Chapter 59 – Going Abroad
“What are we going abroad for?” Lin Yan asked. He was lying across Lu Heng’s legs. “I still have so much work to do.”
Lu Heng ran his fingers through Lin Yan’s hair, the strands brushing lightly against his fingertips. He lowered his head with a smile and explained patiently, “I want to take you to see my home.”
Rolling over, Lin Yan propped his head on his arm and looked up at him. Lu Heng was slowly stroking his hair, then gently lowered his head and pressed a kiss to Lin Yan’s forehead.
So cute.
Never enough kisses.
Lin Yan lifted his chin instinctively. Before Lu Heng could pull back, he leaned down again and kissed him lightly.
The kiss deepened little by little—tender, lingering. They both indulged in each other, almost greedily, until control began to slip. Lu Heng’s hand wandered without much restraint, shifting positions casually.
“Mmm…” A soft sound escaped Lin Yan’s throat.
“What’s wrong? Uncomfortable?” Lu Heng’s voice was low and pleasant, stirring every nerve in Lin Yan’s body. “I just want to take you out to relax.”
“Ah…” Lin Yan grew shy at his teasing. “Okay… let’s go.”
Gradually, the atmosphere became more and more hazy. Lin Yan’s eyes seemed covered by a layer of mist, able to see only blurred halos of light.
He couldn’t clearly see the other person’s face, lost instead in his own drifting thoughts.
His voice softened as his body leaned weakly into Lu Heng’s embrace.
“But you look like you’re doing just fine,” Lu Heng murmured. His warm lips brushed against Lin Yan’s chin. He gave it a light bite, then moved to gently nip at his lower lip.
As Lin Yan lifted his head, his body followed, his waist arching instinctively, his back stretching into a graceful curve.
Their movements were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a plastic cover falling to the floor.
Jinzi jumped onto the coffee table and squatted there, staring at them as if watching a livestream meant exclusively for him.
Lin Yan turned his head and saw Jinzi. Remembering that Jinzi could actually understand their conversations, he jolted upright in embarrassment and hurriedly tugged his clothes back into place.
He buried his face in Lu Heng’s arm, his entire body burning hot.
“Why are you being shy?” Lu Heng chuckled softly. He turned his head and whispered by Lin Yan’s ear, “I’m going to collect the clothes. You should rest.”
Lin Yan then propped himself up and sat up, watching as Lu Heng bent over to fold the last shirt into the dark-blue suitcase. His fingertips still carried the warmth from just having ironed it.
Lu Heng was meticulous—he had almost packed everything Lin Yan might need. Although all these things could be bought overseas, being in an unfamiliar place felt much more comfortable when surrounded by familiar belongings.
After finishing packing, Lu Heng turned around and realized Lin Yan was no longer sitting on the sofa. He walked toward the bedroom.
The bedroom lights weren’t on.
Had he fallen asleep?
Soft, uneven breathing reached his ears.
He turned his head—and saw someone shyly hiding behind the door, still without turning on the light.
Lu Heng reached over and switched it on.
Lin Yan was wearing fluffy cat ears and an outfit that easily stirred desire.
Lu Heng’s Adam’s apple bobbed.
Some things didn’t require touch—just seeing them was enough to push desire to its peak.
His gaze slowly swept over the person before him. That flushed little face made him want to devour him, yet at the same time he couldn’t help admiring him more, savoring every detail.
He was afraid that the next second, the person giving him such a “benefit” would retreat back into the shadows and refuse to let him look anymore.
To be honest, this kind of clothing—people always searched for novelty and stimulation in life. Lu Heng had once thought such things were unbearably vulgar, until he experienced them himself.
In the end, no one truly escaped worldly temptations.
He had bought many outfits like this and hidden them in the bathroom—pure mischief on his part. Lin Yan always forgot to bring clothes when he went in to shower.
Forgetting was one thing, but he would then get shy, too embarrassed to walk out openly in front of Lu Heng.
So Lu Heng came up with a way to “fix” this habit of his.
He immediately ordered a pile of themed outfits—most of them cat-related—and placed them directly in the bathroom so Lin Yan would put them on without thinking.
What he hadn’t expected was that Lin Yan didn’t just wear the outfit—he even put on the headpiece.
“Let me see… which shy little kitten is this?” Lu Heng said softly.
Lin Yan fell into Lu Heng’s chest, hugging him tightly, his voice muffled as he murmured, “I…”
Lu Heng sensed something was off—but since Lin Yan had already come to him so willingly, there was no reason to refuse.
He grasped Lin Yan’s slender waist, kissed along his lips, then pressed him down onto the bed. Holding the fluffy little tail at his back, he pulled him fully into his arms.
At that moment, seeing the person in his embrace clutching his neck, silently asking for more, the growing intensity finally pushed him past restraint.
“Let’s continue what we didn’t finish earlier.”
“Mm…”
…
When the plane landed at the airport, Lin Yan was still half-asleep, resting against Lu Heng’s shoulder. Lu Heng had been thoughtfully massaging his waist the entire time.
After the night before, Lin Yan had almost been unable to get out of bed.
Seeing the faint pink marks and the cat-ear headpiece nearby, Lin Yan truly didn’t want to admit that he had actually put that thing on of his own accord.
He woke up in Lu Heng’s arms, directly facing his own boldness from the night before. He felt terribly embarrassed.
“When did you even buy all those things?”
“A few days ago,” Lu Heng replied.
When he placed the order, he hadn’t paid much attention to the details—he just bought the most expensive ones. He hadn’t expected to end up with a type infused with certain pheromones.
Once worn, it was almost impossible to stop.
He couldn’t help sighing again—nowadays, things like this didn’t even need to be consumed. Mere contact was enough to trigger such reactions.
“What kind of underwear is that? You turn into a completely different person the moment you put it on,” Lin Yan complained coquettishly in Lu Heng’s arms.
Lu Heng lifted his legs and set him onto the sink. The mirror reflected the two of them, their heads leaning close together.
He turned on the faucet, dipped his hand into the water, dampened a washcloth, and gently wiped Lin Yan’s face, trying to wake him with the chill.
When his hand left Lin Yan’s face, Lin Yan lost his support and leaned weakly against Lu Heng’s shoulder.
“Alright, hurry up and wash. We need to catch the flight.”
The noise of the airplane was blocked by a curtain, making Lin Yan’s ears feel stuffy and uncomfortable. Lu Heng continued massaging his waist.
“It’s all your fault—you used too much strength,” Lin Yan complained.
“Alright, my fault. All of it,” Lu Heng said indulgently.
Outside the window, the outline of mountains emerged faintly through the morning mist, like an unfinished watercolor painting. Lu Heng gently squeezed Lin Yan’s fingers.
“We’re here. My home is by the lake—about an hour’s drive.”
Lin Yan instantly woke up halfway. “Wait—you only said we were going abroad. You didn’t say we were going to your home?”
He looked down and tugged at his wrinkled hoodie. This was way too sudden. If he was meeting family, shouldn’t he prepare properly?
“Meeting your parents? Isn’t this outfit too casual?”
Lu Heng chuckled softly, his fingers brushing over Lin Yan’s messy hair. “Relax. My family isn’t that strict. Besides…” He suddenly lowered his voice. “You look good in anything—especially what you wore last night…”
Lin Yan’s ears instantly burned. He reached out to cover Lu Heng’s mouth, but Lu Heng smoothly caught his wrist.
“You’ve already met the people closest to me,” Lu Heng said, squeezing his hand firmly. “It’s fine. No need to be nervous.”
“It’s different,” Lin Yan said.
“How is it different?” Lu Heng asked.
“This time is after we got together. I’m meeting Auntie as your partner—that’s obviously different,” Lin Yan said anxiously, his foot unconsciously bouncing.
“Lin Yan,” Lu Heng said quietly, “I think… we should get married.”
Lin Yan frowned at once. No matter what he said, this man always made it sound so casual.
His confessions were casual.
Even asking him to stay together had been casual.
As if Lu Heng were completely certain Lin Yan would say yes.
No—he couldn’t let him take advantage again.
Lin Yan shook his head and turned away.
Other passengers in the cabin were busy retrieving their luggage. No one noticed the intimacy in the corner.
Lin Yan muttered softly, “Even Meiqiu isn’t as good at flirting as you are.”
Lu Heng’s gaze flickered subtly. He rubbed Lin Yan’s hair and said with a smile, “But I am Meiqiu.”
The train toward their destination ran along the lakeshore. The water was a vivid emerald green, like jade soaked in sunlight, while red-roofed cottages dotted the shore in gentle disorder.
As Lin Yan leaned against the window in amazement, Lu Heng wrapped his arms around him from behind, resting his chin in the hollow of his shoulder.
“When I was little, I used to look at the scenery along this route all the time,” he said softly. “Back then, I always thought that one day, I’d bring the person I liked here.”
“And you ended up bringing a subordinate back instead?” Lin Yan teased, though warmth quietly spread in his heart.
Lu Heng didn’t reply. He only held Lin Yan tighter.
This road wasn’t just any route to him—he wanted Lin Yan to see it, because it meant something different.
Otherwise, a private car would have been waiting for them the moment they got off the plane. But Lu Heng didn’t want that. He wanted Lin Yan to experience the scenery along the way.
Lu Heng’s home was far more breathtaking than Lin Yan had imagined.
It wasn’t a luxurious villa, but a century-old wooden house built against the mountainside. Vines climbed along the exterior walls, and wild roses bloomed freely in the garden.
Yet when the heavy oak door was pushed open, the interior revealed an unexpected mix—vintage furniture blended with smart-home technology. A holographic projector sat beside the fireplace, while the latest drawing tablet rested atop an antique desk.
Ding Yue had already been waiting there. When she heard that Lu Heng was bringing someone home, she was overjoyed and had spent the entire day preparing things for Lin Yan.
Still, bringing him back was what mattered most. The rest could wait until Lin Yan had settled in.
At dinner, Ding Yue served a lavish spread—a fusion of Eastern and Western dishes. Worried Lin Yan might not be used to the food, she even had someone add a few dishes from his hometown.
Perhaps because she hadn’t spoken much Chinese since returning, her words carried a soft Wu-accented lilt.
“Xiao Yan, don’t be shy. This is the first time Ah Heng has brought a friend home.”
Then she mischievously blinked.
“Oh—no, that’s not right. His boyfriend.”
Lin Yan nearly choked on his juice.
Under the table, Lu Heng reached over and held his hand, calm as ever.
“You scared him.”
“Oh? Did I?” Ding Yue laughed.
The group chatted casually at the table, completely unaware of someone approaching from behind.
Then the person barged in, suddenly appearing in front of Lin Yan.
“So this is my sister-in-law?”
Lin Yan was startled by the sudden close-up face. After regaining his composure, he asked calmly, “And you are…?”
“He’s my younger brother,” Lu Heng added.
“Hey, that’s not fair, brother,” Lu Yan complained loudly. “I’ve contributed a lot to your love story, you know.”
That one sentence left Lin Yan utterly confused. He looked at Lu Heng for an explanation.
“Don’t listen to him,” Lu Heng said lightly. “He exaggerates.”
“Am I exaggerating?” Lu Yan was straightforward by nature and never hid his feelings. “You tormented me for an entire night.”
With a clatter, his cutlery hit the table.
Everyone turned to look at Lu Heng.
The sudden noise startled Lin Yan slightly—his shoulders tensed. Realizing this, Lu Heng calmly said, “These chopsticks are a bit heavy.”
The warning in his tone made Lu Yan immediately restrain himself. He turned back and examined Lin Yan more carefully.
“Hello, sister-in-law. I’m Lu Yan.”
“H-Hello,” Lin Yan replied politely.
Then Lu Yan leaned in closer to look at Lin Yan, clicking his tongue as he said, “Honestly, he is cute. Totally worth me sacrificing an entire night.”
Lu Heng ground his teeth.
“Lu Yan, are you done yet?”
“With sister-in-law here, I’m not afraid of your threats,” Lu Yan said as he hopped behind Lin Yan, completely ignoring the sharp look Lu Heng shot at him. “Sister-in-law, let me tell you—”
He leaned close and whispered something softly into Lin Yan’s ear.
Both of them burst into laughter.
“Really?” Lin Yan asked.
Lu Yan nodded, still smiling.
“I’m heading back now. You two enjoy your meal.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Lu Heng said, picking up a napkin and wiping the corner of his mouth. “He just exaggerates everything.”
“Mm.”
Lin Yan replied with a smile, the ending of the sound drawn out sweetly by his gentle voice.
“Xiao Yan, don’t feel uncomfortable. Since you’re here, just treat this place as your own home,” Ding Yue said with a smile.
After speaking, she stood up.
“I’ll head upstairs first.”
“Let’s go.” Lu Heng took Lin Yan’s hand and led him to the bedroom upstairs.
When the door opened, Lin Yan froze in place.
The bedroom was enormous—larger than his entire apartment. One single bedroom here was practically the size of his whole home.
Even the bed looked small in comparison, while the bed in his own place nearly filled the entire room.
Thinking about how Lu Heng used to squeeze in with him in that tiny apartment, Lin Yan suddenly felt a little guilty for having wronged him.
Seeing him standing there in a daze, Lu Heng stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Lin Yan said in awe. “The bedroom is just… really big.”
“If it’s big,” Lu Heng murmured near his ear, “doesn’t that make certain things more convenient?”
That single sentence instantly flustered Lin Yan. His ears burned red as memories of his boldness the night before surfaced again.
“Hey…” Lin Yan lowered his head and reached up to touch the hand resting around his waist.
“Are you tired?” Lu Heng asked, leaning in to kiss the side of his neck.
“Not tired,” Lin Yan shook his head.
“Not tired, then…”
The moment the words left his mouth, Lin Yan regretted it.
After a bout of lingering passion, Lu Heng carried him into the bathtub, the two of them soaking together.
Warm water wrapped around Lin Yan’s body. Lu Heng sat behind him, lifting water with his hand and letting it fall over Lin Yan’s skin. Droplets slid down inch by inch, disappearing back into the water.
Lin Yan leaned back, his spine resting against Lu Heng’s chest. He lifted his head to look at him, and Lu Heng followed his gaze, pressing a kiss to his lips.
Their movements grew increasingly familiar, every kiss falling perfectly into place.
At first, the bathwater remained calm and still—but before long, it spilled over the edge of the tub, as though stirred into rolling waves.
…
“Lu Heng is back?”
Under the dim light, a figure stood with his back turned, smoking by the window.
“Yes,” the person behind him replied. “And he brought someone with him. Supposedly his boyfriend.”
“That’s not important.”
The cigarette was stubbed out. The man clasped his hands behind his back and turned around. After a moment’s thought, he spoke again.
“Is everything prepared?”
“Yes. It’s all ready. We’re just waiting for your instructions.” The person behind him stood quietly, head lowered, arms hanging naturally at his sides.
“Good. Find a time—deal with him as well.”
Author’s Note:
Today was my dad’s 60th birthday celebration, so I got home a bit late. This chapter still needs some revisions. [shy]