Chapter 21

Owen stood firm without taking a single step back, his strong arms supporting Xin Chun as one hand looped beneath his legs. He chuckled softly. "What's wrong?"

"Are you scared in an unfamiliar place?"

Xin Chun buried his face in Owen's shoulder and shook his head, his voice muffled. "I'm just tired. Hold me."

Like he was soothing a child, Owen patted him and carried him to the bed. He knelt on one knee at its edge and gently laid Xin Chun down. Once Xin Chun relaxed, he braced himself on his arms and asked, "How do you want me to hold you, hmm?"

His deep voice was like an autumn maple forest.

Xin Chun still had his arms around Owen's neck. "Very tightly. No space between us."

He pulled Owen down.

The room was silent and dim. The curtains had not been drawn, and the evening glow seeped in from outside. Xin Chun had slept in Owen's arms, and when he woke, it was nearly nightfall.

He slowly opened his eyes. Owen was still holding him, one arm beneath his neck, fingers gently stroking his hair, while the other arm rested around his waist, warm to the touch.

Seeing that he was awake, Owen leaned closer and kissed Xin Chun's brow. His voice held a magnetic laziness. "You're awake, baby."

Xin Chun's ears warmed at the endearment. He could not help rubbing against him and murmured, "What time is it?"

"Almost seven. The butler knocked earlier. We can go downstairs for dinner once you're awake. Are you hungry?"

Even the soft knock had not disturbed Xin Chun's deep sleep.

"It's so late." Xin Chun rubbed his eyes and sat up. "Let's hurry downstairs. Has your father already finished dinner? We haven't shown up yet. That would be too rude."

He tugged at Owen's arm.

Owen followed his pull and sat up as well, smiling. "No. Dinner at home is usually after seven. Going down now is just right."

"I'll wash my face first."

Still groggy from sleep, he had nearly forgotten that Owen's family really did eat at this hour.

When they went downstairs, Owen's father Marcus, Duan Wei, and William were already seated at the dining table. Owen led Xin Chun over to take his seat.

William winked at Xin Chun, signaling for him to look to the other side.

—The big Alaskan dog was bent over its dinner. Its bowl was full of food, and it was clearly being treated well. When it saw Xin Chun, it merely lifted its head and gave two little whines before licking its lips and continuing to eat.

"Eat," Marcus said.

The butler and servants brought out the dishes. There were Y Country specialties, but also Hua Country cuisine, along with wine, soup, and desserts. For a while, only the sounds of tableware could be heard.

Xin Chun's table manners were excellent. After watching him for a moment, Marcus asked, "Owen hasn't told me much about his life in Hua Country, but he has been very insistent about you, his lover."

"I have no objection to whom Owen chooses to spend the rest of his life with. It is his life, and I will not interfere too much."

"But I need to know some basic information."

"What would you like to ask? Please, go ahead." Xin Chun set down his knife and fork.

"What is your family situation? What are your plans for the future? Do you truly intend to spend the rest of your life with Owen?"

Xin Chun took Owen's hand. "There's only me left in my family. My grandfather raised me from childhood. My father died early, and my mother... abandoned me to seek her own happiness."

He continued, answering Marcus's questions.

Beside them, Duan Wei paused with her cutlery in hand. For some reason, her expression shifted slightly. Then she stared at Xin Chun, her gaze appraising.

Marcus did not ask further questions. After Xin Chun finished answering, he nodded. "How is your Y Language?"

They had been speaking in Hua Country's language the entire time. At the question, Xin Chun's expression stiffened. Just as he was about to speak, Owen's amused voice sounded.

"His Y Language is very good. Every night, he listens to me read Y Language poetry, and we practice together."

"Right?" Owen turned, lifted Xin Chun's hand, and kissed it. His dark green eyes seemed to sparkle with starlight.

Xin Chun came back to himself and abruptly looked at William.

William lowered his head and shoveled food into his mouth like a guilty thief.

"Yes, I speak Y Language."

He spoke with Marcus in Y Language, smoothly and naturally, without any problem.

Marcus looked satisfied.

After dinner, Xin Chun and Owen took the big Alaskan dog for a walk around the estate to aid digestion. Once they removed its leash, the dog ran around gleefully in every direction.

Xin Chun and Owen walked behind it, holding hands. Every few steps, Xin Chun would sneak a glance at Owen.

Only when he saw Owen unable to hold back a soft laugh did he realize that all his little movements had been noticed. He immediately stopped and looked up. "You knew all along that I could speak Y Language. Did William tell you?"

"William only reminded me." Owen told him about how Xin Chun had let it slip on the plane to R Country, only to wake up and forget all about it.

Xin Chun's eyes widened. "So you did it on purpose that night!" He had deliberately read him smut.

He was not stupid. He quickly connected the pieces.

"Mm. I also know something else."

"What?"

"You told me you couldn't drive, but you drove a race car around with William."

"How did you find out about that?"

He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Owen, resting his chin against Owen's chest as he looked up. Yet being found out by Owen did not make Xin Chun nervous in the slightest. Or rather, he had been so spoiled that he had nothing to fear.

The corners of Owen's lips lifted as he hugged him back. "I was wondering why William discovered your little secret before I did. It made me a little uncomfortable."

"So after we returned from R Country, I looked into it."

He said it lightly, but Xin Chun inexplicably remembered how, in his previous life, he had wanted to leave Owen but ultimately had not been able to get out of bed.

He gave a quiet hum. "William wanted to put me in my place, but he was dumb enough to get tricked. If it weren't for me, your cousin could have been sold off without even realizing it."

"You should thank me, Owen."

Look at him—unreasonable and shameless, exactly like this.