Your Boyfriend is Great! He's Mine Now - Chapter 22

“I have one too.”

Shen Xubai spoke with great difficulty. He thought, Gu Linyuan will surely be surprised, then continue to ask what kind of illness it is, and finally say something thoughtful like ‘It doesn’t matter.’

But Gu Linyuan said he had one, too. This response was not within Shen Xubai’s expectations.

After a moment of silence, Shen Xubai suddenly laughed. It wasn’t exactly joyful, but it carried a hint of relief. Gu Linyuan laughed along with him.

Shen Xubai shifted his position and spoke slowly, “Have you looked at the proposal?”

“I have.”

“Any questions?”

“Yes.”

“Go ahead.”

There was a two-second pause on the other end before a muffled voice replied, “I don’t want to talk about it. I’m not in a good mood.”

Shen Xubai curled his lips, leaned his head back, and closed his eyes. “How do you relieve yourself when you’re in a bad mood?”

“Self-harm.”

His eyes snapped open. For a moment, Shen Xubai couldn’t tell if he was joking or serious. He felt it was a joke because it sounded so absurd, yet his intuition told him he was being serious.

“Physical pain can distract you. Watching your own blood drip down, drop after drop, more and more, until the water in the bathtub is thoroughly dyed red… At the moment of nearing death, no matter how much you want to die, the brain’s protective mechanism kicks in, giving you the courage to want to keep living.”

Gu Linyuan’s tone was devoid of fluctuation; it was flat, as if he were discussing something as trivial as the weather. But Shen Xubai listened in horror, and as he followed Gu Linyuan’s words, he seemed to visualize the scene.

Gu Linyuan was at the center of that picture. He was lying in the bathtub, face deathly pale, his expression nearly peaceful, with only a faint, ethereal smile hanging at the corners of his mouth.

The terrifying image caused him to gasp for breath. His lips moved, but his throat felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand; he couldn’t make a sound.

A light laugh came through the phone, and Gu Linyuan’s voice returned: “Senior, you didn’t actually believe that, did you?”

“Ah, Senior is so silly.”

The helpless, doting tone made the invisible hand vanish. Only then did Shen Xubai realize that his back was already drenched in a cold sweat.

“Gu—”

Gu Linyuan interrupted him. “Senior, come to Haicheng. I’ll discuss the proposal issues with you in person.”

“Senior, take a shower and get some sleep.”

Shen Xubai looked at the phone that had been hung up, frowning in confusion. He did indeed need to take another shower, but how could Gu Linyuan have known…?

Before he could figure it out, his WeChat pinged with a new message.

[G]: Senior was naughty today. No “goodnight.”

Shen Xubai stared at the screen for a while before saving Gu Linyuan’s number in his contacts. Only then did he turn on the lights, mop the floor, and disinfect. He couldn’t sleep until everything was done.

Perhaps Gu Linyuan’s voice was simply too hypnotic; the images in Shen Xubai’s mind began to bleed into his dreams. He sat there dazed for a while, a rare look of bewilderment on his face.

By the time Gu Linyuan finished signing the contract, it was already afternoon. As soon as he stepped out of the company building, he saw that the sunset had stained half the sky red, as if it were celebrating something.

His phone chimed.

[Older Brother]: Give me your location.

His previously stifled mood instantly improved. Gu Linyuan didn’t reply to the message he didn’t even check the background apps and instead dialed Shen Xubai’s number directly. “Senior, where are you?”

“The airport.”

“Which airport?”

Shen Xubai fell silent for a few seconds; he was actually tempted to buy a return ticket right then.

“Wait for me. I’ll come pick you up.”

Shen Xubai immediately refused. “No need. I’ll just take a taxi.”

There was a chuckle on the phone. “Senior, you have to give me a chance to show my appreciation.”

“Besides, Senior… you did come here for me, after all.”

He dragged out the final syllables with a carefree, teasing smile. Shen Xubai hung up the phone directly.

His cold eyes flickered with a chill, and he walked expressionless into a coffee shop.

About forty minutes later, Shen Xubai spotted Gu Linyuan at the T2 arrival gate. He didn’t even need to look for him; that outstanding figure stood out immediately. At six-foot-three, he was a focal point in the crowd.

He was leaning casually against his car. A black shirt with large lapels outlined his sharp silhouette, and beneath his tailored trousers, his long legs seemed to have nowhere to put themselves, bent slightly. His attire was simple, yet he looked like a supermodel walking out of a high-fashion editorial. He radiated a natural, captivating presence that effortlessly seized everyone’s attention.

“Senior, welcome to Haicheng.”

Gu Linyuan smiled and opened his arms like an enthusiastic tour guide, diluting the sharp edge about him.

Shen Xubai shoved the bag of coffee he was holding into Gu Linyuan’s hand, walked around him to open the trunk, placed his small suitcase inside, and then climbed into the passenger seat.

Gu Linyuan held the bag and made a “tsk” sound, retracting his hand with a touch of chagrin before opening the driver’s side door. “Senior, you’re so boring.”

“Mn.”

Shen Xubai didn’t deny it; more than one person had said that to him.

“Is Senior here for a vacation?”

Shen Xubai’s cool, clear eyes lifted slightly. “Pull over and stop ahead. I need to get my documents.”

Gu Linyuan couldn’t help but laugh while slumped over the steering wheel. “Senior, there’s no need to be so anxious. I’m not going anywhere.”

It was a perfectly serious matter, but through Gu Linyuan’s lips, it became subtle and nuanced. Shen Xubai looked away. “Watch the road.”

But the man showed no sign of restraint, letting out teasing chuckles every so often. Shen Xubai’s face finally went cold, and he turned his profile toward the window.

Gu Linyuan knew that teasing him too much wouldn’t end well, so he reined himself in. However, the interior of the car was filled with the cold, crisp scent of Shen Xubai, which made his heart itch. After only a few moments of silence, he started acting up again.

“What kind of coffee did Senior buy?”

“Latte.”

“Oh.”

After a while, “Does it taste good?”

Shen Xubai turned his head back, confused by the nonsensical question. Frowning, he said, “Drink it and you’ll know.”

“I’m driving; it’s not very convenient. Could you help me, Senior?”

?

Shen Xubai watched his absurd behavior and asked calmly, “Why is it inconvenient?”

Gu Linyuan put on a look of distress. “Senior is in the car, so I have to keep both hands on the wheel.”

Shen Xubai remained unmoved. “Then go ahead and die of thirst.”

“If I die of thirst, wouldn’t Senior’s trip be a waste?”

Shen Xubai said indifferently, “Just consider it a company-funded vacation.”

Gu Linyuan sighed. “Senior’s heart is truly hard.”

Shen Xubai observed the buildings around them and suddenly asked, “Which hotel are you staying at?”

The car braked sharply.

Shen Xubai was thrown forward slightly. Before he could react, he heard Gu Linyuan say through gritted teeth, “Senior, don’t say things like that while I’m driving.”

“What kind of things?”

“Senior, it’s very easy for me to get the wrong idea.”

Shen Xubai watched his suddenly burning gaze and felt speechless. “I’m booking a hotel.”

“It’s peak season. Everything is booked out.”

Shen Xubai glanced at him. “Is that so? Then we’ll just find another one.”

As he spoke, he opened his phone to check. With a sudden swipe, the device was snatched from his hand.

“What are you doing?”

Gu Linyuan held the phone between two fingers and smiled like a rogue. “No phone use allowed in my car.”

He’s crazy.

Shen Xubai’s face chilled, and just as he reached to snatch it back, he saw Gu Linyuan shove it into his trouser pocket. He looked straight ahead, acting like a perfect gentleman.

“Give it back.”

“If you want it, Senior, come and get it yourself. I’m driving; my hands are busy.”

Shen Xubai stared at the bulge in his pocket. The tailored suit trousers pulled tight against his thigh, and he knew that spot radiated a searing body heat. Just a glance at it felt like being scalded.