The Retired CEO's Guide To Being Spoiled-Chapter 303: A Gamble of the Heart

Perhaps because his thoughts were so deeply absorbed, Julian completely failed to notice the sound of the door opening. It was not until the mattress beside him dipped slightly, and his entire body fell into the man’s embrace, that he suddenly snapped back to reality. Ethan Caldwell was fully dressed, bearing the distinct aura of a successful businessman. In stark contrast, Julian did not have a single piece of clothing to cover himself. Fortunately, when the man pulled him into his arms, Ethan also wrapped the outer blanket around him, otherwise, Julian might have died of embarrassment.

Thinking about it again, Julian felt there was no need to be so bashful. After all, what was there of each other that they had not already seen? Thus, he extended his fair arms to wrap around the man’s neck, leaning into Ethan’s embrace as he murmured: "Why are you back so early?"

Julian had genuinely thought Ethan Caldwell would not return until at least noon. After all, this was no ordinary meeting, and there were dozens of underlying matters to resolve in the aftermath. Furthermore, Julian had no idea when the man had left, he only remembered that when he answered Lucas Hill’s phone call, it was barely approaching nine o’clock.

It must be just a little past nine o’clock right now. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Something happened on Harrison Thornton’s end. He and his daughter left in a great hurry, only promising to meet again next time." Ethan Caldwell said, pressing a kiss to Julian’s cheek: "He also mentioned that he looks forward to meeting you, and that he likes you."

"Hmm?" Julian lifted his head to look at the man: "We have never even met, so what is there to like?"

"He said you are intelligent. It is likely that your method of handling the situation this time caught Harrison’s discerning eye."

"Oh." Julian replied blandly. Normally, he would definitely tease Ethan Caldwell in return, perhaps playing the fool and claiming he knew absolutely nothing. Or he might provoke Ethan, asking if he was jealous that another man liked him in such a way. He clearly understood what the other person was trying to convey, yet he always loved to deliberately twist the meaning of their words.

But right now, Julian was clearly not paying much attention, which was why he only offered a superficial response. Recalling the moment he had entered the room and seen his darling staring blankly at the ceiling, Ethan Caldwell could not help but press his forehead against Julian’s.

Not hot.

The man let out a sigh of relief.

Yesterday, Ethan Caldwell had been drugged, and he was terrified that he might lose control and hurt Julian. It was also possible that he had not cleaned him out completely during the bath, which could easily lead to a fever.

Thankfully, that did not happen.

Thus, the man gently caressed Julian’s face again: "What is the matter with you? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"

Julian looked at Ethan Caldwell once more.

He gazed directly into the other’s eyes. Ethan Caldwell’s irises were not purely black, but rather leaned slightly towards an amber hue. They were not as crystal clear as some people’s. From what Julian could remember, Lucas Hill’s amber pupils were exceptionally clear, whereas his own pupils were a solid black.

Ethan Caldwell’s were slightly clearer, yet they still reflected images very distinctly. At the very least, Julian could perfectly see his own silhouette mirrored within the other’s eyes.

If one were to follow the conventional logic found within romance novels, this would undoubtedly be the agonizingly dramatic phase between the top and the bottom. One person would not dare to confess their feelings, constantly second-guessing everything. The other person would fail to recognize the issue, naively assuming everything was fine.

And what would follow after that?

Someone else would appear. Perhaps it would be a wealthy young lady who was a childhood sweetheart, or an incredibly adorable boy from a rich family who had grown up right alongside Ethan Caldwell.

Generally speaking, it would be someone who made an exceptionally striking match with him, causing Julian to become insanely jealous, which would then escalate into explosive arguments, leading them to endlessly torture one another.

Julian let out a soft sneer. What a pity, he was nothing like those fragile protagonists in those novels. Julian was a very practical person. I like you, and if you like me too, then I do not mind devoting my entire heart to you.

Love was like a gamble, if you lost, you simply let it go and started a new life.

If you won, it would be a monumental victory.

And if Ethan Caldwell truly did not love him, then the situation was even simpler. There was no need to continue gambling, he could simply focus on his own life.

"Ethan Caldwell."

Julian called out his name, his voice laced with such seriousness that it suddenly caused the man to feel slightly tense. He leaned in closer, gazing into the eyes of the person in his arms, his voice softening considerably: "What is it, darling?"

"I like you. It is the kind of romantic affection meant for a man and a woman in love."

The remaining half of the sentence was: Do you like me too?

However, Julian did not say it aloud. He thought that one sentence was enough.

Ethan Caldwell remained quiet for a moment.

Julian blinked softly, and then let out a sigh.

Very well then, he was merely indulging in his own unrequited affections. To actually entertain the thought that one could suddenly appear in some foreign world, borrow another person’s identity, enter into a commercial marriage, and then experience an unforgettable romance with the person they married for mutual benefit.

He had read too many novels, causing his mind to become muddled, foolishly assuming that everything was that easy.

Julian released the hands that were wrapped around the man’s neck, intending to pull away and tell Ethan Caldwell to completely disregard the words he had just spoken. If he did not like him, then so be it, there was no need to make things awkward.

But the moment he made a move to shift away, the other man tightened his grip, forcefully pressing Julian flush against his chest. Ethan Caldwell’s deep voice echoed beside his ear.

"I must correct you on one thing. Between us, it is a matter of a man and a man falling in love."

The melancholic expression on Julian’s face froze for a second. Up until this moment, he had been trying hard to prevent the corners of his lips from drooping, but now he could not hold back as he gritted his teeth and landed a solid punch on the man’s shoulder. The force behind the blow was not light in the slightest: "Is this something for you to joke about?"

"I am not joking." Ethan Caldwell rhythmically patted Julian’s back, almost as if he were coaxing a baby, making sure that the body in his arms was resting comfortably against his chest before he continued speaking: "I thought I had already made it clear beforehand, I did not expect that you still hadn’t understood."