Chapter 15

Only a single small lamp was lit in the entryway, leaving the light somewhat dim.

Once he saw Jun Yanxing’s current appearance clearly, Tang Zhuo dazed for a moment. “You… why did you change your clothes?”

Unlike when he left this morning, Jun Yanxing, having just returned, was dressed very formally. The precision-tailored suit looked custom-made, perfectly showcasing his superior body proportions. His hair had been styled, without a single strand out of place.

Most striking of all was his pair of gold-rimmed glasses, which effectively masked the lingering youthfulness of his features, adding a layer of mature stability. Standing before Tang Zhuo now, Jun Yanxing appeared refined and noble—the picture of an heir painstakingly cultivated by a prestigious family.

He was dazzling, yet seemed even more unapproachable than usual. Especially that cold indifference radiating from his very bones made the sense of distance feel even more profound.

Tang Zhuo’s question snapped Jun Yanxing back to reality.

“Mhm.”

He had only just reached adulthood, and his appearance was still a bit too youthful; therefore, before meeting CEO Li, Jun Yanxing had specifically changed his outfit.

Sensing Tang Zhuo’s daze, Jun Yanxing tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping toward the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. The mirror reflected both of them.

Tang Zhuo was wearing oversized, loose orange loungewear that completely covered his upper body, showing only the hem of his shorts and a pair of straight, slender legs. He looked warm and soft—a stark contrast to Jun Yanxing’s style.

Like right now… one stood in the light, the other in the shadows.

An unreadable emotion flickered in Jun Yanxing’s eyes, but then his focus shifted to Tang Zhuo’s face. A flush had silently crept up Tang Zhuo’s cheeks, like a layer of rouge applied to his fair skin. Those beautiful eyes, after a brief moment of being stunned, lit up once more with a clear, moving brilliance.

Jun Yanxing blinked, only to see Tang Zhuo enthusiastically scurry over like a puppy frantically wagging its tail.

“I’ve been waiting for you for so long!”

Tang Zhuo happily leaned in close to Jun Yanxing, his flushed face full of intimate joy. He didn’t care if Jun Yanxing was cold or distant; from the moment he decided to cling to Jun Yanxing, such issues were irrelevant.

Tang Zhuo only knew that in this world, Jun Yanxing was currently the person closest to him, their relationship the tightest, and his character trustworthy—so what was there to be conflicted about? He just wanted Jun Yanxing to keep him company so he wouldn’t be so lonely.

And… Jun Yanxing was truly good-looking. He was already attractive to begin with, but with a little grooming, he was so handsome it was hard to look away. Though it was a bit of a pity they were the same gender, it was precisely because of this that he could admire his beauty without restraint!

Reservedness and shyness? He didn’t have any, nor did he need any. With someone this good-looking, of course he had to take a few extra looks!

“Did you come back so late because you were buying new clothes and getting glasses?” Tang Zhuo smiled sweetly, as if his words were coated in honey. “This outfit is really nice. So, are you nearsighted?”

These were, of course, plain-lens glasses; with an eighteen-year-old body, all his functions were at their peak. Jun Yanxing didn’t answer the question. He took off the glasses, changed into slippers, and stepped out of the entryway shadows into the brightly lit house.

Tang Zhuo followed beside him, chattering away.

“Next time you go, take me with you! I have quite a bit of insight into fashion; I can give you some advice.”

“I’ll consider it.”

When Jun Yanxing reached his bedroom door, Tang Zhuo was still following him. He stopped, casually loosening his tie while looking back at Tang Zhuo with a raised eyebrow. “I’m going to shower. Do you want to join?”

Tang Zhuo looked at him with a red face. Perhaps it was the “buff” from the styling, but he felt every move Jun Yanxing made exuded an indescribable charm. If only he could be this handsome.

Facing Jun Yanxing’s question, he nodded. “Sure!”

“…” Jun Yanxing’s hand tightened on his tie.

“I’ll go shower, too!” Tang Zhuo chuckled. “By the time we’re done, the drama will just be starting.”

Jun Yanxing: “…”

Realizing it was another misunderstanding, Jun Yanxing watched Tang Zhuo, narrowing his eyes slightly. [read the original at bailiantales.com]data-index-in-node="103">Did I truly misinterpret him? Or… is he doing it on purpose?

Seeing Jun Yanxing still standing at the door, Tang Zhuo began to urge him. “Hurry up and wash.”

“Come out and eat cantaloupe when you’re done. I’ve already sliced it and put it in the fridge to chill. This cantaloupe is super sweet and delicious; you must try it!”

Tang Zhuo pushed Jun Yanxing into his room, then limped toward the master bedroom himself. He hummed an unknown little tune; one could feel his good mood just from his back.

Jun Yanxing didn’t understand what Tang Zhuo was so happy about. But he realized… his own mood wasn’t bad either.

Tang Zhuo seemed to possess a kind of magic that could pacify his inner hostility and irritability, making him feel relaxed, even pleased. Even though he knew this might be a disguise—that the man might have ulterior motives—it was hard to resist.

Jun Yanxing frowned, forced himself to look away, and closed his door.

Tang Zhuo returned to the master bedroom and began gathering clothes for a shower. Today, he had only gone out for a short stroll in the evening, returning home as soon as the streetlights came on.

Tang Zhuo looked out at the dark night sky. In his original world, he almost never went out at night; the only time was when he had a fever at midnight and his mother rushed him to the hospital.

What would the night in this world be like? It probably wouldn’t be as dangerous as the adults always described, right? After all, an “Omega” like Yueyue could go out and play at night with peace of mind.

Yes, the reason he had gone out in the evening was that Wan Qingyue mentioned going to karaoke (KTV) tonight and asked if he wanted to join. From the original owner’s memories, Tang Zhuo knew what karaoke meant and generally what kind of activity it was.

Thinking of that kind of dimly lit, enclosed environment, Tang Zhuo naturally refused without a second thought. However, listening to Wan Qingyue’s description, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing. So he chose to leave the house at dusk to try it out.

Yet as the sky grew dark, he stood at the complex entrance and simply couldn’t bring himself to step out. In the end, he had to limp back home dejectedly.

Tang Zhuo lowered his eyelashes, slowly scrubbing his body. His long-suppressed nature seemed to be releasing bit by bit. He wanted to go out and see. Since he couldn’t do the night yet, he’d try the daytime. He had done quite well before—not only coming home from the hospital by himself but also leaving the complex to buy groceries.

At this thought, Tang Zhuo’s low mood improved. Right, these were habits formed over nearly twenty years; how could they be completely changed overnight? He didn’t need to feel pressured about this; he just had to accept his true self.

Because of his leg, it took Tang Zhuo over an hour to finish his bath. He blow-dried his hair, comfortably stepped into his slippers, and prepared to eat cantaloupe. As soon as he opened the door, he saw Jun Yanxing standing outside, seemingly about to knock.

Seeing him appear, Jun Yanxing looked him up and down, then frowned. “You were in the shower the whole time?”

Tang Zhuo blinked, looking at him with some confusion. “Y-Yes.”

“For that long?”

“Um… yeah, my leg is in a cast.” Tang Zhuo explained obediently. “It’s not very convenient, so I wash quite slowly… did something happen?”

“Nothing.” Jun Yanxing turned to leave.

Tang Zhuo quickly followed. He had caught on; his big eyes were sparkling as if he had discovered a new continent. “Were you worried about me just now?”

“No.” Jun Yanxing kept a cold face, about to return to the second bedroom, but Tang Zhuo grabbed his arm at the door.

“Don’t go, don’t go! Let’s go eat cantaloupe together.”

Tang Zhuo actively bypassed the previous topic because he already had the answer in his heart. He happily held onto Jun Yanxing’s arm, dragging him toward the living room.

“Yay! The drama has started too!”

He really had taken quite a while in the shower; the show was already halfway through. Tang Zhuo hurriedly pushed Jun Yanxing down onto the sofa, then prepared to rush to the kitchen for the cantaloupe. But just as he took a step, his wrist was caught.

He felt his body pulled back and then pushed, landing him right on the sofa. Tang Zhuo dazed for a moment, watching Jun Yanxing walk around the sofa and head toward the kitchen without a word.

Even though Jun Yanxing had changed back into his usual look after his shower, Tang Zhuo—now understanding his intent—felt that even Jun Yanxing’s back was handsome enough to glow.

When Jun Yanxing came out of the kitchen with the fruit platter, he saw that Tang Zhuo wasn’t watching TV. Instead, his head was poked out from behind the sofa, his eyes like stars as he stared at him.

Jun Yanxing paused his footsteps for a moment, then walked over as if nothing unauthorized copy was wrong. “Eat.” He placed the platter on the coffee table.

“Mhm!” Tang Zhuo took out the prepared toothpicks, poked a piece, and handed it to him. “You taste it first, it’s really sweet!”

Jun Yanxing sat down but didn’t take what was offered. Instead, he took his own toothpick and put a small piece of melon in his mouth. The pale orange flesh was translucent and juicy, the seeds carefully removed. The closer to the center, the sweeter it was. Chilled, the texture was even better; the taste was indeed good.

Beside him, seeing that he didn’t take the offered piece, Tang Zhuo didn’t mind. He stuffed the whole piece into his mouth with a “nom.”

“So gud!” he exclaimed, his speech muffled.

Jun Yanxing didn’t take another piece. He didn’t have a sweet tooth and had no particular preference for cantaloupe. However, he didn’t leave either.

At this point, he heard Tang Zhuo continue: “Liu-liu really knows how to pick them. I have to ask Liu-liu for the secret next time!”

Jun Yanxing paused, raising an eyebrow. “Liu-liu?”

“Mhm, the neighbor across the hall, Ren Liu. He also has a very cute dog; have you seen it?” Tang Zhuo continued to eat while talking. “He’s the one who gave me this cantaloupe.”

Jun Yanxing stared at the TV, but his attention wasn’t on the plot at all. His gaze lowered, landing on the plate of melon. “Are you two close?” he asked.

“No,” Tang Zhuo answered vaguely while chewing. “Just met a few times.”

Jun Yanxing gave a dry laugh. “And you call him so intimately?”

“It’s more friendly that way.” Tang Zhuo didn’t notice the atmosphere becoming slightly off.

Jun Yanxing’s gaze gradually grew cold. He turned his head toward Tang Zhuo, only to unexpectedly meet Tang Zhuo’s eyes.

As if suddenly thinking of something, Tang Zhuo’s bright eyes sparkled with a moving light as he smiled sweetly at him. “Can I call you Jun-jun?”

After all, Jun Yanxing was essentially his benefactor and didn’t have the easiest personality, so Tang Zhuo hadn’t dared to be so bold at first. But now it was different. The rental contract was signed, it couldn’t be easily broken, and they were now in a relationship where they could sit and eat fruit together!

Jun Yanxing: “…” He did not understand, and he felt shocked.

“You can also call me Tang-tang,” Tang Zhuo continued eating. “That’s what my friends call me.”

Jun Yanxing expressed his refusal, but clearly, his refusal didn’t matter.

“By the way, Jun-jun, do you go to school during the day?” Tang Zhuo asked.

“…Just call me by my full name.”

“Okay, Jun-jun.”

“…”