TLSOTMTKOGAYWHTDI Chapter 78

Chapter 76: Going Home!

It was drizzling in Jiang City on the day Zhuo Huaimo returned from Yunnan.

As soon as the plane landed, he saw Qi Yanwang standing at the arrival gate, holding a black umbrella, dressed in a sharp suit as if he were going to an awards ceremony.

The young women around them glanced over frequently, and some even secretly raised their phones to take pictures.

“President Qi,”

Zhuo Huaimo walked over, pulling his suitcase, the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifting,

“Are you here to pick me up or walk the runway?”

Qi Yanwang pulled him under the umbrella, took the suitcase from him,

“Of course, I’m here to pick up my big director.”

Saying that, he lowered his voice near his ear, “And by the way, to assert my ownership.”

Zhuo Huaimo’s ears grew hot, and he then noticed there were indeed many paparazzi around.

Qi Yanwang’s arm naturally wrapped around his waist, leading him towards the parking lot.

“How was the wrap party? It’s a pity I couldn’t go!” Qi Yanwang asked.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t go,”

Zhuo Huaimo rubbed his temples, “Otherwise, it would have turned into an exclusive interview about the two of us. Those young women are really gossipy enough!”

Qi Yanwang raised an eyebrow, “Looks like I need to make up for it. I really like that kind of exclusive interview!”

“Can you tone it down a bit!”

Zhuo Huaimo looked at him, “We’re supposed to be cultural communicators!”

Qi Yanwang was dissatisfied, “What’s wrong with cultural communicators? Isn’t love in small groups still love?”

Knowing he couldn’t win the argument, Zhuo Huaimo took the initiative to end the topic!

Qi Yanwang chuckled and opened the car door. Zhuo Huaimo then noticed the back seat was piled with the “Early Spring” script and storyboard.

“You… brought all of this?”

“Yeah,” Qi Yanwang fastened his seat belt,

“Your first movie, I’ll keep it as a souvenir for you!”

Zhuo Huaimo’s heart warmed. This person always knew how to make his heart flutter in the most subtle ways.

As the car entered the villa district, Zhuo Huaimo keenly noticed the security had been noticeably increased.

Originally, there were only two patrolling security guards, but now there were four, and a new facial recognition system had been installed at the gate.

“This is…”

“Upgraded the security a bit,”

Qi Yanwang said casually, giving him a heavy kiss on the forehead,

“I want you to feel safe!”

Zhuo Huaimo turned his head to look at him, suddenly understanding something.

He remembered everything he said, even those “curses” that sounded like crazy talk.

The aroma of food filled the villa.

Aunt Zhang poked her head out of the kitchen, “Mr. Zhuo is back! I made your favorite soup.”

Three dishes and a soup were laid out on the dining table, all Zhuo Huaimo’s favorite flavors.

Qi Yanwang ladled him a bowl of soup and picked out the scallions – he remembered Zhuo Huaimo didn’t eat scallions.

After dinner, the two snuggled on the sofa to watch a movie. Qi Yanwang wrapped Zhuo Huaimo in his arms, resting his chin on his shoulder.

“What are we watching?” Zhuo Huaimo flipped through the list of movies.

“The Ring?” Qi Yanwang said deliberately.

Zhuo Huaimo was speechless, “I’m not the kind of easily frightened little girl who would cry and burrow into your arms!”

Qi Yanwang rested his head on his lap, “I know. I’ll burrow into your arms, okay?”

In the end, they chose an old-fashioned romance movie.

Halfway through the movie, Qi Yanwang suddenly said, “Su Wen sent me a message today.”

“Hm?”

“She said the whole crew is betting on when we’ll go public.”

Qi Yanwang played with Zhuo Huaimo’s fingers, “The lighting crew bet on a month from now, the props crew bet on the Golden Horse Awards ceremony.”

Zhuo Huaimo chuckled, “Those people… no, you’ve already made it this obvious. Is there a difference between us and going public?”

“Of course, there’s a difference!”

Qi Yanwang moved closer to his ear, his breath tickling his sensitive skin, “I want to propose!”

Zhuo Huaimo turned his head sharply, almost bumping into Qi Yanwang’s nose,

“You…”

“I’m serious!”

Qi Yanwang smiled and kissed the tip of his nose, moving downwards, synchronizing with the scenes in the movie.

His hands started to wander, his fingertips slipping under Zhuo Huaimo’s hem, caressing the sensitive spot on his waist.

“Qi Yanwang…” Zhuo Huaimo’s voice trembled.

“Hm?”

Qi Yanwang feigned ignorance, “Is the movie not good?”

Zhuo Huaimo turned around and straddled his lap, grabbing his tie,

“You’re doing this on purpose!”

Qi Yanwang played dumb, “Hm? Doing what on purpose?”

“Does President Qi want to ‘subtly hint’ at the director?”

Qi Yanwang wrapped his arms around his waist, flipped him over, and pinned him to the sofa,

“What if I do?”

“Then you have to pay extra…”

“Okay! It’s all yours!”

Qi Yanwang gently embraced Zhuo Huaimo, their bodies close, their breaths gradually intertwined.

He slowly leaned in, his lips gently touching Zhuo Huaimo’s, each fleeting touch filled with endless affection, as if to merge their longings into this one kiss.

Just then, “Bang—” Fireworks exploded on the television, their colorful light reflecting in the room.

Zhuo Huaimo’s body jolted, his fingers unconsciously gripping Qi Yanwang’s collar.

Qi Yanwang keenly sensed his abnormality, pulled back slightly, cupped his face in his hands, his eyes full of concern, and asked softly,

“What’s wrong?”

Zhuo Huaimo’s breathing hadn’t yet steadied, his gaze evasive, he mumbled,

“Nothing…”

Qi Yanwang stared at him for a moment, instantly understanding the reason.

He lowered his head and placed a kiss on Zhuo Huaimo’s brow, his voice low and gentle,

“Don’t be afraid, I’m always here.”

Zhuo Huaimo’s eyelashes fluttered, silent.

Qi Yanwang’s palm covered the back of his neck, gently massaging the tense muscles.

Then, his kiss fell again, this time, like a spring breeze, delicately tracing the shape of Zhuo Huaimo’s lips, full of comfort and silent promises.

Zhuo Huaimo’s tense body slowly relaxed, his hands unconsciously resting on Qi Yanwang’s shoulders.

Qi Yanwang’s kisses danced like butterflies, gliding from his neck to his collarbone, his palms always gently caressing the back of his neck, leading him to immerse himself in this warmth and security.

——

The next morning, sunlight streamed in through the gap in the curtains. Zhuo Huaimo groggily opened his eyes and discovered that Qi Yanwang was still in bed.

He blinked, his voice still hoarse from just waking up,

“Aren’t you going to the company?”

Qi Yanwang turned on his side, propping his head up with his hand, a lazy smile on his lips,

“Took three days off to be with you.”

Zhuo Huaimo was stunned, “What about the company?”

“There’s Yu Fengran!”

“You two are getting along pretty well now?”

Zhuo Huaimo raised an eyebrow, “You’re never at the company, thanks to him.”

Qi Yanwang scoffed, “He said being friends with the two of us is bad luck.”

Zhuo Huaimo couldn’t help but laugh,

“Then let’s treat him to a meal in a couple of days.”

“Maybe later,”

Qi Yanwang leaned over and kissed the tip of his nose, “He’s been busy dating recently.”

“Hm?”

Zhuo Huaimo was surprised, “Yu Fengran is dating?”

“Yeah,”

Qi Yanwang lazily played with his fingers, “He found someone outside the industry, an engineer.”

Zhuo Huaimo couldn’t help but smile, “That’s good. He finally doesn’t have to clean up your messes every day.”

Qi Yanwang bit his fingertip in dissatisfaction, “What messes do I make? Now, the only scandal I’m involved in is with you!”

Zhuo Huaimo pinched his nose, “So well-behaved? Are you this well-behaved behind my back too?”

Qi Yanwang suddenly froze, his mind suddenly flashing back to that night, that night at the Liu Jinchen Clubhouse!

He almost forgot, but now that Zhuo Huaimo said it, he did feel inexplicably guilty!

It’s okay, the photos were deleted, everyone who needed to be taken care of was taken care of, no one will know about that day!

Seeing his reaction, Zhuo Huaimo frowned,

“That reaction? Looks like you haven’t been well-behaved?”

Qi Yanwang suddenly pinned him down into the bed,

“Reasonable suspicion requires proof! Looks like I need to personally prove that my ‘supplies’ are definitely sufficient!”

……

By the time they actually got out of bed, it was almost two in the afternoon!

If Zhuo Huaimo hadn’t been complaining that he was starving, Qi Yanwang probably wouldn’t have let him out of bed!

“Oh right, I contacted that master.”

Zhuo Huaimo’s body stiffened, “Which one?”

“The one Yu Fengran recommended,”

Qi Yanwang squeezed his palm, “Want to go see him?”

Zhuo Huaimo was silent for a while, his eyes showing some hesitation.

Qi Yanwang gently ruffled his hair,

“I don’t believe in it myself, let’s just go listen to a story, and you can feel more at ease.”

He paused, “Of course, if you don’t want to go, we don’t have to.”

Zhuo Huaimo stared at him for a long time, finally taking a deep breath,

“Let’s go!”

Qi Yanwang smiled and kissed his forehead,

“Okay!”

The courtyard house with its green bricks and gray tiles was hidden deep in an old alley of Jiang City, and the wind chimes on the eaves rang in the drizzle.

Zhuo Huaimo stood in front of the vermilion gate, unconsciously stroking his cuff.

“Nervous?” Qi Yanwang squeezed his hand.

Just as Zhuo Huaimo was about to answer, the gate creaked open.

An old man wearing a navy-blue robe stood inside the gate, his silver-white beard reaching his chest, his eyes surprisingly bright.

“Mr. Qi.”

The old man nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Zhuo Huaimo, “This must be…”

“My lover.” Qi Yanwang put his arm around Zhuo Huaimo’s shoulder.

Sandalwood incense filled the tea room.

The old man poured each of them a cup of tea and suddenly spoke,

“Mr. Zhuo’s destiny is special, he has the Star of Calamity in his fate, his connection with his relatives is thin.”

Zhuo Huaimo’s fingertips trembled, and tea splashed on the back of his hand.

“But—”

The old man’s tone changed, and his withered fingers pointed at Qi Yanwang,

“This gentleman’s fate is even more peculiar. Even King Yama avoids him. He is immune to all prohibitions.”

Qi Yanwang laughed, “Does that mean I can protect him?”

“The destinies of the two of you are intertwined, originally a dead end.”

The old man took out two copper coins from his sleeve,

“But here—”

The copper coins collided with a “ding,” “there is a glimmer of hope.”

Zhuo Huaimo’s Adam’s apple bobbed, “How to break it?”

“Nine deaths, one life!”

The old man pushed the copper coins in front of him, “Life for life, calamity to offset calamity!”

Zhuo Huaimo’s hands and feet instantly turned cold. Life for life? Use whose life to exchange? Qi Yanwang? No, he would never allow such a thing to happen!

Qi Yanwang squeezed his fingertips, “Don’t worry, let’s hear him out!”

The old man stroked his beard, his gaze shifting between the two,

“If you become King Yama, you will surely be able to protect him completely. But…”

He paused, “King Yama is ultimately not a person of the mortal realm.”

Zhuo Huaimo clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

But Qi Yanwang suddenly laughed, “Master means my life is so hard even King Yama can’t take me away?”

The old man smiled and pushed a copper coin to Qi Yanwang,

“This can temporarily ensure safety.”

On the way back, Qi Yanwang played with the copper coin, deliberately waving it in front of Zhuo Huaimo’s eyes,

“See, isn’t there a way?”

“He said you’re not a person of the mortal realm…” Zhuo Huaimo’s voice trembled.

Qi Yanwang pinched his cheek, “Yeah, those little girls at the company are all afraid of me, saying I’m a living King Yama, doesn’t that fit perfectly?”

Just as Zhuo Huaimo was about to speak, Qi Yanwang’s phone suddenly rang.

The private investigator’s voice came from the speaker,

“President Qi, there’s a new discovery regarding Mr. Zhuo’s parents’ car accident.”

“Speak!”

“Ask Mr. Zhuo if he knows a person named Fu Guoqiang?”

Zhuo Huaimo shook his head slightly, “Fu Guoqiang? Don’t know him! What’s wrong?”

The private investigator continued, “We investigated your parents’ case a lot but found no clues. This Fu Guoqiang is a policeman. He died in the same place as your parents’ car accident in the second year, and he also investigated your parents’ case!”