TLSMLMMM Chapter 20

Si Yunyi looked at Chu Junlie for two seconds.

Chu Junlie himself didn’t realize it, but Si Yunyi knew during this period, he would have his own fate. That medical text worth billions, one that could save countless lives, was still waiting for him.

“You’re marrying into the family, not selling yourself to me,” Si Yunyi said calmly. “You can have your own job, your own social life, your own independent and free life.”

Si Yunyi felt he had made himself perfectly clear, Chu Junlie didn’t need to be tied down by housework or feel limited by the label of a live-in son-in-law.

Chu Junlie stared seriously at the man before him at the chain of his glasses that hung by his cheek, at the eyes behind the lenses that could pull one’s soul in, and at his pale lips.

Chu Junlie knew very well he wasn’t worthy of someone as good as Mr. Si. Mr. Si agreeing to take him in was likely out of pity or sympathy for someone weak.

Mr. Si didn’t see him as a lover, but more like a younger relative, the way he treated his nephew.

That was why Mr. Si didn’t expect him to contribute to the household, didn’t need his freedom, and didn’t want him to do anything for him.

Gentle and yet utterly cold.

Chu Junlie had seen on TV how irrational people could become when they fell in love, how laughable their actions were. But now that he was the one feeling it, he suddenly envied those couples who could love each other openly and sweetly.

Mr. Si was faultlessly kind to him, granting nearly every request, yet there was a deep chasm between them.

Just like at the engagement banquet, the mocking gasps of the guests, the looks of amusement when they toasted.

But Chu Junlie wasn’t afraid of that, nor did he care how deep the chasm was. He only knew how to keep moving forward, and forward again as if a fire was burning in him, pushing him to chase the moon hanging high in the sky.

Si Yunyi looked at Chu Junlie, who had been silent for a long while, and found his expression hard to read.

Perhaps, after three years of living together, he could write a paper on antisocial personality disorder and publish it in a journal, that would at least make good use of his remaining energy.

“I understand,” Chu Junlie said, suddenly breaking into a bright, dazzling smile.

“I’ll find a job, and I’ll give all the money I earn to you, Mr. Si.”

Si Yunyi’s gaze paused slightly. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know,” Chu Junlie said, his lips curving up, his tone sincere. “But that’s what I want to do.”

“You said I can do whatever I want. And what I want right now is to hand over everything I earn to you.”

“I’ve already found restaurant and sales jobs,” he added, pressing his lips together before holding up a finger. “Mr. Si, I only need a hundred a month from you — thirty for phone credit, sixty for bus fare, and the remaining ten for a haircut.”

If the two jobs didn’t require him to maintain his appearance, Chu Junlie felt he could even save that last ten and cut his hair himself in front of a mirror.

“You don’t need to live so frugally,” Si Yunyi said, quietly gazing at the young man before him.

“If you want me to manage your salary, I can but I’ll also give you a comfortable allowance.”

He recalled the dream he’d had of Chu Junlie begging the Si family’s branch members for money to save an old friend. His tone softened slightly.

“If you ever need to borrow money, you can come to me.”

“Thank you, Mr. Si,” Chu Junlie replied obediently, looking up at him with clear, dark, shining eyes.

Si Yunyi was silent for a moment, watching the young man in front of him. His eyes held a pure, trusting light like a small dog that would run to you the moment you called, resting its chin in your palm, head tilted.

Naive, yet burning bright.

Something none of the younger Si family members ever had.

That night, neither of them could sleep.

Si Yunyi sat in his study, thinking endlessly about the Si family’s future path.
Chu Junlie lay on the soft mattress, tossing and turning, breathing in the faint, clean scent of the freshly washed sheets.

It wasn’t the cool, alluring fragrance that lingered on Mr. Si’s body but the synthetic scent of detergent or laundry liquid.

Still, Chu Junlie couldn’t help but breathe in again, trying to imagine the scent he truly wanted to smell.

Late into the night, he couldn’t hold back anymore. Barefoot, he quietly opened his door and tiptoed toward Si Yunyi’s room.

He reached out gently and brushed his fingertips against the door he wasn’t allowed to enter.

---

Standing before Mr. Si’s door, Chu Junlie hesitated for a long time. Then, he reached into his chest pocket and pulled out a thin little booklet. Opening to the first page, he saw Mr. Yan’s household registration information.

It was the Yan family’s hukou (household registration book). When Chu Junlie had been tied up in the Yan family villa, after he managed to break free, he had passed by the master bedroom of the Yan couple and used Yan An’s birthday to open their safe.

He hadn’t taken a single cent — only the hukou booklet. He even left the cover behind as a decoy, hoping they wouldn’t notice its disappearance too soon.

Although he wasn’t officially part of the Yan family, his name was still listed in their hukou book. The Yans would never allow him to marry Mr. Si; they would never willingly give him that document to register the marriage officially.

But now, he had already stolen it.

He didn’t know how long it would be before they noticed it was gone.

Once they reported it lost, all his efforts would be wasted.

But if he proposed to Mr. Si — would Mr. Si really agree?

Sitting by the door under the moonlight, Chu Junlie looked at the ring in his hand, pressing his lips together and lowering his head slightly.

The next morning, after washing up, Si Yunyi stepped out of his room and was immediately greeted by the aroma of food. On the dining table were golden-fried egg bread pieces, freshly cooked corn pancakes, and a glass bowl of fruit and vegetable salad.

As the kitchen door swung open, Chu Junlie came out holding a plate of blanched okra, which he placed on the table. Then he carried out a rice cooker, scooped out steaming pumpkin millet porridge, and placed it carefully before Si Yunyi.

Si Yunyi looked up and was momentarily speechless at the sight of Chu Junlie in a plaid apron.

He was wearing only a tank top underneath, the apron made it look like he was wearing nothing else.

And since it was the housekeeper’s apron, it didn’t quite fit him; it looked small, outlining his muscular frame especially the firm, full curve of his chest beneath it.

“Mr. Si, I learned all of these from videos on my phone. Please try them,” Chu Junlie said nervously, beads of sweat on his forehead as he handed over the chopsticks.

Si Yunyi silently took them and tasted the blanched okra.

“It’s fine.”

Hearing Mr. Si’s verdict, Chu Junlie immediately beamed. He filled a large bowl of pumpkin millet porridge for himself and sat beside Si Yunyi, gulping it down in big mouthfuls.

“Slow down,” Si Yunyi said, hearing the sound of him drinking. He turned his head slightly. “It’s hot.”

The steam from the porridge flushed Chu Junlie’s face red. Hearing Mr. Si’s voice, he quickly set down his bowl, fetched two porcelain spoons, and began to eat quietly, imitating Mr. Si’s refined manner.

Si Yunyi usually had a simple breakfast just a sandwich prepared by the part-time helper the night before, eaten cold with milk or coffee. But clearly, that kind of meal didn’t suit Chu Junlie.

After a bowl of porridge, a corn pancake, and a few pieces of salad, Si Yunyi was full. Yet Chu Junlie devoured large pieces of fried egg bread in a few bites, rolled up the corn pancake in his hands, and swallowed it down with porridge in one go.

By the time Si Yunyi put down his chopsticks, the table was wiped clean, and even the leftover porridge in the cooker had been scraped empty.

He had thought Chu Junlie made too much, but it turned out to be exactly the right amount.

Chu Junlie wasn’t familiar with the dishwasher, but after Si Yunyi showed him once, he learned quickly. He also explored the rest of the kitchen appliances, figuring each one out with ease.

Si Yunyi hadn’t realized before that the “prodigy” traits often given to protagonists in novels “extremely talented” and “brilliant” could apply even to something like this.

“Mr. Si, later I’d like to give Liefeng a bath.”

Chu Junlie looked at him shyly. “I want to wait until the dishwasher’s done first. Could you come by afterward and show me how to use the shower here?”

The shower system in the bathroom was touchscreen, it was tricky for first-time users. Si Yunyi nodded slightly, checked the time, and went to change into his outfit for the day.

He had an appointment that morning at the Si family’s old estate, the family’s private doctor was visiting to check on the old master’s health, and there were many things Si Yunyi needed to discuss with him.

After dressing, he stepped out of his room and closed the door behind him. As he passed the dining area, he noticed the dishwasher had gone quiet.

“Xiao Chu?” Si Yunyi called, knocking lightly on the guest room door. There was no response. The door wasn’t fully closed; his knock made it open slightly.

Thinking that Chu Junlie might be in the bathroom washing the dog and couldn’t hear him, Si Yunyi gently pushed the door open and walked past the wardrobe area to the bathroom door.

“Xiao Chu.” He knocked twice but the door wasn’t latched and swung open with his touch.

A soapy, wet Liefeng wagged its tail and pawed at the bathroom door, pushing it open wide. Si Yunyi froze caught off guard as his eyes met those of the man showering inside.

Silence stretched for two seconds.

Chu Junlie’s face flushed scarlet. He straightened his back and looked at the suited man standing at the doorway.

Mr. Si wore a light gray suit with a crisp white shirt underneath, the collar fastened by a delicate pin. Behind his silver-rimmed glasses, his gaze flickered briefly in surprise before regaining its usual calm composure.

The steam from the shower had thinned, leaving everything inside the bathroom perfectly visible.

For a moment, Si Yunyi almost wished his glasses didn’t have anti-fog coating.

Long Aotian, truly living up to his name.

“Mr. Si,” Chu Junlie said softly, lips pressed tight, his hands only half-covering himself, his face burning red.

“Could you… take responsibility for me?”

---

Author’s note:
Si Yunyi (expressionless): I was careless.

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