Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 423: Important Business Partner
In the end, Mu Yuze was unable to catch a wink of sleep anymore after that ridiculous dream.
He splashed cold water onto his face twice before looking up to stare into the mirror, taking in the sight of his messy bird nest hair, haggard complexion, and the dark circles beneath his eyes. When his gaze fell on his colorless chapped lips, a certain image in the dream flashed through his mind again where he had fearlessly—
Bang!
He slammed his forehead to the nearest wall and cursed under his breath, "Fuck..."
’Calm down, Mu Yuze. Take a deep breath,’ he told himself in a bid to suppress the swelling fluster and panic in his chest.
Of course, he was well aware of what wet dreams were. Being buddies with the loud and easy-going Zhong Yun meant that he would be randomly pulled into discussions among a group of adolescent boys sharing their common interests. However, as soon as their conversation veered towards the inappropriate areas, he would take his leave at once, as he did not feel a shred of interest in such topics.
Yes, he liked He Juan. So much that he had no idea what to do with himself. But he believed that his affection for He Juan was the kind where he would be content with stealing glances at his back, cherishing the sound of his laughter and basking in the brilliance of his smiles. The kind of ’like’ at its purest form where he did not expect anything in return. Who could have guessed that...
Mu Yuze shut his eyes tight and hissed in a low voice, "You are really a pervert."
Was it because of his rapidly growing body? Or the scorching summer heat that seemed capable of melting one’s sanity? Or was it because of the sudden exposure to He Juan’s powerful aura and intoxicating pheromones after a long year of cold absence?
Whatever it was, this had to stop. He must not let He Juan find out about his immoral thoughts!
Sighing, Mu Yuze washed his face and brushed his teeth in a hurry, dressed himself up and made his way to the kitchen.
Since He Juan left, he had taken it upon himself to drink the coffee He Juan would usually have in the morning, just to savor the lingering traces left behind by the man.
He opened the cabinet and discovered that only a small amount of coffee beans remained. "I have to buy more today if he’s staying for two weeks..." he murmured to himself. Skillfully, he began to prepare the coffee, and when he thought of how He Juan would show a pleasantly surprised look upon noticing the improvement in his brewing technique, he could not seem to control the smile on his lips. He reached for He Juan’s glass that had remained untouched for all the time he was away, caressing its rim with a tender look on his face.
As per their usual routine, He Juan would have come out of his room shortly after Mu Yuze finished brewing his coffee. But seconds and minutes passed since he placed He Juan’s cup on the counter, there was no sign of the man anywhere in sight.
It couldn’t be...
Mu Yuze’s breath snagged on his throat and chilling fear gripped his heart like a vice. No, He Juan had told him that he was going to stay for a while. There was no way he could have gone so soon! Alas, despite his attempts to suppress the darkest thoughts in his mind, he found them growing into a sinister shadow that messed with his logical thinking. And before he knew it, he was rushing out of the kitchen towards He Juan’s room.
He raised his hand to knock, only to freeze when a question crossed his mind, ’What if he’s not inside?’
What if... what if all he could find was an empty and desolate room, just like how it had been for the past year? What if He Juan was not here? Wait, he did not dream of He Juan’s return yesterday, did he? Everything was real and not a mere figment of his imagination... right?!
Seconds ticked by, and the panic in Mu Yuze’s chest transformed into an avalanche of terror that crashed into him with relentless force, leaving nothing behind but chaos and devastation in its wake. His ears were ringing. Cold sweat drenched the fabric of his shirt, and his breath came out in shallow, rapid wheezes.
But before he could have a full-blown panic attack right there and then, the door in front of him swung open to reveal He Juan behind it.
"Huh? Xiao Ze?" He was taken aback to find Mu Yuze in front of his door with a pose that was ready to knock. But then, the initial surprise quickly morphed into concern as he saw the boy’s pallid complexion and vacant eyes. He grasped Mu Yuze’s shoulders and peered into his eyes, asking in a hurried tone, "What’s wrong? Do you feel unwell somewhere?"
Mu Yuze’s eyes gradually focused on the man before him. Just like that, the air seemed to return to his lungs and he could breathe again. The warmth of He Juan’s hands on him was akin to an unwavering anchor, steadying his tumultuous emotions. He let out a shaky exhale, a layer of mist forming on his black-blue eyes, "Y–You didn’t come out of your room... it’s late... so I thought that..." his words faltered as his mind struggled to function properly, but He Juan understood him nonetheless.
He Juan made a distressed sound on his throat, and he looked as if someone had punched him right in the face. "Xiao Ze..." He took the boy into his arms and rubbed his back in a slow, comforting motion. "Look at you. You are soaked in sweat all over. I’m sorry, Gege was just taking a phone call, that’s why I was late to come out." His voice was ever gentle and reassuring, washing over Mu Yuze’s entire body akin to spring water that cascaded down the barren desert. It made Mu Yuze relax and lean closer into his embrace.
He Juan continued to whisper and soothe the trembling boy in his arms, "Sorry, you must have been startled, huh?" He had no idea that Mu Yuze’s reaction would be so huge. To think that he had left him alone for more than a year... Oh God, he was really a jerk!
Berating himself mentally, He Juan let out a heavy sigh and gave his word, "I promise. From now on, if I’m going somewhere, I will tell you first, okay? Gege will not disappear without a word anymore."
Mu Yuze nodded with his cheek pressed against the hardness of He Juan’s chest. Enveloped in the comforting scent he liked the most, he slowly felt himself calming down. "I–I’m sorry..." he eased back with burning earlobes, unable to bring himself to meet He Juan’s eyes. "I swear, I am not usually like this..."
In response, He Juan chuckled softly and he used his thumb to wipe away the lingering dampness on the boy’s eyelids. "It’s okay for men to be vulnerable and cry once in a while, you know."
That sentence sparked Mu Yuze’s curiosity at once. He Juan could also cry? In his opinion, He Juan seemed like the kind of person who would not break down no matter what kind of hurdles the world threw at him. "Then," he inquired gingerly. "When was the last time you cried?"
"Ah..." He Juan racked his brain and tried to dig into his memory, before he finally recalled something. "When I watched the wildlife documentary of a mama tiger giving birth two months ago?" When he looked at the unimpressed stare Mu Yuze leveled on him, he let out an awkward laugh and scratched his cheek, "Does it not count?"
"Forget it," Mu Yuze puffed up his cheeks and turned away with a sullen look. "Your coffee is getting cold. I will make you a new one."
When He Juan finished choking the extremely bitter coffee down his throat, Mu Yuze braced himself to ask for the man’s plans for the day. "Are you going out today?"
He Juan nodded, and a wave of disappointment crashed over him like a tidal wave. "I have to meet an important business partner," he said as he reached out to ruffle Mu Yuze’s hair. "I think it might be late by the time I return. Can Xiao Ze get lunch and dinner on his own for today?"
’It’s not like I haven’t done it by myself this past year,’ he grumbled inwardly, though he merely gave He Juan a nod. But then, he suddenly recalled what the man had mentioned the day before, and suspicion brewed in his mind, "Didn’t you say that you are on a break? So why are you still working?"
He Juan could not help but burst into laughter when he heard that. "Geez, how can your memory be so sharp? I can already see you interrogating criminals until they break," he tweaked Mu Yuze’s nose in teasing, and when the boy swatted his hand away in anger, he finally gave an honest answer, "This business partner is different. She is not part of the underworld, so I can only meet her during my break. Does that answer your question, Officer Mu?"
Mu Yuze shot him a glare. Here He Juan was, teasing him again!
After having breakfast together, Mu Yuze remained at home to do his daily quota of homework and studying, while He Juan said his goodbyes before heading out in his car.
He drove for nearly four hours to the neighboring city and arrived at his destination just in time for lunch break. Parking his car in the underground lot, he proceeded to make his way to the presidential suite of a luxurious five-star hotel.
As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he was greeted with a line of imposing bodyguards clad in black matching suits, shiny leather shoes and earpieces. The scene was oddly familiar, adding on to his amusement. "Mr. Xiu?" One of the guards, who looked like their leader, noticed him and approached. "I have been expecting your arrival. Please follow me."
"You don’t need to search my body?" He Juan asked curiously as they walked down the hallway.
To his surprise, it was not the guard who answered him but the voice of a woman. "There’s no need. If there is an Alpha I can trust in this world, then it’s you. You may go," she told the head bodyguard, who nodded respectfully before returning to his post.
"It’s good to see you again, Miss Liang," He Juan’s smile widened when he saw the omega. She was still dressed in business suits with her shoulder length hair combed neatly. However, He Juan’s keen eyes perceived a subtle change in her — it was the aura of confidence and authority she exuded, which did not exist a year ago.
He Juan joked lightly, "Or should I call you ’Prime Minister Liang’ now?"
