Captured By The Cold Detective (BL)-Chapter 514: More Than Words
As snowflakes gracefully descended from the sky, it marked the arrival of Mu Yuze’s seventeenth birthday.
The special ringtone, which had gone unheard for months, abruptly sounded again one day. When Mu Yuze received the voice note, he immediately abandoned the homework he was working on, grabbed his coat, wallet and scarf, then rushed out of the house to catch the bus.
Less than half an hour later, he arrived at the address He Juan had provided him, which was a luxurious condominium nestled within the heart of the city.
Standing before the towering building, Mu Yuze spent a moment counting the floors, as though trying to decipher the exact location of the other person. Only when the security guard cast him a few doubtful looks did he snap out of his reverie. He tugged the scarf higher to cover the lower half of his face and walked through the gate.
As per He Juan’s instructions, he approached the reception desk and addressed the staff politely, "Good evening, I’m here for Mr. Xiu..."
Recognition flashed in the staff’s eyes, and he showed a courteous smile. "Good evening, Sir. We have received the word from Mr. Xiu. Allow me to escort you to the elevator."
Mu Yuze was led into what could only be described as the most opulent elevator he had ever seen. The staff swiped his identification card and selected a floor, which happened to be the second-highest in the building, before gracing him with a parting smile. "I can only lead you up to here, Sir. Please excuse me."
Mu Yuze showed an awkward smile in return and he did not relax until the metal doors sealed shut. Even though three years had passed since He Juan picked him up from the streets and granted him a brand new life, he still had not gotten used to such extravagance. Or perhaps he would never be. But this time, he knew that his nervousness was due to another reason altogether.
He stared at the reflection of himself on the glass wall and ran his fingers through his disheveled hair which was ruffled by the wind. Then, his eyes gravitated toward the shadows beneath his eyes, evidence of the sleepless night, his dry and unmoisturized skin, and lastly his chapped lips. He subconsciously licked his lips, though it gave no difference to his overall appearance at all.
Closing his eyes, he grimaced in resignation, "I should have put on the mask Teacher Wei gave me if I had known he would call me..."
What kind of omega was he to be unable to take care of his own appearance? What an utter disgrace!
Alas, he was not given much time to lament about his incompetence as the elevator chimed softly and the doors slid open before him.
It’s time.
Taking a deep breath, Mu Yuze steeled himself and stepped out of the elevator. There was only one room on the entire floor, and soon he was standing in front of the door. Calm down, Mu Yuze, he told himself. Do not embarrass yourself! He reached out with trembling fingers to press on the doorbell, and he endured a few excruciating seconds of anticipation that churned his stomach before the door swung open, revealing the man he had yearned for with every fiber of his being.
"Xiao Ze, you’re here!" He Juan’s smile was full of joy. "I’m sorry for making you come all the way to this place."
Clad in the usual white shirt with the top two buttons undone, his gentle eyes and dazzling smile was as beautiful and familiar as Mu Yuze remembered. And all of a sudden, his nose turned sour.
I miss you. I miss you so much, more than words can express, he wanted to say. But what came out of his mouth was, "It’s fine. I figured that it’s better for me to come to you."
He was surprised at how composed he sounded. Perhaps all that mental talk and self-reassurance along the way had worked, allowing him to stand tall and firm before this man. Only God knew how badly his hands were trembling inside the pocket of his coat. The visceral urge to throw himself into He Juan’s embrace was nearly unbearable and it took every ounce of his willpower to stay rooted in place. In exchange, he allowed himself to indulge in drinking in He Juan’s visage, tracing the contours of the man’s features to soothe the intense yearning in his heart.
But then he ended up being startled.
He Juan let out a brief chuckle and opened the door wider for him, "Come in. You haven’t eaten dinner yet, have you?"
Mu Yuze’s gaze was fixed on He Juan’s face, tracing each and every of his movements. And when He Juan’s gaze left him, his expression sank and creases settled between his brows.
...Something was off.
Something was terribly off with He Juan. Mu Yuze had no idea where this sudden notion came from or how to explain it when He Juan had been acting and talking like usual, but still, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that the man before him had changed drastically.
If he had to identify what was wrong, then it was the way He Juan carried himself. The first impression He Juan gave him three years ago was too strong, and even until now Mu Yuze could still recall it vividly. The man had been brazen, shameless, flamboyant yet gentle, thoughtful and caring. He looked as if he would remain unfazed by any troubles that came his way.
Yes, that was it. That’s what felt amiss.
At this moment, that bold and flamboyant aura of his was no more, and he looked... exhausted. Haggard, in a way that made him look defeated. On closer inspection, Mu Yuze noticed that he seemed thinner as well.
What had happened these past few months? Was he so busy that he couldn’t even take care of himself?
Mu Yuze pressed his lips into thin lines and walked into the room, taking off his shoes. He had come to learn that he should always be straightforward with a man like He Juan, who acted elusive and secretive until the end. Only when he caught this person off guard would he be able to discern the truth.
He opened his mouth, ready to ask, but his steps faltered as he entered the living room and beheld the array of dishes on the low table. At the center stood a grand birthday cake bearing the words ’Happy 17th Birthday Xiao Ze!’
"Surprise!" He Juan beamed. "I know your birthday is tomorrow, but it should be okay if we celebrate a little earlier, don’t you think so?"
