Chapter 53 – Return
The next day, Lin Yan got out of bed with dark circles under his eyes. He had thought about it all night but still couldn’t figure anything out.
He still hadn’t replied to that message.
Ignoring it completely felt a bit impolite, so early in the morning, he gave a light, noncommittal reply.
Lin Yan Yan Yan Yan~: [Morning. Thank you, President Lu.]
“I’m telling you, brother—this whole night, you kept me on the phone talking nonstop.” Lu Yan sighed helplessly. He had been dragged into a phone call by Lu Heng for the entire night.
All night long, he listened to Lu Heng talk about himself and that person, asking how he should pursue him.
In fact, Lu Heng hadn’t mentioned one thing—he actually had a cheating move.
He could turn back into Meiqiu and return to Lin Yan’s side, secretly listening to what Lin Yan truly thought about him.
That was far more useful than what Lu Yan suggested—analyzing Lin Yan’s social media or learning about his preferences from close friends.
Lu Heng didn’t bring this up, but he still talked with Lu Yan for a long time. It seemed that when it came to Lin Yan, he could talk endlessly.
Lu Yan was helpless. He had never thought his brother could talk this much. Usually at family dinners, Lu Heng would just nod at him and leave—no extra conversation at all.
He had already said everything he could. He really didn’t understand why Lu Heng still insisted on keeping him on the line.
Seven hours.
That entire night, he could’ve been sleeping with his soft, warm wife in his arms, yet instead he’d been disturbed all night long.
Dragged into analyzing what to do next.
Lu Heng had better succeed soon—otherwise, his entire sleepless night would have been completely wasted.
“He replied to me,” Lu Heng said calmly, though his heart was surging with excitement.
Just for that one message from Lin Yan, he had waited all night—unable to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he wondered why Lin Yan hadn’t replied.
With no clear response, Lu Heng began to panic, unable to control his emotions.
And at times like this, the best solution was to talk to someone.
It was simple, really—when you’re stuck inside the situation, your judgment is clouded by your own feelings and interpretations.
Asking someone who can see things clearly often makes everything much clearer. That was why Lu Heng chose Lu Yan—he believed his younger brother had some insight in this area.
As if he’d heard some earth-shattering good news, Lu Yan asked weakly, exhaustion weighing on his voice, “What did he say?”
“He said good morning. And thanked me.”
Lu Yan let out a short laugh. Clearly, it was just a polite response. “If he replied, it means he understands—but for now, he doesn’t know how to respond to your feelings.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Pursue him.” Lu Yan sighed, wanting this call to end as soon as possible. “Go wait downstairs at his place and drive him to work.”
After thinking about it, he realized that sounded a bit off and added, “I mean—go to work with him.”
Lu Heng thought the suggestion was worth considering, but he was worried about safety. After all, he hadn’t slept all night and couldn’t drive while exhausted.
“I stayed up last night. I can’t drive while fatigued.”
Still oddly principled about it.
The person on the other end of the call let out a soft chuckle and, without the slightest hesitation, hung up.
Lu Yan angrily ended the call as well, secretly making up his mind that he wouldn’t answer this person’s calls for a while.
Things were a little troublesome now—Uncle Chen had taken his mother to the airport.
After thinking for a moment, Lu Heng tidied himself up, wiped his face, sprayed on some cologne, and forced himself to look presentable, trying his best not to show any signs of exhaustion.
Lin Yan yawned. He had only slept lightly for a short while the night before, drifting in and out of sleep.
He glanced at the orange cat. Perhaps because it had once been a stray, it was extremely well-behaved—sleeping quietly in its cat bed and never suddenly zooming around.
Seeing it like this made Lin Yan’s heart ache. He put out some cat food, refilled its water bowl, and then prepared to head out.
However, the moment he opened the door, a familiar figure was standing right in front of him.
Well, great—whether he wanted to face it or not, he had no choice now.
Please don’t ask about last night, he prayed silently.
Lu Heng was waiting for him by the elevator.
“President Lu,” Lin Yan said with an awkward smile.
“Morning, Lin Yan.” Lu Heng crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, tilting his head as he looked at him.
“My car’s being repaired. Can I go to work with you?” Lu Heng actually lied—something he never would have done in the past.
He simply wanted to go to work with Lin Yan, and to experience the route Lin Yan usually took to the company.
“Ah?” Lin Yan was a little surprised. “I only have an electric scooter.”
“That’s fine.” Lu Heng pressed the elevator button. “Let’s go.”
Once they reached outside the residential complex, Lin Yan walked up to his scooter and stared at the small electric bike in front of him. Riding with Lu Heng behind him… somehow felt a bit inappropriate.
But would Lu Heng even know how to ride?
After a moment, Lin Yan turned and asked, “President Lu, do you know how to ride?”
Lu Heng shook his head.
Lin Yan was holding the only helmet. When he bought this scooter, he had never imagined there would be a day when he’d carry someone else— let alone Lu Heng.
Lin Yan put on the helmet and sat on the bike. “President Lu, get on.”
Lu Heng lowered his head with a smile. For some reason, those words sounded oddly commanding.
Luckily, his clothes weren’t tight today. He lifted his leg and got on, his long legs settling neatly together—though his hands didn’t quite know where to go.
He glanced to the side just as another electric scooter passed by, also carrying two people.
They were clearly a couple—the girl sitting behind had her arms wrapped around the person in front.
As if on purpose, Lu Heng copied her. The moment Lin Yan started the scooter, he wrapped his arms around him.
Pretending it was only because of inertia, Lu Heng took advantage of the momentum and held on a little tighter.
The instant Lin Yan felt arms wrap around his waist, his back stiffened. He didn’t say anything and continued driving forward.
Fortunately, the company wasn’t far—it wouldn’t take long to arrive.
But along the way, Lin Yan felt unusually tormented. Though his eyes were fixed on the road ahead, all his attention was on his back—and his waist.
Lu Heng rested his chin in the hollow of Lin Yan’s neck, tilting his head as he closed his eyes and felt the wind brushing past Lin Yan’s body.
If Lin Yan hadn’t been wearing a helmet at that moment, Lu Heng’s lips might have ended up pressed right against his neck.
The atmosphere grew subtly intimate. Lin Yan swallowed, his throat moving as his heartbeat raced.
Opening his eyes, Lu Heng turned his head to the other side and looked at the scenery along the way.
So this was the road Lin Yan took to work every day.
They passed three red lights and three breakfast shops, yet Lin Yan didn’t stop at any of them.
Had he already eaten before leaving?
That made sense. Lin Yan usually had breakfast at home—only occasionally eating outside.
When they reached the company, Lin Yan stopped the scooter.
Lu Heng got off obediently.
Lin Yan stood there and took off his helmet. The moment he lifted his head, his gaze met Lu Heng’s.
They stood facing each other, a small electric scooter between them. Lin Yan lowered his eyes, deliberately avoiding Lu Heng’s stare.
But deliberate avoidance couldn’t escape someone who was paying close attention.
The next second, a low, magnetic voice—gentle and steady—came from above Lin Yan’s head.
“Lin Yan, give me a chance to pursue you, okay?”
In an instant, Lin Yan froze.
He had thought that by pretending not to understand, he could avoid thinking about this for a while.
But he hadn’t expected Lu Heng to chase after him and say it outright.
He didn’t dare lift his head. If he did, he would meet Lu Heng’s blazing gaze—and he knew that once that happened, he’d completely lose control of his heartbeat.
His cheeks burned uncomfortably. Lin Yan didn’t answer—he truly didn’t know how to.
In truth, his anger had long since faded. What he felt now was mostly shyness.
And also fear.
He had no experience with relationships, and he was afraid that if he wasn’t careful, he’d be swept away by this man without even realizing it.
He didn’t want that.
He quickly took off the helmet and placed it on the scooter in a fluster, nearly failing to hook it properly.
“President Lu, I—I’m going to be late,” Lin Yan said before hurrying away.
“If you don’t answer, I’ll take it as silent consent,” Lu Heng said with a smile. Seeing Lin Yan panic actually gave him a quiet sense of satisfaction.
Lin Yan heard him. His face turned even redder.
After arriving at the company, Lin Yan quietly messaged Chen Xin. He didn’t know what to do right now and needed someone to help him sort things out.
And in his mind, Chen Xin was the most suitable person.
“What’s wrong, Brother Yan?” Chen Xin asked as she followed him to the same balcony as before.
The pantry area was busy with people coming and going. Afraid of being overheard, Lin Yan deliberately chose this more secluded balcony to talk.
“Well… let me ask you something,” he said. “If someone who’s actually quite outstanding likes you…”
Before he could finish, Chen Xin cut in excitedly.
“So President Lu really likes you?” she asked, her voice full of excitement. Then she continued, “He confessed to you?”
Sometimes it was hard to understand why women’s intuition could be so accurate—yet she had guessed it immediately.
Lin Yan forced himself to suppress the smile tugging at his lips, then nodded shyly.
“Ah!!!” Chen Xin nearly screamed, but she quickly forced her voice down. “Really? Really?!”
“Keep your voice down.” After reacting, Lin Yan asked, “How did you know?”
“No—Brother Yan, didn’t you look at the photos I took?” Chen Xin said as she opened them and showed him.
The two of them zoomed in on the pictures, trying to analyze the expressions of the people in them.
One was taken in the cafeteria, another in the car—there were many, many more.
In moments Lin Yan hadn’t noticed, Lu Heng’s affection had already surfaced.
“Look,” Chen Xin said. “That look in his eyes—it’s definitely not normal.”
Lin Yan stared at the photos. He remembered every one of them.
It turned out that every glance Lu Heng had cast his way had already revealed feelings that were far from ordinary.
“Brother Yan, if you like him, then go for it. Don’t overthink it.”
Lin Yan thought about it.
What he was afraid of was Lu Heng’s previous attitude—hot one moment, cold the next. He didn’t know if it would happen again.
But considering that Lu Heng had turned into a little cat and stayed at his place because of him, Lin Yan could now understand that inconsistency.
Perhaps back then, Lu Heng had been trying to confirm his own feelings.
Just like Lin Yan now—he was also trying to figure out his heart.
“Today’s your birthday,” Chen Xin suggested. “Ask him if he wants to go to KTV.”
She added, “If you want to know whether someone truly cares about you, you have to see whether they’re willing to blend into your social circle.”
Lin Yan felt that wasn’t very appropriate. With President Lu around, everyone might not have as much fun, so he didn’t ask.
The day’s work was genuinely busy. One moment, Lin Yan’s mind was still occupied by someone else; the next, his thoughts were pulled right back to work.
Until a message came from that person—and his heart was hooked all over again.
Lu Heng: [Do you have any plans tonight?]
Remembering what Chen Xin had said, Lin Yan hesitated. In the end, he still felt it was inappropriate. Instead of following her suggestion, he honestly told him his real plans.
Lin Yan Yan Yan Yan~: [Tonight I’m having dinner with people from my department, then we’re going to sing.]
Lu Heng: [Okay. Message me when you’re done. I’ll come pick you up.]
…
After eating with everyone, Lin Yan went to KTV with them.
He was distracted the entire time, constantly checking his phone. That person hadn’t sent him another message.
Maybe he felt a little disappointed. Lin Yan kept his head down, drinking.
Chen Xin walked over. “What’s wrong, Brother Yan? You’re not happy?”
Under the dim KTV lights, Lin Yan’s low mood became even more obvious. Perhaps it was the atmosphere—everyone seemed to be in pairs, while he sat alone to the side.
Loneliness always became especially sharp in places like this.
And maybe it was the consecutive love songs that made it even harder to hide his disappointment. He could only sit there drinking again and again. The alcohol dulled nothing—instead, the sense of loss only grew stronger.
“No,” Lin Yan replied weakly.
“You called him, but he didn’t come?”
“No. He said he’d come pick me up later.” As he spoke, Lin Yan took another sip of alcohol.
“Tsk, tsk.” Chen Xin raised her glass and clinked it against his. “Cherish this ambiguous stage while it lasts.”
At that, Lin Yan smiled faintly.
“I think the ambiguous stage between Yang Yang and me was just too short. When I think back on it now, I was really head over heels back then.”
“That’s the stench of romance,” Lin Yan teased.
“What—what did I just hear?” Wang Hao exclaimed in shock, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend as he joined their conversation.
“It’s nothing,” Chen Xin immediately denied it, afraid he’d keep pressing. After all, this was Brother Yan’s private matter—he should only talk about it if he wanted to.
“Don’t lie to me. I definitely heard something,” Wang Hao insisted.
“It’s… President Lu,” Lin Yan said. The alcohol had gone to his head, and he suddenly felt the urge to let it all out.
He ended up saying everything—what he’d been thinking, and what had actually happened.
“Wait—are you talking about President Lu?” Wang Hao looked utterly stunned. “You mean that President Lu from our company?”
“Yes.”
Everyone chimed in one after another, determined to finish dissecting this piece of gossip.
With the music off and the glaring lights gone, the group gathered around Lin Yan, analyzing and replaying everything.
They broke down Lu Heng’s past actions, picking them apart piece by piece—acting as if each of them were relationship experts.
“So that competition last time,” Wang Hao covered his mouth, finally realizing it, “President Lu was actually standing up for you.”
“Seriously, that’s impressive,” he continued. “One move, two wins—he got rid of a scumbag for the company and got revenge for you.”
It felt like everyone there was telling Lin Yan the same thing—Lu Heng really, truly liked him.
When it was over, Lin Yan and the others walked out of the private room.
Downstairs, a Maybach was parked by the roadside. A man wrapped in an overcoat leaned against the car door, checking his watch from time to time.
Lu Heng had prepared a birthday gift for Lin Yan and placed it inside the car.
The necklace he’d given last time might not have been Lin Yan’s style, so this time he’d looked at bracelets and phone charms instead. Anything related to that stone—he bought it all.
Because he wasn’t sure what Lin Yan liked.
Several shopping bags were packed and placed in the back seat, waiting to be given to Lin Yan. He lowered his head and checked the time again.
Afraid he might miss him.
The evenings were a little cold this season, so Lu Heng had deliberately brought an extra coat. He was worried Lin Yan might catch a chill after drinking.
Lin Yan and the others approached.
Lu Heng lifted his eyes and saw the familiar figure. After standing there for so long, he finally moved, the wind brushing his hair aside as he stepped forward.
The others immediately understood.
Seeing Lu Heng walk over, someone leaned close to Lin Yan’s ear and whispered softly, “Go on. Leaving you with President Lu—we’re at ease.”
Then, as if by mutual agreement, everyone quietly left.
“Are you okay?” Lu Heng asked gently, his voice filled with concern for Lin Yan alone.
He took off his coat and draped it over Lin Yan’s shoulders. One arm wrapped around Lin Yan’s back, the other holding his arm, pulling him completely into his embrace.
Lowering his head, Lin Yan caught sight of Lu Heng’s hand gripping his arm tightly.
When the wind swept past, it failed to cool the warmth in Lin Yan’s chest—instead, it burned even hotter.
Perhaps because of the alcohol, Lin Yan felt his body temperature rising. His face felt even warmer than before.
Lu Heng thoughtfully opened the car door for him, his gaze following Lin Yan as he sat in the passenger seat.
Just after Lin Yan sat down, Lu Heng suddenly leaned closer.
In that instant, Lin Yan held his breath.
Sensing Lu Heng’s sudden closeness, he instinctively leaned back slightly.
His heart leapt straight to his throat.
Lu Heng reached across Lin Yan’s side, pulled out the seat belt, and looped it around in front of him before fastening it securely.
One hand rested near the buckle, the other braced against the seat. His body completely enclosed Lin Yan, and as he leaned down, their gazes inevitably met.
Lu Heng’s eyes shifted slightly—first meeting Lin Yan’s, then slowly dropping to his lips.
At such close distance, their breaths mingled. Lu Heng swallowed, his lips parting slightly as he leaned closer.
Lin Yan widened his eyes, gripping the seat belt tightly.
Looking forward, he could clearly see Lu Heng’s sharp jawline—and the movement of his throat as it bobbed.
Just then, a passing car honked its horn.
The sudden sound snapped both of them back to reality.
“Holy—holy—” Chen Xin hid in a corner by the wall, opened her phone camera, and zoomed in dozens of times to look at Lin Yan.
She never expected to witness a scene like that.
“They were about to kiss! About to kiss!” Chen Xin covered her mouth, unable to suppress her excitement as she lightly pounded the wall beside her.
Lu Heng pulled back and returned to the driver’s seat, slipping back into his role as the driver. “Did you drink a lot?”
“Not really. Not much.”
When they arrived home, Lu Heng took the gifts from the back seat and carried them upstairs to Lin Yan’s place. He handed them over and said,
“The necklace I gave you last time—I didn’t think it through properly. I put it on you without even confirming whether you liked it.”
“No, no, I really like it,” Lin Yan hurriedly waved his hands in explanation. Then, realizing something, he added, “I just took it off to shower and forgot to put it back on.”
“Mm.” Lu Heng didn’t say anything more. As long as Lin Yan liked it, that was enough.
Then he stepped forward, closing the distance little by little.
Lin Yan didn’t move away.
Lu Heng bent down, lowered his head, and gently pressed a kiss to Lin Yan’s forehead.
Light—like a dragonfly touching the water.
“Lin Yan, happy birthday.”
After closing the door and entering his apartment, Lin Yan’s heart raced wildly, thumping so hard it felt like it might jump out of his chest. He couldn’t suppress the smile curling at his lips and laughed softly in happiness.
Lu Heng also returned home, but his heart remained unsettled—uneasy, uncertain.
He called Lu Yan again, only to discover that the brat had actually blocked him.
Left with no other choice, he decided to take a risk and reveal his one—and final—trump card.
Lin Yan was just about to go to sleep when he heard something scratching at his door.
He walked over and opened it.
A familiar small figure suddenly appeared.
“Meiqiu.”
Author’s Note:
The wife is about to start teasing the cat. 🙈