Date (1)

The next morning, Ling Xie woke up earlier than Chen Yi. The latter had stayed the night, unwilling to leave Ling Xie's side, and now lay soundly asleep with his arms wrapped around him. Ling Xie, snug in his embrace, subtly slipped out from under the blankets with great care, managing to free himself without disturbing Chen Yi. It took him more than a minute to successfully leave the bed.

Ling Xie glanced at the bedside table, searching for his phone, but his gaze landed on two bracelets stacked on top of each other. His eyes immediately reddened, and a lump formed in his throat. It was real. It wasn't a dream.

He inhaled sharply and looked up at the ceiling, fighting to hold back the tears threatening to fall. With a small, content smile, he wiped away the tears that had already gathered at the corners of his eyes.

Bouncing to his dresser to fix his hair, he then moved to his wardrobe, frantically searching for the perfect outfit. His brows furrowed in frustration. It's a date! A date! I don't have any clothes!!! He scratched his head in exasperation.

Before he could continue his search, two warm palms gently stopped his hands. A backhug enveloped him, and a hoarse, deep voice—still thick with sleep—spoke. "Don't hurt yourself."

Chen Yi, woken by the noise of Ling Xie rummaging through his wardrobe, found himself alone in bed. Panicked, he sat up and scanned the room, only to find Ling Xie standing nearby. Relieved, he immediately crossed the room and wrapped Ling Xie in his embrace.

"O-oh. Good morning!" Ling Xie squeaked, startled by both the hug and the deep, drowsy voice. His ears turned red, feeling unexpectedly ticklish at the warmth of Chen Yi's breath against his skin. I'm not sure I can survive being attacked like this every morning once we live together. He silently prayed his heart wouldn't burst.

"What's wrong?" Chen Yi's voice was soft as he rested his chin on Ling Xie's clavicle, purposefully teasing him with his warm breath.

"I-I'm looking for an outfit," Ling Xie stammered, feeling both flustered and helpless.

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow and glanced over at the overflowing wardrobe. He chuckled softly, then kissed Ling Xie's cheek again. "Dress casually for now. Let's go shopping."

Chen Yi sat on a white leather couch, dressed in a white collared shirt under a gray wool waistcoat, paired with black pants and dark blue party sneakers. He lounged leisurely, the back of his hands lightly supporting his head as his legs were crossed. His gaze was fixed on the red silk curtain blocking his view. Behind it, Ling Xie was busy.

The curtain hovered about two feet above the ground, exposing Ling Xie's bare feet. Every so often, the sound of movement behind the fabric drew Chen Yi's attention, his focus locked on those soft, pearl-like feet. Shit. His body stirred with desire.

He quickly pressed his palm to his mouth, taking deep, steadying breaths to restrain himself from tearing the curtain open.

Ling Xie, oblivious to the beast awaiting him on the other side, continued to dress leisurely. He wore a white turtleneck sweater, black jeans, and off-white sneakers. His eyeglasses were nowhere to be found, and his curly hair was tousled, looking adorably fluffy.

After taking one last glance in the mirror, Ling Xie stepped out from behind the curtain. His brows furrowed in discomfort at the sight of his bare face. He wished he could cover it up, hide it, or even erase it—but Chen Yi had told him to leave it as it was.

"Isn't this too simple?" Ling Xie asked, tilting his head in doubt. He had been racking his brain for the perfect outfit earlier, but in the end, decided to leave it to Chen Yi. Although he liked the look, he still felt it was too plain.

Chen Yi didn't agree. In his eyes, Ling Xie looked like an angel visiting the mortal world in casual clothes. He quickly got up and pulled Ling Xie into his arms. "Not at all. You look wonderful." He placed a soft kiss on Ling Xie's forehead.

Ling Xie's heart fluttered at the compliment. "If you say so." His cheeks flushed red as he snuggled closer, basking in the warmth of Chen Yi's embrace.

Their tender moment didn't go unnoticed. A few sales clerks, who had been observing the two high-spec males since they entered the store, couldn't help but squeal in delight. The sight of such a sweet exchange was enough to send them to heaven.

Chen Yi took Ling Xie's hand and led him to Butterfly Pavilion, one of his restaurants known for its stunning scenery. The building was primarily made of glass, designed to resemble a greenhouse, yet shaped like a mansion. Inside, a variety of small trees and flowers adorned the path and tables, creating an elven fantasy come to life.

Ling Xie's eyes sparkled as he took in the breathtaking surroundings. He had never known such a place existed. If only I had wings, I'd feel like I was flying! he thought with a smile.

Chen Yi led him to the top floor, the fourth floor, of the restaurant. It was nearly empty, reserved exclusively for VVVIP customers. As soon as they entered, they drew the attention of everyone present. Since all the patrons came from influential families, their reaction was nothing short of shock.

The sight of the god-like Chen Yi holding someone as if he were a national treasure left them stunned. But it was Ling Xie's face that captivated them completely. His beauty was almost otherworldly. Were he to sweep his curly hair back and fully expose his face, he would have been seductive. But with the way his hair framed his features, he exuded an ethereal, almost angelic quality. The scene was so stunning, so precious, that everyone held their breath—only exhaling once the two of them were out of sight.

The fourth floor consisted of a single room that took up the entire level. It was an all-in-one space, with everything from living room essentials to a kitchen, bedroom, and entertainment area, all laid out in perfect harmony.

"The glass walls are one-way," Chen Yi explained. "It's especially beautiful in the evening, with the moon and stars visible."

Ling Xie's eyes grew even brighter as he took in the view. "It's really beautiful," he murmured in awe.