After the Straight Male Incubus Became a Heartthrob - Chapter 39.1

The villa was situated at the top of a mountain on a gentle slope lined with sycamore trees. Their white trunks pierced the sky, and their dense green foliage formed a massive canopy that blocked out the sun. The ground was dappled with fragments of light, and both sides of the path were planted with yellow tulips and purple hyacinths that swayed in the wind, releasing a heavy fragrance.

Halfway down the mountain, various entertainment facilities such as hot springs, swimming pools, a golf course, and a winery were built so that the owners could enjoy themselves without ever leaving the property. The entire mountain was fenced off, with security personnel arranged to protect the employer’s safety. Because the social environment was stable and secure, these security guards mostly stayed in fixed positions rather than patrolling frequently to avoid disturbing the employer’s life. Consequently, their level of vigilance was not particularly high.

Liang Wenle had not eaten for four days, nor had he drunk a single drop of water. His lips were cracked and peeling, and he had begun to drift into a daze. Lying on his bed and looking at the sunlight outside, he sometimes felt as if he were in hell, scorched by fierce flames, while the world outside the window led to a bright and beautiful heaven.

He remembered how, as a child, he would often follow his grandmother to church to pray. In the grand and magnificent cathedral, the massive pipe organ would produce sacred, ethereal music. Sunlight filtered through stained glass, creating a dreamlike world, while the dome above was covered in complex, gorgeous reliefs and paintings. In that vast church, there were only him, his grandmother, and the occasional blue bird that flew in. He would crouch down to feed the little blue birds and receive praise from the priest.

His grandmother told him that as long as he was devout in his heart, the gods would grant him happiness. As a young child, he did not understand and asked her what happiness was. His grandmother would touch his head with a smile and whisper a prayer, wishing that the Lord would protect him.

Now, Liang Wenle desperately wanted to call his grandmother and tell her that the gods were fake; they had not protected him at all. Otherwise, why would he be experiencing the greatest suffering of his life? His attempt to get engaged to his beloved was being blocked, and after fasting for four days, he was on the verge of fainting. His phone had been confiscated, and he had no strength left.

At this moment, the spacious room had become a coffin, and he only needed to wait quietly for death. He hated his father; he could not believe his father could be so cruel to him. Just thinking about his father’s face made Liang Wenle feel angry and aggrieved, and tears slid from the corners of his eyes. This hunger strike was not just to fight for the engagement, but also to declare war on his father. He wanted to prove his determination and make his father suffer the punishment of his mother for this.

However, his vision was becoming increasingly blurred. Why did it feel like he could not hold on much longer? Liang Wenle’s eyelids kept drooping; he struggled to open his eyes, only to close them again. Finally, at the moment he closed his eyes, he heard a familiar voice.

“Wenle!”

Liang Wenle managed to open a tiny slit to look. To his shock, Ye Lin was standing outside the window, gently tapping on the glass and calling his name.

“Wenle, do not sleep! Get up, get up quickly!”

Ye Lin stood in the light, looking like a divine statue in a cathedral, gazing at him tenderly. Liang Wenle tried to lift his hand. It took him three attempts before he could get out of bed and open the window.

“My god, your face is so pale!”

After Ye Lin entered, he supported Liang Wenle in time and quickly held an apple to his lips. “Quick, take a few bites.”

Liang Wenle tried to open his mouth to bite, taking a long time to manage just a little bit. His cracked lips stung when they touched the juice, but it felt like tasting honey. The sweetness spread from his mouth to his heart, and the pain vanished.

Ye Lin looked around and noticed that this room was twice as large as the previous living room. Everywhere he looked were luxurious and magnificent decorations, but there was no food or water. “That old man is truly cruel. He has not given you a drop of water or a bite to eat for four days?”

“Mm.”

“No wonder your cousin was so worried. If I had come any later, you would have gone into shock.”

Liang Wenle did not answer; he just silently gnawed on the apple. He had never realized that such a common fruit could be so delicious; no food in the world could compare to it. He had originally intended to fast to the end to make his parents regret it. But seeing Ye Lin, he gave up that idea; he only wanted to finish the apple. The apple contained sugar and water, which could provide temporary energy, but it was still too little; he needed more food.

Ye Lin saw a light in Liang Wenle’s eyes, suggesting he had recovered somewhat. He asked, “Feeling better? Do you still want to continue the hunger strike to pressure your father?”

Liang Wenle looked down at the floor, indignant. “No. He does not love me at all, so a hunger strike is useless against him. I do not want to stay here for another second.”

Ye Lin supported him as they walked out. “Fine, I will take you out.”

Fortunately, Liang Wenle’s room was on the second floor, allowing them to jump down easily. There was a soft lawn below that acted like a cushion, reducing the risk of injury. It was currently mealtime, so no one was around; if they were careful, they would not be discovered.

However, while Ye Lin could jump down easily, it was very difficult for Liang Wenle; even walking normally was a struggle. Ye Lin had to jump down first and hold out his arms to encourage him. “Jump down, I will catch you. Be quick, someone will be here in three minutes.”

Liang Wenle looked down from the railing. His vision went black, and he felt he would faint right there, his legs trembling. But Ye Lin’s face was below, so he jumped without hesitation.

When Ye Lin was in middle school, he often climbed over walls and had caught many of his brothers. He accurately predicted where Liang Wenle would land and reached out to catch him. However, he underestimated Liang Wenle’s weight. The moment he caught him, he was slammed to his knees, and his arms were pulled painfully.

“Tsk!” Ye Lin let out a low cry of pain but endured it to pull Liang Wenle up, heading toward the nearby bushes to hide.

Fortunately, he had the detailed information provided by Chen Linyu, allowing him to accurately avoid the security and other staff. Walking toward the southeast corner along the bushes, there was a small path hidden in the forest. As long as they kept their heads down and hunched over throughout the journey, their figures would be concealed from outsiders.

Liang Wenle was dragged forward by Ye Lin, his feet frequently stepping on sharp pebbles. He nearly fell several times, and his face was stung by leaves as if he had plunged into a forest ocean and was about to suffocate. This was the first time he had tasted such hardship, but as long as he felt the warmth in Ye Lin’s palm, he felt like he was floating, like a heart-shaped balloon following only the person holding the string.

The light and shadow were blurred among the trees. Ye Lin’s back looked resolute. Even though his shoulder had hit the ground earlier, he did not complain and continued to run ahead at a steady, moderate pace. It took five or six minutes to cross the bushes and reach a slightly wider area.

Liang Wenle was so tired he was on the verge of fainting. He leaned against Ye Lin’s shoulder and panted, his complexion turning slightly more flushed. This was a spot in the woods halfway down the mountain, very dense and capable of blocking most lines of sight.

Ye Lin rubbed his arm and pointed to the right. “The main road down the mountain has people; we cannot take it. We will follow this less crowded path down and then return to the city.”

Liang Wenle grabbed his sleeve and whispered, “Do not go back to the city. Just find any road out first.”

Ye Lin agreed to his request and reached out to feel his forehead. “No fever, just physical weakness. Let us find a small shop first so you can have some porridge.”

Liang Wenle looked up at him, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. “Are you worried about me?”

Ye Lin sighed helplessly. “Of course I am worried. If you starve to death, what will I do?”

Liang Wenle felt a sweetness in his heart, as if his entire being had been soaked in a honey jar; he was no longer afraid of any difficulty. After resting for a moment, they continued forward, following the path Ye Lin had taken up the mountain.

When they reached the small road at the foot of the mountain, they pushed aside weeds and branches to reveal a black motorcycle. The body of the motorcycle had blue flame patterns, and its lines displayed power and wildness, like a gale in the dark night. Ye Lin took the safety helmet from the back seat and personally helped Liang Wenle put it on, tightening the strap. He gave a thoughtful reminder. “Hold me tight later; it will be easier to get out from here.”

With the black helmet on, Liang Wenle’s mixed-race features were more pronounced, making him look like a BJD doll. “Why are you not wearing a helmet?”

Ye Lin kicked the stand, flipped his leg over to straddle the bike, and signaled for Liang Wenle to get on the back. “I do not need one.”

As Liang Wenle sat down behind him, he saw Ye Lin using his jacket to tie their waists together to prevent him from falling off if his hands lost strength. The moment the motorcycle started, it was like a bullet being fired. The surrounding scenery blurred into streaks, and powerful wind kept hitting their faces like knife cuts, with noise roaring in their ears.

Liang Wenle was not used to motorcycles and could not help but ask, “Why did you not drive another car to pick me up? Why did you have to drive this motorcycle?”

“Young master, a four-wheeled vehicle is too eye-catching. Only this off-road motorcycle is easy to sneak in to pick you up.”

“You are not allowed to call me ‘young master.’ You have to call me Wenle.”

“Alright, Wenle. Sit tight; there is a curve coming up.”

Liang Wenle obediently hugged Ye Lin’s waist, leaning against his shoulder and listening to their heartbeats intertwine. When the motorcycle leaned into the turn, their bodies tilted with it, creating a terrifying illusion of being torn apart. One slight mistake and they would be thrown out. The wind speed increased, causing his ears to vibrate, creating the illusion of a struggle with the Grim Reaper.

Liang Wenle’s adrenaline surged, and he instinctively gripped Ye Lin’s waist even tighter, leaning heavily on the person in front of him. Ye Lin’s motorcycle skills were expert; like a bolt of lightning, he cleared the turn in the blink of an eye, unscathed. He then took a shortcut, breaking into a gravel path by a stream before returning to the regular road.

Liang Wenle also liked racing, and he could see that Ye Lin’s technique was refined, bold yet careful, picking the best angles and controlling the direction in advance. Throughout the drive, it was very steady without any bumps.

He suddenly remembered that back at the racetrack, he had let Ye Lin sit beside him. Later, Ye Lin’s expression had gradually soured; he must have been repulsed by his poor skills but did not say it. Ye Lin was always so gentle and considerate, constantly protecting his self-esteem and never letting him get hurt.

The more Liang Wenle thought about it, the more he liked him. He felt he had encountered true happiness. He believed he was indeed favored by the gods to have obtained such a perfect lover. He desperately wanted to live like this with Ye Lin forever, never to be separated.

Liang Wenle closed his eyes and smelled the scent of Ye Lin’s body, already beginning to fantasize about their beautiful future life, light winds, soft clouds, a vast sea of flowers, and the two of them kissing. He could not help but shout out, “Ye Lin, let us elope! Let us just keep going like this and never look back!”

Hearing his voice, Ye Lin froze for a moment before answering, “Elope?”

Liang Wenle was in an excited mood, recalling the countless romance movies he had seen. “Yes, elope! Escape to the ends of the earth, to a place where there are only the two of us!”

Ye Lin felt he must be crazed from hunger and mentally unstable, so he could only persuade him. “Oh, transportation is so advanced now; where could the ends of the earth be? At most, we can go out to clear our heads, wait a while to see the Liang family’s reaction, and then make plans.”

Leaning against his shoulder, Liang Wenle retorted dissatisfiedly, “It is eloping! I want to be with you forever. No one can stop us from loving each other!”

Forget it, as long as the young master is happy, what else can I say? Ye Lin could not talk him out of it, so he simply went along. “Fine, we are eloping.”

Liang Wenle laughed loudly like a happy fool. “Hehe, I am so happy! Meeting you at eighteen is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me!”

“I am also very lucky to have met Wenle.”

The motorcycle stopped in front of a noodle shop. This was a lively small county town, bustling and full of snack stalls emitting white steam. Ye Lin entered a mom-and-pop noodle shop where a primary school student was doing homework. He told the owner that his friend had not eaten in a long time and requested a very light, easy-to-digest porridge.

The owner saw that Liang Wenle was dressed extraordinarily but looked pale; he did not understand why a rich person would be unable to get enough food. But he understood very well what someone who had been hungry for a long time should eat and quickly went to the kitchen to prepare.

Ye Lin had Liang Wenle sit down, poured him hot water, and pointed to the door. “I am going to find a place to park. Wait for me here; do not wander off.”

Liang Wenle hummed. “I will not wander off. Stop using that tone you use for children!”

In reality, in Ye Lin’s eyes, he was just a child who had not grown up. After all, only children would use a hunger strike to threaten their parents. Ye Lin had no choice but to agree and go out.

Many people in the noodle shop were observing Liang Wenle, finding his foreign appearance very novel. Liang Wenle did not like being watched and stared back at each person until they looked away. He slowly drank the porridge and ate the side dishes. The porridge was not fragrant enough, the vegetables did not taste good, and the shop did not even have an exquisite, grand private room. If Ye Lin had not brought him here, he would never have stepped into such a place in his life. Liang Wenle complained silently, but he still finished all the porridge and side dishes; his stomach finally felt comfortable.

When Ye Lin returned, he had already bought a new helmet and was carrying three bags. They contained a few pieces of new clothing, a candied hawthorn stick, and a new phone. The new clothes were very ordinary, casually cut, average in style, and made of polyester. Liang Wenle flipped through the clothes with disdain and muttered in a low voice, “Why did you buy such ugly clothes?”

Ye Lin took out the candied hawthorn, peeled off the wrapper, and handed it to him. “Are you not going out of town? You will definitely need to change clothes on the road. Just make do with these.”

The candied hawthorn had a crystal-clear sugar coating and contained large strawberries and grapes; it looked very sweet. Liang Wenle took it and took a bite, frowning slightly in disdain, but thinking that Ye Lin had bought it for him, he finished it all.

Ye Lin stared at him as he finished, his eyes shining like the luster on the surface of the candied hawthorn. “You really do like eating sweets. I will see what else is sweet later and buy it all for you.”

Liang Wenle threw the bamboo skewer into the trash can and tilted his head with pride. “I do not even like sweets that much anymore.”

Ye Lin did not bother to argue. He took out the phone and handed it over. “Where are we going next?”

Liang Wenle enlarged the map. Seeing a place called “Xinyi,” he chose it decisively. “Go here.”

Ye Lin looked at the distance estimate. “We will not make it there today. We will rest here for a night and set off tomorrow morning.”

Liang Wenle turned on the new phone. He found it difficult to use, so he simply put it down, not wanting to look at it anymore. After leaving the noodle shop, they did not dare stay in a hotel; submitting their IDs would lead to discovery by the Liang family.

Ye Lin was very good at dealing with the men in these county towns, offering cigarettes and alcohol, spending money, and saying some nice words, and he obtained a house. The house was one hundred square meters. In Liang Wenle’s eyes, it was too narrow, and he showed disdain the moment he entered. He also complained about the smell in the room, that the toilet used by others was not clean, and that the living room was not bright enough, various small flaws.

Ye Lin wanted to pay someone to clean, but he could not find a helper for the time being. He had to personally clean the house from top to bottom, spray deodorant, place larger lights in the living room, and change the bedsheets and quilt covers. It was not until evening that he was finished, collapsing onto the sofa in exhaustion.

Ye Lin had no appetite for dinner; he just wanted to rest. Yet Liang Wenle’s mouth would not stop moving as he continued to complain. “I think this place is too small. Is there not a bigger house? How can people live here?”

“Look at this sofa, it is so ugly. How can they use gray, and such a coarse material!”

“So annoying, the air feels stagnant, it is uncomfortable!”

Ye Lin reached the end of his patience and interrupted loudly. “Enough! I have done my best to meet your demands. This is a county town, not your billion-dollar villa. What else do you want!”

Liang Wenle was stunned by the shouting. After a moment, he stood up in anger and complained loudly. “You actually raised your voice at me! How can you talk to me like that!”

“I do not have the energy to talk to you. I am exhausted. I am going to sleep.” Ye Lin was physically and mentally drained; he walked toward the bedroom and fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

Liang Wenle knocked everything off the coffee table and cursed Ye Lin several times, taking out his phone to vent. But after opening the phone, he remembered that he had left the Liang family; he could no longer vent about Ye Lin’s actions to his old friends. After dark, the lights of ten thousand homes were visible outside the window, but he was alone in the living room, surrounded by absolute silence. This dilapidated and narrow house had suddenly become extraordinarily spacious.

Liang Wenle eventually walked into the bedroom, lay down beside Ye Lin, and pulled him into his arms. In reality, Ye Lin had already been very good to him. He had a shoulder injury yet still did the cleaning and the driving. He should not complain anymore; he should learn to share Ye Lin’s burden. Liang Wenle silently reflected on his behavior, leaned over to kiss Ye Lin’s cheek, whispered an apology, and then closed his eyes.

In the middle of the night, thunder roared and lightning lit up the pitch-black sky. The torrential rain seemed ready to submerge the entire county town. A burning itch was spreading like invisible vines strangling his throat; he felt on the verge of suffocating. Liang Wenle suddenly opened his eyes. Feeling his face itching intensely, he scratched hard and hurriedly pushed Ye Lin. “Ye Lin, I am so itchy! It is unbearable!”

Ye Lin opened his eyes reluctantly and reached out to turn on the light. To his shock, he found that Liang Wenle was covered in red rashes. He immediately sat up in alarm. “What is wrong with you?”

Liang Wenle was still scratching as if his whole body were covered in lice. “It feels like an allergy. What material are these clothes and quilt covers?”

Ye Lin recalled the purchase. “They should be polyester and blended textiles.”

Liang Wenle hurriedly got out of bed, stripped off the pajamas, and put on his original clothes. “That will not work. My skin is allergic to these chemical materials; it has to be natural wool, silk, or pure cotton.”

Seeing the red rashes on his body and thinking that severe allergies could lead to shock, Ye Lin quickly put on his clothes and prepared to head out. “I will go buy allergy medicine and new clothes and sheets. You stay at home.”

Liang Wenle also wanted to go out with him, but he was stopped. Ye Lin sighed heavily, looking at the young master helplessly. “Forget it. Your body is still weak. If you go out in the rain, you will be gone instantly; I cannot afford that. Stay here obediently; it will be fine if I go.”

Liang Wenle clenched his hands and looked at him with concern. “Then come back early.”

The rain was heavy. When it hit the umbrella, it created deep indentations, as if iron balls were falling. Moreover, the wind blew diagonally, carrying rainwater to his face, chest, and knees; the umbrella could not block it at all. After a few steps, Ye Lin began to regret it. He should not have gone out; he should have let Liang Wenle itch to death. Being allergic even to chemical materials, he was so delicate! But since he was already here, he might as well bring the things back. He could not actually let Liang Wenle go into allergic shock, or he would be finished too.

At four in the morning, most shops in the small county town were closed. Ye Lin ran across four streets before he managed to buy allergy medication and pure cotton bedsheets and quilt covers. The pharmacy employee saw the dark circles under Ye Lin’s eyes and his anxious expression. When checking out, the employee could not help asking, “Handsome, running out in the middle of the night, is someone in your family sick?”

Ye Lin responded casually, “Yes, he is exceptionally delicate; he can only sleep on pure cotton sheets. It is ridiculous.”

The employee laughed. “Sounds like a girlfriend; her body must indeed be weak.”

Ye Lin sighed. “His body is not weak, it is just a special period. By the way, give me a few more bags to protect against the rain; I am afraid of them getting soaked.”

The employee handed over the medicine and said goodbye. “You are so thoughtful. I wish you and your girlfriend happiness!”

The rain grew heavier, the droplets hitting the window making a noise, and the wind blew so hard the trees were slanted. Liang Wenle had not seen Ye Lin return for a long time; he paced back and forth in the room, his heart burning with anxiety. He wanted to go out and look for him several times, but he could not get through on the phone. After more than an hour, the sound of the door opening finally came.