The car cruised smoothly along the road.
Hu Xiaoyu turned to admire the city streets outside, then lowered his gaze to the head resting on his lap—Yu Tan's head. He was utterly content.
"So good to look at?" Yu Tan raised a brow. He was in a good mood, his deep, lazy voice pleasing to the ear.
"Everything's good to look at," Hu Xiaoyu nodded, his fox-like eyes full of sincerity.
Yu Tan chuckled and reached up to pinch Hu Xiaoyu's slightly chubby cheeks before closing his eyes again.
The car was quite spacious. There was a separate driver at the wheel.
Ajiu sat alone in the front seat, listening to the two in the back. Their conversation was casual and silly, but the atmosphere was relaxed and intimate. His normally expressionless face carried a rare gentle smile.
He even found himself wishing—if only things could stay like this forever.
After about half an hour, the car turned off onto a tree-lined lane and came to a stop outside a quiet, secluded restaurant.
Hu Xiaoyu loved places with fewer people and more trees. After getting out, he stretched a little, then noticed a small sparrow perched on a branch. He immediately wanted to go over and have a chat with it.
Maybe ask if this not-so-much-like-a-restaurant place had anything particularly tasty.
He was fine as long as there was fish, but inviting someone else out to eat was a different story.
Instead of asking the waiters—no, nowadays they were called "servers"—he figured it'd be more reliable to ask the locals.
But his plan to sneakily communicate with the sparrow was cut short.
Just as he sent out a sliver of spiritual energy, someone pinched the back of his neck. His instinct was to curl up and shield his tail.
Oh, right. He was in human form now.
No tail to hug.
Still, the way his limbs instantly went limp when someone grabbed the back of his neck—he couldn't help it, his eyes filled with watery light.
He turned his misty eyes on the culprit.
Yu Tan caught the shimmer in those damp eyes, and a flicker of amazement crossed his own.
Had he gone too hard?
He suddenly felt a twinge of doubt and, surprisingly, the urge to rub it better for him.
Hu Xiaoyu shielded the back of his neck with his palm and quickly backed away, voice soft and grumbly, "Don't touch me!"
Yu Tan narrowed his eyes, face turning dark. "Come here."
Hu Xiaoyu looked like a startled little animal as he bounced away, which was cute, sure—but that didn't mean he could disobey.
Especially not here.
Even Ajiu, who was following behind, flinched at the tone of Yu Tan's voice.
But it didn't seem to bother Hu Xiaoyu at all.
He noticed Yu Tan was upset again. Why though?
Thinking back—he'd been unusually clingy all morning, sniffing him like a puppy...
Ah, he got it!
When Yu Tan had picked him up back then, he'd always stuck close, scared of being abandoned.
Hu Xiaoyu trotted over and sneakily took Yu Tan's hand—just in case he tried to pinch his neck again.
Then he patiently coaxed, "I'm not leaving. Don't be scared."
Yu Tan: "..."
Ajiu's mouth twitched. He turned away, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
What made Hu Xiaoyu think their boss was some baby who needed comforting like this?
Hu Xiaoyu held Yu Tan's hand, thinking how cold it was.
No wonder his face was always so pale. Any paler, and he'd look like the original host hanging from the ceiling...
Yu Tan frowned at the warmth of Hu Xiaoyu's fingertips. He yanked his hand away sharply.
He wanted to scold Hu Xiaoyu for getting too close and even daring to touch him—but then remembered he'd just had his head on the kid's lap five minutes ago. The words died on his lips.
Hu Xiaoyu met his dark, cold eyes head-on and blinked innocently. "It's okay. I don't mind the cold."
Yu Tan felt something lodge in his chest. "Self-important little fool."
Still, even as he said it, he reached out and wrapped an arm around Hu Xiaoyu's shoulders, pulling him in close like an embrace. "No more nonsense. Do what I say. Got it?"
Hu Xiaoyu humored him, "Okay."
Then, after a pause, he asked with a hint of negotiation, "Yu Tan, can you let go of me now?"
"What?"
"This... isn't good."
Hu Xiaoyu had sharp eyesight. He'd already noticed several people inside the restaurant glancing their way.
Feeling anxious, he pulled Yu Tan's arm off his shoulders and returned to just holding hands. "This is better."
It just didn't feel right being that close in public.
It was like walking around naked at home versus being out in public—you needed to be properly dressed.
If Hu Xiaoyu hadn't still been holding his hand, Yu Tan might've thought he'd discovered something and was now rejecting him because of it.
But with a slight shift in thought, he understood what was really going on and didn't argue. He simply took Hu Xiaoyu's hand and walked forward.
Ajiu followed behind, his expression subtly complicated as he looked at their joined hands.
Last night, the boss had wiped his hand after touching Hu Xiaoyu's face. And now?
He used to worry that Hu Xiaoyu would get scared off by Yu Tan. But now it seemed like the opposite might be true.
Yu Tan might be the one who needed protecting.
When the restaurant manager saw Yu Tan, he immediately came out to greet them.
Yu Tan seemed in the mood for small talk. He took a seat on one of the lounge chairs in the lobby and casually listened to the manager go over the menu, throwing in a few idle questions.
The manager had no idea what this terrifying man wanted, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
Fortunately, the cheerful young man beside him was curious and chatty, lightening the mood quite a bit.
Still, when the manager spoke to the youth, he avoided looking directly at him.
One wrong glance and he might get distracted—and Yu Tan's temper was no joke...
As Yu Tan sat there, bored out of his mind, Hu Xiaoyu asked questions with growing excitement, and the manager—sweating profusely—answered with increasing calm.
They were still going back and forth when suddenly, Yu Tan said, "Well, well... look who's here."
Hu Xiaoyu found his tone odd.
There was a strange excitement, a touch of disdain, and something... vaguely malicious?
He followed Yu Tan's gaze and saw a group of familiar people being led in by a server.
Leading the pack was a tall, graceful young man, strikingly handsome, with an easy, charming air.
He seemed to sense Hu Xiaoyu's gaze—or maybe he'd noticed Yu Tan beside him—because his previously smiling eyes slowly cooled.
At first glance, Hu Xiaoyu recognized the man.
Liu Luanzhou.
He had never met Liu Luanzhou before, but in the original host's memories, this person loomed large.
It was Liu Luanzhou who had discovered the original Hu Xiaoyu and sent him back to the Hu family.
Later, the original had fallen for him, hopelessly. Unable to adapt to life in a rich household and heartbroken, he spiraled into depression.
That day in the mountain villa—Hu Xiaoyu had stumbled upon the original host there because he'd gone to find Liu Luanzhou.
Li Yu had told him that Liu Luanzhou would be there, giving him a chance to confess.
The original had gone with his last shred of hope, but when he didn't find Liu Luanzhou—and after having a huge fight with his parents—he ended his own life.
Hu Xiaoyu had too many memories of Liu Luanzhou. For a moment, he spaced out, staring blankly.
Until Yu Tan's eerie voice whispered in his ear, "Is he good-looking?"
Hu Xiaoyu nodded seriously. "Yes, very."