mentioning that Boss had many other good qualities. He had a good temper, was gentle, and most importantly, he was loyal. Just like Lin Zhaohe, who hadn’t been in a relationship all these years…
Zhuang Lao stared at Lin Zhaohe for a while, then leaned down and kissed his rapid-fire mouth, sealing away all the words he didn’t want to hear.
Lin Zhaohe’s brain went blank for a few seconds, then rebooted. Blood rushed to his cheeks, turning his skin crimson, as he felt the touch of Boss’s lips. The cool and soft sensation was an experience he had never had before.
No matter how many books he had read, nothing compared to experiencing it firsthand.
With just a gentle touch, Zhuang Lao pulled away. He wanted to see Lin Zhaohe’s reaction, to gauge if his little puppy disliked or appreciated such an intimate gesture.
The little puppy didn’t dislike it. In fact, he seemed to like it a lot. His eyes sparkled with a hint of eagerness, glistening and fixed on Zhuang Lao.
“Is this what kissing is?” Lin Zhaohe, who had never kissed anyone before, whispered softly.
“No,” Zhuang Lao replied seriously.
“Then what is it?” Lin Zhaohe asked, his mind in a daze.
“This is a kiss,” Zhuang Lao said as he leaned down once more, deepening the kiss. A faint sound of moisture accompanied the gesture, and Lin Zhaohe became lost in the sensation, losing track of time and space.
Little Red Square, anxiously waiting at home, watched as a silly smile adorned Lin Zhaohe’s face while Zhuang Lao carried him back home.
Lin Zhaohe was covered in wounds all over his body, but his face was filled with joy, looking like a fool. Little Red Square, filled with worry, asked Zhuang Lao, “What happened to Brother Lin?” Was he beaten silly?
Zhuang Lao replied that he wasn’t beaten silly, but rather kissed silly—though he silently answered the latter part in his heart.
Although they had safely returned, the wounds on Lin Zhaohe’s body were still troublesome. Both injuries were on his back, and they hadn’t been properly treated before, worsening the situation. Zhuang Lao carefully cut away Lin Zhaohe’s clothes and began cleaning the wounds.
It would have been quite painful, but because it was Zhuang Lao taking care of him, Lin Zhaohe felt no pain at all. From start to finish, he wore a silly smile, his mind filled with the realization that Boss was truly with him, Boss was truly with him, Boss was truly with him—important things needed to be repeated three times.
Zhuang Lao diligently tended to Lin Zhaohe’s wounds and instructed him to rest properly. He mentioned that he needed to return to the company and inform the others about the situation.
“When will boss come back?” Lin Zhaohe asked softly, covering half of his face with a blanket. His demeanor resembled that of a dog watching its owner leave for work—knowing he should be obedient and well-behaved, but unable to hide his sense of loss, even his ears drooping down.
Zhuang Lao hesitated to leave. He gently patted Lin Zhaohe’s head and said, “I’ll be back soon.”
“Really?” Lin Zhaohe asked softly, like a little puppy.
“Really,” Zhuang Lao reassured him.
“Then, you should go,” Lin Zhaohe said, “Take care… and stay safe.”
Zhuang Lao nodded and walked to the door. Just as he was about to open it, he heard Lin Zhaohe call out, “Boss!”
Thinking that Lin Zhaohe couldn’t bear to let him go, Zhuang Lao turned back with a smile on his face, only to hear Lin Zhaohe ask, “Will you still give me a raise in the future?”
Zhuang Lao paused, realizing Lin Zhaohe’s question. His smile froze, and he calmly replied, “No more raises. Your salary will be handled by the company from now on.”
Lin Zhaohe: “!!!!” Oh no, could it be that being with him was because Zhuang Lao had some secret plan to cut down on company expenses?!
Zhuang Lao: “Then, would you still be with me?”
Lin Zhaohe said in a small, aggrieved voice, “Even so, we should still be together. You’ve kissed me, so you have to take responsibility.”
Zhuang Lao’s mood lightened, and his voice carried a hint of laughter. “Alright, I’ll take responsibility for you.”
Zhuang Lao left, and Lin Zhaohe finally relaxed his tense nerves. He ate some warm food made by Little Red Square and sank into the soft covers of his bed.
Summer passed, and autumn’s chill began to set in. He lay on the bed, relieved of his exhaustion, feeling no greater joy than this.
Lin Zhaohe had initially wanted to savor the sweet moments spent with Zhuang Lao, but drowsiness washed over him in waves. He could no longer resist the weight of his heavy eyelids and peacefully fell asleep.
A dreamless night passed, and when he woke up, it was already the next afternoon.
Outside the window, light rain was falling. A cool breeze brushed Lin Zhaohe’s cheeks through the window cracks, waking him from his slumber. Lin Zhaohe groggily opened his eyes and saw Zhuang Lao’s face.
Instantly becoming alert, Lin Zhaohe’s mind took a moment to catch up. He climbed out of bed nervously and said, “Boss, why are you here? Is something happening at the company? Just call me, there’s no need for you to personally inform me about overtime…”
Zhuang Lao replied, “Huh?”
After a two-second delay, Lin Zhaohe finally realized that their relationship was no longer solely that of superior and subordinate. Zhuang Lao was now his boyfriend! It wasn’t strange for a boyfriend to appear by the bedside!
Zhuang Lao: “You act like a little fool.”
Lin Zhaohe: “I think I’m quite clever…”
Zhuang Lao: “Well, you were quite clever when you found ways to get a raise.”
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