The little mute’s speech recovery had finally shown early results, and he couldn’t wait to share the news with his husband.
Thankfully, his husband caught that fragile spark of excitement—and was even happier than Su Pu himself.
So happy, in fact, that he completely forgot where they were, insisting on pulling Su Pu onto his lap, cheek to cheek, coaxing him to say a few more sounds.
Unfortunately, in these early stages, that was all Su Pu could manage.
Even so, it was a historic breakthrough. Li Jichuan was ecstatic, chasing after Su Pu’s lips, nipping at them, claiming it was a reward.
Su Pu laughed until he went weak with ticklish dizziness. Snow was falling again outside the window, while inside, spring was in full bloom.
The two of them were lost in each other for a while, completely unaware that someone else had entered the office.
“Ahem. Sorry to interrupt!”
Anderson, decidedly unromantic, slapped a stack of documents onto Li Jichuan’s desk, though he didn’t mind at all dragging them back into winter reality.
“Can whatever this is wait until you two get home tonight?”
Su Pu’s face flushed instantly. He sprang away, gripping the edge of the desk, waving goodbye in flustered embarrassment.
“Did you really have to scare him like that?” Li Jichuan shot his friend a cold look, openly protective.
Then he brushed the back of his hand lightly against Su Pu’s wrist, like a kitten nuzzling close.
Anderson smirked, glanced at Su Pu, and silently apologized with his eyes.
“Oh right—about tomorrow’s party. A lot of people aren’t coming. They said their teams finally got staggered time off, so they’re all heading out to travel.”
He nodded toward Su Pu.
“So tomorrow it’ll just be you two, me, and John. If Xiao Pu has any close friends, feel free to bring them along.”
Li Jichuan snapped irritably, “How many times do I have to tell you—don’t call him that!”
Anderson shrugged, smiling only at Su Pu.
“See you tomorrow, Xiao Pu.”
Li Jichuan hurled a tissue box at his retreating back. “I said don’t call him that!!”
…
In the end, Su Pu invited Ouyang and Pei Zhicheng to the Christmas party.
Ouyang was thrilled—finally a chance to talk shop with industry legends, and at the same time help Pei Zhicheng desensitize socially. Two birds, one stone.
They brought a box of freshly baked butter cookies. When they arrived, Li Jichuan and Su Pu were already there.
Su Pu was in the kitchen, helping John prepare Christmas dinner.
Ouyang dragged Pei Zhicheng to the living room to watch Li Jichuan and Anderson play international Go.
As night fell, Su Pu heated mulled wine and slid the marinated whole chicken into the oven.
John rambled on about his family’s Christmas traditions. Seeing him in a goofy Santa sweater, Su Pu guessed he must be terribly homesick.
When Su Pu stepped out, Li Jichuan had already had several cups of mulled wine. His cheeks were flushed, his breath rich with cinnamon.
Drunk?
Su Pu approached playfully, only to be yanked onto Li Jichuan’s lap and held tight.
His face burned as cheers rang out around them.
After things finally quieted down, Su Pu cupped Li Jichuan’s face, checking him anxiously.
His eyes were full of concern, as if urgently asking: Are you okay? Are you okay? Are you okay?
Li Jichuan couldn’t help laughing. “I’m fine. Really.”
Su Pu touched his face again, rubbing foreheads with him. Li Jichuan relaxed blissfully, eyes half-closed.
This little mute always had a way of making happiness feel even fuller…
Anderson came back from a phone call and patted Li Jichuan’s shoulder.
“My dad called. Said Su Fengxian’s been begging everyone he can reach, even came to him. He wants to know your stance.”
Li Jichuan hadn’t answered yet when he felt the person in his arms stiffen.
Su Pu lowered his eyes, his emotions unreadable.
“Let him be,” Li Jichuan answered for both of them. “Only realizing he’s desperate now—that’s pretty slow on the uptake.”
Earlier, Su Fengxian had tried to rope Li Jichuan into investing in his project. Before Li Jichuan could respond, the proposal somehow landed in Li Shuwen’s hands.
The two sides quickly struck a deal, and Li Shuwen signed on behalf of the Li Group.
But Su Fengxian had vastly underestimated her.
He thought he’d secured the Li Group as his backing. Instead, Li Shuwen proved to be a blood-sucking predator, and through a series of moves, completely hollowed out his company.
Cornered, Su Fengxian had spent weeks begging every connection he had in Yun City.
Li Jichuan watched it all silently.
His “good aunt,” seemingly shrewd, had become the knife in his hand.
Anderson caught the meaning, grabbed his phone to handle things. Ouyang and Pei Zhicheng went back to the kitchen. Only the couple remained in the living room.
“Does it bother you?” Li Jichuan asked.
After a moment, Su Pu gently shook his head.
Tilting his neck, overcoming his shyness, he rested his head on Li Jichuan’s shoulder.
How could it bother him…
In the past, he’d craved Su Fengxian’s attention only because he thought that man was his sole family in the world, bound by blood.
Now, he had people truly worth trusting and relying on—family without blood ties, yet bound together all the same.
These new bonds were what made Su Pu feel grounded, truly alive in the world.
Li Jichuan pulled him closer, murmuring softly,
“Anything that hurts you doesn’t deserve to exist…”
Su Pu smiled, leaned close to his ear, and breathily, haltingly called his name.
Then he called him “husband,” proudly showing off the latest results of his training.
Before Li Jichuan’s gaze could darken completely, Su Pu jumped up and ran.
…
Christmas dinner officially began. John, pleasantly buzzed, carved the roast chicken.
After two cups of mulled wine, Su Pu wasn’t paying attention—and Ouyang promptly took his glass away.
“Brother Su, you really should be careful with alcohol…”
Ouyang recounted the disastrous last time he and Su Pu got drunk, making Anderson and John laugh out loud.
After the warm, cheerful meal, they wrapped themselves in blankets and watched Christmas movies together.
Homesick yet high-spirited, John pulled his friends into singing carols.
Anderson and Li Jichuan reluctantly joined in, quickly getting pulled into a chaotic tangle.
Su Pu squinted happily, smiling in contentment.
In a daze, he seemed to see Li Jichuan as he was in college—
The Li Jichuan who had just left home, eager to experience the world.
Back then, before the accident, he was bold and radiant, firmly believing his own strength could change everything.
How dazzling he must have been…
As Su Pu watched, tears fell along with another snowfall in the night.
…
At the end of Christmas Eve, they went up to Anderson’s rooftop to set off fireworks.
Beams of light shot skyward, bursting brilliantly.
Lost in thought, Su Pu met Li Jichuan’s bright eyes—eyes that had never once left him.
Bang—
Anderson lobbed a snowball straight down Su Pu’s collar, making the little mute shiver violently.
“Anderson!” Li Jichuan snapped.
The culprit raised his hands in apology, then dove right back into the fray.
Li Jichuan took Su Pu by the wrist. “Go change clothes…”
Anderson overheard and suddenly turned back.
“Use the second-floor guest room—the one with gray sheets.”
He grinned. “Great soundproofing. Enjoy!”