Chapter 114: Extra 13: Bare With It
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
The atmosphere in the study was somewhat tense at this moment.
By the French windows, the genuine leather office chair tilted slightly. Duan Yizhou, dressed in a black shirt, leaned against the back of the chair. The gold-rimmed glasses on his nose corresponded to the gloomy aura emanating from him. He appeared indifferent, his gaze lowered as he looked at the application form to study abroad at the M Country Music Academy in his hands.
Going abroad. Long-distance relationship? Newlywed separated by distance? His sons aren’t even a month old yet, and he’s considering going abroad?
“Um…” Luo Songran saw Duan Yizhou looking at his application form for a full ten minutes, feeling that it was quite long. Unable to hold back, he spoke up, only to be met with Duan Yizhou’s gaze.
“I haven’t finished reading it,” Duan Yizhou said coldly.
“…It’s been ten minutes already.”
Luo Songran felt the murderous intent emanating from this man and silently mimicked zipping his lips with his hand, gesturing ‘okay, I won’t speak,’ then obediently clasped his hands in front of him.
Oh no, Duan Yizhou was angry. What should he do? He knew he wouldn’t agree. The teacher insisted on giving him both the application form and the recommendation letter. Now, it would be difficult to calm the old man down.
The quiet study soon echoed with the sound of rustling paper.
Luo Songran saw Duan Yizhou’s hand gradually tighten, and the application form he held made a sound of crumpling paper. He felt a chill down his spine and subconsciously swallowed, “Um, you should listen to me first—”
“If you want to go, then go.” Duan Yizhou said expressionlessly, tossing the application form back onto the desk and standing up to leave the study.
Despite being very angry, he still respected this application form and didn’t throw it back onto the desk.
In fact, one corner of the application form had already been crumpled.
Luo Songran, “…”
Oops, Duan Yizhou was already very angry. He didn’t even care if the application form had been crumpled, quickly catching up to Duan Yizhou. But this man walked twice as fast as him, intentionally speeding up. So he had to jog after him.
“Listen to me, I didn’t say I definitely want to study abroad. This is just—”
As he caught up, Duan Yizhou suddenly stopped, causing him to crash into Duan Yizhou’s head and nose. In that instant, a sharp pain shot through his nose, making his tear glands sting. He quickly covered his nose.
Then, he felt a warm sensation on his palm.
Duan Yizhou didn’t expect this guy to crash into him. In the moment of impact, he could roughly feel how painful it was. Sure enough, as he turned around, he saw Luo Songran holding his nose, blood dripping from his palm.
Nosebleed.
His expression darkened suddenly. He immediately took out a handkerchief from his pocket, pressed it against Luo Songran’s nose, and said, “Lower your head.”
Luo Songran didn’t expect to have a nosebleed from such a bump. He complied, letting Duan Yizhou press his nose, his hand with blood spread open. Then he muttered softly, “Legs being long isn’t everything. You don’t listen to me.”
Perhaps it was because of the nose being pressed, his voice sounded muffled, carrying a hint of grievance.
In the bathroom.
“Hold your nose, I’ll wipe your face.”
“Okay.”
Duan Yizhou attended to Luo Songran’s nosebleed, seeing the blood still flowing and furrowing his brows. He picked up an ice pack from the side and applied it to Luo Songran’s nose, saying, “Don’t run around in the house in the future.”
Luo Songran glanced at him sideways, “Your legs are so long, I can’t keep up with you. You said you would wait for me in place.”
This sentence made the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
Duan Yizhou didn’t immediately respond. He even began to reflect on why he had been so serious just now. He had said before that if Luo Songran wanted to do something, he would respect him, as long as it didn’t cross a bottom line. Going abroad to study hadn’t crossed any bottom line.
But his selfish desires were at work.
He didn’t want Luo Songran to leave him, even if it was just for a year. He found it unbearable.
“Yes, I said I would wait for you in place.” Duan Yizhou removed the ice pack, pinched Luo Songran’s chin to look at his nose to see if it had stopped bleeding. When he saw that it had, he sighed in relief and said, “But I’m afraid you’ll run too fast for me to catch up.”
Seeing the man’s indifferent expression, as if it didn’t matter, Luo Songran suddenly felt a sense of inexplicable frustration.
“Duan Yizhou, do you know why I showed you the application form?”
“I know, you’re here to tell me you want to study abroad.”
“You know nothing.”
“…”
Luo Songran muttered coldly and then brushed away Duan Yizhou’s hand. He turned aside and walked towards the study, wondering why showing the application form to Duan Yizhou meant he wanted to go abroad. Couldn’t it be just to ask for his opinion?
In Duan Yizhou’s mind, he was like a child who never grew up, the kind who acted impulsively without asking for opinions first.
And Duan Yizhou always felt pressured by all the elders around him, believing that elders should bear the responsibility of choosing to respect, choosing to let go, and allowing freedom. He was aware of it, but it seemed like he had said it many times, yet Duan Yizhou still didn’t understand.
He’d rather Duan Yizhou be a bit selfish, not as foolish as before, and there was no need to be so foolish.
It seemed like he needed to come up with a solution.
Why did it feel like Duan Yizhou was the one experiencing postpartum foolishness for three years?
Duan Yizhou looked at his empty hand, his expression complicated, as he watched the little guy leave. Why was he the one getting angry now? He should be the one to get angry. It seemed like it had been a long time since he had this feeling of insecurity and anxiety.
Perhaps during the entire pregnancy, Luo Songran had been under his watchful eye. Now that he had returned to school, and even mentioned studying abroad, he felt an uncontrollable sense of anxiety and panic.
Luo Songran was still young, still in the stage of studying. How could he possibly use marriage, love, and children to keep him by his side? He had selfishly kept him under his wing with their child for nearly two years. Did he still need to do that?
No.
But now it seemed like the little guy was angry. Was he wrong to let him go abroad?
…
Night fell, it was dinner time. The auntie in the house felt that something was off between these two. Previously, this newlywed couple would feed each other during meals, showing their affection. But tonight, they were each eating quietly, without a word.
“Ah!”
The little one, sitting in the baby chair, reached out to grab Luo Songran during dinner, but his little hands were too short. He swiped through the air without reaching his dad and started crying in distress.
Luo Songran scooted closer to the baby chair so the little one could reach him. “What’s wrong? You want Daddy even when you’re eating?”
The little one grabbed onto his dad’s clothes, patted them, then let go, looking satisfied. He then turned his head and eagerly ate the baby food Auntie handed over, his cheeks puffed up, eyes crescenting with joy.
Compared to the little one, the older sibling was more well-behaved during meals. With strong motor skills, even at nine months old, he could feed himself without any issues. He had already finished three bites by the time the little one had finished one, making him seem much bigger.
Seeing the little one being cute again, Luo Songran playfully poked his chubby cheeks with the chopsticks. “You, watch how your big brother eats.”
When the older sibling heard his dad calling him, he raised his head, not caring that his face was covered in minced meat. He put down his spoon, then held up the empty bowl for his dad to see. “Look! Finished!”
Luo Songran immediately gave him a thumbs-up, praising, “Big brother is great, already finished eating. Is the little one as amazing as big brother?” Then he reached out his hand towards the older sibling, “Come on, give me five!”
The older sibling’s eyes lit up, knowing what his dad was about to do. He extended his hand and gave his dad a high five, exclaiming, “Five!”
Then he turned his head to the eldest, “Eldest uncle, five!”
Duan Yizhou smiled gently, putting down his chopsticks and lightly high-fived his eldest son, “Big brother is really good, a great role model for the little one.”
This tactic seemed to have stimulated the little one. He tugged at Luo Songran’s clothes, gesturing for him to look at him. Anxiously, he grabbed the spoon Auntie held out to him and buried himself in eating.
As a result, food was scattered everywhere, as if he was using his face to eat. Hardly any of the food made it into his mouth successfully.
Luo Songran sighed helplessly but let the little master eat on his own.
“Baby.”
Just as Luo Songran was watching the little one eat, he suddenly heard Duan Yizhou calling him. Reflexively, he answered, “What?” Then he remembered, they were still in a cold war; he shouldn’t have responded.
So he continued to play with the little one.
Duan Yizhou picked up a piece of beef and placed it in Luo Songran’s bowl, watching him play with the child while eating. This scene was so heartwarming. How could they leave this empty for a year? “RanRan, look, both Piglet and Little Master need you.”
Luo Songran raised an eyebrow slightly, seeming to understand the implication. He glanced at Duan Yizhou and said, “And then?”
“I also need you,” Duan Yizhou said.
“Do you need me to feed you?” Luo Songran took the spoon that the little one had finished using, scooped some food from his own bowl, and offered it to Duan Yizhou, “Here, eat up, Baby Duan Yizhou.”
He was good at playing along, and he wanted to see when Duan Yizhou would give in.
Duan Yizhou remained silent as he looked at the food being offered to him. “…”
Luo Songran lifted his chin slightly and extended the spoon forward again, “Here, Baby Duan Yizhou, eat up. Didn’t you say you needed me?”
“I don’t need you to feed me,” Duan Yizhou sighed faintly. Just as he was about to lower his head to eat, he saw the spoon being taken back by Luo Songran, and his head froze.
He watched as Luo Songran ate the bite of food that was originally meant for him. “…”
Luo Songran finished eating, chewed for a moment, then smiled at Duan Yizhou, “Oh, I see. Then I’ll eat on my own.”
Duan Yizhou, “…”
How did he not understand what he meant? Though, he could eat the food himself.
In the evening.
In the study, Duan Yizhou was consulting with Luo Songran about the matter of exchanging students with the Luo Songran Academy.
“Songran’s foreign language skills are good. That’s one reason I’m sending him as an exchange student. Plus, he’s capable himself. I think it’ll be no problem for him to pursue his graduate studies here after having this exchange experience.”
“Going abroad for graduate studies?”
“Yeah, it’ll be beneficial for him in the future, whether he wants to perform solo or become the principal in an orchestra.”
Just as the conversation on the phone ended, Duan Yizhou saw a figure appear at the study door. When he saw what Luo Songran was wearing, his expression instantly darkened.
Wearing a casual black shirt and familiar white jeans, especially those jeans with a zipper at the thigh that could turn into super short shorts when unzipped.
What’s the occasion for dressing like this at night?
He muttered something to the person on the phone and hung up.
Luo Songran adjusted his shirt, tucking it into his jeans, and as he passed by the study, he happened to see Duan Yizhou. Pausing, he greeted, “I’m going out for a while. You go to bed early tonight.”
With that, he moved to leave.
It was just this slight turn that made Duan Yizhou notice the scene behind the shirt. This was no ordinary black shirt. A piece of transparent lace sewn onto the back of the shirt revealed his fair back, shoulder blades, beautiful spinal line, and even his dimples, leaving nothing to the imagination.
Covered and yet not.
“Luo Songran!” Duan Yizhou stood up, his voice heavy. “Look at me when I’m talking to you.”
Luo Songran halted, his hands pausing from adjusting his clothes, casually turning to face Duan Yizhou. He smiled, “Hmm? What’s up?”
Duan Yizhou pushed the chair aside, walking towards the lad with a dark expression. It seemed like there wasn’t a day he wasn’t angry with him. “Where are you planning to go dressed like this?”
As he approached, he covered Luo Songran’s waist with his entire palm.
Feeling the pinch on his lower back, Luo Songran chuckled lightly. He turned and held Duan Yizhou’s large hand, meeting his gaze, “Where else could I be going? To the club, of course. What’s wrong? Not letting me go?”
“It’s not that I’m not letting you go, but why dress like this?” Duan Yizhou met his smiling gaze, and for a moment, he felt like he was back to when they first met.
Back then, this lad had him breathless. But he never imagined that even after marriage and having a baby, he would still have to deal with such temptations, not from him but from the attire his husband chose to wear to the club.
To the club?!
That won’t do.
“Isn’t this shirt beautiful?” Luo Songran was puzzled, turning to show Duan Yizhou, smiling innocently.
It was fine when he stood still, but the lace revealing his back made it irresistibly sexy when he moved.
“Beautiful, but only for me to see.” Duan Yizhou wrapped his arm around him, pulling him close, his palm still pressed against the small of Luo Songran’s back. Beneath his glasses, his eyes were deep, filled with restrained possessiveness. His voice was low, almost hoarse, “Baby, we can’t go out dressed like this.”
Luo Songran met Duan Yizhou’s gaze, smiling, “Uncle, are you still so conservative? Seems like going abroad to study is the freer option. I can dress however I want, and you can’t stop me.”
His teasing tone fell on Duan Yizhou’s heart like a series of soft, calculated taps, simultaneously playful and provocative, hitting the mark precisely.
Duan Yizhou’s eyes darkened with suppressed desire and selfishness. He wasn’t a saint; he couldn’t bear separation right after getting married.
This anxiety of separation made him uneasy.
“Xiaozhou, can I go abroad?” Luo Songran lightly undid a button on Duan Yizhou’s shirt, his hand seemingly casual as it moved downward. “Can I?”
Before he could finish, his hand was pressed against his chest.
“I don’t want you to go abroad.” Duan Yizhou tightened his hold on Luo Songran’s waist, his gaze flashing, no longer hiding his true feelings. “I don’t want you to leave me. I need you to stay by my side.”
Luo Songran suppressed the smile at the corner of his lips, trying not to let it show. “Oh? Who was the one who just agreed earlier, respecting my opinion? I’ve already signed the application form.”
“Don’t submit it!” Duan Yizhou panicked. He cupped Luo Songran’s face in his hands, his eyes filled with urgency. “Baby, don’t submit it. Let me think it over again. I’m serious; I really don’t want you to go abroad. Although I know it’s not good, it might affect your future career plans. But I just can’t bear the thought of you leaving. If you go abroad for a year, I might really not be able to handle it.”
The corridor echoed with the urgent words of a man, revealing his true feelings, far from the morning’s casual “respect you, go abroad” pretense.
The two stared at each other in silence for a moment.
Duan Yizhou nervously watched Luo Songran, afraid he might express a desire to go abroad.
Then he saw Luo Songran smile.
Luo Songran leaned up to plant a kiss on Duan Yizhou’s lips before leaving. “I might not necessarily go as an exchange student. I just wanted to hear your opinion. This exchange program won’t affect my career plans. What I want to do in the future won’t be influenced by this one year. And I don’t want to leave you.”
Duan Yizhou’s tense heart finally settled. He nodded with a smile, “Okay, that’s good.”
“Then I’ll be going out.” Luo Songran smiled, patting Duan Yizhou’s shoulder, as if ready to leave.
The smile vanished from Duan Yizhou’s face. He quickly grabbed Luo Songran’s arm. “You’re still going out?!”
“Yeah.” Luo Songran nodded innocently. “Can’t I go out?”
Duan Yizhou hesitated, then gestured to his attire. “Change into something else before going out?”
They agreed not to go abroad, but now he was still leaving the house. The problem was he wanted to go out wearing this outfit. Could he bear it? He looked at his husband, whose postpartum beauty he had been nurturing. No, he couldn’t let others see him like this.
Absolutely not wearing this outfit.
“No.” Luo Songran raised a finger, lightly shaking it at Duan Yizhou, raising an eyebrow with a smile. “This outfit looks good. If you don’t let me wear it, it means you don’t respect me. Be careful; I might get angry.”
With that, he lightly tapped Duan Yizhou’s chest with his finger and turned to leave.
Duan Yizhou’s outstretched hand hung in the air. He held his breath, watching Luo Songran’s lace-adorned back as he left. Could he bear it? He couldn’t. Then he glanced upstairs. What if he woke up the little one and went to the bar to cry in front of Daddy?
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