Putting Himself on the Line

After making this startling discovery, Gu Yuechen could not help staring at Yu Yaochen's face.

Most of the time, Yu Yaochen hid behind the easel. Only when he needed to look at Gu Yuechen's face to sketch the next section did their eyes meet, and Yu Yaochen's face would turn even redder.

His cold, distant features paired with those overly flushed cheeks made him look as if he had drunk fake alcohol.

Gu Yuechen sneered inwardly, mocking Yu Yaochen for harboring such filthy thoughts about him in a situation like this.

It was Yu Yaochen's first time painting a portrait, so his technique was inevitably a little awkward.

On top of that, Gu Yuechen's collar was always hanging wide open, making it impossible for Yu Yaochen to focus. He wanted to remind Gu Yuechen to dress properly, but that would make him seem far too presumptuous.

It was like a saying he had once seen online: a dirty-minded person found filth in everything.

Yu Yaochen could only force himself not to look at Gu Yuechen's exposed chest and keep his gaze on Gu Yuechen's face as much as possible.

After nearly two hours, Yu Yaochen finally put down his tools and let out a breath.

"D... done."

Gu Yuechen had long since become restless. Hearing that, he immediately got out of the chair, stretched his arms, and rubbed his back.

"It was tiring, wasn't it?" Yu Yaochen looked apologetic. "It's my first time painting a portrait, so I was very slow."

Gu Yuechen said it was fine, but inwardly, he had already cursed Yu Yaochen to hell and back.

"Let me see." Gu Yuechen jogged over to the easel.

For the first time, Yu Yaochen felt nervous about someone else's evaluation. He looked up expectantly at Gu Yuechen's face.

Gu Yuechen suddenly pointed at the collar in the painting, his smile carrying a hint of mischief. "Why is it buttoned here? I clearly undid three buttons."

As soon as the words fell, Yu Yaochen's neck flushed a light red as well. Beneath his lashes was panic he could not hide.

"I..."

Yu Yaochen regretted his unnecessary meddling. It only made him look even more improper.

He wanted to explain, yet could not explain anything. His usually cool expression took on a trace of embarrassment.

Gu Yuechen smiled. To confirm his suspicion, he could not help moving closer.

He was standing and bending over to look at the painting, while Yu Yaochen was seated.

When he moved closer, his already open collar became even more revealing, and there was even a faint fragrance in the air.

"This part wasn't painted well." Gu Yuechen chuckled. "I'm deducting points from you."

Yu Yaochen abruptly stood up and accidentally knocked over the easel. A heavy crash rang through the studio.

Gu Yuechen was still smiling. "I was joking. What right do I have to deduct points from you? Why did you get so worked up that you knocked me over?"

Yu Yaochen looked at the painting on the floor, said, "I'm sorry," and hurried away, his footsteps panicked and disheveled.

After Yu Yaochen had gone far away, Gu Yuechen's smile slowly faded, disgust surfacing on his face.

Disgusting!

Truly disgusting!

How could he have such filthy thoughts about him!

Fucking disgusting!

How could Yu Yaochen face Pei Huanyi? What a fickle, shameless slut!

Gu Yuechen glared viciously at the portrait lying on the floor, wanting nothing more than to stomp on it twice.

However, Gu Yuechen retained a sliver of reason and did not do so.

He went over and set the easel upright, buttoned up his shirt, then returned to the living room on the first floor.

He had only just sat down on the sofa when Yu Yaochen came downstairs.

The bangs on his forehead were damp, and there were water stains on his collar. He had probably gone to the bathroom to wash his face.

Gu Yuechen put on a hypocritical smile and asked considerately, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Yu Yaochen looked at Gu Yuechen's chest again. Seeing that he had finally buttoned up his clothes, the tense muscles in his face relaxed somewhat.

"I'm fine." Yu Yaochen's voice returned to its clear coolness. "I'll pack up the painting. Take it home with you."

"Just leave it here." Gu Yuechen tilted his head with a smile. "I might not come every week. If you miss me, you can look at that painting."

Yu Yaochen's thin lips moved, but he said nothing.

Gu Yuechen stood up. "I should go home."

After making such a disgusting discovery, he could not stay here any longer. He was afraid he would vomit right in front of Yu Yaochen.

Yu Yaochen did not politely ask him to stay for dinner as he had before. He merely nodded slowly.

"Okay."

On the bus, Gu Yuechen began reviewing everything that had happened that day.

He had never been in a relationship, but he had seen enough to know what it looked like. Yu Yaochen's behavior plainly showed that he was interested in him.

How hilarious.

He was secretly in love with Pei Huanyi, yet could never have Pei Huanyi.

And Yu Yaochen, who had already gotten Pei Huanyi, had actually developed feelings for him.

Was his life too comfortable, so he wanted a taste of cheating too?

Wait...

Cheating...

If Yu Yaochen was caught cheating, would their engagement fall apart as well?

Then Pei Huanyi could be single again. He would not have to indulge that spoiled young master in everything, even to the point of being unable to visit the pet hospital he had insisted on opening despite his parents' objections.

Gu Yuechen had always felt that Yu Yaochen was behind it.

Yu Yaochen was allergic to animal fur. After he suddenly decided not to go to the pet hospital anymore, Pei Huanyi had left as well.

Yu Yaochen must have forced Pei Huanyi to make that decision.

He did not like the pet hospital, so he forced Pei Huanyi to give it up too.

Why did someone like that deserve Pei Huanyi's love?

Gu Yuechen bit his lip as a bold idea took root and spread wildly.

He wanted to destroy this engagement.

Even if it meant putting himself on the line, he was willing.

Yu Yaochen became cold and distant again. No matter what messages Gu Yuechen sent, he only replied with a few words, and most of the time, he simply answered with "Mm."

Gu Yuechen was dissatisfied with this state of affairs. He had already made up his mind to destroy their engagement. How could he willingly let Yu Yaochen slowly distance himself from him?

Strike while the iron was hot.

When another day off arrived, Gu Yuechen once again took the bus for more than an hour to Yu Yaochen's little villa.

This time, he finally saw Pei Huanyi.

A BMW was parked in front of the villa. Pei Huanyi stood beside the car while Yu Yaochen raised his arms to adjust his tie.

That warm, loving scene was especially painful to watch.

Gu Yuechen hid in the shadows, staring at them with a gloomy gaze.

His urge to destroy them grew stronger and stronger.

Only after Pei Huanyi got into the car and drove away did Gu Yuechen emerge from hiding.

"Chenchen." Gu Yuechen called him the way Xie Wangchi did.

If he wanted to close the distance between them, he could not keep calling him by his full name.

Yu Yaochen paused, then turned around. Surprise appeared in his eyes.

"I came to hang out with you." Suppressing his disgust, Gu Yuechen stretched out his arms and wrapped them around Yu Yaochen's lean waist. Through the thin fabric, he could feel the muscles along the other man's waist and abdomen. "Are you free today?"

Yu Yaochen had been about to say that he wanted to paint, but he could not resist Gu Yuechen's innocent doe eyes.

"I'm free."