LHKE Ch29

A light squeeze on his lowered neck caused Shen Li to look up in surprise, meeting a pair of smiling eyes.

“What are you thinking about?” Lu Changting sat down beside him.

Shen Li lowered his head again, his expression calm, giving nothing away. In the bar, surrounded by the vibrant, intoxicating lights and sounds, he seemed to isolate himself from all the excitement. Quietly seated, no one knew the turbulent emotions within him, except for his tightly clenched fingers that betrayed his inner anxiety and fear.

Lu Changting slightly furrowed his brow, grasping Shen Li’s wrist and rescuing the glass that was being held in a vice-like grip.

Shen Li’s appearance made Lu Changting wonder if he bore some deep-seated grudge against the glass, as if he might shatter it with his bare hands at any moment.

“Are you in a bad mood?”

Lu Changting applied a bit of pressure as he held his wrist, but not enough to cause pain. Shen Li slowly blinked, unsure if he felt more sorrow or resignation at the inevitability of this moment.

Part of him hoped Lu Changting would hurt him, believing that more physical pain might ease the ache in his heart.

“Lu Changting,” Shen Li’s voice was hoarse and low, “let’s go to the amusement park tomorrow.”

The topic was somewhat unexpected.

Lu Changting was momentarily taken aback, “Tomorrow?”

Thinking about the pile of work waiting for him at the company, Lu Changting hesitated, realizing he probably wouldn’t be able to make time.

“I was just saying,” Shen Li’s brief hesitation was enough to exhaust his limited courage. He forced a casual smile, “I know you’re busy, never mind.”

A sudden panic gripped Lu Changting, and he pushed aside his rational thoughts like a foolish king. He replied seriously, “Alright, let’s go tomorrow.”

Shen Li should have been happy, but he couldn’t muster a smile. He placed an invitation in front of Lu Changting, his long, dark lashes concealing his complicated emotions, “An invitation.”

“I really was just saying,” he spoke slowly, “don’t take it to heart.”

“How could I not?” Lu Changting was both amused and frustrated by Shen Li’s inexplicable attitude. Without even glancing at the festive red invitation, he firmly grasped Shen Li’s wrist and pulled him toward an upstairs private room, “I think we need to have a good talk.”

“Happy Reunion,” the room where they first met.

Lu Changting remembered the name of the suite clearly. He opened the door, closed it behind them, and the world fell silent. In the darkness, they stood face to face, so close they could hear each other’s breathing.

As Lu Changting stepped forward, Shen Li retreated until his back pressed against the cold wall, with nowhere left to go.

He couldn’t see Shen Li’s expression, but his own emotions calmed slightly. In the solitude of the private room, they had plenty of time to resolve their issues.

“Do you know about me and Tang Yao?” Lu Changting’s voice was low.

Shen Li closed his eyes, his tone bitter, “Who in our grade didn’t know about you two?”

Back then, Lu Changting and Tang Yao were the epitome of the perfect couple, a match made in heaven. Of course, he knew…

Knew how well they suited each other, knew how unworthy his own feelings were.

“It’s been many years, Shen Li,” Lu Changting sighed almost inaudibly, having pinpointed the problem, “You can’t deny my feelings for you now because of my past.”

Shen Li’s mind was muddled. It took a moment for him to register what Lu Changting had said.

He opened his eyes, wanting to see Lu Changting’s emotions and expression.

The room was almost completely dark. As he reached for the light switch on the wall, Lu Changting seized his wrist, this time with even more force, pulling his hand up and over his head, pinning him against the wall.

A secret thrill ran up Shen Li’s spine. His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously, “What did you say…”

“I like you,” Lu Changting said. “I want to kiss you, can I?”

The statement came even more unexpectedly.

Shen Li’s hands began to tremble uncontrollably. He didn’t know what to say.

Should he say he liked him too?

Or should he just say yes?

His mind was in chaos, leaving only one clear thought: you close your eyes when you kiss. So, he closed his eyes, moving forward as if in surrender, and kissed Lu Changting’s lips.

He was met with an even more fervent and intense kiss.

It was as if Lu Changting wanted to meld him into his own body, kissing him with an urgency and fervor that entwined their breaths and heartbeats.

Shen Li didn’t know how to describe the kiss. He felt as if he had downed multiple deep-water bombs, his mind spinning and thoroughly intoxicated.

As Lu Changting let go of his hand, Shen Li instinctively embraced him. His legs felt weak, with his lover’s hot embrace in front of him and the cold wall behind, he threw himself into Lu Changting’s arms like a moth flying into a blazing fire, passionately kissing the flame.

They had never been this close before, close enough for Shen Li to truly feel Lu Changting’s desire for him. Through the thin fabric of their clothing, he felt the heat pressing against his thigh. Being a man himself, he knew exactly what it was, and he reacted as well, unable to hold back his laughter before feeling embarrassed.

He buried his face in Lu Changting’s shoulder, finding it all a bit unbelievable.

Lu Changting… likes him?

But hadn’t Lu Changting liked women before?

His mind was torn between these thoughts, and he desperately wanted more proof of this reality, so he reached down, only to have his wrist caught once again.

This time, Lu Changting gripped tightly, the pain in his wrist bringing a strange satisfaction to Shen Li.

“How can you be so bold?” Lu Changting’s low, husky voice sounded by his ear. “You want more without even giving me an answer?”

Shen Li chuckled, his chest heaving. “What answer?”

“Be with me.” Lu Changting tightened his embrace, leaving no room for rejection. “Just give me a one-word answer.”

Shen Li felt a bit scared. He had never imagined that Lu Changting would take the initiative towards him, but here he was, reaching out and asking him to be together.

Meeting Lu Changting’s eyes, his voice trembled slightly, “Are you… are you serious?”

Each word was asked with utmost sincerity.

“I don’t joke about my feelings,” Lu Changting looked at him seriously, his eyes gentle. “I know you might care about my past with Tang Yao, think I’m straight, and fear that I’m just acting on impulse.”

“I am serious,” he said. “I never thought I’d fall for a man, but then I met you. I’ve thought about it for a long time, and I still want you.”

Lu Changting’s voice lowered, with a hint of vulnerability, “This path is really difficult. Can you walk it with me?”

“Okay.” Shen Li closed his eyes, speaking slowly and deliberately, “I’ll be with you.”

Whether it’s a fleeting impulse or a deeply considered decision… I’ll stay by your side.

The room fell silent. Lu Changting’s heart softened, filled with joy and satisfaction.

After a moment of quiet, Shen Li asked softly, “So, do we continue?”

Lu Changting closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple tightening. He felt both amused and exasperated, “I won’t do anything to you. Let me just hold you.”

With the lights on, Lu Changting noticed Shen Li’s ears were red, and his lips were flushed, reminding him of the cherries Shen Li had bought the other day, ripe and slightly tart.

He brushed his finger against Shen Li’s lips, then pinched his cheek. Now that he was Shen Li’s boyfriend, he couldn’t help but touch him, “Why did you suddenly want to go to the amusement park?”

“I just… saw you talking to Tang Yao, and I got a little jealous.” Shen Li was still unsure if Lu Changting knew about his secret feelings, and he didn’t dare to say it was Jiang Chifeng’s idea, which would reveal more of his hidden thoughts.

He loved Lu Changting, had loved him for many years, desiring everything about him, from his body to his heart. He couldn’t confess this, so he said, “I don’t know what I was thinking, my mind was a mess. It was out of spite that I wanted to invite you to the amusement park.”

“Then let’s go.” Lu Changting kissed his lips, “We’ll go tomorrow.”

“Let’s go another time.” Shen Li’s face suddenly turned red, his eyes drifting away, “We have plenty of time, you should focus on work first.”

Lu Changting kissed his nose, “Once I’m done with this project, I’ll go anywhere you want.”

Having held back for so long, finally breaking the ice and establishing their relationship, Lu Changting felt he couldn’t be close enough to Shen Li. He wished he could make Shen Li as small as a thumb and carry him in his pocket.

Shen Li suddenly remembered a popular corny line from social media—I want to be in your heart.

But such words were hard to say aloud, so he just curved his lips into a smile and softly said, “Okay.”

“Don’t get jealous so easily from now on,” Lu Changting paused before adding, “I’ll also keep my distance from others, so you don’t have to be jealous.”

At this moment, Lu Changting was immensely grateful for his self-discipline over the years. Despite his complicated yet simple relationships, aside from business acquaintances, he had a few close childhood friends, a couple of blind dates, and just one ex-girlfriend, Tang Yao.

Shen Li had probably been jealous of Xiang Wan too, he could still remember the taste of that Last Kiss vividly. And the old flame with Tang Yao was extinguished, so there should be no more chances for jealousy.

Shen Li nodded obediently.

Lu Changting raised his eyebrows slightly, “You also need to keep your distance from others. Now that you have a boyfriend, be good and behave.”

“I won’t make you jealous,” Shen Li looked at him earnestly, “I don’t have an ex-girlfriend, ex-boyfriend, or any blind dates…”

“But you have admirers,” Lu Changting reminded him, “Like Leyi, he hugged you last time.”

“And Jiang Chifeng,” Lu Changting started listing, “Both of you have boyfriends now, so you should keep your distance.”

While mentioning Leyi might be reasonable, his case against Jiang Chifeng was less justified.

However, Shen Li didn’t argue with Lu Changting about his friendship with Jiang Chifeng. Instead, he held Lu Changting’s face and kissed him, “It won’t happen again.”

Lu Changting felt a slight warmth on his face. He knew his words were somewhat unreasonable, but Shen Li was so obedient, always going along with his wishes, making him feel like he could easily take advantage of his affections.

Seeing his flushed face, Shen Li seemed to have found something interesting and moved closer. Despite being together, the proximity still made them both nervous, their breaths and heartbeats erratic.

“When did you start liking me?” Shen Li licked his lips, hesitating but then firmly asking the question.

“I don’t know.” Lu Changting’s heart was beating fast. He had asked himself countless times when he fell for Shen Li, but every memory with Shen Li was vivid. Just recalling them made his heart race, “Maybe it was the honey grapefruit tea you gave me when I was drunk; or the porridge you made the next morning when you sent me home; or the chocolate on my birthday, or that night’s ‘Depth Charge’ drink; your care for Changyin and Changsong, and the special treatment you gave me…”

“I only realized when I saw everyone as a rival in love, that I was done for.” His Adam’s apple moved as he quietly confessed, “My feelings for you are far more than just liking.”