Top Dupe CH 099 Butterfly On The Throat

"Why would someone sink into such a state of calmness for another person? Protective instincts are subconscious, uncontrollable impulses.

For those important to me… if there are many people, I’ll search for him in the crowd. If he’s very far away, I’ll urgently want to get closer to him. Even if he’s beside me, the more crowded, dark, or suffocating it is, the more I want to grab onto him. If it were him… if he were shot and fell to the ground, bleeding so much, all my thoughts would be on him. I would be incapable of thinking about anything else. So this rational, repressed form of protection—does that mean Lu Pingfeng has no humanity to begin with?"

Gu Xiaowei stared at the trash bin as if it contained another world.

Lu Yu took a deep breath. That important "him" in Gu Xiaowei’s words—did he exist in reality, or was he just a figment of Lu Pingfeng's imagination?

Jealousy and envy surged in Luo Yu’s heart. But despite it all, Luo Yu wanted to protect Gu Xiaowei because only he understood Gu Xiaowei’s fragility.

"This isn’t Lu Pingfeng’s nature; it’s his instinctive respect for life. When he knew that if Qin Lin fired a second shot, Wen Yuchi would die, he would never let go of his gun. You’d do the same for me if you were in his place."

The last statement made Gu Xiaowei’s throat shift as he swallowed.

When he spoke again, his voice was somewhat hoarse. "So what exactly is Lu Pingfeng’s desire for Wen Yuchi?"

Luo Yu gave a light chuckle. The air moved with his laughter, gentle yet carrying a sense of teasing affection that tugged at buried instincts.

"You are Lu Pingfeng. Your desires for Wen Yuchi are whatever you believe them to be."

After saying that, Luo Yu lifted Gu Xiaowei’s wrist, bit the cigarette that he held, and stepped back, retreating into the studio lighting.

"Smoking isn’t good for you; I’ll take some of the burden for you. Also, during the next additional shots, I’ll keep you 'rational.'"

Luo Yu grinned as he held the cigarette, his eyes curving with a mischievous, carefree charm. It was as if he were unbound by desire while Gu Xiaowei was ensnared by it.

The director confirmed that additional shooting for Wen Yuchi being shot was required. Gu Xiaowei’s blood stains, fortunately, were treated with a specialized stain remover and dried quickly, making them less noticeable.

The scene returned to the three hiding outside the hunting lodge—Lu Pingfeng pressing his hand over Wen Yuchi’s mouth, half-cradling him in his arms. However, this time Gu Xiaowei’s grip was much stronger, to the point Luo Yu wondered if he were about to break his jaw.

Even Nie Yangchen, squatting nearby, glanced at them and noted, "That… does Brother Luo seem like he’s already dead before he’s even been shot?"

Even the director called out, "Lu Pingfeng, ease up a bit! You’re holding too tightly—Wen Yuchi can barely stay upright, and he might collapse into your arms!"

Only then did Gu Xiaowei ease his grip slightly. Luo Yu steadied himself, half-squatting beside Gu Xiaowei.

He lifted his hand and gently covered Gu Xiaowei’s hand, quietly soothing his tense emotions.

—Don’t worry, don’t be afraid. I’ll always be here.

As shooting began, Qin Lin quietly chambered his gun and raised it toward Lu Pingfeng and Wen Yuchi. Hearing the sound of the gun being chambered, Wen Yuchi used every ounce of strength to push Lu Pingfeng away.

In that instant, Wen Yuchi’s expression was full of determination and finality. His effort to push Lu Pingfeng away was as strong as his effort to keep Lu Pingfeng on this side of the boundary.

In a flash, Lu Pingfeng had already anticipated being pushed back. His response was to press forward, trying to reach the other, to step into his world.

Wen Yuchi’s chest erupted in a wide burst of red as he fell to the ground.

Even though they were drifting apart, they found themselves closer to each other than ever before.

Even as Wen Yuchi fell, his gaze was fixed on Lu Pingfeng’s gun—their only hope for survival.

This was a shot not seen in the previous sequence. This gaze was Wen Yuchi’s final reminder and protection for Lu Pingfeng—Raise your gun!

That gaze was Lu Pingfeng’s trigger, his focus. He took the gun, chambered it, and raised it quickly, positioning himself in front of Wen Yuchi with practiced ease.

Only by having a protective instinct at a level beyond human understanding could they respond with such unspoken teamwork. It wasn’t simply instinct anymore; it was calculated rationality without margin for error, their only hope to carve out a path for survival.

This rationality was no longer just Lu Pingfeng’s determination—it was mutual.

The additional shot depicted this mutual understanding and bond in a way that felt deeper and more resonant than the earlier versions. Even the director noted it, pausing the scene to review the moments closely.

"That gaze is powerful—it gives all of Lu Pingfeng’s decisions motivation. It’s no longer just cold rationality, but the mutual protection of two individuals," the director murmured.

The assistant director agreed, "Yes, this is much better than the first version."

The sky was growing brighter, and there was no time left for additional scenes.

The director called for wrap, and the crew began packing up the set.

As they headed down the mountain, Luo Yu watched Gu Xiaowei’s retreating figure. Despite having tried to console him, Gu Xiaowei remained trapped in Lu Pingfeng’s emotions. The morning light fell on his shoulders, but there was still something unlit within him.

"Only two or three days left before the main storyline finishes, right?" Yan Jun sighed as he walked behind Luo Yu.

"Are you in a rush to get back to your wife and kid, Brother Yan?" Luo Yu teased.

"Of course! My little girl must be thinking of me and getting skinnier from it," Yan Jun said, holding his face in mock shyness.

Nie Yangchen passed by, chuckling, "Are you sure she misses you, or is she just going through a growth spurt?"

"You guys are so annoying," Yan Jun shot a glance at Gu Xiaowei far ahead. "Today, Teacher Gu’s aura is still intense. When he raised the gun at you, I was really afraid the gun actually has bullets and he might accidentally fire for real."

Nie Yangchen exhaled, "Who says it’s not true? Maybe it’s because Brother Luo’s acting is so good—that shattered look after being shot… even I felt distressed."

Gu Xiaowei’s steps faltered at the comment.

"Cut it out. You’re really looking to get killed, aren’t you?" Luo Yu shot him a warning look.

After descending, Gu Xiaowei climbed into the van, leaning his chin on his hand as he stared out the window, deep in thought. Perhaps still wondering what Lu Pingfeng’s desires for Wen Yuchi truly were.

Luo Yu, exhausted, leaned against his shoulder and fell asleep, the light of the lake flickering against the window.

Soon, Luo Yu let out a faint snore, and when his face almost slipped off Gu Xiaowei's shoulder, Gu Xiaowei finally turned around and gently pulled him into his embrace. As the car passed over a small hill, bumping upward, Gu Xiaowei instinctively placed his hand over Luo Yu's head to protect him.

In the backseat, Xiao Qin couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. When would she have a boyfriend as thoughtful and attentive as Brother Gu?

"Mm..." Luo Yu shifted slightly, turning his face deeper into Gu Xiaowei's chest to avoid the light.

This position made it so that Gu Xiaowei had to lean sideways to shield him from the light. Xiao Qin reached for a hat and stretched it across from between the seats, asking, "How about we put a hat on Brother Luo?"

"It's fine," Gu Xiaowei replied, lowering his gaze as he leaned back against the seat, his eyes resting on the top of Luo Yu's head.

After they returned to the villa, and Luo Yu finished showering he knocked on Gu Xiaowei's door, “Teacher Gu, I'm done with the bathroom” 

After a while, there was still no response.

"Did he fall asleep already? Or where did he go?" He turned the knife only to find that there was no one inside.

Where did that guy go?

Luo Yu let out a helpless sigh, his previous tiredness now overtaken by alertness.

He went back to his room and used his phone to call Gu Xiaowei only to hear the ringtone coming from Gu Xiaowei’s nightstand.

This guy left without even taking his phone?

"So energetic... Is it because he’s still young?" Luo Yu murmured.

No, no, no. This body of mine is still very young. Don’t casually rely on age to assert authority.

Luo Yu took a deep breath, grabbed a T-shirt and some casual pants, threw them on, and went downstairs. In the living room, he happened upon Xiao Qin, who was lying on the sofa applying a facial mask.

"Brother Luo, are you going out too?" Xiao Qin asked.

"Yeah. Have you seen your Brother Gu?"

"Yeah, he said he was going out to get some fresh air."

"Okay. If he comes back, just let him know that I went out too." Luo Yu smiled, adjusted his baseball cap, and headed out.

"You two really have a lot of energy... You don’t need to sleep after filming all night?" Xiao Qin couldn’t help but exclaim.

This vast rose villa resort was too large. Luo Yu didn’t think he would run into Gu Xiaowei. In fact, if he wandered far, he wasn’t sure if he could even find his way back.

He wandered aimlessly, occasionally humming an off-key tune: "Come back, come back, Gu Xiaowei who is wandering the world~"

After wandering for over half an hour without finding Gu Xiaowei’s figure, he gave up.

He spotted a long bench by the roadside. The sun was warm, and the breeze carried the scent of flowers. It was perfect for lying down.

He lay on the bench, his long legs dangling on the other side, his baseball cap shading his face. Since Gu Xiaowei would eventually return to his room and realize Luo Yu had left to find him—likely getting lost in the process—he didn’t worry.

Luo Yu quickly fell into a peaceful nap.

Some time later, his phone rang. He almost forgot where he was, and when he fumbled for his phone, he fell off the bench. Fortunately, his long limbs managed to catch him in time.

"Hello..." Luo Yu yawned.

"Do you know where you are now?" Gu Xiaowei's voice came through the phone, calm but with an undertone of urgency.

"Sleeping... sitting on a bench. Behind me is a rose trellis. In front of me is... another rose trellis."

His answer was vague and unhelpful, and he chuckled at himself.

"So you don’t know where you are," Gu Xiaowei stated.

"Well... I guess I’m okay. I came out to find you, thinking fate might let me run into you, but it seems like between us there’s no..."

Before he could finish, Gu Xiaowei cut him off.

"Share your location with me. I’ll come get you." Gu Xiaowei sounded calm and unangry.

"Oh, okay."

After sharing his location, Luo Yu sat up. He glanced at his phone and realized he had slept for over three hours—right into noon. Gu Xiaowei must have been out wandering and only realized he was missing upon returning.

He kept his baseball cap on, leaning his head back as he relaxed again. Before long, he drifted back to sleep.

When Gu Xiaowei found him following the shared location, he saw Luo Yu lying with his baseball cap pulled low, his neck tilted back, and a blue butterfly perched delicately on his throat. The butterfly’s wings moved gently with Luo Yu’s breathing, as if it had emerged from his very essence.

Gu Xiaowei slowed his steps, his shadow hovering over the butterfly. He was careful not to disturb it.

After a while, Luo Yu shifted, and just as his hat was about to fall off, Gu Xiaowei reached forward and steadied it. The butterfly took flight.

"En... Gu Xiaowei... is that you?" Luo Yu’s voice was soft, tinged with sleep.

He moved his neck, pulling off his hat, and found himself staring into Gu Xiaowei's deep, sea-like gaze. It felt as if his heart was trapped in those eyes, unable to escape.

"...You know you’re directionally challenged, yet you came out anyway. Why?" Gu Xiaowei adjusted the hat for him, avoiding Luo Yu's gaze for once.

Beneath the hat, Luo Yu’s lips curved faintly, a subtle, alluring smile that made Gu Xiaowei's blood rush. The air heated up, and the blood quickly surged, driving Gu Xiaowei to move closer to the other.

"Gu Xiaowei, after walking for so long, have you figured anything out?" Luo Yu teased. His tone hinted at mischief and a trap.

"Figured out what?" Gu Xiaowei asked cautiously.

Luo Yu’s smile grew. "—What kind of desire do you have for me, exactly?"

The question hit like an electric jolt. Gu Xiaowei knew this was layered with meaning. If he withdrew, it referred to "Lu Pingfeng’s desire for Wen Yuchi." If he dared pursue and act on those feelings, it implied a direct question about his own feelings toward Luo Yu.

Gu Xiaowei looked down, his gaze landing on Luo Yu’s graceful throat. He wants to become his butterfly, emerging from his body, breaking free from the cocoon.

Gu Xiaowei's hands came to Luo Yu’s neck—firm but not painful—and felt it bob against his palm. "Don’t be afraid," he whispered.

Luo Yu tensed initially but soon relaxed under his touch, sensing no malice. It was as if Gu Xiaowei was protecting him in this way, layer by layer, not to make him lose his breath, but to ensure that nothing could harm him.

Gu Xiaowei’s hand pressed gently up to Luo Yu’s jaw, their breaths close. For a moment, Luo Yu felt his lips slightly brush against Gu Xiaowei’s. But when he tried to keep the other close, the other had already moved away.

Too careful. Too tender.

But restraint was natural to Gu Xiaowei.

Blood raced toward his heart, and all thoughts and concerns lost their meaning. Luo Yu even felt the urge to quickly respond, to chase after the other person, to confirm what exactly had touched him earlier.

When Gu Xiaowei's hand left Luo Yu's throat and gently lifted his cap, Gu Xiaowei whispered, "I'll take you back."

Luo Yu looked up again, seeing Gu Xiaowei’s gaze soften, its transparency different now, deeper yet calm.

Gu Xiaowei reached out, and without hesitation, Luo Yu took his hand, rising from the bench. Gu Xiaowei held on firmly, never letting go.

His palm was dry, yet hotter than usual, as if it could break free at any moment. But whenever Luo Yu deliberately slowed his pace, he would notice how the other clearly exerted force, as if afraid Luo Yu might let go of his hand.

They walked through endless rows of rose trellises, flowers brushing Luo Yu's shoulders and neck. He wanted to pull away and scratch the ticklish spots, but every motion was met with firmer pressure from Gu Xiaowei’s hand.

They walked for an unknown amount of time, as if they would continue this way until the end of the world. When the rose trellis turned to another direction, Gu Xiaowei suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"You didn’t hit me," he observed.

"Huh?" Luo Yu stopped as well.

"You didn’t push me away."

Gu Xiaowei's usually cold gaze seemed to be gradually warmed like a glass of wine, slowly heating up, and now it was almost boiling to the point of catching fire.

“I've been waiting for you to ask me why I kissed you. I've been wondering the whole way if I offended you, if I made you unhappy, if you endured me because the film was still in production, if it was because…”

Luo Yu's heart raced faster and faster with every "if" and "whether" from Gu Xiaowei.

That feeling was like the most innocent child, secretly kissing the person they secretly admired under the sunlight. When the other person's gaze swept toward them, they felt both guilty and restrained, yet unable to stop themselves.

“So it really was a kiss just now,” Luo Yu said, turning his face to look at him directly and smiling. At first, it was a soft laugh, then he covered his stomach and shook, laughing louder and louder. “I wondered the whole way—was that really a kiss?”

To Gu Xiaowei’s ears, it sounded like mockery, or more like another kind of raw, unreserved seduction—a forbidden act that had become no longer.

Gu Xiaowei grabbed Luo Yu’s chin, forcing him to tilt his head up. Before Luo Yu could catch his breath, Gu Xiaowei pressed against him forcefully—wildly, as though no amount of force could ever satisfy him.

Luo Yu couldn't withstand his strength, stumbling back until Gu Xiaowei's other hand firmly supported his back.

Beyond the lines and acting, Luo Yu felt true, unrestrained, and unhinged passion from Gu Xiaowei for the first time. Every breath felt like dragging the midday sun into the evening, letting emotions rise and fall like tides—creating a world that felt as if it was plunging toward the end of days, only for that end to turn into the dawn of another beginning.

Without anything to support himself, Luo Yu instinctively pressed himself into the rose trellis. When his hand went back to brace, about to graze the trellis's thorns, Gu Xiaowei swept him into his arms.

If there wasn't a higher place to set him on, then Gu Xiaowei would lift him with his own strength, making paths through the stars and clear skies.

Luo Yu felt numb from his lips to his brain. His baseball cap, dangling from his head, swayed precariously before finally falling to his feet.

“That really was a kiss,” Gu Xiaowei said.

His gaze was intense, heating Luo Yu’s throat and heart.

In his previous life, living for over thirty years, even after being reborn and seeing Gu Xiaowei in the elevator, Luo Yu never thought he would develop feelings for him. His emotions had always been an empty cup, capable of containing any role, any script, or even the most ridiculous and transgressive story. That cup was the boundary that kept him apart from worldly passions, preventing anything from spilling over.

He thought that after being reborn, he wouldn't have those thoughts. That he would only be even more careful, composed, and head toward the light.

But the more time he spent with Gu Xiaowei, the more he wanted to lose control.

Luo Yu laughed softly, thinking that both of them were the kind of people who would never turn back once they took that step, even if they hit a wall and shattered.

Lowering his head, Luo Yu kissed Gu Xiaowei's eyelashes lightly, then brushed his nose with his lips.

It felt too surreal. There really was someone in this world whom he couldn't stop loving.

Luo Yu lowered his head and tightly embraced Gu Xiaowei. Gu Xiaowei tilted his head back, as if waiting for something, or perhaps not fully comprehending his own emotions. The next moment, he held onto Luo Yu even more tightly.

“You kissed me too lightly… it makes me look like an obsessive man,” Gu Xiaowei murmured.

Luo Yu murmured back, “You already are an obsessive man.”

But I’m even crazier than you.

At this moment, I want to shatter my own body—letting my bones and blood mix into yours, countless roses blooming from within my veins, turning my restrained emotions into chaos.

“Gu Xiaowei, I once lost everything…” Luo Yu said in a muffled voice.

“It doesn’t matter. We’ll win everything back together,” Gu Xiaowei said as he lifted his hand to grip Luo Yu's head, his fingers threading into Luo Yu's hair, as if protecting his dreams and passion.

“I meant to say, compared to you, that ‘everything’ isn’t anything at all.”

Gu Xiaowei's gaze lingered in that moment, as though trying to control something. Slowly, he released Luo Yu and took his hand, walking forward.

“What’s wrong?”

Gu Xiaowei's restraint left Luo Yu puzzled.

“I’m not good enough to compare with that ‘everything,’” Gu Xiaowei said as he walked forward.

Luo Yu watched that serious, deliberate back, wondering if he was afraid that he would fall into love too deeply. Why was he so heated moments ago, and now so distant?

But Gu Xiaowei’s grip was too strong, and it didn’t seem like he was regretting anything.

Ah, such a cute classmate Gu Xiaowei. His strong exterior masked a soft heart, and here Luo Yu was, overthinking again.

When they returned to the villa, everything was quiet. Xiao Qin and the others had already gone to bed. They came back right around three or four in the afternoon.

“Hungry?” Luo Yu asked Gu Xiaowei.

Gu Xiaowei, who was putting on his slippers, hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Yeah.”

“I’ll make some noodles!”

After saying that, Luo Yu quickly headed for the kitchen.

Gu Xiaowei sat by the entrance, closing his eyes and exhaling a long breath.

He grabbed his hair tightly, his voice low: “What are you thinking…”

Luo Yu was good at taking care of himself. Although he didn't often cook before, because he lived alone his noodle-making skills were excellent. Even with only tomatoes and ham from the villa's fridge, Luo Yu managed to cook a fragrant pot of noodles, placing them into two bowls. Then he felt something odd.

When Gu Xiaowei came to his house for hot pot before, he was always eager to help—washing vegetables, making garlic sauce, cleaning up afterward. But now, where did he disappear to?

Could it be that what is unobtainable always excites us, and once obtained, it loses its charm?

Luo Yu walked out of the kitchen, not finding Gu Xiaowei in the living room either.

“Where did he go?”

Was he tired and went to bed? No way?

Luo Yu still couldn't calm his fast-beating heart. Was Gu Xiaowei really able to sleep now?

The more he thought about it, the more Luo Yu felt that Gu Xiaowei's reaction was like a volcano suddenly cooling down, which was a bit irritating. He went upstairs and gently twisted the doorknob to the other person's bedroom.

Gu Xiaowei wasn’t sleeping. Instead, he was standing on the terrace, head bowed. Luo Yu could see a cigarette box and lighter nearby.

Why was he smoking again?

Luo Yu took a few steps forward and saw Gu Xiaowei with his brows furrowed and his expression dim. He was looking at the cigarette in his fingers, then suddenly pressed the burning tip into the palm of his other hand.

All of Luo Yu's nerves went on high alert, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was about to jump out of his throat. In just two or three steps, he rushed over.

"What are you doing—"

Without thinking, Luo Yu reached out to grab the cigarette from Gu Xiaowei's hand, only to burn his own palm in the process.

"Ouch..."

Gu Xiaowei's calm expression instantly changed as he anxiously grabbed Luo Yu's wrist, pried his fingers open, and took away the cigarette butt.

Luo Yu's palm had already developed a round red mark from the burn.

Without saying a word, Gu Xiaowei dragged Luo Yu back to the room, took out a first-aid kit from the cabinet, and began treating the burn.

Luo Yu watched the furrowed brows of the other man, and after a long while, as Gu Xiaowei wrapped a thin layer of gauze around his palm, Luo Yu moved closer and gently tapped his forehead against Gu Xiaowei's nose.

"Do you know how hot a cigarette butt is?" Luo Yu asked.

“Seven or eight hundred degrees,” Gu Xiaowei said, his voice low and serious.

"What's wrong? Why are you suddenly burning yourself with a cigarette butt?" Luo Yu paused for a moment before adding, "I'm not stupid, my vision is fine. I saw you trying to press the cigarette butt into your palm."

Gu Xiaowei was silent for a long time, and Luo Yu patiently stayed by his side, waiting.

"I just feel like it's not real. I wanted to burn myself to see if it would hurt," Gu Xiaowei said quietly.

At that moment, Luo Yu felt a surge of heartache. He knew Gu Xiaowei wasn't being dramatic or lying; this was exactly how he felt at that moment.

From the moment they confirmed their feelings for each other, Gu Xiaowei, who had been so passionately intense to the point that Luo Yu could barely withstand it, had suddenly gone cold. Luo Yu could sense that something was wrong.

Was it because of the character Lu Pingfeng? Or was it something else that made Gu Xiaowei so uncertain?

"Am I so important to you? So much that you're questioning the reality of all this?" Luo Yu asked, bracing himself beside Gu Xiaowei and looking up into his eyes.

"En," Gu Xiao Wei responded softly, yet his expression was extremely serious.

Luo Yu laughed again, "If you want to feel pain, isn't that easy?"

The next second, Luo Yu leaned over and bit the tip of Gu Xiaowei's nose.

This guy, usually so commanding, now seemed like a vulnerable, pliable alpaca at his mercy.

"Ouch..." Gu Xiaowei frowned slightly but didn’t pull away; instead, he hugged Luo Yu tightly.

He needed him. No matter how strong and commanding he was on stage, no matter how dominant he appeared in front of investors, he needed Luo Yu. He laid bare his most fragile and vulnerable side for Luo Yu to see.

"Did it hurt?" Luo Yu whispered, so close that his voice was barely audible.

It was obvious, Gu Xiaowei's body temperature had risen, and his ears were visibly flushed.

"Not very much." 

His voice sounded calm, but his tone was slightly hoarse.

Luo Yu looked down at him and found his face relatively calm.

Was he so unappealing?

He regretted not watching enough romantic dramas and TV shows to improve his seduction skills.

"Those embarrassed red ears are pretty cute, though.”

"I'm not embarrassed.”

"Then why are your ears red?"

"The reason you had red ears today is why mine are red too."

Gu Xiaowei was about to turn his head away but Luo Yu wouldn’t give him the chance, leaning in and biting his earlobe hard. That area is cartilage, and biting it forcefully is much more painful than biting a soft earlobe or the tip of the nose.

Luo Yu braced himself, knowing that Gu Xiaowei might push him away or pinch his face to force him to stop. However, to his surprise, Gu Xiaowei gripped the back of his head, holding him close as if offering himself entirely.

Luo Yu released his grip, a trace of distress in his voice. "Now it must really hurt, right? Does it feel real now?"

"Not very much," Gu Xiaowei said.

"Still not enough pain?" Luo Yu shoved him backward, and Gu Xiaowei obediently fell onto the bed.

His dark hair spilled onto the pristine white sheets, his face—a mask of apparent calm—somehow gave off the feeling that he was ready to be shattered.

Luo Yu held his wrist, for the first time having control over him, as if all of this man’s happiness was something he alone could give.

"Not painful... still doesn’t feel real enough," Gu Xiaowei didn't move at all. His eyes deeply fixed on Luo Yu, as if he were the nightfall, the bright stars, all the beautiful, lofty, and unattainable things. Gu Xiaowei, on the other hand, resembled a black hole, seemingly distant and indifferent to all temptations, drawing in all light and warmth, attracting them relentlessly.

The next moment, Luo Yu lowered his head, and Gu Xiaowei’s lower lip was met with sharp pain. He tasted a faint metallic tang.

Even if the entire world became barbed wire wrapping around his back, his instinctive protectiveness and hunger spilled outward, unstoppable.

The world felt upended when Luo Yu's head was pressed into the pillow.

This was Gu Xiaowei’s true kiss—fearless, without hesitation, and once the waves began, they would not recede.

Wanting to escape but instantly being engulfed, all the sensory nerves burning wildly into an uncontrollable fire, more flamboyant and reckless than any storm.

Luo Yu was that tiny spark, setting Gu Xiaowei on fire, and the latter had no intention of forgiving him at all.

This was the real Gu Xiao Wei—controlled, restrained, disciplined, but at his core, alive, chaotic, and driven by raw instinct.

"Who made this noodle? It's all clumped up, is anyone still eating it?" Ye Shengyi's voice came from downstairs.

Luo Yu froze, his shoulders tensing as he grabbed Gu Xiaowei’s shirt collar and patted his back. The more flustered he became, the more Gu Xiaowei pressed into him.

The footsteps of Ye Shengyi grew louder, and Luo Yu's heart raced. He knew that even if they were caught, it wouldn’t matter, but that didn’t mean he wanted to be openly observed. Ye Shengyi would surely yell, and that would likely draw in others like Ah Yan and Xiao Qin.

As the knock came, Gu Xiaowei suddenly sat up, putting his arm under Luo Yu’s neck and pulling him with him, turning them both so that Luo Yu was facing away from the door.

Finally breathing in fresh air, Luo Yu’s head was still spinning.

"Brother Gu, do you know who cooked the noodles downstairs?" Ye Shengyi asked.

"Luo Yu made them. We’re going down to eat now," Gu Xiaowei said, casually, as if nothing had happened.

The door wasn’t locked, and Ye Shengyi pushed it open, immediately seeing Luo Yu with his back to the door and Gu Xiaowei kneeling beside him, holding his shoulder as if giving him a massage.

"Brother Luo, are you not feeling well? The outdoor shoot is almost over. When we go back to the city later we can get a spa treatment together!" Ye Shengyi said.

"Yeah, okay... ah!" Gu Xiaowei suddenly pinched Luo Yu’s shoulder for some reason.

"Don’t forget your noodles. It's all clumped up!" Ye Shengyi said.

"Yeah, yeah, we’re going now," Luo Yu said calmly, and realized that he had developed a strong heart. His face wasn't blushing and his heartbeat wasn't picking up either.

Ye Shengyi closed the door, and Luo Yu covered his face with one hand.