There it was again.
Perhaps because he had heard things so many times over the past two days, Nan Qing could now keep a straight face.
He watched Huo Yuzhou take the ice water, unscrew the cap, and slowly bring the bottle to his lips.
Even the way he drank was exceptionally elegant. Water glistened on his thin lips, giving them an unusual rosy flush. His long, straight lashes lowered, casting dense shadows beneath his eyes, and his whole bearing carried a solemn nobility.
In all fairness, the big-shot villain Huo Yuzhou was much more handsome than Xi Juan, this world's protagonist gong.
Just like at this moment, as the car sped down the asphalt road, Huo Yuzhou's sharply defined profile reflected in the window. His eyes were deep-set, his nose high-bridged, and his soft yet sharply outlined lips held an aloofness that kept everyone at arm's length.
The scene easily brought to mind some classic character from a film.
Perhaps he had stared too long, because Huo Yuzhou turned his gaze toward him.
Nan Qing instantly went on alert.
He began reviewing whether he had done anything else out of line today besides trading barbs with Bai Ruanruan, but before he could finish, Huo Yuzhou spoke again.
"I'm sorry. When you mentioned being sick this morning, I thought you were joking and didn't take it seriously."
Nan Qing blinked and instantly relaxed.
"It's okay."
Huo Yuzhou continued.
"I was in the wrong today. I apologize."
"I've already reflected on it. This mistake happened partly because I've never been in a relationship and don't yet know how to be someone's husband, and partly because I haven't been caring enough toward you."
"But whatever the reason, the problem was mine."
"According to our contract, you can ask anything of me, so..."
Those long, narrow eyes looked at him without blinking as his thin lips moved.
"Qingqing, is there anything you want?"
The question left Nan Qing stunned.
Wait, wasn't Huo Yuzhou getting a little too invested in this contract relationship?
When he didn't answer, Huo Yuzhou patiently asked again.
"For example, a role in a particular film? Or a car, a house, or something else a little expensive?"
"Anything is fine. It doesn't matter."
Huo Yuzhou reached out his large, well-defined hand and took Nan Qing's fingertips.
"As long as you want it, I can do it today."
Nan Qing looked up at Huo Yuzhou, then down at their clasped fingers. A thought flashed through his mind, and his eyes suddenly curved.
"Sure."
"Hubby, I'm going on a variety show tomorrow. Could you take me there?"
Judging by how Bai Ruanruan had repeatedly picked fights with him today, he would definitely target him on tomorrow's Hello, World.
Besides, the company had no good intentions either. Suddenly sending him out to appear on the show with Bai Ruanruan was clearly meant to let Bai Ruanruan use him as a stepping stone.
But he, Nan Qing, was no pushover.
Why should he let Bai Ruanruan step all over him?
Since they were officially going to war, Bai Ruanruan couldn't blame him for scoring an opening victory first thing tomorrow morning!
"Of course. That's tomorrow's request. What about today?"
Huo Yuzhou's gaze swept imperceptibly over their clasped fingers, a tenderness that was difficult to detect flashing in his eyes.
"What does today's Qingqing want?"
Half an hour later, in a private room at an internet-famous restaurant renowned for its atmosphere, Nan Qing sat quite comfortably on Huo Yuzhou's lap, holding his hand as he snapped away.
Huo Yuzhou didn't know exactly what he was doing, but cooperated.
From their interlaced fingers to their intimately snuggled poses, Nan Qing took more than a dozen photos in succession, skillfully ensuring that every one showed they were lovers without revealing Huo Yuzhou's face.
When he had taken about enough, a message popped up at the top of his phone screen.
"White Lotus: /image"
"White Lotus: /image"
"White Lotus: Sorry, I think I sent those to the wrong person. Mom bought me another car. I heard she's never bought you one. You won't be jealous, will you? /covered mouth"
Nan Qing raised an eyebrow.
He turned off the screen and lifted his pretty face toward Huo Yuzhou, the rounded outer corners of his eyes tilting slightly upward as he spoke very softly.
"Hubby, thank you for being so cooperative just now."
"But hubby, those didn't seem quite enough. Could you help me again?"
His thick, dark lashes fluttered as the red-lipped, white-toothed youth leaned closer, his soft, light breath brushing the side of Huo Yuzhou's neck.
Even his voice sounded coaxing as he pleaded with him.
"Hubby, would you help me again and take some racier pictures?"
A moment of shock flashed across Huo Yuzhou's otherwise unruffled face before it quickly returned to normal.
The handsome man surveyed the room and, after a brief silence, asked very courteously,
"Here?"
The pretty young man in his arms nodded eagerly, a sly gleam flashing in his clear eyes. Like a little fox harboring wicked intentions, he spoke in an obedient tone.
"It's okay, hubby. Please trust me. It'll be over very soon..."
Huo Yuzhou fell silent again.
If the setting hadn't been wrong, he might even have suspected his Qingqing was trying to entrap him.
For instance, the moment this little bastard stripped off his clothes, a group of people might burst in at an inopportune moment and threaten to take compromising photos of him.
Or perhaps no one would burst in today, and the little thing sitting in his arms would use that sugary tone to coax him into taking off one piece of clothing after another, then throw his suit out the door and stand with his hands on his hips, laughing about how he had been tricked.
After all, he was always coming up with strange pranks, and in the past he had always found different ways to tease him.
Huo Yuzhou's throat bobbed several times as he put up a little resistance.
"Can we take them at home?"
"Hubby, I promise it'll be quick!" His expression was earnest.
His resistance having failed, Huo Yuzhou looked at him calmly.
"Then what do you want me to do?"
Nan Qing's eyes lit up.
"Hubby! How are you so generous? You're truly the most generous man I've ever met!"
As Nan Qing showered him with rainbow farts, he eagerly began undoing the mother-of-pearl buttons on Huo Yuzhou's shirt.
His hands moved even faster than his flattery. After undoing three buttons, Nan Qing suddenly leaned against him.
Soft, fluffy hair brushed Huo Yuzhou's jaw, like tiny ants carrying torches through his veins, setting off a string of tingling itches.
Huo Yuzhou's body went taut, and he didn't even dare relax his breathing.
The next instant,
A soft, tender cheek pressed firmly against his chest, even the strands of hair falling into the hollow of his neck. Huo Yuzhou stiffly lowered his eyes and saw only half a little face nestled against his chest.
The pointed, upturned chin held a certain delicacy, and the petal-like lips looked as though they had been steeped in rose juice, glistening a moist red.
Huo Yuzhou's heart skipped a beat, then resumed pounding heavily.
Yet the pretty young man with his cheek pressed against his chest noticed nothing and continued complaining in that sweet, coquettish tone.
"Hubby, your heart is beating way too fast..."