AAUMOBIP C33

Chapter 33

“What’s this about going on a date? With your current level of fame, you’re still thinking about dating out in public? I suggest you just date at home.” Song Zhiyuan came out carrying the dishes, overhearing their conversation, mocking as he spoke.

Liu He hurried up to help. Yun Jingqiu strolled lazily over and sat at the dining table, starting to eat.

“Some single guy doesn’t have the right to talk nonsense. This is my Xiao He’s first date. Even if I have to book out the whole shopping mall, I’m taking him out!” Yun Jingqiu was firm.

“You can date, but the bodyguards must come along. And outside, you need to mind your image. Every single move of yours has eyes on it.” Song Zhiyuan admonished.

That was the hard part of being a celebrity—barely any personal space when out in public.

Liu He smiled as he listened to Yun Jingqiu and Song Zhiyuan bickering, quietly eating his food.

Halfway through, he thought of his rabbit, still closed up in its cage. He went to let Creamy White out.

The moment the bunny was free, it dove onto its favorite toy, moving rhythmically.

Liu He: …

See no evil, hear no evil.

Respecting the rabbit’s privacy, he returned to the table to continue eating.

After the meal, Song Zhiyuan cleaned up and left without lingering.

Who said he didn’t have a partner? His “baby” was still waiting obediently at home!

He had even brought the newest brand of canned food back as a feast!

Song Zhiyuan let out a creepy laugh.

Liu He couldn’t help but glance at him, worrying about Brother Song’s mental state.

“He’s a cat-slave, you get used to it,” Yun Jingqiu said, then leaned over to demand a kiss.

Liu He obliged. One kiss soon turned into several, lingering and unwilling to part.

The next day, Liu He rode his little electric scooter to the research institute. He parked in the designated e-scooter parking lot, clocked in, and entered.

“Xiao He, people said you were picked up by a luxury car after work yesterday?”

Turns out Sister Ying hadn’t explained to others that it was just an online ride-hailing car.

So Liu He repeated what he told his colleagues the night before, then proudly showed off his scooter.

Chatting, they went inside the institute and to their respective offices.

Liu He’s internship went smoothly. After a few days of reading through materials, by the third day he was able to go along with colleagues into the lab—first observing, then soon doing small tasks as a lab assistant.

The first week of work passed in a flash.

Friday afternoon, Liu He left work on time, greeted colleagues goodbye, and rode his e-scooter home.

Yun Jingqiu was still filming today—he’d be home late.

Parking in the garage, Liu He spotted an SUV, realizing Song Zhiyuan had already arrived.

He entered the villa, asking, “Brother Song, how come you’re here so early today?”

Song Zhiyuan was busy in the kitchen, but answered while stepping out with a knife in hand: “Yun-ge wanted something hearty tonight, so I came to cook. Another assistant will drive him back later.”

Yun Jingqiu didn’t only have Song Zhiyuan as an assistant, but Song’s relationship with him was undoubtedly the closest.

“Is sister-in-law hungry yet? I baked some cookies, put them on the table—try some.” Song said with a grin before heading back to the kitchen.

Liu He smiled, sat down on the sofa, and picked up a cookie from the coffee table. They were on the tough side, not very sweet—probably a low-sugar version. Good for chewing to pass the time.

Suddenly, a rabbit launched like a cannonball, hind legs pushing off, landing precisely.

The impact knocked Liu He backward into the sofa.

Blinking in confusion, it took him a few seconds to register, then he grabbed the rabbit into his arms and laughed: “Creamy White, since when did you learn sneak attacks?”

Creamy White’s rutting symptoms had died down. Since it no longer “molested” Liu He, Yun Jingqiu didn’t object to him cuddling it.

Liu He fed the bunny some treats. Creamy White ate obediently.

“So cute.” Liu He sighed.

Even so, it didn’t change the fact that an neutering operation had been scheduled. Yun Jingqiu had already booked the appointment for tomorrow afternoon.

Watching Creamy White happily enjoying snacks, Liu He decided not to mention the sad news that would make the bunny unhappy.

Song Zhiyuan came out wiping his hands. Glancing at Creamy White, he said: “So, sister-in-law, tomorrow afternoon we’re taking Creamy White for neutering, right?”

The bunny had no reaction at all. After all, it didn’t understand.

Liu He: “Mm, Yun-ge and I will go together.”

“Best to do it early!” Song exclaimed. “My cat, we waited too long—let him go into heat two or three times before finally neutering. Afterward, he started eating everything in sight! Put on three whole jin in just two months! And got so clingy.”

Rabbits and cats don’t have quite the same habits though…

Liu He stroked Creamy White gently.

“After surgery, you should feed him something nutritious. After all, it’s still an operation.”

That was exactly Liu He’s thought. He had already bought plenty of supplements. Creamy White’s diet had reached the very pinnacle of rabbit cuisine, leaving nowhere else to improve. And he was docile, chubby, snow-white, and a delight to look after.

“Brother Song, what did Yun-ge order tod⁠—”

Song hesitated, glanced at Liu He, opened his mouth, then shut it again.

His behavior was odd. Liu He was puzzled.

Song finally shook his head and sighed: “If I don’t say, you’ll notice at dinner anyway. Might as well tell you now.”

“Yun-ge wanted soft-shelled turtle soup,” he said.

“Eat defeat? Was he bullied on set?” Liu He instantly grew alert.

“Not defeat (吃瘪).” Song rubbed his head awkwardly. “Soft-shelled turtle, you know.”

Ah. Liu He finally understood.

Why would Yun-ge want soft-shelled turtle out of nowhere? Could it be his health wasn’t good? Was this preparation for… male stamina?

“Sister-in-law, take it easy tonight.” Song muttered in a low sigh, then slipped back into the kitchen.

Liu He: ?

Lowering his head, he gazed at the rabbit in his arms. Then it hit him—Yun-ge’s rutting season must’ve arrived too.

It was Friday. Tomorrow was Saturday, both of them on break. If anything did happen, tonight was indeed good timing.

This was earlier than Liu He’s carefully planned “schedule.”

But honestly, from the start of this relationship, had anything progressed by his timeline? Every step had collapsed under Yun-ge’s assaults.

Liu He absentmindedly stroked Creamy White’s fur, his mind drifting.

He and Yun-ge had done everything already except the very final step. Which meant: all that should have been done, had been; even what shouldn’t have been, had been.

He wasn’t sure if he could handle Yun-ge after eating tonics.

Normally, Yun Jingqiu was already far too energetic—every time Liu He offered his “supplies”, Yun still wasn’t satisfied. Tonight, then…

Hugging Creamy White, Liu He muttered distractedly: “Creamy White, maybe Yun-ge should just have a neutering surgery too?”

“What surgery?” The door opened. Yun Jingqiu walked in.

He had only caught the last words, not the whole sentence.

His eyes fell on the bunny. Realizing, he said: “Ah, Xiao He was talking about Creamy White’s neutering. It’s arranged, tomorrow afternoon we’ll take him.”

Liu He, guilty, nodded, wanting to say something but biting it back.

But Yun Jingqiu had serious things on his mind. Giving him a brief hello, he headed straight into the kitchen.

The sounds of conversation drifted out.

“Song, is it ready?” Yun-ge must be asking if the turtle was done.

“All ready, dinner’s on.” Song replied.

Song carried out the turtle soup and several side dishes.

Liu He set Creamy White down, who immediately went back to its toy.

“Xiao He, come eat.” Yun Jingqiu called.

He ladled rice for Liu He, then filled a bowl with turtle soup. “Drink some—your health is too poor, you need good nourishment.”

“For me?” Liu He blurted. “Didn’t Brother Song prepare it for you?”

So the whole order was… for him?

But he wasn’t weak at all.

Liu He didn’t understand.

“Xiao He has been working hard all week. And your body’s delicate. You need to eat and recover.” Yun Jingqiu said seriously. “Don’t you like turtle?”

Liu He had never eaten it before, but he wasn’t picky. He took a sip—it was delicious.

But he didn’t think he was weak, and after another mouthful he protested: “I’m not frail.”

“Eat some meat.” Yun Jingqiu said. “Nobody said you are. It’s just nourishment.”

Liu He obediently picked at some turtle meat. It was good too.

But—he wasn’t frail!

Watching this, Song Zhiyuan didn’t eat a lot. He felt stuffed by the sight of endless dog food between these two. Quickly finishing his own meal, he bolted.

“Yun-ge, sister-in-law, I’m heading out. And don’t forget tomorrow—you two on your date, stay careful. Don’t ditch the bodyguards, and keep your identities hidden!” Song nagged once more.

If anything happened, even Yun-ge would get scolded by Wang-ge.

Waving dismissively, Yun Jingqiu said: “Got it.”

Liu He replied nicely: “Okay, Brother Song.”

Song, unable to stand the atmosphere in this house, gave Creamy White—still busy amusing itself—one last look, then made his escape.

Once he was gone, Yun Jingqiu’s behavior grew bolder and stickier.

Aside from that soup, he didn’t serve Liu He any dishes himself—just kept urging him to eat more turtle.

Under his insistence, Liu He ate almost the whole turtle, and drank plenty of the broth. Yun Jingqiu only sampled a bit.

“I’m full,” Liu He said.

“Then don’t eat more.”

Though Liu He couldn’t help feeling stuffed, the turtle was gone. Yun Jingqiu was very satisfied. His plan was proceeding steadily.

“Are we… making love tonight?” Only when Yun constantly fed him nutrient-rich food did Liu He realize his intention.

Yun Jingqiu didn’t need the supplements. He didn’t either. But compared to Yun, his body was definitely the weaker one. So Yun feeding him turtle meat all night could only mean one thing.

Tonight might be very, very long.

Liu He voiced the topic bluntly, staring straight at Yun Jingqiu.

Yun Jingqiu cocked an amused brow, lips curling as he praised him softly: “Xiao He doesn’t want to?”

“I have no objections,” Liu He muttered, slow to speak. “Did you prepare… the protection?”

“Of course.” Yun Jingqiu smiled. “And we still have Xiao He’s favorite cat, and my favorite rabbit.”

The thought of those two costumes made Liu He’s face burn crimson. His calm facade dissolved. He shot up and blurted: “Weren’t those things left back in City C? How are they here?!”

“I fetched them last time I was in C,” Yun Jingqiu answered calmly. “I knew Xiao He would never take them out himself. Rather than letting them collect dust, shouldn’t they be worn in their most meaningful place?”

Liu He: “…I’m not wearing them.”

Yun Jingqiu only smiled and nodded: “Alright.”