The Unforeseen Visitor and a Sweet Distraction

Song Xingyu appeared caught off guard by Lu Lin’s presence in the dorm that evening. He had grown accustomed to Lu Lin being absent, as the latter had spent his time either playfully bothering Su Yan or frequenting his family home.

He strove to maintain his composure, unwilling to provoke a confrontation with this “villain,” knowing such an act would only bring more trouble than it was worth. A sharp sting in his fingertips, a lingering memory, caused him to instinctively tuck his hand behind his back.

Song Xingyu had few hobbies; if pressed, perhaps only basketball. Yet, he had thoroughly mastered piano, painting, and calligraphy, excelling in all, even achieving Grade 10 on the piano. This, by itself, was not particularly remarkable.

However, he had been born in a remote mountain village, a rough-hewn individual whose opportunity to learn these arts arose only after he was brought to Haishi during high school. His mother, claiming it was for his own good, had forcefully pushed him into acquiring various “high society” essential hobbies.

His mother, fundamentally an uncultured woman whose eyes saw nothing but money, naturally had no idea that the so-called hobbies suitable for high society were not these particular pursuits.

Song’s Mother also harbored a shameful secret: she was a mistress. Uneducated and hedonistic, she had been instantly captivated by the city’s glittering allure the moment she arrived, disdaining any thought of honest work. When her money ran out and her beauty remained, she was, quite predictably, led down this path of no return by unsavory individuals.

She held no affection for her son, but the wealthy old man she had entangled with was nearing the end of his life. All his illegitimate children were vying for a share of his fortune. Song’s Mother, knowing nothing of the intricacies, only understood that she needed to bring Song Xingyu to her side. ‘As the stepmother, surely those children would leave her an inheritance,’ she’d thought. ‘Bringing her son closer might even secure two shares.’ Ultimately, her lack of education and worldly experience only made her a laughingstock.

Song Xingyu’s life in that household was far from pleasant. Not only did the legitimate son lord over him, but even the illegitimate children could walk all over him. Once Song’s Mother realized he was of no use, she left him to fend for himself. Fortunately, he proved his worth by gaining admission to A University.

No matter how poorly or strictly Lu Lin’s father treated him, Lu Lin would always remain the sole heir of the Lu family.

Lu Lin observed Song Xingyu’s subtle gesture of tucking his hand behind his back. He merely raised an eyebrow, ultimately offering no comment. Breaking Song Xingyu’s hand would be meaningless anyway, considering how Song Xingyu always seized every opportunity to approach Su Yan whenever Lu Lin wasn’t around. Had Lu Lin not been present just now, wouldn’t Song Xingyu have already called out “Yanyan”?

A thought like this caused Lu Lin’s face to darken, a profound unease settling within him. It felt as though someone had reached in and fiercely squeezed his heart, leaving a bitter, aching sensation.

Noticing Lu Lin bristling with palpable irritation, Su Yan couldn’t help but place a hand on his head, gently stroking it as a silent signal for him to remain quiet.

‘For someone so prickly, his hair is surprisingly soft,’ Su Yan mused.

Lu Lin, affected by Su Yan’s touch, felt all his defenses dissipate. He turned his head slightly, revealing his reddened ear tips, and pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

Su Yan maintained the soothing motion, flashing his small fangs with a smile. “Thank you,” he said, referring to the package retrieval.

Su Yan’s intention had been to redirect the conversation, to at least prevent Lu Lin’s sharp words from escalating. To his surprise, Song Xingyu, standing nearby, wore a displeased expression, seemingly ungrateful for the intervention.

His eyes were fixed intently on Su Yan’s hand, which was still resting on Lu Lin’s head, showing no sign of moving. His gaze grew increasingly sinister.

Oblivious to the gaze fixed upon them, Lu Lin merely tightened his lips, his eyes silently fixed on the hickey visible beneath Su Yan’s hoodie.

Unaware that he was caught in a brewing storm of tension, Su Yan was lost in thought, wondering how to playfully diffuse the awkward atmosphere.

Song Xingyu returned the items in his hands to their place, then settled at his desk, his back to the pair. His previously cold expression instantly melted into an innocent smile as he feigned ignorance, interrupting their intimate moment. “Su Yan,” he called out, “aren’t you going to open that package? I noticed the box is wet.”

At the mention of it, Su Yan turned to inspect the package. Indeed, it was largely soaked, likely containing ice packs or similar items within. “Is it? I was planning to open it later, after my shower,” Su Yan said, beaming, and thanked Song Xingyu. ‘Had he not reminded me,’ Su Yan thought, ‘I would have inadvertently wasted someone’s kind intentions.’

Su Yan moved his hand from Lu Lin’s head and slowly walked to his desk. He picked up a small knife from the corner and, with a *rip*, cut open the package. Inside, a large bag of local specialties lay revealed.

The various items were neatly separated into several different bags, and beneath them, a white letter was pressed flat.

Su Yan first carefully removed the letter, fearing it might get wet, before cautiously taking out all the hometown specialties Chen Xing had sent. He arranged them neatly on the table.

They were mostly vegetables and fruits. Chen Xing had remembered Su Yan mentioning how delicious natural, additive-free vegetables were, and so, every year, he would send a carefully selected batch of the most perfect produce. Even a single hole in a leaf would cause it to be discarded from the selection. In addition to the produce, there were also some sausages.

From the corner of his eye, Lu Lin caught Song Xingyu’s tense back relax ever so slightly. He let out a cold chuckle, a sound that immediately put Su Yan on edge. ‘Lu Lin is in a bad mood again!’

Just as Su Yan’s fingertips brushed against the refreshingly cold vegetables, a shadow enveloped him. Before he could even turn, the entire box of produce was unceremoniously tossed into the trash bin by a stern-faced Lu Lin.

Su Yan: “…???”

“Didn’t we just sign a peaceful relationship agreement?” Su Yan asked, seeing Lu Lin’s tightly pressed lips and furrowed brow, not daring to provoke him further. He quickly stepped forward, knelt before the trash bin, and began picking out all the vegetables. Fortunately, the bin was mostly empty, and the vegetables were still clean. Otherwise, he would have felt terribly guilty.

Lu Lin, displeased, spoke in a cold voice, “I can buy them for you.”

Cradling the vegetables, Su Yan quickly stepped away from Lu Lin, adopting a defensive posture. “This isn’t about whether I can buy them!” he exclaimed. ‘This is Chen Xing’s heartfelt gesture. Chen Xing is just like that; once he accepts help from others, he feels uneasy until he reciprocates, which is why he thought of these beautiful vegetables grown in the fields.’

The declaration, “This isn’t about whether I can buy them!” seemed to perplex Lu Lin, who then, quite naturally, added, “I can grow them too.”

Su Yan: “…?”

“Didn’t we sign that agreement?” Su Yan felt a surge of helplessness at the phrase, “I can grow them too.” He had no idea how to respond. ‘Should I suggest we sweetly cultivate a garden together?’ he wondered. He could only repeat the same sentence mechanically.

Su Yan had expected Lu Lin to feel a pang of guilt. Instead, Lu Lin retrieved the paper from a drawer, unfolded it in his hand, and in a clear, melodious voice, recited every single clause of the agreement. Then, he curved his lips into a smile, chuckled, and, seemingly innocently, said to Su Yan, “But it doesn’t say I can’t throw away things others give you, does it?”

Su Yan frowned, his voice softening. “You can’t be so disobedient. And unreasonable…”

Despite his words, Su Yan still bent halfway, stood up, picked up a pen, and added the twenty-second clause to the paper:

*Cannot casually throw away Su Yan’s belongings (including gifts from others).*

As Lu Lin read the newly added clause, his smile slowly vanished. Annoyed, he pointedly ignored Su Yan, turning his back to him. ‘He can’t believe Su Yan is treating him this way, all for another man.’

‘If Su Yan could hear these internal monologues,’ the narrator mused, ‘he would surely be confused, wondering why he was being painted as such a heartless cad.’

The sole beneficiary of this particular skirmish: Song Xingyu. He had feigned indifference throughout, yet secretly pricked up his ears, listening intently to Su Yan’s tone. Only when Lu Lin was being “scolded” did he quietly let out a sigh of relief.

Su Yan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the figure with his back turned. Suddenly, a realization dawned on him. ‘Oh, he’s angry again.’

Lu Lin made a considerable amount of noise even as he gathered his clothes for a shower. Meanwhile, Su Yan sat calmly at his desk, enjoying the dessert he had just received via delivery.

As the cake rolled onto his tongue, the vexations of recent times instantly melted away.

Su Yan’s fondness for sweets was a well-known fact among those close to him. ‘Having endured so much bitterness in his previous life,’ he reasoned, ‘he could only compensate by indulging in more sweetness in this one.’ This was Su Yan’s own explanation for his love of desserts.

He ate with evident joy, his beautiful eyes sparkling with amusement. This blissful state meant he didn’t even notice someone standing before him.

Seeing Su Yan so contentedly enjoying his dessert, Lu Lin felt a knot tighten in his throat, a surge of emotion that wouldn’t dissipate. The bitter ache was but one facet of his myriad feelings.

Noticing this, Su Yan set down his spoon. With a smile, he enveloped Lu Lin, who stood before him, in a sudden embrace, burying his face against him.

Having just showered, Lu Lin was still radiating warmth. As Su Yan’s arms tightened around his waist, all the disciplinary measures he had been contemplating moments earlier dissolved into disarray.

When Su Yan smiled, his round eyes would crinkle, revealing his small fangs. His voice, too, would soften considerably, making him appear utterly docile.

This was the new discovery Su Yan had made: Lu Lin was remarkably innocent. ‘Before engaging in any such actions,’ he would silently chant a hundred times, ‘I’m sorry, Protagonist Shou, I’m not intentionally coveting your husband.’

Lu Lin tilted his head, allowing himself to be held. It was a long moment before he felt the embrace around his waist loosen. Su Yan then looked up, his round eyes glistening, and, unaccustomed to such pleas, murmured, “Please forgive me. I shouldn’t have been so harsh with you. You’re so kind, so handsome, so wonderful in every way, and I failed to appreciate you…”

Su Yan excelled at uttering nonsense with an innocent, bewildered expression. ‘After all,’ he mused, ‘utilizing one’s beauty is a form of wisdom, too.’

Lu Lin stared intently into Su Yan’s eyes, attempting to discern the sincerity of his words. Yet, Su Yan’s gaze was too fervent, too genuine, forcing Lu Lin to abandon the attempt.

He realized Su Yan had changed dramatically, seemingly starting from that very day. Previously, Su Yan had been intent only on avoiding him, almost as if he wished to carry a banner proclaiming: ‘I’m terrified of Lu Lin! Stay away from me, Lu Lin!’

****

*Bang*—A sudden clatter as something hit the floor. Song Xingyu nervously scrambled off his bed to retrieve his phone, its screen now shattered. His body was taut, every muscle rigid.

Of course, Su Yan remained oblivious.