The first trial for the Lotus Dismemberment Case was approaching. Because the suspect’s father was a big shot in Yunzhou City, the case was attracting widespread attention. Online discussions had been nonstop these past few days.
Xiaowei, bored, browsed through some of the comments. Netizens were vocally righteous—already deeply resentful of the spoiled, arrogant son of a wealthy capitalist, let alone that the son had murdered and dismembered a female student after failing to win her affection. The brutal methods and heinous behavior were utterly appalling.
At noon, Xiaowei met with defense lawyer Ma Huai at a formal setting. Lawyer Ma appeared composed and confident, calm and unhurried, even in good spirits—talking about grabbing a meal together after the verdict.
Lin Hening rolled his eyes inwardly. After finishing the formalities and pleasantries, he grabbed Xiaowei and left.
While Xiaowei was driving, she said, “Seeing Lawyer Ma so confident, do you think he’s hiding some trump card?”
Lin Hening replied with just eight words: “A general meets a general, the battle will be tough.” (Equivalent to “fight fire with fire.”)
Xiaowei said, “Master, he’s lost to you three times before. This time, he probably has some personal grudge to avenge.”
Lin Hening thought, I’ve seen through him already. Ma Huai was like a smiling tiger—smiling on the surface, but a dagger hidden beneath. His presence made people uncomfortable.
Xiaowei asked if Lin Hening was going home. He nodded, intending to rest with his eyes closed, but accidentally fell asleep.
When he woke up, he was already home. Maybe because he had been thinking about Ma Huai, his whole body felt miserable—almost like that feeling had taken physical form. Lin Hening rubbed his dull, throbbing temples and dragged his heavy legs to the kitchen. His stomach was empty and aching.
He opened the fridge, which was fully stocked. All of it had been secretly restocked by Gu Fei while he was unaware.
Fresh meats and vegetables, eggs, milk, even sliced bread.
Just as Lin Hening was tearing open the bread packaging, his father, Lin Youyu, called. He said he’d be returning to the country early next month and asked how Lin Hening was doing lately.
“Pretty good.”
“Son, your voice sounds a little weak. Are you sick?”
Thanks to his dad’s reminder, Lin Hening suddenly realized his head felt warm—he probably did have a cold.
“Nothing serious, just a bit tired. I won’t bother you anymore. I’m going to lie down.” He hung up and immediately searched for a thermometer. The reading was 37.2°C (about 99°F).
Not a fever, but definitely on the high side.
Normally, Lin Hening wouldn’t be so fussy—he wouldn’t take medicine unless his fever hit 39°C (102°F). Of course, that’s not a good habit and shouldn’t be imitated. But today, Lin Hening was unusually proactive. He swallowed some cold medicine right away, praying he wouldn’t get a fever or get worse—after all, his grandma’s court hearing was tomorrow!
While lying on the couch praying, Gu Fei sent him a video.
Lin Hening was surprised. “Where are you? It sounds noisy.”
Gu Fei showed him the background—it was a supermarket, with a big clearance sale: “Accompanying my mom to snag some bargains!”
Gu Fei then zoomed in on Xu Fenli, who was standing in line to get eggs. “There was free laundry detergent earlier, but when it was my mom’s turn, they’d run out. She’s been complaining nonstop, saying she lost out on a fortune.”
Lin Hening laughed so hard he started coughing.
Gu Fei asked, “Is your throat sore?”
Lin Hening hesitated but didn’t say much.
He was never the type to complain about hardship or exhaustion.
Jian Xiaoxi once told him, “Kids who cry get candy. You should know when to show weakness—especially in front of your boyfriend. That’s how you trigger his protective instincts.”
Lin Hening frowned. While the advice made sense, it just didn’t fit him.
By nature, he simply couldn’t act cute or coquettish in front of his partner. Besides, he had a childish, fragile-hearted dad and had grown up always playing the role of caretaker—not the one being cared for. He thought that when he grew up and found a boyfriend, he’d finally get to be the one spoiled and loved. But Xia Zhile was just as childish, even more immature than him.
Gu Fei was completely different—mature in ways Lin Hening had never encountered before.
He didn’t have to say or do anything; just standing there made Lin Hening feel safe and reliable.
For once, Lin Hening deeply, unusually wanted to show some vulnerability.
Unconsciously, he wanted to shed that tough outer shell and boldly exaggerate a little, hoping the other person would pamper him.
“I feel a little uncomfortable,” Lin Hening murmured softly at the screen.
Gu Fei immediately froze for a moment. “What’s wrong? Are you sick? I’m coming over right now!”
Lin Hening knew Gu Fei was impulsive, but didn’t expect him to be this impatient.
Then he suddenly remembered Gu Fei was out shopping with Xu Fenli, and instantly felt like a scheming son competing with his mother-in-law for her son.
Lin Hening couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time, telling Gu Fei not to rush. But Xu Fenli overheard and asked what was wrong.
Gu Fei said, “Lin Hening seems to be sick.”
Xu Fenli exclaimed, “What? Then why are you just standing there? Go check on him now! Go, go, go!”
“Mom, aren’t you going to get the eggs?”
“Oh, forget about those eggs! Lin Hening is more important! But I don’t think it’s convenient for me to go. You go yourself. I’ll keep standing in line for the eggs! I’ll make egg custard for you guys tonight!”
Gu Fei: “…Okay.”
Lin Hening: “…Thank you, Auntie.”
Gu Fei arrived quickly.
“Have you eaten yet?”
Lin Hening nodded and pointed at the bread on the table.
Gu Fei didn’t say anything but took the bread and put it back in the fridge, then pulled out eggs, greens, and fresh noodles.
Lin Hening waited and waited but didn’t hear Gu Fei complain, “Are you seriously going to eat dry bread? I should at least make some porridge or noodles.”
More than ten minutes later, Gu Fei placed a bowl of noodles on the coffee table.
There were leafy greens and golden fried eggs, neatly arranged slices of ham, and because of the tomatoes, the soup had a tangy, appetizing taste.
Gu Fei never wasted words like this. Instead of complaining with pity like, “Why can’t you take care of yourself?” he showed it by actions: “It’s okay, I’ll take care of you.”
The broth was too hot and made Lin Hening’s eyes sting.
Gu Fei said, “Your temperature hasn’t hit 100.3°F yet, so no fever medicine. Just lie under the covers and sweat it out.”
Lin Hening nodded. He thought to himself that he wasn’t the type to be a whiny little man, so why did he suddenly feel soft, gooey, and pitiful?
After finishing the noodles, he even drank the soup under Gu Fei’s urging, feeling warmth all the way through his insides.
His head was dizzy and he was too lazy to move, so he just lay down on the couch.
Gu Fei came over and called his name.
Lin Hening hummed with his eyes closed.
Suddenly, his body felt light. Surprised, Lin Hening opened his eyes—Gu Fei had lifted him up.
Instinctively, Lin Hening hooked his arms around Gu Fei’s neck—not because he was afraid of falling, but because if the person being carried cooperated, it made it easier on the carrier.
Of course, the moment that thought popped into his head, Lin Hening laughed at his own unnecessary worry, fully relaxed, and went limp in Gu Fei’s arms like a salted fish left out to dry.
Gu Fei carried him steadily and smoothly, crossing the living room, walking up the spiral staircase to the second floor, and into the bedroom.
When Gu Fei was about to lay Lin Hening on the bed, Lin Hening couldn’t help himself—he reached out and poked Gu Fei’s ridiculously tempting abs.
That light touch caused Gu Fei to instantly lose composure; his arms went soft and Lin Hening tumbled right onto the bed.
“Hey, young man, don’t be so sensitive!”
Lin Hening laughed out loud and reached out to poke again—so solid. Poked again—wow, exactly the firmness he’d imagined!
Gu Fei saw him acting like a curious kid, smiled, took a step forward, and flexed the abs he used to ignore but now took pride in. “Having fun?”
“Play enough, then get some sleep. You’ve got a tough day tomorrow.”
Lin Hening rested his head on his arm and said, “Can’t sleep.”
Gu Fei sat on the edge of the bed. “Want me to sing you a song?”
“You can sing?” Lin Hening was impressed, nodding eagerly.
Clearing his throat, Gu Fei began. Lin Hening listened closely.
Gu Fei’s voice was strong and clear, loud and proud:
“Our team marches toward the sun,
Stepping on the motherland’s soil,
Bearing the hopes of our nation—
We are an invincible force…”
Lin Hening: “…”
Is singing a rousing military anthem really the best lullaby for someone trying to fall asleep?
Instead of making him sleepy, it fired Lin Hening up. He almost wanted to applaud Gu Fei and shout for an encore!
When Gu Fei finished, he looked down at Lin Hening’s shining eyes and blushed a little, asking, “Feeling sleepy now?”
You tell me.
Lin Hening grinned from ear to ear. “Sounds great, encore please.”
Gu Fei thought for a moment and started humming a familiar tune—it seemed like the theme song from some recent TV drama.
Lin Hening thought, “So you do know some pop songs!”
The style was light and fresh, sentimental. Gu Fei forgot the lyrics halfway through and ended up just humming the melody.
Lin Hening gazed at him deeply, his eyelids growing heavy.
Gu Fei gave him a sense of security—ever since they met, that feeling never left.
When you need him, he’s there.
When you don’t, he waits patiently until you do.
The next morning, Lin Hening woke up and immediately smelled the warm, fragrant scent of rice porridge. He walked into the kitchen and saw red date millet porridge bubbling in the pot. On the table were two plates of side dishes and two boiled eggs cooling in water.
“Gu Fei!” Lin Hening called out, and got an immediate reply.
Looking toward the voice, he saw Gu Fei on the open balcony, hanging laundry—clothes he’d changed out of last night, along with a bedsheet and duvet cover.
After finishing, Gu Fei came back to the kitchen, scooped porridge, and handed it to Lin Hening. They peeled their boiled eggs together, exchanging eggs with a smile as their eyes met.
Before heading out, Gu Fei handed Lin Hening a thermos cup. “Good luck.”
Lin Hening stood still and waved him over. “Come here.”
Gu Fei looked suspicious but stepped closer. “What’s up?”
“Come a little closer.”
Gu Fei thought, if he came any closer, they’d be practically touching. Suddenly, Lin Hening grabbed the back of his neck. Instincts honed from years of fighting made Gu Fei tense up, ready to resist—when suddenly, two soft lips covered his mouth.
Gu Fei’s mind buzzed like fireworks exploding—bursting in a dazzling array of colors.
Lin Hening gently stroked Gu Fei’s chin with his fingertip and smiled, “Boyfriend, tonight I want to eat tomato and egg noodles.”
The word “please” was missing.
Gu Fei froze, clenching his fists. He swore this was the most determined moment of his life—he resisted the urge to pull Lin Hening close and press him against the wall, deepening that kiss until they both gasped for air!
“Okay.” Gu Fei heard his own heart pounding wildly, his chest echoing with every beat. “I’ll make it for you when you get home.”
The sky was perfectly clear, a washed-out blue with the bright sun shining high.
Lin Hening sat in the car and twisted open the thermos, took a sip, and was surprised—not lemon black tea, but a warm brew of monk fruit.
He couldn’t help but smile.
So sweet!
