Chapter 22
This was the first time Lu Mian had so actively sought intimacy with Lu Lin.
Lu Lin wouldn’t let this opportunity pass. He was about to kiss those lips he loved so much when…
“Knock, knock, knock—”
A sudden knock interrupted the intimate atmosphere.
Lu Lin’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
Lu Mian also frowned, feeling both embarrassed by his anticipation and curious about who was knocking.
“Lu-xiong?!” Wu Xingwen’s loud voice penetrated the door. “Lu-xiong, are you in there?”
Lu Mian: —。—
He seemed to have forgotten that he had left him to find Lu Lin.
A slight pang of guilt hit him. He turned his head to answer when his chin was grabbed and turned back.
A deep kiss followed.
Fifteen minutes later, Wu Xingwen, who had wandered around the residence and returned, saw Lu Mian’s reddened lips. After a moment of surprise, he asked, “Where did you go? The servants said you were back in your courtyard, but I couldn’t find you.”
Lu Mian wanted to cover his face.
He had underestimated Lu Lin’s shamelessness.
While Wu Xingwen was knocking, Lu Lin had kissed him relentlessly. Despite the closed door, Lu Mian felt like they could be discovered at any moment, and he had dug his nails into Lu Lin’s back, scratching his skin through his clothes.
But perhaps the pain only spurred Lu Lin on, as he kissed him even more fiercely.
So much so that Lu Mian’s eyes were now red and swollen.
Because… he had been kissed to tears.
Lu Mian composed himself. “I didn’t hear you knocking.”
Hearing his reply, Wu Xingwen immediately forgot his previous confusion and exclaimed, “Lu-xiong, you understand me!” Although they had exchanged words while watching the opera earlier, they had been talking at cross-purposes. He was surprised now.
Lu Mian’s guilt vanished instantly. He rolled his eyes at him and walked towards the courtyard where the opera stage was set up.
Lu Lin arrived half an hour later, his clothes, unsurprisingly, changed.
“So long?” Lu Mian asked softly after he sat down.
Lu Lin looked at him intently, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Mm.”
It had inevitably taken a bit longer today.
This was the day they confessed their feelings to each other, and the kiss felt different, the intertwining of love and desire making him reluctant to stop.
Lu Mian also seemed to remember something and averted his gaze, his eyes darting around.
They watched another opera performance, and then Chu Bai Xu arrived, having come straight from the military camp. “Younger Brother!”
Lu Mian looked over and saw Chu Bai Xu waving at him, a bright smile on his handsome face. Seeing that both seats beside him were occupied, he sat down in front of him.
After settling down, Chu Bai Xu took out his birthday gifts. “Grandmother and Mother prepared these earlier and asked me to bring them over. And… the Third Prince also sent a gift after I mentioned it to him the other day.”
The first three gifts weren’t surprising, but the male lead’s gift was unexpected. It was probably out of consideration for Chu Bai Xu. There were four gifts in total. Wu Xingwen, not wanting to be outdone, also took out the gift he had been hiding.
Lu Mian thanked them one by one, then turned his head, remembering something.
Lu Lin met his gaze and lightly tapped his nose. “I’ll give you mine later.”
“Aw—” Lu Mian couldn’t help but ask, “How much later?”
Lu Lin’s eyes darkened; he wanted to drag him back to the room right now.
Lu Mian didn’t want to analyze his thoughts and quickly turned away, starting a conversation with Chu Bai Xu, whom he hadn’t seen in three days.
Wu Xingwen, ever the social butterfly, interjected, “Wait, I thought you and Lu-xiong didn’t get along, Young General Chu?”
Chu Bai Xu raised an eyebrow, his words carrying a deeper meaning. “There’s no such thing as overnight grudges between brothers, unlike those fair-weather friends.”
Wu Xingwen, the fake brother and true fair-weather friend, twitched his lips and awkwardly changed the subject. Soon, he realized there was even more he didn’t know. “Why is he a mount? What am I then?”
Lu Mian: ovo!
He had more than one mount.
Chu Bai Xu chuckled. “You’re just clueless.”
Wu Xingwen: “…”
He felt betrayed by his friend, but the other person was his friend’s actual older brother, so he couldn’t say anything, his face flushing red.
Lu Mian sat there, watching the two bicker, a smile in his eyes, his dimples appearing.
Then, his cheek was poked.
Lu Mian finally turned to look at Lu Lin, a questioning look in his eyes.
Lu Lin’s gaze was deep, his restless heart finally calming down. Just now, watching Lu Mian’s bright eyes focused on the other two people beside him, a thought had unconsciously surfaced in his mind.
Lock him up, chain him up. That way… he would only be able to see him, think of him, be at his mercy.
The thought was sudden, yet reasonable.
Lu Lin truly wanted to do it.
Perhaps sensing the danger on some instinctive level, Lu Mian didn’t dare ignore Lu Lin after that. Their hands were intertwined under the table, not separating for a moment.
Their seats were also arranged together at dinner, so they didn’t separate then either.
Lu Hongzhi wasn’t present at the dinner table; Tao Rouxuan sat at the head of the table. Her gaze was as gentle as ever when it fell on Lu Mian. “Mian Mian, eat more.”
Lu Mian: “Mother, you too.”
Tao Rouxuan smiled and nodded, finding the food even more delicious.
Lu Hongzhi was practically finished, and Lu Mian was worried about her feelings. But before he could find a chance to talk to her, Tao Rouxuan stopped him as he was about to leave with Lu Lin after the banquet.
“Mian Mian, this is Mother’s birthday gift for you.” Tao Rouxuan took out a crystal-clear jade pendant, tied it with a colorful silk cord, and placed it around Lu Mian’s neck.
Lu Mian lowered his head and softly said, “Thank you, Mother.”
“Have you remembered something?” Tao Rouxuan suddenly asked, but she didn’t press further, just ruffled his hair. “Mother plans to divorce Lu Hongzhi.”
Lu Mian’s eyes flickered, and he nodded. “Whatever Mother decides.”
Tao Rouxuan paused, then asked, “Then you and Lu Lin…”
Lu Mian hadn’t expected her to ask this. “We’re fine.”
Tao Rouxuan chuckled, thinking he meant that even if she divorced Lu Hongzhi, the two boys would still get along. She was now even more reassured about leaving her son in Lu Lin’s care. She then had Liu Xu escort him out.
Lu Mian walked out and saw Lu Lin waiting for him quietly in the corridor.
Their eyes met, and Lu Mian couldn’t help but smile as he ran towards him.
Lu Lin raised his hand, catching him, then held his hand. “Let’s go back.”
“Mm-hmm,” Lu Mian nodded.
As soon as they returned to the room, he eagerly asked, “What did you prepare for me?”
Lu Lin took out a jade pendant from his pocket. “This was my mother’s.”
He placed the jade pendant around Lu Mian’s waist, then raised his eyes. “Now, it’s yours.”
Lu Mian looked into his eyes, feeling like those words also meant that he was his.
“Mm,” Lu Mian said softly, “It’s mine.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Lin leaned towards him.
Lu Mian instinctively closed his eyes, but instead of the expected feeling on his lips, he felt a touch on his cheek.
His dimple was gently sucked on, teeth grazing his skin. Lu Lin carefully controlled his strength, as if wanting to leave a deep mark, but ultimately holding back.
“It tickles…”
As soon as Lu Mian spoke, he was pulled into an embrace, Lu Lin lifting him up. They soon reached the inner room, where two beds had been pushed together, as if inviting them to roll around freely.
“I like you,” a voice whispered in his ear.
Lu Mian paused for a few seconds, then replied softly, “Me too.”
This answer was undoubtedly a signal.
Lu Lin’s gaze was intense and deep as he looked at him.
“I’m eighteen,” he said.
Then, Lu Mian pouted. “And a bottom now.”
Lu Lin, as usual, waited for him to finish.
“You have to take responsibility for me.”
“Okay.”
Lu Mian smiled contentedly.
A reverent kiss landed on his lips, accompanied by a cherished whisper.
“Lu Lin will always be responsible for Lu Mian.”
lmfaooooo the realisation that he’s a bottom now is so funny