Bai Juanqiu, as well as his own. 

I like you. 

He didn’t know how many times he had repeated these three words in his heart.

So, when it was time for him to say it out loud, Bai Juanqiu’s tone remained very calm, as if he was saying an everyday sentence.

If he wasn’t still holding Ren Xingliu’s hand, everything would have looked very natural.

Instead, it wasn’t, as the youth easily detected the gentle tremble in his fingers. 

–

For many years, Bai Juanqiu had lived in the Bai Family, but in reality, it was no different from living alone.

He had long been accustomed to being alone, and even when he later met Wei Duzhou and others, he always maintained a boundary that was difficult to break.

He was accustomed to wandering as a lone wolf for a long time, and even though he had met Wei Duzhou and others later on, he maintained an unbreakable boundary.

Wei Duzhou commented how he looked as if he had exhausted his emotion due to fate very early on, and Bai Juanqiu didn’t deny it.

He had never liked anyone and also believed that he wouldn’t fall for anyone ever.

Things like feelings were luxuries, and he had never been interested in luxuries.

When he first met Ren Xingliu, he didn’t think anything of it. He just thought that this young master was different from the rumors, not dislikeable at all, and someone he was able to easily get along with. 

At that time, Bai Juanqiu was busy negotiating with Fenghan about the future city project and did not want to cause any unnecessary complications. Cooperating with Ren Xingliu can divert the Bai family’s attention very well.

At that time, he stayed busy fighting for the future city project and negotiating with Fenghan Capital, so he didn’t want to branch out. Forming a partnership with Ren Xingliu could effectively divert the Bai Family’s attention.

At that time, there was indeed a slight interest in utilizing Ren Xingliu.

However, as time passed, this interest gradually changed. 

When did things start to change? By then, it was too fuzzy for Bai Juanqiu to pinpoint it.

The only thing he knew was how quickly one could fall for another.

It was as if his life was occupied by another in an instant.

He would feel gloomy when his message received no reply, and he would be delighted by an invitation. 

Their lives ran on different tracks.

Ren Xingliu was pampered and spoiled, while Bai Juanqiu carried hatred and heavy burdens.

Since always, everything Bai Juanqiu did had a goal and plan.

Their lives were very different from the start, so for them to be compatible would be very difficult. 

But when feelings were involved, to like someone didn’t require them to be ‘compatible’.

So, without any effort, there would be attraction and consideration.

He couldn’t resist indulging Ren Xingliu and yielding to him.

Then becoming a part of the young master’s life.

When Bai Juanqiu first discovered his own feelings, he also had a brief hesitation.

His life had always been a step-by-step process, and everything he possessed was the result of many hardships and hard work.

The emotions weren’t part of his plan, having come out of the blue. He didn’t know how much it would cost him to acquire these feelings this time.

The human heart was different from wealth and power. It wasn’t something that could be grasped by being strong enough. 

This was the first time in Bai Juanqiu’s life that he felt an emotion like ‘helplessness’, which was an extremely foreign experience to him.

Occasionally, he may encounter setbacks, but he couldn’t care less as it was but a drip in the bucket. With the amount of difficulties in his life, a single setback wouldn’t even be able to make a dent. 

It was not until he was confronted with Ren Xingliu that he began to understand what it meant to be risk avoidance.

For the first time, he learnt that when he truly cared, even if the chance of failure was very slim, he refused to take it.

At first, Bai Juanqiu wanted to wait until he had a hundred percent confidence before making a decision.

At first, that was what he had thought. 

Until that night, when the city was enveloped in torrential rain, and the campus was plunged into darkness.

Through the sound of thunder, he embraced the youth into his arms.

All of his calmness, restraint, and rationality that he once felt full pride of, had collapsed in an instant.

…Even if he got punched by this young master. 

The so-called ‘important matter’ was neither his secret identity, nor Fenghan’s investments. To Bai Juanqiu, those were things within his control.

The only uncontrollable variance was his emotions towards a certain someone, the only person who could make him be serious.

In Bai Juanqiu’s vision, he should confess his feelings in a well-prepared setting.

In a meaningful place, with just the right atmosphere; even his lines should be well rounded and sincere. 

But when faced with Ren Xingliu, his self-control would always crumble very easily.

This newly emerged capital tycoon, a young president overseeing a huge project, could leave the room full of guests on the night of the press conference.

But he couldn’t continue to hide his worries in front of this young master.

Fortunately, he never had the plan to hide it. 

As early as on that thunderous rainy night, and even earlier.

He had already made his decision.

–

Ren Xingliu blinked as waves of light flickered in his crystal-clear eyes. They were like glazed marbles. 

Although he had long anticipated it, to hear Bai Juanqiu really say those three words still made his heart race uncontrollably.

Ren Xingliu unconsciously curled his fingers tightly.

Including the time he spent in his transmigration; he had experienced many things.

After living for so many years, he was still fazed by a simple confession, and he was someone who had fought through a magnificent army with thousands of cavalry. 

It really made the God of War feel very ashamed, as well as…

Secretly delightful!

And he felt Xiao Bai’s shaking fingers, nearly undetectable.

As long as Xiao Bai was nervous enough, he wouldn’t notice that Ren Xingliu was also very nervous. 

Ren Xingliu’s thought process was very clear.

After a while, once his heart had finally returned to somewhat normal, he squeezed Bai Juanqiu’s palm and said, maintaining his face, “How could you do this?”

Bai Juanqiu was taken aback.

There were only two outcomes from a confession, to be accepted or to be rejected. 

Even hesitation could be considered as an answer.

He had always been meticulous in doing things, and after confirming his own intentions, he naturally rehearsed various possible outcomes.

He believed that his relationship with Ren Xingliu didn’t have to be limited to just ordinary friends.

Even if Ren Xingliu didn’t agree at the moment, he would be tactful at least. 

As long as it wasn’t a refusal of chopped nail and sliced iron, he still had a chance.

But Ren Xingliu’s answer was different from any scenario that Bai Juanqiu had thought of.

There was clearly a hint of reproach in this statement.

Could it be that his confession had made Ren Xingliu feel offended? 

This was a stronger reaction than rejection, bordering on revulsion.

Bai Juanqiu’s heart instantly went cold, as if he had been immersed in ice water, with a hint of emptiness on his face.

But it only lasted for a brief time as an even stronger desire erupted.

After enduring more than a decade of torture, what harm was it to wait even longer? 

In an instant, a stronger conviction emerged inside.

Bai Juanqiu’s Adam’s apple slid up and down, the corners of his mouth tightened into a straight line, and he said dryly: “It doesn’t matter if you don’t agree now…”

Bai Juanqiu bobbed his Adam’s apple, and the corners of his mouth stretched into a straight line. He cracked his mouth open and said with a dried throat, “It’s fine if you don’t accept right now…”

Ren Xingliu interrupted him and corrected, “It’s not a question of whether to accept or not. The main point is by doing this, you have messed my plan up.” 

While saying that, he slightly bent down and brought his head closer, so he could be face to face with Bai Juanqiu.

Until there was only a palm’s distance between them, close enough that they could feel each other’s breath.

Bai Juanqiu looked at the pair of starry and brilliant eyes within arm reach, then they curved into two beautiful crescent moons, revealing a heartfelt joy.

“How could you be like this?” Ren Xingliu sternly condemned, “To do what I wanted to do first.” 

Bai Juanqiu’s eyes widened, and the figure in his pupils turned vivid.

Almost reflexively, he held his breath. He wondered if he had heard wrong. “What you mean is—”

The next second, the youth reached out, grabbed his collar and lowered his head, answering it with a kiss.

The weather had turned colder, and after standing outside for a while, both of their lips were cold, making each other’s breath even hotter. 

Bai Juanqiu was momentarily stunned, then without hesitation, he grabbed the other person’s hands and yanked the youth into his arms.

Ren Xingliu stood at the edge of the stairs, and because of the height difference, he leaned his head forward and down.

What ended up happening was with the slightest effort from Bai Juanqiu, he fell forward uncontrollably.

But before he could even exclaim, a powerful arm wrapped around him and held him tightly. 

In the blink of an eye, Bai Juanqiu changed from guest to host and returned an even harder kiss.

At some point, the fountain behind changed its pattern, and the water column bloomed in all directions accompanied by melodious music.

Water splashed in all directions, creating a misty layer around the area.

Ren Xingliu and Bai Juanqiu were enveloped in this hazy mist, and their dark hair tinged with fine white color. 

But neither of them cared.

It was only when their breathing turned heavy that Bai Juanqiu reluctantly let go of the other party.

Just now, Bai Juanqiu received a great shock. So even now, he still felt slightly insecure and confirmed in a hoarse voice, “Are you also…”

Ren Xingliu’s face was covered with cool moisture, but it was red from the heat, and his lips were even more so. There was still a little moisture on the corners of his lips, full of ambiguity. 

Ren Xingliu’s face was wet by the cold-water vapor, but it was red from the heat, and his lips even more so. There was even a hint of glistening water at the corner of his lips, full of ambiguity.

“Yes.” He buried his head in the crook of the other person’s neck and snuggled with great force. “I like you as well.”

–

Ren Xingliu survived turbulent times for over a decade, but after transmigrating back, he was determined to become a salted fish. 

His ideal partner should be an ordinary person who he could live a good life with.

Bai Juanqiu actually didn’t meet his criterion.

Since their first meeting, Ren Xingliu knew that this person was not ‘honest’ in the slightest.

How can there be an honest person who would seduce the Bai family as soon as they met, and let the Bai family feel so at ease with him despite hating the Bai family so much? 

How could this person be honest at all? As soon as they met, Bai Juanqiu put the Bai Family in a bad light and still made the Bai Family to be so at ease with him in spite of living under the toxic environment.

However, Ren Xingliu didn’t care at the time. He and Bai Juanqiu each took what they needed for their goals, and it didn’t matter what kind of person their partner was.

However, at some point, his mindset had unconsciously changed.

He couldn’t resist teasing Xiao Bai, and whenever he received good news, his first thought was to share it with the other person.

Bai Juanqiu was obviously not having an easy life, but he would always be willing to go along with him.

Ren Xingliu knew that Bai Juanqiu wasn’t a good person as others thought he was, and he kept many secrets, but in a sense, Bai Juanqiu was extremely sincere to him.

Bai Juanqiu actually didn’t conceal him subjectively.

During their relationship, Bai Juanqiu had actually shown him his true side countless times. 

Ren Xingliu was well aware of it.

At first, he didn’t want to ask, but later on, there was no need to ask.

Because by then, he knew very well that no matter what the real Bai Juanqiu was like, it wouldn’t bother him.

Maybe it was after the rainstorm, or under the streetlamp after getting drunk. 

Or maybe, it was even earlier.

Before he knew it himself, he developed feelings for Bai Juanqiu.

Even if Bai Juanqiu wasn’t his initial ideal type, even if he knew that the real Bai Juanqiu may be a very troublesome person.

All of that was no longer important. 

The only important thing was that night, under the starry sky in the suburbs.

He heard thunderous heartbeats through Bai Juanqiu’s palm.

The beating of Bai Juanqiu’s heart, as well as his own.