Chapter 29 – Triple Merge
Lu Heng’s body stiffened.
At this moment, he didn’t dare move at all — even his breathing seemed to stop.
As their eyes met, for a fleeting instant, he even thought about continuing the kiss, the way Lin Yan did to him every day.
But he hesitated.
The blanket was suddenly lifted. He was dragged slightly with it — after all, he wasn’t wearing anything at the moment, and could only rely on the quilt to wrap himself up.
Clutching the blanket tightly, Lu Heng didn’t dare move, afraid that the very next second, even the quilt would be pulled away completely.
“President Lu… am I dreaming?” Lin Yan mumbled.
His eyes were half-closed, and he smiled foolishly. “A handsome guy showed up in my dream.”
Lu Heng’s heart pounded violently in his chest.
Lin Yan’s hazy eyes were only half open, clouded with drunkenness and a dreamlike sense of unreality.
A dream?
The tension in Lu Heng’s nerves instantly loosened — but at the same time, it plucked at another, far more secret string.
Taking advantage of what Lin Yan believed was a dream, and as if possessed, Lu Heng lowered his head again and, extremely lightly and quickly, pecked once more at those unusually soft and warm lips, loosened by alcohol.
This time, it was like a butterfly touching water — contact for only a heartbeat before pulling away.
Lin Yan seemed to feel it.
A vague sound rumbled in his throat, like someone dissatisfied that a good dream had been cut short.
His eyelids struggled for a moment, but in the end failed to open fully. They sank closed again, his breathing growing more even, as if he had fallen deeper into the “dream.”
Lu Heng let out a long, silent breath, only then realizing he had been holding it the entire time.
Carefully, quietly, he withdrew himself.
His body was stiff from both tension and a certain suppressed impulse.
He rose with the lightest of movements. Under the dim bedside lamp, his tall figure cast a long shadow.
He took the bath towel from beside the bed and wrapped himself up again, making sure there was nothing improper, then bent down and tried to tuck Lin Yan back into the bed.
“Mm… don’t move…” Lin Yan frowned in dissatisfaction and waved his hand, hitting Lu Heng’s arm. The force was soft, but the warmth of the contact was burning.
Lu Heng’s arm muscles instantly tightened. Where Lin Yan had touched him felt as though it had been seared by hot iron.
He steadied himself. His voice came out lower and hoarser than he had expected. “Alright, alright. I won’t move you. Go to sleep.”
Like coaxing a child, he clumsily adjusted the pillow, pulled the slipping blanket back up to Lin Yan’s chin, and carefully tucked in the corners.
After finishing all of this, he stood at the bedside and looked down for a moment.
Lin Yan seemed to be sleeping more soundly now. A faint flush from the alcohol still colored his cheeks, his lips slightly parted, completely defenseless.
Lu Heng’s fingers curled slightly as he forced himself to look away.
The living room was still filled with the faint scent of alcohol, mixed with Lin Yan’s own lingering presence.
Lu Heng walked over and began by cleaning up the scattered trash on the floor.
That night, when Lin Yan came in, he was swaying unsteadily and knocked over quite a few things.
Lu Heng set each of them upright and put them back in their original places.
He moved very quietly, doing his best not to make any noise.
Lu Heng frowned.
Lin Yan’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t actually that bad, but it was obvious he had exceeded his limit tonight.
After cleaning up the mess, he went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator to take a look.
Fortunately, although Lin Yan’s fridge didn’t contain much food, there was a bottle of wild honey.
He took out the honey, put some water on to boil, and prepared to make a cup of honey water to help him sober up.
While waiting for the water to boil, he leaned against the counter, his gaze drifting uncontrollably toward the bedroom again.
The apartment was very quiet.
Only the faint hum of the kettle heating up and the sound of his own heart, which still hadn’t completely calmed down, filled the space.
His lips seemed to still carry the memory of that soft touch and the faint taste of alcohol.
That warm, tingling sensation refused to fade.
Lu Heng raised his hand and lightly touched his lower lip with his fingertips, his eyes dark and unreadable.
He had never allowed himself to cross a line like that before.
The water finished boiling. The sharp whistle that was about to erupt snapped him out of his thoughts.
He quickly turned off the heat, mixed the hot water with honey and some cool water, and stirred it carefully.
Carrying the honey water back to the bedroom, he found that Lin Yan seemed to be sleeping even more deeply now.
Lu Heng placed the cup on the bedside table. After hesitating for a moment, he still sat down lightly on the edge of the bed.
“Lin Yan?” he called softly. “Wake up and drink some water before sleeping.”
The person on the bed didn’t respond at all.
With no choice, Lu Heng reached out and gently patted Lin Yan’s cheek. His skin was burning hot.
“Lin Yan, be good. Wake up.”
He spoke very softly, his tone gentle — the same way Lin Yan always coaxed Meiqiu. Perhaps over time, that behavior had unconsciously influenced him as well.
Lin Yan was finally disturbed enough to half-wake. With great effort, he opened his eyes a crack, looking at him with unfocused vision, and mumbled, “…Noisy… sleep…”
“Drink this first, then sleep. Otherwise you’ll have a headache in the morning.” Lu Heng’s voice softened on its own as he supported the back of Lin Yan’s neck, trying to help him sit up halfway.
The movement caused Lin Yan’s body to slump softly against his chest.
Through the thin bath towel, Lu Heng could clearly feel the other man’s warmth and softness.
His body stiffened again, but his hands didn’t let go. He carefully adjusted his posture so Lin Yan would be more comfortable, then picked up the honey water and brought it to his lips.
“Good. Just drink a little.”
Lin Yan seemed to understand — or perhaps he was simply following instinct in search of water — and, with Lu Heng holding the cup, he began to drink in small sips.
The warm honey water moistened his lips, and a little of it spilled out, sliding down his chin.
Lu Heng’s gaze darkened. He almost held his breath as he watched that drop of liquid trace down Lin Yan’s neck and disappear into the collar of his pajama top.
His free hand lifted unconsciously, but in the end he only pulled a tissue from the bedside and gently wiped it away for him.
After drinking less than half the cup, Lin Yan turned his head and refused to drink any more. His head tilted to the side and sank back into the pillow, clearly about to fall asleep again.
Lu Heng sighed helplessly and put the cup back on the bedside table.
Because of the movement, Lin Yan’s pajama collar had slipped crooked, revealing a small patch of his collarbone and chest, and the blanket had been kicked aside slightly.
Lu Heng sighed again and resigned himself to tucking the blanket back around him.
His fingertips brushed against Lin Yan’s skin by accident, and the excessive warmth made him pause.
Drunk people tended to run hot, but they also caught chills easily. If he slept like this, tomorrow would truly be uncomfortable.
Lu Heng stood up and went into the bathroom, soaking a towel in warm water.
When he returned to the bedside, he carefully wiped Lin Yan’s face and neck with the warm towel, trying to cool him down a little and remove some of the sticky residue of alcohol.
The cool sensation made Lin Yan sigh in comfort. Unconsciously, he rubbed his cheek against the towel, like a satisfied cat.
That unintentional closeness made Lu Heng’s hand tremble again, the softest place in his heart feeling as though it had been lightly brushed by a feather.
His movements grew even gentler. After wiping Lin Yan’s face, he hesitated for a long moment, then lifted a corner of the blanket and softly wiped Lin Yan’s arms and palms with the towel as well.
Only after finishing all this did he feel that Lin Yan’s temperature had dropped a little, his breathing becoming steadier and deeper.
Lu Heng went back to the bathroom to rinse the towel and splashed cold water on his own face, trying to calm the tangled emotions in his chest.
He looked at the man in the mirror — his own reflection — eyes deep, carrying an emotion that even he himself found unfamiliar.
Returning to the bedroom, he checked on Lin Yan once more, confirming that he was sleeping peacefully.
It was already very late.
He should have turned back into a small cat, yet he was reluctant to do so. This was a rare chance for him to appear before Lin Yan in his true form.
Even though he knew that Lin Yan, drunk as he was, would remember none of this the next morning.
He glanced at the other side of the bed — it was spacious enough. Then he looked down at the floor, covered with a soft carpet.
In the end, he chose the armchair beside the bed and sat down quietly.
He didn’t dare get on the bed, nor even sit too close, afraid that he might lose control again — and afraid of disturbing the other man’s “dream.”
The bedroom was lit only by a dim bedside lamp, outlining Lin Yan’s peaceful sleeping face.
Lu Heng remained seated quietly in the chair, his gaze resting on Lin Yan’s face for a long time.
The next morning, Lin Yan’s head was throbbing badly. He sat up in bed, holding his head and shaking it hard.
He vaguely remembered drinking something the night before — and that Lu Heng had fed it to him.
Just thinking about it felt frightening and unbelievable.
How could President Lu appear so inexplicably in his dream and even give him water to drink?
To dare to have such a dream — Lin Yan felt his courage was getting bigger and bigger.
He turned his head. Meiqiu was lying quietly on the chair, curled up and sleeping deeply.
Even Meiqiu hadn’t slept with him. Lin Yan felt a little sad and pouted. “Meiqiu…”
Hearing his name, Meiqiu opened his eyes, glanced at Lin Yan, but showed no intention of getting up.
Meiqiu didn’t even want to come near him anymore.
Lin Yan swore that he would never drink that much again. Even the kitten disliked him now.
He raised his hand and touched the back of his neck. It felt a little damp, as if it had been wiped with a towel.
Turning his head, he noticed a half-finished cup of water.
Perhaps he hadn’t been so drunk that he couldn’t move — maybe he had even managed to make honey water himself.
He shook his head. He couldn’t remember anything.
After that, he struggled to his feet and dragged himself off to work.
“Morning, Brother Yan,” Chen Xin greeted him cheerfully.
“Aren’t you dizzy?” Lin Yan asked curiously.
“I’m okay.”
Lin Yan rubbed his temples for a long time. His phone screen lit up, and he glanced at it — the camera he had ordered had finally arrived. Now he could check whether Meiqiu was home anytime.
He would pick it up after work today.
“I’m dying from this hangover,” Wang Hao yelled, then dropped into his chair and slumped forward. “That alcohol really hits hard later.”
“Yeah. Luckily I drank some honey water. That’s the only reason I feel a bit better today,” Lin Yan replied.
Wang Hao turned his head and looked at him. “You’re impressive — you even managed to make honey water. My girlfriend didn’t bother with me at all, just threw me straight onto the couch.”
Their conversation buzzed in Lin Yan’s ears. He stayed silent, constantly replaying last night in his mind.
What was that honey water about? When did he make it? When did he fall asleep?
Could a dream really feel that real?
What he remembered, he wasn’t even sure about.
No matter how hard he forced himself to recall, he couldn’t remember anything more.
All he could vaguely recall was that he had a dream — a dream about President Lu.
That was all he could remember.
Perhaps before he got completely drunk, they had been talking about President Lu, so that was why he dreamed of him.
Yes… that must have been it.
Another colleague arrived at the office. After Yang Yang came in, he didn’t say a word, just quietly sorted through his bag, and Lin Yan noticed that he kept glancing toward Chen Xin from time to time.
Chen Xin’s reaction was a little strange as well. He deliberately turned his head away and avoided looking in that direction.
“Brother, are you okay?” Wang Hao gave Yang Yang a pat.
Yang Yang jumped, then plopped down in his seat and hurriedly rummaged through his bag, as if he were about to empty everything out. “Ah—no, no, I’m fine.”
“Didn’t you say you blacked out the last time you drank this kind of alcohol?”
“Ah, yeah… before.”
Wang Hao didn’t continue questioning him. He just thought the guy still hadn’t sobered up. “And I even got scolded by my girlfriend.”
“You deserved it. Who told you to drink that much?” Chen Xin teased him.
Wang Hao wasn’t convinced and shot back, “Yang Yang drank the most. Why aren’t you saying anything about him?”
As soon as he said that, both of them fell silent.
“Hey, wait.” Only then did Wang Hao realize something was off. “What’s wrong with you two?”
Neither of them looked at the other. Both avoided his gaze.
In the end, Chen Xin spoke up. If he didn’t, Wang Hao would definitely notice something. “Just lie down and rest. You drank way too much.”
“You two are acting weird.” Wang Hao pointed at them. “Did you sneak off for a late-night snack without us?”
“No.”
They answered at the same time.
Lin Yan sensed that something was going on.
Yang Yang had never been this nervous before, and he kept glancing over at them.
But Lin Yan didn’t say anything. He didn’t tease them like he usually would. Adults’ problems were for adults to handle.
Everyone from the department had arrived, and all of them were still a bit dazed.
Nothing anyone said really connected properly.
The phone on the desk lit up again. Lin Yan picked it up — it was a message from Hu Xiaoyue.
HuHu Not Confused: [Senior Lin Yan, do you have time these next few days to grab a meal together?]
Lin Yan stared at the keyboard, not knowing what to say.
Rejecting her directly felt a bit harsh.
The girl was too polite. Originally, Lin Yan had thought that if he simply ignored it or didn’t deal with it, she would naturally understand what he meant.
Adults’ interactions always followed some unspoken rules.
Not replying was a rejection. Not saying it outright was also a rejection.
He had always believed that as an adult, some things didn’t need to be said so clearly — or didn’t need to be said at all.
But now that it had come up, he couldn’t just keep avoiding it.
So he replied.
Lin Yan Yan Yan Yan~: [Sorry, I really don’t have time these next few days.]
HuHu Not Confused: [Alright… ~_~]
Lin Yan didn’t reply again. His head was spinning, so he flipped his phone face-down on the desk.
Right after he put it down, it vibrated again for quite a while.
With no choice, he picked it up. He was already dizzy, and staring at the screen only made it worse.
It was a message from Gu Han.
Han XiaoHan: [Xiao Yan, I’ll be reporting in soon. Want to find some time for the two of us to meet?]
Hadn’t they just met a few days ago?
That last meeting — the other two had been happy, but Lin Yan had felt exhausted the entire time, forcing smiles, the corners of his mouth stiff.
Lin Yan pressed his lips together and replied honestly.
They were about to become colleagues. Even if he didn’t like it, he still had to maintain basic courtesy.
Lin Yan Yan Yan Yan~: [These next few days are pretty busy. Let’s get together after you start work.]
Han XiaoHan: [It won’t take up much of your time. How about just downstairs at your company?]
Lost in thought, Lin Yan stared blankly at the screen.
He remembered the last gathering — listening to Professor Tian Yu praise the two of them nonstop.
For a teacher, encountering two outstanding students and achieving consistent results was something worth celebrating.
But it had come at the cost of one person, to the benefit of everyone else.
After drinking too much, Professor Tian kept emphasizing that if Lin Yan continued his studies, he would definitely surpass Gu Han.
Hearing that, Lin Yan twitched the corner of his mouth and looked at Gu Han.
Gu Han understood the meaning of that glance, yet didn’t respond. He simply continued smiling politely and flattering Professor Tian.
It turned out that what had happened back then had only affected Lin Yan.
Seeing that Lin Yan still hadn’t replied, the other party sent another message.
Han XiaoHan: [Give me some face, Xiao Lin.]
Lin Yan’s gaze drifted to the slightly messy desk. He casually swept the clutter to the side and lowered his head onto the table.
Then, while maintaining his own sense of courtesy, he refused Gu Han.
Lin Yan Yan Yan Yan~: [I’ll check my schedule. If I have time, we’ll get together.]
…
When Lu Heng left the residential complex, he searched for his car, circling around for quite a while before finding it.
The apartment he bought did come with a parking space, but he never knew where it was, so he had never used it.
He really needed to ask Secretary He about it. Always hunting for a parking spot outside wasn’t sustainable.
Whenever something urgent came up, he couldn’t even be sure he’d find a space around the complex, and not only would it delay things, it exhausted him every time.
He hadn’t had time to go to the gym recently, but just the exercise from running back and forth between parking spots these past few days had already made up for his usual calorie burn.
With his natural physique and the decent rest he’d been getting lately, Lu Heng felt energetic and refreshed every day. He was wearing a lighter, thinner shirt, the cool fabric brushing pleasantly against his skin.
His thoughts drifted to last night — the sensation of Lin Yan’s body leaning against him through the bath towel, resting in his arms, pressed close to his skin.
And even that gentle kiss.
He bit his lip, as if savoring the memory, and also as if still sensing the trace of Lin Yan’s presence on him.
The cool touch of his clothes felt the same as when he had wiped Lin Yan’s body the night before.
Something deep in his heart had taken root. Lu Heng felt it blooming, slowly filling him from the inside.
Perhaps the seed had been there for a long time, buried deep within.
Once the memory surfaced, he couldn’t suppress the excitement. The smile on his lips never faded.
He got into the car, adjusted the mirrors, glanced around, then drove off toward the company.
While rummaging around inside the car, his attention completely focused on the interior, he failed to notice that a pair of eyes had been watching him from behind the whole time.
“Let’s go.” Ding Yue patted Uncle Chen on the shoulder.
“Alright, Madam.”
Last night, Ding Yue followed Lu Heng’s car to this residential complex.
After her son went inside, he never came back out. She originally planned to call him, but after thinking about it, she didn’t.
Instead, she called He Lingchen.
Once she learned where the apartment he had bought was, Ding Yue went up directly. She had thought Lu Heng would be at home, but no one was there. She knocked, but there was no response.
With no other choice, she called Lu Heng.
No answer.
So she called He Lingchen again.
He Lingchen hurried over and handed her the spare key to Lu Heng’s place.
After getting the key, Ding Yue went straight inside. As soon as the door opened, a stale smell hit her.
Dust rose heavily in the air. The apartment showed no signs of anyone living there — let alone a cat.
It was obvious no one stayed there regularly, though everything was fully furnished. She went into the bedroom and saw that it was filled with Lu Heng’s clothes.
Having personal belongings there didn’t mean the place was actually lived in.
Lu Heng had always told her that he lived here, and that the cat was kept here as well.
But after checking everywhere, she didn’t find a single cat-related item.
Ding Yue felt both angry and worried.
When she went back outside, Lu Heng’s car was still parked in the same place. She waited downstairs all night, until morning, when she finally saw Lu Heng leave the complex.
Despite barely sleeping the whole night, Ding Yue didn’t feel tired — only worried about her son. She called He Lingchen again.
“Xiao He, has Lu Heng gone to the company?” she asked directly once the call connected.
She needed to make sure.
“President Lu is at the company. Madam, would you like to come over?”
“No.”
As long as he was at the company, that was enough. She already understood what was going on.
…
Lin Yan went to the courier station to pick up the camera and placed the box on his electric scooter.
They didn’t even offer delivery. The pickup location was far from where he lived.
The first time in his life buying discounted electronics, and this was the treatment he got.
Still — saving several hundred was worth it. He’d buy it again next time.
He rode home, stopping by a nearby supermarket on the way to buy some seafood, beef, and other groceries.
After drinking yesterday, he felt miserable today. From morning until noon he barely ate anything, but now he finally had some appetite.
He needed to go home and cook a proper meal to reward himself.
He bought enough for several days — enough for him and Meiqiu to eat for a whole week.
Lu Heng was walking toward the residential complex. Once again, he had forgotten to ask about his parking space.
He had planned to just park and go in, but without knowing where his space was, he didn’t want to risk taking someone else’s spot.
After thinking about it, he decided to forget it. There happened to be a parking spot outside, so he parked there.
He hadn’t gone far when someone called out behind him.
“Lu Heng.”
The voice sounded familiar.
When he turned around, he saw that it was his mother.
“Mom? What are you doing here?” Lu Heng was a little surprised. How did his mother know he lived in this complex — and even manage to find him?
The answer came to him the next second. He Lingchen had helped him buy this apartment. One simple question would reveal everything.
He couldn’t help feeling a little flustered. At this hour, Lin Yan should be getting off work. If he didn’t get back soon, Lin Yan would probably think he had disappeared again.
On the surface, he looked calm, but in reality, fine sweat was already forming on his forehead.
The person who understood her son best in the world was, of course, his mother.
Even though she had missed parts of his upbringing, that didn’t affect a mother’s understanding of her own child.
Ding Yue saw right through him at a glance. “Why can’t I come see my son’s new home?”
“No—” Lu Heng’s brain froze for a moment, then rebooted, searching for a solution.
Should he find a way to send his mother off…
or ask Lin Yan to keep working late at the office?
The second option was risky. What if Lin Yan came home first and only then went back to the office to work late?
So he could only try to send his mother away.
Just as he was thinking this, he looked ahead and saw a familiar figure riding an electric scooter past him.
He called out, “Lin Yan.”
Lin Yan had been planning to ride past quickly, silently wishing: Please don’t see me, please don’t see me.
Murphy’s Law never failed.
The more you didn’t want something to happen, the more certain it was to happen.
The moment he was called, Lin Yan squeezed the brakes and stopped, greeting Lu Heng.
“President Lu.”
He put on his standard polite smile and, out of courtesy, asked, “Have you eaten yet?”
“Not yet,” Lu Heng replied immediately.
Normally, the next line after that question would be: Would you like to eat at my place?
“Sure.”
Thump — Lin Yan’s back straightened instantly.
Did he hear that right?
President Lu said he was going to eat at his place?
This was unbearably awkward.
Ding Yue turned around and looked at Lin Yan with great interest.
“Ah… um… uh…”
Lin Yan was so startled that he could barely get his words out.
How was he supposed to respond to that?
“How could you do that?” Ding Yue teased. “You should be inviting him to our place for dinner instead.”
Lin Yan looked at the woman speaking. She was beautiful and gentle. Although there were fine lines at the corners of her eyes, she still carried an air of elegance and wealth. A handbag hung from her wrist, its pattern matching the collar she wore.
That was the only obviously expensive item Lin Yan could identify. When he looked at her face again — which bore some resemblance to President Lu’s — he guessed that this must be President Lu’s mother.
He looked at her, nodded, and greeted her respectfully, “Good evening, Madam.”
Ding Yue nodded back with a smile.
“Mm.” Lu Heng nodded as well, then said, “Let’s go. We’ll eat at my place.”
Someone, please save Lin Yan at this moment.
He couldn’t even refuse Zhao Ming’s dinner invitations — how could he possibly refuse the boss’s invitation?
Cold sweat kept breaking out on his back.
He shuddered slightly, picked up his things, and walked over.
“Sure, President Lu. Where is your place? I’ll put my things down first and come over.”
“No need. Just go to my place directly,” Lu Heng said, leaving Lin Yan no chance to go home. “It’s right above your apartment.”
Wasn’t the apartment upstairs always unoccupied?
Lin Yan remembered what the security guard had once mentioned.
Perhaps the new owner was President Lu.
That was quite a coincidence. No wonder he kept running into him so often.
“Alright.”
Since President Lu had spoken, Lin Yan had no reason to refuse. Like an obedient kid, he followed them.
Ding Yue barely spoke along the way. She had been quietly observing the way her son looked at Lin Yan.
Not normal.
Very not normal.
She needed to know what kind of person this Lin Yan was — whether he was kind, whether he was patient.
Ding — the elevator doors opened.
Lu Heng walked in front. He patted his clothes, expecting to find his keys in his pocket, but couldn’t locate them.
Only then did he realize — he hadn’t brought his keys.
The keys to this apartment were under Lin Yan’s bed.
…Oh no.
He was now stuck between advancing and retreating.
Seeing the panic on Lu Heng’s face, Ding Yue found it strangely amusing. In just that short while, she had seen many sides of her son that she had never seen before.
Quite rare, indeed.
She handed him a set of keys.
“Here. He Lingchen gave these to me. He said you always forget your keys.”
Thank goodness — Secretary He’s thoughtfulness had saved him.
Lu Heng took the keys and opened the door.
The three of them went inside.
Lin Yan was holding too many things, so he set them down by the entryway to pick up later when he left.
“What should we eat?” Ding Yue asked Lu Heng.
The question actually stumped him. This was his first time here too. Although he knew Secretary He must have prepared everything, he wasn’t familiar with the place at all.
He fumbled around for a moment before finally finding the refrigerator. As he opened it, he silently prayed that nothing inside had gone bad.
When he did, it was completely empty.
The contents had long since been cleared out. When Ding Yue came by yesterday, she had tidied the place and even removed the dust covers from the sofa and the bed.
Not being familiar with the apartment was one thing — but Lu Heng clearly hadn’t been here much at all.
With nothing to cook, how were they supposed to eat?
A fine layer of sweat appeared on Lu Heng’s forehead again.
Ding Yue kept smiling as she looked at the empty refrigerator.
“So, what are we eating?”
“I’ll order takeout,” Lu Heng said. It was the only solution he could think of. He picked up his phone and started scrolling.
Seeing Lu Heng — who normally carried such a commanding presence and never hesitated in his decisions — in such an awkward situation made Ding Yue feel that her son had truly changed a lot.
“Um… I just bought some groceries at the market downstairs,” Lin Yan said, walking to the door and lifting a bag of ingredients.
“Good.”
Then, as if remembering something, Ding Yue asked Lu Heng, “Do you know how to cook?”
Of course, she knew her son couldn’t cook. At most, he could fry a steak or boil instant noodles.
Although Lu Heng was meticulous at work, he preferred simplicity in daily life, especially when it came to eating.
“I—”
“If you don’t mind, I can cook,” Lin Yan said softly.
“Of course we don’t mind,” Ding Yue replied before Lu Heng could say anything.
Lin Yan obediently carried the groceries into the kitchen and began preparing the meal.
But after all, this wasn’t his home. He wasn’t familiar with where everything was.
Although the kitchen was fully stocked, none of the items were arranged the way Lin Yan was used to. Thinking that his own place was just downstairs, he decided to go get what he needed.
Before he even reached the door, someone stepped in front of him and stopped him.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to get some soy sauce.”
Lu Heng held him back with one hand. “No need. I’ll go downstairs and buy it for you.”
Lin Yan looked at President Lu, who was different from his usual self — dressed in a loose long-sleeved top made of soft cotton-linen fabric that clung lightly to his body.
Though loose, it highlighted his well-defined muscles. Lin Yan lifted his gaze and saw President Lu’s sharp jawline and the movement of his throat as he spoke.
He swallowed.
He quickly looked away and pressed down the restless flutter in his chest.
“O-okay.”
“There’s some in the cabinet,” Ding Yue said, unable to stand it anymore and offering a reminder.
“Oh.”
Hearing that, Lin Yan hurried back into the kitchen to look.
“It’s in the upper cabinet,” Ding Yue said from the sofa, elegantly flipping through a magazine while keeping part of her attention on the kitchen to guide Lin Yan.
Lu Heng followed him in. Lin Yan straightened and reached up to open the cabinet.
Suddenly, he sensed someone standing close behind him. He could feel the warmth and presence pressing in.
A larger hand covered his. As he opened the cabinet, that hand brushed gently against his, their fingers grazing briefly.
Then, in the span of a heartbeat, it withdrew.
Lu Heng took out the soy sauce and set it on the table. His left hand rested against the marble countertop while his right hand placed the bottle beside Lin Yan’s right hand.
A sudden realization flashed through Lin Yan’s mind — he could clearly sense his current situation.
He was practically in President Lu’s arms, his back leaning against a solid embrace.
“Here,” Lu Heng said softly, his voice low and magnetic beside Lin Yan’s ear.
A faint breath brushed against his ear. Lin Yan’s face burned, and even the tips of his ears turned red.
“Ah… okay.” He lowered his head and picked up a piece of meat, slicing it on the cutting board. “Th-thank you, President Lu.”
Ding Yue caught the scene from the corner of her eye and simply smiled without comment.
After some time, the meal was ready. Steaming hot dishes were carried to the table.
The three of them sat together.
Lu Heng took the seat beside Lin Yan.
“It smells amazing. Then I’ll start,” Ding Yue said as she picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of beef, and chewed with great satisfaction.
“Delicious,” she said, giving Lin Yan a thumbs-up, then asked Lu Heng, “What do you think?”
Lu Heng ate calmly. “Not bad.”
This wasn’t the first time he had eaten Lin Yan’s cooking.
Whether it was the food he made for the cat or this home-style meal, it always managed to completely hold Lu Heng’s attention and make him enjoy every bite.
“Xiao Lin works at Future, right?” Ding Yue asked.
Only then did Lin Yan realize he had forgotten to formally introduce himself to Mrs. Lu.
He looked at her seriously. “Yes. I’ve been working at Future for three years now.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Ding Yue said while continuing to eat. She added another piece of meat to her bowl. “Did you join Future right after graduating?”
“Yes. I came as soon as I finished my master’s.”
“He’s Professor Tian Yu’s student,” Lu Heng added, placing a piece of meat into Lin Yan’s bowl.
Ding Yue smiled. “Professor Tian’s student — that means you’re excellent.”
“No, no, that’s all thanks to my teacher. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to join such a good company like Future.”
Hearing that, Ding Yue laughed. “What a smooth talker.”
Her gaze lingered on Lin Yan’s bowl, and Lu Heng quietly added another meatball for him.
As a mother, seeing this scene was deeply comforting — her son had finally learned how to care for someone.
“Do you know Gu Han?” Ding Yue asked.
“Yes, we were classmates,” Lin Yan said. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. “Madam, you know him?”
“No. I was part of the organizing committee when he competed in a contest, so I’ve met him before,” Ding Yue replied. “He’s joined Future as well, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Both of you are very outstanding.”
Lin Yan broke into a wide smile.
Lu Heng placed more food into Lin Yan’s bowl.
Ding Yue couldn’t hold it in anymore. She had to tease him. “Why do you keep serving Lin Yan food?”
Lu Heng’s chopsticks paused in midair for a moment, then he placed the food into Ding Yue’s bowl instead.
“Eat, eat.”
Ding Yue was very pleased. Moments like this — everyone gathered around a table — had been rare for a long time.
“Xiao Lin, do you have a cat?” Ding Yue asked.
“I do,” Lin Yan replied.
“Oh?” Ding Yue glanced at Lu Heng. His expression remained calm. “I have a cat too.”
Lu Heng raised an eyebrow and looked at Ding Yue, his expression clearly saying: Since when did you have a cat?
Ignoring her son’s look, Ding Yue continued, “I just came back from overseas recently, and the housekeeper said the little cat ran away.”
“Oh,” Lin Yan said in surprise. “What will you do then?”
Ding Yue kept making it up. “It’s fine. My cat runs out all the time. Maybe the next time I go back, it’ll wander home by itself.”
Thinking about how Meiqiu used to do the same thing — always running outside — Lin Yan nodded in agreement.
“That’s a cat’s nature,” Ding Yue went on. “Always wandering around, never staying home. Just like when you raise a son — never at home either.”
Her words were clearly pointed. Lin Yan couldn’t help laughing.
The next second, his laughter abruptly stopped because he felt the low pressure coming from the person beside him.
“Maybe it’s because the cat hasn’t been neutered,” Lin Yan said while sipping the soup Lu Heng had just served him.
“Neutered?”
Lu Heng had also poured a bowl of soup for his mother. Ding Yue took it and had a sip.
The rich aroma spread in her mouth. Lin Yan’s cooking really was excellent — every dish was flavorful.
“Yes,” Lin Yan said seriously. “I’ve heard that cats often run outside because they’re in heat. If they’re neutered, they won’t run off anymore.”
“Really?” Ding Yue said playfully. “Is your cat neutered?”
“No.”
Hearing that, Lu Heng continued eating calmly, blowing on the hot soup in his bowl before taking a sip.
“But I’m planning to get him neutered later.”
“Cough—” Lu Heng choked on the soup he had just swallowed.
“Drink more slowly,” Lin Yan said.
Ding Yue looked at Lu Heng and smiled. How interesting. After thinking for a moment, she said, “I don’t think neutering is necessary. After all, being whole is the most important.”
That sounded reasonable. Lin Yan nodded. If that was the case, he wouldn’t consider neutering anymore.
“I’m so full,” Ding Yue said as she set down her bowl and chopsticks. “Thank you, Xiao Lin.”
“It’s nothing. As long as you enjoyed it.”
Lin Yan stood up, ready to clear the dishes, but Ding Yue stopped him. “How could I let you clean up? Lu Heng.”
She shot him a look, and Lu Heng understood immediately.
Then he said, “Mom, I’ll walk you home.”
Hey.
So I’m not even allowed to stay here now?
Ding Yue was being politely kicked out by her own son. Even if she wanted to stay, she couldn’t now.
“Fine.” She replied with barely concealed irritation.
“I’ll walk you out.” Lu Heng went over and picked up his mother’s bag.
Lin Yan, very perceptive, opened the door for them.
Well — the two of them were quite in sync.
They entered the elevator one after another.
“Xiao Lin, you come too,” Ding Yue said.
“Ah, me?”
Lin Yan had planned to escort her back and then go straight home. Who would have expected this?
Since the big boss’s mother had spoken — and the big boss himself was staring at him —
how could he refuse?
Lin Yan stepped forward to open the door for Ding Yue, then got into the front passenger seat himself.
At this moment, Lin Yan felt that this was even more surreal than dreaming about Lu Heng last night.
Because he was actually sitting in Lu Heng’s passenger seat.
Calling it the peak of his life wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
In this lifetime, being driven by your own boss — totally worth it.
Lin Yan sat up straight, hardly daring to move. The car was so quiet it felt unreal.
The only sound was the wind rushing past outside.
He lowered his head and looked around the car. This was also his first time sitting in such a nice vehicle.
Although he didn’t really understand cars, he thought Lu Heng’s car looked a bit like some kind of off-brand: the logo on the outside was two triangles, and the logo inside was different.
The one inside he recognized — it was Mercedes.
But he didn’t ask about it. He was afraid it might be some brand he didn’t know, and he’d embarrass himself.
He then looked down at the floor by his feet and noticed a few clumps of fur. They looked very familiar — exactly like Meiqiu’s fur.
“Madam, what kind of cat do you have?” Lin Yan struck up a conversation with Ding Yue.
“Why?” Ding Yue didn’t answer directly and instead asked, “What kind of cat do you have?”
“I don’t know the breed either.” Lin Yan picked up the fur. “I only know its fur is silver-gray.”
Ding Yue glanced at him. He was lowering his head, tidying the fur. Then she replied, “What a coincidence. My cat is silver too.”
“Oh, really? That’s such a coincidence. Maybe we’re raising the same type of cat.”
Ding Yue laughed brightly. “Yes, maybe. My cat is a bit naughty.”
“So is mine.”
The strong sense of shared experience made Lin Yan feel as if he’d found a kindred spirit. Just as he was about to continue talking, the silent person beside him spoke.
“We’re here.”
Lu Heng felt something was off. Everything his mother had said today seemed like it was aimed at him.
Since when did she have a cat? Or was she deliberately saying it for him to hear?
“Alright, I’ll head back now. Drive safely.” Ding Yue said goodbye. “Xiao Lin, I’m very happy to have met you.”
“Goodbye, Madam.”
Lu Heng then rolled up the window and drove off.
“That brat,” Ding Yue muttered to herself. “He clearly likes the boy, yet he’s still so awkward about it.”