LHKE Ch52

Extra 2- The Romance of President Lu

At one o’clock, feeling famished, Shen Li finally got out of bed. For lunch, they naturally ordered takeout from “Wangjang Tower,” filling the table with a variety of delicious dishes that made Shen Li temporarily forget the earlier outrageous daytime activities between them.

After the meal, Lu Changting tidied up the table and garbage while Shen Li lay back in bed, feeling reluctant to move. Until now, Lu Changting hadn’t mentioned any plans for the day, and Shen Li hadn’t asked. He thought that having Lu Changting spend the day with him, instead of going to work, was already a great birthday gift and didn’t need any special outings or other celebrations.

However, when Shen Li saw Lu Changting bring in several gift boxes from somewhere, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Lu Changting smiled, placing the gift boxes on the bed in front of him. “Let’s open the presents, my Mr. Shen.”

The gift boxes varied in size and scattered across the bed, making Shen Li feel like he was buried in a pile of presents. Not knowing which one to open first, he reached for the nearest box and unwrapped it. Inside was a box of heart-shaped chocolates wrapped in silver foil, with a black sapphire watch enclosed—a watch with black alligator skin that seemed to hold the moon and stars, dazzling and radiant.

Shen Li looked up at him. “Did you make the chocolates yourself?”

“They didn’t turn out well,” Lu Changting replied, taking the watch out and placing it on Shen Li’s left wrist. “It’s just a token of my feelings.”

Shen Li wasn’t used to wearing watches but was still pleased. “This watch… it’s too precious.”

“It’s not something valuable,” Lu Changting said, holding his hand and admiring how well the watch suited him. “As long as you like it.”

Shen Li had said something similar before, but the chocolates he gave were indeed inexpensive. The watch Lu Changting gave, however, was far too valuable.

Sensing what he was thinking, Lu Changting raised an eyebrow. “I’ve given myself to you. What could be more valuable than me?”

Shen Li laughed at his teasing, holding his hand and giving him a kiss. “You’re the most valuable, a treasure beyond measure.”

Shen Li continued unwrapping the gifts. Inside various-sized boxes were a set of bespoke suits—ties, cufflinks, shirts, jackets, trousers, and leather shoes—as well as a ticket to a concert.

“My parents enjoy opera, and I like concerts. They rarely take me to concerts, so I mostly go alone. Even during the years abroad, I’ve always gone alone,” Lu Changting said. “Now, I’d like to invite you to a concert with me. Is that okay?”

Shen Li looked at him quietly, his eyes gentle. “You can invite me to many concerts.”

The concert started at 7 PM. On this cold winter evening, Shen Li snuggled against Lu Changting’s shoulder in the car, wrapped in his down jacket, playing on his phone. His face was slightly flushed from the car heater. When they arrived at the theater, he took off his coat, still carrying a slight blush and warm hands. Lu Changting held his hand, as if keeping a small stove, the warmth from their joined hands spreading to his heart.

At the entrance, Shen Li felt that the staff and other audience members were subtly observing him. However, since he and Lu Changting were used to being in the spotlight, he didn’t think much of it.

They were seated in the center of the first row, very close to the stage. After sitting down, Lu Changting said he needed to go to the bathroom. Shen Li put his phone on silent and waited quietly for him to return.

In the second-row aisle, two young women sat with masks covering their faces, only their eyes visible. One of them held a bouquet of brightly colored roses, seemingly prepared to present the flowers later.

After a while, the lights in the theater dimmed, but Lu Changting still hadn’t returned. Shen Li looked towards the aisle, noticing that some audience members were holding star-shaped glow sticks. He found it a bit odd but didn’t want to chat and ignored his curiosity, focusing his attention on the stage.

Without any announcement, the lights in the music hall went out abruptly. Shen Li, surprised, tried to find his phone, but the audience remained very calm, and no one made a sound. The entire hall was silent. Shen Li put his phone away, thinking that perhaps this was how concerts typically began, as it was his first time.

Footsteps sounded, walking up to the stage at a relaxed pace. A spotlight illuminated the position of the pianist on stage.

The man wore a well-tailored suit, and his exquisite black sapphire cufflinks reflected tiny glimmers of light. His handsome profile captivated Shen Li’s attention, making everything else fade away. His heart raced erratically as he watched the man on stage.

Shen Li touched the black gemstone on his suit jacket, and the first notes of music fell on his ears, slow and familiar, resonating throughout the hall.

Shen Li’s face softened into a gentle smile as he watched Lu Changting play the piano, his entire heart melting into spring water, joyfully directed towards someone named Lu Changting.

It was the “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Variations.”

Once, Lu Changting had performed this piece for the entire school.

Now, Lu Changting sat at the piano, with a full audience, and the music played just for him.

Shen Li’s eyes moistened. During the last variation, the lights on stage gradually brightened, and warm orange lights lit up in the audience. Stars held by the audience shone brightly. Shen Li looked back, dazzled.

The young girl in the aisle removed her mask, revealing a pretty face. As the music became gentle, she stood up, holding the roses and walking towards Shen Li.

“Happy birthday, Brother Shen.”

Shen Li was momentarily stunned before accepting the flowers from Lu Changting and walking up onto the stage.

He walked slowly, stepping through the lights, and reached Lu Changting.

As the last note played, Shen Li, holding the roses, kissed Lu Changting amidst the audience’s rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

“Happy birthday.” After a passionate kiss, Lu Changting rested his forehead against Shen Li’s, smiling softly. “The wish might be cliché, but I still want to say: May my Shen Li be safe and happy, and may the rest of your life be filled with sweetness and free of hardships.”

Sitting in the back row, Du Heng was too far from the stage to see Shen Li’s expression clearly, only noticing the two of them kissing. But he thought, Shen Li must be very happy. After twelve years of unrequited love, finally getting Lu Changting’s genuine affection was worth it. He glanced down at the stars in his hand and smiled silently. 

Jiang Chifeng leaned on Wei Wenxing’s shoulder, turned his eyes away in slight displeasure, and pouted, “Lu Changting is so cliché.” But there was a clear hint of a smile in his eyes as well.

…

@I’mJealous: The love of the rich really makes me sour. Our CEO gave us a raise so that we could be the audience for his boyfriend’s birthday concert. The CEO played the piano on stage, and we held star-shaped glow sticks below. I’m really too jealous.

[Image][Image][Image]

“Am I reading a made-up story on Weibo?”

“Isn’t this a concert?”

“The picture quality is too bad, downvoted!”

“Share some of that lemon with me, I’m sour too.”

“This is straight out of a drama.”

“I guess the blogger and I work for the same company. Risked it all to secretly take pictures. High-res pics from the front row, hehe [Image].”

“Wow, what a handsome face!”

“I need all the info on your CEO within three minutes!”

“I can’t help but smile like an auntie.”

“Someone push their heads together and make them get married!”

“Which CEO is this extravagant? Can I still switch jobs?”

“Blogger, does your company need more people? I’m not skilled but have big dreams.”

“I ship this couple! This is love!”

“Did they book the whole theater for love? With money, anything is possible.”

“Sister, I’m here. I was sitting right next to Mr. CEO. Don’t be too envious, my hand was shaking so much while secretly taking photos that I almost cried… [Image].”

“Why does it feel like this company has taken over Weibo?”

“Whispering, is this the CEO of the Lu Group? He looks a bit familiar… (Not long ago, our magazine interviewed him, and we heard that he and his boyfriend have a very good relationship. I’m so jealous).”

“The Lu Group has to be mentioned tonight.”

“Sister sitting next to the CEO, enough! Those of us in the back row are dying of jealousy. Everyone in the CEO’s office is sitting in the back row because they all know his boyfriend, but so do Lu’s friends, so I feel slightly better.”

“What is this, a drama? Is this ‘The Overbearing CEO Falls in Love with Me’? It’s too sweet.”

“That’s Gu Jiu’s boss, Mr. Shen! He’s really a gem in the industry, and so handsome too. I only regret being born a woman!”

“Perfect match! I’m moving the Civil Affairs Bureau over right now.”

“I heard Mr. Shen and CEO Lu are trending! I jumped out of bed just to get the wedding money ready!”

“I’ve been shipping this couple for so long! Why do you think I hang out at the bar every day? Just to see CEO Lu and Mr. Shen dating!”

“Sitting next to goddess Changyin, I’ll just smile and stay quiet. [Image]”

“Lu Group… Is it the one I’m thinking of?”

“Girl, hanging out at the bar every day sounds like you’re both rich and idle. I’m crying from jealousy.”

“Hahaha, I’m dying laughing. Changyin and Changge can sit in the second row and give flowers, but big brother Lu has to sit all the way in the back. Brother Lu’s sister complex is real.”

“Yes, it’s the Lu Group you’re thinking of.”

“Brother: I don’t deserve to be mentioned.”

“Is throwing such a big event for a birthday necessary? Do you have too much money?”

“Emm… This is too high-profile. And making employees be the audience, is that what raises are for? It’s unfair to those who didn’t go.”

“In ancient times, this would definitely be a foolish ruler.”

“Fujoshi are having their moment again.”

“Is it getting cold? Is the Lu Group about to go bankrupt?”

“When our CEO is working overtime every day, what were you haters doing?”

“It was voluntary, and the money for the raises didn’t come from the company’s budget. CEO Lu paid out of his own pocket, even renting the theater himself. CEO Lu spent his own money to celebrate his boyfriend’s birthday; how does that bother you?”

“Let the broke haters keep talking.”

“With the raise and a free concert, I made a killing by going.”

“Sorry, but our last quarter’s profits were up by six percent, and under our frugal CEO’s leadership, the group is thriving. We’re definitely not going bankrupt, but our next project might just be in your city.”

“Jealousy is making me sour.”

“CEO Lu is just too good.”

“Please, these two should get married right now. I’ve already prepared the wedding money!”

“CEO Lu has been wearing that ring for months, never takes it off. Every time there’s a meeting, it’s a critical hit. His boyfriend drops off a love-filled lunch every now and then, another critical hit. CEO Lu works overtime, and his boyfriend comes to pick him up, another critical hit. I’m being fed their dog food every day.”

“The sister above is definitely from the CEO’s office, hahahahahaha.”

“Stop it. If you keep going, Assistant Wan will cry.”

“Hahahahahaha you guys are devils. Why drag Assistant Wan into this?”

“It sounds like CEO Lu is the one being spoiled.”

“What kind of divine love is this!”

“A massive lemon-eating session.”

“CEO Lu: Soft meals are really delicious, my boyfriend is so handsome, you can’t compete.”

…

@DailyDiligence: It really is a divine love. I heard that the piece CEO Lu played was one he performed at a high school New Year’s Eve event, and he arranged for us to hold stars because his boyfriend once gave him a jar of stars. The roses were hand-folded by CEO Lu, and he even planted a whole garden of Corollas at the old house. Am I telling you too much? Come on, everyone, let’s all eat lemons together.