Chapter 41

Duan Wei's expression stiffened.

Owen said, "I'll make the arrangements, so sorry for the trouble."

"...All right." Duan Wei nodded slowly.

She stepped aside to let Owen pass. At the moment they brushed past each other, Xin Chun lazily lifted the eyelid that was not pressed down, glanced at Duan Wei, then closed it again and turned his head the other way.

Not until Owen carried Xin Chun into the room and gently laid him on the bed did he squat down to remove his shoes and socks. When he stood again, he found Xin Chun's eyes open, his brows and eyes smiling as he looked at him.

Infected by that smile, Owen's expression softened as well. "What is it?"

Xin Chun lifted his legs and hooked them around Owen's waist, pulling him closer. His legs crossed behind Owen, and when Owen followed the force and fell over him, bracing an arm beside Xin Chun's face, Xin Chun said, "I drank more than you."

Owen lowered his head and sniffed at his neck. "Mm, you smell like alcohol."

Xin Chun wrinkled his nose. "Does it smell bad?"

"No, it's intoxicating."

"Are you drunk?"

"I'm drunk on you."

Xin Chun could not help covering his mouth with both hands as he secretly laughed. His ear tips were red, his cheeks were red too, and the exposed collarbones were tinged pink. After a while, he lowered his hands and said, "I'll tell you a secret."

"What?" Owen raised a brow.

Xin Chun beckoned him closer. "Come a little closer. I'm going to say it quietly."

Owen leaned closer and tilted his head slightly.

Xin Chun raised his chin, his breath brushing Owen's ear. "I can really hold my liquor, you know. Guess whether I'm drunk right now."

Owen turned his head, his eyes dark. "Then are you drunk?"

"Guess." Xin Chun pouted.

Owen pinched his lips together, turning him into a little duck, and said with a smile, "I need to inspect you."

"Okay, go ahead." Xin Chun rolled his eyes and simply spread out his limbs, lying on the bed like a starfish, looking as though he would let Owen do whatever he wanted.

Owen's gaze deepened. He reached out and undid Xin Chun's buttons, but once he pulled down the zipper, he discovered that Xin Chun had already closed his eyes. His eyelashes trembled slightly, and his breathing was even. He had actually fallen asleep.

His face was flushed, and he slept sweetly.

Owen immediately smiled helplessly, stood up, and rubbed his forehead. Then he dutifully helped Xin Chun take off his clothes, tucked him under the covers, and went to sleep.

When they got up the next day, Catherine was still there and in good spirits. Upon learning that Marcus's horse farm had recently bought several horses, she said she wanted to go take a look.

"We can hunt on the back hill too."

The estate had hunting rifles.

Xin Chun dug out his camera and looked at Owen with sparkling eyes. "Horseback riding, hunting... Owen, you'll definitely be the most handsome."

William protested, "I'm not bad either, okay?"

He secretly glanced at Catherine.

Xin Chun nodded perfunctorily. "Oh."

William was furious.

Owen brought them to the horse farm. Before that, they had already changed into riding clothes. Xin Chun took a few photos, and after Owen mounted a horse, he snapped two more.

Xin Chun did not know how to ride. After Owen rode a lap and Xin Chun finished taking pictures, Owen personally began teaching him. "Don't be afraid. I'll lead the horse. We'll walk a lap first."

"Put your foot in here, and sit up straight."

Xin Chun did as instructed. The horse was very tall, and once he sat on it, his line of sight rose. He could feel the changes in the horse's body as it moved.

After two laps, Xin Chun asked Owen to get on too.

The two sat on the same horse. Owen held Xin Chun in his arms, both hands gripping the reins as he made the horse run back and forth.

Xin Chun had his fill and wanted to get down, but Owen held him securely, his gaze never leaving him.

Catherine and William watched the whole thing, thoroughly overwhelmed by their display of affection. Catherine said, "Owen... so he's actually this doting?"

"That depends on who he's doting on," William said.

Catherine clicked her tongue.

William turned his head and asked hesitantly, "Catherine, you... you used to say you liked my cousin, but now..."

Catherine brushed back her hair. "I stopped liking him ages ago. Who would hang themselves from one tree?"

William secretly rejoiced at that.

Did that mean he had a chance too?

Xin Chun was not very interested in horseback riding. He wanted more to watch Owen hunt. There were birds and small animals on the back hill, so Catherine suggested they split into two groups and compete to see who could catch more prey.

Naturally, Xin Chun was on Owen's team.

Catherine and William formed the other team.

The two sides separated.

Xin Chun held the leash of the Alaskan dog in his hand. Rarely getting the chance to run free outdoors, Handsome Star was excited, especially since rabbits occasionally appeared in the woods.

"When are we going back home, Owen?" After watching Owen hit another piece of prey, Xin Chun asked, "Are there any other arrangements after this?"

Owen lowered his hunting rifle. "No. If you want to go back, we can return home anytime."

"Are you homesick?"

"Mm." Xin Chun nodded.

No matter how nice this place was, it was not somewhere familiar to him.

But this was where Owen had grown up. He was going to settle down in Hua Country with him, leaving his homeland behind from then on...

Xin Chun unclipped Handsome Star's leash and let him run off to play. Then he walked over and hugged Owen, burying his head against Owen's chest and rubbing against him. "Owen, thank you."

"Why are you suddenly saying that?" Owen stroked the top of Xin Chun's head with his free hand.

Xin Chun's voice was muffled. "For every compromise you've made for me. We'll come back once a year."

Owen instantly understood what Xin Chun meant. He lifted the person in his arms by the face, gave him a peck, and smiled. "Just thanks? I want a lot. Will you give it to me?"

Xin Chun said, "Whatever you want, I'll give you. Besides, I've already given you my heart. It's with you, and I'll never get it back."

Xin Chun's answer was a deep kiss.

The hunting rifle fell to the ground, mingling with the fallen leaves.

With a forceful lift of Owen's arms, Xin Chun jumped up, his legs wrapping around Owen's waist.

Owen took a few steps forward, pressing Xin Chun against a tree trunk. Yellowing leaves occasionally rustled down, concealing the sounds of their entwining...