At Wang Mu Chen's Apartment...

Mu Chen carried Xiao Bo to the dining table made him sit on a chair and took the seat beside him.

He opened the large bowl filled with rice porridge and started scooping it into the small bowl.

Maple was licking her kittens who were all tired from their adventurous exploration of the kitchen and were hungry as they started sucking milk from their mother with closed eyes.

Xiao Bo smiled seeing them living such a peaceful life.

>>>Maybe I can live peacefully too-...

Just then he remembered that the Wang family didn't approve of him. Xiao Bo looked at Mu Chen who was waiting with a spoon of rice porridge in his hand to feed the Younger.

Xiao Bo held Mu Chen's hand lightly and stared at the elder with a troubled expression on his face.

Mu Chen's heart started beating fast at that soft cool touch. He gulped down composing himself.

"What happened, Snowball? Do you want to say something?"

Mu Chen asked with a gentle tone as he put down the spoon and held the Younger's cheek with a concerned look.

Xiao Bo's eyelashes trembled at that gentleness of the elder. He balled his fist tightly,

"...Y-Your family..." He downcasted biting his lips, "Didn't approve of me... I-I..."

"Hush, look at me, Snowball," Mu Chen lifted his face as he caressed the Younger's cheek with his warm hand.

"Didn't I tell you? It doesn't matter if they approve or not. I have decided to get engaged to you and then marry you after our studies. You said you would trust me, didn't you?"

Xiao Bo nodded a little.

Mu Chen smiled as he brushed the Younger's hair,

"Then don't think about all those things. They are for me to solve. You just stay by my side. I will take care of everything."

"But-"

"No Buts." Mu Chen placed his index finger on Xiao Bo's plump soft lips.

"Don't worry. My mother has already approved of you, didn't she? She will take care of my stubborn grandparents and everyone in the home. And I am sure we will visit Wang's mansion in exactly three days and that day everyone will be so friendly and welcome you with open arms."

Mu Chen was so confident and proud of his mother's schemes.

Xiao Bo blinked his eyes in confusion.

Mu Chen curled his lips as he ruffled the Younger's hair,

"Leave about those trivial things, Snowball. Won't you eat my hand-made porridge I especially made for you? It's getting cold and won't taste the same."

Xiao Bo nodded finally relaxing his thoughts.

Mu Chen scooped a spoonful of porridge to feed Xiao Bo but the Younger was a little flabbergasted.

"I-I... can eat."

"It's fine. Let me feed you, you have no strength," Mu Chen insisted.

Xiao Bo's earlobes turned cherry red as he opened his mouth and ate the porridge.

Mu Chen was satisfied as he fed the Younger more and by the time he finished feeding him the entire bowl, Xiao Bo's face was tomato red.

The elder smiled seeing the finished bowl. With satisfaction, he got up to put away the dishes when Xiao Bo held the hem of his sleeve.

Mu Chen's eyebrows rose in a question mark.

"I... will do the dishes," Xiao Bo hesitatingly looked at the elder.

Mu Chen gave him an endearing smile,

"It's okay. I can manage, you are still weak and what will you do if you break them while cleaning?"

"Uh...I..."

Xiao Bo had a nervous look on his face.

"Even if you break them it doesn't matter. But you will feel guilty for doing that, right? I don't want that. So just sit and wait for me, I will be quick, hm."

With that gentle tone, Xiao Bo helplessly nodded and walked towards the couch in the hall.

Maple who put her kittens to sleep jumped onto the couch in one go and cuddled in Xiao Bo's lap.

"Maple," Xiao Bo smiled as he caressed her soft fur.

She purred in return, "Ah, Bobo, that's so nice, nya~. Do it more."

Xiao Bo did as he was asked and rubbed her belly.

After a while, Mu Chen finished washing dishes and brought the medicine and a glass of water with him.

"Here, take the pills."

Xiao Bo looked at the elder puzzled as his arms were occupied by a sleeping Maple.

Mu Chen shook his head with a smile fed him the pills and made him drink water.

"Snowball, shall we go sleep? Or shall we watch a movie since we have time?"

Xiao Bo's eyes sparkled at the mention of the movie as he never really watched one in his past life.

Well, with everything going on it was a luxury for him to be too relaxed to watch a movie though he used to watch anime secretly from his bodyguards.

Seeing the spark, Mu Chen understood the Younger's heart but still, he waited for his response.

"Watch... movie," Xiao Bo said looking down shyly.

"Alright, movie it is."

Mu Chen with a wide smile plopped beside the Younger taking the remote and turning on the T.V.

"What movie should we watch, Snowball?"

He asked browsing through the list of movies on the screen.

"That one!" Xiao Bo's eyes caught an interesting movie poster.

"Encanto?" Mu Chen queried to confirm.

Xiao Bo nodded in response.

"Alright, let's watch it-Ah, wait! We forgot the most important thing to watch the movie."

Mu Chen stood up suddenly.

Xiao Bo looked at the elder baffled, "What is that?"

"Popcorn!" Mu Chen answered, "Just give me five minutes, I will make and bring some, okay?'

Xiao Bo nodded but when the elder was leaving he tugged on Mu Chen's shirt putting sleeping Maple on the couch.

"Um?"

"I...I want to see it."

Mu Chen had a question mark at first then he understood, "You want to see me cook the popcorn?"

Xiao Bo nodded again, "Can I not?" He asked showing his puppy eyes.

And who was Mu Chen to deny those innocent excited eyes?

>>>CUTE!

Mu Chen pinched the Younger's cheek as he couldn't handle Xiao Bo's cuteness.

Xiao Bo bit his lips, blushing as he looked down at his feet.

"You can watch me. Let me show you how we can pop the corns in five minutes, come with me," Mu Chen took Xiao Bo's hand and dragged him to the kitchen.

...

"Li Fan, this isn't the way to our dorms," Shen Yu looked at him widened eyes seeing the unfamiliar surroundings.

Qi Li Fan was driving the car, unfazed.

"We are not going to the dorms," He stated.

"What? Why? Then where are we going?" Shen Yu got anxious.

"Calm down. We are going to the 'Winstonian' restaurant. It's a public place and I can't do anything to you. If perhaps, you are worried about that."

"Who said I am worried about anything? Anyway, why are we going to the restaurant now?" Shen Yu asked sharply, embarrassed.

"With all the mess that happened back there, I bet you didn't eat anything. The same goes with me. Also don't you think we need to talk? That's why we are going to the restaurant where we can eat and talk to clear up everything."

Li Fan answered all of Shen Yu's questions without looking at him. His eyes were on the road, fully concentrated.

Shen Yu relaxed as he looked out of the window and mumbled under his breath,

"Who said we need to talk? He does everything his way without even asking me...self-centered raccoon!"

Qi Li Fan heard it but didn't bother to respond and drove off to the restaurant.

He got out and opened the door for Shen Yu like a gentleman.

Shen Yu made a face and followed behind Li Fan,

>>>Is he trying to impress me or something?

>>>No matter how much he tries to butter me up, I am not gonna marry you. You self-centered raccoon.

>>>Just wait, I am gonna water down all your plans, humph!

"Hello, sir. Welcome to the Winstonian. Your reservation, sir?" The staff asked.

"Yes. I have a reservation under the name Qi Li Fan."

"Your reservation is confirmed. Thank you, sir. This way please," the staff directed both of them to the rooftop of the restaurant where there was no one.

>>>Did he book the entire rooftop? Is he showing off his wealth and power to me?

>>>I am not impressed at all. Who are you flaunting your wealth before? I am Cao Shen Yu, tsk!

Shen Yu snorted as he walked past Li Fan and sat on the chair looking away.

Li Fan didn't understand what was going on inside Shen Yu's head. He quietly ordered the staff to bring their special dishes and sent them away.

He sat in front of him and cleared his throat.

"So, Shen Yu-"

"Stop!" Shen Yu cut him off, "Let's eat first. I don't think I can ingest food if we talk before, also where did they go without taking the order?"

"I have already ordered."

"Without asking for my opinion? Do you know what I like? Why are you doing everything as you please?" Shen Yu snapped.

"Cao Shen Yu," Li Fan's voice was low and grim sending chills down Shen Yu's spine.

"I know you are upset about the sudden marriage announcement and all but stop throwing tantrums at me. I am not the one who proposed the idea to marry you. Just like you were told that you would be marrying me, one day I was informed about that, and for your information I am not pleased with it just like you."

Shen Yu slammed the table and got up, "Then what's there to talk about? Tell your parents that you won't marry me and end this all."

Qi Li Fan looked at Shen Yu indifferently.

"Everything is not as easy as you speak, Shen Yu. And I am telling you for the last time, stop yelling in front of me and sit down."

Li Fan sounded dark and dangerous at his last words.

Gulping down his saliva Shen Yu sat down obediently as he felt that if he didn't do as Li Fan said he would regret the consequences.

Li Fan sighed calming down himself,

"Look, Shen Yu. I understand your frustrations. But it is wrong to direct them towards me, right?"

Shen Yu bit his lower lips and nodded, "I am sorry."

"Leave it. About the order, I have asked them to bring their specials which are trademarks of their restaurant. Try them, if you don't like then we can always order something else, okay?"

Shen Yu nodded again feeling a little embarrassed that like a kid he exploded on Li Fan only to be scolded by him.

"Okay, so if everything is sorted out and you have calmed down, shall we talk about our marriage?" Li Fan questioned.

"Hm," Shen Yu hummed.

"Honestly, I don't want this marriage to happen. I have my dreams and this marriage would become a hurdle for me."

>>>So, I was just imagining that he was trying to impress me to get a nod from me for the wedding like a delulu when he isn't even slightly interested in me?

Shen Yu wanted to bury himself ten feet underground for assuming everything on his own.

"In that case...what are you planning to do? My parents won't go against Elder Wangs' words and nor does your parents. What should we do to stop this wedding?" Shen Yu questioned.

"We can't stop the wedding," Li Fan stated.

"Then what are we going to do?" Shen Yu asked, befuddled.

"We will get married."

"Huh?" Shen Yu was shocked, "If we are going to get married then what's the point of all this talk about not wanting to be married? Li Fan, just what are you implying?"

"No matter how much we rack our brains to plan something to stop our wedding it's not going to happen cause our marriage is fixed by elder Wangs and going against them is an impossible task."

Li Fan paused as he looked at Shen Yu's confused expression.

"We will marry and then live our lives as we wish. Anyway, we don't like each other and we both have our own dreams to chase after so let's get married and stay as strangers in the relationship. After achieving our dreams if we find someone we love we will go our separate ways then."

Even though Shen Yu was sure he didn't want to get married to Li Fan when he heard him say about finding the one they love and going separate ways, somehow it left a better aftertaste on his heart.

"So you want us to get married now as we can't go against our elders and then after some years we will get divorced?" Shen Yu asked to confirm.

"Precisely. And to be sure of it why not we also make a contract just like Mu Chen Gege did?" Li Fan suggested.

Shen Yu fell into a deep thought as he heard it.

>>>He just wants a contract marriage as he is not powerful enough to refuse our elders... Isn't it also good for me?

>>>If I don't marry Li Fan my parents will definitely find another person and who knows what that person would be like?

>>>Isn't it better for me to go with this self-centered raccoon's plan to live the life I want?

"I agree. Let's do this. Let's write down the marriage contract and live our lives without disturbing each other."

Shen Yu extended his hand to shake, and Li Fan smiled and shook his hand in agreement.

"Glad that we are on the same boat. I am acquainted with a lawyer, I will talk with him. You think of the conditions you want to put in the contract and on Sunday let's meet up with the lawyer and draft the contract."

Shen Yu agreed.

...

Mu Chen and Xiao Bo were sitting on the couch side-by-side with a little space between them.

They both were immersed in the movie and were eating popcorn simultaneously when at a point their fingers brushed each other's...

Xiao Bo shyly retracted his hand, Mu Chen cleared his throat and concentrated on the movie to shoo away some unholy thoughts running inside his brain.

After a while, the movie finished. Xiao Bo smiled and almost clapped with excitement at the last cheerful song.

"Mirabel is such a strong girl. Even if she doesn't inherit their family's powers, she thinks that there is no need for someone to be special to deserve love, security, and their rights."

Mu Chen concluded the message of the whole movie in a sentence.

Xiao Bo smiled, "Right, though Abuela Alma had good intentions for their family, she judged her own children on their abilities to help other people in the town. She disregarded Mirabel and her opinions totally because she wasn't someone special."

"Yup, though her past was painful and she just wanted to be strict so that such things couldn't happen to her children, holding everyone up to the same standard is futile."

Mu Chen commented and held Xiao Bo's hand,

"You know adults cannot internalize as much as the young could. They often ignore the emotional struggles of young even though they went through the same stage once. It's just maybe they become insensitive to everything after experiencing so many inhuman things as they grow up."

After hearing that Xiao Bo fell into a thought.

"So, we cannot always blame them but at our age, we don't have the patience to understand them and thus there would be cracks in our relationship. That cracks will lead to miscommunication between us and sometimes we fear to face the truth so we totally avoid bringing up that conversation."

Mu Chen looked like a professor analyzing the movie very deeply.

"Abuela Alma saw her husband being brutally murdered in front of her while he tried to save her and her children. She still carried that pain inside her heart but as a mother, she had to make her heart stone and work to not let such tragedy happen again."

"Yes, I felt bad for her. Though her ways were burdening she meant well," Xiao Bo responded.

While saying that he realized something...

>>>Did my father too... was he...

Xiao Bo shook his head.

>>> No, that can't be. If he meant well for me he wouldn't have sold me to the brothel...

>>>But... why does father hate me so much? There must be a reason. No one hates anyone without a proper reason..so what could the reason be?

Seeing the younger in deep thought Mu Chen brushed Xiao Bo's hair,

"Alright, let's stop discussing the movie's hidden meanings and go to sleep. We need to wake up early to leave for university."

That brought Xiao Bo out of his thoughts, he nodded lightly.

Mu Chen got up, "You wait here I will clean the glass pieces inside the room and call you, okay?"

"I...can help," Xiao Bo tried but was cut off.

"No, Snowball. You will wound yourself. Just wait here," Mu Chen's voice was stern.

He cleaned up everything quickly and called Xiao Bo inside the bedroom.

"If I sleep here where will you..." Xiao Bo questioned in a low voice.

"Don't worry, I can sleep on the couch in the hall. You sleep here in the room."

Mu Chen started taking extra pillows and duvets from the wardrobe.

"I will sleep on the couch, you sleep on your bed."

Xiao Bo didn't want to make the elder uncomfortable and he could sleep anywhere as everywhere was better than the cold concrete floor of that dusty basement.

Even though Mu Chen was being kind to him now and promised him that he wouldn't hate him and believe in him no matter what happened in the future.

It was still the future...which was uncertain. If he let his guard down just by a few words and did something...what if Mu Chen got tired of him?

Even his own father doesn't like him and handed his rights to Mu Chen and now that the elder was the sole guardian of him, he couldn't cause trouble to him and because of his carelessness what if he ended up in the basement like his last life?

It would be horrifying just to imagine going through that again.

Mu Chen was about to refuse but he stopped seeing changes of expressions on the Younger's face.

He observed him and though he didn't know exactly what the Younger was thinking he got the gist of it.

Mu Chen didn't know why Xiao Bo was so scared of him. They had no encounter before the day they met in the dorms.

So, what did he do that made Xiao Bo have such a bad impression of him? No matter how many times he racked his brain he couldn't get the answer.

He didn't like that Xiao Bo was so wary of him. Although he said he would trust him, Xiao Bo didn't let his guard totally down in front of him.

There was a clear line that Xiao Bo drew between them and Mu Chen had to work very hard to make the younger erase those imaginary lines and step towards him.

Cause Mu Chen never felt anything like this till now. He just wanted to make Xiao Bo totally his, make him happy, and give him so much love that the Younger would feel content to be with him not wary of him.

Though he hadn't sorted out his feelings for Xiao Bo yet all he wanted now was to somehow make the younger relaxed and comfortable with him.

He didn't understand the depth of his feelings till now. Mu Chen didn't want to put a title to the unknown emotions he was feeling for Xiao Bo until he confirmed what they were.

Maybe because by Xiao Bo's side he could let go of all the prejudices that were integrated inside him from his childhood.

For the first time, he thought the ways of his thinking were wrong when he found out Xiao Bo wasn't the same as he heard from the rumors.

Previously, he never spared his time for someone with a bad reputation in society cause he used to think there would be no smoke without fire.

He just didn't want to involve himself with such people and complicate his life when he could just live a simple and trouble-free one by avoiding them.

But he didn't know back then that there were people who could light a fire in other people's lives and spread that smoke themselves just for their own entertainment.

Xiao Bo was an eye-opener for him. That was why he got so interested in him as the younger made him think about all his stereotypes.

Mu Chen was a person who loved to learn everything from his surroundings. He would notice what others might ignore and care about doing everything correctly down to the smallest detail.

He was a perfectionist. But Xiao Bo made him think otherwise. His aim for perfection made him overly critical.

He was blinded by his own judgments. His overthinking nature didn't let him think outside of the censorious society norms.

When he started observing Xiao Bo closely he understood that the way he was thinking till now was utterly wrong. It was mind-boggling for him.

"Snowball, you need rest. I can sleep anywhere," Mu Chen voiced out.

"But... it's your home. How can I let you sleep on the couch while I sleep on your bed?"

Finally, Xiao Bo worded out what he was bothered by.

Mu Chen sighed slightly then thought for a second. A teasing smile replaced the straight line on his lips.

"Then how about we both sleep on the bed?"

"Eh?"

Xiao Bo was flabbergasted by his suggestion. "Together?" He blinked his eyes continuously.

"Why not? We are to be engaged and married soon. I thought it would make you uncomfortable to sleep together so I said I will sleep on the couch but you don't want that and I can't let you sleep on the couch. So there is only one option left, to sleep together on the bed."

Mu Chen pointed at the bed with a sly smirk.

"Uh, no!"

Xiao Bo immediately disagreed and stepped back a little with his ears turning chili red.

Mu Chen chuckled at the Younger's reaction and then with a gentle tone,

"Snowball, just sleep here. I will feel bad if I let you sleep on the couch all alone."

Xiao Bo bit his lower lips shyly and nodded his head.

"Good boy."

Mu Chen praised as he ruffled the Younger's hair and resumed his shuffling inside the wardrobe.

Xiao Bo sat on the corner of the bed as he watched the elder taking out a set of blankets and pillows.

When Mu Chen was about to leave Xiao Bo held the hem of the elder's shirt lightly stopping him in his tracks.

"Hm?" Mu Chen turned to face the younger.

"Uh... can't you ...um... just sleep here...?" Xiao Bo asked, then he saw the surprised face of the elder he became nervous,

"N-No! I mean not on the bed...just inside the room. It's huge and... and I don't think I can sleep..."

Xiao Bo bit his lips again and clutched onto the elder's shirt tightly, "I...I am scared. It's unfamiliar..."

Mu Chen was about to say something but Xiao Bo thought it was rude of him to ask him to stay when he refused to let the elder sleep on the bed with him, so he immediately,

"I am sorry."

Mu Chen sighed again as he dropped the things in his hands to the floor and sat beside the younger.

He gently took Xiao Bo's face into his arms and made him look into his eyes.

"Listen, Snowball. There is no need for you to apologize to me. I am sorry. I know I brought you here without your acknowledgment when you fainted. And anyone would be scared to sleep all alone in unfamiliar surroundings. I didn't think about that, it was insensitive of me, so I am sorry, okay?"

Xiao Bo tried to open his mouth to say something but Mu Chen put his index finger on the Younger's lips.

"Also I am happy that you voiced out your fear. If you didn't tell I would have never known and slept outside in the hall all peaceful without knowing you were too scared inside to sleep. Thank you for letting me know, and from now on if something is bothering you and if I didn't notice, please tell me, okay? I want to be a better person for you, Snowball. One that you could rely on without a second thought."

Xiao Bo's eyes were glistened as he smiled and nodded at the elder's words.

That night Xiao Bo slept peacefully on the bed while Mu Chen slept on the floor beside the bed watching over the younger.

...

The next day, on a desolate road an Aston Martin DB11 was parked at the side and two men were standing in front of it, one fuming in anger and the other one had a very confused and slightly scared expression on his face.

"What's wrong with you? Why did you drag me all the way here? What do you want now? My father had transferred all the money back to you and you tore the contract. There is no need for me to follow you everywhere, right?"

"Huh, tsk!" Li Feng Mian snorted trying to control his anger. "I never thought you were such a disgusting person. You and your father are complete trash!"

"What-"

Wei Chen was cut off by a strong slap across his face which made him stumble back and fall onto the ground hard, his palms were grazed.

"How can you both do such things? Are you even humans?"

Feng Mian was raging in anger.

Wei Chen's left cheek turned dark red and became swollen. Tears started flowing out of his eyes and he still had a baffled expression.

⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉⑉

Mini Theatre:

Wang Bai Hu: YiYi, why don't you come home with me tonight, it's already late. I will drop you at the university tomorrow.

Feng Xin Yi: *suspicious look* So, what Mu Chen said was the truth? You wolf!

Wang Bai Hu: *nervous* What are you talking about, YiYi? Do you think of me like that? I never had such indecent thoughts. That Mu Gege always throws me into trouble. I am a pure-hearted man. Don't you trust me, I love you.

Feng Xin Yi: If you love me, then why don't you have indecent thoughts about me? Who are imagining while you masturbate, tell me. Are you cheating on me?

Wang Bai Hu: *totally anxious* I swear on all the Gods and Goddesses in the universe. I never once cheated on you even in my imagination. I have so many indecent thoughts about you. Even now I want to do so many dirty- *realization hits like a truck*

Feng Xin Yi: *snorts* Trust you? Never had any indecent thoughts about me? You are pure-hearted man- my ass! I am not letting you touch me until we marry, got it? If you dare I will break your hands. Get lost!

Wang Bai Hu: NOOO! Listen to me YiYi! *runs behind him to explain himself*

Ms. Villainess has something to say:

Holy Darth Vader Smokes!!!! Why is Mianmian so angry at our little Weiwei?

Curious to know( ๑‾̀◡‾́)σ»?

Tehe~(¬‿¬) not gonna tell ya!

One comment and one vote = One chance to hear a spoiler(⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧

[P.S. Little Deathtraps, I don't know how many of you got the notification but I have published a short story, "The Omega Villain is pregnant with Alpha Protagonist's Twins" a month back. If you have time check it out.

Also, I published a new story today titled, "The Cold-Hearted Man's Inamorato" it's an Anthropomorphic Fantasy, with dragons and cats🤭 so check it out if you're interested].