OL CH38

When he woke again, Chen Tian found himself in an unfamiliar room. Beneath him was a soft bed, exceedingly comfortable to lie on.

Sitting up, he discovered that his clothes had already been changed into comfortable loungewear.

Massaging his slightly throbbing temples, Chen Tian didn’t even need to think twice to know there had been something wrong with the scent he smelled before blacking out.

Presumably, Xiao Bai had somehow acquired some sort of sedative, used it on him, and seized the opportunity to whisk him away to this strange place.

Chen Tian knew that the massive success of Divine Realm had brought in immense profits for Bai Su. A significant portion of those earnings had gone into investments, while another part had been used to acquire real estate.

If he guessed correctly, this house belonged to Bai Su. However, judging by the interior decor and furnishings, it had been set up quite some time ago—likely well before the launch of Starry Sky or Divine Realm.

Examining his surroundings closely, the entire room was decorated with extraordinary warmth and coziness; one look showed the owner had poured their heart into it. Yet it was equally apparent that no one had actually lived here much.

His original clothes and phone had been taken away. Standing up and pacing around the room, he found the windows and doors securely locked, impossible to open.

Looking through the window, Chen Tian could see the street outside. He was currently on the second floor. From the scenery, he could tell this was likely a villa community in the eastern district of the city.

The complex had only recently been completed, and the eastern district was a newly developed zone of City B with sparse population and low occupancy. One could watch for ages without seeing a single soul pass by on the street.

Yet despite finding himself in unfamiliar surroundings and seemingly cut off from all contact with the outside world, Chen Tian didn’t feel the slightest panic.

He knew just how deeply his partner loved him, confident that Bai Su would never harm him.

The only thing Chen Tian worried about was that under the corrupting influence of the dark filth, Bai Su’s emotional instability would brew extreme thoughts, perhaps even driving the youth to hurt himself.

At this thought, he couldn’t help feeling a wave of self-reproach. It seemed he had severely underestimated the lingering power of soul contamination.

At the end of the previous world, Chen Tian had stripped away a portion of the filth clinging to Bai Su’s soul, believing his partner’s condition would improve significantly.

Upon entering this world, he had encountered Bai Su very early on. For all this time, he had lived alongside his lover; Bai Su had appeared bright and sunny, surrounded by loyal friends, seemingly entirely normal.

Chen Tian had assumed that in this world, aside from the damaged soul causing misfortune and lower luck, there wouldn’t be any psychological or mental issues. Who knew this optimistic assumption would blow up in his face so spectacularly?

He understood the nature of the dark taint well. When someone’s soul was stirred by contamination, all logic and reason could be thrown out the window, and the individual would be driven by paranoid, obsessive mania.

The victim would fixate exclusively on the conclusion forged in their mind unless that premise was definitively disproven.

What Chen Tian cared about most right now was what on earth had triggered this “dark room confinement” sequence in the first place.

Recalling the similar days spent in their previous life, though undeniably thrilling and intensely pleasurable, as a doting partner who cherished his lover, Chen Tian still felt that maintaining his beloved’s mental and physical health was far more paramount.

Just as he was contemplating this, the bedroom door swung open.

Bai Su walked in carrying a food tray. Seeing Chen Tian standing by the window, a brilliant smile broke across his face as he beckoned cheerfully: “Uncle Qin, come over here! I made lunch myself; come taste it. Uncle Qin really loves his sleep; you woke up so late!”

Picking up on the implication in the youth’s words, Chen Tian casually swept his gaze across the room, only to hear 009 confirm in his mindscape: “Yes, Boss. There are cameras everywhere in this room—there are even five in the bathroom.”

!!!!

So from the moment Xiao Bai brought him back yesterday, he had been monitoring his every move, and even planned never to miss a second of him changing or showering in the future?

Why did this feel weirdly exhilarating?!

Honestly, did the boy really love him that much?

Outwardly, Chen Tian kept an impassive expression, but hearing this news, he felt secretly giddy inside.

He just loved this Xiao Bai, who loved him with such fierce, overflowing possessiveness!

“BOSS!”

009’s voice suddenly spiked in volume within his consciousness, snapping the thrilled Chen Tian back to reality just in time to suppress the corners of his rapidly curling lips.

The sudden shift in expression contorted his face for a split second, but fortunately, Bai Su was busy setting out the cutlery and dishes, failing to catch the man’s momentary slip.

The two sat down opposite each other to eat lunch. Every single dish had been tailored specifically to Chen Tian’s tastes, delighting him at first sight.

Especially since his beloved had cooked it personally for him, Chen Tian found every bite heavenly. Making no deliberate effort to hold back, his appetite actually appeared even heartier than usual.

Meanwhile, Bai Su ladled food onto his plate while chattering endlessly about amusing topics and interesting anecdotes from his academic exchange abroad.

It was as if the man across from him hadn’t been drugged and dragged here by force at all; they were acting just as intimately as before.

Even so, Chen Tian could clearly see the tension underlying Bai Su’s demeanor. Over the course of the meal, Bai Su barely touched his food. His attention remained fixed entirely on Chen Tian the whole time, clearly anxious about his mood and reactions.

Chen Tian understood why. Seeing that the atmosphere was quite pleasant once they finished eating, he began slowly, “Xiao Bai, why…”

“Uncle Qin, I don’t want to talk about meaningless topics right now.”

Bai Su cut him off swiftly. Lowering his eyes, he reached out, placing his hand over the back of the man’s hand and caressing it gently.

When he looked up again, his gaze held an intoxicating, bewitching allure as he murmured, “Uncle Qin, we’ve been together for so long. It’s time we did what lovers ought to do!”

The words had barely left his lips before a tender kiss fell upon Chen Tian’s mouth.

The youth before him wore a crisp white shirt and jeans; though not revealing in the slightest, the clean, refreshing visual held a distinct allure of its own. He carried the fresh scent of a recent shower, clearly having prepared meticulously beforehand.

Lingering kisses fell one after another. Feeling utterly powerless to resist, Chen Tian allowed himself to be pulled up by the hand and led toward the bed, where he was promptly pushed down onto the mattress.

Why had their conversation suddenly pivoted from mundane daily life straight into R-rated territory?!

While Chen Tian was more than delighted to engage in “deep communication” with his lover, he had to admit his heart was fluttering with a touch of panic.

He knew such progress was inevitable, yet it somehow felt a bit too fast.

Yet Chen Tian understood the logic. Even though he seemed currently imprisoned by Bai Su, given his public stature and the timing of Bai Su’s return, the boy couldn’t possibly keep him locked up here forever. Realistically, he would have to be let out soon.

For Bai Su to make such a request at this precise moment sparked a thought in Chen Tian’s mind.

“009, are all the cameras in the room the same model?”

Hearing his boss’s question, the little chubby bird found it odd, but scanned them carefully once more nonetheless.

Blinking its shiny black bead eyes, it replied with an indescribable tone: “Boss… the three on the headboard and the bedside cabinet are ultra-high-definition…”

In fact, 009 had swallowed the rest of its thought. It suspected Bai Su was likely planning to record high-def video to blackmail Chen Tian later.

So that’s how it is.

Chen Tian nodded mentally. This merely confirmed his initial suspicion.

Yet he didn’t view the potential threat with any concern whatsoever. His Xiao Bai loved him so much; how could he ever bear to let anyone else see his majestic, heroic form!

Recording it was actually quite fine; Chen Tian mused that in the future, the two of them could hide away in the bedroom and watch it together in private. While watching, they could even reenact it—how romantic and spicy!

As expected of his precious treasure, what a marvelous idea!

And so, harboring secretive excitement, Chen Tian was personally treated to a deliciously juicy intimate session, a passionate ride by his partner after lunch.

At first he had been a little worried; after all, since becoming lovers, Bai Su had been constantly busy. Though they shared plenty of daily affection, they had never actually consummated their relationship.

Yet clearly, even without prior experience, Bai Su must have thoroughly researched what to do beforehand.

Still, no matter how rich one’s theoretical knowledge was, the youth had never put it into practice. Even with Chen Tian cooperating fully, it took quite a bit of effort on both their parts.

Fortunately, the end result was splendid; both sides were left utterly satisfied, and Bai Su hadn’t gotten hurt in the process.

Seeing his little treasure take such initiative, Chen Tian naturally felt profoundly satisfied. However, after just one round, he gently stopped his beloved, who was visibly exhausted yet stubbornly attempting another go.

Tenderly gathering Bai Su into his arms, Chen Tian brushed back his sweat-dampened hair and pressed a soft kiss between his brows.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to talk things through earlier, but he understood Bai Su’s temperament. Any sign of refusal would have only stoked greater insecurity in his lover’s heart. It was far better to be gentle and compliant, letting the youth’s heart settle and feel as though he held the reins before having a proper conversation.

“Xiao Bai, can you tell me what happened now?” Chen Tian asked softly.

A complicated flicker passed through Bai Su’s eyes, clearly unwilling to pursue this topic. He moved to get up and leave, only to be held firmly in the man’s embrace, unable to budge.

With no other choice, he kept his head down in total silence, as if protesting with quiet defiance.

Sensing Bai Su’s resistance, Chen Tian felt both helpless and fortunate. Thank goodness his lover in this life wasn’t a powerhouse general who ran away the moment the deed was done, leaving him zero chance to explain himself.

At least now, he could hold him securely in his arms—much more convenient.

Loath to push him too hard, a thousand words melted into a soft sigh. Chen Tian gently stroked his lover’s back and said, “If Xiao Bai doesn’t want to talk about it, then you don’t have to. But when you brought me back, you must have seen a small box in my pocket, right? Could you bring it over for me?”

Hearing this, Bai Su hesitated for a long while before nodding in agreement. He slipped on a bathrobe and left the room, his heart aching uncontrollably.

He remembered that box. At the restaurant, Uncle Qin and that woman had handled it together, laughing and talking over whatever was inside.

When changing Chen Tian’s clothes yesterday, Bai Su had turned out every single pocket inside and out, carefully stashing away everything he found.

He had opened that box too: inside rested a pair of rings. A man and a woman sitting together, holding a pair of rings—what they had been discussing seemed painfully self-evident…

That conclusion had stung Bai Su’s heart so bitterly that after a mere glance, he had tossed the box into a desk drawer.

Why did Uncle Qin want him to bring that box now? Under these circumstances, had he still not given up?

They had clearly already…

Just now, Uncle Qin had clearly enjoyed it so much—did that not mean he accepted him?

Even if he only wanted to humor him superficially, did he have to shatter the illusion so quickly? Couldn’t he wait just a little longer?

Bai Su truly didn’t want their relationship to reach a dead end, which was why he had avoided the subject from the start. Until pushed to the absolute brink, he didn’t want to resort to open threats against Chen Tian.

His thoughts a chaotic tangle, Bai Su clutched the velvet box in his hand and returned to the bedroom.

It wasn’t that Chen Tian failed to notice his lover’s sour mood, but the misunderstanding between them had to be resolved.

Seeing the box in Bai Su’s hand, a smile broke across Chen Tian’s face. Slipping into a bathrobe, he stood up, thinking to himself how lucky it was that his Xiao Bai hadn’t thrown his belongings away in a fit of rage.

Little did he know how piercing that smile appeared in the youth’s eyes.

Next, Chen Tian took the box, opened it before Bai Su, and said gently, “Xiao Bai, I originally intended to find a proper venue later and arrange a romantic setting before giving these rings to you, but perhaps right now isn’t a bad time either.”

With that, Chen Tian dropped to one knee, holding the box up with utmost solemnity: “Bai Su, will you become my partner and spend the rest of your life with me?”

The man’s words caught Bai Su completely off guard. He had never once imagined that these rings were meant for him; his immediate reaction was disbelief, suspecting the words might merely be sweet, placating lies.

Yet immediately after, he watched Chen Tian take out one of the rings and slip it decisively onto his finger—the size fit perfectly.

And the moment it slid on, Bai Su saw clearly that aside from the elegant engraving on the band, the inside was carved with the letters chen.

Seeing those letters sent a jolt through his heart. He hurriedly picked up the other, slightly larger ring. Sure enough, there was an engraving inside that one as well, bearing the letters of his own name: su.

His fingers tightened violently around the ring. A flash of wild euphoria surged through Bai Su, followed instantly by absolute panic and mortification.

Had this whole thing been nothing more than his own misunderstanding?! Then… after treating Uncle Qin like this, how would Uncle Qin view him?!

Stealing a glance at the man still gazing at him with endless tenderness, Bai Su managed with great difficulty, “Uncle Qin… at the restaurant earlier, who was that woman you went to meet?”

“Woman?”

Chen Tian’s tone sounded baffled, but then understanding dawned. Looking at Bai Su in utter astonishment, he asked, “Xiao Bai, you didn’t think I was dating another woman behind your back, so you…”

Seeing Bai Su go completely rigid at the question, Chen Tian was caught between tears and laughter.

“That was Sophia. She and her brother were dear friends of my grandfather. Years ago, after my grandfather passed away, I ran into immense difficulties when I first took over the Qin Corporation. It was thanks to Sophia’s family stepping in. You could say that without her help, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

“Earlier, Sophia called saying she was visiting Country H and wanted to drop by to see me, so I asked her to bring these two custom rings back with her. Sophia’s family is in the jewelry business, boasting the world’s finest craftsmen, but custom commissions usually take months. With her personal intervention, it was naturally much faster.”

At this point, Chen Tian’s expression turned rather bizarre: “Though, Xiao Bai… while Sophia has aged remarkably well, has impeccable taste, and is considerably younger than my grandfather… she is already over sixty years old this year. I’ve always viewed her as an elder.”

Bai Su: “…”

__

Author’s Note:

Xiao Bai’s Diary: In the future, when checking up on my partner, I MUST see the other person’s face! (Underlined for emphasis)

So, how do I convince my uncle that I’m not a paranoid control freak? Is it too late to beg for forgiveness with birch rods on my back? Waiting online, pretty urgent!