Chapter 22 I Want to Be You
At 11 p.m., Fu Yanle squatted by the roadside waiting for the housekeeper.
A row of maple trees stood across the street, their red and yellow hues stretching out beautifully under the warm glow of the streetlights—a gentle beauty unique to late autumn.
The streetlights overhead cast Fu Yanle into the shadows of the road, making him curl up in a ball.
Lu Minghe yanked open the denim jacket, awkwardly draping it over his elbow, and the sweatshirt underneath was also torn into an off-shoulder style. Thus, a small patch of fair skin shivered in the autumn night, posing for a photo, fabricating a false persona of "weak and pitiful" for the body's owner.
Lu Minghe confidently assured him: This is one of the ultimate seduction techniques!
Fu Yanle, already instinctively skeptical, now shivered with cold, even more convinced of Lu Minghe's reliability. He casually tapped the toe of his shoe, "What am I doing this for?"
Mingming's marriage registration with Yu Jingchen was also a momentary impulse driven by selfish motives and ulterior motives, with a hint of exploitation involved. Why is she suddenly starting to care about Yu Jingchen's true thoughts? Even if Yu Jingchen really wanted something from her, it would at most be a case of mutual exploitation, each getting what they needed.
Damn it! Fu Yanle clenched his fist and slammed it hard against the surface of his shoe.
They've really eaten too much and are just bored out of their minds!
Just then, a piece of leather shoe tip suddenly came into view. Fu Yanle's fingertips paused slightly, and the next second, the tip of the shoe pressed against his toes.
The housekeeper wouldn't do that.
Fu Yanle seemed to sense something and slowly raised his head. Just like when he saw Yu Jingchen at the Lu family's house, he scrutinized Yu Jingchen from head to toe with his meticulous gaze. Only this time, it was from a devil's perspective.
Damn, he's still so handsome!
Yu Jingchen didn't seem to mind the overly focused and detailed scrutiny. He reached out and pulled his deliberately posed jacket and hoodie back into place, leaning down to ask, "Can you get up?"
"Get up—" Fu Yanle's mental notebook opened just in time, and the words "try to hook him" hit him like a thunderbolt, forcing him to change his words abruptly, "Can't get up."
Yu Jingchen looked directly into Fu Yanle's eyes without reacting.
Fu Yanle licked her dry lips and added innocently, "I'll be fine soon, Brother Chen, you don't need to hug me. I'm a mature adult now, I can't be a burden to you, I need to be independent, strong and determined!"
Yu Jingchen looked at Fu Yanle for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed. He squatted down, put one arm around Fu Yanle's waist and the other around his leg, and lifted him up.
"!"
Fu Yanle instinctively hugged Yu Jingchen and insisted, "Let's change positions! Let's change positions!"
Yu Jingchen turned around, holding Fu Yanle, and asked, "Why?"
Fu Yanle said with a bitter face, "I feel like a watermelon that you picked up from the ground!"
“Watermelon won’t get drunk, and it certainly won’t hide by the roadside in the cold wind.” Yu Jingchen carried the wrinkled-faced Fu Watermelon into the back seat and patted his calf. “Roll inside, little watermelon.”
"Oh." Fu Yanle obediently rolled over to make room for Yu Jingchen.
The butler glanced in the rearview mirror, then drove away, considerately slowing down.
Fu Yanle leaned back in his chair, hugged his knees, and curled up awkwardly into a ball. "Brother Chen, what brings you here?"
"Bring the watermelon." Yu Jingchen pinched the bridge of his nose, his gaze sweeping over Fu Yanle's flushed face. "How much did you drink?"
"Round it up, two bottles." Fu Yanle suddenly covered his mouth, then released it after a few seconds, giving a sincere hint, "Brother Chen, I'm feeling a little unwell."
Yu Jingchen said to the butler, "Lower the car window a little."
"Yes, sir," the butler said with concern. "There's some hangover tea in the car. Would Young Master Fu like some?"
Fu Yanle said listlessly, "My stomach is too bloated. Let's drink some more when we get back."
Autumn nights are inherently chilly, and even at low speeds, the wind can still seep into your bones. Yu Jingchen took a white woolen hat from a paper bag beside him and handed it to Fu Yanle, saying, "Put this on. Getting drunk and then being exposed to the cold wind will give you a headache tomorrow."
Fu Yanle: "Goose!"
Yu Jingchen remained in the posture of handing over the item, his fingernails neatly trimmed and clean, embedded in the white cloth, his fingers as elegant as jade bamboo. Fu Yanle stared intently, lost in thought for what seemed like an eternity, before suddenly leaning his head closer—
"Help me put it on."
His tone was soft yet commanding, like a lovable lazybones.
“…Okay.” Yu Jingchen awkwardly opened his hat and covered Fu Yanle’s head. Fu Yanle didn’t speak, but looked up, revealing half of his face that was covered by his hair, and blew on a strand of hair in front of his mouth.
Yu Jingchen thus knew that he had not worn it properly.
Yu Jingchen seemed to be in a predicament. Fu Yanle, meanwhile, was staring at him with a half-smile, as if urging him: "Hurry up and put it on for me." And Yu Jingchen began to panic—he should have practiced beforehand.
Although he had never worn a woolen hat like this before, Fu Yanle liked it, so he should practice beforehand, at least to the point where he could skillfully and calmly put the hat on Fu Yanle. Even though he hadn't had the chance before, he should still prepare in advance, because Fu Yanle was now by his side—what if?
Yu Jingchen reflected on his actions.
The person in front of him was in a daze. Fu Yanle pretended not to notice and urged, "Hurry up."
Yu Jingchen pursed his lips, his fingers tracing down Fu Yanle's temples, brushing aside a strand of curly hair, and gently tucking it into his hat. His movements were stiff, making him appear even more cautious.
Fu Yanle suddenly felt his face burning. Although his face was hot from the alcohol, the "heat" at this moment was not due to physiological reasons; it was more like a spark thrown from the depths of his heart.
So faint as to be almost invisible, yet in an instant, it silently burst into a fierce roar, and the fire spread like wildfire.
But Yu Jingchen's fingertips were cold. As soon as they touched him, Fu Yanle instinctively flinched and muttered, "Cold."
“You’re too hot.” Yu Jingchen’s fingers slid down Fu Yanle’s chin, finally lifting his chin as if to tap him. “Next time you drink, you’re not allowed to squat outside.”
Fu Yanle met Yu Jingchen's gaze through the hazy warm light, but he couldn't see clearly and could only mumble, "Why?"
Yu Jingchen said, "The beautiful and cute puppy will attract people to reach out and touch it."
Fu Yanle did not speak, but simply blinked slightly in response.
Yu Jingchen's fingers slid down, brushing against Fu Yanle's small Adam's apple. In that instant, whether intentionally or unintentionally, Fu Yanle swallowed, causing his Adam's apple to slide gently.
Yu Jingchen's breath hitched, and he abruptly looked up, only to find that Fu Yanle had merely widened her eyes slightly, like an innocent person simply expressing confusion. Yu Jingchen pursed his lips, then gently adjusted the silver choker around Fu Yanle's neck, using the warm light inside the car to make out the engravings on it.
“Le désir,” Yu Jingchen said softly and gently, as if asking casually, “What does that mean?”
The autumn wind outside the window suddenly became very gentle, blowing past without stinging, only making Fu Yanle's ears itch slightly. But he was certain that Yu Jingchen was not asking casually, but rather trying to entice him to give an answer that didn't need to be provided.
This is a trap.
Yes, so what?
Fu Yanle obediently raised his neck, generously showing Yu Jingchen his Adam's apple, the ornaments on it, and the courage to completely disregard his past failed love affair.
“Le désir, desire.” He winked gently and said in a complimentary tone, “Mr. Yu, you speak French very well.”
Like a string of agate beads nestled in the aroma of wine.
“This is your forte.” Yu Jingchen’s fingertips were still on the engraved words, gentle yet leaving no room for retreat. “I want to learn from you.”
Fu Yanle tilted his head slightly, adopting a posture of listening attentively.
"What are your desires?" Yu Jingchen asked intently. "Would you be so generous as to share the answer with me?"
Fu Yanle sensed the subtle plea, yet also the overwhelming sense of force. He took it as an order and chose to respond generously. He moved forward slowly, causing Yu Jingchen's fingers to retreat, without putting any pressure on his Adam's apple.
Fu Yanle finally rested his chin on Yu Jingchen's shoulder, a distance that made Yu Jingchen withdraw his hand. He smiled and tilted his head, finally looking into Yu Jingchen's usually calm and unwavering eyes, and in his half-drunk state, he heard the surging within them, as if the tide were splashing out and landing right on the tip of his nose.
This distance is dangerous.
Yu Jingchen's gaze fell upon Fu Yanle's earnest stare. The fluffy, adorable puppy intruded into his breathing space, recklessly splashing the heat of rose brandy, then raising its harmless paw and boldly blocking his breath.
"You ask me this second, and I'll answer this second." Fu Yanle's finger pressed against Yu Jingchen's lips, his tone almost a murmur, "Tu es mon désir."
My desire is you.
Author's Note:
Happy holidays, everyone! How was your day, my darlings?
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