AAWOMAHI Chapter97

Lu Xingmian was having a great time with his few friends in the bar.

 

While Lu Shiran was away on a business trip.

 

Taking advantage of Lu Shiran’s absence, he could go all out and have fun with his friends, drink without a care, and even enjoy looking at handsome guys even though none of them were as good-looking as Lu Shiran.

 

Besides, he’d called Lu Shiran earlier that day to confirm he definitely wouldn’t be back today.

 

Lu Xingmian and his friends were practically going wild in the bar. Song Yihan said, “Drink less, you still have to go home later.”

 

Lu Xingmian replied, “Don’t worry, my Ge won’t be home for these few days, so I can have a bit more. He won’t know.”

 

His friends “looked down” on this “when the cat’s away, the mice will play” behavior, but Lu Xingmian strongly disagreed: “I’m the cat at home, not the mouse. My Ge listens to me.”

 

Song Yihan simply smiled, his expression saying more than words could, because he had never seen Lu Xingmian put on a tough act in front of Lu Shiran before.

 

Just as they were talking, Lu Xingmian’s phone rang. When he saw the sender’s name, Lu Xingmian froze. It was Lu Shiran, asking where he was.

 

The guilty Lu Xingmian looked around but didn’t spot Lu Shiran, so he confidently replied to Lu Shiran and said that he was home watching TV.

 

[Lu Shiran: Really at home watching TV?]

 

[Lu Xingmian: Yes, yes, really at home watching TV. It’s a great show.]

 

[Lu Shiran: Are the handsome guys on TV very good-looking?]

 

Lu Xingmian looked up at the handsome guy dancing on the stage.

 

[Lu Xingmian: They’re alright. Ge is still the best-looking one.]

 

[Lu Shiran: Stand up from the booth and look thirty degrees to your left.]

 

Lu Xingmian stood up and saw Lu Shiran walking over while dressing in a formal suit amidst the dazzling lights. He went forward and linked his arm through his. “Ge, weren’t you on a business trip? You’re back! Ge, I missed you so much.”

 

Lu Shiran looked at him. “Watching TV at home? Hmm?”

 

Lu Xingmian chuckled, “Ge, I just came out to play with my friends.”

 

Song Yihan and the others greeted Lu Shiran, “Lu Ge.”

 

Lu Shiran smiled, “I’m just passing by.”

 

Song Yihan and the others looked at Lu Xingmian with schadenfreude, but to their surprise, Lu Xingmian was still unafraid: “Ge, can you bring me my glass?”

 

Lu Shiran: “Sure.”

 

Lu Xingmian: “Ge, I want that wine. Can you pour me some?”

 

Lu Shiran: “Sure.”

 

Throughout the entire evening, Lu Shiran catered to Lu Xingmian’s every whim as if Lu Xingmian really was the “cat.”

 

The group played until almost midnight, then everyone went their separate ways.

 

Lu Xingmian was a little drunk and held onto Lu Shiran without letting go: “Ge, I missed you so much.”

 

Lu Shiran smiled helplessly. “I’m already back.”

 

Lu Xingmian still held him tight.

 

The two went home and Lu Shiran started to “settle the score.”

 

Lu Xingmian put a hand to his forehead. “Ge, my head is spinning. Can you make me a cup of honey pomelo tea?”

 

While Lu Shiran went to the kitchen, Lu Xingmian leaned on the sofa while watching him. He must have come straight from the airport and did not even have time to change his clothes.

 

It’s likely that Lu Shiran came out to look for him when he didn’t see him at home.

 

Lu Shiran quickly finished making the honey pomelo tea. Knowing Lu Xingmian liked things sweeter, he put in less pomelo and more honey.

 

Just as he approached Lu Xingmian, the person on the sofa stood up and wrapped his arms around his waist while whining sweetly, “Ge, I missed you.”

 

Lu Shiran stroked his hair. “I know, you’ve already said that.”

 

Lu Xingmian hugged him tighter. “I miss you even more now.”

 

Lu Shiran: “Aren’t you dizzy? Drink the honey pomelo tea first.”

 

If Lu Shiran hadn’t mentioned it, Lu Xingmian would have forgotten he said he was dizzy. So he quickly drank the honey pomelo tea in one go, then tightly hugged Lu Shiran’s waist again: “Ge, you were away on this trip for so long.”

 

How could Lu Shiran not know his Zai Zai’s “tricks”? But he just happened to fall for his Zai Zai’s act every time.

 

Lu Xingmian suddenly remembered something: “Ge, how did you know I was at the bar?”

 

Lu Shiran smiled. “Zai Zai, did you forget? I set up location tracking on your phone.”

 

Lu Xingmian really had forgotten about that.

 

Lu Shiran: “We need to have a good talk about what happened today.”

 

Lu Xingmian immediately jumped into his arms: “Ge, can we not talk about today? I was wrong.”

 

“Fine, if we’re not talking, we can do something else.”

 

Lu Xingmian: “Do what?”

 

Lu Shiran picked him up: “Who was the one flirting with me all the time during video calls? Not admitting it now?”

 

Every night when they video-called, Lu Xingmian, who was emboldened by Lu Shiran’s absence, let loose and flirted recklessly and almost made Lu Shiran have a nosebleed through the phone several times.

 

Today, Lu Shiran was going to collect the debt with interest; he had suppressed himself for days.

 

A day apart felt like three years, and a brief separation makes for a blissful reunion.

 

The situation tonight was even more intense than their wedding night.

 

“Laogong, have mercy, I’m going to break.”

 

“Let me see, you’re fine; you still have the strength to talk. Again.”

 

“I really have no strength left…”

 

–

 

Lu Shiran said he was taking Lu Xingmian somewhere, and the two appeared in front of a residential building.

 

It was the place Lu Xingmian used to rent.

 

Lu Xingmian watched as Lu Shiran took out a key and opened the door: “Ge, how do you have a key?”

 

Lu Xingmian had already returned all the keys to the landlord when he moved out.

 

Lu Shiran: “I bought the apartment.”

 

“Ge, you’re such a spendthrift!”

 

The room was still exactly as it used to be, virtually unchanged.

 

But what surprised Lu Xingmian was that despite being empty for so long, there was no dust in the room; it looked as if it had just been cleaned.

 

Naturally, since he was coming back today, Lu Shiran had arranged for someone to clean the room beforehand.

 

Looking at the familiar room, Lu Xingmian excitedly walked around: “Ge, do you know that when I first moved in, I spent a whole afternoon and an entire evening cleaning it?”

 

“Ge, let’s stay here for one night.” He suggested.

 

He felt a slight regret as he had never spent the night here with Lu Shiran before, and he missed the happy, joyful times he used to have here.

 

Lu Xingmian stood by the window: “Ge, you know, I often stood here and watched you leave so many times.”

 

He thought Lu Shiran was unaware, but in truth, Lu Shiran had always noticed him standing by the window and quietly watching him leave.

 

Lu Shiran: “We’ll stay here tonight.”

 

Having decided to stay, the two went out together to the nearby wet market to buy groceries. On their way back, they ran into the grandma from downstairs, who warmly invited them to her home for dinner.

 

Lu Xingmian explained that they had already bought groceries and thanked grandma.

 

The grandma said that last time she only saw Lu Shiran come back by himself, and she was glad to finally see the two of them return together today.

 

Last time?

 

After getting back, Lu Xingmian pressed Lu Shiran repeatedly about when that “last time” was, and Lu Shiran finally had to tell him.

 

Although Lu Xingmian already knew the answer, hearing Lu Shiran say it still made him feel a little bad inside. So when he ran away from home that time, Lu Shiran had come back here to look for him. Just how many places had Lu Shiran rushed to that night?

 

While Lu Shiran was cooking in the kitchen, Lu Xingmian sat beside him and talked, since Lu Shiran wouldn’t let him help with the chores.

 

In the tiny kitchen, Lu Shiran created a spectacular, delicious meal.

 

The two of them shared immense happiness at the small dining table.

 

That night, they lay in bed together.

 

When Lu Xingmian used to sleep on this bed alone, it had always felt spacious, but now with two people, it felt a bit crowded. Still, he didn’t mind, it was a good kind of crowded, because it meant he could stay close to Lu Shiran.

 

Now that he finally held Lu Shiran, Lu Xingmian was so thrilled that he hugged him tightly, feeling completely content. He kept rubbing against him and adjusting his position with his calf resting against Lu Shiran’s body.

 

Lu Shiran: “Zai Zai, don’t you think it’s a bit too simple if we’re just hugging?”

 

Lu Xingmian immediately understood what he meant: “Then be quiet!”

 

This was an old apartment complex and the soundproofing probably wasn’t great.

 

Lu Shiran: “Zai Zai, it should be you being quieter. You always yell so loudly.”

 

A small hand then pinched the man, who then grasped the little hand, “But I like the sound of your voice. It’s especially lovely.”

 

The moonlight was gentle, softly streaming through the window.

 

After a long while, Lu Xingmian curled up in Lu Shiran’s arms and drifted into a deep sleep, the small trace of regret in his heart finally fading away.