At three in the morning, Kong Wenyu had no choice but to go home.
Kong Lingtou had called his phone, saying she was waiting in the Kong family’s living room until he returned.
Kong Wenyu had no intention of going back—until not long after, Mrs. Kong had a caregiver call, ordering him to return immediately.
When he got out of bed, his face was full of exhaustion. Nie Jun touched the back of his hand to Kong Wenyu’s forehead—his temperature was normal.
“Take your hand off me,” Kong Wenyu said coldly.
His voice was hoarse from overuse, still tinged with the rawness of passion. After a whole night of release, it really was time to sleep.
Kong Wenyu sat there for a while before he slowly started getting dressed.
Nie Jun had already put on his clothes in a couple of quick movements and brought over a cup of warm water for him.
Kong Wenyu drank a few sips from his hand, then waved him off. As he got out of bed to put on his shoes, Nie Jun set down the cup and crouched down to hold them out for him.
He had really put in the effort earlier, even apologizing and deliberately coaxing Kong Wenyu—so much so that, by the end, Kong Wenyu was practically falling apart, calling him “Brother Jun” a few times before he was finally let go.
The afterglow still lingered. Kong Wenyu, in a rare show of mercy, allowed Nie Jun to help him with his shoes and didn’t pull away for once.
Once dressed, they left the bedroom. Nie Jun fetched a dried jacket from the balcony and helped him into it. Kong Wenyu glanced at it—it was the windbreaker he always wore, except this one was white and seemed a size smaller.
“When did you get this?” he asked while slipping it on.
“I brought it back in my bag,” Nie Jun replied. “You look better in white.”
Kong Wenyu ran his fingers over the fabric, and before he could say anything, Nie Jun added, “It’s the same material as your old one.”
Kong Wenyu gave him a look. “Trying to get the old one back?”
“No need to return it,” Nie Jun smiled. “You look good in that one too.”
A brand-new TV, new clothes, fruit prepared ahead of time, warm water in the thermos.
A fresh set of sleepwear and soft cotton slippers.
Kong Wenyu felt more comfortable here than at the Kong house. As he left, he took one last lingering look around the living room setup.
Nie Jun watched his expression. “Is your family matter easy to settle?”
“Yeah,” Kong Wenyu replied simply.
He got in the backseat while Nie Jun went to drive. At that hour, the neighborhood and streets were deserted. Budding branches swayed gently under the streetlights now and then.
There wasn’t much to see outside. Kong Wenyu took out the locator chip from its box, and Nie Jun immediately turned on the car’s interior lights to help him see.
Kong Wenyu examined the thin round chip in his hand. “How do you check the location on this?”
“From your phone or computer. There’s a special app for it,” Nie Jun answered as he drove, glancing at him through the rearview mirror. “If you end up somewhere unfamiliar, it sends an alert.”
Kong Wenyu nodded, then after a moment asked, “Is that the only one?”
Nie Jun looked puzzled. “There’s just that one.”
“That’s not fair,” Kong Wenyu said. “You can track my location, but I can’t see yours.”
Nie Jun pressed his lips together. Kong Wenyu patted his pockets, but couldn’t find his phone.
Nie Jun pulled it from his jacket and handed it to him.
Kong Wenyu took it and started fiddling with it. Before long, he said, “Buy another one. Stick it on yourself too.”
“Phones are easy to lose.” As he spoke, he took off his watch, peeled off the chip’s backing, and stuck it inside the watch face—right against his skin. “My car and phone are both trackable. Hai Ming has access. Ask him for them.”
Nie Jun glanced at the now completely sober Kong Wenyu through the rearview mirror, a man totally unlike the one from just a moment ago. He didn’t feel any sense of loss.
It was as if the two of them had never really been apart these past few days. “Okay.”
The neighborhood was close to Kong Wenyu’s home. At this hour, the night market had wrapped up and the streets were clear of traffic.
Nie Jun had just turned off the interior lights when they pulled up in front of the gate—Kong Wenyu hadn’t even had time to shut his eyes.
Parked dead center was Kong Lingeru’s car. Kong Wenyu said, “Block her in.”
“Huh?” Nie Jun glanced at him.
“Block her path,” Kong Wenyu repeated more clearly.
The Kong family gate was wide enough for five or six cars to drive through side by side—blocking anyone in would take effort. Nie Jun backed up, turned the car across the drive, and then shifted slightly again before settling in place.
Kong Wenyu inspected the setup through the window and seemed satisfied with the result. His expression relaxed.
Nie Jun cut the engine and stepped out. Kong Wenyu stayed put, looking lazy. “Get in the back.”
As soon as Nie Jun opened the back door, Kong Wenyu grabbed his collar and yanked him inside.
Dry lips brushed his first, then Kong Wenyu parted his mouth slightly. At the same time, Nie Jun kicked the door shut behind him and slipped his tongue inside.
“You were amazing just now. I came twice,” Kong Wenyu murmured between kisses. “Next time, in the car.”
Nie Jun said nothing, gradually leaning into him.
Beep beep—
A car horn blared, making Kong Wenyu suddenly freeze.
Nie Jun lunged into empty space and glanced outside. He saw Ao Yongwang had just gotten out of his car not far away.
The bright headlights made Kong Wenyu squint.
Ao Yongwang was already walking toward them.
“Wait here,” Kong Wenyu said. He shoved open the nearest door, stepped out, and slammed it shut behind him.
Ao Yongwang walked up, eyeing him, then glanced toward the back seat.
Kong Wenyu stepped slightly in that direction but didn’t try to block the view. “What are you doing here?”
The car windows were pitch dark; Ao Yongwang couldn’t see inside. He suspected Miss Long might be in there, but Kong Wenyu’s attitude didn’t support that idea.
He looked away, face dark, tone tight with restraint. “What was that comment at the Fuxi banquet supposed to mean?”
Kong Wenyu wasn’t in the mood to play nice. “I wasn’t there. No idea what he said.”
“He said your family’s new quarterly project is partnering with Ao Qingqing!” Ao Yongwang couldn’t hold back his accusation. “What even is she? Sure, she’s got two tiny no-name companies, but I gave her those just for fun. They don’t have the scale to handle that kind of cash flow.”
Kong Wenyu cleared his throat.
Ao Yongwang frowned, waiting for him to speak—but Kong Wenyu only gazed off into the distance, a faint, unreadable smile on his lips.
Ao Yongwang was momentarily stunned. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you propping her up just because she’s your fiancée?”
“No, that’s not it,” Kong Wenyu said—only to immediately contradict himself. “Fuxi said you had dinner alone with Longzhu this week and got caught by paparazzi. What’s that about, Kong Wenyu? Are you cheating, or are you trying to break off the engagement?”
Kong Wenyu gave him a pointed look but didn’t answer.
Ao Yongwang remembered the recent boat trip. Even back then, Kong Wenyu’s attitude had been vague and hard to read. Still, when someone tried to sneak a woman into his room, Kong Wenyu had sent her away.
Ao Yongwang took two quick steps toward the car.
Kong Wenyu didn’t move, watching coldly as he yanked open the back door—
The back seat was empty.
Nie Jun, who was about to get out from the driver’s seat, paused, and for a moment both men just stared at each other in surprise.
“There was only Kong Wenyu in the car just now?” Ao Yongwang asked.
Nie Jun, under the weight of Ao Yongwang’s gaze, slowly nodded.
Ao Yongwang’s instincts screamed something was off. Kong Wenyu hadn’t looked like he’d just been sitting alone. His whole demeanor screamed post-release exhaustion—the languid expression, the smoldering remnants of desire still in his eyes.
Kong Wenyu’s voice came cool and sharp from behind him: “So this was a sting operation?”
Ao Yongwang turned around. Kong Wenyu held up his phone, flashing the incoming call. “Since you’re here, how about we go inside and meet the backup you called in?”
Ao Yongwang opened his mouth, about to apologize, but Kong Wenyu didn’t give him the chance. His face hard, he turned and walked off.
Ao Yongwang stood there for a beat, then slammed the car door shut and followed him.
The lights in the Kong family’s main hall were blazing, bright enough to illuminate the entire courtyard through the glass doors.
Kong Wenyu hung up the call on his phone, then pushed open the front door.
On the sofa sat Kong Lingeru, who immediately looked up. Even at this hour, her makeup was flawless—her red lips glinting under the light, giving her a rare air of intimidation.
“Second Aunt,” Kong Wenyu said as he sat across from her.
Ao Yongwang followed behind, echoing, “Second Aunt,” as he took a seat on the narrower side couch.
“Don’t call me that. I don’t have such a defiant nephew,” Kong Lingeru snapped, putting her phone away. She turned to Kong Wenyu. “No matter how big the matter, you always make decisions on your own. Do you even consider what happens when you keep acting like this?”
Kong Wenyu looked completely unfazed. “It’s my business. Of course I get to decide. Don’t you do the same with your own?”
“I’m talking about the quarterly business partnership. Don’t play dumb.” Her voice sharpened. “Kong Wenyu, give me an explanation.”
Kong Wenyu glanced at Ao Yongwang, let out a snort, and turned back to her. “So that’s what this is about? I thought you invited me here over Ao Qingqing.”
“We’ll get to Qingqing later,” Kong Lingeru raised her hand, cutting him off. “This new partner was approved at the last shareholder meeting. Now you’re leaking news about switching collaborators—what do you expect the board to think?”
Ao Yongwang stayed quiet, just listening.
“You called the meeting. You explain it to them,” Kong Wenyu said, looking around—and spotted Nie Jun standing by the door.
Still as a tree—silent, unobtrusive, unless the wind stirred him.
Aunt Zhu in the kitchen noticed Kong Wenyu’s glance and, assuming he wanted tea, rushed off to make some.
“This isn’t something you can talk your way out of,” Kong Lingeru said coldly. “Xiao Yu, are you doing this just to make trouble for me?”
“It’s all Ao family, isn’t it? What difference does it make?”
They all knew just how big the difference really was. The air in the room had just grown tense when Nie Jun moved. Kong Wenyu looked over—he was opening the front door.
First came a pair of feet in light-colored cotton slippers, followed by a wheelchair slowly rolling inside.
Kong Lingeru had brought Kong Madam out from the nursing home.
Kong Wenyu watched as she was wheeled closer, then looked at Kong Lingeru, then back to his mother.
His gaze swept over both of them and finally settled on the woman in the chair.
For a moment, no one in the room said a word.
Aunt Zhu came out with the tea tray and froze when she saw Kong Madam—then did a double take before realizing who it was.
“I made some pear and red date tea. Good for the stomach, everyone have a little.”
Her words broke the silence. She began placing cups on the table and filling each one carefully. Seeing that Kong Wenyu hadn’t moved, she quietly pushed his cup closer, then stepped back, waiting for instructions.
Lady Kong was the first to speak, turning to Kong Wenyu:
“So you do still remember you have a mother?”
It took Kong Wenyu a while to respond. Then he let out a resigned, careless laugh.
“Didn’t I just visit you a few days ago?”
“And what did I tell you to do back then?” Lady Kong asked sharply, her wheelchair directly facing him. “I have no idea what kind of useless things you’ve been so busy with.”
Kong Wenyu’s gaze shifted ever so slightly. He glanced at Nie Jun, and a faint smirk tugged at his lips.
Lady Kong went on:
“Your father was already working in the company by the time he was twenty. He led a whole team overseas to expand the market. And you? What have you done? I honestly don’t know how I, Man Mingzhi, gave birth to a son like you.”
Kong Lingru couldn’t care less about the mother-son lecture. She dropped the cup of pear tea heavily onto the table.
The liquid sloshed out, splashing across the table and dripping steadily onto the floor.
Kong Wenyu looked down at his soaked pant leg. Aunt Zhu hurried over with a cloth, but he sidestepped her hand.
Nie Jun, who was standing near the door, turned his head at the commotion. Kong Wenyu met his gaze and said calmly,
“Go get me a change of clothes.”
Nie Jun silently headed upstairs. Kong Wenyu’s eyes followed him, then he got up.
“I’ll go change.”
Kong Lingru had to pause mid-sentence, watching helplessly as he walked away.
Upstairs, Kong Wenyu opened the walk-in closet door—and came face-to-face with Nie Jun.
Nie Jun had clothes in his hands, clearly about to leave.
Kong Wenyu met his eyes but didn’t step aside. Instead, he stepped in, hooked an arm around Nie Jun’s neck, and pressed forward, kissing him without warning.
Nie Jun stumbled back until he was pinned against the wardrobe.
Kong Wenyu kissed him breathlessly, one hand already groping him. Nie Jun caught his hand but didn’t stop—he moved with Kong Wenyu’s rhythm, kissing him back.
When Kong Wenyu tried to pull away, he realized Nie Jun had locked an arm around his waist, keeping him in place.
“Don’t go back down,” Kong Wenyu said, turning his head slightly as he caught his breath. His chest rose and fell with exertion, but a smile played at his lips as he bit down on his back teeth. “Wait for me here.”
Leave a Reply