“So, this is the person Brother Tangyun sent, right? Seeing you in person, you seem not only impressive but also trustworthy. Well then, I’ll leave Xinlu in your care. As you may already know, he’s a very precious child.”

The man smiled brightly and extended his hand for a handshake. Yuri remained silent, looking at him for a moment before giving a curt response: “I’ll take note.” He then shook hands perfunctorily for just a few seconds. At first glance, Yuri happened to notice a faint expression of disdain flash across Ling Xinlu’s lips as the boy slightly turned his head away. That subtle trace of contempt appeared briefly on those lips before vanishing almost instantly.

However……. oh no. It was happening again.

The moment Yuri caught sight of Ling Xinlu’s smile, Ling Xinlu’s gaze immediately fell on him. Realizing that Yuri had seen the cold disdain on his face, Ling Xinlu’s expression quickly twisted into an unrestrained frown.

In a fleeting moment so brief it was almost impossible to notice, the hidden emotion surfaced—not that he was trying hard to conceal it. Yet, for some reason, this man always seemed to catch it. He pressed Yuri further with a harsh glare.

‘I wasn’t looking because I wanted to.’ – Yuri responded with a confused look, quickly averting his gaze.

“……Well, I wanted to chat a little longer, but I’ve got something to take care of, so I guess this is goodbye for now. Hopefully, Ling Xinlu will recover soon. Yuri, I’ll get in touch later, alright?”

After a brief farewell and a bow to Ling Xinlu’s cousin, James grabbed the receipt and left. The cousin glanced around for a moment and flashed a bright smile before turning to follow James out.

In the quiet café, where the gentle sound of piano music lingered faintly, only the two of them remained, surrounded by a profound silence.

Yuri kept his gaze fixed in the direction the other two had left for quite some time before finally turning back to look at Ling Xinlu. Ling Xinlu, on the other hand, had been watching Yuri with a displeased expression the entire time, as if trying to extract every detail from him. Now, Yuri blinked softly and tilted his head.

“Since you’ve come all the way down here, why not stay a little longer? The piano music is really soothing, and the coffee is quite good… Though I haven’t tried the macarons yet, judging by James’ taste, I’d say they’re definitely worth it.”

“……”

“……?”

For some reason, Ling Xinlu continued staring at Yuri’s face without saying a word. This prompted Yuri to slowly raise his hand, touching and feeling around his face, as if trying to figure out if something was there. Did he have something on his face? James hadn’t mentioned anything about it.

“I was wondering where the so-called good impression comes from.”

Ling Xinlu suddenly spoke. “Good? What good?” – He muttered before turning away, seemingly uninterested in the coffee, the piano, or the macarons. Immediately, Yuri hurried after Ling Xinlu, who was heading toward the elevator.

“To be honest, that guy has never been good at judging people. Always standing in the wrong place and calling others trustworthy.”

Though these low mutterings sounded like Ling Xinlu was talking to himself, not intending for anyone else to hear, the fact that it was just the two of them in the elevator – rising steadily toward the suite floor – meant every word Ling Xinlu said echoed clearly.

The sarcasm Xinlu aimed at both him and his cousin made Yuri feel intensely uncomfortable, as if someone were poking the back of his neck with a sharp object. He momentarily tilted his face upward to stare at the ceiling.

‘……No, that’s not it. While it’s true I talked about you when you weren’t there, I didn’t mean to speak ill of you.’

‘……Even if words like ‘cruel’ might have come up, my point was that even those things make you more intriguing. Surely someone as sharp as you, so adept at reading emotions and subtext, didn’t miss my meaning at that moment?’

‘..…I genuinely didn’t intend to say anything bad about you.’

Amid the stream of thoughts swirling in his mind, Yuri found himself torn—should he apologize for what he had said or simply let it go? However, the cold glare Ling Xinlu shot in his direction abruptly interrupted his internal debate. The young man, skilled at reading others’ expressions, smirked faintly and muttered under his breath.

“If you had actually badmouthed me, I might have found it more amusing. Do you know that dull flattery is even more shameful than outright criticism? And to think you dared to humiliate me in front of that ‘pig’?”

The ‘pig’ he referred to was likely the slightly overweight relative who had just left. ‘But humiliate? I had no such intention at all!!!’ – Yuri, rarely at a loss for composure, now stood there bewildered, unsure of how to explain himself. But just then, the elevator stopped at their desired floor. Xinlu glanced at Yuri’s perplexed face. Perhaps familiar with his expressions, he allowed the corners of his lips to lift slightly, as though his mood had lightened just a bit. Without another word, he stepped out of the elevator.

“…………”

Yuri watched Xinlu’s back as he nodded slightly to the bodyguard opening the door for them before heading straight inside. All Yuri could do was sigh. Even though he had grown to appreciate Xinlu, quirks and all, it was undeniable that this young man was, in many ways, quite petty.

“I already told you to stand on the left. Just seeing you is irritating, so stay out of my sight.”

Ling Xinlu stood on the balcony, gazing down at the hotel grounds while unbuttoning his shirt, lost in thought. Then, suddenly, he turned his head to glance at Yuri, who was standing slightly off to the side. With a frown of annoyance, he spoke in a tone that sounded more like a command.

Yuri nodded slightly and immediately took a few steps to the opposite side. His habit of standing closer to the entrance rather than near the person he was assigned to protect sometimes led to slip-ups like this. While Ling Xinlu could still hear and sense Yuri’s presence, having him clearly within view seemed to irritate him. Feeling awkward, Yuri scratched his head.

Though he had experienced being disliked by others before, being loathed by someone he liked was an entirely different matter—it carried a particular sting that left him feeling deeply dejected.

Ling Xinlu stood silently, his gaze fixed downward. Yuri stood behind him and quietly followed his gaze, his eyes lingering on the empty stretch of grass below with a touch of regret. Then, as if to break the heavy atmosphere, Yuri decided to strike up a conversation.

“Your cousin…… he looks quite a lot like Ling Tangyun.”

Although he seemed bulkier than Ling Tangyun, the similarities in the shape of his nose and the curve of his lips made it clear that they were related. In fact, that cousin looked more like Ling Tangyun’s biological younger brother than the handsome young man standing in front of Yuri at this moment.

Ling Xinlu smirked. 

“If my eldest brother heard that, he wouldn’t like it. He hates that guy. Actually, there aren’t many people my brother likes.”

In a tone dripping with sarcasm, he added: “Even his wife only married him for his money.”

“Well, that’s not surprising. His attitude toward others flips between being servile and being arrogant. I’m not particularly fond of my eldest brother either, but at least he’s less unbearable than that guy. At the very least, my brother doesn’t make people feel disgusted.”

Yuri remained silent, saying nothing more.

Suddenly, he felt a heaviness in his chest. It wasn’t because he remembered the sight of Ling Xinlu flashing bright smiles at that repulsive cousin. No, it was because he understood Ling Xinlu’s personality all too well, and there was nothing new about it.

What lingered in his mind now was the vague and hesitant attitude Ling Tangyun sometimes unintentionally revealed when speaking about Ling Xinlu. It wasn’t hatred or resentment, but it wasn’t affection or concern for a younger brother either. Yuri couldn’t sense even the faintest trace of familial love in Ling Tangyun’s eyes.

Family relationships in this world come in endless forms. Some families are worse than strangers. While theirs wasn’t exactly like that…… how should he put it?

The word ‘pitiful’ floated through Yuri’s mind. But after a moment of reflection, he shook his head slightly. No, that wasn’t it. The correct word was ‘regret.’

If he were in that position, he might have embraced and comforted such an endearing younger brother with all the love and care he could give. Yet the person who actually held the title of Ling Xinlu’s brother didn’t do any of that. Truly, the role of ‘older brother’ felt utterly wasted on him.

Yuri’s silence stretched on, becoming increasingly heavy and awkward.

Xinlu tilted his head slightly, as if probing for an answer, before fully turning around. His eyes were fixed intently on Yuri, studying every detail of his expression.

“You’re thinking about something strange again, aren’t you? Something that’ll probably annoy me if I hear it.”

Yuri froze for a brief moment, though he tried not to show it. But someone with sharp, penetrating eyes like Ling Xinlu wasn’t so easily fooled. His gaze narrowed, filled with scrutiny.

Should it be said that this man was particularly skilled at reading others’ expressions, or was it simply that Yuri was too easy to read? Yet, in all honesty, Yuri had never heard anyone say his emotions were that transparent, so it was probably just Ling Xinlu’s talent.

Yuri remained silent for a moment, locking eyes with Xinlu’s scrutinizing gaze, before suddenly speaking up.

“You’re debating whether or not to ask, aren’t you?”

The unexpected counter-question made Xinlu furrow his brows. He glared at Yuri as if to say, ‘How peculiar,’ then tilted his head arrogantly, signaling as if to say, ‘Fine, go ahead. Let’s see what you’ve got on your mind.’

“It’s nothing significant. I just… I was wondering what it would be like if I were your brother…” – Yuri started, but hesitated halfway, shaking his head.

Yuri guessed that if he said it out loud, Xinlu might burst out laughing mockingly, or worse, get angry and snap, “What right do you have?” So sometimes, keeping things unsaid was the better choice.

However, Yuri cutting himself off midway didn’t sit well with Xinlu. He frowned, his gaze sharp as a knife.

“What is it? I’m guessing it’s nothing worth hearing, but just say it.”

It seemed that Xinlu would rather hear something unpleasant than let his imagination wander through unresolved thoughts.

Yuri rubbed his temple lightly, trying to appear calm, and replied: “It’s nothing important. If I’m your br— …Never mind.”

Yuri hesitated, then ultimately shook his head. He figured that if he said it, Xinlu might laugh mockingly, or worse, get angry and retort: ‘You dare think that?’. Sometimes, keeping others in the dark was the better choice.

However, leaving the sentence hanging didn’t sit well with the listener. The moment Yuri trailed off, Xinlu frowned, his gaze turning as sharp as a blade.

“What is it? I’m already guessing it’s nothing pleasant, but go ahead and say it.”

Even though he suspected that whatever Yuri was about to say might irritate him, the idea of letting his imagination run wild with unpleasant scenarios irritated Xinlu even more. As a result, Yuri decisively pushed for clarity, unwilling to let things linger unresolved.

Yuri maintained a slightly awkward expression, rubbing his temple briefly before speaking in his usual indifferent tone: “It’s nothing important…”

“I was just wondering what it would be like if I were your brother…… Just a passing thought, that’s all.”

The moment Yuri finished, the expression on Xinlu’s face vanished entirely, leaving no trace. His round eyes widened slightly with a hint of surprise, as if everything he had assumed moments earlier had been proven wrong, and Yuri’s words were entirely unexpected.

‘If only that were true. Even now, I could gently pat his head, and he’d blink at me so adorably like that.’ – Yuri unconsciously clenched his trembling fingers tightly, his gaze lingering on Xinlu in silence. His thoughtful eyes rested on him intently, as if lost in deep contemplation.

*Blink, blink* – Xinlu blinked a few times, frozen for a moment as if processing the meaning behind Yuri’s words. After a while, he relaxed his shoulders. “Ha…” – A soft sigh escaped him, tinged with exasperation, as though he had just heard something utterly ridiculous.

“There are so many fairy tales that warn against overreaching ambition—it’s almost a universal theme. Just thinking about it, I can’t count them all on two hands. I’m guessing you didn’t read many fairy tales as a kid, did you?”

Yuri responded with a faint smile: “I preferred stories about courage and hope.”

‘Should I deal with him right here and now?’ – For some reason, that thought seemed to shine plainly on Xinlu’s innocent face, making Yuri chuckle. Not out of fear or unease, but because it was so absurd that he couldn’t help but soften his expression. Truly, if he were Xinlu’s brother, how wonderful that would be.

Xinlu snorted, clearly unable to believe Yuri’s words due to their sheer absurdity. “Hmph.” – He let out another dismissive sound before waving his hand.

“Fine, I’ll make sure to pass this on to my eldest brother. I’ll let him know you’re eyeing his spot, so he should be careful.”

The smile on Xinlu’s lips was clearly a mocking one, yet it was so stunning that Yuri couldn’t help but fix his gaze on those lips. However, the moment Xinlu noticed Yuri’s eyes, that smile vanished instantly.

“I told you before, your gaze makes me sick. So stop looking.” – Xinlu said, his words cold and cutting like a blade.

Startled by the sharp remark, Yuri quickly averted his eyes. He murmured a soft “Sorry”, and turned his attention to the grass outside the window instead.

The sun was beginning to set. Back when he was in Seringe, if he didn’t have anything particular to do, Yuri often went to the beach at sunset. Gazing at the sky from the water, the deep blue hues blending with fiery reds were always so breathtakingly beautiful they could almost steal one’s soul.

‘…..If only I could dive into it. It didn’t have to be the sea, anywhere would do, as long as I could submerge myself and feel the soft caress of water against the skin…..’

Though he wasn’t entirely aware of it, Yuri’s mood seemed a little melancholic. Whenever his spirits sank, he found himself longing for water more than anything else. Perhaps that was why he barely registered what Xinlu had just said.

“Yuri.” – Xinlu suddenly called his name.

It was only after a few blinks of time passed that Yuri snapped out of his thoughts, turning to Xinlu with a puzzled expression. Huh, just now…..

The name felt both familiar and distant. It wasn’t anything extraordinary, but it made Yuri’s heart skip a beat.

“What?”

Still uncertain whether he had heard correctly, Yuri responded anyway. Xinlu was standing by the window, and looking outside. He didn’t turn to Yuri, seemingly lost in thought for a long moment, before finally glancing sideways at him.

“Now that I think about it, my eldest brother calls you that too when he talks about you. Yuri.”

“……”

“It seems like people close to you often call you that, don’t they? Just now, even Mr. Miller did.”

Yuri looked at Xinlu for a moment before quickly replying: “Ah, yes.”

“It’s not exactly a way to distinguish closeness, but for the most part, it seems to work that way.”

Yuri hadn’t been consciously aware of it before, but now that he thought about it, it was true. People who had known him for a long time and were close to him often called him that. But wasn’t that normal for most people?

Xinlu crossed his arms and stared intently at Yuri. For some reason, his gaze carried a vague sense of irritation that Yuri couldn’t quite decipher.

“Is that so… Since when have you known my eldest brother, Mr. Gable?”

Yuri quickly caught the implication behind the question. The deliberate emphasis on “Mr. Gable” was clearly meant to say: ‘There’s a significant distance between us, so kindly remember that.’

Even if Xinlu hadn’t stressed it, Yuri wasn’t oblivious or thick-skinned enough to miss the point.

He sighed softly and rubbed his temple.

“Since before you turned 10. Back then, I had just started working at T&R. That was more than 10 years ago now.”

“More than 10 years ago.” – Xinlu repeated, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking smile.

“There are plenty of people who’ve been by my brother’s side for decades and still haven’t earned his trust the way you have, Mr. Gable. Quite impressive, really. Your relationship must be excellent.”

“Not bad. Sometimes, when visiting Europe, even Fei stays at my house.”

‘Yes, at the very least, that means I’m trusted enough to be entrusted with his son. So, I suppose I’ve earned some level of trust.’ – Yuri thought to himself. He nodded, mentally reminding himself of Ling Tangyun’s faith in him.

But it seemed that another word had caught Xinlu’s attention instead.

“Huh, Fei? That annoying guy?!”

“……Annoying? Fei’s still older than you, you know.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a few years older or a few decades older, he’ll always be in the senior generation, while I’m in the junior one. Honestly though, that guy really is annoying. Ever since we were kids, he’s always acted like he couldn’t stand losing to me. Pretending to be obedient while clearly making it look like he’s not trying to compete.”

“Ugh, so annoying.” – Xinlu muttered, shaking his head as though he couldn’t bear the thought. Yuri simply watched silently.

Perceptions of a person could vary depending on who was looking, but Yuri had never thought of Ling Tangyun’s eldest son, whom he occasionally encountered since childhood, as someone so unpleasant. While Fei was undoubtedly competitive, he also possessed leadership skills and a kind heart.

Perhaps, through the eyes of a peer, things appeared differently. Yuri accepted this notion as he listened to Xinlu continue muttering in a voice tinged with dark dissatisfaction:

“Fei and Xiaoqun, those cousins of mine, are exactly the same. Both of them are unbearable. Though, honestly, they might still be better than my second brother’s kids. That bunch… well…”

Yuri observed him attentively without interrupting. Perhaps sensing something in Yuri’s gaze, Xinlu let out a sharp sigh and concluded on his own.

“Honestly, I don’t like any of my relatives. They’re all greedy and obsessed with appearances.”

“……But it seems like they care about you.” – Yuri remarked softly.

Xinlu’s furrowed eyes shot straight at Yuri, who quickly averted his gaze, turning his head away to look at the scenery below.

“If you listen closely to what they say, you’ll understand how they truly feel about you. How much they care, trust, and love you.” – Yuri added, his voice calm yet pointed.

At least, from Yuri’s perspective, Fei didn’t dislike this youngest cousin at all. Perhaps because they were close in age, there was a sense of competition between them, but Fei’s occasional remarks about Xinlu often went something like: “He got into UNHRDO, and I heard he even topped his class. Isn’t that amazing?” or “Xiaoqun got scolded by Dad until she cried for sneaking around Uncle Xinlu’s villa. She kept calling him her ‘pretty uncle’…” None of these words carried even a hint of malice.

Perhaps Ling Tangyun and even the ‘second brother’s kids’ were the same. They might feel awkward interacting with Xinlu, but they didn’t truly dislike him. At least, Yuri believed so.

He continued his quiet contemplation, letting his gaze wander to the scenery below. ‘If I were in the water, maybe I wouldn’t have to think about all these complicated things.’ – He thought to himself.

“Plenty of people like me. Finding someone who hates me is faster, though.”

Xinlu’s sudden remark broke the silence. Yuri instinctively turned to look at him and noticed the bitter smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“But have you ever thought, that depending on how it’s expressed, that so-called ‘liking’ can be extremely unpleasant?”

“Expressed… how, exactly?”

“Not all forms of liking are the same. The same goes for care. It might not be ‘care and nurture,’ but instead, ‘curiosity to pry into someone’s private life.’”

Yuri suddenly clamped his mouth shut.

Xinlu seemed to recall a memory from the past – or perhaps a string of memories spanning his entire life – that irritated him so much he clicked his tongue in frustration. A sudden surge of anger flared up, as if a single remark wasn’t enough to calm it. He glared at Yuri, those eyes blazing with a cold and feral intensity, like a predator unleashing its fury.

“For example, you! You say you like me, but the way you stare at me makes me unbearably uncomfortable. If some creep stared at you constantly just because they liked you, would you feel okay with it?”

Yuri was momentarily at a loss for words, caught off guard by the unexpected arrow Ling Xinlu had shot his way. Although he knew it was just a fleeting outburst of emotion, he still took a moment to seriously consider his response before speaking: “It might sound like I’m making excuses, but……” 

“But I’ve never had any improper thoughts about you.”

Xinlu stared at Yuri with a look of utter disbelief.

“Never thought of anything? About me?”

“Yes, I haven’t.” 

Xinlu continued to stare at him, his expression a mixture of shock and skepticism, before letting out a scoff. Then, with a mocking smile, he muttered under his breath as if ridiculing Yuri:

“……Uwoa, unbelievable. Now you’re even lying seriously like that? You’re saying you haven’t been staring at me absentmindedly? Yet, just today, how many times have I had to tell you to look away?!”

Xinlu glared at Yuri angrily, then abruptly yanked off the half-unbuttoned shirt he had been wearing. The buttons, still partially fastened, popped off and scattered onto the floor. He violently threw the shirt down at Yuri’s feet, stepping forward to stand face-to-face with him.

Then, with the palm of his hand, he lightly slapped his chest.

“This!”

The word came out low and heavy, brimming with anger.

“You’re saying you’ve never wanted to touch me? Staring at me a hundred, no, a thousand times like that, and you still dare to claim no? Do you think I’m stupid enough not to notice those blatantly obvious looks of yours?”

“It’s not like that.” 

Yuri became so flustered that even his usually stoic face failed to maintain its characteristic calm. But Xinlu paid no attention, widening his eyes further as he pressed on in a sharp tone:

“Not what?! What exactly is it not?!”

“It’s true that I’ve looked at you, and I admit I couldn’t take my eyes off you. But I’ve never had any unspeakable thoughts about you. I’ve never even considered something like that.”

Though his voice didn’t tremble, it still betrayed a hint of awkwardness as he tried to explain. However, his explanation seemed tainted, as if a speck of dust had settled on it. Xinlu was about to lash out with another angry retort but suddenly stopped, closing his mouth and eyeing Yuri with suspicion.

(*먼지 한 톨만큼은 먹힌 모양이었다: a single speck of dust. => It seemed that his words had landed, even if only by the smallest measure.)

Yuri looked directly at Xinlu, trying to dispel the discomfort brewing in the younger man. But as he prepared to say something more, he hesitated for a long moment, unsure of how to continue. Finally, he blurted out a weak and unconvincing statement:

“Believe it or not, I’m straight.”

“……”

“I’ve always been, really.”

“……”

“…Though now, I’m starting to have some doubts.”

Yuri’s words, though true, somehow felt as if they were shrinking in volume, like a confession of something unspeakable. By the end, his voice was reduced to a faint, helpless mumble, and he lowered his gaze to the floor.

“……”

“……”

A heavy silence hung between the two of them.

Even Xinlu, who had been on the verge of an angry outburst just moments ago, suddenly went quiet. As for Yuri, who had been trying to defend himself, he now found himself trapped in a state of awkward, speechless confusion. In the end, neither of them spoke first.

“…I’ve met plenty of people like you. Those who claim they’re straight, who say they don’t care about men.”

In the end, it was Xinlu who broke the silence. His tone was begrudging and laced with irritation, as if stubbornly clinging to an argument even when the reasoning behind it had grown blurry.

“But in the end, they always try to come after me. Some blame my ‘seductive eyes’, others use the excuse that they were drunk and mistook me for a woman because of my face. And there’ve been even more ridiculous claims than that.”

“And all of them ended up in the hospital. Some of them are still there—and likely will be for a long time. I’ve said it before: I’ve never lost a fight… or at least, almost never.”

He emphasized the word “almost” with a momentary stiffness in his expression. Yuri immediately understood what he was referring to, and the image of the one who had caused Xinlu to say “almost” surfaced in his mind. Almost instinctively, Yuri spoke up:

“I wouldn’t do that. I just—… I just like looking at you.”

Anything—he needed to say something, anything, to pull Xinlu out of those painful memories. That thought drove Yuri to blurt out the words without thinking. Only after he said it did he freeze, startled by his own admission.

“…… What?”

‘Something seems off.’ – Yuri thought to himself. His words weren’t a lie, but they came out sounding like a panicked, careless confession. A clumsy and naive admission—if Annette were here, she’d undoubtedly scold him for confessing in such an absurd way.

Xinlu also looked at Yuri with an expression similar to how Annette might have in Yuri’s imagination. Thankfully, though, the coldness creeping onto his face quickly faded, returning to its usual composure. He stared at Yuri with a puzzled look, as if he had just heard a joke that wasn’t remotely funny.

“Are you sure?”

Xinlu tilted his chin slightly as he asked, his tone challenging. Yuri immediately nodded and replied firmly: “I’m sure.”

He had never, even in passing, thought about ‘touching’ Xinlu. Even if he wasn’t straight (a notion he was beginning to question), Yuri would never entertain the idea of violating someone’s physical boundaries against their will, not even in his dreams.

Xinlu stared intently at Yuri, who didn’t avoid his gaze, before letting out a faint mocking laugh. He turned away, as though signaling that the conversation was over, but not without delivering a pointed remark over his shoulder:

“Don’t forget what you just said.”

Yuri obediently nodded and replied: “Yes.” But deep down, he couldn’t help but find the situation amusing in a strangely ironic way.

Here he was, a self-proclaimed straight man, accidentally confessing to someone who was gay, only to be rejected outright. The absurdity of it all was almost too much for him to process.

He had blurted out a clumsy confession and been rejected immediately.

To say he wasn’t hurt would be a lie. But at the same time, he reassured himself: “It’s fine, really.” After all, he had never intended to ‘pluck the flower’. Simply admiring it from afar was enough.

With that thought, a sense of relief washed over him. “Good.” – He muttered to himself.

But just then, his eyes landed on Xinlu, who had bent down to pick up the shirt he had thrown on the floor. He dusted it off before putting it back on. Unable to stop himself, Yuri unconsciously muttered: “Oh……”

Xinlu was midway through sliding his arm into the sleeve, then suddenly turned to look at Yuri with suspicion.

“…..It’s nothing. Just go ahead and put it on.”

“…What?”

Xinlu asked as he buttoned up his shirt, stepping closer to Yuri. Yuri remained silent, simply watching him.

Of course, Yuri had no intention of touching or doing anything inappropriate. But Xinlu truly was stunning. So beautiful that one could easily get lost just gazing at him. And it wasn’t just his radiant and adorable face, his body was also equally breathtaking.

But calling it ‘beautiful’ might not be entirely accurate, but it was the closest word Yuri could think of to describe it. In contrast to his bright and charming face, one might expect Xinlu’s physique to be slender or delicate. But in reality, it was flawless, with well-developed, proportionate muscles that were firm and perfectly shaped, without a single flaw. It was, perhaps, the very definition of an ideal male form, one that could leave anyone silently awestruck.

“…..Are you sure just looking doesn’t have some ulterior motive?”

Xinlu’s voice broke Yuri’s reverie, his tone dripping with suspicion.

While fastening the button near his collarbone, Xinlu paused and turned to fix Yuri with a piercing stare. His tone was cold when he spoke, but there was a faint hint of amusement, as if he were teasing. Yuri quickly averted his gaze, turning his face away.

Just moments earlier, he had confidently declared: “…I don’t have any ulterior motives.” Yet now, under that stare, Yuri couldn’t understand why he felt so strangely flustered. Until this point, he had never entertained any thoughts beyond the boundaries of decency.

The faint sense of wrongdoing and embarrassment made Yuri hesitate. Eventually, he sighed, letting his shoulders slump as he admitted:

“Up until a few minutes ago, I really didn’t have any thoughts like that. Honestly… I’m sorry. I’ll try harder.”

Gradually, Yuri’s voice trailed off, and he pressed his lips together tightly, guilt written all over his face. He lowered his head, staring intently at Xinlu’s shoes, unable to lift his gaze.

‘How pathetic… Saying I like him, and yet I’ve ended up like this.’

Standing before Xinlu with his head bowed, Yuri swallowed those thoughts silently, wondering what kind of expression the other man might be wearing. Perhaps an angry glare, or maybe a mocking smile, likely somewhere between the two.

“……You really don’t show anything on your face……” 

Xinlu’s voice broke through the silence, his tone tinged with mockery, as though musing to himself: “But now… I think I’m starting to get it. I can understand what you’re thinking.”

His voice carried a faint sneer as he added: “Come to think of it, you never lie, so I don’t even need to read your expressions.”

Yuri slowly lifted his head. And then, he saw it. Contrary to his expectations, Xinlu’s face held a faint smile, and his eyes sparkled with a subtle amusement as he looked at him. Those eyes were beautiful—so beautiful that Yuri felt as though his soul was being drawn into them.

‘No, no, stop it!’ – He thought to himself. Xinlu would undoubtedly tell him not to stare again. Yet, even so, Yuri couldn’t help but want to gaze at him a little longer.

After locking eyes with Yuri for a moment, Xinlu let out a soft laugh, his eyes curving with a hint of mischief.

“If you didn’t act so annoying, you might’ve become a charming and likable little bug in my eyes……Anyway, look somewhere else. Stop staring at me.”