CH 20.1

Taking Actions (1)

A shiver ran down Lin Yu He’s spine immediately. He instinctively felt danger from that sentence.

Lu Nan was still too close to him and the heat from his fingers felt scalding too. Lin Yu He had nowhere to move to since Lu Nan had backed him into the corner of the car’s backseat and they were so close that the older man’s woody scent invaded his nostrils.

Lin Yu He had never experienced Lu Nan’s coldness and intimidating approach, but he was quite familiar with the oppressive feeling whenever the man closed in on him. They only had a distance of a single fist’s size between them, so before the man came any closer, Lin Yu He was prepared to apologize.

Besides, he ought to apologize for getting himself into something Lu Nan had clearly told him not to before. Toward this, he felt that he was in the wrong too, but he couldn’t speak right now. The grip on his chin made it inconvenient to speak.

Ultimately, Lin Yu He “barely managed to murmur his name, “Ge Ge…”

They made eye contact but Lu Nan’s gaze was obscure. When Lin Yu He became more apprehensive, Lu Nan let go of his grip on the younger’s chin and moved back slightly to give him some space.

Lin Yu He was finally able to speak properly, so he apologized immediately in a meek tone. “I’m sorry.”

Lu Nan did not respond to that and instead chose to stare at his chin. Lin Yu He had a pale skin tone due to the lack of pigmentation, but the marks were growing more obvious on them right now.

The man had clearly held him with a firm grip but not with a strength that would hurt. However, it still left fingerprints on the skin there; reddish, prominent, and eye-catching.

Lu Nan kept mum and eventually lifted his hand to gently stroke the reddish marks as he asked slowly, “Does it hurt?”

Lin Yu He could not help but chuckle due to the itch from the slightly rough fingers rubbing against his smooth skin. "No, it doesn't hurt."

Lu Nan then withdrew his hand, and apologized, “I’m sorry.”

Lin Yu He shook his head, "It's okay."

He was aware his skin was sensitive and the slightest external force would leave a mark behind. It wasn’t serious, and he did not feel much pain from it either. He was just slightly startled and scared by the sudden action from Lu Nan.

Lin Yu He did not mind it that much and shrugged the matter off with just a simple “it’s okay.” What he did not know was he avoided something that might scare him even more. It just did not happen because Lu Nan forcefully repressed his urge.

The conversation ended there and the inside of the car returned to silence, with occasional rustling noise from the plastic bag.

The man held the ointment in one hand and pulled out a pack of cotton buds from the bag. He pulled one out of the pack and applied some ointment on the cotton. “This is a medicinal ointment for the crack wounds on lips. It might be a little bitter. Come here, I’ll help you put it on,” Lu Nan said.

Lin Yu He opened his mouth to say something but before he could say anything, he heard Lu Nan speak again. “You won’t be able to do it on your own since you can’t see the cracks.”

Since Lu Nan had already put forth a reason, Lin Yu He could only give up on his original intention.

Lu Nan did not grip his chin this time and only placed his finger under Lin Yu He’s chin to tilt his head upward slightly. This action reminded Lin Yu He of the time Lu Nan helped him knot his tie during the engagement day.

The older man would always exude a hint of control in all his actions. It was a clear sign of his controlling and possessive personality. However, Lu Nan’s actions were always light and gentle; they contradicted his domineering personality.

Lin Yu He’s second major was psychology, and there were also clinical psychology courses in his first major. He was able to discern many typical personalities from Lu Nan but he could not seem to unify these opposing personalities in a single person. He was not too good at this so he attributed them to Lu Nan’s dedication and commitment to his work.

Nevertheless, all these random thoughts were unable to distract Lin Yu He from the presence in front of him. The cold ointment was gently applied to his lips. The cold lasted for only a short while, and it was replaced by the heat from the man’s close proximity.

Lin Yu He rarely got close contact like this with others so he was not sure where to look. When the treatment was finally over, Lin Yu He had never once felt a single pain in his lips. His immediate reaction was to heave a sigh of relief.

However, the relief did not last long and he was rendered speechless when he saw Lu Nan taking out a lip balm from the bag.

Before Lu Nan did anything, Lin Yu He took the initiative. “I’ll do this on my own.”

Lu Nan only looked at him, and Lin Yu He continued, “I can- uh-”

Before he could finish his sentence, he accidentally tasted the ointment on his lips due to his nervousness.

“Why is it so bitter?!” Lin Yu He exclaimed in his mind.

He had always hated the bitter taste so he was directly muted from this. The bitter, astringent, and slightly spicy taste spread on his tongue and his face was scrunched up from the taste.

A bottle of mineral water was held next to his mouth. Lin Yu He could not even say his thanks and quickly took the bottle from him. He wanted to drink huge gulps immediately but a hand stopped him from doing so.

Lu Nan’s hand was blocking the mouth of the water bottle and the back of his hand brushed against Lin Yu He’s lips. It was a little hot and Lin Yu He could not react immediately, though his attention was taken back by the long fingers pushing something against his lips.

“Use the straw, drinking from the bottle will include the taste of the ointment and the bitterness will only get worse.”

Lin Yu He finally noticed the straw Lu Nan put in for him. He quickly sipped on the water through the straw and finally felt somewhat better after he took a few huge sips. At least it was not as bad as earlier when he could not even breathe from the bitterness.