The morning light was faint and hazy.
Mu Ran felt as though his stomach was completely empty, and his throat hurt terribly as well, yet his eyelids still felt immensely heavy. He only managed to pry his eyes open when he truly couldn’t stand it any longer, driven by pure reluctance.
The very first sight that met his eyes was Lu Chengfeng lying right in front of him.
In sleep, those features that were ordinarily cold and sharp appeared gentle and soft. The morning sunlight struck the high bridge of his nose, casting a three-dimensional contour. Lu Chengfeng’s breathing was very light perhaps because Mu Ran’s movements had been a bit too large, Lu Chengfeng’s brow furrowed slightly as he tightened his grip around Mu Ran’s waist.
“Nn…” Mu Ran felt his waist tighten, and his entire body was pulled straight into Lu Chengfeng’s embrace.
Growing close to this embrace again now that his consciousness was fully awake made him shudder all over. In a flurry, he scrambled up, intending to get right out of bed.
“Awake?” Lu Chengfeng didn’t let go from behind; instead, he pulled Mu Ran even tighter.
The pajamas Mu Ran wore last night had been put on him by Lu Chengfeng. Since Mu Ran’s sleeping posture wasn’t very good, his top frequently bunched up around his chest. At this moment, Lu Chengfeng’s rough palms slowly stroked back and forth across Mu Ran’s waist, sending a full-body shiver through him.
“I’m awake, and I’m a bit hungry.” Taking the opportunity, Mu Ran plucked Lu Chengfeng’s hand off his body. “You’re pressing on my stomach and making it hurt.”
A trace of sleepy residue still lingered in Lu Chengfeng’s voice: “Then lie down for a little longer. I’ll have someone send breakfast over.”
“No need.” As Mu Ran sat up to button the front of his pajamas, he suddenly remembered something and turned his head. “Also, even though I’m a guy, since you already have someone you’re trying to pursue, you shouldn’t sleep in the same bed with other people anymore. The moment the other person likes you even a little, they’ll get jealous. In the future, just let Jingan drop me off at home.”
Lu Chengfeng propped up half his body on one elbow, looking at Mu Ran with an unhurried, half-smiling expression. “Is that so? Would you do that too?”
“Of course I would too.” Mu Ran turned back around, awkwardly pretending to be very busy with himself. “I mean, if the person I like was lying in the same bed as someone else, I’d be heartbroken too.”
“I wouldn’t do something like that.” Lu Chengfeng sat up as well, speaking in a soft voice. “And you aren’t just ‘someone else’.”
Mu Ran’s body froze.
Right, right, right. He was a guy, and they were childhood friends, so on the surface, he looked completely free of suspicion, but he knew what was actually going on!
This was just like what older folks always said: the things that look the safest… are actually the most dangerous.
“Stop running your mouth with slick talk. Usually you can’t squeeze out a single nice thing to say, but now that you have someone you like, don’t tell me you’ve learned how to flirt,” Mu Ran couldn’t help muttering.
Romance really did make a person grow up. A guy who had only ever been cold and sarcastic for over twenty years could actually spout lines like that nowadays.
Lu Chengfeng didn’t commit to a direct answer, his gaze closely tracking Mu Ran’s movements.
After the two of them finished washing up, breakfast was delivered as well. Yawning, Mu Ran scooped up the porridge to eat.
It was yet another bland, tasteless bowl of millet porridge. Which expert was it anyway who claimed this stuff was good for the stomach? It tasted awful, and the more he drank, the more there seemed to be.
Mu Ran sized up Lu Chengfeng. Compared to himself who couldn’t even be bothered to change out of his pajamas and whose hair looked like it had survived a world war, Lu Chengfeng practically formed a neat contrast group.
An elegant, well-fitted suit, and meticulously groomed hair. Given the exact same amount of grooming time, how on earth did Lu Chengfeng manage to make himself look so sharp and proper?
Still, there was one habit that really needed changing.
Champing down on his spoon, Mu Ran asked him, “Tell me, what is the person you like even like? I think your first step should be to change yourself. If the other person happens to be a casual, easygoing sort, this… formal look of yours will give them a sense of oppression. If they’re just like you, then pretend I didn’t say anything.”
Rolling up his cuffs, Lu Chengfeng pushed a plate of freshly cut fried eggs across the table toward Mu Ran and said, “Mn, they are a very easygoing person, but I only know how to dress like this.”
That was indeed true.
Back when they were kids, Lu Chengfeng’s mother used to pick out some childish clothes for him, but ever since starting middle school, this fellow hadn’t been seen wearing anything other than black, white, and gray. He didn’t like any fresh styles either; Aunt Ji tried hard for two months before gloriously and completely giving up.
When he grew up a bit more and took over the Lu family enterprise, that suit seemed practically welded to his body. Aside from a dark blue suit Mu Ran had bought him years ago, it was nothing but black or gray.
It frequently made people wonder if Lu Chengfeng was color-blind and therefore only recognized those few colors.
“You know you have to cater to your lover’s preferences, right?” Unable to swallow any more, Mu Ran set his chopsticks down and scratched his messy bird’s nest of hair. “Otherwise, how are you going to match the other person’s aesthetic tastes?”
Casually picking up the remaining egg from Mu Ran’s plate, Lu Chengfeng popped it into his mouth and spoke in an offhand tone, “But I don’t want to wear those mice with red underwear on my body.”
“Pfft—” The milk in Mu Ran’s mouth almost choked him to death. After coughing for a good long while, Mu Ran felt as though the top of his head was burning up, prompting him to angrily clench his fists. “I wasn’t talking about my pajamas! Don’t compare yourself to me! I have an aesthetic sense, okay? Don’t go to work later either—come shopping for clothes with me.”
It was originally just a fit of temper. Given that Lu Chengfeng was a notorious workaholic, how could he possibly skip work?
Who would have guessed that Lu Chengfeng would agree to it with a willingness to see how it went: “Alright.”
Huh? Did he just agree to that?
Mu Ran still hadn’t quite processed it even by the time the two of them arrived at the shopping mall.
Lu Chengfeng had said he wasn’t going to work today.
Good grief, the sun must be rising from the west for Lu Chengfeng to utter such words.
He must really, really like that person.
Tsk tsk tsk.
Furthermore, Lu Chengfeng practically never visited shopping malls. His suits were all custom-made, with designers coming directly to his home every month to take measurements; even if he needed something in a rush, he would simply have items sent over to his house to pick from.
To actually be standing with him in this shopping mall right now was truly an unheard-of event.
“You pick them for me.” Lu Chengfeng still didn’t really enjoy places with so many people, grabbing onto Mu Ran’s arm and tagging along behind him like a little follower.
Mu Ran gave his own cheeks a couple of light pats before ducking into a boutique he frequently visited.
This store was his absolute favorite; it featured all the latest designer pieces, and their brand specialized in being “one of a kind.” They would produce different sizes for a single clothing style, with the maximum number for any identical item capped at around ten-plus pieces. If any customer purchased a size that fit them properly, the remaining pieces of that design would be destroyed.
Though such practices were somewhat wasteful, he had heard that after being reclaimed, the materials were repurposed to make little clothes for cats and dogs, so it was passable.
Gimmicks like this attracted quite a few buyers, but since wool always came from the sheep’s back, the prices weren’t cheap either.
Still, the styles were genuinely pretty. At a single glance, Mu Ran locked onto a red silk shirt that shimmered with a watery luster.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Mu Ran pointed straight at that garment, gestured toward Lu Chengfeng beside him, and spoke softly to the sales assistant: “Could you please find a suitable size for him?”
“Ah, ah, yes, yes, right away, sir.” The sales assistant stared fixedly at the two men, her soul only returning to her body once Mu Ran spoke up.
The young master of the Mu family was a regular customer here, and she had served him a few times before. On those previous occasions, the person he brought along was always a quiet, gentle-looking young man. This time, however, he had suddenly brought such an intensely oppressive, handsome hunk into the store, completely drawing her in with a daze.
She had long since heard that the young master of the Mu family had an exceptionally handsome childhood friend who was also the head of the Lu family, though people in their line of work didn’t normally get to meet such prominent figures in person, having only ever seen them in newspapers and news broadcasts. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected to see the real deal today!
While waiting, Mu Ran continued imparting small dating tips to Lu Chengfeng: “Also, think back do you have any of those typical ‘CEO illnesses’ you always see in novels?”
Looking completely bewildered, Lu Chengfeng asked, “CEO illnesses?”
“Yeah,” Mu Ran propped his chin in his hand. “For instance, stomach trouble? Headaches? Germophobia? Being unable to fall asleep without a lover? Autism? Claustrophobia? Or maybe some kind of blood clotting disorder?”
The corners of Lu Chengfeng’s twitching mouth tightened: “Why would I have to have these kinds of illnesses?”
…
Uh, well. That was true too.
Since childhood, Lu Chengfeng had been as robust as a mule, whereas he was the one constantly coming down with random illnesses and being terrified of thunder and injections.
Could it be that he was actually the standard protagonist of a CEO romance novel?
This world was truly magical.
“Ahem, anyway, the point isn’t about having an illness; it’s about showing vulnerability, understand?” Mu Ran wore an expression of utter exasperation. “For example, say you have a fever, and then you just end up lingering at her place right? Like that! You get taken care of, and before you know it, feelings develop through the process.”
“Young Master Mu, here are the clothes you requested.” The sales assistant walked out holding a brand-new outfit, interrupting Mu Ran’s teaching session. “Would you like to try them on?”
“Hold on.” Mu Ran stood up, strolled around for another circle, and picked out a pair of dark gray trousers the casual suit pant variety, except they were accessorized with a matching red narrow belt.
Paired this way, it would lean toward a casual style while keeping Lu Chengfeng from being unable to accept it all at once.
“And this one too…” Mu Ran checked the size tag. “A size 56, please find one of those as well.”
“Got it! This way, please, sir.” The sales assistant beamed with a massive smile, gesturing a “this way” with her hand before she couldn’t help chiming in, “Mr. Mu really knows Mr. Lu’s size inside out.”
Duh. He used to cuddle with him every day when they were kids; even though there was a bit of distance between them now, he could tell what size clothes Lu Chengfeng wore just by closing his eyes.
Wait, no, no, no. The development of events shouldn’t be heading in this direction.
“No, I mean… since we’re both guys, most men’s sizes are pretty much the same.” Mu Ran awkwardly tried to cover for himself.
As for Lu Chengfeng, he walked into the fitting room with a completely calm expression, which finally allowed Mu Ran to let out a sigh of relief.
That was close.
Looking around the surroundings, Mu Ran suddenly spotted a gorgeous red dress: a fishtail design with a strapless cut. The cinched waist wasn’t made of solid-colored red silk; instead, silver bead chains formed a hollowed-out lattice pattern that delicately framed and exposed the curves of the waist, looking quite sexy.
Most importantly, it looked remarkably like a couple’s outfit paired with the set he had just picked out for Lu Chengfeng.
With sharp eyes, the sales assistant noticed which outfit Mu Ran was looking at and immediately took the dress down, presenting it right in front of him: “Young Master Mu, are you looking at this set? If you’re planning to buy it as a gift, it’s a very fitting choice. The designer of this dress and the designer of the set you just picked out for that gentleman over there are actually a couple, you know.”
No wonder they looked so harmonious; the designers themselves were a couple.
“It’s really pretty, but…” Mu Ran paused. He didn’t seem to know what size that hypothetical woman should wear.
Mu Ran reached out to gently stroke the texture of the dress it was silky and felt exceptionally smooth to the touch before smilingly asking the sales assistant, “For you girls, about what size would someone wear in a dress like this?”
Before the sales assistant could reply, Mu Ran’s phone lit up with a notification. It was a message sent by Lu Chengfeng.
Why was he sending a message when he was standing this close?
Filled with puzzlement, Mu Ran opened the chat interface.
Come in and help me.