“Little husband…”
Since their marriage, Chu Tingyun had loved calling Yan Xun that. The tone was particularly flirtatious and familiar, as if he were addressing a kept lover or a pet.
At that time, Yan Xun felt that Chu Tingyun was probably insulting him. After all, their marriage was nothing but a sham, and the “little” not only referred to their age difference but also to their disparity in status.
But once everything was laid bare, Yan Xun realized that Chu Tingyun might just be teasing him. Or perhaps… that title was merely a desperate attempt to emphasize their successfully tied and inseparably bonded marriage.
Yet Yan Xun always felt their relationship was inherently unequal.
With power and wealth, Chu Tingyun was the dominant force, the one in control. When he was happy, he would call Yan Xun “little husband,” beckoning him to fulfill his partner duties; when he was unhappy, he would go into a frenzy, tying him to the bed and treating him like a toy for his pleasure. Yan Xun felt humiliated, but his body instinctively complied.
“Feels good, huh?”
At that moment, Chu Tingyun would cup his face, wanting to see Yan Xun’s flushed, restrained, yet yearning expression, unable to escape desire.
He even tried to record it on his phone initially, but most times he failed. Even when he succeeded on rare occasions, Yan Xun would find a way to delete the footage.
“You clearly enjoy this, you clearly like it…”
The man’s hand would lightly pat Yan Xun’s face, an action both playful and somewhat insulting. He would even push his fingers into Yan Xun’s mouth, mimicking the invasion happening below.
“You like me, don’t you? You really enjoy this, don’t you? So why pretend, Yan Xun?”
“…”
Yan Xun never admitted it; in fact, he vehemently opposed it.
He only regarded it as a normal physiological response of a man, a reluctant compromise. He would never admit that he was genuinely captivated by such a despicable person, unable to extricate himself from someone like Chu Tingyun.
But now, he found that Chu Tingyun was right.
What Chu Tingyun said was true, and even Zhou Ze’s absurd misunderstanding ultimately led to a conclusion that was… incredibly accurate.
There was no saving it.
At this moment, Yan Xun pressed Chu Tingyun down in the back seat and kissed him fiercely, while Chu was laughing, as if mocking Yan Xun’s lack of self-awareness, or perhaps deliberately enticing him.
Yan Xun tore open the man’s shirt, using such force that a few beautiful buttons popped off.
Today was a celebration banquet, and Gu Shanqing had chosen a bar again, so Chu Tingyun wasn’t dressed as formally as usual. He wore a casual black shirt made of smooth satin, which felt great to the touch. But ultimately, it was his soft skin that felt even better.
The sound of the belt sliding in the confined space of the car was very clear as Chu Tingyun tilted slightly to allow Yan Xun’s hand to slide down the curve of his lower back.
“Mm… Xun Xun, what’s gotten into you tonight?”
Even though they had reconciled recently and opened up about everything, it was rare for Chu Tingyun to see Yan Xun so proactive, even eager.
Usually, it was Chu Tingyun who initiated the teasing, kissing and touching Yan Xun until he was helpless before beginning.
Originally, upon hearing that Yan Xun was coming, Chu Tingyun had prepared himself, planning to play the role of a bartender and tease his innocent little husband. Ideally, he would get Yan Xun drunk and then have a little fun.
But Chu Tingyun never expected that before his plans could even begin, his little husband would already be worked up for some unknown reason, unable to wait to get home and starting to kiss him in the car.
“Weren’t you eating with the little fatty?”
Yan Xun had gone home first before coming, changing his clothes, so he smelled fresh. Chu Tingyun couldn’t help but pull Yan Xun closer, burying his face in his neck, taking a deep breath.
The bar was stifling, and there were too many people, which wasn’t friendly for someone like him with cleanliness issues. In comparison, Yan Xun smelled heavenly.
“Baby, you smell so good…”
Chu Tingyun had one leg draped over the back seat, the other bent with his foot resting on Yan Xun’s thigh. He felt relaxed and enjoyed it, unaware that from Yan Xun’s perspective, he appeared disheveled and lost in passion.
His hair was messy, the expensive black silk shirt torn to shreds, his beautiful chest rising and falling, becoming even more enticing in the dim light of the car, like peeled lychee flesh.
“Mm…”
Chu Tingyun held Yan Xun’s head in his arms, breathing heavily as he asked, “What did that Fatty Zhou say, hmm?”
At that moment, all past grievances between Chu Tingyun and Yan Xun were gone, not just because Yan Xun had sincerely explained himself before, but also because of Zhou Ze’s personality. Most importantly, today, Yan Xun had met up with Zhou Ze and returned so passionately toward him.
Chu Tingyun was very pleased.
“Nothing… just talked about the drama he was filming.”
Yan Xun’s voice became a bit hoarse as he leaned down, his left hand propping up Chu Tingyun’s head while his right hand slipped into the shadow below.
“…Drama?”
Chu Tingyun had originally wanted to ask more, but his breath quickened, leaving him momentarily speechless. His lips were slightly parted, glistening with a layer of moisture, his face already flushed from the alcohol. After a brief, intense kiss, he felt almost cooked through. It took a while for him to find his voice amidst the subtle sounds of water.
“What… drama?”
Just like with Xinghen, he was only responsible for the investment and overall direction; the company’s specific operations and management were left to professionals.
Initially, Chu Tingyun had merely given Zhou a chance to audition to pull him away, and later he heard there was a role for a eunuch, and petty Chu Tingyun decided to have that man who always occupied Yan Xun’s thoughts castrated in the play.
So he didn’t know what the drama was about.
But Yan Xun didn’t explain, just said, “Not important.”
“Hm? Is it something that… won’t pass censorship? Otherwise, why are you so…”
As he spoke, Chu Tingyun reached out to touch Yan Xun’s face, but was lightly bitten on the finger. The young man licked the skin around the wedding ring and then closed his eyes, gently kissing the still unstitched wound in Chu Tingyun’s palm.
In that moment, although both of them were visibly overwhelmed with desire, even Yan Xun’s usually rational and aloof face was filled with obsession and indulgence.
Yet at the moment he closed his eyes to kiss the man’s palm wound, there was a sense of utter devotion and love, transcending all desire.
Chu Tingyun froze; his entire right hand felt numb, and his chest felt as though it was filled with something scalding, making him tremble slightly all over.
That sensation was even more pleasurable than a physical climax, sending tingles to his scalp.
He seemed to hear the twisted, crazed soul within him screaming.
“Yan Xun…”
Those two words were as light as a breath.
Before he could say anything else, the young man had leaned down and kissed him deeply again. Chu Tingyun’s previously light tremors escalated into violent shivers. His foot restlessly rubbed against the soft backrest, the muscles in his calf beautifully defined in midair…
Twenty minutes later, Yan Xun, wearing only a thin shirt, climbed out of the back seat. He took a deep breath of the cold air outside, quickly calming the heat surging through him before he opened the driver’s door.
Once inside, he glanced at the rearview mirror. Reflected in it was Chu Tingyun in the back seat, wearing Yan Xun’s sweater, his thick outer coat draped over his legs, seatbelt fastened securely.
“Hm?”
Chu Tingyun noticed Yan Xun’s gaze. He tilted his head slightly, leaning against the seat.
At that moment, this man exuded a laziness and satisfaction that came after desire had been fulfilled. He looked directly at Yan Xun with a smile.
“Hurry home, little husband. I’m worried you might burst.”
Chu Tingyun initially thought Yan Xun was bold enough tonight to do something complete in the car, but it turned out to be just using his hands. As he spoke, he lifted one foot onto the back seat, exposing the back of his thigh, where pale skin bore faint red fingerprints.
Chu Tingyun rested his elbow on his bent knee, supporting his cheek with his palm, looking just like a dandy teasing a young lady.
“Oh darling, we’re almost at our three-year wedding anniversary, why are you still so shy?”
Yan Xun: “…Put your leg down and sit properly!”
With that, he awkwardly turned his head away.
The car, which had been silent for a long time, finally started moving back home.
The black Maybach drove out of the parking lot, smoothly gliding down the road, passing countless colorful neon lights.
The flow of traffic never ceased, but the dazzling lights gradually dimmed as night deepened.
In the distance, the sky began to brighten.
At nine in the morning…
Assistant Fang received the message that Chu Tingyun would be absent from work for the morning after a week.
“Received.”
After the reply, he called over Secretary Li.
“President Chu has something to do this morning and won’t come to the company. If there are any urgent documents that need his signature, send them to Chairman Jiang. Oh right, President Chu also has a lunch meeting today to discuss a merger with Linke Logistics. You should also ask Chairman Jiang if he’s available to attend on behalf of President Chu.”
“Understood.”
Secretary Li nodded unsurprisingly, took the documents, and headed to Chairman Jiang’s office.
So, before the father, who arrived on time for work, could even enter his office, the work arranged by his son had already been delivered to him.
Secretary Li relayed the assistant’s message and asked:
“Chairman Jiang, do you have time at noon?”
Jiang Shenghai: “…”
Of course, he didn’t.
He had been as busy as a spinning top lately, having just suppressed his ambitious cousin, still needing to deal with the aftermath of the Chen family, and the issues with the police were also troublesome.
Initially, the matter was just about Chu Tingyun getting a divorce, which had secretly made Jiang Shenghai quite happy.
But now, things had taken a turn: the eldest son, who first stirred up a divorce, was now living happily with his husband, and in the end, it was Jiang Shenghai himself who divorced Jiang Jingshu.
Among the three children in the family: one was married and didn’t come home, one divorced and moved out, and one fake son was waiting in the police station to be sent to prison.
Recently, Jiang Shenghai could almost hear the sound of his hair turning gray every day.
“Chairman Jiang?”
Seeing him silent for a while, Secretary Li cautiously asked again.
“……”
The man frowned.
By all rights, both in business and in personal matters, Chu Tingyun should be listening to him. But now, it felt as if he was his son’s subordinate, with Chu arranging work and tasks for him.
However, being in the wrong, Jiang Shenghai could only sigh in the end:
“Bring me the merger materials to review.”
“Yes, Chairman Jiang.”
Secretary Li nodded.
Fortunately, Chu Tingyun only skipped work for the morning, as he returned to work in the afternoon.
He needed to finish some important tasks because, in a few days, he was going to Nancheng with Yan Xun.
“You don’t really have to come with me, Chu Tingyun.”
Yan Xun knew how busy he was, and the procedures for canceling the adoption were somewhat troublesome. Chu Tingyun would just be accompanying him, which would take up his time.
“I’ll handle the paperwork with my parents, and I’ll be back in a few days.”
“No way!”
Although Yan Xun and Chu Tingyun were already married, Yan Xun hadn’t transferred his household registration. So, when Chu often told Jiang Shenghai that they shared the same household registry, it wasn’t entirely true.
This time, they had to share a household registration, no matter what!
“…Fine.”
Yan Xun couldn’t argue with him.
When they returned to Nancheng, Lin Ran also accompanied them. In fact, his injuries hadn’t fully healed, but he didn’t care. The most urgent task was to handle the legal procedures as quickly as possible. If they delayed any longer, they would have to wait until next year.
The old Lin family house had been demolished, and now Lin Ran had rented a place for his mother to live in and hired a caretaker for her.
Since coming back from the capital, Mother Lin had been in poor mental health and had spent a few days in the hospital. Originally, Lin Ran didn’t want his mother to meet Yan Xun again, nor did he want her to meet Yan Xun’s biological parents. He planned to quickly finalize the adoption termination as her legal guardian.
But Yan Xun’s biological parents insisted on meeting her.
This kind of matter couldn’t be discussed over the phone, so Lin Ran had to return home early to talk to his mother in person.
“You mean… Yan Xun has found his biological parents?”
Mother Lin was shocked when she heard the news, and even her lips trembled.
“They want to terminate the adoption?!”
Though the situation had been chaotic at the time, Mother Lin had never really believed that Yan Xun would completely cut ties with their family.
“No! I won’t allow it!!!”
“Why should I?! We raised him for over ten years. Now, he’s gone to a good university, got a good job, married a wealthy person, found his biological parents, and even took the demolition compensation for the house. He’s taken all the benefits, and now he wants to kick us aside?!”
“How could there be such a good deal in the world?!”
“……”
—Of course, it came to this.
Lin Ran closed his eyes in pain and frustration.
“The adoption termination has already been agreed upon by me and Yan Xun’s parents. We don’t need your approval.”
“Why don’t you need my approval?! I was the one who…”
Before she could finish, Lin Ran interrupted:
“Mom, your mental state hasn’t been good lately. After your last hospitalization, I’ve already had the doctor issue a certificate, so now I am your legal representative and guardian.”
“Don’t worry, Mom, I won’t abandon you. But I will be moving out, and I’ll hire two people to take care of you. From now on, I’ll be responsible for your food, clothing, and everything else. But in other matters, you’ll have to listen to me.”
“—Lin Ran!!!”
The woman screamed,
“I am your mother! I carried you for ten months and raised you with hardship for so many years. All my years of suffering and toil were for you. How could you treat me like this? How could you?!”
“…I never needed you to sacrifice for me like this, Mom. I never needed you to sacrifice for me.”
In contrast to her hysteria, Lin Ran was calm, as still as dead water.
“But now that it’s come to this, since you think all these years of controlling me were for my good, I hope you can understand that my controlling you now is also for your good.”
“……”
That sentence hit Mother Lin like a bolt of lightning. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but Lin Ran had already moved on to the next topic.
“And as for Dad’s death, it wasn’t an accident. Yan Xun has been investigating it for the past year, and his biological father helped restore the traffic footage from back then. Soon, the real culprit will be brought to justice.”
“…What?”
At this moment, she was already unable to think clearly.
Lin Ran explained the entire situation before leaving a ledger behind as he departed.
“Mom, if you really think Yan Xun owes this family, you can go through the accounts. Tomorrow’s meeting is because Yan Xun’s parents want to see you, just to meet.”
“You can go crazy and chase them all away, which would save them some time. But as for the termination of the adoption, that’s already set in stone and absolutely won’t change!”
With that, he turned and left.
Just as he reached the elevator, Lin Ran saw Yan Xun.
He was startled and then paled slightly.
But Yan Xun was the first to speak: “Yeah, I heard everything. But it’s okay. I’m not sad anymore.”
“…So is there still a need for tomorrow’s meeting?”
“Yes.”
Yan Xun even smiled a bit.
“I should say a proper goodbye to her, no… actually, I should say goodbye to my old self.”
“……”
Lin Ran was silent for a long time before he finally said,
“That’s good.”
It should’ve been like this long ago.
If only Yan Xun’s parents had found him earlier, things would have been even better.
But there was no point in saying that now. Neither of them spoke further and returned to the hotel together.
The next morning, at 10 AM, Ye Cunshan and Xie Fengjun paid a visit.
Yan Xun stayed in the car downstairs with Chu Tingyun.
After entering, both parties sat down. Xie Fengjun was the first to politely greet Mother Lin.
“Hello, Ms. Shen.”
Mother Lin’s surname was Shen, and her full name was Shen Su.
Even though she knew her biological son hadn’t lived well in the adoptive family, Xie Fengjun still restrained herself and maintained basic respect towards Shen, giving a brief introduction and exchanging polite greetings.
“Y-you…hello.”
To everyone’s surprise, Mother Lin did not act out today. She nervously examined Xie Fengjun and Ye Cunshan. The scholarly aura and intellectual demeanor of the couple made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Yan Xun hadn’t come upstairs; he waited downstairs, intending to come up to say goodbye once the conversation was nearly over.
—This was Xie Fengjun’s request.
She didn’t want her son to suffer any further emotional harm.
In the living room, Ye Cunshan took the lead.
“Ms. Shen, we are deeply grateful to your family for taking in Yan Xun back then and raising him. We truly appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“But as his parents, we cannot accept that our beloved child hasn’t been treated well. Since you didn’t regard him as your own child, and instead adopted him as a profitable investment, viewing your efforts as something that can be measured in financial terms, we would like to take him back and are willing to settle accounts and provide compensation accordingly.”
After learning everything from Lin Ran, as his parents, staying calm at this moment had been their limit.
“I… didn’t, it’s not like that…”
The veneer she had maintained for over a decade was ripped away, leaving Mother Lin’s pale face flushed with embarrassment. She instinctively wanted to deny it, but by that time, Xie Fengjun had already handed her a detailed account statement.
This was also why Xie Fengjun didn’t want Yan Xun to attend. The scene resembled his adoptive mother and biological parents negotiating his worth through money, trading his feelings and custody as if they were assets.
But besides this, there didn’t seem to be a better solution…
“We will also spare no effort to help uncover the truth about your husband, Mr. Lin’s, death, and we will provide a lawyer…”
Yan Xun had been waiting downstairs for about half an hour when he finally received a message from his mother. He wasn’t sure what his parents had said to Lin Ran’s mother, but in the end, when he went upstairs, it seemed like both sides had reached an agreement smoothly.
Mother Lin, with a pale face, saw Yan Xun the moment he appeared, and in a moment of excitement, she wanted to grab his hand.
“Xiao Xun…”
But Lin Ran, standing beside her, quickly pulled her hand back. Yan Xun also took a step back, avoiding her.
“Thank you for taking care of me all these years, but goodbye, Aunt Shen.”
After saying this, he followed his parents and left.
Without even glancing at her again.
“……”
Mother Lin was suddenly stunned.
Before Yan Xun appeared, she still harbored a sliver of hope. After all, no matter how unreasonable her demands were before, as long as she cried, Yan Xun would soften his heart.
This child had been so dependent on her, never once disobeying her from childhood until now. So, even after all that had happened, Mother Lin still believed Yan Xun would come back.
Until now, when he coldly called her Aunt Shen.
Perhaps it’s only when one loses something completely that they realize how precious it once was.
The shackles of obsession that had bound her for so many years seemed to loosen for a moment, and Mother Lin started to regret it.
“Xiao Xun un… Wait… Wait!!”
But she couldn’t break free from her own son’s grip, and Yan Xun, who was leaving with his parents, didn’t stop, nor did he look back.
“Mom, don’t you think Yan Xun looks a lot like his parents?”
Lin Ran suddenly spoke up, bringing up this strange topic.
Mother Lin was stunned and turned her head to look at him.
“Yan Xun has been smart since he was young, because his parents are also smart. His father is an academician at the National Academy of Engineering, a professor at Capital University, and his mother is a renowned biomedical doctor.”
“Their family can be considered intellectual and distinguished. His parents searched for Yan Xun for 19 years, never giving up.”
“Do you remember the jade pendant around Yan Xun’s neck? Over 20 years ago, it was already worth 50,000 yuan, and not long ago, his parents gave him a house in the capital worth over 8 million…”
Lin Ran knew that money wasn’t the right way to measure things, but it was the only way his mother would understand, the only way she would realize how cheap her so-called years of raising and giving had been.
“And as for Xiao Chu, whom you often mention, you know he’s wealthy, but I don’t think you know just how much wealth he has. Let me put it this way: he bought Yan Xun three houses, two of which are worth tens of millions, and the 5 million check he signed for you that day? That was merely pocket money he once gave to Yan Xun.”
No one understood his mother better than Lin Ran, so the more he exaggerated those numbers, the more his mother would be in pain and regret at this moment.
“Even if he hadn’t found his biological parents, and hadn’t married someone as wealthy as Chu Tingyun, Yan Xun had already earned over a million by the time he was 22, and after three years of hard work, he saved nearly 3 million in his account.”
“Mom, do you think he would even care about our family’s measly compensation from the relocation?”
“……”
Mother Lin was rooted to the spot, her eyes wide, the blood vessels in them clearly visible.
Her teeth were chattering. “You… why didn’t you…”
“Why didn’t I say it earlier?”
Lin Ran chuckled.
“Mom, if I’d said it earlier, wouldn’t you have just kept clinging onto him?”
As he spoke, he dragged her forcefully back into the house, closing the door and locking away all her hysterical madness, her gut-wrenching cries of regret, inside.
The next day, Lin Ran took the power of attorney that he had prepared long ago, along with the household registration book, the adoption certificate, and various other documents, and went with Yan Xun’s parents to formally terminate the adoption.
Since it was a mutual agreement and not a legal dispute, the adoption relationship was dissolved the moment they registered.
However, the process of transferring household registration and changing identification information would take a little longer, so they might need to wait for some time.
After finishing all this, the group immediately returned to the capital.
Yan Xun didn’t change his name; he only changed his birthdate and ID number back to what they had been when he was born as Ye Chengyi.
So now, oddly enough, he was a year younger, making him 24.
Naturally, the original eight-year age difference between him and Chu Tingyun had now become nine years.
Sitting on the sofa, Yan Xun couldn’t help but think about the age difference every now and then, calculating…
It was like, when he was still in middle school, Chu Tingyun had already started working at his company and even had a girlfriend.
Yan Xun had long known that Chu Tingyun had girlfriends in the past. The first time he met Chu Tingyun, he had asked his senior sister about it. She said her brother had dated two girlfriends.
The first one was sweet and cute, and they shared a passion for figure skating. The second one was elegant and sophisticated; Chu often gave her gifts and took her to various business dinners.
“…Oh, I see.”
Yan Xun, of course, didn’t ask further, as it was normal for adults to date. Besides, given how skilled Chu Tingyun seemed in the world of romance, always ready with sweet words, there was no way he could have been inexperienced in love.
So at first, Yan Xun had always thought the possibility that Chu truly liked him was very slim. He figured Chu just wanted revenge.
“Xiao Chengyi~”
At that moment, the man’s voice interrupted Yan Xun’s thoughts.
After Yan Xun changed his ID information, Chu had recently started calling him by this nickname.
The first time Chu hugged him and called him that, Yan Xun had been stunned.
“What do you want?”
Yan Xun turned his head, avoiding Chu’s approaching breath, feeling his ears burn.
“Chu Tingyun, you… You’re so cheesy. Where did you learn this?”
Chu didn’t let him dodge, leaning in for a kiss before asking the main question,
“Our wedding anniversary is coming up in a few days. How do you want to celebrate? What gift would you like?”
When they got married, Chu bought a house for them. Last year, he asked the same thing, but Yan Xun said he didn’t want anything. Yet later, Chu insisted on dragging him to pick out a car, and when Yan Xun glanced at a flashy Lamborghini, it ended up parked in their garage a few days later. Afterward, Chu even insisted on taking a photo of them holding hands inside the car.
“…”
This time, Yan Xun didn’t want any more fancy houses or cars, but if he said he didn’t want anything again, Chu might come up with something even more outrageous.
“Hmm… How about you take me figure skating?”
“Huh?”
Chu was a little surprised.
“Why the sudden interest in that? It’s pretty hard, you know. It’s not something you can just casually play around with. You have to learn and practice, and there’s no fun in the beginning.”
“…Can’t you teach me?”
“Of course!”
Such a simple request was no problem at all, and Chu readily agreed.
“But Xun Xun, I’ll need to take your measurements first so I can get you a custom outfit.”
Yan Xun: “…”
He removed Chu Tingyun’s hand from his waist.
“No need to measure here.”
“How can I not? Figure skating is dangerous.”
“…Jiang Shenghai has the flu and is still at the hospital on an IV. He can’t handle your work tomorrow.”
“Oh, then forget it for now.”
Chu Tingyun’s tone was full of regret.
He got up and made a phone call, ordering the outfit and booking the venue.
All in all, Chu Tingyun still spent three full days carefully preparing, but what he didn’t expect was…
On the day of their anniversary, when he proudly brought Yan Xun to the ice rink, they ran into his ex-girlfriend at the entrance.
The girl clearly remembered him well because, the moment their eyes met, she pointed at him and shouted.
“Chu Tingyun?!”
Their breakup had been unpleasant, and the girl was convinced Chu was an emotionally distant jerk. She had cried and yelled at him on the phone for two hours straight.
“…”
Chu Tingyun froze instantly.
Then, he heard his little husband beside him make a puzzled sound, turning to ask:
“Chu Tingyun, who’s that girl calling your name?”
“…”
