MCUS Chapter 233

“Long time no see.” Lin Haoxuan’s gaze skimmed Huangfu Yuchen’s hand that was on Yan Ge’s waist.

Yan Ge patted Huangfu Yuchen’s shoulder and spoke in a calm, cheerful tone, “This is my partner, Huangfu Yuchen.”

“Mr. Huangfu, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Lin Haoxuan nodded at Huangfu Yuchen, “I apologize for earlier, I was in a rush and drove badly. I don’t have the chance to properly introduce myself today, so let’s arrange a meal to make up for it. Here’s my business card.”

Huangfu Yuchen took the business card and handed his own card to Lin Haoxuan. He gestured towards Lin Haoxuan’s car, “It’s okay. You and your friend seem to be in a hurry. We can chat some other time.”

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Haoxuan’s eyes. There was so much frost on the car but this person could still tell someone was inside. He didn’t think much about it, nodded at the two and quickly left.

Yan Ge watched his departing car with a sense of sentimentality. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his waist. Turning around, he saw Huangfu Yuchen’s dark face, his narrowed eyes and pursed lips clearly displaying his displeasure.

Yan Ge quickly explained, “There’s nothing between him and me!”

“Is that so?” Huangfu Yuchen trusted Yan Ge and their relationship, so he believed that there couldn’t be anything between Yan Ge and Lin Haoxuan. However, seeing Yan Ge watching Lin Haoxuan’s departure like that made him uncomfortable. While there might not be anything between Yan Ge and Lin Haoxuan now, there probably was something in the past. What bothered Huangfu Yuchen the most was that Yan Ge had shared many things about his life in this world but never mentioned Lin Haoxuan.

All of Yan Ge’s previous cheerfulness faded, and he started feeling uneasy. He felt somewhat amused, but there was also a faint ache in his heart. He preferred seeing Huangfu Yuchen happy. Even though Huangfu Yuchen rarely laughed heartily, his entire presence could exude relaxation and tranquility.

Without explaining, he covered Huangfu Yuchen’s ears and pressed his lips against Huangfu Yuchen’s slightly cold ones, giving him a soft kiss. He then took his hands off and said, “The snow is getting heavier. Let’s head home. I’ll explain everything to you in detail.”

Huangfu Yuchen didn’t say anything, he put Yan Ge’s hand in his pocket and held it tightly. They hailed a taxi and then transferred to a bus.

As soon as they returned home, Yan Ge turned to face Huangfu Yuchen. His expression was serious as he confessed, “Yuchen, there’s really nothing between Lin Haoxuan and me. I met him at a party—”

Huangfu Yuchen was caught off guard by Yan Ge’s sudden confession. The other party had not yet even put off his hat, scarf, and overcoat that were all covered in snow. His heart softened, and he couldn’t help but smile. The emptiness he felt was now filled. He removed Yan Ge’s beanie and tossed it aside, then cupped the back of his head, imprinting a gentle kiss on his wide eyes.

Yan Ge stared at Huangfu Yuchen’s smiling dark eyes, and his lips involuntarily curled up. This Yuchen was so gentle.

Huangfu Yuchen kissed his lips again and removed his scarf, placing it on a nearby chair. He then held Yan Ge by the waist and led him to the bathroom, speaking in a relaxed tone, “Let’s take a shower first.”

Both of them took a hot shower and then returned in warm robes.

Yan Ge sat at the edge of the bed and Huangfu Yuchen sat behind him. The latter held a white towel and carefully dried Yan Ge’s wet hair. He wore a blue towel around his own neck, preventing water droplets from his hair from falling onto the bed.

Yan Ge began explaining the situation between him and Lin Haoxuan in a casual tone, as if narrating someone else’s story, “I realized my sexual orientation when I was in my first year of high school. However, I was seeking approval from my parents at that time and had no interest in dating. After graduating, I started my own company and was busy with its affairs, so I still didn’t have the time.”

Huangfu Yuchen’s hand paused. ‘So, that meant Lin Haoxuan might have been Xiao Ge’s first love?’

Yan Ge gently patted his hand and continued, “I met Lin Haoxuan at a party. I was inexplicably drawn to him, but he had a partner at the time and their relationship was strong. So, I never showed my feelings. Later, I had contact with him due to work and occasionally saw him, but we never spoke. Not long before I was transported to Great Han, I accidentally found out his partner was cheating on him. I had thoughts about confessing, but…”

Huangfu Yuchen’s hand slipped, tugging on a few of Yan Ge’s hairs. Huangfu Yuchen came back to his senses and gently kissed the top of Yan Ge’s head. “Sorry, baby, please continue.”

“I was transported to Great Han before I could. I didn’t intentionally hide the matter about Lin Haoxuan. A modern person traveling to ancient times has to face too many problems, deal with too many troubles. After entering the palace, I couldn’t even think about the past, let alone think about telling you this. Later, I was busy with establishing the company and making money. I didn’t have the time to think about the past. After we got together…”

A shallow smile appeared on Huangfu Yuchen’s lips. The words “we got together” sounded so pleasant. He tossed the towel onto a chair, wrapped his arms around Yan Ge’s waist, and felt a great calmness within him.

“After we got together, I couldn’t recall the past. The thing I thought about the most every day was you. How could I possibly remember Lin Haoxuan? If he didn’t appear today, I wouldn’t even think of him. It’s been nine years since we met, and we’ve been together for over eight years.” Yan Ge turned around and planted a kiss Huangfu Yuchen’s chin, then leaned against him in a relaxed manner. “Thinking back now, that infatuation at the time was truly inexplicable. I believe everyone encounters a few people in their lifetime, maybe you like someone who doesn’t like you, or maybe you don’t like someone who likes you. These are all normal. But there’s only one person that you can like and who likes you back. Finding this person among the countless people in the world and across different times and spaces, that’s the person destined for you. That’s the person you must treasure.”

He looked up at Huangfu Yuchen, his expression tender and his eyes warm.

“Baby, you’re my only true love.” Huangfu Yuchen’s heart felt as sweet as honey. He rolled over, pressing his lover beneath him. With a wave of his hand, the lights went out…

After the matter with Lin Haoxuan was revealed, the bond between Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen grew even stronger.

Lin Haoxuan later invited them to dinner, and the two went happily. Lin Haoxuan had also brought his partner along, a different one from before. This partner was two years younger than Lin Haoxuan. He was a renowned software engineer, and appeared to be much more reliable. The two of them were even planning to get married abroad after the New Year.

The four chatted happily throughout the whole dinner.

After resigning, He Xin came to Fengshan Farm and became its CEO. With Guo Jian and Guo Yi taking care of the cultivators visiting the farm, Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen practically became hands-off managers.

After the New Year passed, their cultivation reached the early Crossing Tribulation stage. They continued their domestic travels, arriving at the highest mountain in the country, Mount Langma. Basking in the sun, sipping beer, and enjoying the scenery on the snowy mountaintop, life couldn’t be more relaxing.

They spent five to six days on the mountaintop before returning to the human world — specifically, to Province Y.

—“You are my little, little apple…”

Huangfu Yuchen’s phone rang.

Yan Ge shook his head and walked to a shop by the roadside, planning to buy some local specialties to bring back for He Xin and Xu Kai.

“Xiao Shuai.”

“We couldn’t get through when we tried calling you guys before.” Xiao Shuai’s voice sounded playful over the phone, “So, where have you and Yan Ge been having fun?”

Huangfu Yuchen raised an eyebrow. They had been on the snowy mountain top; it would have been strange if they had a signal.

“Is something wrong?”

“Yes, something is.” Xiao Shuai’s tone turned serious, “I gave Yan Yan a light reprimand. You and Yan Ge don’t mind, do you?”

“No.” Huangfu Yuchen rarely gossiped but he couldn’t help asking curiously, “What did he do to you?”

“Nonsense! What can he do to me?” Xiao Shuai laughed in exasperation, “I think he has a brain problem. I’ve told him countless times that I like women and that I have a girlfriend. Still, he insists on pestering me. Now it’s even affecting my girlfriend. It’s really infuriating. I pursued my girlfriend for four years. If he really manages to upset her, I will put him in compromising situations with a few different men and send the pictures to the Yan family.” Xiao Shuai’s voice turned cold. Liking men is fine, but clinging to a man who has a girlfriend is a dead-end path. He had long lost any sympathy for Yan Yan.

“I’ll pay the courier fee for you.” Huangfu Yuchen generously offered.

“Okay, I’ll send you the receipt afterward.” Xiao Shuai joked. They chatted for a few more moments before ending the call.

Huangfu Yuchen put his phone back into his pocket and looked up. The female shop owner of a fruit store was striking up a conversation with Yan Ge, a big smile on her face. He quickly walked over, pulling Yan Ge close, “Baby, it’s lunchtime. Where do you want to eat?”

Yan Ge tilted his chin and signaled forward, “There should be a restaurant up ahead. It’s not convenient to drive here, let’s just walk.”

They hadn‘t gone far when they exchanged a glance. The two people who had been following them since they entered the city were still there.

Unconcerned, the two of them found a restaurant and enjoyed some delicious local specialties. After leaving the restaurant, they drove to the outskirts and parked the car.

Stepping out of the car, they looked behind them curiously.

Following them were a child and an elderly man around sixty. The child was around eight or nine years old, with delicate features that showed he’ll be a handsome man in the future. He was dressed in what appeared to be a school uniform.

The old man had graying hair and a sharp spirit. His expression was impassive, and his fierce eyes were fixed on Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen.

“Who are you?” Yan Ge asked casually, not expecting a response.

Surprisingly, the old man answered, “I am Tong He. You should be able to tell that I’m also a cultivator. Someone offered a high price for me to kill you two. Don’t blame me; blame your farm for being so tempting, yet you’re unwilling to open it to cultivators.”

“Killing people with a child in tow? That’s not a good habit.” Yan Ge chuckled.

The child hid behind Tong He, not saying a word.

Tong He looked at Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. Their faces showed no trace of tension and he grew wary. He glanced at the child. “This is my grandson, Tong Rui. I had no one to leave him with when I went on this trip, so I had no choice.”