Chapter 23

Xin Chun said softly, "What do you think, Owen?"

"If I hated her, would you think I was deliberately taking revenge—pretending I couldn't drive, didn't understand Y Language, had a low alcohol tolerance, and got drunk after only a little."

"I deliberately got close to you, seduced you, and then... mm."

Owen's jaw tightened. The photographs scattered across the floor, but neither of them cared.

He clamped a hand around Xin Chun's chin, stopping his unfinished words. "I would think that. So, are you?"

Chapter 23

Owen's figure completely enveloped him, the dim yellow light of the study falling behind Owen's back.

The room was silent. Xin Chun could not make out Owen's expression clearly; the light and shadows blurred together. Only those dark green eyes seemed like those of a beast staring intently at its prey—or perhaps a cold hunter quietly watching the prey beneath his palm. No matter how the prey struggled, it would be futile.

Xin Chun's lashes trembled as he spoke. "I..."

Yet he had only uttered one word before his voice was sealed away, as though his throat were about to be pierced through, the tip of his tongue going numb.

Only after a long while did Owen finally let him go.

Xin Chun panted, his collar in disarray, his neck flushed red, his eyes brimming with moisture.

Owen slowly stroked his cheek. "Don't say things I don't want to hear."

Xin Chun said, "Do you think I don't love you?"

Owen's gaze darkened. "No. You love me."

"More than you hiding things from me and deliberately approaching me, what I fear most is that your love for me is fake. Xin Chun, I can't bear that."

"You can't bear the consequences either."

The consequences... Would Owen lock him up and refuse to let him leave his side?

Xin Chun said, "A mother who abandoned me for years, yet failed to recognize her own son when we met again—do you think I should hate someone like that?"

"In Y Country, when she grabbed my arm, it wasn't because she couldn't bear to see her son leave. She wanted me to promise that even if you learned about this, you wouldn't mention it to Marcus. She wanted to make sure her position wouldn't change."

"She's selfish. She has only ever cared about herself. A mother like that—tell me, should I hate her, Owen?"

Xin Chun's tone was calm, with no extra expression on his face. It was as if he were discussing something unrelated to himself. Duan Wei was like a stranger to him.

Owen's fingertips brushed the corner of his eye. "You can hate her, but don't hate me. Don't stay away from me and make it so I can't find you."

"My heart aches for you, Xin Chun."

My heart aches for you. He had heard Owen say those words in his previous life too. Four simple words, enough to tear down all his defenses.

Tears instantly welled from the corners of Xin Chun's eyes, only to be gently wiped away by Owen. "Hate her, then love me. Even if you're taking revenge, as long as you love me, that's enough."

Xin Chun's lips trembled. "Hold me. Hold me, Owen."

Owen pulled him into a tight embrace.

Xin Chun clutched Owen's clothes, burying his head against his chest. He took several sharp breaths, and his tears instantly soaked through the fabric.

Then he lifted his head, resting against Owen's shoulder as he choked out, "I don't hate her. I love you, Owen. You are, you are my

salvation

."

"She's already a stranger to me, but I can't lose you. Do you understand?"

"How could I possibly be taking revenge? I love you."

"I love you too, baby. Don't cry. Be good, don't cry." Owen soothed the baby in his arms, kissing his hair, forehead, nose, cheeks...

The one who had made him cry had to comfort him himself.

Xin Chun cried until the corners of his eyes were red. He looked pitiful and adorable, and his hiccuping sobs made people want to bully him.

"You... you were mean to me."

Owen cupped his face. "Sweetheart, I was wrong."

Xin Chun's voice was soft. "What did you do wrong?"

Owen said, "I shouldn't have scared you. I shouldn't have made you sad. Baby, don't cry anymore."

Only then did Xin Chun slowly stop crying.

Owen kissed away his tears, pressing their foreheads together as he murmured, "The moment I saw those photographs, I was terrified of losing you. Xin Chun, you are my everything."

"You are mine too. Don't question my feelings, Owen. Feel it." Xin Chun pulled Owen's hand over and pressed it against his heart. "There is nothing more sincere here than my feelings for you."

Beneath his palm was the pounding of his heartbeat. Owen clasped Xin Chun's wrist in return and drew it to his lips for a kiss, then placed another kiss over his heart. Their eyes met, and the air abruptly heated.

Owen suddenly held Xin Chun tightly, gripping his waist and pulling him close. Xin Chun's back bent slightly backward, his head tilting up as his lips and tongue endured a storm of kisses.

Then his legs were lifted, and Owen carried him into the bedroom...

For three consecutive days, neither of them left their home in Jingu Town. Their original plan to return was postponed, Handsome Star was left in Li Ze's care again, and the company's affairs were temporarily handled by Ivy.

Xin Chun and Owen spent several truly outrageous days here.

On the morning of the third day, Xin Chun woke up with the instinctive feeling that if this continued, he would be ruined, so he refused Owen's advances.

Cat holding out its paw.jpg.

"No, no, Owen. We should go back."

"You really don't want to?" Owen's nose brushed past Xin Chun's earlobe.

Xin Chun was especially sensitive now. Their intimate rubbing sent a numb tingling down his spine. He shrank his neck and dodged away, whimpering softly, "No. Can we go back? We still have to move into our new home."

Only then did Owen stop and pull him into his arms. "All right. Pack up, and we'll go back tomorrow."

Xin Chun nodded.

While packing, Xin Chun thought of something. "Will you tell Uncle Marcus about this?"

Owen said, "What do you think?"

Xin Chun said, "Honestly, I don't care. Duan Wei has long been a stranger to me. Whatever happens to her has nothing to do with me."

Owen said, "When we return to S City, I'll consider it."

But after they returned to S City, news arrived first.

Duan Wei and Marcus had begun divorce proceedings.

"What happened?" Xin Chun asked in confusion.

Owen hung up the phone and said, "When you and Duan Wei were talking at the estate, a servant overheard you. The servant thought the words 'hiding the relationship between the two of you' meant Duan Wei was having an affair..."