Qingqing's First Day Away, Missing Him

Washington, United States.

In the dim room, a handsome man lay on the large bed with his eyes tightly shut, his brow deeply furrowed.

At a soft, lingering moan from his dream, the man jolted awake.

Chi Yan sat up, threw back the covers, and entered the bathroom with a livid expression.

Half an hour later, he emerged carrying a chill about him, walked onto the balcony, and lit a cigarette.

Ever since returning these past few days, he had dreamed every night. At first, it had only been a warm sensation wandering across his cheeks and neck like a cat, teasing him until his heart itched, while he could never clearly see the culprit.

Later, it escalated, and he took the initiative.

He could not make out the person's face. All they did was cry out.

Then, the person being bullied finally emerged from the mist.

The instant he saw Xia Yu's face clearly, Chi Yan woke with a start. It was a dream, yet not entirely a dream.

Before this, he had never considered that his feelings for Xia Yu might cross the line. That was precisely why, after waking, he had felt unprecedentedly lost and blurted out hurtful words without thinking.

If he could still deceive himself last month by claiming it was the medicine's effect, then the desire so easily stirred by a single kiss at the hotel, followed by his repeated indulgence in dreams after returning, told him plainly that his feelings for Xia Yu had long since changed.

So he liked Xia Yu, didn't he? The kind of liking one man had for another man. Was he gay?

For the first time, Chi Yan faced his heart head-on. He did not seem to resist the fact that he had been turned gay either. The emotions he had suppressed for days suddenly spilled free, accompanied by an indescribable pleasure.

But Xia Yu was still angry. He had already been upset, then injured his hand and been abandoned—he must have felt even worse. When Chi Er said he had taken him back to the Xia Household, he had cried the whole way.

Chi Yan frowned in frustration, stubbed out his cigarette, turned back into the bedroom, and called his assistant.

"Boss?"

"Move next month's important meetings up to the next two days."

"Ah?"

"Starting next Monday, I'm taking annual leave."

"May I ask when you'll be back?"

"When I've coaxed him back into a good mood."

The assistant was still utterly confused after the call was hung up. Coax someone? Coax who?

Saturday night, Xia Yu listlessly picked at the grains of rice in his bowl.

Xia Lang and Zhao Jie exchanged a look before carefully asking, "What's wrong, Xiaoyu? Is the food not to your taste? Or are you feeling unwell?"

He lifted his eyelids. "I miss Qingqing."

"..." Seriously? They had only spent two days together and already could not be apart?

Zhao Jie gave an awkward laugh. "Qingqing has work. Once he's done, I'll have him come home for dinner."

Although she was very unwilling to let Xia Wanqing interact with Xia Yu, she still had to keep up appearances. Otherwise, if word got back to Harbor City, they might be accused of slighting the eldest young master even after he had lowered himself to come here.

Xia Yu propped his chin on his hand. "It's the first day Qingqing's been gone, and I miss him."

Xia Lang could not tell whether he was sincere or putting on an act. "Xiaoyu must be bored at home. Why not go out and have fun with your friends?"

"You know I don't have any friends. I only have an older brother and a younger brother, but they abandoned me and ran off together."

The corner of his mouth twitched. "They went to take part in a show..."

"Oh, celebrities sure are busy. I'm jealous."

"You... how about... you go have fun with them too?"

Zhao Jie's heart clenched as she silently prayed that he would not get involved.

Xia Yu looked gloomily at his biological father. "You'd rather have me join them on a show than let me work at the company? What are you afraid of?"

"How could I possibly think that?!" Xia Lang nearly jumped onto the table to defend himself. "Didn't you say you were jealous that they got to be on a variety show?! Fine, fine. Then come to the company with me on Monday."

"I'm not going."

"..." Then why were you accusing me of that?!

"I was just joking. Why are you so worked up? The company will be mine sooner or later. It makes no difference who manages it. I'm not going to suffer through that. You and Third Aunt can keep an eye on it for me. I highly approve of your abilities. Last year's dividends doubled, so I hope you'll keep up the good work. Don't disappoint my trust in you."

Xia Lang's face alternated between green and white. He was so stifled he could not speak. Was that something a son should say to his father?!

He set down his chopsticks and stood. "I'm full. President Xia, Third Secretary, please enjoy yourselves."

"..." Zhao Jie clenched her palm tightly. She would never escape the word "third."

The next morning, while Xia Lang and Zhao Jie were having breakfast, two bodyguards dressed in black pushed open the door and strode in, startling them both.

Recognizing them as the bodyguards who had forcibly brought Xia Wanqing back from the hospital that day, Xia Lang's face darkened. Was this the Xia Household or the Qi Household of Harbor City?!

"Meow..."

Holding Tangerine, Liu Ling followed Xia Yu downstairs and reminded him, "Young Master, take good care of yourself."

Xia Yu handed the Pomelo in his arms to a bodyguard. "Got it."

"I'll take good care of the two little young masters too. I absolutely won't let them go hungry or thirsty."

"Just keep them alive."

"Meow..." A cat's life was a life too.

Seeing the arrangement, Zhao Jie hesitantly asked, "Xiaoyu, are you going out? Why are you sending the cats away?"

His lips curled into a smile. "I have something to do. I'm sending them to Harbor City to keep my grandfather company for a while."

"What is it?"

"A tremendously good thing."

"..." Somehow, it felt like his good thing would not be good for them.

After sending off the two cats, two bodyguards, and Liu Ling, he was in an excellent mood. "I'm going out this afternoon and won't be home for the next few days. Don't miss me. Just make lots of money for me."

Xia Lang frowned and asked, "Where are you going?"

"I don't feel like satisfying your curiosity."

"..."

"Don't be so nervous. I'm just going on a trip to ease my longing for my Qingqing."

Zhao Jie was only half-convinced. "Then... be careful..."

Xia Yu nodded with a smile. "Thank you for your concern, Third Aunt. I will."