“Uncle’s here?!”
Shen Yuan went pale, frozen for a moment, then jumped off the bed in a panic. His first instinct was to turn off the bedside lamp.
But the bedroom faced south, and from the main entrance of the complex, no one could see the light.
Even so, he was still scared out of his wits.
Qiao Hailou was much calmer. Seeing Shen Yuan flustered like this made him chuckle. In a teasing, soft voice, he said, “Want me to go say hi?”
Shen Yuan knew he was probably joking, but still shot him a glare and flusteredly wandered around the bedroom, unsure of where to hide him.
He glanced under the bed, sweat beading on his forehead: “Q-Qiao Uncle, should we hide under the bed?”
Qiao Hailou, smiling without hesitation, said: “Nope.”
Shen Yuan looked at him pleadingly, grabbing his hand: “Please, Uncle Qiao, how about hiding in the closet? If my uncle finds out… we won’t be able to see each other anymore.”
Qiao Hailou, completely unconcerned about being caught, said calmly, “Obviously, if your uncle finds out that his polite, well-behaved stepson isn’t exactly living a proper life, he might be disappointed… or even dislike you. That’s what you’re really afraid of, right?”
Shen Yuan stared at him in terror, lips trembling, eyes misting over.
Qiao Hailou had hit the nerve right in his heart. Shen Yuan didn’t want anyone to know, especially not his uncle…
Shen Yuan felt uneasy, and why wouldn’t Qiao Hailou? Shen Yuan didn’t care about him at all, yet he was so upset at the thought of his uncle disapproving…
It seemed he had underestimated how important Li Chen was in Shen Yuan’s heart.
Those few silent seconds stretched unbearably long for both of them.
Qiao Hailou reached out and pressed his hot palm against Shen Yuan’s cheek. Seeing Shen Yuan’s watery, restrained eyes, he finally relented.
Sigh. What fun is there for a grown man to bully a kid? He kissed Shen Yuan’s forehead and whispered, “Alright, don’t be scared. Look at you, trembling like this? Aren’t you usually bold? Close the bedroom door and stall for two or three minutes. I’ll climb out the window—you won’t be seen.”
Shen Yuan was shocked: “This is the third floor!”
Qiao Hailou said, “I know. There’s a pipe next to it, right? I’ll climb down along that.” He started picking up the scattered clothes on the floor, hastily putting them on, pretending he really was going to climb out.
Shen Yuan tried to stop him. “No! That’s too dangerous, Uncle Qiao!” Though he’d heard Qiao Hailou was nimble, this…
The doorbell rang again.
Shen Yuan glanced toward the door, then at Qiao Hailou by the window, unsure what to do first. His heart raced as if it might explode.
His body acted before his mind could. Gritting his teeth, he ran to the window and grabbed Qiao Hailou.
Qiao Hailou had been silently mocking himself: Qiao Hailou, a grown man, sneaking out like some foolish side character…
But before he could step out, Shen Yuan pulled him back.
“Don’t climb, it’s too dangerous, Uncle Qiao,” Shen Yuan whispered.
He steeled himself: “Let’s just pretend we’re not home. Uncle will leave.”
Qiao Hailou was momentarily stunned—he hadn’t expected Shen Yuan to act like that. The tension in his chest dissipated. He smiled: “Shen Yuan, you’d leave your favorite uncle in the lurch… and even lie to him?”
“What choice do I have?” Shen Yuan said, exasperated. “The last few times I sneaked out to sleep with you, do you think I told my uncle the truth?”
Qiao Hailou was about to say something, but Shen Yuan covered his mouth, raised an eyebrow, and said fiercely: “No more arguing! If we keep going, uncle will hear. Shh!”
Qiao Hailou took the opportunity to press a kiss to his palm.
Shen Yuan felt like he’d been burned, pulled his hand back, and glared at Qiao Hailou, flustered and embarrassed. This old man, how could he be so shameless—trying to be flirtatious at a time like this?
“What are you kissing for! I haven’t even washed my hands after touching you.”
Qiao Hailou said nothing.
The doorbell rang again, but they ignored it.
After a while, it finally stopped. Shen Yuan’s phone buzzed—thankfully, he’d put it on vibrate.
Qiao Hailou saw the caller ID: Uncle Li.
So ordinary…? He smirked, watching Shen Yuan speak to Li Chen.
Shen Yuan lied guiltily: “…A classmate came looking for me, so I went out. Is there something you need, Uncle? I’ll head back right away.”
Li Chen believed him: “Oh, alright. Nothing important… we’ll talk when you’re free. It’s late. You have work tomorrow, don’t stay out too long with your friends. Come home safely.”
Hearing his uncle’s gentle words, Shen Yuan felt even guiltier. His uncle was so good to him, and he had lied…
Qiao Hailou noticed the shifting expression and knew exactly what Shen Yuan was thinking. His heart cooled.
Qiao Hailou stepped in front of Shen Yuan.
Shen Yuan had to look up, and while doing so, lied: “My friend called me, so I’m heading over. I’ll call you later. Bye, Uncle.”
He tiptoed to the peephole, watching his uncle’s departing back.
Shen Yuan went to the living room, peeked out a slight crack in the curtains, and watched his uncle slowly walk away. Thoughts of what he and Qiao Hailou had done—and that he had lied—made him feel deeply guilty.
Then, he suddenly felt a kiss on his cheek. Flustered, his face burned crimson. Coincidentally, it seemed as if his uncle sensed something and glanced back. Shen Yuan quickly ducked aside, glaring at Qiao Hailou.
Qiao Hailou looked completely innocent, as if he’d done nothing.
Shen Yuan was so mad, but couldn’t yell. In a huff, he stomped Qiao Hailou’s foot.
They were both barefoot; it didn’t hurt, just soft. Qiao Hailou found it amusing.
Before Shen Yuan could question him, Qiao Hailou asked: “Hey, what do I show up as in your contacts?”
Shen Yuan wasn’t shy, showed him: “Old Rascal.”
Qiao Hailou clicked his tongue: “So I’m just ‘Old Rascal’ in your phone?”
This contact note was unique among all others.
Shen Yuan retorted bluntly: “What else could you be? You think you’re a gentleman?”
Qiao Hailou stroked his chin: “True. I’ve never been a gentleman in my life. Haha. What about my note in your phone?”
Shen Yuan, curious, tried to play it cool: “Whatever. I’m not interested. It’s probably not flattering.”
“Oh, you don’t want to see it?” Qiao Hailou pulled the phone from his pocket, opened the contact. Shen Yuan peeked and saw his own number saved as: “Baby.”
Shen Yuan’s face, just calming down, suddenly ignited with heat. Only when he was a tiny baby had his mother called him that—never since.
He felt goosebumps, embarrassed yet oddly happy. He thought, “Qiao Hailou doesn’t really like me… he’s just making fun of me.”
“You’re disgusting! You’re teasing me!”
Qiao Hailou liked seeing Shen Yuan like this. He kissed him again, making Shen Yuan almost jump, and teased: “You peeked, didn’t you? Who said they weren’t interested but still peeked?”
Shen Yuan threw Qiao Hailou’s jacket at him: “My uncle’s gone. Go!”
Qiao Hailou caught the jacket, slipped it on quickly, shirt unbuttoned, chest exposed, sighing: “Ah, when there’s something, I’m ‘Uncle Qiao,’ when there’s nothing, I’m ‘Old Rascal.’”
“Button your shirt.”
Qiao Hailou slowly did so, self-mocking: “I came for revenge but ended up providing a service. Last time you gave me eight hundred, this time… nothing?”
Shen Yuan, more annoyed: “And what do you want? Service? My butt still hurts.”
Shen Yuan opened the door, looked around, saw no one, and urged Qiao Hailou to leave.
Hesitating, he added: “Y-you… be careful on the way.”
Qiao Hailou didn’t stall. One foot out the door, he suddenly turned, grabbed Shen Yuan’s wrist: “When you stopped me from climbing the window, were you worried about my safety?”
Shen Yuan retorted: “I was worried you’d fall and make me pay for your medical bills. You’re a VIP; I can’t afford it.”
Qiao Hailou laughed: “I wouldn’t blame you for the bills. But maybe I’d make you my nurse in the hospital, taking care of me.”
Shen Yuan snorted: “In your dreams.”
Li Chen strolled out of the complex, a faint unease lingering. Something didn’t feel right.
Shen Yuan said he was out with a classmate—but it was too quiet on the line, no music. And his car was still parked below. Didn’t drive? Took a taxi because he was drinking?
Could Shen Yuan really be lying? Li Chen shook his head. No, impossible. Shen Yuan was always so obedient. Surely not.
Then Li Chen looked up and froze.
A Rolls-Royce parked nearby, completely out of place in the ordinary, aging complex. If he remembered right, it was a global limited edition—not easy to buy even with money.
He stopped, scrutinizing it. It looked familiar… but where had he seen it?
Shrugging, he decided to go home first and think later.
As Li Chen rounded the corner, Qiao Hailou climbed into the strange car and drove away.