Chapter 14
After Gu Lin left.
The person sleeping at the table suddenly opened their eyes.
What was that just now? Why did Gu Lin touch his face? And that “happy housewarming”?
Lin Zheng hadn’t actually been asleep.
He had almost fallen asleep before Gu Lin came in, but he woke up when he heard the sound at the door. He figured it was Gu Lin using his key card, so he pretended to sleep.
He sat up straight.
A red mark was imprinted on his fair face from sleeping on his stomach. He reached out from his oversized sweatshirt sleeve and picked up the bouquet on the table.
A faint, pleasant scent wafted up. The pure white petals were elegant, not as flamboyant as other flowers, but very pleasing to the eye.
Lin Zheng looked upstairs.
Hearing a noise from upstairs, Lin Zheng quickly put the flowers back on the table and pretended to fall asleep again.
…Wait, why was he pretending to sleep?
Gu Lin came downstairs after changing his clothes and saw Lin Zheng still asleep, the flowers moved.
He smiled knowingly.
He walked over and picked up the flowers. “Tsk, these flowers are nice. The clerk highly recommended them. They’ll look good in the empty vase at home.”
He was about to leave.
Lin Zheng sat up, questioning, “Wait, weren’t those for me?!”
“Who said they were for you?”
Lin Zheng was speechless. “If they weren’t for me, why did you say ‘happy housewarming’?”
He had heard it clearly.
“That was just a well-wishing,” Gu Lin replied with a smile.
“I don’t believe you.”
Lin Zheng got up to grab them, but Gu Lin raised the flowers high out of his reach.
“Want them?” Gu Lin looked down at the shorter man, pointing at his face, “Then kiss your boyfriend first.”
“…”
Lin Zheng felt insulted by his height.
He sat back down, facing Gu Lin, arms crossed, leaning against the table.
Then he beckoned Gu Lin with his finger.
“Come here.”
Gu Lin raised an eyebrow.
“Come and squat down. You’re too tall; I can’t reach.”
Seeing Gu Lin didn’t move, Lin Zheng waved his hand. “Forget it. I won’t kiss, and I don’t want the flowers.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Lin walked towards him.
Gu Lin, tall and leggy, holding the flowers, looked like he was about to confess.
Lin Zheng crossed his legs, shyly touching the slightly curled bangs on his forehead.
He was the one who had asked Gu Lin to do this, but he was the one who felt embarrassed first.
He watched Gu Lin walk in front of him, bending slightly to accommodate his height, smiling at him before turning his cheek towards him.
Meaning Lin Zheng should fulfill his promise.
However, Lin Zheng narrowed his eyes, snatched the flowers, and ran.
“Hey, they’re mine now.”
He didn’t forget to give Gu Lin a triumphant look.
Gu Lin stood up, watching the retreating figure, his eyes clearly filled with indulgence.
That evening, Lin Zheng got some snacks and checked gossip on his phone. He saw a picture of Gu Lin holding flowers – his flowers.
The picture looked like it was taken secretly.
Lin Zheng clicked on it. The caption surprised him.
The person who posted it said Gu Lin bought them for him, which was true, but the rest was strange.
The comments said the flowers were for Gu Lin’s lover.
Some of Gu Lin’s fans said it was impossible, that Gu Lin was single and bought them for himself, saying that Mr. Gu loved flowers.
Wow, you must have a camera installed in Gu Lin’s house.
Further down, it got more absurd.
Someone said Lin Zheng had persistently pursued Gu Lin, so Gu Lin bought them for him.
Lin Zheng: “??”
Lin Zheng put his phone down.
Unbelievable.
On the weekend, Yan Yang visited Gu Lin.
Gu Lin glanced at the closed bedroom door and toasted bread. “You dare to come here?”
Yan Yang sat down at the small bar. “Still asleep? Did you tire him out last night?”
Gu Lin glanced at him, walked over with his coffee, neither confirming nor denying it.
“So, are you satisfied with the surprise I prepared?” Yan Yang asked expectantly.
Gu Lin straightened up. “Yan Yang, you’d better prepare to be maimed today.”
Yan Yang was bewildered.
A few minutes later, Lin Zheng, wearing a gray T-shirt and slippers, yawning, came out of the bedroom. His soft hair was messy from sleep. Although he had slept until almost nine o’clock, he still looked sleepy.
Yan Yang said to Gu Lin, “Your boyfriend’s sleeping posture isn’t good. You should hug him when you sleep. Look at his hair!”
He cheerfully greeted Lin Zheng, “Morning, little chick with a messy nest.”
Seeing him, Lin Zheng stopped yawning and went to the kitchen.
Yan Yang’s enthusiasm was dashed.
Lin Zheng started rummaging through the kitchen cabinets.
The kitchen was open-plan.
Yan Yang leaned on the bar, watching Lin Zheng search. “What are you looking for, little chick with a messy nest?”
Lin Zheng, his head sticking out of the cabinet, looked up at him, frowning. “Where’s the knife?”
Yan Yang was about to ask why he needed a knife when Lin Zheng said, “I’m going to kill that guy outside.”
The guy outside: “……!!!”
If Gu Lin hadn’t stopped him, Yan Yang might have been killed.
Yan Yang explained that he was just joking. Lin Zheng lay on the sofa, glaring at him.
“I swear, if I had known you were dating Gu Lin, I wouldn’t have done this. Right?”
“I did this for your own good, to help you develop your relationship.”
“Beilin is so far, and far from the company.”
“And Gu Lin is responsible for the reporters, right? As a man, he has to take responsibility.”
“It’s all for your own good, okay?”
Lin Zheng brushed his bangs.
Yan Yang leaned closer. “Should I comb your hair to apologize?”
Remembering Yan Yang’s nickname, Lin Zheng glared again.
Yan Yang immediately apologized.
Lin Zheng went to wash up.
Yan Yang breathed a sigh of relief and gave Gu Lin a thumbs-up. “I always thought he was gentle, but he’s quite violent. I really…” Yan Yang glanced at Gu Lin’s expression and changed his words, “I don’t like that at all.”
That evening, Lin Zheng was relaxing on the sofa, eating fruit and watching TV, when Gu Lin rushed in, put down his coat, and told him he had an urgent business trip. He went upstairs to pack.
Lin Zheng didn’t delay and started packing.
He didn’t bring much; Gu Lin told him the trip would be uncertain, so he packed a few suits and pajamas.
He also packed toiletries.
Shen, the assistant, only booked flights and hotels, not going with them.
After a brief phone call, Shen entrusted Lin Zheng with the task.
The airport was bustling, even at nearly 1 AM.
But unlike the outside, the VIP lounge was quiet.
There was time to nap, but Lin Zheng couldn’t sleep.
Gu Lin beside him had his eyes closed, seemingly resting.
The lights were dimmed in the lounge.
Gu Lin leaned back, his neatly combed bangs slightly covering his forehead. His features were well-proportioned, with sharp eyebrows, thick eyelashes casting shadows under his closed eyelids, and a straight nose. His thin lips were slightly pursed, giving him a refined appearance.
Bored, Lin Zheng pointed his phone’s camera at Gu Lin, took a picture of his sleeping face, and opened a photo editing app.
He added makeup—wild eyebrows, cherry lips, exaggerated blush—and laughed silently, his body shaking.
The boarding announcement came, and Lin Zheng quickly hid his phone.
Gu Lin opened his eyes and saw his assistant sitting upright, waiting for him.
It was almost boarding time. Lin Zheng reported the itinerary, “After arriving in City Y tonight, we’ll check into the Binhao Hotel. Tomorrow morning, the person from Yulong will meet us at 8 AM, lunch at Yulong’s hotel, then in the afternoon…”
“Change the afternoon schedule.”
“Huh?”
“I need to go to Yinlu.”
“Yinlu County?”
Yinlu was a small county in City Y.
“Yes.”
On the plane, they sat together.
Yinlu County? Lin Zheng thought the name sounded familiar.
The flight to City Y took three hours.
Lin Zheng sat down. He was about to ask Gu Lin if he needed a blanket when Gu Lin already got one himself.
The three hours were long. Lin Zheng sat by the window, looking out at the ground lit by streetlights.
He was about to recall the plot and check what was going on with Yinlu County, when he felt something heavy on him.
Turning his head, he saw a blanket.
Gu Lin’s hand withdrew.
He didn’t look at Lin Zheng and covered his legs with another blanket, closing his eyes to sleep.