HSS CH51

Chapter 51: A Reluctant Hug

In the office, Lin Jianxing sat sternly in Huoyuchuan’s swivel chair, staring at the two people standing in front of him. He looked like a wronged boss whose company was going bankrupt, glaring at employees who had made a mistake. He glanced at Huoyuchuan, then at Lin Miao, and slammed his hand on the table, exclaiming, “Say that again?!”

Lin Miao shifted closer to Huoyuchuan and whispered, “I said, the one who’s in a relationship with Huoyuchuan is me.”

Lin Jianxing let out another sharp cry, “Ah! Stop right there!”

Lin Miao grumbled indignantly, “But you asked me to repeat it.”

Huoyuchuan grabbed Lin Miao’s hand and was about to speak, “Uncle, I…”

“You stop too!” Lin Jianxing said, looking heartbroken. “I should have seen it coming. Who else lives together and sleeps together like you two? You’ve been deceiving me for so long!”

“No,” Lin Miao defended, “Huoyuchuan and I… we only got together a few days ago.”

“A few days ago?” Lin Jianxing’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What was it before then? Just good buddies?!”

Lin Miao: “……Yes.”

“Like hell!” Lin Jianxing exclaimed. “You two were already so lovey-dovey even before you were together?!”

Huoyuchuan admitted, “I’ve liked him for a long time.”

Lin Jianxing slapped his thigh, realizing something, “You’ve been planning this all along, haven’t you? I knew it! There’s no such thing as a good old classmate who lends a million without hesitation, not fearing that we might default!”

He looked at Lin Miao with a mix of disappointment and anger, “You naive kid, thinking you’ve met some kind of good Samaritan! More like a wolf in sheep’s clothing!”

Lin Miao grumbled, “Huoyuchuan is nice. Don’t speak of him like that.”

Lin Jianxing became even more distressed, “How am I supposed to explain this to your mom?”

“My mom never said she disapproved,” Lin Miao said. “She likes Huoyuchuan too. Whenever he came over, she always cooked him lots of delicious food.”

Lin Jianxing retorted, “I helped cook too. Does that mean I like him?!”

Huoyuchuan: “……Thank you.”

Lin Jianxing almost wanted to take off his shoes and hit them.

Finally, after exhausting himself with scolding, Lin Jianxing weakly asked, “Where were you two planning to go just now?”

Lin Miao had a bad feeling and hesitated, “To eat… and watch a movie.”

Lin Jianxing declared, “I’m coming too.”

Lin Miao’s heart sank, “……You haven’t finished work yet, right?”

“Can’t I skip work?!” Lin Jianxing turned to Huoyuchuan, “Are you going to fire me?”

Huoyuchuan: “……I wouldn’t dare.”

So, the originally chosen heartwarming romantic film was switched to a gory thriller. Lin Jianxing sat between them like a mountain, holding a bucket of popcorn, looking as cold and ruthless as the murderer in the movie.

Lin Miao was startled by the movie and couldn’t help but want to hug the person next to him, but then he remembered it was his dad and quietly withdrew his hand. He sent a message to Huoyuchuan, “This is so scary……”

Huoyuchuan replied, “I’m scared too.”

Lin Miao sent him a sticker of two cats hugging, “Then I’ll reluctantly hug you.”

Huoyuchuan said, “Can’t hug.”

Lin Miao glanced at his dad and whispered back, “Then I’ll hug you when we get home.”

His dad seemed completely engrossed in the movie, staring at the screen without moving, but his hand holding the popcorn was trembling.

Lin Miao: “……” If you’re scared, don’t pretend to be tough.

Lin Miao thought his dad would go back to his own place after the movie, but unexpectedly, he climbed into the car and said he wanted to go home with them.

Lin Miao’s eyes widened as he looked at Huoyuchuan—no hugging at home either!

Huoyuchuan was helpless.

For the next few days, Lin Jianxing stayed at Huoyuchuan’s place, going to work with them in the morning and coming back together in the evening.

He even pulled Lin Miao aside late at night and earnestly advised him, “Do you remember Uncle Zhang? A few years ago, his son was also in a relationship with a boyfriend. That guy later got tired of him because he couldn’t have children and ran off to get married.”

Lin Miao: “I won’t get tired of Huoyuchuan.”

Lin Jianxing: “……”

Lin Jianxing was exasperated, “What if he gets tired of you?!”

Lin Miao immediately retorted, “He can’t have children either. Why should he get tired of me?”

Lin Jianxing was speechless and pounded his chest harder, as if he was about to faint at any moment.

Lin Miao quickly comforted him, saying, “It’s okay. Neither of them can have children. It’s fair.”

His dad pounded even harder.

Finally, he couldn’t hold on any longer and fell asleep. Lin Miao slipped out of the guest room and went upstairs to find Huoyuchuan, only to find someone on the balcony.

He walked over and saw it was Huoyuchuan.

“Huoyuchuan,” Lin Miao’s cold hand covered his neck, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Huoyuchuan let his hand slide inside his collar and said, “I can’t sleep without you.”

Lin Miao hummed, “You’re lying again.”

“I’m not lying,” Huoyuchuan looked at him and murmured, as if talking to himself, “It feels like a dream……”

Lin Miao didn’t catch that at first, “What?”

Huoyuchuan kissed him, biting and teasing Lin Miao’s lips and tongue, exploring every breath he took and swallowing it into himself.

He kissed more fiercely, and Lin Miao’s tongue went numb and ached from the kisses. He couldn’t help but push him a bit and complained incoherently, “Huoyuchuan, you’re hurting me……”

Huoyuchuan slightly released him, resting his forehead against Lin Miao’s and breathing heavily in a low voice.

After a while, he picked Lin Miao up face-to-face and walked upstairs, “It’s late. Let’s sleep.”

Lin Miao lay on him, feeling a bit dizzy, thinking it indeed felt like a dream.

The next morning, after class, Lin Miao was packing his bag when he suddenly heard Jiang Leming curse and exclaim, “Who posted this?”

Lin Miao asked curiously, “What’s going on?”

Jiang Leming showed him the phone, “Someone posted a photo of you and Brother Chuan on the school forum.”

He Yu and Zhou Zhuo were also shocked and quickly leaned over to look.

The photo was a bit blurry, probably taken from outside the car.

It was the day after they confessed their feelings. Before getting out of the car, Lin Miao had kissed Huoyuchuan on the forehead, a makeup morning kiss.

Huoyuchuan’s face was slightly lowered and not clearly visible, but Lin Miao was still recognizable.

As soon as the photo was posted, many people started to curse in the comments, “Disgusting.”

“Can’t you gays be more discreet?”

“What bad luck in the morning.”

“So handsome, no wonder you’re gay!”

“Really disgusting. Can’t you just go away?”

……

Before Lin Miao could say anything, Jiang Leming couldn’t stand it anymore, grabbed the phone, and cursed back.

“Jealous that they’re kissing their boyfriend?!”

“Upset because it’s early in the morning?”

“You know you’re ugly, no need to broadcast it everywhere.”

“Disgusting? Just say you’re pregnant already!”

Lin Miao: “……” Can I borrow your mouth for a second?