My Ex-Boyfriend is Obsessed with Getting Back Together - Chapter 10

The weather this winter was unpredictable. Once Christmas passed, the temperature rose again, bringing several consecutive days of sunshine. But as New Year’s Day approached, the temperature took a sudden, sharp dive.

Leo had to leave Nancheng and return to the UK before New Year’s, so he had been incredibly clingy lately, acting as if he couldn’t bear to say goodbye.

Like a pouting sloth, Leo followed Pei Ran into the kitchen while he was simmering soup. Clutching a throw pillow, he stood behind Pei Ran with a pitiful expression. “Ran, we’re actually going to have a time difference on New Year’s Eve.”

Pei Ran ladled out the finished pear soup. Holding the bowl in his hands, he walked toward the dining room, deliberately avoiding the topic of parting. “Come and have a taste,” he beckoned.

As expected, Leo’s attention shifted. Like a curious puppy, he leaned in to sniff the fragrant, sweet scent of the snow pears. “Wow, then I won’t be polite!”

Leo gulped down the bowl of pear soup in a few swings, almost as if he were eating porridge.

When the doorbell rang, Leo was heading back to the kitchen with his empty bowl. He set it down and poked his head out. “I’ll get the door, Ran. You focus on your soup.”

Pei Ran sat back down, using his spoon to break apart a piece of pear before taking small, careful bites.

“Alright, thank you,” Leo said politely to the person at the door before closing it.

He walked back in carrying a bag from the dry cleaners and placed it on the sofa. “Ran, the clothes are back. When are you going to drop them off for Gu?”

The other night, Pei Ran had fallen asleep in the car. Gu Linchuan had wrapped him in his own coat and carried him all the way to the front door.

Leo had been shocked when he opened the door, fearing something had happened to Pei Ran, and only breathed a sigh of relief once he realized he was just asleep.

Leo had naturally reached out his arms to take Pei Ran from him. Unexpectedly, Gu Linchuan just looked down at him, holding Pei Ran securely in a bridal carry. With a slight tilt of his chin, he signaled for Leo to move out of the way.

Leo instinctively stepped aside. Gu Linchuan walked toward Pei Ran’s bedroom as if he knew the way by heart, even shifting his hold slightly halfway there to make sure Pei Ran wouldn’t slip.

Pei Ran furrowed his brows, mumbling something incoherent in his sleep.

Leo followed them in. He watched as Gu Linchuan placed him on the bed, leaned over to gently remove his outer layer, and then knelt down to take off his shoes and socks.

Once finished, Gu Linchuan simply held out his hand and said succinctly, “Do you have a wet towel?”

Leo was stunned. He had been watching the scene in a daze, but now he snapped out of it, nodded quickly, and went to the bathroom to get one.

Gu Linchuan wiped Pei Ran’s face and fingers, tucked the corners of the quilt in meticulously, left a small nightlight on, and then exited the room.

Leo poured him a glass of warm water in the kitchen, his entire worldview feeling like it was being reconstructed as he replayed the scene in his head.

Gu Linchuan didn’t linger. He gave Leo a nod of acknowledgment and turned to leave.

Leo watched his retreating back, broad shoulders and a narrow waist clad in a black sweater. In the biting cold of the winter night, it felt like something was missing.

By the time Leo realized what it was, he intended to chase after him to remind him, “Sir, your coat is still in Pei Ran’s room,” but Gu Linchuan was already long gone.

When Pei Ran woke up the next morning, he asked with a dazed expression how he had gotten back. Leo was full of gossip. “A super handsome guy brought you back in a bridal carry!”

Hearing “bridal carry,” Pei Ran’s expression shifted instantly, a wave of heat rushing to his face.

Leo persisted with his questions. “Ran, is he a friend? How do you know each other?”

With a red face, Pei Ran ducked into the kitchen, simply saying he was an old friend.

Later, Pei Ran called him to express his thanks and mentioned he would have someone deliver the coat back to him.

Gu Linchuan told him that gratitude should be sincere, and that he should bring it in person the next time they met.

Over the following days, whenever Pei Ran thought about that “next time,” he felt a faint sense of anticipation.

Now, Pei Ran looked at the clothes on the sofa, his fingertips feeling a tingle like a small electric shock as he gripped his phone.

He dialed the number. “Mr. Gu, it’s me, Pei Ran.”

From Gu Linchuan’s end, there was a familiar, muffled exclamation of “Holy crap,” followed by some rustling before silence returned. “Mm. What is it?”

“Is now a good time? I’m bringing over the coat you left at my place last time.” Pei Ran could hear someone was with him and worried he was interrupting. “If it’s inconvenient, next time works too.”

Gu Linchuan gestured for the incredulous person in front of him to calm down and pressed down the corners of his mouth. “I didn’t say it was inconvenient. Come over.”

After hanging up, Qi Heyun hovered around Gu Linchuan, swearing in disbelief. His mind couldn’t help but wander to some very specific images regarding that coat being “left” at Pei Ran’s house.

Gu Linchuan shot him a look. “It’s just a coat I left behind, don’t overthink it.”

Qi Heyun was acting very excited, immediately pulling out his phone to share the news with Mei Ye.

“Gugu, I knew it! You and Peipei are definitely going to end up together.” Qi Heyun’s fingers flew across the screen while he kept talking to Gu Linchuan. “This is exactly how it goes: the White Moonlight returns to the country, President Gu pursues him aggressively, and finally wins the beauty!”

Gu Linchuan listened to him and suddenly asked, “What has Mei Ye been busy with lately?”

Qi Heyun thought for a moment. “He’s been following up on a new energy project lately, flying abroad constantly. I haven’t seen him in almost two days.”

Qi Heyun was the clingy type. Not seeing each other for two days felt like an eternity to them.

Since Mei Ye was away on business, Qi Heyun had been running to Gu Linchuan’s place every day, eating and drinking his fill, yet still complaining that Gu Linchuan was boring.

Gu Linchuan understood. “When he’s free, have Mei Ye take you to the hospital.”

Qi Heyun was confused. “For what?”

Gu Linchuan pointed to his head and raised an eyebrow silently.

Qi Heyun was so annoyed he started flailing around, but Gu Linchuan ignored him, grabbed his jacket, and prepared to head downstairs.

Qi Heyun bounced up from the small sofa. “Where are you going?”

Gu Linchuan didn’t stop walking. “To buy something,” he said briefly.

Qi Heyun’s eyes darted around, and he quickly grabbed his own jacket to follow. “I’m coming too, I’m coming too!”

A new cafe had opened downstairs. While passing the breakroom, Gu Linchuan had heard someone mention that their matcha tiramisu was quite good.

Gu Linchuan ordered a separate portion to go, then ordered afternoon tea for the entire staff, telling the shop to deliver it once it was ready.

Qi Heyun teased with a laugh, “The employees at Shengxin are so lucky to have the boss personally buy them afternoon tea.”

Gu Linchuan remained noncommittal. His coat tail flicked as he turned to leave.

Back upstairs, Qi Heyun slipped into the game room to play, winking as if to say he wouldn’t disturb their “private time.”

Gu Linchuan felt that was only right and didn’t refuse, even going so far as to thoughtfully tell him he could call an assistant if he needed anything.

After Pei Ran hung up, he tidied himself up a bit and left under Leo’s gossiping gaze.

The sky outside was overcast, showing signs of rain, so Pei Ran turned back to grab an umbrella.

After parking his car, Pei Ran politely asked the receptionist, “Hello, I’m looking for Mr. Gu.”

The receptionist asked patiently, “Is that President Gu or Manager Gu?”

Pei Ran then remembered that Gu Chen had also joined Shengxin after returning to the country. “President Gu,” he said.

“Alright, do you have an appointment?”

Pei Ran nodded. “I spoke with President Gu on the phone.”

Just as the receptionist was about to call the secretary’s office to confirm, the elevator behind her opened with a ding. A man in a sharp suit walked out, his gaze landing precisely on Pei Ran.

Receptionist: “Special Assistant Chen.”

Assistant Chen said decisively, “The next time Mr. Pei comes, don’t stop him.”

The receptionist nodded immediately, her professional smile gaining a hint of surprise.

The assistant didn’t say anything more, simply stepping aside and making a “please” gesture. His tone was a bit softer than it had been with the receptionist. “Mr. Pei, this way please.”

Assistant Chen led Pei Ran through the office area on purpose before stopping in front of the office door. He knocked twice and reported in a low voice, “President Gu, Mr. Pei has arrived.”

With that, he gave Pei Ran a small smile, bowed slightly, and left.

Pei Ran pushed the door open. Gu Linchuan was still buried in documents. Seeing him at the door, he beckoned him over. “Come in.”

Pei Ran gave the shopping bag a little shake. “President Gu, where should I put this?”

The title “President Gu” felt novel. Pei Ran couldn’t help but chuckle after saying it. He always felt the person in front of him was still the boy from his youth, yet seeing him years later, he was already a mature and steady adult.

Looking closely, he could still see traces of that free-spirited youth in the lines of his face.

Gu Linchuan pointed to the small sofa, indicating he should put it there. He glanced outside, where the sky, which had been gloomy for a long time, finally began to rain.

Gu Linchuan quietly checked the back of Pei Ran’s neck and hair. Seeing no sign of him being wet, he felt a wave of relief.

Pei Ran followed his gaze, but since his view was blocked, he leaned down slightly to bring his eyes level with Gu Linchuan’s, tilting his head.

Gu Linchuan felt the strands of hair on the top of Pei Ran’s head lightly brush against his cheek. The faint scent of osmanthus drifted to his nose. His body stiffened as if struck by lightning, his pupils shrinking suddenly, and his throat felt dry and raspy. “What are you doing?”

Pei Ran straightened up, his eyes innocent. “Just seeing what you’re looking at.”

“Nothing,” Gu Linchuan said expressionlessly. He flipped open a file on his desk, though for those few seconds, he didn’t read a single word. Catching a glimpse of the cake in the corner out of the corner of his eye, he remembered, “Take that cake and eat it.”

Pei Ran followed his gaze to the beautifully packaged small cake in the corner, looking pleasantly surprised. “You aren’t going to eat it?”

“The assistant ordered afternoon tea. It’s not a flavor I like. Since you came all this way in the rain to deliver the clothes, you can have it,” Gu Linchuan lied without a hint of a blush, still maintaining his calm and composed demeanor. He then added, “It wasn’t bought specifically for you.”

“I know,” Pei Ran said, picking up the cake. He felt a sweetness in his heart. Even if it was just something Gu Linchuan didn’t like, he couldn’t hide the smile tugging at his lips. “I like it very much. Thank you.”

“Mm,” Gu Linchuan hummed softly. He didn’t let it show on his face, but he couldn’t help but look up at him.

Pei Ran had delivered the clothes and accepted the cake, so he had no reason to stay. He said his goodbye. “I’ll be going now.”

Gu Linchuan stood up and grabbed the coat beside him. “It’s raining. I’ll see you out.”

Pei Ran waved him off. “I drove myself here. Don’t go to the trouble.”

Gu Linchuan nodded, put the coat back down, and sat back in his chair.

Pei Ran walked out with the small cake, but after a few steps, he turned back. He peeked his head through the office door, blinked, and asked, “See you next time?”

Gu Linchuan was caught off guard by the sudden return. He suppressed the corners of his mouth that wanted to curl upward and nodded with feigned calmness. “Mm.”

Pei Ran left, satisfied. Like a little cat with a big harvest, the cake in his hand felt like a piece of dried fish slung over his shoulder, a trophy for the brave.

After Pei Ran left, Gu Linchuan pretended to be very serious about his work.

If Assistant Chen were standing behind him right now, he would probably rub his forehead with a bitter smile and remind his boss that he was holding the file upside down.

Finally, Gu Linchuan stood up and slowly approached the sofa.

He picked up the bag, where the coat was resting quietly inside. Gu Linchuan took it out, rubbing the collar with his palm. He brought it closer to his face and unconsciously nuzzled against it, but there was no osmanthus scent like he had expected. He frowned and sniffed other parts of the garment.

A small white slip of paper fluttered out from the clothes. The handwriting was elegant and upright, with a hint of hidden sharpness in the brushstrokes, much like the person who wrote it.

It read: The clothes were sent to the dry cleaners, they’re very clean!

The expression on Gu Linchuan’s face shifted through several emotions before he finally threw the coat aside with a dark look.

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