Jian Suiying had experienced this kind of business opportunity slipping through his fingers countless times before. After a brief surge of anger, he managed to pull himself together.
Li Yu's school had just started its break, and that very evening, he made plans to have dinner with him.
Jian Suiying had meticulously prepared for tonight's dinner. He chose a Western restaurant with a romantic ambiance, where the secluded booths and dim lighting were perfect for couples' rendezvous.
He retrieved the house keys from home, tied them with a red ribbon, intending to give them back to Li Yu.
Truthfully, he desperately wanted to ask Li Yu if he'd consider moving in with him. But that impulse was fleeting.
First, he knew Li Yu still lived at home with his family, making such a proposal unrealistic for him.
Second, the thought of living with someone else weighed on him slightly.
He worried about whether prolonged cohabitation might drive him mad. Having Li Yu visit every few days to keep him company was already quite perfect.
He carefully dressed himself up and went to the date, looking sharp.
The dinner went smoothly—both the food and the atmosphere were spot on.
Though Li Yu seemed a bit uncomfortable with two grown men sitting there, Jian Suiying was the type who wouldn’t bat an eye at streaking down the street if given a good enough reason.
He couldn’t care less about others’ opinions.
But just as they waited for dessert after dinner, when Jian Suying was plotting to pull out the keys and say something sweet, a phone call shattered the carefully built evening.
Jian Suiying's phone, resting on the table, suddenly rang.
In the quiet restaurant, the ringtone sounded like thunder from a clear blue sky, startling both of them. Jian Suiying glanced at the caller ID—it was Xiao Zhu.
Li Yu had sharp eyes and caught the name as it flashed by.
Jian Suiying had saved Xiao Zhu's name as "Little Pig"—nothing by design, just a shortcut from the input method.
But those two characters sent Li Yu's hackles up instantly.
He’d been harboring doubts, but Jian Suiying’s next move confirmed his suspicions.
Jian Suiying looked slightly embarrassed. "Nothing important..."
Li Yu shot him a fierce glare, "Little Pig? Sounds pretty intimate. Who's that little lover of yours? Could it be the one from last time?"
"
But what Li Yu did next really got under his skin. Li Yu shot him a sarcastic look, then immediately called him back.
Jian Suiying couldn't stop him in time, and the call connected quickly.
Xiao Zhu’s gentle, melodious voice came through: "Hello, Young Master Jian." Li Yu’s face twisted with embarrassment—he was this close to flipping the table and storming off.
Jian Suiying snatched the phone away.
"Young Master Jian?" "Ah, Xiao Zhu."
"Mr. Jian, the house matter has been settled. Thank you."
"Ah, oh, okay. We'll talk another time." Jian Suiying quickly hung up, offering an awkward smile to Li Yu. Li Yu abruptly stood up and strode toward the door without looking back.
Jian Suiying hurried after him.
He was stopped at the restaurant entrance—he hadn't settled the bill yet.
Watching Li Yu walk away, Jian Suiying angrily pulled out several bills and tossed them down before rushing out. He finally caught up just as Li Yu was closing his car door.
Jian Suiying grabbed the car door and yanked Li Yu out with brute force. Seeing the empty parking lot,
he brazenly pinned him against the car door. Li Yu pushed him away irritably.
Jian Suiying wouldn't let go, panting heavily as he said, "Li Yu, Li Yu, listen to me, just listen to me, okay
!"
Li Yu glared at him angrily. His heart was already filled with rage and disappointment.
Even if Jian Suiying acted like he liked him, if he didn't clean up his own mess—the things he knew and didn't know—
, his affection meant nothing to him!
Li Yu tried to push him away again, snapping, "Go back to your little piggy and puppy. Stop fucking bothering me."
Jian Suiying pressed his forehead against Li Yu's, a hint of hurt in his voice: "Xiao Li, why are you so jealous... Can you just listen to me properly?"
Li Yu took deep breaths, fighting the urge to punch him.
Jian Suiying felt choked by his words, frowning as she retorted, "Cut it out already! I'm warning you—we've barely managed to get back together
and you have to go acting like a nagging wife, stirring up trouble?" Li Yu's eyes widened in fury. "Go nag your mother!"
Jian Suiying suppressed his anger, forcing a conciliatory tone. "Alright, alright. Can we stop this? I swear to you
? I swear, as long as I have you, I won't even glance at anyone else."
Li Yu glared at him relentlessly. "But if I'm gone, you'd have a harem of three thousand women in no time."
Jian Suiying's words sounded sincere enough, but he overlooked one crucial fact: everyone loves to hear sweet talk and promises. Even the most unrealistic ones sound better than the truth.
Li Yu certainly didn't want to hear "If we're together, you're the only one for me. If we break up, I'll find someone else." What he
wanted to hear was that no matter what happened, Jian Suiying would belong only to him for the rest of his life.
Li Yu gazed into his eyes, her voice hoarse. "How much?" "What?"
"How much do you like me? I want to hear it."
Jian Suiying felt awkward. "How do I say that?" "Just say whatever comes to mind. I want to hear it."
"Damn it, if it were anyone else, I'd have stabbed them to death by now. You have no idea how much I love you." Only then did Li Yu feel satisfied.
This man was his. This arrogant, self-centered, overbearing man—this man who made him grind his teeth in frustration yet couldn't help but be captivated by his charm—had to belong only to him.
Jian Suiying belonged to him.
Li Yu heard his own voice break through the barriers of his thoughts like a ghostly echo, slow and deliberate: "If you dare let anyone else fuck you, I'll stab you to death."