Page 38

But Owen merely smiled indulgently, holding Xin Chun and swaying him gently. "All right, thank you, my baby."

Then he even kissed him. He did not spoil a child this much.

While the two were being lovey-dovey, Handsome Star, having run wild to his heart's content, circled back and threw himself against Xin Chun's legs, acting spoiled. "Woof woof."

Owen let go. Xin Chun lowered his head, reached out to pick the dead leaves tangled in the dog's fur, and rubbed his ears.

"Let's go back," Owen said.

"Mm."

The dog had a room specifically for sleeping. As Xin Chun took Handsome Star over, he ran into Duan Wei in the hallway. He stopped, his expression unchanged, and asked calmly, "You're not asleep yet?"

Duan Wei stared at Xin Chun with a secretive, startled, hesitant look, as though she wanted to see something in him.

"Mm, yes. I'll be going back to my room soon. Where's Owen?"

Xin Chun said, "He went to see Uncle Marcus. They have something to discuss. Didn't you know?"

He admitted that he was being a little malicious.

Because Duan Wei and Marcus slept in separate rooms.

Sure enough, at those words, Duan Wei's expression stiffened slightly. "I wasn't with Marcus just now."

"Oh." Xin Chun neither confirmed nor denied it, looking entirely unconcerned.

Duan Wei quickly composed herself. "Xin Chun, you and Owen work together in S City, but you seem not to have mentioned where your hometown is. Can you tell me?"

Her manner was proper, as if she were merely making casual conversation.

Xin Chun said, "Why do you want to know that?"

"For personal reasons," Duan Wei said.

Xin Chun said, "Jingu Town. I grew up in Jingu Town."

Duan Wei's eyes suddenly widened. At last, she could no longer maintain her composure and lost control of her expression.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first." As though he had seen nothing, Xin Chun walked around her and took Handsome Star off to bed.

For some reason—perhaps she had yet to recover from the shock—Duan Wei did not stop Xin Chun from leaving.

After settling the dog down, Xin Chun returned to Owen's room.

Not long after, Owen returned as well.

Seeing Xin Chun sitting obediently at the bedside waiting for him, Owen's heart melted. He went over and hugged him. "You're being so good. Were you waiting for me?"

"Mm. What did you talk about?" Xin Chun asked.

Owen said, "In two days, there'll be a dinner party at home. I'll officially introduce you to everyone else. That day is also my birthday."

"Are you willing?"

Xin Chun climbed up Owen's arm and stood, wrapping both hands around his neck. He said softly, "I am. I'm very happy that you keep me in your heart, Owen. And... happy birthday. Do you want to unwrap your present early?"

"What present?"

"Me. Do you want me?" His voice gradually became too soft to hear, finally disappearing between their touching lips and teeth.

After the kiss, Xin Chun bit Owen's lower lip again. A suggestive sound escaped as he tugged at it. "Mm, do you want me?"

Owen proved with his actions that he did.

After a night passed, Xin Chun lay sprawled in Owen's arms at dawn, his cheek resting against Owen's chest. The shoulder exposed beyond the blanket bore many flushed marks from being loved.

There were surely more beneath the blanket.

Their clothes had been tossed all over the floor.

Owen woke first and lowered his head to kiss the baby in his arms.

Xin Chun made two soft noises and shifted slightly without waking, burying his head even deeper.

Owen quietly held him and slept for a little while longer.

Until Xin Chun groggily opened his eyes and asked what time it was, whether they should get up.

Owen said, "You can sleep as long as you want. Are you hungry? I'll bring breakfast up."

"A little." Xin Chun rubbed his stomach.

"Wait for me." Owen kissed his cheek, got out of bed, and dressed.

Xin Chun finished breakfast in the room and did not go downstairs until nearly noon. His collar could not fully hide the marks on his neck, and William clicked his tongue when he saw them.

"I'm going home. I'll come back when the dinner party starts."

"Mm. Take care, no need to see you out."

William glanced at Owen, who was feeding the dog nearby, and said, "You know other people will be invited to the dinner party too, right?"

"Such as?" Xin Chun raised an eyebrow.

William said, "Like my cousin's classmate, a girl who grew up with him. Her father is also Uncle Marcus's friend. Her name is Catherine."

"Mm,

childhood sweethearts

, but why are you telling me this?" Xin Chun said.

Seeing that Xin Chun was entirely unmoved, William leaned closer and muttered directly, "What sweethearts? Don't you get it? Uncle Marcus wanted Owen and Catherine to get married."

"Catherine has also said that she likes Owen. Owen rejected her later, so the matter was never brought up again. But Catherine will be coming to this dinner party too."

"You should watch out for her causing trouble for you."

Xin Chun stared at William.

William's scalp prickled under his gaze. "What?"

Xin Chun said, "You were targeting me before. Don't tell me it was because of Catherine."

"You're talking nonsense. I-I wasn't." William raised his voice.

Owen looked over.

William immediately covered his mouth and turned to run away.

Owen came over and asked, "What happened?"

Xin Chun smiled. "Nothing. Just a little secret about William."

Owen said, "I'm not allowed to know?"

Xin Chun said, "Then I'll tell you quietly."

Xin Chun rose onto his toes and whispered in Owen's ear.

As he left, he happened to glimpse Duan Wei on the second floor. Her hands rested on the railing as she watched Xin Chun with an unreadable expression.

That afternoon, Duan Wei finally found a chance to speak with Xin Chun alone.

"Can we talk?" Duan Wei's expression was complicated.

"Sure. What do you want to talk about?" Xin Chun agreed readily.

"Let's talk outside. We can take a walk too."

The estate was huge and connected to part of the mountain forest. Xin Chun and Duan Wei walked along a small path. Though they had said they would talk, neither spoke first.

Until Xin Chun stopped.

"What do you want to talk about? You can say it here."