Chapter Thirty-Three

Yu Yige was caught red-handed by Yi Xiaoyu when he returned home to pick up some clothes.

That day, Yi Xiaoyu had come back to fetch some documents. Just as he stepped into the elevator of the apartment building, he ran right into Yu Yige, who was stepping out. Yu, with a bag of clothes in hand, hadn't even managed to move his foot out of the elevator before looking up to see Yi Xiaoyu's surprised face.

Feigning indifference, Yu pursed his lips and lowered his head, trying to walk past, but Yi Xiaoyu, entering the elevator at the same time, shoved him back inside. The force was not small; Yu was pushed straight into the elevator, his back hitting the wall.

Before Yu could say a word, Yi Xiaoyu reached up and brushed his hand over Yu's head, his voice sharp. "Where the hell have you been all these days?"

Yu gritted his teeth. "None of your business!"

With that, he made to step out again, only to be shoved back by Yi Xiaoyu even more forcefully. This time, the elevator doors closed automatically. Yi Xiaoyu pressed the button for his own floor, then turned to glare at Yu, voice cold and threatening. "Say that again!"

Cornered in the elevator, Yu stared at the floor, his mouth clamped shut in silent defiance.

Yi Xiaoyu grabbed Yu's jaw, narrowing his eyes. "You fat bastard, getting bold, aren't you? Tell me, have you been whoring around these past few days?"

Yu blurted out, "No, I haven't."

"No? Then where the hell have you been?"

Under Yi Xiaoyu’s penetrating gaze, Yu felt a pang of guilt. He swallowed and forced himself to answer earnestly, "I... I was out on business, busy."

At that moment, the elevator doors opened.

Yi Xiaoyu seized his arm and dragged him toward his own apartment. Yu tried to shake him off, but afraid of using too much force and angering Yi Xiaoyu, he could only follow reluctantly, protesting in a stern voice, "I'm warning you, talk if you must, but don't lay a finger on me."

At the door, Yi Xiaoyu swiftly unlocked it and shoved Yu inside.

Yi Xiaoyu had always thought that Wen Ming’s existence couldn’t possibly create such a rift as to lead to a separation between him and Yu. He’d expected some friction, sure, but always believed that their feelings for each other would overcome it easily.

This time, he knew the fault lay with him, so he’d made concessions again and again. But Yu’s attitude had finally pushed him to his limits.

"I’ve been busy at work these past few days—had no time to track your phone," Yi Xiaoyu said, eyes locked on Yu’s evasive gaze. "But listen, fatso, let me warn you: if I find out you’ve spent the night with someone else—even just chatting up some rent boy in a bar—if I ever find out, don’t you dare come back."

Yu, knowing he hadn’t done any such thing, answered righteously, "I told you, I haven’t. In the past two years, except for you, I haven’t been with anyone else."

The words were blunt but earnest, carrying an unmistakable loyalty. Yi Xiaoyu was momentarily silenced, rubbing his temples before turning to sit on the sofa.

"What’s in your bag?" he asked quietly.

Yu didn’t sit—just stood rooted before him. "Clothes."

Yi Xiaoyu managed a bitter smile. "Taking clothes from home... does that mean you’ll be staying away for a long time?"

"Yes." Yu looked away from Yi Xiaoyu’s face. "Maybe for a long time."

Yi Xiaoyu closed his eyes for several seconds, then exhaled softly, his gaze much clearer.

"There’s something I should confess," Yi Xiaoyu said in a low voice. "I haven’t completely forgotten Wen Ming. Everything we shared over those seven years—every night, as soon as I close my eyes, it all comes back. If I’d never married you, never met you, I would have gotten back together with him."

His words were soft, but the calmness in his confession made Yu’s heart ache as if soaked in lemon juice.

"But," Yi Xiaoyu continued, "everything changed because of you. You made me realize what I should cherish. When you’re by my side, I can forget the past—my heart and eyes are full of you. But if you keep giving me the cold shoulder, if you refuse to accept any explanation from me, then it’ll get harder and harder for me to hold on—harder not to remember how good things were with Wen Ming, do you understand?"

Every word Yi Xiaoyu spoke pierced Yu’s heart like a cold drill. Seeing Yi Xiaoyu’s slightly thinner face and the helplessness in his eyes, Yu’s heart throbbed with pain. Without another word, he dropped the bag, strode forward, pinned Yi Xiaoyu to the sofa, and kissed him desperately.

A gentle, fierce kiss...

"Xiaoyu, don’t be like this..." Yu hugged Yi Xiaoyu tightly, pressing his face close. "It hurts me to see you like this..."

It truly hurt. Every time he saw the mix of disappointment and helplessness in Yi Xiaoyu’s eyes, his heart felt abraded, as if even the gentlest breeze would scrape it raw.

In that oddly timed moment, they made love.

Yu, as if starved for months, devoured Yi Xiaoyu—once on the sofa, then, still unsated, carried him to the bed, indulging shamelessly until noon.

Afterward, Yu felt his heart melt into a puddle. He hugged Yi Xiaoyu’s waist, eyes closed, nuzzling his hair. "Xiaoyu, I won’t fight with you over this ever again."

All the while, Yi Xiaoyu lay with his back to Yu, and as Yu finished speaking, he replied, simply and calmly, "If you do, then let’s get a divorce."

It was a careless phrase, but to Yu, it was like a bombshell—his whole body trembled.

"I promise, I swear I won’t make you angry again," Yu said, sweating, pressing his bare body against Yi Xiaoyu as if trying to reassure himself. "Xiaoyu, don’t talk about divorce—it’s terrifying."

"Fatty, you’ve changed."

Yu felt a chill in his heart. "Wh... why do you say that?"

"It’s just a feeling." Yi Xiaoyu sat up, hand resting on his forehead. "Maybe I expect too much from you."

Yu sat up as well. "If you want something from me, just say it. Whatever it is, I’ll do it—from now on, I’ll do everything I haven’t done before."

"There’s nothing," Yi Xiaoyu smiled. "Just don’t be so suspicious all the time. All right, it’s almost noon—let’s go out for lunch together."

"...All right." Yu lifted Yi Xiaoyu into his arms, kissed the corner of his mouth, and grinned. "Let me take my wife to the shower."

"You change your tune quickly."

"As long as you say you love me, I promise my temper will vanish in an instant."

"Heh, if you dare throw another tantrum with me, I..."

"Shower time," Yu interrupted with a laugh. "From now on, whatever you say at home goes."

Yi Xiaoyu couldn’t help but laugh. "You and that mouth of yours..."