"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.

He Guan questioned, "Not interested?"

"Hmm," Lou Dongzang lightly traced He Guan's fingernail, "Not as appealing as staying at home with you."

"You're such a..." He Guan playfully pushed Lou Dongzang's approaching face away, "Homebody."

After saying that, he freed himself and started his wheelchair to move.

Lou Dongzang stood up, following beside him and asked, "Guan Guan, do you like it here?"

"Why this sudden question?" He Guan looked up, puzzled.

Lou Dongzang feigned contemplation, "You seemed interested. How about we build a racetrack in Dongzang Garden for fun?"

"No, no, no," He Guan rapidly declined, "My interest only goes as far as buying a ticket to watch. If you were in ancient times, Lou Dongzang, you'd definitely be a prodigal, clueless crown prince."

"Why the crown prince and not the emperor?"

"You think you could surpass your father? Dream on. He's the real emperor."

"And you?"

"Top scholar."

“？”

"Is that why you married me?"

"Nope, I'm the princess sent for a marital alliance."

"Say that again?"

"Or maybe a proton?"

“……”

They chatted and laughed, buying some food from the night market as they strolled.

Recognizing familiar faces, He Guan realized that many of the vendors from the beach exchange event were selling goods here.

He Guan halted in front of a stall selling octopus balls, pointing at the sign indicating he wanted the largest portion.

The hearing-impaired vendor nodded with a smile, expertly skewering, boxing, and handing over the aromatic balls.

Lou Dongzang simply stood by his side, observing every nuance of He Guan's expressions.

He often looked at He Gu like that, and He Gu had grown accustomed to it, paying it no mind.

*

Two days later.

He Gu sat on the carpet at home, waiting for Lou Dongcang to prepare the meal, while engrossed in a book.

They had previously agreed to read together when Lou Dongcang's eyes weren't well. Now that his vision has recovered, the promise stands.

Lou Dongcang prepared the meal swiftly. Before He Gu could turn many pages, footsteps approached, followed by the sound of a ceramic dish touching the tea table, indicating Lou Dongcang had set the food down.

He Gu got up to fetch his chopsticks and rice bowl. After eating, he promptly placed his bowl in the dishwasher, then sprawled on the sofa to continue reading.

As he read, a hand slid up his back from the waist.

The book slipped from He Gu's grasp, landing on the floor, as he reached back to grab the intruding hand.

"Wait, I haven't fully recovered yet. Can't you let me rest a couple more days?"

"I'm wasting resources and exhausting the people."

Pressed down on the sofa, unable to move, He Gu made a desperate plea: "It's still daytime! How about tonight? I haven't said no!"

"I'm indulgent and oblivious."

Lou Dongcang easily thwarted any further protests with a gentle tone.

"It's only been a short while since we ate. Look, just one and a half hours," He Gu, seeing his resistance was futile, quickly shifted to show his wristband, "See? I'm not fully digested yet."

Lou Dongcang's fervent kiss silenced all his retorts, murmuring, "Then it's perfect to help with digestion."

Catching his breath, He Gu relented, "Don't grip me so tightly. Can you let me turn over?"

Lou Dongzang held onto his waist, remaining silent.

He Guan sighed in exasperation, "Don't run, don't run. Just stay where I can see you."

Only then did the hand around his waist let go.

What happened?

He Guan was on the verge of tears, still not understanding.

Why are you so upset? What happened recently?

But no matter how much he pondered, he couldn't come up with an answer.

Clearly, there wasn't.

They were simply living here, nothing more.

*

The following afternoon.

What Yan Fengqing said was true; Lou Yingjie really intended to leave Xingyu to He Guan.

There was a lot included in the Xingyu assets. He Guan spent the entire noon carefully going through the documents in front of him, not having the time to go home for lunch. He made an early call home using his wristband.

Lou Dongzang's tone on the phone was very pleasant, kindly suggesting he eat there.

After hanging up, he signed the documents once he was sure, then passed them back to Lou Yingjie, waiting for his review.

Lou Yingjie glanced at him, "Nothing else to discuss? Why are you still here? Do you have something else to say?"

"Well," He Guan nodded, "Not a big issue, just a small favor to ask – covering for a little white lie of mine."

The older man raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to finish, "This is certainly a first."

"When I first arrived at Dongzang Garden, I lied to him. He didn't suspect anything at the time, but I think he might find out later," He Guan explained, "I told him you and I had a two-year labor contract, that for every day I spend by his side, you would pay for a day."

After hearing this, Lou Yingjie waved to summon Rong, the lawyer, "Draft it now."

He then added, "Can I decide on the daily wage?"

"No problem," He Guan responded without hesitation.

Lawyer Rong worked swiftly, preparing two copies within half an hour. Both were signed and stamped.

He Guan took his copy, nonchalantly folding it over and over until it was palm-sized and slipped it into his pocket.

"Is this all?"

"Yep, as long as I have it. I'll be off then."

"You seem to be in quite the hurry."

By the time he finished his sentence, He Guan had already disappeared from view.

Lou Yingjie leaned back in his chair, laughing yet exasperated, "Oh boy, he really is..."

He didn’t finish his sentence.

It seemed as though the young man's actions had triggered a flood of memories, and Lou Yingjie was lost in deep reflection.

As the sun began to set, Lou Dongzang finally arrived, fashionably late.

He moved unhindered, walking straight from the hall to the end of the rooftop without any obstacles.

Lou Yingjie remained seated in his lounger, maintaining the exact posture from when He Guan had left. Without lifting an eyelid, he said, "You're here."

Lou Dongzang got straight to the point, "What did you promise me before?"

"I've certainly kept my promise."

"Then don't give this to him too. He's already exhausted."

Lou Yingjie, after a long time, began twirling his white jade lion head in his hand. "It's up to He Guan. What you think... doesn’t matter to me."

Veins stood out, jade stone rubbing.

Click, click.

"I'll take it, just don’t burden him any further."

"No," Lou Yingjie responded quickly, "You won't do."

Lou Dongzang took two steps closer, "I'm not here to negotiate."

"This isn’t a matter for negotiation," Lou Yingjie chuckled, "Once he knows, it'll be his issue. Whether he wants it or not, or if he likes it here, has nothing to do with you."

"Of course it does. If he learns that you—"

Lou Yingjie curtly interrupted him.

"You could always keep him away. What, do you think you've made him sacrifice enough? You're just in a relationship with him; you aren't cutting off his limbs. Why restrict him so? When will you grow up? By coming to me, it just proves He Guan is interested in this place. You're panicked. Lou Dongzang, he doesn't live for you. Let me teach you one last time, or else—"

Or else, you'll lose him eventually.

"I know that far better than you do," Lou Dongzang's face was grim, "Don't change the subject. This isn't He Guan's responsibility; it's yours. Don't push it onto him!"

"But I'm dying; there's nothing left to do," Lou Yingjie smiled faintly, "The time is near, you know that too, don’t you?"

A cold, disgusted look took over Lou Dongzang's face.

Just like the expression he had when he went blind and looked at Lou Yingjie.

This amused Lou Yingjie, who laughed so hard that the lounger swayed with him. "What use is your anger towards me? Once someone's dead, they can't come back. I can only do what I must. That's all the skill I have left."

He added, "You fear me only because you're the most like me. No, what you fear is yourself. If He Guan were like Xian Yue, you'd be even worse than me—"

Lou Dongzang turned and left.

With no audience left, the old man's words were abruptly left hanging in the air.

He held onto his

His panting quickly subsided.

Falling silent again, his breaths slowed, resembling a tranquil lizard.

The air moved languidly around the room, accompanied only by the gentle scraping sound of the white jade lion's head.

Click.

Click.

Click.