Chapter 33

Shen Yuan followed the address Qiao Hailou had given him—it led to a villa community.

He hesitated in front of the house number and pressed the doorbell. Qiao Hailou personally opened the door.

Shen Yuan didn’t immediately go inside. He lingered at the doorway, asking, “A villa-style hotel?”

Qiao Hailou replied casually, “It’s my home.”

Shen Yuan’s eyes widened. He froze, unsure what to say.

Their unspoken “friends with benefits” agreement was supposed to keep their private lives separate, so previously they always met at hotels. The last time, though, because Qiao Hailou had been upset, they ended up in his house, and Shen Yuan hadn’t pushed for anything more. So meeting at Qiao Hailou’s place this time seemed… fair enough.

Still, could they really call themselves ordinary FWB partners now? Shen Yuan knew getting too involved was risky, but Qiao Hailou voluntarily giving him his personal address… somehow made him a little happy.

Shen Yuan said awkwardly, “Why’d you bring me to your place?”

Qiao Hailou answered unabashedly, “Makes sneaking around easier. Come on in.”

The man had no shame—talking about sneaking around was just normal to him.

Shen Yuan didn’t want to seem timid. He couldn’t let Qiao Hailou think he was hesitant. But for some reason, stepping into Qiao Hailou’s home made him more nervous than the very first time they’d slept together. His heart pounded as he walked inside.

He glanced around and realized the house was quite tasteful.

Qiao Hailou’s home was different from the Li family’s. Li’s was cozy and warm-toned, full of traditional Chinese paintings or calligraphy. Qiao Hailou’s was cooler, cleaner, more modern—white, blue, gray, and black dominated, with contemporary artwork and furniture.

It didn’t feel like anyone else lived there.

Shen Yuan reminded himself: What are you nervous for? You’re here to find leverage on him. You can’t do that without getting close.

As soon as he thought it, he blinked. That thought… sounded kind of naughty.

And then… they did something even naughtier.

With his little brother at home these past few days, Shen Yuan hadn’t been with Qiao Hailou for a while. It felt amazing. This time, Shen took the lead, hugging and kissing him, sweet and playful. “Uncle Qiao, I want to come again tomorrow.”

Qiao Hailou’s heart melted at the kisses. “If you want to come, just come. When have I ever said no?”

Just as Qiao Hailou agreed, Shen Yuan remembered something. Within a minute, he flipped: “No way. Coming to your place feels like I’m delivering a package. I don’t want that.”

Qiao Hailou rolled his eyes, exasperated. “Then should I come to your place? I can deliver the package.”

Shen Yuan shook his head. “No. My uncle or brother might come home. If it’s like last time… would you really jump out the window? And my bed’s too small—it’s uncomfortable.”

Qiao Hailou, frustrated, kissed him. “Then what do you want?! This doesn’t work, that doesn’t work—you’re impossible. If I were your boyfriend, would you have so many qualms about coming to my house?”

Shen Yuan blushed. “We’re not in a relationship.”

Qiao Hailou said, “We haven’t slept with anyone else. At this stage, it’s only each other. You could call it FWB, but there’s some overlap with our private lives. I’d say it’s a half-boyfriend situation. Coming to my place is reasonable, right?”

Shen Yuan thought that made sense, but he didn’t want Qiao Hailou to have the upper hand. He started to argue, but Qiao Hailou added, “Anyway, I treat you like my little boyfriend. I never bring anyone home. You’re the first, little one.”

Those three words, the first, hit Shen Yuan hard. His face flushed and his heart softened.

Still suspicious, he asked, “You always lie. Who knows if you’re just teasing me? This house looks new—you bought it after returning to the country, right? This is the first time bringing anyone here? Who knows if you’ve taken someone to another house before.”

Qiao Hailou’s face darkened. “Keep going?”

Shen Yuan shut up immediately and widened his eyes innocently.

When Shen Yuan didn’t speak and just stared with those clear, bright eyes, he looked impossibly cute.

Qiao Hailou sighed, “Not this house, but my home—where I live. Doesn’t matter if it’s abroad or domestic, this is the first time I’ve ever brought anyone home.”

Judging by this, Qiao Hailou wasn’t lying. Someone like him—shameless as he was—had no reason to lie.

Shen’s face was still red, but he calmed down. “Oh.”

Qiao Hailou said, “Your kisses are sweet, but your words are infuriating.”

Shen Yuan leaned in, playing cute. “Don’t be mad, Uncle Qiao… I can’t fully blame myself. Your lifestyle… you know it. And you like teasing me. I’m just being reasonable in doubting you. Now I think you’re probably telling the truth…”

Qiao Hailou interrupted, “Probably? No, it’s the truth.”

Shen Yuan asked, “At your age, you’ve surely loved someone genuinely, right?”

Qiao Hailou thought for a moment. When he first left home and started his business, he was too busy surviving to love. Later, he had casual partners but didn’t want marriage—if someone tried to tie him down, he broke it off. By this logic… he’d never had a serious relationship.

He said, rather shamelessly, “I’m a lifelong bachelor. Never planning to marry.”

Shen Yuan, half-believing, asked, “Really? Did you get hurt young, so you decided never to marry?”

Shen Yuan immediately pictured Qiao Hailou in his youth: loving the wrong person, betrayed, choosing to live for pleasure instead of love.

Qiao Hailou noticed his wandering eyes and laughed. “No, I’ve always been shameless. It’s because of my parents I never wanted to marry. Marriage seems pointless. So… do you want to get married?”

Shen Yuan nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”

Qiao Hailou was genuinely surprised. “You want to get married?”

Shen Yuan rolled his eyes, a bit embarrassed. “Can’t I want that? Can’t someone love me enough to marry me?”

“I want to find someone who loves me, too. We can be together openly, and I’ll love him properly,” Shen Yuan said dreamily. “I want someone gentle, caring, family-oriented, reliable, someone who makes me feel secure.”

He glanced at Qiao Hailou, cautiously adding, “Not someone like you.”

Just to annoy him a little.

Shen Yuan expected mockery. Instead, Qiao Hailou looked slightly stunned, as if considering something, then chuckled—not at him, more like at himself. “Just like your uncle’s standards…”

Qiao Hailou’s expression turned subtle. “…I wonder who’ll be lucky enough to get your true heart.”

Shen: “…“

The atmosphere grew quietly intimate.

Even though they’d been physical before without awkwardness, now Shen Yuan felt flustered.

What was Qiao Hailou thinking? Weren’t they supposed to tease each other now? Why was it suddenly so serious? He felt dizzy, unsure what to say.

Trying to break the tension, Shen Yuan said, “Lucky, huh? You mocking me? Someone as annoying and stubborn as me—being with me is the real unlucky one.”

Qiao Hailou smiled and patted his head. “Don’t say that. How can you speak so poorly of yourself? I tease you because you’re naughty, but you’re a good boy, really good.”

Shen’s face cooled slightly… then heated up again. He pushed Qiao Hailou’s hand away. “Don’t touch my head. Don’t treat me like a kid.”

Tired from driving, he had initially planned to stay over at Qiao Hailou’s, but now suddenly felt he couldn’t. “I’ll shower and then head home.”

Qiao Hailou didn’t stop him. “Want me to take you?”

Shen Yuan turned his back, muffling his voice. “No, I can go myself.”

After his shower, Shen Yuan came out. Whether from the steam or embarrassment, his face was still flushed.

Qiao Hailou said, “Wait, I have something for you. Open your hand.”

Shen Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. Could Qiao Hailou really be giving him that necklace? Warily, he asked, “What are you giving me?”

Qiao Hailou placed a key in his palm. “This is the spare key to my home. From now on, no more running around. If you want to see me, just tell me and come here. I’ll wait for you.”

Shen Yuan suddenly didn’t know which was more valuable—the seven-million-dollar gemstone necklace, or the key to Qiao Hailou’s home. Could he accept it? Should he? He froze, unsure what to do, staring at Qiao Hailou nervously. “Uh…?”

Qiao Hailou laughed. “What are you afraid of? You’re not going to break in and steal anything while I’m out, are you?”

Shen Yuan snapped back softly, “Of course not! You’re the thief!”

“That’s settled then.” Qiao Hailou easily diffused the tension. “Of course you can take it.”

Shen Yuan didn’t know where to put the key and suddenly felt clumsy.

He didn’t want anyone to see it, so he couldn’t hang it with the keys to his rented apartment—it had to be kept separate. First, he slipped it into his shirt pocket, but that pocket was too shallow. Then he tried his pants pocket, but worried he’d forget about it. Finally, he put it in his wallet.

He felt like he should say “thank you,” but somehow it didn’t feel right.

When he tried to speak, he almost bit his tongue, stammering, “I—I’ve put the key safe… I—I’ll go now… Uncle Qiao, bye.”

Qiao Hailou walked him all the way to the front gate.

Even after Shen Yuan had walked some distance, he looked back—Qiao Hailou was still standing there.

Noticing Shen Yuan looking, Qiao Hailou waved. Shen Yuan, feeling a little embarrassed, waved back. “Bye.”

In his nineteen years, only a few men had ever given him a key to their home.

The first was his grandfather, who had strung the key on a red cord so Shen Yuan could let himself in after school.

The second was Uncle Li, who had given him the house key when he became a part of the Li family, making him feel like a family member.

And the third… was Qiao Hailou.

They were supposed to be just casual partners, right? Maybe he was only giving him the key for convenience.

But hadn’t Qiao Hailou said Shen Yuan was the first person he ever brought home?

Shen’s mind was tangled. He couldn’t sleep after getting home. He got up, braided a red cord, and threaded the key through it, making it more visible so he wouldn’t lose it.

The weaving pattern matched an old red cord bracelet he already had.

As he worked, he wondered—did Qiao Hailou keep the key at home, or carry it with him? If he carried it, it could be discovered. But if it stayed at home, what if Shen Yuan wanted to come visit after work? He’d have to make an extra trip—it was too inconvenient.

In the end, he fashioned it into a necklace, hanging it around his neck. Under his shirt, the key would be hidden and secure. Qiao Hailou had given him something valuable—if it got lost or stolen, someone could break into Qiao Hailou’s home. He had to protect it.

Once the cord was finished, Shen Yuan hung the key around his neck and fell asleep.

The cold metal pressed against his chest, gradually warming with his body.

The next morning, Shen Yuan checked in the mirror several times to make sure his vest and shirt completely concealed the key before heading to work.

In the elevator, a colleague held the door for him.

“Thanks,” Shen Yuan said.

“Xiao Shen, you look radiant today. You seem really happy.”

“Do I?” he asked.

“Yeah, you look especially refreshed.”

Shen Yuan replied, “I’ve been sleeping better lately…”

During lunch break, Wang Ziqin called, saying he wanted to repay a debt and also invited Shen Yuan to lunch.

Shen, glad to get the money back, readily agreed. They set the meeting near the company headquarters.

When Shen Yuan arrived at the restaurant, Wang Ziqin was already waiting.

Shen Yuan was shocked. Wang Ziqin looked extremely pale and tense, dark circles under his eyes, every muscle tight, more haggard than the last time Shen Yuan had picked him up from the police station. What happened? Did he screw up at work? No wonder he’s in such a rush.

Wang Ziqin handed him cash. “Here’s the money you’re owed. Count it.”

Shen Yuan counted the bills, confirmed the amount, and put them in his wallet. “Okay, it’s all paid. I guess you won’t need my help at work anymore, right? No need to come to me.”

Wang Ziqin stared without blinking, frowning deeply. Then, in a heavy voice, he said, “There’s something I have to ask. I must ask. I couldn’t sleep last night, and if I don’t ask, I don’t think I’ll sleep tonight or tomorrow. I might die if I don’t.”

Shen Yuan felt a twinge of dread. “…I’m not sure I want to hear this.”

Wang Ziqin took a deep breath and cut straight to the point. “Shen Yuan, are you dating Qiao Hailou?”

Before Shen Yuan could respond, it felt like a sharp arrow pierced his chest, blood flowing.