The two metal doors slowly opened, and Luo Ying slowed his pace as he stepped out of the elevator.
Returning to Lu Rang’s home again, Luo Ying felt quite guilty.
This time, his reason for staying here wasn’t as simple as before.
Previously, he had stayed at Lu Rang’s place because he had nowhere else to go. Now, he just wanted a legitimate reason to maintain their bedmate relationship with Lu Rang.
However, Luo Ying didn’t want Lu Rang to know about these thoughts.
It was pretty embarrassing to admit—he had always thought he was only after Lu Rang’s money, but it turned out he was even more obsessed with Lu Rang’s body.
He really was—
Hopeless.
He didn’t yet understand the saying “lust is a knife hanging over one’s head,” but he remembered his father teaching him that youth was meant for having fun.
The lights in the hall were still bright, and the sound of running water echoed from upstairs. The guiding lights along the staircase flickered intermittently.
Luo Ying placed the package he had been holding for a while on the marble cabinet in the entryway. He glanced at it—it seemed to be a sample of merchandise sent by some studio.
Walking up to the second floor, the sound of water came from the laundry room. The mechanical drum wasn’t completely soundproof, and he could hear it churning and operating.
Was Lu Rang doing laundry?
No way.
Lu Rang’s home had a dedicated housekeeper who came daily to clean and wash clothes.
Usually, all they had to do was toss their dirty clothes into the laundry basket. There were three washing machines alone, so there was no need for either of them to do laundry by hand.
Luo Ying leaned against the doorway, poking his fluffy head inside.
Lu Rang stood with his back to him at the laundry sink, holding a pair of pajamas Luo Ying often wore, diligently scrubbing them on a washboard.
Luo Ying slipped over to Lu Rang’s side, curious:
“Why are you doing laundry?”
Lu Rang was clearly startled by Luo Ying’s sudden appearance. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes before he lowered his gaze and regained his composure.
“Online, they say patients who’ve just been discharged need to wear freshly washed clothes to stay healthy.” Lu Rang paused, then added, “Leaving this to someone else wouldn’t be sincere enough, so I thought I’d wash them for you myself.”
“You actually believe stuff like that online?”
Luo Ying wanted to tease Lu Rang for being superstitious, but seeing how earnestly he was washing the clothes—even carefully scrubbing the collar—he swallowed the teasing remarks that were already on the tip of his tongue.
Luo Ying stood by and watched as Lu Rang washed his pajamas. He even washed a pair of already-clean underwear, making Luo Ying blush.
After drying the clothes, the pajamas carried a faint, fresh scent of laundry detergent.
It reminded Luo Ying of his high school boarding days when the school shut down the laundry room to encourage students to develop good independent living skills.
Luo Ying, who had never done laundry before, was at a loss. Whenever his clothes got dirty, he’d just soak them in detergent.
When enough time had passed, he’d take them out, rinse them in clean water, and soak them again.
After soaking, he’d hang them up damp without even wringing them out, relying on fate to dry them.
Later, he couldn’t remember when it started, but Lu Rang began washing Luo Ying’s school uniforms for him. The uniforms he washed were always spotless, and when you sniffed them carefully, there was a faint floral scent.
Once, when the osmanthus trees at school bloomed, Luo Ying casually mentioned that he liked the smell of osmanthus. After that, Lu Rang switched to osmanthus-scented laundry detergent.
Thinking back, it was quite amusing.
Lu Rang was actually very thoughtful—it was just that his way of thinking back then was too straightforward.
Perhaps it was the magic of freshly washed pajamas, but Luo Ying felt much more comfortable wearing them.
After a whole day of commotion, he no longer felt like someone who had just been discharged from the hospital.
Lu Rang poured a cup of warm milk for Luo Ying, saying it would be good for his stomach.
Luo Ying took the milk, cradling the cup as he sat by the head of the bed, taking small sips.
“Earlier today, you said you’d talk to me about the land reclamation and island connection contract after you figured something out. Did you manage to clear things up?”
Luo Ying nearly choked on his milk.
He began playing dumb, “Huh? Did I say that?”
Lu Rang raised an eyebrow, a sly smile curling his lips, completely unfazed by Luo Ying’s attempt to feign ignorance.
Unable to dodge the question, Luo Ying pouted, putting on a pitiful act. “You know my dad’s been out of touch for a long time. I’ve been overthinking things lately. Today, I jumped to conclusions and wrongly blamed you.”
Luo Ying had always looked young and adorable, and with his lips pursed and brows slightly furrowed, anyone who saw him would feel an urge to protect him.
Lu Rang was no exception.
Ever since their school days, he had been utterly captivated by Luo Ying’s charm.
“Alright.”
Lu Rang sat beside Luo Ying, leaning back slightly and tilting his chin up to reveal his elegant neck.
His dark eyes fixed on Luo Ying, his gaze sweeping over him from head to toe before he spoke in a low, lazy tone. “You misunderstood me today. So, do I get any compensation?”
“Compensation? I should be the one asking for compensation!”
Luo Ying was frustrated. After all, he felt like he was the one being toyed with today.
Lu Rang leaned in closer, placing his hands on either side of Luo Ying, half-encircling him in his arms. His masculine charm and powerful presence pressed down as he narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Will there be any?”
Luo Ying set down his cup, turning his face away to think for a moment before replying, somewhat shyly, “I could reward you with a kiss.”
Lu Rang wasn’t entirely satisfied. “Just one?”
“You’re not happy with that? Mmm…” Before Luo Ying could finish, his lips were already enveloped by Lu Rang’s.
Every time Luo Ying kissed Lu Rang, it felt intense—moist and lingering, with the faint scent of milk lingering between them.
Luo Ying had completely forgotten that he had just been discharged from the hospital, until a familiar fullness stirred within him, reminding him that just yesterday, he had been as wilted as a little rose.
Afraid of hurting him, Lu Rang tried to stop several times, but Luo Ying was too caught up in the moment. How could they possibly stop now?
Luo Ying’s phone, tossed aside, kept buzzing with incoming calls. He flipped it over and hung up again and again, but the caller seemed to have something urgent, persistently calling back.
Lu Rang paused, signaling for him to answer, lest he miss something important.
Flushed and slowly coming down from the intensity, Luo Ying picked up the phone, his voice dripping with impatience.
“Who is it?”
The person on the other end seemed to be outside, their tone anxious, with the faint sound of wind rustling in the background.
“Luo Ying, I heard you were sick and hospitalized? Which hospital are you at?”
The voice sounded somewhat familiar. Luo Ying glanced at the caller ID—it was Pei Mingyang.
Kneeling behind him, Lu Rang naturally saw the caller’s name as well.
“I’m fine, I’ve already been discharged. I’m at—”
Before Luo Ying could finish, Pei Mingyang guessed the answer. “Are you still at Lu Rang’s place?”
“Huh?” Luo Ying awkwardly glanced behind him. They hadn’t separated yet, and the compromising position made him reluctant to continue the call.
“If you have something to say, say it. I’m a bit busy right now.”
“Luo Ying, I just returned to the country today. It’s been so many years since we last saw each other. I’ve missed you so much. I really want to see you.”
The call wasn’t completely private, and every word Pei Mingyang said clearly reached Lu Rang’s ears.
“It’s too late today, isn’t it? How about tomorrow… Ah!”
As soon as Luo Ying finished speaking, Lu Rang bumped into him as if to punish him, and the suppressed groan sounded incredibly suggestive.
Pei Mingyang on the other end of the phone sensed something unusual: “Luo Ying, what are you doing right now?”
“I…”
Lu Rang leaned down, wrapped his arms around Luo Ying’s waist, took the phone from his hand, and chuckled softly, “Didn’t you hear him? He’s busy right now.”
“Whatever you have to say, talk to him tomorrow.”