Found Him! My 'Glass-Hearted' Ex is a Pop-Up Star - Chapter 9

The commotion drew the attention of the various ghosts and monsters in the bar, and a crowd quickly gathered around them. In the center stood a hunter who was exceptionally tall, holding an incredibly beautiful little wizard in his arms. He supported the wizard’s legs with one arm while protecting the youth’s head with his other large palm. His sharp, deep gaze swept across the room, wordlessly refusing to let anyone pry.

“Oh, I see!” Ian realized. “You are a couple. My apologies; that was rude of me.”

Ian replied in French. Duan Zhuyan’s expression remained grim. The lingering, suggestive glances from the crowd directed at his boyfriend made his mood sour. He was clearly suppressing his temper out of a sense of decorum, but his voice remained cold. “I am taking him home now.”

Ian nodded. “Of course. Let Ruo get some rest; he has worked hard.”

Duan Zhuyan did not say another word. He gave a cold, aloof nod and turned to carry the youth away. At that moment, the person in his arms shifted.

“Wait, wait,” Ying Ruo said. He did not understand their French, and while his hands were still wrapped intimately around Duan Zhuyan’s neck, his words were strictly focused on work. “I am still on duty. Is it not bad to leave my post without permission?”

As he moved, his loose shirt collar slipped off one shoulder, exposing a sliver of pale skin. The contrast between his fair complexion and Duan Zhuyan’s tense, bronzed arm highlighted their difference in size and skin tone. When Ying Ruo twisted his waist to look back at the bar, his soft hair brushed against the man’s face. His breath touched the tip of Duan Zhuyan’s ear, and his hips shifted slightly against the man’s muscular arm.

Duan Zhuyan was already annoyed by the shady crowd, and the fact that the person in his arms was completely oblivious, squirming against him, only made it worse. He felt a surge of heat in his lower abdomen.

Ying Ruo glanced at Ian, who was watching him with a strangely gratified and kind expression. Feeling confused, he turned his head back. As he did, he looked directly into Duan Zhuyan’s eyes.

At that moment of eye contact, Ying Ruo froze, and his mind went blank. He had never seen the man from this high, downward angle before. They were so close that only a thin sheet of paper could have fit between them. He could clearly see every feature: the deep eyes, the high bridge of his nose, the sharp jawline, and the man’s Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.

Duan Zhuyan had defined features that felt almost Western; his brow was high, his eyes deep, and his thick eyelashes were framed by damp, messy hair. He looked fierce. Because his irritation was so obvious, his intensity and aggression were unleashed without restraint, releasing a wave of masculine pheromones.

His powerful, vein-lined hands were firmly controlling Ying Ruo’s waist. Ying Ruo’s face flushed instantly. His heart felt uncomfortable, and he instinctively tried to escape, causing his movements to become even more pronounced.

Duan Zhuyan exhaled heavily, his gaze darkening as his grip on Ying Ruo’s thigh tightened.

Ying Ruo’s waist jerked upright. Duan Zhuyan’s palm was hot and broad; his well-defined fingers pressed through the thin fabric of the cloak and into the soft flesh of Ying Ruo’s leg, giving a firm squeeze.

“Be still,” the man growled through gritted teeth. The veins at his temples were bulging, and his voice was low and raspy. He looked at Ying Ruo with a dangerous, warning gaze. “If you move again, I will drop you.”

Ying Ruo went quiet. He was scared enough to comply. He clung to Duan Zhuyan timidly, not daring to move an inch as he was carried out of the bar.

Outside, the powerful London wind was biting and cold, making it hard to keep one’s eyes open. Ying Ruo curled his body inward, his long, dark lashes trembling in the wind, but he could not stop himself from peeking at Duan Zhuyan.

Duan Zhuyan frowned, his aura heavy and cold. As if sensing the gaze, he tilted his head slightly to look back. The little wizard was still wearing his Halloween headpiece, eyes peeking up through the shadows of his lashes, with a large area of pale skin exposed by his low collar.

Duan Zhuyan clicked his tongue in displeasure. He used both hands to pull the collar up, fastening it tightly at Ying Ruo’s neck.

Ying Ruo wondered what was wrong now.

Duan Zhuyan said nothing. He carried the youth in silence to a Bentley, opened the door, and placed Ying Ruo in the passenger seat. He wrapped the youth in his own coat to keep him warm. Then, he stood up and slammed the car door shut.

Duan Zhuyan disappeared for a few minutes. When he returned, he was carrying Ying Ruo’s backpack, clothes, and trousers. He placed them in the back seat, sat in the driver’s seat, and started the car.

Ying Ruo looked at his belongings. Though he felt it might be the wrong time to ask, he whispered, “Um, about my wages.”

Duan Zhuyan did not look at him. Maintaining his cold expression, he reached back and handed him five hundred pounds. Ying Ruo did not dare ask if the money actually came from the bar. At the very least, he had been paid.

Duan Zhuyan drove a short distance before pulling over and stepping out of the car. Ying Ruo rubbed his fingers together. He was confused. Where were they, and why had the man left again? The car heater was working well, and some warmth began to return to his frozen limbs.

Then, his door opened. Before Ying Ruo could react, his surroundings brightened slightly. A cup of hot chocolate was placed in his hands, and a scarf was wrapped around his neck. The warmth from the cup made him feel dazed. He looked up at the man outside the car.

Duan Zhuyan stood there, leaning against the car frame, silhouetted against the light. His expression was still unpleasant, his eyes dark, and half of his face was hidden in the shadows. He looked intense and aggressive. After a long silence, he spoke for the first time with a voice full of suppressed anger.

“Do you have a brain?” he asked. “Did you forget what I told you last time so quickly? Do you know how dangerous this area is at night, especially at a crowded bar? What would happen if you were in danger? You ran off to work without even eating dinner; do you even care about your health?”

The words were harsh, but his tone was soft and laced with worry. He sounded fierce yet awkward.

Ying Ruo watched him quietly. Duan Zhuyan was clearly in a foul mood. He wiped his face with one hand, looked down irritably, and ran a hand through his hair. Then, he suddenly knelt down.

Ying Ruo was startled, wondering what he was doing. Duan Zhuyan unfastened the seatbelt, turned Ying Ruo to face him, and let his legs hang outside the car. He gently grasped Ying Ruo’s ankle.

Duan Zhuyan looked down, his expression slightly more subdued. He removed Ying Ruo’s torn stockings and replaced them with a pair of thick, new socks.

“I can do it myself!” Ying Ruo exclaimed in surprise. His feet were slender, with pale skin and rosy toes. Embarrassed, he bit his lip until it turned a deeper red.

Duan Zhuyan interrupted him coldly without looking up. “Try moving again and see what happens.”

Ying Ruo felt that if he moved, his leg might actually break, so he stayed perfectly still. He never imagined Duan Zhuyan would help him put on socks. With his calf held in the man’s hand, Ying Ruo’s ears turned crimson. He wanted to pull away, but he felt it would be rude, and the man’s grip was far too strong.

After finishing with the socks, Duan Zhuyan did not stand up. He remained half-kneeling between Ying Ruo’s legs. After a brief, awkward silence, Duan Zhuyan looked away. He still appeared cold and aloof, despite just having knelt to help someone with their socks. His Adam’s apple bobbed. Ying Ruo could see his downturned eyes and the earrings that had returned to his line of sight.

Duan Zhuyan tilted his head, resting a hand on the back of his own neck. His voice was soft. “I did not mean to be so harsh just now. I was just worried. But that does not mean you were right. If you want to work, at least choose a better location. And do not dress so poorly; you have plenty of ugly clothes that would be warmer, like that cultural t-shirt. I realize you are very good at making me angry, even after we have broken up.”

Ying Ruo looked at Duan Zhuyan. To be honest, this was the strangest person he had ever met. He could not help but laugh.

Duan Zhuyan was speechless. He did not see what was so funny.

“No, I am not laughing at you,” Ying Ruo replied before the man could ask. “I just think you are quite absurd.”

Duan Zhuyan was confused. Absurd? Was that supposed to be a compliment?

Ying Ruo gave a sweet smile, his face looking delicate and bright. His round eyes were curved, showing a small dimple. Holding his hot chocolate, he looked at the man in front of him and said, “But thank you, Duan Zhuyan.”

The air was damp from the recent rain, and the night wind carried a cool chill. Away from the busy district, it was exceptionally quiet. The steam from the hot chocolate rose between them. Ying Ruo thought that Duan Zhuyan was probably not as scary as he had imagined. He must be a good person; otherwise, they would not have dated in the past. Since he was already in the car, he thought he might as well ask for a ride home to save on travel costs.

Just as he was about to speak, the light around him seemed to dim. Duan Zhuyan had stood up, his dark eyes locked onto him with an unreadable expression. With one hand resting on the back of the car seat, he leaned deep into the vehicle.

Ying Ruo’s body tensed as the man’s face drew closer. His thin lips approached, and their breathing became entangled. It was not just his lips; his entire presence, his heat, his broad shoulders, and his long frame, completely overshadowed Ying Ruo as he leaned in.