Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 422: I Don’t Care
Mu Yuze snapped out of his blissful trance once he realized what kind of position they were in. Oh God, he... how could he just... jump on He Juan like some kind of overeager dog?!
Mortified to death, he quickly rolled off He Juan’s body and scrambled to his feet, stuttering out, "S–S–Sorry! I–I just... no, I mean, I didn’t do it on purpose..." he bit the tip of his tongue and chided himself inwardly. What kind of nonsense are you spouting right now, Mu Yuze?!
He Juan, this playful bastard, cast him a slow and mischievous grin from where he was still laying on the floor, not looking as if he would get up anytime soon. He sing-songed with a teasing tone, "Why? Haven’t you been searching for a chance to take me down? Now that you have succeeded, you’re not going to savor your victory a bit longer?"
"...!!" Mu Yuze’s shame reached the maximum and rapidly morphed into anger. He sent He Juan the deadliest glare he could muster, yet in the end, it only earned him a mirthful chuckle.
Fortunately, before he could truly explode on the spot, Song Yin passed by outside and rapped his knuckles on the door with a look of displeasure on his face. "Until when will you two keep staying there? The dojo will be closing soon. And XIU," a hint of warning bled into his tone as he regarded He Juan on the floor. "I would appreciate it if you stop corrupting my student."
"Why?" He Juan propped himself up into a sitting position, still with a nonchalant smile on his face. Though his words were nothing but sharp and blunt, "Is there something wrong with what I’ve said? In the moment of peril, it is precisely those actions that will save his life, no?"
Song Yin’s face darkened and he parted his lips to rebuke. But before he could even utter a word, Mu Yuze interjected, "Don’t worry, Master. I will honor your teaching very well." Avoiding direct eye contact with his master, he turned to He Juan and asked with a hint of pleading in his tone, "Let us go now?"
"Sure." He let out a breath of relief when He Juan rose to his feet and smiled at him, "Let’s go."
The moment Mu Yuze saw the look in Song Yin’s eyes, he could more or less guess what the man was going to say in response to He Juan’s words – that Mu Yuze would not get himself into a perilous situation in the first place if not for He Juan. He could not allow Song Yin to say those words, because they would definitely remind He Juan of what he himself had said a year ago, when Mu Yuze was taken hostage by his enemy. He did not want that harrowing reminder to ruin the warm atmosphere between them. He did not want He Juan to think that it was better to distance himself, and before he knew it, he had spoken up even though he knew that it was extremely rude of him to do so.
As the two of them made their way back to the car, Mu Yuze could not help but sneak some glances at He Juan who was walking a few steps in front of him.
Come to think of it, He Juan was undoubtedly smarter and sharper than he was. If Mu Yuze could guess what Song Yin was going to say, why couldn’t he?
’Stupid!’ Mu Yuze berated himself inwardly. ’Why do you keep making a fool out of yourself today? Does Juan-gege even need you to speak on his behalf?’
Lost in the sea of his thoughts, he failed to realize that they had reached the car. Caught off guard by He Juan’s sudden halt, he inadvertently collided with the man’s back. "S–Sorry..." he retreated a few steps and rubbed his aching forehead, secretly cursing at how clumsy he was.
He Juan cast him a mirthful look and reached out to ruffle his hair. His voice was light and nonchalant as he asked, "What’s wrong? Still thinking of what Mr. Song has said?"
’So he really knows!’ Mu Yuze bit on his bottom lip as he went to open the door to the shotgun seat. Clutching onto the metal doorframe, he mumbled softly with his gaze fixed on the second button of He Juan’s shirt. "I just think that... it’s unfair how he assumes the worst of you just because of your reputation." His tone carried a touch of grievance, almost as if he was the one who had received the scorn.
He Juan huffed helplessly, "But he is right. I am indeed the person whom you should keep away from. The further, the—"
"No!" Mu Yuze snapped his head up, only to lower his eyes again when he saw surprise flashing through He Juan’s silver eyes. "It’s not... It’s not true..." he quietly steeled himself and declared in a soft yet firm voice, "I don’t care what people think of you. I don’t care how the media portrays you. For me, you are Juan-gege... and I will not change my mind no matter how many people persuade me otherwise..." he grumbled. "...even if it’s you."
Once he finished speaking, he instinctively bit down on the inside of his cheek and cursed. Damn it, he had gotten too carried away! What kind of cheesy and dramatic words he had just uttered? Oh God, it sounded too much like a c–confession, didn’t it?!
"Ha..." He flinched lightly when He Juan released a deep sigh. A wave of fluster and apprehension washed over him. H–Had he been too transparent on his feelings, after all? Just when he had vowed to take these feelings with him to grave! But then, he heard He Juan murmur in a tender tone that never failed to weaken his heart,
"What a stubborn boy. What should Gege do with you? Hmm?"
Swallowing hard, Mu Yuze mustered his courage to look up, and the sight before him left him utterly dazed. Bathed in the warm embrace of the setting sun, He Juan’s eyes shimmered like liquid silver, their brilliance rivaling the fading embers on the sky. There were so, so many complicated emotions in his eyes as he gazed at Mu Yuze. Helplessness, delight, fondness, yet there was also a trace of melancholy...
Why... did he look so sad?
Alas, before Mu Yuze could delve deeper into that thought, He Juan swiftly concealed all of those emotions behind his bright and impeccable smile. He gently urged Mu Yuze to get inside the car, "Let’s go. Gege is famished from the exercise. How about some BBQ and soda?"
***
That night, Mu Yuze found himself immersed in yet another vivid dream. But instead of the desolate day of his birthday or the long-anticipated day of He Juan’s return, he was transported back to the dojo with He Juan pinned beneath him.
A surge of exhilaration and giddiness coursed through his veins as he proclaimed, "It’s my win this time!"
He Juan’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he teased, "That’s right, so shouldn’t you savor this victory a bit longer?"
Mu Yuze glowered at him like a little cub baring his soft canines. In the dream, he did not have to worry that He Juan would discover his feelings, nor did he need to hold himself back. In a surge of frustration, he grabbed He Juan’s collar, his voice laced with anger, "Y–You... You always tease me again and again! Why can’t you tone it down?! Do you even know what it does to me?!" His gaze dipped to He Juan’s slightly parted lips, still moist and flawless despite their intense sparring. He muttered, his words tinged with a mix of longing and resignation, "No... you don’t get it. You will never understand what I’m feeling..."
Seized by an uncontrollable impulse, he leaned down and captured He Juan’s lips with his own.
BOOM!
The deafening thunderclap resonated overhead, jolting Mu Yuze from his sleep. His eyes flew open with a gasp, his lips tingling as if delicate feathers had caressed their surface.
He stared at the ceiling above him, dazed, as the summer downpour raged relentlessly outside. Confusion and disbelief washed over him like a wave of gigantic tsunami.
W–What the hell was that dream?!
