Song Linchu spoke like this and acted accordingly.
The youth’s slender arm looped around Tan Yue’s neck as he closed his eyes slightly and slowly leaned in.
The man’s breath landed on the bridge of his nose, scorching and searing. Song Linchu was momentarily startled by the intense warmth, but then he closed his eyes and moved in closer, their lips meeting in a fervent touch.
It was evident that Song Linchu had never taken the initiative before, and this kiss was inexperienced and chaotic, lacking any semblance of order. His teeth occasionally grazed against Tan Yue’s lips, as if he were ravenous.
It wasn’t a gentle and tender kiss, yet it left Tan Yue’s breath in disarray.
His hand, which had been loosely placed on Song Linchu’s waist, gradually tightened. When Song Linchu hesitantly brushed his tongue against Tan Yue’s lips, leaving behind a moist trace, Tan Yue’s hand led the way, pressing the young man against the beige wall.
Song Linchu was caught off guard and let out a low exclamation.
In recent days, the weather had turned warmer, and with no heating in the house, the walls had a hint of chill during the night. It seeped through the thin clothing, bringing a fleeting coolness to the body.
Perhaps it was the restless night breeze that added a touch of restlessness to the man, and his body heat carried an incandescent warmth.
For a moment, Song Linchu was in a world of ice and fire.
“Ge…”
The young man only managed to utter one word before he was engulfed in a passionate kiss.
The long and narrow corridor was bathed in warm yellow light, exuding tranquility and serenity. Yet, it intensified the intensity of their embrace, making it as fierce as a storm.
It felt as if this place had prematurely entered summer, with a torrential downpour that made it difficult for Song Linchu to breathe. He tightly grasped the man’s lapel, lest they be swept away by the surging torrent.
Until he felt something pressing against him in an impenetrable torrent.
!!!
Song Linchu suddenly snapped out of his confusion, struggling to break free from Tan Yue’s restraints.
“What’s wrong?” The man’s voice was hoarse, and his eyes were surging with waves that were more tumultuous than floods. It seemed like a whirlpool formed by a hurricane, ready to engulf him at any moment.
“No!” Song Linchu’s breathing was erratic as he gulped down fresh air. “I have to pick up my cousin tomorrow.”
Tan Yue wanted to say “I’ll restrain myself,” but seeing the young man’s guarded gaze as if looking at an enemy, it was clear that his credit had been overdrawn in someone’s eyes.
Tan Yue deeply understood that now was the opportune time to build goodwill, and he couldn’t afford to scare him away right after coaxing him back.
He wasn’t an impatient person. Such matters hadn’t happened in the previous 28 years, and they hadn’t driven him to his wit’s end.
There was still plenty of time ahead.
“Alright,” Tan Yue took a step back and gently ruffled his hair, exercising restraint. “Go to sleep.”
Song Linchu raised an eyebrow.
Today’s “dog man” was no longer a dog at all. How rare.
And not just that, this time he clearly sensed a change in Tan Yue.
It seemed… he had become more humane.
Unlike before, where he was cold and spoke in straightforward, straight steel man language that made people itch with frustration and pushed them to the brink of domestic violence.
Tan Yue was also making a concerted effort to change himself.
This realization made Song Linchu happy. It meant that Tan Yue’s feelings for him were not just a momentary impulse; he was also making a sincere effort to change.
After pursuing this stubborn straight steel man for so long, almost breaking his legs in the process, he finally received some reciprocation.
Song Linchu’s eyes lit up with joy and his eyes curved in a smile. He blinked, then leaned in and gave a peck on the corner of Tan Yue’s mouth. “Goodnight, gege.”
“Goodnight.”
———————
The next afternoon, Song Linchu had no classes, so he went to the train station a little earlier to pick up his cousin.
His cousin’s name was Lin Qixiu. He was only 18 years old this year, a fair and clean-cut young man who had a social charm.
When he emerged from the train station, he was engrossed in a lively conversation with an older gentleman. The gentleman had the expression of meeting a long-lost brother, and even when they parted ways, he seemed reluctant to let go.
“Well, you must come to my shop and have some fun. I’ll have my wife show off her skills. She runs a restaurant and cooks authentic hometown dishes—it’s absolutely delicious!”
Lin Qixiu smiled and agreed.
Song Linchu was in awe of his cousin’s social skills.
Lin Qixiu bid farewell to the older gentleman and approached Song Linchu with his suitcase. “Cousin.”
“Hmm, do you have all your things?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Let’s go, there are too many people here. Let’s step outside first.”
“Alright.”
The driver who had been following Song Linchu came over to help Lin Qixiu with his luggage. Lin Qixiu quickly said, “No need, I can handle it myself. I don’t have much.”
Song Linchu waved his hand. “It’s fine, let him do it.”
Since he insisted, Lin Qixiu had no choice but to give the luggage to the driver and thanked him before walking up to Song Linchu. As they walked out together, he whispered, “Cousin, you’ve fallen, following Tan Yue down the path of capitalism.”
Song Linchu understood that he was referring to the luggage incident and also lowered his voice. “That’s his job. If you don’t give him the chance, his superiors will notice, and it will affect his bonus.”
Song Linchu learned about this from the driver. In Tan Yue’s employment system, Butler Liu was in the highest tier, while Cheng Bin belonged to the second tier. It was like one serving the interior and the other serving the exterior.
Even seemingly trivial matters like carrying bags would result in a deduction from their bonus if witnessed by either Butler Liu or Cheng Bin.
Lin Qixiu widened his eyes in astonishment. “Is it that serious?”
“Yes, because of the corruption of capitalism.”
Lin Qixiu stuck out his tongue.
First, Song Linchu had the driver take them back to where the residence to put the luggage away.
When Lin Qixiu first heard it was an apartment, he thought it was a small studio. However, he underestimated the wealthy. The apartment turned out to be a duplex. Downstairs, there was a large living room with a kitchen, balcony, bathroom, and a small study, while upstairs, there were two bedrooms.
The apartment was on a high floor, clean and pristine, showing no signs of previous occupancy.
Lin Qixiu was dumbfounded. He stood at the doorway, wide-eyed, surveying the interior, and stuttered, “C-Cousin, you said it was an ordinary apartment, but this… This is too luxurious. Are you sure they didn’t deduct an extra zero to the rent?”
Song Linchu had never been to this apartment before and didn’t know that Tan Yue’s description of a small apartment was like this.
But his mind worked quickly, and he calmly walked into the house and said, “It’s a special family price. You only pay for maintenance and utilities. This property appreciates in value, and if it’s not rented it to you, it will just be empty.”
“Is that so?” Lin Qixiu couldn’t help but doubt it.
“Of course,” Song Linchu said without changing his expression as he spoke nonsense, “Tan Yue’s owned this place for several years. Do you see any signs of it being occupied?”
Lin Qixiu was convinced by his logic and smiled brightly. “Tan Yue is truly amazing. Cousin, you must have gone through a lot of trouble to find such an incredible partner.”
Song Linchu: “…”
He had to use an abundance of ingenuity.
After putting away the luggage, Song Linchu took Lin Qixiu out for dinner. He had the driver go back first because he intended to stay with Lin Qixiu for the night and then send him to work the next day.
Although it was already arranged, it was still necessary to acquaint oneself with the surroundings.
The dining place was a highly-rated Korean barbecue restaurant that Song Linchu found online. The taste lived up to its reputation, and the appetizing kimchi was a true accomplice in deceiving one’s satiety. By the time they finished eating, both of them were stuffed.
The place was not far from the apartment, so they decided to walk back, aiding digestion and allowing Lin Qixiu to witness the nocturnal panorama of the coastal city.
“This is where you’ll be working,” Song Linchu pointed to a curved hotel and said.
“Wow, such grandeur!” Lin Qixiu exclaimed as he read the words on the building. “Wanou Grand Hotel, is this also Brother Yue’s enterprise?”
Song Linchu nodded with a smile.
“Wow, just a few months ago, I couldn’t even imagine working in a place like this. My classmates must be so envious of me!”
Lin Qixiu studied culinary arts at a vocational school, yes, something akin to Touhou project.
Under Tan Yue’s arrangement, he was placed in one of Wanou’s hotels, starting as a kitchen apprentice.
To graduate and immediately become an apprentice to a chef in a five-star hotel, it was a coveted employment opportunity for many in their field of study.
Song Linchu said, “Gege wants you to perform well and strive to become the disciple of the head chef, carrying on his legacy in the future.”
“The head chef?!” Lin Qixiu widened his eyes. “Am I qualified?”
Song Linchu tugged at his slightly chubby face and said, “More than qualified, you are even more compatible than a celestial being.”
Lin Qixiu rubbed his slightly flushed face and said with a beaming smile, “I have truly experienced the saying ‘when one person achieves the Dao, their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.’”
However, Song Linchu’s expression turned serious as he said, “There’s something that must be made clear beforehand, ge… Tan Yue arranged this job for you because you are my cousin, but you must not take advantage of this identity to act recklessly or cause trouble, understand?”
“I understand, I understand,” Lin Qixiu pushed his shoulder forward and walked ahead. “You can rest assured about my character. I won’t bring any trouble to you guys.”
Song Linchu knew that Lin Qixiu was not the type to stir up trouble since he was young. He was well aware of that.
But ever since Lin Qixiu went to college, their interactions had been fewer, so he wasn’t sure if he had picked up any bad habits during his three years at the vocational school.
Therefore, it was necessary to give certain instructions and make things clear.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to explain it to Auntie and Uncle.
When the two were about to reach the entrance of the apartment building, Song Linchu’s phone rang.
He took it out and saw that Tan Yue had sent him a video call request.
Song Linchu answered the call.
Tan Yue’s handsome face appeared on the screen, and a smile unconsciously tugged at the corners of Song Linchu’s mouth. “What’s up?”
“Finished eating?” Tan Yue’s cool voice came through the speaker.
“Yeah, we finished! That Korean barbecue place was super delicious. Gege, I’ll take you there next time,” Song Linchu replied.
A smile appeared in Tan Yue’s eyes. “Okay.”
Song Linchu pulled Lin Qixiu closer and said, “Say hello.”
For a social butterfly like Lin Qixiu, it was a small matter to greet someone. He waved his hand with a cheerful smile and said, “Hello, Brother Yue!”
“Mm, are you getting used to the place you’re staying at?” Tan Yue asked.
“I’m getting used to it. This is the first time I’ve lived in such a luxurious house. Thank you, Brother Yue! You and Brother are like my own brothers.”
Tan Yue fell silent for a moment and then said, “Marriage between close relatives is prohibited.”
Lin Qixiu’s face stiffened for a moment upon hearing those words.
It was something that directly confused him and no matter how great he was at socializing, he was unable to deal with it.
Song Linchu almost burst out laughing when he heard “marriage between close relatives.”
Tan Yue’s thought process was sometimes strange and adorable.
Lin Qixiu quickly reacted and said, “So, it’s only the unrelated brothers like you and my cousin who are naturally destined for each other, an immortal love!”
Tan Yue was pleased with the phrase “naturally destined for each other” and responded with a simple “Mm,” saying, “If you encounter any difficulties, tell Linchu, no need to be polite.”
“Okay, Brother Yue, you can chat with my cousin. I’ll go buy water for him,” Lin Qixiu said.
With that, Lin Qixiu winked at Song Linchu and quickly dashed into the nearby convenience store.
Song Linchu smiled, leaning against the lamppost and looked at the person on the screen, asking, “Gege, what brings you here?”
“I heard from the driver that you won’t be coming home tonight?”
“Ahem, well… my cousin just arrived, so I’m helping him settle in,” Song Linchu replied.
Tan Yue raised an eyebrow and said, “Even toiletries are ready-made. What are you two settling?”
Previously, Butler Liu had arranged for someone to make the beds and purchase daily necessities. Lin Qixiu was truly moving in with just a bag.
“…,” Song Linchu didn’t expect this dog man to be so familiar with living habits. He touched his nose and said, “Tomorrow, I plan to take him to the hotel to get to know people. I don’t want to keep going back and forth.”
Tan Yue said, “I’ll take you.”
What’s the difference between you taking me or the driver taking me?
Aren’t they both four wheels? It won’t make the road any smoother.
However, Tan Yue clearly wanted him to go back. Perhaps because he had run away for a period of time and had just returned. The bed was still cold, and President Tan was a bit unhappy.
Song Linchu didn’t insist on staying to accompany his cousin, nor did he want to disappoint Tan Yue. He said, “Alright then, since gege misses me so much, I’ll come back.”
President Tan had achieved his goal, and he slightly turned his face away and said, “I just wanted you to spend your last night in this house.”
Although they were moving in two days, they would transfer all their belongings tomorrow, and they could already stay there. The day after tomorrow was just a celebration.
Song Linchu hadn’t considered this aspect, but seeing the awkward expression on the older man’s face, he smiled and said, “Okay, it’s my gege who cherishes me and doesn’t want me to have any regrets. Gege, you treat me so well, and I love you so much.”
Tan Yue: “…”
Song Linchu had teased the older man enough and saw that Lin Qixiu had already chosen two bottles and was about to pay. He said, “Alright, gege, let’s leave it at that. I’ll inform my cousin and then take a taxi back.”
“No need for a taxi, I’ll come pick you up.”
“Oh, no, no, no. Taking a taxi is so convenient now, let’s save energy,” Song Linchu winked at him, giving him a knowing look. “Gege, wait for me, okay?”
“…” Tan Yue didn’t know if he understood the same thing as what Song Linchu expressed.
The dim light of the streetlamp spilled onto the young man’s face, casting a shadow on his features.
Half of his face was submerged in a not-so-clear shadow, as if the smile at the corner of his mouth had been coated with a faint golden edge. His half-lowered gaze mingled with Tan Yue’s.
Tan Yue’s brows softened unconsciously, and he chuckled softly, saying, “Very well, I’ll wait for you.”
After ending the video call, Song Linchu informed Lin Qixiu, who immediately understood that Tan Yue must have said something. Lin Qixiu thoughtfully asked, “Cousin, will you still be able to accompany me tomorrow morning? Or should we reschedule for the afternoon?”
Song Linchu: “…”
Song Linchu gave him a look that said, “Are you serious?” and let him figure it out for himself.
Lin Qixiu handed him the drinks and quickly turned and ran off.
Shaking his head, Song Linchu opened the ride-hailing app on his phone.
Since getting together with Tan Yue, this app has been lying in his folder and collecting dust.
Well, to be honest, it had been neglected even before. After all, he was a homebody and financially constrained, relying on public transportation.
After calling for a ride, Song Linchu stood at the intersection, sipping the drink his cousin had bought for him, while waiting for the car.
The car was three minutes away from him, but just a minute later, a white sedan pulled up beside Song Linchu.
He lowered his head to check the license plate and realized it wasn’t the car he had called for. He was about to step aside when two burly men got out of the car, one from the front seat and one from the back.
They were truly formidable men, with one of them towering over 1.9 meters, wearing a suit that couldn’t entirely hide his muscular physique. He looked like someone not to be messed with.
They blocked Song Linchu’s path, one on the left and one on the right, and said, “Mr. Song, our boss Mr. Tan would like to have a chat with you.”
Song Linchu furrowed his brows. “Which Tan?”
“You’ll find out when you get in the car.”
Song Linchu wasn’t foolish enough to get into the car. These people clearly meant trouble. Could it be Tan Mingqing’s uncle?
Song Linchu discreetly unlocked his phone’s screen, with Tan Yue being the only WeChat conversation at the top. He could send a distress signal based on his memory.
However, the 1.9-meter tall man noticed his subtle movement almost immediately. He grabbed Song Linchu’s hand and snatched his phone away, saying menacingly, “Dare to tattle on us, huh?”
“…”
This wasn’t just trouble; it was an ominous threat.
“Get in quickly,” the other person pushed him roughly, showing no courtesy. “Don’t force me to use violence.”
This wasn’t a densely populated area, and considering the slim chances of calling for help, Song Linchu realized that he might not even get the chance to scream before the large man covered his mouth.
The difference in size was too great, leaving him with no room to resist.
Since the other party’s surname was Tan, they probably want to use him to discuss some conditions with Tan Yue. Otherwise, there was no need to be so polite and use “please.” Wouldn’t it be more convenient to simply kidnap him?
Considering the skills of these two individuals, it seemed impossible for him to create even a minor disturbance.
Realizing this, Song Linchu didn’t hesitate and got into the car.
However, it seemed like he had caused trouble for Tan Yue again…
“So sensible. You are indeed the person Tan Yue has set eyes on,” said the gloomy Mr. Tan, who was sitting in the back seat, as soon as Song Linchu got in.
Looking up, Song Linchu’s eyes flickered with surprise.
There was a resemblance between this person’s features and Tan Yue, but their temperament differed greatly. Tan Yue exuded the air of a noble and powerful boss, while this person had a gloomy expression and sat in the dimly lit back seat, giving off a spine-chilling vibe.
He shouldn’t be Tan Mingqing’s uncle because Tan Yue had mentioned that Tan Mingqing was a distant relative with whom they weren’t particularly close. Given their lack of closeness, it was unlikely for them to resemble each other to such an extent.
It was probably Tan Yue’s elder brother or an uncle with a significant family connection.
The wretched large clan had so many people with the surname Tan that Song Linchu couldn’t keep track of who was who.
“Wondering who I am?” the man’s chilly voice resonated in the car.
Song Linchu didn’t deny it. “Would you mind introducing yourself first?”
The man chuckled hoarsely and said, “It seems that Tan Yue doesn’t love you enough if he hasn’t mentioned me, his own brother, to you.”
How do you know if you’re not worthy enough for Tan Yue to introduce you to me? Song Linchu silently retorted in his mind. But this man didn’t seem like the type to engage in friendly conversation, so Song Linchu didn’t want to provoke him. He said, “If you have something to say, please go ahead.”
“You aren’t qualified enough for me to speak with you,” Tan Gan sneered, “I merely wanted to kidnap you to threaten Tan Yue. I didn’t expect you to be so easily fooled and get in the car yourself.”
Song Linchu rolled his eyes in silence.
Given the circumstances, if I hadn’t gotten in the car, would you have let me go?
However, kidnapping…
Song Linchu’s heart suddenly clenched. Though it might not be like the kidnappings in TV dramas, this man seemed formidable. He didn’t know what conditions the man had or what Tan Yue might lose because of him.
But it was definitely not a trivial matter.
The man continued, “However, I may have made a mistake. In Tan Yue’s eyes, you’re probably just a plaything, and he won’t bother exchanging those things for you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Song Linchu immediately agreed, “I have a purely transactional relationship with him, where it’s all about the kidneys, not the heart. Kidnapping me won’t be of any use to him, so don’t waste your effort!”
The man smirked slyly. “Do you think I would fall for your trick?”
Wasn’t it you who said it yourself!
“That cold-blooded creature, who is so cold and indifferent, wouldn’t keep someone unimportant by his side. It all depends on how much that filthy rubbish from the sewer is willing to exchange for you.”
Song Linchu furrowed his brow.
He realized that he didn’t like listening to others insult Tan Yue.
Tan Gan clearly held deep-seated resentment and had entered a mode of personal attacks, listing Tan Yue’s crimes and hurling a barrage of derogatory terms, each more offensive than the last.
What a wretched egg that not even a fly would bother landing on, a vile maggot, a rat from the gutter, a nemesis with severed blood ties…
And there it was, a nemesis! Screw you and your nonsense!
I shouldn’t provoke him, I shouldn’t provoke him, I shouldn’t provoke him—screw it!
Song Linchu raised his fist and ruthlessly struck the man’s incessantly yapping mouth.
“Fuck you!”
