A Sweet Confession

Liang Xingyao arrived within half an hour. Yu Qingchuan opened the door for him, and the moment Liang Xingyao saw him, he froze.

"Mr. Yu?" he called uncertainly.

Yu Qingchuan answered, "President Liang, it's been a long time."

"It has, but you've changed so much." Liang Xingyao looked rather dazed, staring at Yu Qingchuan's face with a somewhat presumptuous gaze.

Yu Qingchuan had completely slimmed down. He had never carried that much fat to begin with; most of his excess weight had been swelling caused by his poor kidney function. Once he began taking Chinese medicine, his weight had dropped rapidly.

Before, his complexion had been ashen, and he had looked listless. Now, he was like a pearl with the dust brushed away, revealing his remarkable beauty.

His skin was fair, smooth, and delicate, and his features were exquisitely refined, so beautiful that he almost didn't seem real.

Liang Xingyao had already known Yu Qingchuan would be a stunning beauty once he slimmed down, but actually seeing him like this brought out his weakness for pretty faces. His heart truly began to stir.

A little embarrassed by his stare, Yu Qingchuan lowered his eyes and turned slightly aside to avoid that burning gaze. "Brother Yi is waiting for you in the bedroom upstairs."

"Sorry, Mr. Yu," Liang Xingyao said. "I really do have a weakness for good looks. I didn't mean to offend you. I'll go see Shiyi first."

With that, he headed upstairs.

Yu Qingchuan had already moved his easel into the study, so he went to the second-floor study to continue painting.

In the bedroom, Liang Xingyao was deeply moved to see Lu Shiyi awake.

He and Lu Shiyi had built their business together from nothing. The process... well, it hadn't exactly been arduous, but they still shared a deep bond.

Especially after Lu Shiyi's accident, Liang Xingyao had realized that the company really couldn't function without him!

"Shiyi, when did you wake up? Why didn't you tell me? That's pretty lousy of you," Liang Xingyao grumbled. "How are you feeling now? Have you fully recovered?"

Lu Shiyi shook his head. "I'm awake now, but I still need some time to recover completely."

"Either way, it's good that you're awake," Liang Xingyao said. "But what's going on between you and Yu Qingchuan? He's your brother's boyfriend. Shouldn't you keep a little distance instead of casually answering his phone?"

That was something Liang Xingyao couldn't figure out either. How had Lu Shiyi taken Yu Qingchuan's phone so naturally?

Lu Shiyi said, "Qingchuan isn't Shiming's boyfriend. He's always been mine."

Liang Xingyao was stunned, shocked, and utterly bewildered. After a long pause, he asked, "You're joking, right?"

Lu Shiyi had no desire to explain too much and settled the matter outright. "It was a temporary arrangement after my accident. In any case, keep your distance from him. Don't contact him and cause unnecessary trouble, or my return to the company will be postponed indefinitely. I've been busy working all these years anyway. It wouldn't be bad to spend more time with Qingchuan."

As he thought about it, Lu Shiyi genuinely began to like the idea.

This was the first time in his twenty-seven years that he had fallen for someone. Naturally, he wanted a perfect, happy romance.

"Okay, okay, I get it." Liang Xingyao raised his hands in surrender. Whether he could coast through life depended entirely on Lu Shiyi. How could he dare offend him?

He could only suppress the attraction that had just stirred in him and stop entertaining any hopes.

Still, it was no wonder Lu Shiyi had fallen for him. Who wouldn't like a boy this beautiful who could paint, too?

Liang Xingyao let out a long sigh. "You really went straight from doing nothing to knocking it out of the park, finding yourself such a wonderful boyfriend. Meanwhile, poor me is still all alone. But at least I have a direction now. I'll check out an art academy in a few days. Maybe I'll find someone I like."

Once they finished discussing that, they talked for a while about the company's recent development. Then Lu Shiyi sent Liang Xingyao packing.

Hearing the commotion, Yu Qingchuan came out to see Liang Xingyao off. Liang Xingyao apologized again. "Sorry. I didn't know you were dating Shiyi, Mr. Yu. I really overstepped earlier. I hope you won't hold it against me."

What? He was dating Lu Shiyi?

How come he hadn't known about it himself?

Still, Yu Qingchuan didn't deny anything. He could ask Lu Shiyi later. Rather than responding to that, he simply said, "It's fine, President Liang. Don't worry about it. Take care."

After seeing Liang Xingyao off, Yu Qingchuan went to the master bedroom with questions on his mind. Lu Shiyi was trying to change positions, and Yu Qingchuan hurried over to help.

"Qingchuan, I want to try getting out of bed," Lu Shiyi said. "Could you support me?"

"Of course." Yu Qingchuan immediately held his arm and helped move his legs, then let Lu Shiyi lean against him as he tried to take a step. He was exceptionally patient and gentle.

Lu Shiyi looked at Yu Qingchuan's intent profile, amusement flickering in his eyes.

Yu Qingchuan was so wonderful. He wouldn't feel at ease until he had claimed him and kept him by his side.

Lu Shiyi's body had mostly recovered, but after more than three months without getting out of bed to walk, he couldn't quite control his legs. Walking was difficult, and half his weight rested on Yu Qingchuan.

He was more than half a head taller than Yu Qingchuan and much broader. With an arm around Yu Qingchuan's shoulders, Lu Shiyi managed a dozen or so steps before he felt weak. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and he had to lie down again.

Yu Qingchuan felt awful watching him. "Brother Yi, what can I do to help you? Do we still need physical contact? How about you hold me?"

"Let's hold hands." Lu Shiyi reached toward Yu Qingchuan and got his wish, taking that soft, warm hand. Then he brought it up casually. "Liang Xingyao didn't say anything else inappropriate to you just now, did he?"

That reminded Yu Qingchuan of his earlier confusion. He asked hesitantly, "Brother Yi, why did President Liang say we were... were dating?"

By the end of the question, Yu Qingchuan was a little embarrassed.

"He can't control himself when he sees someone good-looking." Lu Shiyi gently stroked the back of Yu Qingchuan's hand with the pad of his finger. "So I told him you were my boyfriend."

"Oh, I see." Yu Qingchuan was a little disappointed, but he quickly adjusted his feelings. Brother Yi had only been trying to help him.

Yet just as that thought crossed his mind, Lu Shiyi continued, "Of course, I also had my own selfish reasons. I don't want anyone coveting the person I like."

Yu Qingchuan felt as though his heartbeat had been sent on a roller coaster. The slightly rough fingertip brushing the back of his hand sent tingling sensations through him.

Had he heard that right? Had Lu Shiyi just said... he liked him?

"You heard me right." As though he had read Yu Qingchuan's mind, Lu Shiyi tightened his grip on their joined hands and pulled him into his arms. His voice sounded beside Yu Qingchuan's ear, gentle and resonant. "I originally planned to confess once I'd fully recovered, and make it more formal and special. But when I thought about how wonderful you are and how other people might want you, I couldn't hold back."

"I'm not that wonderful." Yu Qingchuan instinctively tried to deny it.

But Lu Shiyi gave him no chance. "Qingchuan, to me, you're perfect. You're everything I imagined in a partner, and so much more. If you don't believe me, you can ask Shiming. He already treats you as family, with respect and affection. You've felt that, haven't you?"

Yu Qingchuan thought it over, following Lu Shiyi's words. It was true. At some point, Lu Shiming had begun treating him with complete sincerity.

"So if I like you, it must be because you're wonderful enough to deserve it. Do you understand?" Lu Shiyi raised a hand to ruffle Yu Qingchuan's hair. It was soft, just like him-soft and sweet, as though he would be easy to tease.

Yu Qingchuan lay obediently in Lu Shiyi's arms. His heartbeat hadn't returned to normal, and his face was flushed. Lu Shiyi's gentle affirmation gave him a little courage. "Then, Brother Yi, you like me, and I like you. Are we dating now?"

After all, Lu Shiyi was wonderful, too! This was also Yu Qingchuan's first time falling for someone. Since they liked each other, they could make it official.

Hearing such adorable words, Lu Shiyi couldn't help lowering his head to kiss the crown of Yu Qingchuan's head. "Not yet."

"Huh?" Yu Qingchuan immediately looked up. "Why not?"

"Because I haven't formally courted you yet." Lu Shiyi's deep eyes seemed lit with starlight, gentle and dazzling. "When we're old and look back on this, won't we feel that we made our relationship official too hastily, without enough romance? Of course, most importantly, I want to do everything I can to give you the most perfect experience. After all, this is the only romance you'll ever have."

Yu Qingchuan had no defense against Lu Shiyi when he was this gentle and assertive.

Nor did he want one.

Who could turn down a boyfriend with impossibly good looks and long legs, who could make money and whisper sweet nothings, too?

He even wondered whether all his past misfortunes had been building up good karma so he could meet Lu Shiyi.

Feeling dizzy with happiness, Yu Qingchuan stayed in Lu Shiyi's arms for quite a while before getting up. He still needed to paint, and for Lu Shiyi's sake, he wanted to become someone even more worthy of love.

With his heart full of love, Yu Qingchuan's painting grew even more romantic and beautiful. He changed the Eight-Winged Holy Angel's originally cool expression into an upturned smile and added some pink when mixing his colors. Anyone who saw the painting would be moved by the intense love it conveyed.

Yu Qingchuan spent three full days on this painting. It was the longest he had ever spent on a work, and the most care he had ever put into one.

The finished oil painting still needed to dry, but he had used fast-drying paints when mixing his colors and added Liquin Medium. He had also controlled how much paint he applied, keeping the layers thin. As a result, the painting would dry completely in just twenty-four hours, leaving plenty of time to enter the competition.

Over those three days, whenever Yu Qingchuan took a break, he cuddled with Lu Shiyi to recharge him. By the afternoon of the third day, Lu Shiyi suddenly had a feeling that his consciousness would no longer separate from his body. He had truly emerged from his vegetative state and fully recovered.

Yu Qingchuan was delighted. He immediately contacted the Yu Corporation's private hospital and called Lu Shiming to take Lu Shiyi in for an examination. The results showed that everything had returned to normal. All he needed now was rehabilitation training.

The doctors were shocked, too. After all, their panel of specialists had held multiple meetings to discuss his condition before finally concluding that Lu Shiyi might remain in a permanent vegetative state.

But miracles did happen in this world. Whatever the explanation, Lu Shiyi's full recovery was truly something to celebrate.

Lu Shiming burst into tears on the spot. His brother was better now. He could beat him up again.

At first, Yu Qingchuan thought Lu Shiming was crying from excitement. Only after asking did he learn the truth, and he couldn't help bursting into laughter.

Still, he was looking forward to it, too.

But now came the question: since Lu Shiyi no longer needed recharging, would they still sleep together at night?