If We Had Met Sooner

Gu Yuechen suddenly opened his eyes and immediately looked at his phone, only to find that it was already eight in the evening.

Crap!

He had only meant to nap for half an hour, but he had actually overslept until evening.

He should still be able to catch the last bus.

Gu Yuechen hurriedly got out of bed. Just as he was about to leave the room, he ran into Yu Yaochen carrying a tray.

Yu Yaochen froze for a moment, then his gaze flickered away, avoiding eye contact with Gu Yuechen.

"I made some porridge. Come eat with me."

Seeing that Yu Yaochen had recovered, Gu Yuechen could not help letting out a sigh of relief. Once he came to his senses, though, he cursed himself inwardly for being insane. Why was he so concerned about taking care of his love rival? It was already merciful enough that he had not taken the opportunity to strangle him to death.

"No need. I should be going back." Having just woken up, Gu Yuechen had not yet put on his hypocritical mask, and his tone was extremely cold.

Yu Yaochen's long lashes trembled slightly as he blocked the doorway.

A flash of irritation crossed Gu Yuechen's eyes. Before he could speak, he heard the other man say, "After you finish the porridge, I'll drive you back."

Was he crazy?

He had nearly been exposed last time. How could he possibly let Yu Yaochen drive him home again?

"No need to trouble yourself."

"It's no trouble." Yu Yaochen's usually cool voice sounded somewhat rushed at the moment. "I'm dropping you off on the way. I need to go back to the Household tonight."

Gu Yuechen: "..."

That did not seem very much on the way.

But if Yu Yaochen said that, he probably would not be going into that apartment building.

If Gu Yuechen hurried off to catch the bus now, he might be able to catch one nearby, but he might miss the next bus for his transfer.

Not wanting to waste money, Gu Yuechen hesitated before nodding in agreement.

"All right." Gu Yuechen looked at the tray in his hands. "Are we eating here?"

"Mm, there's a small table." Yu Yaochen set the tray down on the little table, then placed the two bowls of porridge on it. "Try it and see if it's too bland. If it is, I'll add some salt."

Upon hearing that, Gu Yuechen stared at Yu Yaochen in shock.

"You really made this?"

A rare hint of shyness appeared on Yu Yaochen's handsome face as he nodded slightly.

"When I studied abroad, I wasn't used to the food there, so I often cooked for myself."

Gu Yuechen quickly picked up a spoon and took a sip.

It tasted very good, but his expression darkened even further.

What a virtuous wife. In comparison, it seemed he had lost again.

"How is it?" Yu Yaochen asked expectantly.

"It's... passable." Gu Yuechen did not want to praise him too highly, so he immediately changed the subject. "How did you not even know you had a fever? Doesn't that auntie who cooks for you come on weekends?"

To this day, Gu Yuechen had never met that cooking auntie. Every evening, he would leave in time to catch the bus.

"I haven't wanted to see anyone lately."

Gu Yuechen looked up at him. "Why?"

Yu Yaochen did not answer. He merely reminded him to blow on it before eating because the porridge was a little hot.

Gu Yuechen had already grown accustomed to the way he spoke, so he could not be bothered to ask again.

After they finished eating, the two sat there resting.

"Thank you for taking care of me today," Yu Yaochen said gratefully.

"You're my friend. How could I not take care of you when I saw you were sick?" Gu Yuechen's lips curved upward, though the smile did not reach his eyes. "If I got sick, would you be this good to me too?"

"I would." Yu Yaochen looked at Gu Yuechen with unwavering determination.

Gu Yuechen frowned slightly and shifted his gaze away without leaving a trace.

"Oh, right. The clothes you lent me to wear at the birthday banquet have already been washed. I left them on the cabinet downstairs. I'll give them to you later."

Yu Yaochen had not expected Gu Yuechen to wash the clothes and return them.

"That outfit was new. I had intended to give it to you. It was my fault for not making that clear."

"That would be too embarrassing." Gu Yuechen did not want Yu Yaochen's charity.

All of a sudden, his gaze fell on the ring on Yu Yaochen's ring finger, and he spoke like a devil.

"Can I look at your ring?"

Without thinking much of it, Yu Yaochen directly held out the hand wearing the ring to Gu Yuechen.

"Can you take it off?" Gu Yuechen said. "I want to see it more clearly."

Yu Yaochen hummed in acknowledgment, took off the ring, and placed it in Gu Yuechen's palm.

"What a beautiful ring." Gu Yuechen held it in his hands, staring at it intently. "Who picked it out?"

"Both our parents."

Gu Yuechen gently traced the pattern on the ring with his fingertips and said something utterly inexplicable.

"Did Doctor Pei put it on for you himself?"

"Mm."

Gu Yuechen held his breath and raised his eyes to look at Yu Yaochen.

"Can I try it on?" Gu Yuechen said. "I've never seen a ring this expensive."

Yu Yaochen's expression froze slightly. He found it a little strange, but he could not refuse the pleading look in Gu Yuechen's eyes. After hesitating briefly, he nodded.

"You can."

Gu Yuechen immediately slipped it on and raised his hand to admire it.

Yu Yaochen's finger was a little larger than his, so the ring fit rather loosely.

But he did not care. In his mind, he imagined Pei Huanyi putting the ring on him.

I want to never take it off for the rest of my life.

"Yuechen, are you done?"

Yu Yaochen's voice shattered Gu Yuechen's fantasy. His gaze dimmed as he removed the ring and returned it, then watched enviously as Yu Yaochen put it back on.

"Let's go downstairs. Have some hot tea, then I'll take you back."

"Okay."

Yu Yaochen picked up the tray, and the two of them left the lounge together.

The studio was beside the staircase, so they had to pass by it.

Gu Yuechen stopped walking. "What have you been painting lately?"

"I..." Yu Yaochen's expression suddenly became complicated, as though it were difficult for him to speak of it.

Gu Yuechen narrowed his eyes, instantly intrigued. Without asking for permission, he turned around, opened the studio door, and switched on the light.

"Yuechen, don't go in." Yu Yaochen hurried after him, his voice trembling unmistakably.

It was too late.

Gu Yuechen had already seen what was inside. They were all portraits of Gu Yuechen.

His mouth fell slightly open as he stared at the paintings in disbelief.

So Yu Yaochen had been painting him all this time?

Yu Yaochen stood behind Gu Yuechen, not daring to step forward and see his expression.

Like a child who had done something wrong, he gripped the tray tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the force.

Gu Yuechen's prolonged silence made Yu Yaochen feel unbearably tormented.

He also felt as though he were going insane.

How could he lock himself away in here and paint so many portraits of Gu Yuechen?

Gu Yuechen finally spoke. "You really are amazing at painting. You've made me look better than I do in real life."

Yu Yaochen slowly lifted his eyes. Staring at the fair skin visible above Gu Yuechen's collar, he said hoarsely, "That's not true. You look better."

Gu Yuechen turned around. There was not the slightest hint of disgust on his face as he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Yu Yaochen's waist.

Yu Yaochen's heart trembled, and his breathing instinctively grew lighter.

"Give me one." Gu Yuechen smiled. "I want to put it in my home and admire it every day."

Seeing that Gu Yuechen did not mention the forbidden boundary between them, Yu Yaochen let out a breath of relief, though he also felt a trace of sorrow and pain.

If we had met sooner.

Perhaps he would have pursued Gu Yuechen, but it was too late now. There was only a little over half a year left until the wedding, and canceling it rashly would certainly result in tremendous losses. The agreement between their two families had also been signed at the time of the engagement, and their interests had long since become intertwined.

He could not hurt his parents for the sake of his own selfish desires.

Besides, this was only his unrequited love. Gu Yuechen might not even like men.

He looked at the paintings in the studio and quietly made a decision.

After taking Gu Yuechen home, he would come back and dispose of these paintings.

He would never paint another person's portrait again.

Yu Yaochen closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his expression had returned to calm. "All right. I'll go put the bowls away first."

"Mm, I'll wait for you here."

After Yu Yaochen went downstairs, the smile on Gu Yuechen's face deepened.

It seemed his coldness from some time ago had worked. Yu Yaochen had already begun falling into his trap.

However, he did not intend to push too hard. He could tell that Yu Yaochen was struggling with his morals.

He and Yu Yaochen had only known each other for a few months, and his feelings for him had been a momentary impulse. He did not believe that pressing harder would make Yu Yaochen abandon Pei Huanyi and choose him.

Yu Yaochen might instead cut him off completely and return to his lover's embrace.

Although he felt terribly sorry for Pei Huanyi, he knew Yu Yaochen was not worthy of him.

Even without him, Gu Yuechen, there would be another seducer. Rather than let Pei Huanyi suffer after marriage, it would be better for him to help Pei Huanyi see Yu Yaochen's true colors.

He hoped Pei Huanyi could marry someone better, not a dark and selfish villain like himself, nor a fickle, promiscuous man like Yu Yaochen.