SFBF CH84

After Shen Qing issued his soul-searching question, Gu Huaiyu narrowed his eyes.

A dangerous glint flashed through his sharp, phoenix-like eyes: “What do you mean, ‘incapable’?”

“I mean…”

Shen Qing stuttered. The truth was, no one had ever actually told him the Boss was incapable. It was just that the original novel stated Gu Huaiyu wouldn’t be around for much longer, so seeing the Boss so sickly and frail, Shen Qing had just assumed he couldn’t be. He had never even considered the possibility.

…He had made a fundamental error in his cognitive assessment!

And now, it turned out he actually could!

“Shen Qing.”

Gu Huaiyu narrowed his eyes again, his gaze fixed intently on him: “…It seems you have some misconceptions about me.”

Shen Qing awkwardly looked away, not daring to meet his eyes: “…It seems, indeed, I had a bit of a misconception.”

“…”

Gu Huaiyu reached out and touched his face again. This time, his palm pressed lightly against his cheek, and his long fingers trailed directly onto his ear, then his whole hand traveled backward and downward… arriving finally at his neck.

Shen Qing: !

As soon as his sensitive neck was touched, Shen Qing nearly bristled and subconsciously took a step back. Both he and Gu Huaiyu paused at that movement. Shen Qing realized then that he had overreacted… Actually, there was no need to be that excited.

“I…”

He turned his head slightly. His slender neck, sharp jawline, and refined profile were on full display. Shen Qing struggled, conflicted: “I didn’t mean that…”

Gu Huaiyu had already slowly lowered his hand, his expression calm: “Hmm.” He said, “I understand.”

Shen Qing turned back around: “…Understand what?”

Gu Huaiyu remained leaning against the washbasin. Perhaps tired, he shifted to support his body with both hands on the vanity. This posture made him appear even taller, his thin shoulder blades protruding more sharply. Shen Qing wanted to help him sit down again, but Gu Huaiyu looked at him with heavy eyes and said, “Aren’t you straight? I feel like being with a man would be hard for you to accept for the time being.”

Shen Qing: “…”

Blood rushed back to his head. Ah… this topic… He really hadn’t thought about that aspect. He was still a virgin! He hadn’t even been in a relationship before…

Gu Huaiyu’s low, hoarse voice sounded again, gentle and full of patience: “So it’s fine. We’ll take it slow, Shen Qing.”

Shen Qing: “…”

Enveloped by that gentle voice, Shen Qing struggled and raked his hair, remembering what the Boss had said earlier at the pet hospital: “—Because the thing I like is too fragile, too young, too precious, so I dare not.”

…So, Gu Huaiyu hadn’t brought up his situation earlier because he was worried about scaring him away…

Damn, Boss, how far ahead are you thinking?! If he had known, he wouldn’t have told him he was straight. Flushed to his ears, Shen Qing muttered, “Straight or not, I still like you. Didn’t I say that already?” The last part was barely a whisper, though still audible to both of them.

Gu Huaiyu let out a laugh. His handsome, pale face revealed a hint of helplessness, yet a genuine smile, which, in a daze, felt incredibly seductive.

Shen Qing stared, dumbfounded.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds. After the laugh, Gu Huaiyu tightened his face, let out a light sigh, and spoke in his usual serious, earnest tone: “That kind of thing is still different. It will hurt you.”

Shen Qing: “…???”

You… I… This… Ah! What is the Boss talking about?! Shen Qing suddenly didn’t know where to look! And why did he suddenly have a mental image?!

His already flushed cheeks were now heating up to a thousand degrees; he felt like steam was literally rising from the top of his head! Shen Qing stiffened his neck, exposing even more of it, and whispered, “…How come I heard it was okay…”

That was the truth; he’d read plenty of novels, and not a single one mentioned it would hurt. Could it be because the ones he read were all “clean” stories? …

Before he could finish thinking, Gu Huaiyu raised an eyebrow and leaned in suddenly: “In that case, why don’t we try it now?”

Shen Qing: “!”

He subconsciously stepped back again. This time it was because the mental image was too intense, and with Gu Huaiyu suddenly leaning in, it exploded in his mind, making him… shy! Yes, that word the Boss used—shy! He got shy when facing someone he liked a lot too!

Feeling like he was about to explode, Shen Qing simply retreated two more steps, hiding by the door. His thin frame pressed against the door, like a small animal hiding in fear. Yet, Shen Qing’s gaze remained fixed on Gu Huaiyu. He explained, “Wait, wait, wait, I need to process this.”

Gu Huaiyu maintained his original posture, his skeletal frame long and thin, his upper body wrapped in bandages, with hardly any muscle visible. But perhaps because he was so thin, his abdominal muscles were surprisingly prominent… Shen Qing quickly looked away.

Gu Huaiyu said: “Hmm.” He was also watching the young man. Watching the crimson flush spread across his handsome, refined cheeks; watching the confusion and shyness in his eyes.

“Don’t feel pressured. I said…” Gu Huaiyu started, “As long as you like me, that’s enough.”

“…Of course I like you,” Shen Qing said.

Gu Huaiyu smiled slightly again. His pale skin looked almost translucent under the bathroom lights, his long lashes casting a shadow beneath his eyes. He looked a bit weak, but his smile remained gentle: “Hmm, that’s enough then. Don’t do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, Shen Qing.”

Shen Qing: “…Hmm.”

But thinking about it carefully, it didn’t seem that uncomfortable. He was only so out of it because he never expected the Boss to actually be capable… So, with the Boss in that condition, how was he even capable of doing it?!

…

“Wait, that’s not right. Why would it be me who hurts?” He reacted, suddenly straightening his back and asking earnestly.

Gu Huaiyu heard his question, the corners of his mouth lifting again, a glint of dark light flashing in his eyes: “So, you do want to try.”

Shen Qing: “…Yeah, we could try.” Shen Qing said bravely. Although, looking at the Boss’s height, to be honest, he was still a little intimidated…

Gu Huaiyu asked him again: “Then, do you know how?”

Shen Qing: “…”

He was completely defeated. Alright, he was someone who couldn’t even handle a kiss from the Boss… Wait, that’s still not right.

Shen Qing: “Don’t tell me you know??”

Wasn’t it agreed that the Boss had never even hugged anyone before!! Previously, when Gu Huaiyu was so capable at handling him during kisses, Shen Qing had curiously asked how he did it. Gu Huaiyu’s answer was “self-taught.”

Could it be that… higher-difficulty things were also self-taught??

“How do you know how?” Shen Qing asked with his hands on his hips.

Gu Huaiyu had already straightened up and walked straight over. Just as Shen Qing was leaning against the door panel, Gu Huaiyu arrived in front of him, bracing his long arms, trapping him between his arms and the door again.

Staring at him deeply at close range, those sharp, phoenix eyes narrowed again. Gu Huaiyu said, “I don’t know either, but when I see you, I just know.”

Shen Qing: “? What kind of logic is that…”

Gu Huaiyu’s answer was to laugh again, then suddenly fold his arms, pulling him into his embrace.

The frail body had surprisingly strong explosive power. Pulling the young man into his arms, Gu Huaiyu lowered his head and bit lightly onto his long neck.

Shen Qing: “Mm!”

He subconsciously struggled. Being nipped by the neck felt like his lifeline had been seized; it was ticklish, making him want to squirm wildly… But Gu Huaiyu’s strength was greater than he imagined. Shen Qing was afraid of struggling too hard and hurting the Boss’s wounds, so the struggling was ineffective.

Besides that, while the feeling was uncomfortable, it wasn’t exactly hated either. On the contrary, it made his heart race and his chest pound, wanting more… a little bit more.

Alright, it was getting harder to bear. Just a second before he could no longer stand it, Gu Huaiyu suddenly released him. Still hovering against the young man’s neck, amidst their intertwined breathing, Gu Huaiyu’s voice was low and hoarse, rich in texture like the sound of a cello: “…I want to eat you up every moment.”

“…”

“…So I was self-taught.”

Shen Qing: “…”

Gu Huaiyu slowly straightened his waist.

Shen Qing… subconsciously pressed against his thunderously beating heart and looked up at the other man. Gu Huaiyu was also looking down at him. Because of the struggle just now, Shen Qing’s warm, brilliant almond eyes were flushed at the corners, and a glint of moisture filled them, though they remained bright.

He probably really needed time to adapt. The young man, usually as clever as a little fox, looked a bit bewildered now. Bewildered and innocent, without any defenses. An overly handsome face, completely unguarded, opened up before him, making Gu Huaiyu unable to help but take another deep breath.

Biting the young man’s flushed lips again, Gu Huaiyu said, “You go out first?”

He used a tone of request. His voice was even hoarser.

Shen Qing: …He instantly came to his senses!

“Ah, oh, okay.” He responded subconsciously, then lowered his head to look down, his gaze a bit unfocused: “You…”

Gu Huaiyu: “…”

Shen Qing: “Are you going to… yourself?”

Gu Huaiyu tilted his head slightly: “Don’t you want to help me?”

Shen Qing: !

“…Then I’d better go out first. …You, call me if you need anything, awoo.”

Saying this, he was about to go out, but only after turning around did he remember the bathroom had a sliding door that couldn’t be pushed open.

“…”

The slender figure paused again. Shen Qing exerted force, his waistline beneath the tank top tensing even further, before he finally pulled the door open.

However, after sliding the door open, he didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he turned back to look at Gu Huaiyu: “I think if you’re not capable, just hold it in. Your body right now… really can’t.”

Gu Huaiyu: “…?” He narrowed his eyes again.

Watching the Boss’s pale face, Shen Qing’s words now were from the bottom of his heart. It was true; he finally realized what was wrong… With the Boss’s body, even if he was capable, he shouldn’t be doing that! Wouldn’t that just kill him faster?

So, no, definitely not.

And thinking that the Boss only had that reaction when he saw him…

Shen Qing didn’t linger this time and quickly squeezed out through the gap in the door he had pushed open.

“Anyway, once or twice is fine, but Boss, you should… take it easy. Your health comes first!”

Gu Huaiyu: “…”

The young man moved too fast. Gu Huaiyu, whose hand had just been raised to catch him, missed unexpectedly. Looking at the bathroom door that had been shut again, Gu Huaiyu: “…Shen, Qing.”

His voice was lower.

After Shen Qing closed the sliding door for the Boss, he flashed back into the bedroom. The bedroom, with its windows and doors open, was much cooler. He took a deep breath subconsciously and fanned his face, finally calming down a bit.

A long time later, Gu Huaiyu seemed to have finally tidied himself up and came out of the restroom.

Shen Qing was sitting cross-legged on the edge of his side of the bed. He had changed out of the tank top and shorts into silk short-sleeved pajamas and trousers.

Gu Huaiyu rolled out in his wheelchair and, seeing this, stopped directly.

Shen Qing said, “Don’t misunderstand, I’m not trying to guard against you. I’m doing this for your health.”

Gu Huaiyu was silent at first. His long fingers tapped irregularly on the wheelchair armrest a few times, then he raised an eyebrow imperceptibly: “Is that so?”

“Of course.” Shen Qing jumped off the bed and came to the Boss’s side, “Nothing is more important than your health.”

Gu Huaiyu didn’t comment. He let the young man push him to the bedside, then raised his eyebrows high, looking at the dividing line made of blankets on the bed.

Shen Qing: “…I’m worried that I won’t be able to stay still in my sleep and press on you. Your wounds still can’t take much movement, it’d be bad if they got infected! So, let’s sleep a bit apart.”

Gu Huaiyu: “So, the wife is caring for me. Not scared by me?”

Shen Qing widened his eyes: “What could I be scared of by you? …Ah.” Saying that, he looked down again: “It’s… that thing of yours is indeed a bit, uh…”

Gu Huaiyu: “…”

Shen Qing: “But I like you, so of course I like all of you.”

Still sitting ramrod straight in the wheelchair, Gu Huaiyu was met with a hug from Shen Qing. His fingertips hung in mid-air in a daze, smelling the fresh scent of the young man. Gu Huaiyu suddenly raised his hands to encircle him.

He even turned him around, making Shen Qing sit on his lap.

Gu Huaiyu: “Shen Qing, do you know how wonderful you are?”

Shen Qing… I know, I know. Of course he knew, being loved by everyone wasn’t just a reputation.

But the moist, hot air sprayed against his neck, and Shen Qing didn’t want to engage in witty banter. He felt that standing up wasn’t right, and continuing to lean back, completely sitting on the Boss’s lap, didn’t seem right either. It just meant he wasn’t comfortable sitting any which way.

…Sob sob sob, you said I was the one seducing you. Obviously, you’re the one seeking seduction! Where did that self-control of a “Work King” go?

Behind him, Gu Huaiyu said in a very low voice, “I will get better as soon as possible.”

“Mm, yeah, okay.” Shen Qing said almost reflexively: “Then you have to hurry up and get better.”

Gu Huaiyu paused again, feeling the warm body temperature, looking at the young man’s long neck. His eyelids suddenly drooped, covering the dark, deep gaze in his eyes.

“Okay.” He said.

Although Shen Qing had set up a dividing line on the bed, it didn’t seem to be of any use. When he woke up early the next morning, the dividing line was gone, and he was still clutching the Boss’s neck.

Shen Qing: “…”

So, which department should he see for a sleeping posture that’s too uninhibited?

Waiting online, it’s quite urgent.

Fortunately, there were no problems with the Boss’s incision, and Gu Huaiyu said he didn’t feel any pain, so the matter was considered passed. But because of the excessive stimulation the night before, Shen Qing had suffered a bit of insomnia in the first half of the night, which led to him dozing off and oversleeping after he woke up.

By the time Shen Qing was fully awake and headed downstairs, it was already noon. Gu Duo had gone to school, and Aozi was eating lunch downstairs. The tutor, Mr. Fang Jiaqi, and another teacher were eating lunch nearby as well, with the two puppies keeping them company at their feet.

Seeing Shen Qing arrive, Mr. Fang and the other tutor, Mr. Zhao, stood up and politely greeted Mr. Shen. Seeing Shen Qing still not fully awake, Fang Jiaqi hesitated for a moment: “…Did Mr. Shen sleep until now?”

Shen Qing: “…”

“Ah, I didn’t mean that.” Fang Jiaqi quickly looked away, trying his best not to notice the marks on Mr. Shen’s neck… He felt that the marks on Mr. Shen’s neck were more numerous than yesterday. One of them was on the side of his neck; although covered by the shirt Mr. Shen was wearing, it was still very obvious whenever he moved…

Shen Qing had already given up on managing his wake-up time, even though this was indeed the latest he’d woken up in a long time. He smiled indifferently, not bothering to explain, and just asked Aunt Zhang, “Did anyone come looking for the Boss today?”

Passing by the Boss’s office just now, he heard what sounded like a lot of people talking inside. He didn’t disturb them, and passing by Assistant Li’s office, Li Hong wasn’t there either.

Aunt Zhang said, “It was Miss Lian and the others; they arrived around nine o’clock.”

Shen Qing: “…”

So I didn’t even hear them?

“Meeting with the Boss?” He asked again. Aunt Zhang nodded, and Shen Qing understood.

Just then, the puppies on the floor barked a few times, and Shen Qing looked down. The puppies were much livelier than yesterday. Aunt Zhang voluntarily told Shen Qing that the little masters had gotten along very well with the puppies last night. It felt like Aozi might even have tried to crawl into the doghouse to play or even sleep with the puppies, but Shen Qing had already agreed with Duoduo that the puppies could be kept in their room, but only in the outermost playroom; the cubs still had to sleep in their own bedrooms.

Duoduo would do what he promised Shen Qing, and Aozi listened to his brother too. So, even though Aozi was reluctant to part with the puppies when it was almost time to sleep, once Aunt Zhang went to put the dogs in their cage at the appointed time, Aozi was taken back to the room to sleep by his brother. Aozi was a good sleeper; once asleep, he forgot everything, sleeping as soundly as a little piglet all night.

Duoduo had been worrying about less lately, and with his big dad back, another thing off his mind, he reportedly slept very well.

Aunt Zhang smiled and said, “Early this morning, the eldest young master even took the little young master to the courtyard to walk the puppies. The young masters don’t know how to use leashes, but fortunately, these two puppies don’t run around, otherwise, with such a large courtyard, they would probably have gotten lost.”

Their garden was indeed large, and such small puppies would be hard to find if they hid in a bush. But Shen Qing thought, since they were walking them in their own yard, not using leashes was fine, as long as they trained the puppies not to run off. Yesterday, the vet said the puppies were Chinese rural dogs; these dogs were smart, so he figured as long as the method was right and taught with patience, they would soon be sensible.

So Shen Qing said, “Puppies this small aren’t easy to leash, just let them roam. Later, I’ll have someone clear another plot of land in the yard specifically for the dogs to play in.”

In the spring, Shen Qing had renovated the garden, built two nurseries, and installed a small outdoor playground for the cubs with slides, swings, and some other small amusement equipment to urge the babies to go outdoors and prevent them from being homebodies like him. This had indeed greatly increased the probability of the cubs going outside. Aozi having to go dig in the dirt every day, or drive the toy diggers and tractors a few times, was the best proof of that. Even so, there was still plenty of empty space in the yard.

So, as long as they fenced off another piece of land and got workers to enclose it, they could walk the dogs there temporarily. Once the dogs grew a bit bigger and were more responsive to human nature, they wouldn’t need to be leashed when walking them in their own yard. By then, if they wanted to go out to walk the dogs, leashing them would be easy too.

Hearing his idea, the other tutor, Mr. Zhao, couldn’t help but praise: “Mr. Shen, you’ve considered this so thoughtfully!”

Shen Qing smiled at her again, his eyes lingering, and continued, “But whoever lets them out must watch them themselves. Don’t let them run around, and certainly don’t let them run out of the yard, to avoid them getting lost or bumping into others.”

He said this mainly for Aozi.

The puppies could currently only drink milk and eat canned food, but Aozi always wanted to share his own food with them. After being stopped by Aunt Zhang several times, he was now sitting at the table eating while watching the puppies under the table with round eyes, not hearing Shen Qing at all.

Shen Qing: “…”

Aunt Zhang laughed happily on the side, not forgetting to smooth things over: “The little young master is so happy today, he’s just always thinking about these two dogs, he’s not even focused on eating.”

Shen Qing indicated that he understood; kids, after all! Who doesn’t get obsessed for a while when they see something they like?

Not to mention kids, adults were like that too… Suddenly remembering last night’s bathroom storm, Shen Qing quickly coughed to pull his attention back.

Aunt Zhang brought him water and, out of concern, said reproachfully as she walked over, “Madam, drink some water quickly, your voice is hoarse.”

Shen Qing: “Cough…”

He took a sip of water and said thank you. At this moment, Aozi, who was focused on watching the puppies, finally heard the noise and looked up at him. Aozi, sitting in the adult dining chair, was still that tiny; if he sat with his back against the seat, he could barely stretch his little feet out of the chair and couldn’t touch the ground at all. Aunt Zhang, worried that he would get too focused on watching the dogs and forget himself and flip over, had put him in a child’s seat.

Caught in the child seat, Aozi lifted his big head, seemingly out of concern, and said: “Little Dad coughed, coughed.”

Looked at by Aozi’s big, black-grape-like eyes, Shen Qing’s heart was instantly healed. Pinching the baby’s fleshy, soft cheeks, he said, “It’s nothing, Little Dad is just a little thirsty.”

“Mm.”

Since when, he didn’t know, but Aozi, whose face had been pinched by his Little Dad, no longer rubbed the other side to “re-mark” it. He just let his Little Dad pinch and rub, not caring that his speech became unclear because his baby fat was under attack.

Aozi insisted on articulating: “…Why, Little Dad thirsty?”

Shen Qing explained: “Because when people sleep, the body loses water, and then there’s no way to replenish it…”

Aozi kicked his little legs, and the crisp, small voice sounded again: “Then why, can’t replenish water?”

Shen Qing: “…Because I was sleeping, I couldn’t drink water.”

Foreseeing that with Aozi’s nature, he would probably continue to ask why his Little Dad didn’t lose water before but lost water today, Shen Qing automatically added: “Little Dad was thirsty because I slept too long today, that’s why I didn’t drink water.”

“Mm.”

Big eyes blinked, Aozi seemed to understand. He probably wouldn’t dig any deeper. Shen Qing was satisfied with his preemptive answer.

Unexpectedly, Aozi tilted his big head again, “Then why, Little Dad… flow water, when sleeping?”

Master Aozi still looked like he was exploring. Aunt Zhang and Mr. Zhao were amused again, only Fang Jiaqi looked at Shen Qing again.

Shen Qing: “…”

???

He didn’t have time to notice anyone else’s gaze, Shen Qing was only thinking: Very well, although he didn’t dig deeper, his family’s Ao “One Hundred Thousand Whys” had actually started digging backward!

Shen Qing: “It’s losing water, not flowing water…”

It’s so weird for adults to flow water while sleeping!!! Aozi had already issued a soul-searching question: “Did Little Dad wet the bed too?”

Shen Qing: “…”

Aozi put his hands on his hips again, quite proudly saying: “Baby doesn’t wet the bed anymore, oh.”

Shen Qing: …

He still couldn’t help but rub Aozi’s big head; anyway, this cub was stuck in the child’s seat and wouldn’t fall out. Aozi immediately giggled and laughed. Shen Qing had been rubbing the cub more often lately, and for Aozi, playing wildly with his Little Dad was their parent-child activity. Every time Little Dad rubbed him, he loved to pounce into his arms and rub against him. Little Dad smelled of strawberries, and Small Dad was handsome, best-looking when he smiled!

Aozi liked it!

But now, trapped in the child’s seat, Aozi couldn’t pounce on Little Dad. Instead, the puppies at his feet heard the noise and rushed over to rub against his Little Dad. Aozi instantly got anxious—Aozi, Aozi wants to be hugged too!

“Who wet the bed?” Just then, a female voice came from upstairs, her voice exaggerated, clearly teasing a child.

Lian Jin and Gu Huaiyu’s other subordinates appeared on the third floor at some point.

“Ah, it’s Mr. Shen!”

Seeing Shen Qing being surrounded by the cub and puppies, Ms. Lian immediately rushed down from upstairs in her high heels.

Shen Qing: “…”

Wait a minute, Sister Lian… Don’t you think there’s something wrong with the connection of what you just said?