This time, He Xiaoyuan had only drunk beer, the tipsiness light. He hadn’t slept in the car, and though calm, his excitement showed. Sitting in the passenger seat, bright eyes wide open, he resembled a little lion, his joy written clearly across his face.
The little lion knew he was heading with Lu Chen to Yanlan Bay. He hadn’t thought much, but only realized in the underground parking at his complex: Wait… so late at night, why is he going to Lu Ge’s place?
He Xiaoyuan: ? Pet the cat? But it’s already so late.
His brain slowed again.
He only remembered after getting out of the car that he had come because Lu Chen asked him to—but why exactly?
He Xiaoyuan couldn’t recall.
Once inside the elevator, he blankly looked at Lu Chen and asked.
Lu Chen glanced back, naturally: “Isn’t it to celebrate you signing the contract?”
Celebrate?
He Xiaoyuan still couldn’t remember that.
He thought to himself: Didn’t they already celebrate at the dinner?
By the time the elevator reached the top floor, the doors slowly slid open. He Xiaoyuan lifted his eyes—and froze.
Through the giant floor-to-ceiling windows of the living room, a bright red banner with golden letters stretched across the glass:
“Warmly Celebrate and Congratulate Manager He Xiaoyuan on Successfully Signing the Project Contract.”
He Xiaoyuan: ?
He Xiaoyuan: !
He Xiaoyuan: ⊙⊙
In an instant—truly an instant—goosebumps erupted all over his body. He wished he could dig a hole in the elevator floor with his toes just to hide.
He was stunned. How could such a thing exist in this world?!
So cringy… so embarrassing!
Ah!
He spun back inside the elevator, unable to face it, eyes refusing to look. After a moment, he realized: this had to be something Lu Chen prepared just for him. Shocked and yet amused, he turned to the man beside him—say thank you, that’s right… but this was just too embarrassing. Say something else? Then he’d seem rude or unappreciative.
He Xiaoyuan had never felt so torn in his life. He didn’t know what expression to wear. In the end, he let out an “ah,” covering his eyes with his hands. Finally, he understood what Lu Chen meant by “celebrate.” Embarrassed yet laughing, he looked at Lu Chen and said, “How… how did you even think of this?”
He really couldn’t look!
Lu Chen, normally the epitome of refined taste, this big boss from top to bottom… why did he suddenly display something so gaudy and tacky?
He Xiaoyuan remembered the last time he’d seen a bright red banner like this—it was during his senior year in college, at the male dorm, reading someone’s “National Football Team! Bah! Refund!” banner.
Lu Chen… how could he hang something like this?
So—embarrassing!
He Xiaoyuan hid his face, frozen in the elevator, utterly helpless and flustered.
Finally, Lu Chen draped an arm over his shoulder and guided him out.
Grabbing one of He Xiaoyuan’s hands, Lu Chen gently pulled it away from his face and gestured: “Look—don’t you think it’s nice? Festive, isn’t it?”
NO!
He Xiaoyuan refused to look, shaking his head, eyes turned away.
Lu Chen simply looped his arm around the young man’s shoulders and led him toward the living room, past the sofa, closer to the windows.
He Xiaoyuan had no choice but to follow. As he approached, he already regretted it. He tried to retreat, but Lu Chen held him in place.
“No, I’m not looking! I won’t look!” he laughed, pleading.
“Nothing to be shy about. Just look—get used to it.”
“I cannot get used to it!”
“Come on.”
They playfully wrestled back and forth in front of the banner, tugging hands, each trying to lead the other. In the end, He Xiaoyuan’s face was beet-red, but he finally looked at the banner Lu Chen had prepared for him.
Really—how could such a refined taste and luxurious mansion have something so glaringly tacky?
He couldn’t bear it, especially the part that read: “Manager He Xiaoyuan.”
Yet, despite the embarrassment, he couldn’t help but smile. Deep down, he was still touched and happy.
He read the banner from start to finish several times. Just as he was about to say “thank you,” a bouquet of flowers suddenly appeared before him.
Startled, he turned. Lu Chen held the flowers, smiling: “Congratulations.”
He added: “Your hard work paid off. Your effort has borne fruit. It deserves a proper celebration.”
He Xiaoyuan was both surprised and moved.
He had never imagined receiving flowers at a moment like this. He thought a simple congratulations, a happy dinner, and some drinks would already be the greatest acknowledgment of his effort. And yet, there were flowers too?
Blushing, the young man stared in astonishment.
The man holding the flowers was gentle and composed.
They looked at each other silently, as if time itself had paused.
He Xiaoyuan couldn’t describe his feelings—surprise? Emotion? Delight? Joy? Probably all of it.
And yet, there was something else, fleeting, brushing through his heart.
He didn’t catch it fully, only felt that Lu Chen treated him with such care, such tenderness.
A simple project contract, and with Lu Chen’s position, he must have seen everything—but Lu Chen framed it as something worth celebrating, worth recognizing, important.
He even prepared a banner, bought flowers.
No, more than that—he waited until now, until He Xiaoyuan had finished his dinner and drunk a bit, then personally drove to pick him up.
He Xiaoyuan thought to himself: What kind of person is this? How good must someone be to do all this?
A warmth flooded through him; it felt like his entire heart and being were wrapped in tenderness and care.
He met Lu Chen’s gaze, sparkling like stars, like seashells glinting in sunlight.
Slowly, he reached for the flowers and whispered lightly: “Thank you.”
Lu Chen’s dark eyes fixed on him, gentle, faintly smiling.
He Xiaoyuan felt a blush rise, ashamed of overreacting to the banner earlier, wasting Lu Chen’s thoughtfulness.
He averted his eyes, instead looking at the reflection of the banner on the glass. Holding the flowers, he murmured: “Did you have these specially made?”
Lu Chen stood tall, smiling faintly: “No.”
He Xiaoyuan: Huh?
Lu Chen softly: “Picked them up on the way.”
Only then did He Xiaoyuan realize he’d asked a silly question. If not specially made, what else could they be? They literally read: “Congratulations Manager He Xiaoyuan.”
He Xiaoyuan laughed nervously: “Sorry, sorry.”
Lu Chen smiled: “It’s fine—it was just picked up anyway.”
He Xiaoyuan understood Lu Chen was teasing him. He smiled, asking: “Then… were the flowers picked up too?”
Lu Chen calmly gave a soft “Hmm,” and said, “The cat brought it back from the street.”
He Xiaoyuan laughed, eyes curving into crescent moons, and followed along: “Well, that must have been a lot of trouble for you—both picking it up and carrying it back.”
“Not troublesome,” Lu Chen replied. He raised his arms slightly, stepping forward just a little, and gently wrapped the young man in a hug, leaning close to whisper in his ear: “Congratulations, He Xiaoyuan. You’re amazing. You did really well.”
He Xiaoyuan’s chest felt like it had been lightly struck, and warmth rose to his eyes—being acknowledged felt so overwhelmingly good. All those tireless late nights, all the extra work, the careful negotiations, the endless back-and-forths—they suddenly had meaning, value, and reward.
Especially because the recognition came from Lu Chen himself—the one he looked up to, depended on, admired. Strong, capable, and kind to him—Lu Chen.
In that instant, warmth and tenderness filled him entirely.
The emotional impact was so deep that He Xiaoyuan, who had meant to smile, almost cried. He sniffled, holding back the tears that pricked at his eyes, which were already moist.
Lu Chen released him from the embrace, placing his hands on He Xiaoyuan’s shoulders instead, smiling: “Why are you still about to cry?”
He Xiaoyuan held the flowers to his chest, eyes lowered: “I’m not crying.”
Lu Chen faced him calmly, looking him over: “Shoulders are yours if you want.”
He Xiaoyuan laughed, looking up and brushing back the last hint of tears: “Really, I’m not crying—you’re teasing me again.”
The long-haired Maine Coon had been standing nearby for a while, tilting its head curiously at the two humans: “Meow.”
He Xiaoyuan noticed it, bent down, and scooped it up, holding it together with the flowers: “Did I wake you from your nap?”
Lu Chen then walked toward the sofa, a few steps away, pulling out his phone and holding it horizontally.
He Xiaoyuan looked over.
The intention was obvious: “Take a few pictures of you.”
“Sure.”
He Xiaoyuan no longer minded the banner—he was happy. He put the cat down, stood by the banner without blocking the letters, holding the flowers, and posed for the camera, even flashing a peace sign.
Lu Chen adjusted the phone, lowered it to frame him just right, and started taking pictures.
One shot wasn’t enough—he took many. Some with He Xiaoyuan at the start, middle, and end of the banner, some holding the flowers, some holding both the flowers and the cat, with or without the peace sign, lips pursed or teeth showing—every variation.
He Xiaoyuan even pulled out his own phone to snap selfies, angling the flowers just right, and took photos of Lu Chen by the banner, or them together in close shots.
Whenever they took selfies, they were close. Lu Chen draped an arm over He Xiaoyuan’s shoulder, and when Lu Chen held the camera for the shot, He Xiaoyuan wrapped an arm around Lu Chen’s back.
In short, they had a lot of fun taking pictures, their interactions natural and intimate.
Afterward, He Xiaoyuan curled up on the sofa, scrolling through the photos, giggling at the funny ones, showing them to Lu Chen. They laughed together.
The alcohol in He Xiaoyuan’s system made him relaxed but not drunk. He later rested his head on Lu Chen’s shoulder.
Lu Chen glanced down and let him lean there.
He Xiaoyuan was only sleepy, fully aware of relying on Lu Chen. He leaned as he wished, feeling completely at ease—their bond was that close.
After a while, He Xiaoyuan unconsciously nudged his head against Lu Chen’s shoulder, adjusting slightly, burying his face near the man’s neck, warm breath brushing across his throat, murmuring softly: “You’re too good to me.”
Lu Chen didn’t move, shoulder steady, his gaze sweeping down.
He Xiaoyuan murmured again: “You’re really good to me.”
Lu Chen asked softly: “How good?”
“Extremely good… really, really good.”
He rubbed his cheek against Lu Chen’s neck again, just like the Maine Coon at home would.
Lu Chen, though self-controlled, felt a stir. The young man’s closeness, his innocent nuzzles—they were enough to make him restless.
Adjusting slightly, he slid the arm around He Xiaoyuan’s back, pulling him closer, half-cradling him, one hand cupping the back of his head, gently stroking. The young man, cat-like, rested in his arms, eyes closed, brushing his face again, letting out soft, contented sighs.
Lu Chen tilted his head slightly—forehead close to the young man’s, breath grazing him.
There was a quiet, subtle temptation lingering in his mind, but he didn’t act on it—pride in his self-control held.
Yet the warmth of the boy in his arms, soft and fragrant, stirred thoughts he didn’t fully admit.
With the boy asleep and trusting him, every movement was safe… and Lu Chen’s hand lifted to cradle his chin gently, tilting the soft, pink lips just slightly—so inviting, so tempting.
Lu Chen’s Adam’s apple moved slightly as his lips and breath hovered just above the soft petals of He Xiaoyuan’s lips.
But in the end, he let go of the hand that had lifted the chin and simply leaned over to press a gentle kiss on the top of He Xiaoyuan’s head.
Still just a child, he thought with a small smile in his heart.
Someday… eventually…
Lu Chen remained quietly optimistic about the unpredictable future.
Just as he finished that light kiss on the head, He Xiaoyuan opened his eyes, lifting his gaze calmly to meet Lu Chen’s.
Lu Chen lowered his eyes, returning the look with composed ease, saying nothing, showing nothing—as if he had done nothing at all.
He Xiaoyuan wasn’t sure if he had woken naturally or felt the gentle kiss, but his eyes opened quickly and clearly. He seemed alert, though not fully conscious, and his gaze was steady.
But his reaction was unusual—perhaps if fully awake, he wouldn’t have done what came next:
He met Lu Chen’s eyes, then nestled back into his shoulder, adjusting slightly, wrapping his arms around Lu Chen’s waist, pressing closer into his chest in a more comfortable, intimate posture, and closed his eyes again. Like a young wolf cub in the head wolf’s embrace, he felt safe and secure, body and mind leaning fully on Lu Chen.