Chapter 20
Lu Mian had been feeling down about Lu Lin’s failure in the palace examination and had been waiting for him since he heard A-Qing and A-Ping’s conversation that afternoon.
He didn’t know why he was waiting, he just suddenly wanted to see Lu Lin.
The book had only briefly mentioned it, but it was Lu Lin’s entire life.
He, as a reader, had witnessed Lu Lin’s dark past and tragic ending. Now, as a character in the book, his experience was incomparable to what he had felt before.
And Lu Lin…
Perhaps he felt differently about him too.
Although Lu Mian hadn’t been in this world for very long, he had spent most of his time with Lu Lin; it was different.
They were roommates.
Lu Mian reaffirmed this in his mind.
But Lu Lin’s words stunned him.
Kiss… kiss what?
What kiss?
For a moment,
Lu Mian thought he was hallucinating.
No, maybe not a hallucination. Was all of this just a dream? Lu Mian tried to convince himself, but even if it were a dream, why would he dream of Lu Lin saying such things to him?
However, Lu Mian clearly knew that everything was real.
Not a figment of his imagination.
Because Lu Lin was very close, holding him tight.
His scent filled Lu Mian’s senses.
Lu Mian’s eyes were wide open. Before he could react, his breath was stolen, his thoughts consumed inch by inch. Lu Mian’s already blank mind exploded, making him dizzy.
The sounds in his ears made him too embarrassed to lift his head.
Lu Lin was really kissing him.
Another person’s tongue invaded his mouth, forceful and domineering, burning hot, exploring every corner.
Lu Mian felt like his mouth no longer belonged to him, but to Lu Lin. His chin was lifted, the back of his head cradled in Lu Lin’s hand, carefully avoiding his injury. He tilted his head back, held captive in Lu Lin’s embrace, kissed thoroughly.
The unfamiliar experience terrified Lu Mian, but he couldn’t ignore the way his body softened as Lu Lin’s tongue swept across his palate, sucking gently. He could barely stand straight, relying on Lu Lin for support.
“Mian Mian…”
Lu Lin’s hoarse voice rang out.
“I like you.”
Like a lover’s whisper, these were Lu Mian’s last conscious thoughts.
Lu Lin stared in shock at the person he had kissed unconscious, a wave of fear washing over him. Seeing the boy’s trembling eyelashes, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The previous head injury, combined with the sudden lack of oxygen, caused Lu Mian to briefly lose consciousness. He lay in Lu Lin’s arms, playing dead, praying that Lu Lin would let him go.
No one would be so tasteless as to continue with someone who had fainted, right?
Lu Mian thought, his face burning.
He didn’t know how to face Lu Lin now.
His face, ears, and mind were on fire, as if he were being roasted, unable to think straight.
What made him even more embarrassed was…
He had actually found the kiss somewhat pleasurable.
Had Lu Lin drugged him?!
Lu Mian: QvQ.
As he was lamenting inwardly, he was suddenly lifted into the air and placed on the soft bed.
Lu Lin had let him go.
Lu Mian felt like he had come back to life.
Then, a voice that made his scalp tingle rang out. “I’ll have someone bring in the meal.”
Lu Mian curled up into a ball.
Not because Lu Lin had spoken to him, but because of the desire laced in his voice, a hint of dissatisfaction lingering.
Lu Mian wanted to cover his ears.
Footsteps approached, and Lu Lin left.
Lu Mian abruptly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and bright.
Outside the door, Lu Lin suddenly pressed his hand against his face, letting out a low growl, as if at his limit.
No one knew how much self-control it had taken him to walk out of the room. The boy’s flushed cheeks and warm, sweet scent were like a drug, stirring his desires.
Lu Lin glanced down; his lower body was indeed aroused.
After standing still for a long time, he walked away.
Lu Mian stayed alone for a long time; Lu Lin didn’t return.
His stomach rumbled continuously.
Dinner time had long passed. He had been waiting for Lu Lin for a while today, and with the previous interruption, his stomach was empty.
Lu Mian’s thoughts drifted from Lu Lin’s kiss to why he hadn’t returned yet. He was so hungry.
He rolled around on the bed a few more times, then heard movement outside the door and instantly became quiet.
A-Qing’s voice came, “Young Master, dinner is served.”
Lu Mian paused, then slowly got out of bed, his legs no longer weak. He rounded the screen and saw A-Qing, A-Ping, and a group of servants carrying food into the room. Lu Lin wasn’t there.
He had been so worried about how to face Lu Lin, his heart pounding with anxiety, but now that he wasn’t there, Lu Mian felt strangely uncomfortable.
A-Qing, seeing his expression, hesitated. “Young Master, you still don’t want to eat?” Eldest Young Master had returned and told them to serve the meal, so why…
Lu Mian was starving; of course he wanted to eat. But before he could speak, a voice came from the doorway, “Set it down.”
“Eldest Young Master,” A-Qing said respectfully, turning his head. He quickly directed the other servants to set the food down and then hurried away.
Hearing the voice, Lu Mian instinctively tensed up. Now that only he and Lu Lin were in the room, he suddenly felt breathless, as if he were back in that suffocating kiss.
His mouth had been completely invaded, his entire being filled with the other’s scent, enveloped by it.
Lu Mian’s cheeks burned again, his eyes hot. When he met those dark eyes, his first instinct was to run.
He had just moved his feet when he was pulled into an embrace, a faint, cool scent washing over him.
“Not eating?” Lu Lin’s voice was close to his ear. “Then shall we continue kissing?”
Lu Mian immediately replied, “Eating!”
Lu Lin chuckled softly. “Then let’s eat.”
Only after they both sat down at the table did he notice that Lu Lin seemed to have changed his clothes. Recalling the faint, cool scent, Lu Mian paused.
Had Lu Lin gone to take a bath?
He discreetly glanced at Lu Lin, whose hair was slightly damp, confirming his suspicion.
Just as Lu Mian was about to look away, Lu Lin suddenly turned his head, their eyes meeting. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Mian Mian.”
That name again. Lu Mian remembered the “Mian Mian” after the kiss, and the words that followed… “I like you.”
Lu Lin liked him.
Said in that voice, it was almost too much to bear.
“If you keep looking at me, I won’t eat.”
Lu Lin stared at him, his gaze slowly falling to his lips. “Kiss first.”
Lu Mian: OoO!!!
He immediately pursed his lips and started eating.
Lu Mian ate nervously, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles, afraid that Lu Lin would suddenly pounce on him and kiss him.
Fortunately, he wasn’t that unrestrained and let him finish his meal without doing anything.
The dishes were all made to Lu Mian’s liking. After finishing his meal, his hunger satiated, Lu Mian licked the remaining oil from his lips.
As soon as he did, he felt an intense gaze on him, and he froze.
Lu Lin’s eyes darkened, and he reached out to pull him closer.
Lu Mian flinched and ran.
Lu Lin’s hand grasped at air, and he walked towards the inner room.
“Why are you running?”
Lu Mian: “Only idiots don’t run!” Only idiots would wait to be kissed.
Lu Lin chuckled. “Just ate, not afraid of a stomach ache?”
Better a stomach ache than being kissed by a pervert, Lu Mian thought, hiding under the covers.
But Lu Lin didn’t seem to have any intention of doing anything to him. He just told him to come out from under the covers to get some air, then left.
As soon as he left, Lu Mian peeked out from under the covers. He glanced outside and saw a faint silhouette through the screen.
The person who had been relentlessly pursuing him was now behaving himself, like a gentleman.
Lu Mian: More two-faced than a trash bag.
He looked away, feeling the lingering thump of his heart, his emotions complicated, a wave of shame washing over him.
That kiss, and Lu Lin’s words.
Lu Mian’s feelings were indescribable, a mixture of panic and a strange sense of excitement, making him restless.
One in the outer room, one in the inner room.
Lu Lin didn’t enter until Lu Mian was almost asleep, as if giving him time to think.
Just as Lu Mian was drifting off, he heard movement in the room.
Just light footsteps, but the sound of heavy breathing echoed in his mind.
Lu Mian slowly opened his eyes a crack, then quickly closed them again, a fragmented voice seemingly reaching his ears.
He was saying…
“About liking you.”
“I’m serious.”
When Lu Mian woke up, he found that Lu Lin hadn’t gone to the academy today. Then he remembered it was a rest day, and also the news he had heard yesterday, which he hadn’t had a chance to ask about.
But he was supposed to be a fool; he didn’t know how to bring it up.
Lu Mian hesitated, not asking, and feeling awkward about talking to him.
He wanted to avoid Lu Lin.
But he realized his efforts were futile. He could avoid him once, but not twice.
Because Lu Lin didn’t go to the academy the next day either.
Lu Mian sat on the edge of the bed, wondering if it had something to do with his failure in the palace examination. He was a little worried, but Lu Lin acted as usual – staring at him intently, making Lu Mian blush.
“Why are you still here?” Lu Mian muttered.
Having just woken up, the boy’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes bright, sitting there in his inner garment.
Lu Lin’s small bed was only inches away, and he reached out and held Lu Mian’s hand, which was resting on his knee.
Lu Mian was startled, but quickly calmed down. He didn’t know when it started, but this person always liked to touch him, and Lu Mian no longer avoided him as much as before, even… indulging him a little.
But before Lu Mian could react, Lu Lin tightened his grip and pulled him over, making him sit on his lap.
Lu Mian was stunned.
“My Mian Mian, another year older,” Lu Lin nuzzled his cheek affectionately. “Happy birthday.”
Today was Lu Mian’s birthday. He had almost forgotten, his mind preoccupied with Lu Lin’s kiss the other day. He was about to thank him when he froze.
His morning wood was poking him.
Lu Mian: O凸O!!!
