Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 427: Don’t Look So Sad
"Yuyang?" He Juan’s heart skipped a beat when he heard Marius’ words.
As the realization hit him, an overwhelming wave of anger surged through his veins, causing an incredulous laughter to escape his lips. "I’ve been in and out of Yuyang all this time, and the person I’ve been hunting for over a year turns out to be hiding here all along? In a city mere hours away from Xuanlong’s headquarters? Where?" He gritted his teeth, his grip on the phone tightening until his knuckles turned white. His voice came out more like a growl as he demanded, "Where is that bastard?"
"Calm down, XIU," Marius let out a helpless sigh. "I know you’re going to react like this, that’s why I’m only telling you the news now. We will arrive in Yuyang in three hours. Until then, wait for us and do not do anything rash. I understand your anger, but we’re in a critical junction right now. You don’t want your emotions to mess everything up, right?"
Marius’ calm and rational words were akin to a bucket of icy water that quelled the searing anger in his chest, dissipating the red haze in his mind. He drew in a sharp breath and controlled the pheromones that had oozed out of his body at some unknown time.
"You’re right," he released a frustrated sigh and raked his fingers through his hair. "I must not be hasty, not when we have gone this far. Thank you for the reminder, M."
Marius chuckled, and he sounded more relaxed now. "That’s what partners are for. When I lose control of myself someday, I will also rely on you, okay?"
He Juan could not help but snort in response. Even though both of them were superior Alphas, Marius was older than him; more mature, level-headed, and wise. He was everything He Juan aspired to be. How could there come a day when he would lose control of himself, even needing He Juan’s help at that?
However, He Juan still played along to humor him, "Okay, you can definitely count on me if that happens."
They hung up the call soon after, and He Juan returned to the noodles shop where Mu Yuze had been waiting for him.
"Sorry, did I take too long?" He took his seat, and upon noticing that Mu Yuze’s bowl was already empty, he asked, "Are you full? Do you want to eat anything else?"
Mu Yuze simply shook his head and continued to stare at his face.
’What a piercing gaze,’ He Juan thought, amused. This boy could really intimidate someone with just his stare alone. Goodness, he would surely become a handful in the future, wouldn’t he? Somehow, the mere thought of the future Mu Yuze brought a smile to his lips, and he felt the remnants of vexation in his chest quickly dissipated without a trace.
"What’s wrong?" He patted his own cheek in mirth. "Why do you keep staring at Gege? Is there something on my face? Or..." he paused for a beat, and a teasing grin graced the corner of his lips. "Am I just too handsome?"
He Juan silently counted inside his heart. Five, four, three, two...
"Wha—" Mu Yuze blinked and quickly averted his gaze away, his fair earlobes reddening in a flash. His breath caught in his throat, and he quickly reached for his glass, taking a large gulp of ice tea to compose himself. "What are you talking about?!" he stammered.
He Juan desperately tried to rein in his laughter. Oh God, why was it so fun to tease Mu Yuze? The way he grew shy so easily, and his earlobes that gave way to his true feelings... everything drew He Juan in like nothing ever did before. It gave him an irresistible urge to poke and prod the boy even more, only to see what kind of reaction he would give.
However, he reminded himself not to take things too far lest Mu Yuze would explode from sheer rage and embarrassment. After a few prior incidents, he had learned where to stop before it was too late. Alas, before he could apologize for his poor joke, he heard Mu Yuze ask, hesitant apparent on his tone,
"Are you angry, Juan-gege?"
He Juan was taken aback by that question. "How..." How did Mu Yuze know it? Had it shown on his face?
Mu Yuze fiddled with the glass in his hands, his eyes fixed on the table as if it held the world’s most interesting pattern. "It’s just... a feeling." He did not say how the signs were as clear as daylight to him. The tense line of He Juan’s shoulders, the hardness in his silver eyes concealed behind the smile, as well as the low pressure he exuded...
Mu Yuze only needed one glance to know. Or perhaps he was just extremely attuned to every shift and change of He Juan’s mood.
"Ha!" He Juan could not resist laughing, prompting a confused look from the boy in front of him. "How can your feelings be so accurate? You’re right, I was indeed angry. But not anymore." He reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair, his eyes curving into crescents. "There is such a smart and brilliant Xiao Ze in front of me. How can I stay angry for long?"
Mu Yuze sullenly swatted He Juan’s hand away from his head. Juan-gege was teasing him again! However, he told himself not to be swayed this time. He must get to the bottom of things to get rid of this uneasiness in his chest.
"Why are you angry?" he braced himself to ask, his heart hammering loudly in his chest. "Did... Did something happen?" Please... please don’t say that you are leaving again. I can’t—
He Juan let out a deep sigh, his eyes betraying a sense of helplessness as he gazed at Mu Yuze. "I can never keep anything hidden from you for long, can I? I’m sorry, Xiao Ze, but it seems like Gege has to cut my vacation short."
Mu Yuze had somehow seen this coming, but hearing He Juan confirmed it still caused his heart to drop. "Y–You are leaving?" He gripped the glass tighter, not even realizing how shaky his voice had become. "When?"
He Juan was quick to respond, "No, no I’m not leaving."
Mu Yuze snapped his head up, shocked. He was not leaving?
"I’m still going to be in Yuyang, though I might need to work overtime more often than not..." He Juan showed a helpless smile and flicked him gently on the forehead. "That’s why... don’t look so sad, okay? It makes me reluctant to leave you alone."
