Page 36

When it was finally his turn, his blush deepened, and heat rose to the tips of his ears.

Before long, the two of them were bare before each other. Hot water filled the bathtub, steam curling upward and warming the air in the bathroom.

Owen's fingertips traced Xin Chun's cheek. "What a pity. We still can't do anything yet."

Xin Chun curved his lips, leaned closer, and pressed a kiss to Owen's chest. "But sooner or later, I'll be yours."

After William finished bathing the dog outside, he was soaked too. Once he had finally dried the dog's fur and put everything away, he went into the bathroom to shower as well.

But after drying his hair, William looked up from the living room. There was still no movement from the second floor.

Xin Chun and Owen still hadn't come out of the bathroom...

"..."

William rubbed his growling stomach and met the Alaskan Malamute's gaze.

"Woof."

William said, "How about the two of us eat first? Would you mind if I tried some of your snacks?"

Owen's injuries gradually improved. During that time, Xin Chun went to the hospital to have his cast removed. After recuperating, Owen's wheelchair was no longer needed.

The date for their trip to Y Country was also set.

Upon learning that Owen was returning home, William naturally planned to go back with him.

Xin Chun asked, "Didn't you say your family was pressuring you to get married?"

Wouldn't going back be walking right into a trap?

William said, "They already know I'm here. It's only a matter of time before they force me to go back, so I might as well take the initiative."

"Really? I thought that with Owen and me standing in front of you, they simply hadn't had time to deal with you yet," Xin Chun said, raising a brow.

Owen had no intention of hiding his relationship with Xin Chun from his family.

This trip back to Y Country was when Owen planned to make it public and establish Xin Chun's place by his side.

William chuckled. "My cousin is different from me. He can make decisions about anything, but the two of you—especially you, Xin Chun—will definitely draw attention."

He was practically asking Xin Chun whether he was afraid.

Xin Chun's lips curled faintly.

One look at his expression told William that Xin Chun would never let himself suffer a loss. Rather than asking if he was scared, William should think about how to avoid his family's pressure to marry.

They might be staying in Y Country for quite some time, so after careful consideration, Xin Chun decided to bring the Alaskan Malamute along as well.

By the time they set out, it was already nearing late autumn back home, and it was the same abroad.

After they finally got off the plane and picked up the dog, a car came to collect them—long, luxurious, and expensive.

Xin Chun had experienced the Williams Family's wealth and influence in his previous life. He did admire that woman for reaching such a position, but that was all.

She had done everything she could to curry favor with the other party's child, treating him as her own, yet she had ignored the flesh and blood she had given birth to for years, even...

"What are you thinking about?" Owen tightened his hold on Xin Chun's hand.

Xin Chun came back to himself and smiled at him. "Nothing. It's just that I'm about to meet your father and stepmother. I'm a little nervous, afraid they won't like me."

"And you said you have quite a lot of family members."

The Williams were a large family with many members.

Owen said, "Don't care about what they think. It isn't important. My father blesses us, and besides, we love each other. We'll only settle down in Hua Country in the future."

Family affection within the Williams Family was not particularly warm. They were more distant, indifferent, and polite.

They believed that one's life belonged to oneself and that others need not interfere too much, so naturally, they did not meddle in one another's affairs.

But William's mother marrying Jensen was a different matter altogether.

Owen intertwined his fingers with Xin Chun's, lifted their joined hands, and kissed them.

William said, "..."

Could you please remember that there's still a single dog beside you two? Stop tormenting me.

After driving for over half an hour, the car entered an estate.

They continued for another ten minutes before reaching the residence, a building that looked like something one would only see on television.

Looking at the familiar scene from his memories, Xin Chun's chest rose and fell once. Their luggage was carried away, while William held the Alaskan Malamute's leash.

William was going to take the dog for some water first.

"Leave Starlight to me. You two go inside first."

Xin Chun nodded. "All right, sorry for the trouble."

He bent down and hugged his dog son. The dog was quite bold; despite arriving somewhere unfamiliar, he was not the least bit timid. With his tongue lolling out, he was eager to run around and explore.

"Let's go," Owen said.

There were quite a few people waiting in the living room. When Xin Chun and Owen entered, the whole family turned to look at them.

The first person to step forward was Owen's father. He resembled Owen by about half, with brown hair and green eyes, though his features were deeper-set, and the lines between his brows bore the marks of time.

Beside him stood a woman from Hua Country wearing a qipao, elegant and gentle in appearance.

After embracing Owen, Owen's father turned to Xin Chun and spoke in the Hua Country language. "So this is the lover you brought home?"

"Yes." Owen took Xin Chun's hand and introduced him.

Xin Chun smiled as well. "Hello."

He spoke to Owen's father first, then greeted the lady beside him.

"You're from Hua Country too?" There was not the slightest hint of anything unusual in Xin Chun's expression.

Upon hearing Xin Chun's name, Duan Wei showed no surprise or confusion either. Smiling, she said, "Yes. I'm so happy that Owen could bring you back. The moment I saw you, I felt a sense of familiarity."

Familiarity... He was standing right in front of this woman, yet she could not recognize her own son. How laughable.

So Xin Chun smiled.

Perhaps out of consideration for Xin Chun, Owen's father spoke Hua Country's language whenever he talked to him.

The others did not say much. After meeting Owen, they left before long. Soon after, the butler came down to inform them that their room had been prepared.

"You should rest first," Owen's father, Marcus, said.

The moment they entered the room and shut the door, Xin Chun threw his arms around Owen and refused to let go. Like a koala, he jumped up and wrapped his legs around Owen's waist, his arms tightly looped around Owen's neck.