Fell Deeply In Love With My Ex-Husband's Fiancé - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Beneath the Collar: Hickeys chain along the collarbone, like shadows clinging to the bone…

“Now is not a good time. Wait a little longer, Ranran. Wait for me to give you a gift.”

Lance had said this that night.

Standing in the spacious living room of Luyuan, watching the initial cleaning crew finish their work, pack their tools, and leave after being thanked, Lu Feiran thought about Lance’s words.

Jin Zhan stood beside Lu Feiran, holding a suitcase, looking lost. Seeing that Lu Feiran was deep in thought, he knew he was contemplating something important and didn’t speak to interrupt.

Jin Zhan tried hard to conceal his unease. When Lu Feiran asked him to stay at his place, he hadn’t imagined it would be such a grand house.

Stepping through the gate of Luyuan, Jin Zhan thought he had walked into a park. It wasn’t until he saw the renovation team that he realized he hadn’t gone to the wrong place.

Filled with awe, he personally supervised the construction diligently every day, staying almost from morning till night. He had nearly worn out the design blueprints, striving to ensure every detail was 100% accurate.

He didn’t dare not go all out for Lu Feiran’s request, but he didn’t dare to hope that Lu Feiran would actually keep his promise and let him move in, even though he knew Lu Feiran wasn’t the type to break his word.

He could only show up on time every day and do his job to the best of his ability. He even wanted to stay and supervise the night crew’s overtime work, but Lu Feiran pretended to be angry and talked him out of it.

With Jin Zhan, an artist, on site, Lu Feiran had nothing to worry about.

He wasn’t genuinely trying to tire Jin Zhan out; he just wanted to give him something to do, so his mind wouldn’t have time to dwell on too many other things and fall into self-negation.

Looking at the refreshed house, Jin Zhan found a topic for conversation: “Feiran, your taste is very unique. This Baroque style is executed perfectly. Generally, domestic designers are half-baked; they can’t design true Baroque and end up with something mismatched. Which studio did the work?”

Lu Feiran returned to reality: “I don’t understand these things. Someone likes this style and asked an overseas friend for advice. Should I ask for the contact?”

Jin Zhan was startled, realizing he had ventured into a private topic, and immediately shook his head: “Since it’s a foreign designer, don’t worry about asking. Don’t go to any trouble.”

Lu Feiran smiled, then heard footsteps on the stairs behind them. It was Aunt Chen coming down: “Mr. Lu, the rooms are clean.”

“Okay.” Lu Feiran led Jin Zhan upstairs and introduced him: “This is Jin Zhan, my friend. He’ll be staying here for a while. Aunt Chen, I’ll rely on you from now on.”

Lu Feiran caught Jin Zhan’s bewildered look and explained: “Starting tomorrow, Aunt Chen will come daily to prepare lunch and dinner. You can concentrate on preparing for your exams here. Oh, and tomorrow, a lot of furniture will be delivered. You don’t need to help. Aunt Chen will arrange for the workers to handle it.”

After leaving his village and entering higher education, and even when Zhai Qiance tricked him into being a lover, Jin Zhan had never received this kind of treatment. He was immediately overwhelmed, unsure where to put his hands.

“What about you?” Jin Zhan asked anxiously.

Lu Feiran said: “I won’t be staying here for now. You’ll be fine living alone, right?”

Jin Zhan nodded obediently. After Aunt Chen went downstairs, he leaned close to Lu Feiran and whispered: “Is it really okay for me to stay here? Actually, actually… Zhai Qiance has been having people watch me. He’s afraid I’ll run away. If I stay here, won’t I implicate you?”

“I know, that’s why I asked you to move in.” Lu Feiran pulled open the curtain. Looking down from the second floor, he had a clear view of the tree-lined road outside Luyuan. There were no suspicious figures. “Don’t worry, it’s very safe here. Zhai Qiance’s reach won’t extend this far.”

He was worried about Jin Zhan, not just about his emotional state, but also that Zhai Qiance might target him.

That man was vindictive and insane. He was capable of faking a car accident that nearly killed Lu Feiran, and he was capable of harming Jin Zhan to force him into submission.

Lu Feiran had already arranged for someone to check the hospital where Jin Zhan’s mother was staying. Indeed, suspicious individuals were seen deliberately passing by the ward every day.

Zhai Qiance was afraid Jin Zhan would run. The first thing he would do was control the whereabouts of Jin Zhan’s mother. The second step would be to control Jin Zhan himself, keeping him ready to take the fall at any moment.

As for giving Jin Zhan money, it was only a temporary way to stabilize him. Zhai Qiance could take it back whenever he wished.

Having received Lance’s definite assurance, Lu Feiran was confident that Luyuan had been designated a safe zone. Lance wouldn’t allow Zhai Qiance to lay a finger on this place.

Jin Zhan was immensely touched by Lu Feiran’s thoughtful and meticulous actions. Lu Feiran was the person who was actually blazing a trail for him, overcoming difficulties.

Zhai Qiance was nothing. Zhai Qiance had never even rented him a decent place. Since graduation, he had been living in a small, dilapidated studio apartment.

He had never benefited, yet he was expected to take the blame and go to jail for Zhai Qiance!

Jin Zhan looked at Lu Feiran’s decisive back, his eyes misting over. After a moment of hesitation, he finally asked: “The person who requested the Baroque style… what if he comes here?”

Lu Feiran paused, without turning around: “Who knows? Maybe he won’t come.”

A somewhat familiar figure surfaced in Jin Zhan’s mind. There could only be one person close to Lu Feiran who liked the Baroque style.

But that person wasn’t…

Jin Zhan wanted to chase after him and ask, but worried he was being too intrusive. He forcibly suppressed his urge to speak and obediently opened his suitcase to start unpacking.

He shouldn’t ask about Lu Feiran’s private matters. They were just ordinary friends, at most… Lu Feiran was his patron.

Another small van drove into the Luyuan parking lot. While Jin Zhan was unpacking, Lu Feiran, together with Aunt Chen, sorted the newly delivered art supplies.

Paints, paper, canvases, brushes… everything was the highest grade available on the market.

Lu Feiran only appeared financially constrained compared to scions of powerful families. In front of Jin Zhan, he was a young noble who showered him with money.

The studio was a bit cool. Lu Feiran was wearing a puffy down jacket, his collar half-open, a stretch of fair neck exposed to the cold air, his veins faintly blue.

Jin Zhan glanced at him, silently and solemnly carrying the easel into his room. He then called Lu Feiran in and said: “I’ll make up for the paintings from the previous days, okay? Do you have time? I can paint very quickly!”

Seeing Lu Feiran smile, Jin Zhan’s face suddenly flushed red, and he stammered a justification: “I don’t mean to be perfunctory. I mean, I can paint both quickly and well.”

“That’s fine, but we can’t do too many today. It’s getting late,” Lu Feiran smiled gently. “What do you want to paint?”

Jin Zhan’s eyes were still glued to the paper. He didn’t dare to look at Lu Feiran for long. The intense nervousness made him flush red like a steamed shrimp.

“Your neck. I want to paint your neck. It’s very beautiful.” Jin Zhan almost buried his head in the ground.

As an art student who loved all things beautiful, Jin Zhan greatly admired Lu Feiran. He couldn’t understand why Zhai Qiance would still cheat after having a partner like Lu Feiran.

Jin Zhan himself was only delicately handsome. Although Lu Xingli was good-looking, his expression became rather hideous when he got emotional.

And Lu Feiran? Not only were his features and face shape utterly perfect, but he also had excellent body proportions, though he was a bit thin. More importantly, Lu Feiran gave him an angelic sense of tolerance, as if everything he did would be permitted, and even if he made a mistake, he could be forgiven.

This perfect person was the “beauty” he sought.

Jin Zhan lowered his head, awaiting Lu Feiran’s answer. He didn’t want him to misunderstand, nor did he want to be rejected. His heart was filled with anxiety, like a sinner awaiting judgment.

“You can. I heard that art students often hire nude models to practice the human form. Jin Zhan, do you need one?” Lu Feiran walked in, raised the room temperature, and took off his jacket.

“Ah?” Jin Zhan looked up in horror. “No, no, no! I meant just a section… How could I possibly ask you, you…”

He couldn’t even form words.

Lu Feiran smiled at Jin Zhan. Looking at the brand-new sketchbook on the table, the surroundings seemed to return to the top of Wuxia Mountain.

Two men squeezed into the cramped small tent. A yellowish light hung overhead. Although it was just a lamp, and the mountaintop was bitterly cold, Lu Feiran felt warm from the inside out.

He watched Lance take out a sketchbook, his heart pounding wildly. He sincerely looked forward to being the model for every one of Lance’s drawings.

Then, from Lance’s brushstrokes and the gaze that lingered on him, he read an overwhelming affection. He was willing to reciprocate with even more.

Jin Zhan noticed Lu Feiran suddenly smiling very tenderly, and he froze. Then he saw sorrow emerge in Lu Feiran’s smile. He stood up, intending to ask Lu Feiran what was wrong.

Lu Feiran shook his head, beckoning to Jin Zhan: “Can you help me unbutton my collar? It’s difficult with one hand. How you want to paint it, you decide.”

Lu Feiran was wearing a white shirt underneath a loose, deep blue sweater, making him look very soft overall.

Jin Zhan scurried over, his trembling fingertips hesitating on the collar: “Actually, it’s fine this way too.”

Lu Feiran tilted his head and smiled: “Draw the collarbone and shoulders as well.”

For some reason, Jin Zhan found Lu Feiran’s smile a little cunning, as if he had thought of a brilliant plan that would satisfy him immensely, and Jin Zhan was an important part of achieving his goal.

But it didn’t matter. Lu Feiran had helped him greatly. Jin Zhan was willing to be used.

His throat constricted. Jin Zhan cautiously unbuttoned the first button. His whole body froze, his pupils wide and trembling with unease. He wanted to look up at Lu Feiran’s expression but couldn’t muster the courage.

Beneath the collar were dense hickeys, varying in shade, from light to dark, red to purple. The old ones hadn’t healed, and new ones were already overlaying them, leaving indelible marks on the snow-white, delicate skin.

Jin Zhan continued to unbutton the second button in sheer panic, watching those terrifying marks extend all the way to the shoulder blades on his back. Jin Zhan was almost certain there were more in deeper places.

“Paint it. Paint everything you see.”

Lu Feiran’s voice was very calm, as if unconcerned. But those horrifying marks, in Jin Zhan’s eyes, were like an act of violence.

“Who, who did this?” Jin Zhan almost bit his tongue. “Zhai, Zhai Qiance? How dare he, he…”

“It wasn’t him. I’m already divorced. Don’t worry,” Lu Feiran soothed.

Looking at Jin Zhan’s fear, Lu Feiran wondered if his own level of acceptance was perhaps too high.

Lance had frantically kissed and bitten him. The marks weren’t too noticeable that night, but looking in the mirror the next morning, Lu Feiran was startled, initially thinking he had been possessed by a ghost overnight.

But he quickly accepted it. Wasn’t Lance a psychopath? It was only normal for him to like biting people.

However, since he had been bitten up like this, he was definitely going to retaliate.

Clearly, Lu Feiran didn’t want to elaborate. Jin Zhan didn’t dare ask any more questions: “You should still apply some medicine to promote circulation and reduce bruising.”

The person who left the marks was both arrogant and cautious. Nothing seemed amiss above the collar, yet the area covered by clothing was a mess…

The painting took a long time. Jin Zhan was reluctant to linger on Lu Feiran’s shoulders and neck. He felt even a glance was intrusive, yet that person had dared to leave marks so wantonly.

The brushstrokes became sharper with this thought. The contours of the collarbone and shoulder corners were emphasized. Hickeys chained along the collarbone, a persistent shadow clinging to the bone.

Jin Zhan’s painting was very realistic. Every curve perfectly matched Lu Feiran’s actual outline. However, while Lu Feiran himself was calm and relaxed, the person in the painting resembled a taut bow, suggesting a startled squirrel.

This is not me, Lu Feiran thought.

But he didn’t say anything. He knew Jin Zhan had poured too much personal emotion into the painting, but it didn’t negate his superb skill. Lu Feiran didn’t want to discourage him.

Lu Feiran took the painting, found a good angle, took a photo, and posted it on his social media, setting it to be visible to only one person.