Chapter 31: An Unexpected Encounter

The light reflected in his eyes made his already dark pupils appear even more vibrant, glistening like a pool of water.
His long, dark eyelashes trembled slightly, and he bit his own lip, the bright red juice staining the sides of his mouth.
His expression was innocent yet confused, gazing helplessly at the man before him.
He looked pitiful… and easily bullied.
Her husband’s eyes were dark and unreadable.
He leaned in closer, and Yan Chuan’s eyelashes brushed against his cheek. The man looked down at him with a shadowy gaze, as if something was about to happen in the next moment.
At that moment, Yan Chuan leaned back weakly, resting against the chair’s back, only to hear a muffled grunt from her husband.
His fingernail had clearly hit her husband’s mouth, and Yan Chuan quickly apologized, “I’m sorry… I slipped just now.”
Feeling somewhat awkward, he asked, “Did I hurt you?”
A drop of dark red stained the tip of his pale finger, shining with a slight luster under the light.
“There is a little mark,” her husband said, watching Yan Chuan rise to check the injury and move a bit farther away from him.
Yan Chuan had leaned back unexpectedly, and as her husband had leaned in, the fingernail had scratched him inside his mouth.
Her husband opened his mouth, revealing some blood trickling from the wound inside.
Yan Chuan went to get the first aid kit, not expecting it to be used for the second time in just a few days.
He didn’t ponder why her husband had licked his fingers; instead, he pressed gently on his shoulder, asking him to sit still while he took care of the wound.
A cotton ball dipped in disinfectant, which had a somewhat pungent smell, was ready. Yan Chuan crinkled his nose and leaned closer to his husband’s handsome face.
“Open your mouth,” he instructed softly, “You were hurt inside.”
Her husband complied with his instructions.
The bright light was blinding, and Yan Chuan felt a whirlwind of emotions.
His legs still felt weak, making him wish he could just collapse onto the chair at any moment.
Just now, he had wondered if the obedient man was trying to do something intimate with him.
It was natural for a husband, returning from a long day at work and remembering to bring something for his wife, to want some affection. He had received the “wife” identity card and needed to maintain that image.
Logically, the man was tall and strong, with arms nearly as thick as his thighs. If he wanted to do something, Yan Chuan’s slender frame couldn’t hold out against him for long.
At most, he could resist a few moments like a kitten scratching, and then he would be tossed onto the bed.
Then came all the limits of intimacy, and he might end up in tears from the experience.
Yan Chuan shook his head abruptly, trying to cast away that terrifying image from his mind.
Too frightening.
“What’s wrong?” her husband noticed Yan Chuan’s face suddenly pale and asked.
Yan Chuan pressed his lips together, his voice lacking confidence, “I didn’t do it on purpose… The floor was too slippery, and I just lost my footing…”
“It’s alright,” her husband said, his voice a bit muffled, still trying to comfort his nervous wife, “It’s not your fault; I scared you.”
Yan Chuan softly acknowledged him.
“But,” her husband’s tone shifted, “you haven’t given me a kiss today.”
Yan Chuan blinked, “…Huh?”
“A good morning and a goodnight kiss,” her husband stated, his high cheekbones and deep-set eyes becoming more imposing. His facial features were sharply defined; with no expression, he could be quite intimidating. He now appeared calm yet disappointed for not receiving a kiss from his wife.
Yan Chuan felt his ears flush.
Good morning and goodnight kisses… Did they have such a close relationship?
“After you take your medicine,” Yan Chuan blurted out without knowing how he managed the words, “Once your wound heals, we can talk about it…”
And the disinfectant was just too pungent; just smelling it made him uneasy. He didn’t express it, but his scrunched-up face made his feelings clear.
Spoiled.
Her husband judged inwardly.
Yan Chuan was oblivious to what the man was thinking and negotiated: “It’s still bleeding; what if it gets worse?”
Her husband nodded, unclear if he agreed.
Yan Chuan breathed a sigh of relief.
As for good morning and goodnight kisses, perhaps it was better to avoid that for now.
After finishing applying the disinfectant, Yan Chuan made sure everything was properly treated, then went to wash his hands.
Of course, he thoroughly cleaned the fingers his husband had licked. The cool water washed away the sticky sensation, making him feel more comfortable.
Turning around, he nearly bumped into his husband.
“Why were you so quiet? I had no idea you were standing right behind me!”
“Am I not allowed to kiss you?” her husband wrapped his arms around Yan Chuan’s waist, which looked even more delicate with the apron on, and asked again, “Really, is it forbidden?”
Even though he sensed something off about her husband’s behavior, he hadn’t processed his answer before hearing him lower his voice, “Where did you go today?”
Yan Chuan blinked, “Huh?”
Where indeed?
“Your scent,” her husband said in a husky tone, his dark, almost black, eyes fixated on him, “You smell like someone else…”
He emphasized, “Another man.”
Yan Chuan was genuinely shocked.
Scent… What scent? Could he really tell who he had met today?
Wasn’t it too easy for his affair to be exposed? How would he continue succeeding in variety shows now?!
His thoughts became chaotic, and it took him a while to stammer out an answer, “No…”
He stopped hesitating, stood on tiptoe, and hooked his husband’s neck, “I met someone today; I listened to him play a piece and came back right after… I’ve been waiting for you at home…”
Her husband fell silent.
Seeing this, Yan Chuan tried to raise his head, pressing his lips against his husband’s tight-lipped ones and tentatively brushing with his tongue, whispering, “Really…”