Husband, Let Me Touch Your Abs - Chapter 193

Lu Yao was a little surprised. Uncle Zhao actually recognized him? How come he had no impression of him before?

Aunt Zhao, afraid of making Lu Yao uncomfortable, quickly pulled him away and said, “How could you recognize Xiao Lu? You must be confused from sleeping.”

“No… I recognize… You are… A-Yao.”

Lu Yao froze. Other than his parents and a few older sisters, hardly anyone called him that. He never expected Zhao Guangsheng to call out his name so naturally. He didn’t know why, but a surge of indescribable sadness welled up in his chest. His nose stung, and tears began to fall.

“You really recognize me?” Lu Yao crouched down beside the bed, holding Mr. Zhao’s hand and asking softly.

Zhao Guangsheng nodded. The overlapping memories of two lifetimes left him in a state of confusion—one moment he thought Lu Yao was his child, the next he remembered that Zhao Beichuan was his son.

Seeing that he looked unwell, Lu Yao quickly stood up and said, “Uncle, you should rest first. We can talk after you’ve recovered.”

Just then, Zhao Beichuan entered from outside, calling out happily, “Dad!”

“Da Chuan…” Zhao Guangsheng’s eyes lit up when he saw his son.

Zhao Beichuan hobbled over with his crutch and grasped his father’s hand. “Dad, I missed you so much!”

“Good child… You’ve grown up… These years… You must have… Suffered a lot?”

“It wasn’t hard at all. As long as you wake up, I’d endure any hardship!”

Zhao Guangsheng sighed, then noticed the crutch in his son’s hand and looked puzzled.

“I fell a while ago and broke my leg, but it’s almost healed.”

“Be… careful…”

“Mm, I know.”

Zhao Guangsheng then looked toward Lu Yao, and Zhao Beichuan followed his gaze.

“You and A-Yao… should live a good life… together… Don’t you dare… bully him… or I won’t forgive you…”

Both Zhao Beichuan and Lu Yao were stunned. What was the old man talking about?!

Aunt Zhao hurriedly stepped forward to block them and said, “Oh dear, you’re all confused. Xiao Lu is a man, what nonsense are you matchmaking?”

Zhao Guangsheng looked at his wife in confusion, thinking to himself—who’s the confused one here? Weren’t these two already married…? But after a while, something still didn’t feel right, and his mind became a mess again.

A nurse came in to change his medication and instructed the family not to over-stimulate the patient. He needed more rest at this stage. Zhao Guangsheng had used up his energy speaking so much and soon fell asleep.

“Lu-ge, can you watch over him for a bit? I need to talk to my mom for a moment.”

Lu Yao had a gut feeling that Zhao Beichuan was about to come out to his family. He looked at him anxiously.

Zhao Beichuan pulled his mother toward the corridor outside.

“Mom, I need to tell you something.”

“What is it? Why all the secrecy, even coming outside to say it?”

“Just… don’t get too worked up when you hear it. I… I’m with Lu-ge.”

“What do you mean, ‘with’?”

“I mean, I like him. I want to be with him. I won’t be getting married.”

“But… but how is that possible?” Aunt Zhao was flustered. “You’re both men. How can you be together? And even if you’re not getting married, what about Xiao Lu?”

“He won’t get married either.”

It finally dawned on Aunt Zhao what her son was saying. Back in the village, there had been bachelors who couldn’t find wives, and some of them would stick together to get by, but times had changed. Wouldn’t people laugh at them for doing this now?

“You two are already together?”

“Mm.”

“For how long?”

“Almost two months. Mom, no matter if you agree or not, I won’t break up with him.” Zhao Beichuan gripped his crutch tightly, his eyes full of determination.

Aunt Zhao looked at her son and muttered under her breath, “What does Xiao Lu even see in you? Stubborn as a mule, dark-skinned and ugly.”

“How can you talk about your own son like that?”

“I know what kind of child I gave birth to. When you were little, you were so dark that if you fell on the ground, no one could find you.”(ahahhahhsahshahhahahhahahahhaahahah)

“Yes, yes, and Lu-ge just happens to like me dark.”

“Ugh! Shameless. Let me tell you upfront—I don’t understand whatever it is between you two, but since you’ve made up your mind to be with him, treat him well. Don’t bully him, and don’t be unfaithful.”

Zhao Beichuan hadn’t expected his mother to agree so easily. He was caught off guard and said, “Mom, don’t worry. I’d never do that!”

“Alright then, go back inside. Don’t make Xiao Lu overthink things.”

“Got it.”

Back in the hospital room, Lu Yao looked nervously between Zhao Beichuan and Aunt Zhao. Seeing that their expressions were normal, he couldn’t help but wonder—had Zhao Beichuan not actually come out to his mother just now?

“Lu-ge, let’s head back.”

“Ah, okay.” Lu Yao got up and said goodbye to Aunt Zhao.

Liu Chunyan quietly observed Lu Yao. The more she looked at him, the more she felt her son wasn’t worthy of him. But whatever—children had their own lives to live. If there were no grandkids, she’d just enjoy life herself.

On the way down the hospital stairs, neither of them spoke.

Once they got into the car, Lu Yao couldn’t hold back anymore. “What did you say to Auntie just now?”

“I told her about us.”

“You just told her outright?!”

“Yeah.” Zhao Beichuan fastened his seatbelt, the corners of his lips curling into a smile.

“Then… then what did she say?”

“Nothing much. Just told me to treat you well and not be unfaithful.”

Lu Yao felt like he had been hit by a pie falling from the sky—how did she accept it so easily?! Auntie was way too understanding!

Zhao Beichuan couldn’t help but laugh. “So, do you feel at ease now?”

“Mm-hmm!” Lu Yao hugged him and gave him a hard kiss. “I feel relieved!”

Being in a same-sex relationship wasn’t easy. He had once thought he might never receive his family’s blessing. He never expected the Zhao family to be so open-minded.

“What do you want to eat later?”

“Anything’s fine.”

“How about we go to the mall? I’ll buy you some new clothes.”

“No need. I still have trouble walking…”

“It’s fine. Shopping malls have wheelchairs and accessibility ramps. I’ll push you around.” Lu Yao happily pulled him toward the mall.

They rented a wheelchair, and Lu Yao pushed Zhao Beichuan around while shopping. Midway, Lu Yao received a phone call from his former boss.

“Lu Yao, have you been busy lately?”

Lu Yao glanced at the number and confirmed it was that annoying boss of his. He never expected him to call.

“Mr. Yu, is something the matter?”

“Ahem, well, it’s about that project you took on before—the advertising proposal for Hongshan Hotel.”

Just hearing about this made Lu Yao angry. He had originally secured that deal himself, as the Hongshan boss was a client referred to him by a previous customer. But right after he got the contract, his boss reassigned it to someone else, dumping a pile of difficult tasks on him instead.

Because of that, he had a huge argument with Yu Tao, but in the end, nothing came of it.

“If you have something to say, just say it. I’m quite busy.”

“Ah, well, Xiao Meng and the others designed a plan, but it didn’t meet the client’s expectations. The Hongshan boss specifically asked for your proposal. So, you see…”

“Well, that’s unfortunate. I’ve already been dismissed from your company.”

“Sigh, this whole thing was a mess. Back then, we were both a little too hotheaded. I shouldn’t have said those things, and you shouldn’t have just quit on impulse. You were one of our company’s key people, and ever since you left, there hasn’t been anyone as capable.”

Lu Yao couldn’t help but smirk. When they didn’t need him, they told him to get lost. Now that they did, they were flattering him.

“If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

“Wait, don’t hang up! I wanted to ask if you’d consider coming back? I’ve spoken to the boss about your salary—we can offer you a 30% raise.”

Lu Yao’s previous annual salary was around 300,000. With a 30% increase, it would be close to 400,000. This salary was definitely not low within their company.

“Thank you for your kindness, but I still won’t go back.” He wasn’t a masochist, letting himself be ordered around at will.

“Think about it again, this is already a very high offer. In the future, I won’t interfere with the client assignments…”

Lu Yao directly hung up the phone. This guy was really shameless.

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Beichuan looked up at him.

“Nothing. I had some conflicts with my company before, so I quit. Now they want me back.”

“Do you want to go back?”

“No. That place values personal connections too much. Even a tiny position controls you, and if you don’t please them, they’ll make things difficult for you.”

“Then I have to work hard on my livestreaming to make money.”

“There’s not much going on these days. We can film more videos at home. Once the New Year comes, we won’t have time.”

Zhao Beichuan seemed to think of something, and his face flushed. “What kind of videos?”

“I’ll think of ideas when we get back.”

They first browsed the men’s clothing section. Zhao Beichuan had broad shoulders, a slim waist, and long legs—a perfect clothes hanger. Buying clothes was easy; anything Lu Yao picked out fit him perfectly.

After buying three sets, Zhao Beichuan pulled him away, refusing to buy more. He pointed at the underwear store nearby and whispered a few words to Lu Yao.

Lu Yao chuckled, pinched his burning ear, and said, “Wait here. I’ll go buy them.”

A short while later, Lu Yao came out carrying a bag. Inside were two pairs of men’s underwear and a piece of lingerie he bought on a whim—planning to try it on tonight.

As they continued shopping, they suddenly spotted two people holding hands in front of them who looked familiar.

Lu Yao hesitantly called out, “Bai Chi?”

“Ah?” Bai Chi turned around, saw Lu Yao, and instantly turned his face away, grabbing Yi Mingde’s hand and trying to flee.

Lu Yao pushed Zhao Beichuan’s wheelchair and chased after them.

They ran into an elevator under maintenance, and Lu Yao cornered them against the wall. He looked back and forth between Bai Chi and Yi Mingde, smirking. “Why are you two running?”

Bai Chi awkwardly stared at the ceiling without speaking. Yi Mingde adjusted his glasses and greeted them.

“You two came shopping together?”

Bai Chi’s face turned red with embarrassment. Just a few days ago, he had insisted he wasn’t interested in Yi Mingde, yet now they were clearly involved.

Seeing Bai Chi’s embarrassment, Yi Mingde quickly said, “Beichuan, didn’t you want to go to the restroom? I’ll take you there.”

“Huh?” Zhao Beichuan, confused, was pushed away.

After they left, Bai Chi scratched his head and admitted, “That night after we had dinner… I went to a bar, drank too much, and ended up in bed with him.”

“Tsk, didn’t you say you weren’t into him?”

“You were the one who told me to change his style. Since we both had time today, I took him out shopping. I really couldn’t stand that plaid shirt he wore.”

“Looks like you’re quite satisfied with Master Yi~” Otherwise, with Bai Chi’s personality, he wouldn’t settle.

“Ahem, yeah, he’s pretty good.” More than just good—Bai Chi wouldn’t admit it, but these past few days, Yi Mingde had practically exhausted him. Every morning, he woke up to being done again.

Yi Mingde also had deep knowledge of human meridians and acupoints. In bed, he made Bai Chi feel incredible without any pain—every time, it was so good that Bai Chi felt like he was floating. Compared to his past experiences, this was heaven and earth, pure bliss.

Just based on his skills in bed, Bai Chi wasn’t willing to leave him—at least, not until he had enjoyed enough.

After they finished chatting, Yi Mingde returned, pushing Zhao Beichuan.

Lu Yao took over the wheelchair and asked, “Want to grab dinner together?”

“No, I’m taking Xiao Yi for a haircut, then we’re going back to the hotel…” for more Happy Time.

Yi Mingde’s lips curled into a small smile as he held Bai Chi’s hand. “We’ll be going first.”

“Let’s go too.” Lu Yao pushed the wheelchair toward the accessible elevator, heading down to the supermarket on the first floor. They picked up some groceries and went home to cook dinner.

After dinner, the sky had darkened, and light snowflakes drifted outside. Lu Yao sorted the laundry he had washed in the morning, folding it and placing it in the wardrobe.

The once spacious wardrobe was now packed, filled with not only his clothes but also Zhao Beichuan’s. Since coming back from the hospital, the guest room had been left unused.

Zhao Beichuan finished washing the dishes, and the two prepared to take a bath.

The bathroom was filled with steam. Lu Yao sat on Zhao Beichuan’s lap, panting lightly as he pressed down on his restless hands. His mind flashed back to what Bai Chi had said earlier, and suddenly, he wanted to try it too.

“Beichuan, how about we try it today?”

“Sure. I think it’d be easier without the leg cast.”

Lu Yao bit his lip and whispered, “Even if it’s inconvenient, it’s fine. You can lie down, and I’ll do it myself.”

Hearing this, little Beichuan eagerly twitched beneath him.

“Alright.”

(Censored scene)