Chapter 88: Kun Kun, can't you really sit on my lap?

After Lou Yingjie left, He Guan stayed in Li Lan Ting's room, still examining the design sketches.

He observed the decor and structure, recalling everything he had seen so far, wondering, "How much did this place cost? Who funded it? How was the capital managed?"

Not dwelling on it for long, he maneuvered his wheelchair out of Li Lan Ting's wheelchair racing arena.

Once outside the arena, He Guan looked down at the tarmac, slightly lost in thought.

On the way here, chasing after Li Lan Ting, He Guan had continuously increased his speed within a range he was comfortable with, and he hadn't noticed...

How he had gotten there.

Oh no, how does he get home?

He Guan was stunned.

This was a first in his twenty-something years of life.

He looked like an elderly dementia patient who couldn't remember the way home, staring contemplatively at the ground before him.

Fortunately, at that moment, his wristband beeped as if it understood his thoughts—

At noon, the wristband announced the time.

Since receiving it yesterday, He Guan hadn't really used it, only putting it on when he left home. Therefore, he missed the vibrating time alert in the morning and was unaware of the wristband's periodic time notifications.

He swiped it a couple of times, showing remarkable patience with its slow-refreshing e-ink screen, without any intention of asking passersby for directions.

As expected, he found a map within.

Offline, remarkably detailed.

The wristband vocalized directions, guiding He Guan.

He silently thought, "Indeed."

Even if he were fully abled, he'd prefer to handle things on his own rather than inconveniencing others, let alone being someone with a disability who might be sensitive about asking for help.

By 12:35 PM, as he reached his home's entrance, He Guan rose from his wheelchair.

Compared to the morning when his legs felt weak and numb, by noon he was able to walk normally with just occasional discomfort—a significant improvement.

He lifted the wheelchair over the steps, puzzled as to why only this house and the neighboring one had stairs. All other homes had accessible ramps.

Judging by its design, the house was old, with walls that carried the gentle wear of time.

Having arrived during the night the previous day, He Guan hadn't inspected the place thoroughly. Now, in the daylight, he noticed subtle details he'd previously missed.

Above the door frame was a nameplate, which He Guan reached out to take down.

It was a small nameplate, no bigger than a palm, with engraved characters reading [XX's Home], some of which were not cleanly carved.

Some of the engravings had been scratched over multiple times, obscuring the original text.

This was once someone else's home, and now, his beloved lived here.

As He Guan was still touching the wooden nameplate, the door suddenly opened from inside.

"Why didn't you call out when you got back?"

He Guan replaced the nameplate: "I haven't even stepped inside. Can't really call it 'coming back'."

Lou Dongzang: "Welcome home."

He Guan smiled, stepped into his embrace, and held him tightly.

"What's the matter?" Lou Dongzang closed the door behind them, caressing his hair. "When you left, I thought you might never want to speak to me again for the rest of your life."

"Don't you remember, just yesterday—" He Guan began with a teasing squint but quieted down mid-sentence, warning, "Lou Dongzang, if you keep this up, I'm going to ignore you."

Lou Dongzang mimed zipping his lips shut.

Satisfied, He Guan started to move toward the kitchen. However, someone grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulling him back into their embrace.

"Let go, I need to cook," He Guan said, trying to free the hand wrapped around his waist. "Hold on any longer, and we'll starve."

Lou Dongzang questioned, "You still want to cook in this state?"

Gently tapping the back of his hand, He Guan motioned for him to release his grip, "Whose fault is this? I told you I was tired and wanted to sleep yesterday, yet you..."

Realizing it wasn't a topic suitable before a meal, He Guan stopped speaking.

Feeling stifled, the mere thought of it was frustrating.

"No need, I've made dinner. It'll be ready in a moment," Lou Dongzang said, gently nudging He Guan from behind, steering him toward the sofa.

Settling down on the sofa, He Guan took a cushion to support his back and inquired, "Hmm? Since when did you learn to cook?"

"Just recently."

Barely a moment after He Guan had sat down, Lou Dongzang was back at his side, clinging to him like an affectionate pet.

"Why so quiet?" Lou Dongzang whispered, leaning close.

"Tired," He Guan responded instinctively.

When he said that, he hadn't even realized how weary he felt. But after voicing it out, he became acutely aware of his exhaustion.

He had spent a long time outside today, coupled with the excess activity from the previous day. Only upon speaking did he acknowledge his fatigue.

"Dinner will be ready soon."

"Hmm... I might fall asleep by the time dinner's done. Chat with me a bit more; I'd like to eat before sleeping."

Lou Dongzang held his hand, gently tracing his knuckles.

"That tickles."

"Now you're not sleepy."

"Who taught you this?" He Guan responded instinctively to his questions.

With a playful smile, Lou Dongzang said, "There are other methods, but you might not like them."

"Hmm?" Just as He Guan's eyes were about to close, he turned his face with a hint of curiosity, only to be met with a kiss.

With a mix of amusement and fatigue, he received the kiss, being pushed back into the sofa's cushion. Between breaths, he quipped, "Is this all... that goes on... in your head... or what?"

Lou Dongzang gently pulled back, wiping away the droplets of saliva from He Guan's mouth with the back of his hand.

"When I'm alone, other thoughts do cross my mind," he said softly, noting the faint red marks left behind, "But when I see you, they vanish."

"What am I then?" He Guan mused groggily, "A switch in your brain?"

A soft chuckle escaped Lou Dongzang.

He Guan was so drowsy that even his responses were gentle and mellow, like he was kissing a wriggling, warm creature.

"Yes, you are."

"I told you long ago that this trick..." He Guan lazily wrapped an arm around him, eyes closed, then nuzzled his neck without any particular rhythm, like a cuddly puppy, "It doesn’t work on me."

"I'm still so sleepy," he added, yawning profoundly.

Rarely displaying such languor in front of others, He Guan always seemed so full of energy, tackling various issues. Only when he was with Lou Dongzang did he occasionally act a little spoiled.

Lou Dongzang, getting up from the sofa, hoisted He Guan, signaling him to tighten his legs around his waist. "Stay awake, eat first, then sleep."

He Guan wrapped his arms firmly around his neck, burying his face into his shoulder, murmuring, "No, I'm too tired."

As Lou Dongzang walked, He Guan jolted slightly with each step. Despite his exhaustion, he still managed to respond to Lou Dongzang's intermittent questions.

"Where did you go today?"

"To the wheelchair racetrack... it's a vast place, but..." He Guan frowned, "I missed the wheelchair race."

He was indeed interested in the race but didn't show it in front of Li Lan Ting.

Since Li Lan Ting hadn't invited him, He Guan chose not to bring it up.

Lou Dongzang planted a soft kiss on him, "Mmm, those races start in the evening."

"Every day?" He Guan sounded a bit more alert.

Given his physical activity, He Guan had to avoid rich foods. Thus, the meal comprised steamed dishes with minimal salt and oil, like steamed shrimp with eggs and pumpkin steamed with ribs.

Balancing He Guan in one arm and a tray of food in the other, Lou Dongzang navigated carefully around potential obstacles, "The races are on Tuesdays and Fridays. Today happens to be Tuesday. Would you like to go tonight?"

"Sure." He Guan, seeming to recall something, appeared slightly disheartened, "But they say you don't go out."

He wanted Lou Dongzang to accompany him.

When he's sleepy, he's even more adorable than usual.

Normally direct yet courteous, drowsiness rendered him direct and impulsive.

Especially when the handsome young man, while holding someone, complains about how sleepy he is without being able to sleep.

Exceptionally, exceptionally endearing.

Setting the dishes on the table, Lou Dongzang paused for a moment, pulling He Guan closer without setting him down, "What did they say?"

"You've never gone out," He Gu straightened up and looked directly at him, slightly irritated. "You've been here for so long and yet haven't stepped outside."

Lou Dongzang laughed and nudged the tip of his nose. "That's because you weren't here."

"So?" He Gu was momentarily perplexed.

"As long as I'm with you, I'd go anywhere."

He Gu grinned, giving him a vibrant kiss. "Alright, tonight let's go to... wait! I need to eat... let me down first..."

"Eat after the kiss. No rush."

"Hmm... You're so annoying."

"Mhm. I love you."

*

The event started admitting attendees at seven in the evening. He Gu came in a wheelchair as usual, but this time with Lou Dongzang trailing behind.

He looked around excitedly, brushing off his midday lethargy, observing everything in the venue as if he were a child in a zoo.

Li Lan was already waiting at the entrance of the wheelchair area. Spotting them, he waved and said, "Hey there, kiddo, you've arrived."

He Gu responded, "Mhm, good evening, Uncle Li. Have you eaten?"

"Ha," Li Lan said with a hint of surprise, "I'm of your grandfather's generation. Why are you calling me 'uncle'?"

"What are you talking about?" He Gu said with a playful grin, "Aren't you and my dad of the same generation? You can't fool me."

Li Lan wheeled around, dramatically sighing. "I can't win against you. Give me your wristband."

He Gu handed over his wristband and then gestured towards the silent Lou Dongzang beside him, "He doesn't have one, what should we do?"

"Just buy two tickets then, what's so difficult about that?" Li Lan brought the wristband close to the payment scanner. The displayed balance made him gasp, "Good heavens, Lou Yingjie spoils you too much! He shouldn't give a kid so much money. Such a spendthrift!"

"We want the best seats," He Gu said confidently.

"I know, I know."

Li Lan just greeted them at the entrance. After He Gu entered and looked back, he realized the old man had vanished without a trace.

"Shall we go?"

The man beside He Gu scratched his face lightly with a fingernail, capturing his attention, and asked.

"Yes, let's."

He Gu maneuvered his wheelchair, leading the way to find seats.

The spacing between seats was just a tad wider than the width of a wheelchair plus the diameter of one's calves, allowing He Gu smooth access all the way to their designated spot.

"You've never gone out," He Gu straightened up and looked directly at him, slightly irritated. "You've been here for so long and yet haven't stepped outside."

Lou Dongzang laughed and nudged the tip of his nose. "That's because you weren't here."

"So?" He Gu was momentarily perplexed.

"As long as I'm with you, I'd go anywhere."

He Gu grinned, giving him a vibrant kiss. "Alright, tonight let's go to... wait! I need to eat... let me down first..."