The Gentle, Sickly Beauty Is Won Over By The Loyal Big Shot - Chapter 20

“President Gu, it was I who made you cry,” Qi Ran’s cool, soft hands carefully cupped Gu Han’s tear-stained cheeks, wiping away the traces of moisture with eyes full of heartache. “I’m sorry. I was too willful. I clearly misunderstood you, yet I wouldn’t let you explain and made things so difficult for you.”

Gu Han shook his head: “Ranran, I never thought you were anything but good. I’m only blaming myself. I’m angry at myself for upsetting you so much that you felt unwell. You should be resting properly, don’t worry about me. Ranran, I’ll stay for just a bit longer and then head back. The steps are cold, don’t sit here anymore. Your stomach won’t be able to take it.”

Gu Han was still fussing over Qi Ran’s health.

“President Gu, I feel so guilty for making you cry like this,” Qi Ran pulled Gu Han into his arms, gently stroking his hair. “Back when I was making my way through Litian alone, I was too competitive and too headstrong. It made me prone to being extreme when dealing with people. Even now, when I no longer need to live that hard life, I still can’t shake that temperament. I keep hurting you over and over again. It’s my fault.”

Gu Han hugged Qi Ran’s waist, burying his face in the crook of his neck, and whispered, “No, Ranran, you are wonderful.”

“In the future, if you feel hurt, don’t hide from me. Let me coax you,” Qi Ran lowered his gaze, his soft lips pressing a light kiss against Gu Han’s damp eye corner. “We agreed to live together for a lifetime, so we must cherish each other. Don’t cry behind my back. Seeing you so sad makes my heart ache too.”

“Ranran, you’re only twenty-five. You’re still young. You should have spirit, you should have a temper. Don’t learn to suppress your feelings to take care of mine so early. I don’t want you to erase that competitive and headstrong side of your personality. I think you’re very cute. Those traits are things that people like us, who have suffered through hardships, will never have again.”

Gu Han had finished wiping his tears. As he looked at Qi Ran with shimmering eyes, his expression was incredibly sincere: “When I said it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to do anything at the company, that I would do the work, I meant that I wanted to protect you. I want you to live your whole life carefree like you are now, to always be a child and never face setbacks again. I’m sorry for making you misunderstand. Next time, I will definitely make myself clear. I haven’t been around a vibrant young person like you in a long time… hehe, you’re a full ten years younger than me, truly so young. So, I didn’t realize there would be such a large gap in how we understand things. I’m very sorry, Ranran.”

Qi Ran was stunned by Gu Han’s words. He gazed at Gu Han for a long time, his eyes reddening as fresh tears began to well up.

Sensing that Qi Ran’s emotions were off, Gu Han was about to comfort him when Qi Ran suddenly threw himself into Gu Han’s arms, sobbing: “Where else in the world could I find someone who loves me more than President Gu? Everyone else can’t wait for me to grow up. It’s like I’ve never been important, they only care about how much value I can bring them. No one is ever truly good to me. Of course I have to learn to care about your feelings, because no one loves me more than you. I can’t be without you.”

Qi Ran poured out the words he had held in his heart for years, his grievances draining away along with his tears.

Now, Qi Ran finally dropped all his defenses before Gu Han, giving himself over completely and trusting him with his whole heart.

Qi Ran knew that the sincerity Gu Han had shown from start to finish couldn’t be faked. His love was revealed in every glance. Qi Ran could see it all.

The more he thought about Gu Han’s constant devotion, the harder Qi Ran cried, whimpering in Gu Han’s embrace.

“Ranran, you mustn’t cry,” Gu Han held Qi Ran tightly, afraid the crying would trigger a cough. He gently patted his back while coaxing him softly, “Your stomach is weak, and your heart isn’t strong either. Such extreme emotional fluctuations will harm your body. Good baby, listen to me.”

With red eyes, Qi Ran only asked: “Will you always love me like this?”

“I will,” Gu Han nodded. “And I will love you even more.”

“President Gu,” Qi Ran clung tightly to Gu Han’s waist, tears wetting his own face and lips. With damp lips, he kissed Gu Han’s neck. “I will be more sensible. I never want to break your heart again. You are so good, yet I keep misunderstanding you. I’m sorry.”

“Ranran, what are you saying? I would never be heartbroken because of your willfulness. I only blame myself for making you feel unwell. Like I said, you’re so cute when you’re being headstrong. Once you become ‘sensible,’ you’ll start growing old.”

Gu Han wiped away Qi Ran’s tears as well: “Stop calling me President Gu. I’m thirty-five years old, and from childhood until now, I haven’t even had a nickname. Little Ranran, why don’t you think of a pet name for me? I want to be myself, and the person who loves you, rather than just the CEO of Jianchen. Speaking of Jianchen, I remember I started my business at your current age. At twenty-five, I partnered with Yu Shen to found the company. It’s been ten years now. All these years, it feels like I haven’t lived a single day for myself. Now, Qi Ran, you are my hope, my entire focus. I live for myself, and I live for you. Let’s live a good life together from now on.”

“Life is so bitter,” Qi Ran wrapped his arms around Gu Han’s neck, his damp eye corners pressed against Gu Han’s cheek. “Living is truly exhausting. I never thought that in the glitzy, materialistic world of the Litian Special District, I’d have the chance to be loved by you. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, Ranran. You won’t be tired anymore. I endured hardships so that you wouldn’t have to. I want you to be carefree forever.”

Gu Han lightly pinched Qi Ran’s chin with his thumb and forefinger, kissing away the tears beneath his eyelids: “Ranran baby, hurry up, give me a nickname. I want to be loved by Ranran too.”

“Of course I love you seriously, it’s just… maybe a little later than you loved me,” Qi Ran said. After thinking seriously for a long time, he tilted his head and asked, “Can I call you… Han?”

“Han? Okay.”

Gu Han nodded happily: “I like whatever you choose.”

Gu Han added: “Ranran, do you want to go eat something now?”

Qi Ran shook his head. He just stared at Gu Han, lowering his lashes, his shimmering, tender eyes never leaving Gu Han’s lips for a second.

Gu Han grew bold. He slowly leaned forward, getting closer and closer to Qi Ran, tentatively kissing the corner of his mouth. Qi Ran didn’t resist; there was no hint of disgust or embarrassment in his eyes. He said nothing, obediently waiting for Gu Han to kiss him again.

Gu Han then softly kissed Qi Ran’s supple lips. He parted his mouth slightly and let the tip of his tongue venture out, unexpectedly meeting Qi Ran’s moist, soft tongue.

Gu Han could no longer restrain himself. With a hint of urgency, he pulled Qi Ran into his arms, closing his eyes as they shared a clumsy, deep kiss. Their chests were pressed tightly together, and amidst the lingering kiss, they could feel each other’s heartbeats.

Gu Han kissed with grace, while Qi Ran was more fervent. He recklessly pulled Gu Han down with him onto the floor. Even though he was breathless, he refused to let the wet kiss stop for even a moment. Gu Han loved his naughtiness, his vitality, and even more, the unbridled way he expressed his feelings. Gu Han eventually lifted Qi Ran up and lay on the floor himself, letting Qi Ran lie on his chest to prevent him from catching a cold.

Qi Ran was already experiencing some tachycardia. Knowing they couldn’t keep kissing, he lay prone on Gu Han to rest, his ear pressed against Gu Han’s heart. He held this position for quite a while until his breathing finally smoothed out. During this time, he listened carefully to the sound of the heartbeat.

“I’m so clumsy, I don’t even know how to kiss you,” Qi Ran said softly. “Han, I really love listening to your heartbeat.”

“Right now, this heart only beats for you. If you like it, I will hold you like this often,” Gu Han was also tired. He lay on the floor, his body completely relaxed, his palm gently stroking Qi Ran’s hair. After answering the question he deemed most important, he coaxed Qi Ran: “My Ranran isn’t clumsy. Ranran just doesn’t know how yet. I don’t know how either. This is the first time for both of us; we can learn slowly.”

Through the shirt, Qi Ran’s lips lightly brushed against Gu Han’s chest, as if kissing his heartbeat: “I like it.”

Gu Han’s heart beat for Qi Ran, and Qi Ran’s heart beat only for Gu Han. In the twilight of a foreign land, this kiss between Qi Ran and Gu Han meant that two pieces of drifting duckweed had truly found companionship. They finally let down all their defenses and caution, revealing their most vulnerable parts to one another and entrusting their lives to each other. It is difficult to describe the significance of this moment in their lives.

“I really think it’s not good to enter your company through the back door.”

Qi Ran whispered: “It’s not fair at all. I’m afraid people will talk about you.”

“Talk about me for what?” Gu Han arched an eyebrow. “I’m recruiting the Chairman’s spouse, not a secretary. What’s wrong with me giving my husband a position? Is it now forbidden for family members to work in the same company? My territory, my rules. Tell me which account is gossiping about you. I’ll have them banned tomorrow and they’ll receive a court summons a week later. The compensation they pay will be my spouse’s pocket money. Who do they think they are?”

Gu Han was being so overbearing that Qi Ran’s face instantly flushed deep red, all the way to his ears. He buried himself in Gu Han’s chest, too shy to speak. He didn’t know how to respond, so he remained silent, feeling Gu Han’s arms tighten around his waist.

Qi Ran was very shy, yet being held so tightly in Gu Han’s arms made him feel incredibly secure. His heart was racing.

“Ranran, it’s getting late. You haven’t eaten all day; this won’t do.”

Gu Han pinched the soft flesh at Qi Ran’s waist: “Be a good baby. Let me go heat up some wontons for you. If you like them, I’ll even learn how to wrap them myself.”

“I don’t want to eat,” Qi Ran acted spoiled in Gu Han’s arms. “I feel unwell. Can I take some painkillers?”

“You can’t,” Gu Han sat up, holding Qi Ran. “Ranran, do you have any idea how much damage there is in your stomach? You still dare to take painkillers?”

“Then what should I do? It hurts,” Qi Ran bumped into Gu Han’s chest, persistent. “Baby, I’m uncomfortable.”

“Is Ranran calling me baby? You’re the first person to ever call me that. I really love it,” Gu Han touched Qi Ran’s stomach, saying softly, “Let me feel if Ranran’s stomach has softened a bit.”

Qi Ran obediently sat up straight, waiting for Gu Han to touch his stomach. Gu Han pressed his fingertips together, gently pushing against Qi Ran’s upper abdomen. Although Qi Ran looked to be in better spirits now, Gu Han’s fingertips could still feel waves of spasms in his stomach. They weren’t as violent as before, but the sensation was distinct, a rhythmic, slow twitching of the gastric wall.

Gu Han knew that the level of discomfort Qi Ran was experiencing was far more severe than what he had just admitted. Gu Han had common sense, if a stomach spasm could be felt by hand, it must be very painful.

Qi Ran often said he was used to the pain, likely because he frequently endured stomachaches while working. To accommodate his clients, he always forced a smile, only taking painkillers when it became truly unbearable. This was why he always appeared to be in good spirits. Realizing this made Gu Han’s heart ache even more. Qi Ran was young and had such an innocent face, as sweet and lovely as a little angel in a court oil painting, yet he was unexpectedly strong, far beyond what Gu Han had imagined.

“There are still some spasms,” Gu Han rubbed his hands together and placed his warm palms over Qi Ran’s fragile stomach. “Baby needs to eat something. Once you’ve eaten, we’ll go back to the bedroom to lie down and rest, okay? Little beauty, my heart pales for you. I hope baby’s stomach trouble gets better soon.”

“I don’t want to rest, and I don’t want wontons. I want to play with Baby Gu,” Qi Ran turned naughty again. He leaned into the crook of Gu Han’s arm and deliberately unbuttoned the top of his collar. His soft lips kissed Gu Han’s Adam’s apple, sending a shiver through him. Qi Ran laughed: “What’s wrong?”

“I just had a strange surge of impulse. I can’t quite describe the feeling,” Gu Han smiled tenderly, pinching the soft flesh on Qi Ran’s waist again as he teased him. “If I have to be clear… I suppose the feeling is: the moment you kiss my neck, I want to bully you. I want to do very bad things to you.”

Hearing Gu Han say this, Qi Ran’s puppy like eyes widened. He studied Gu Han with great interest for a long while, making Gu Han feel self-conscious, thinking he had said something wrong again to upset him. Just as Gu Han was about to apologize, Qi Ran suddenly grabbed Gu Han’s waist and kissed his Adam’s apple again. Gu Han’s neck was sensitive, the kiss was so ticklish that he instinctively tried to struggle, but Qi Ran used all his strength to prevent Gu Han from breaking the embrace. He continued to kiss Gu Han’s neck on purpose, whispering a provocation: “Baby Gu Han, will you do bad things to me because of this? Then start quickly, I can’t wait. Baby, I’m really looking forward to it.”