AAUMOBIP C20

Chapter 20

Liu He: ?

How did Yun Jingqiu know?

His stipend had just arrived yesterday, and the deduction method should have been from his bank card.

【187 Boyfriend: Who did you buy those things to wear for?】

More messages came in from Yun Jingqiu.

Liu He didn’t have time to check the payment method first—he immediately asked:

【fon: How did you know?】

But in his heart, he already had a bad premonition.

【187 Boyfriend: You used Intimate Pay】

【187 Boyfriend: Of course I can see】

Liu He opened the app and discovered that somehow the relative card had been switched into the priority payment method. He fell silent.

When had this changed? Maybe at some point he hadn’t paid attention and it auto-switched.

These things often happened—payment apps setting random priority defaults.

【fon: It was Jiang Yi who asked me to buy them for him】

Hurriedly, Liu He reset the payment settings and sent a reply to Yun.

If Yun misunderstood, that would be disastrous.

【fon: Let me explain through messages, or better, I’ll call】

So Liu immediately sent over a video request.

The other end picked up quickly.

He tried to read Yun’s expression on screen, but soon gave up.

Of course Yun was an actor—his mastery of expressions was flawless, not a trace of emotion to pick up.

“Talk.” Yun’s brows rose lazily, his look saying: Let’s see how you’ll spin this one.

“Jiang Yi’s scam incident got found out by his partner. His partner set Intimate Pay on his account, blocked him from holding too much money or overspending.

So he wanted to calm his partner down. Asked me to lend him five hundred. He told his partner it was seven hundred. The extra two hundred he asked me to use to buy these clothes. The rest, he said, was ‘interest.’” Liu He explained the whole story quickly, words tumbling fast.

Still, Yun’s face remained expressionless.

Fearing disbelief, Liu also forwarded his chat logs with Jiang Yi for evidence:

“See? That’s it. Just me helping him buy a few things.”

Whether or not Yun was convinced, Liu noticed that the man’s face finally relaxed a little as he scrolled the screen. He kept watching, so… maybe he did believe?

But even if he didn’t… too late now.

The items had been purchased, payment made. He had said what was true without lying. Whether accepted or not was up to Yun.

Liu realized this and stopped twisting himself. The order had been placed already—and they’d arrive soon anyway. And after all, he had bought them to wear for Yun in the end.

He had also forwarded Jiang Yi’s purchase links.

Scrolling them, Yun casually asked: “Which of these sets does Little He prefer?”

Liu didn’t quite understand why Yun asked, but he still answered:

“The cat ears, I guess. Cat is pretty cute.”

Of course, he himself would never wear such clothes.

Then, thinking that Yun’s birthday was fast approaching and he still hadn’t settled on a gift, he asked offhandedly:

“What about Yun-ge? What do you like?”

“Rabbit,” Yun replied.

Rabbit?

Liu nodded, duly noting it down.

Rabbits were indeed adorable—and expensive—but as a pet, that could make a good gift.

Topic dropped, they played a game, then continued chatting.

“When will you be back?” Yun asked.

“Tomorrow.” Liu He said.

Yun was entering production soon. The days before separation grew few.

Liu couldn’t accompany him into the crew. He had his own obligations.

The thought of separation so soon weighed heavy on them. For a couple head-over-heels, the prospect was dire.

Having cooled down after two days away, Liu yearned to return and live together again.

“Alright. I’ll wait for you home then.” Yun said.

Smiling, Liu wished him goodnight and laid down to sleep.

Two days of distance calmed him. Facing Yun again, he no longer felt the shame of that first night.

For couples, intimacy was no great taboo—sooner or later, it would happen anyway.

Yun was simply too fast—far beyond the slow pace Liu had mapped carefully in his mind.

In his plan: hand-holding at one week, a kiss at one month, going to bed after at least half a year. Mutual helping hands only after dating for three months.

Now, things were flying far quicker.

“How could you come get me again? Don’t you fear being recognized?” Liu threw a glance at Yun, who sat in the backseat, armed head to toe with cap and mask. “Sit further in. Roll the window up. If you get caught, what then?”

Stepping into the car himself, Liu still checked left and right anxiously.

Yun’s birthday was almost here. Fans were preparing deeply for it.

Of course, gifts reaching Yun’s hands would be filtered by staff, eliminating dangerous mishaps. Some fans went extreme—dead rats and razor blades were tame compared to worse.

Song Zhiyuan chauffeured them back, then left for his hotel.

Careful not to be seen, Liu tugged Yun quickly up from the underground garage elevator, behaving like thieves.

With laughter in his eyes, Yun followed him inside, up to 1801.

Only when the door closed behind them did Liu breathe out:

“Don’t do that again. These are short distances—you can walk twenty minutes. You couldn’t wait?”

“If you get exposed, if people surround you, I could never save you.”

Yun clutched his chest like wounded: “Little He, are you truly so cruel?”

Liu nodded seriously.

He had no fighting skill—if Yun was ever mobbed, only professional bodyguards could save him.

Settled back home, Liu slept soundly—yes, this bed was more comfortable than anywhere.

On Yun’s birthday itself.

After his arm injury, Yun had withdrawn from public completely. Not only halted filming, but even scheduled endorsements and shoots were postponed.

But April 19th still came—his birthday.

The company arranged a small fan-meeting event—a handful of core fans privately invited, with roundtrip tickets and hotel covered in City C. A meal, photos, autographs, games with Yun. All expenses on the company.

“Little He, won’t you come? They’ll never speak of you outside,” Yun looked hopeful. “They’re my most loyal fans, people I personally know. I want to introduce you.”

Liu shook his head. “The lab needs me. I’ll be late. Happy birthday.”

Then softer, he added: “I prepared a surprise for tonight.”

Rising up on tiptoe, he kissed Yun’s cheek. Then, heart pounding, thought: Today is his birthday. We should be closer still.

So again he kissed him—but this time, directly on the lips.

Shocking Yun Jingqiu.

Until now, he thought every kiss was orchestrated by himself, carefully guiding Little He closer. He had not expected this initiative.

Liu He had no technique. He only knew kisses should involve the tongue—so he simply licked at Yun’s lips once.

That single move snapped Yun’s final thread of reason.

With force, he kissed back like a storm. His palm cradled Liu’s head, so escape was impossible.

Liu’s breath was stolen until he thought he’d suffocate.

Yun’s strength was overwhelming, his kiss fierce.

Breath ragged, Liu’s mind blurred, dizzy with Yun’s shampoo scent—ironically the same as his own.

A cut stung his lips, a trace of blood in their mingling mouths.

The sharp ring of a phone broke the spell.

Finally, Yun let go.

The boyish face was swollen red, lips plump with blood, eyes wet with a sheen of tears clinging to lowered lashes.

Liu himself stood stunned, not yet recovered.

“I have to go,” Yun whispered, yearning in his tone. “Tonight, may I still taste your kiss again?”

Liu, too slow to react, only nodded. Whether in answer to leaving, or permission—it was unclear even to himself.

The door slammed shut. Startled, he shuddered, at last finding his breath.

His body weakened, nearly unable to walk.

Touching swollen lips, he couldn’t stop the small smile curling up.

So this was kissing? More intoxicating than ever imagined.

His phone buzzed in his pocket:

【Jiang Yi: When will you come?】

【Jiang Yi: I’ll treat you to dinner】

【Jiang Yi: I’m almost there】

【fon: I’m almost out too】

He hastily packed and went down.

Meeting Jiang Yi at the gate, he saw him carrying fried starch sausages.

“From the school gate stand. Really good.” Jiang Yi handed him a bag.

Liu took one. It was that fried, crunchy-starch kind: crisp shell, scalding inside, rich chili burn. Delicious.

Jiang Yi stared at his lips, muttering: “What, first thing before coming out the door, you had to get kissed?”

Naïve he was not. Liu’s flushed lips told the truth.

But Liu just bit his sausage, pretending they burned from chili.

“Why are we going to a pet shop? Looking to get a pet?” Jiang Yi asked.

Couples stealing kisses—normal.

But Liu had in truth invited him so he could slip away from Xu’s watch.

Ever since Xu discovered Jiang Yi’s scam, he’d been strict. Jiang Yi’s movements now needed near permission slips.

Not his fault! Scammers kept evolving, he wasn’t gullible!

Still, oppressed days made him eager for escape. When Liu called, he left readily.

Now he finally asked: “So, what for?”

“Yun-ge’s birthday. He said he wanted a rabbit.”

Jiang Yi froze, then nodded knowingly.

Of course he knew today was Yun’s birthday. If not for Xu’s control, he would have sent gifts himself.

But a rabbit? Did Liu misunderstand?

Wasn’t Yun hinting at… a rabbit costume set?

He eyed Liu, about to speak the truth—then shivered. No, safer to keep silent.

So together they visited pet shops, checking rabbits.

Eventually Liu committed: a white lop-eared rabbit, fluffy as cotton candy.

He purchased it properly under contract, with food and toys, and set it in their home.

Waiting for Yun’s return, he could hardly sit still. What kind of reaction would Yun show to meeting his “rabbit”?

At last, as evening fell, the man returned.

Lights low, dinner and cake ready, candles glowing: twinkling 27.

And then, from its hutch, the lop rabbit hopped up, bold—and straight onto the table beside the cake.

Yun paused, staring.

“This is your surprise—a rabbit, since you said you liked rabbits,” Liu said, nervous but smiling.

“…So it was that kind of rabbit.” Yun murmured under his breath.

“What?”

“…Nothing. I like it very much.”

Warmly, he stroked the creature. “Have you named it?”

“It’s your gift, you choose.”

“Then—Cream ,” Yun decided.

And so, a new family member was named.

Later, eating dinner, he revealed his own “surprise”:

From a paper bag, he pulled cat ears. Then rabbit ears.

And finally—out came the revealing costumes.

Blushing crimson, Liu stuffed all of it back in the bag, cursing angrily:

“How is this a surprise?!”