Xu He was about to get out of bed when he saw the person in front of him wake up, but he paused in the next second.
Because he noticed that something was off with the boy.
The young man’s delicate face was filled with confusion, and his beautiful eyes were full of unfamiliarity.
Unfamiliarity with him, as well as with the environment.
It was as if he was seeing this scene for the first time.
Xu He looked at the boy who was blankly surveying his surroundings and suddenly remembered one of the symptoms of Moyamoya disease that he had read about the previous night—memory loss.
Moyamoya disease seemed to cause frequent memory lapses.
So, this young master… had lost his memory again?
Xu He's eyes narrowed slightly for a brief moment, but the next second, he masked all traces of emotion and casually sat up with a natural attitude.
Since the makeshift bed wasn’t very big, the two of them were naturally very close, and sitting up didn’t change that.
Xu He pulled the boy into his arms, his tone incredibly gentle and affectionate, as if they were in a very close relationship. “What’s wrong?”
Ruan Qing stiffened slightly after being embraced. He didn’t struggle right away but instead turned to look at the unfamiliar man holding him, desperately searching his brain for any relevant memories.
However, there wasn’t a trace of memory to be found.
Basic life knowledge came to him automatically, but as for anything else, he couldn’t remember a single thing.
His mind was completely blank—so blank that he couldn’t even remember who he was.
Ruan Qing only vaguely recalled feeling very uncomfortable, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t wake up.
It felt as if he had been trapped in a nightmare, paralyzed and unable to move.
Ruan Qing looked at the strange man holding him. His long eyelashes fluttered slightly as he lightly pressed his lips together and said, “...Nothing.”
Although Ruan Qing said it was nothing, there was a hint of unease and vulnerability on his delicate face, making it clear that it didn’t seem like "nothing" at all.
However, for someone who had lost all their memories, feeling this level of unease was quite normal. In fact, Ruan Qing’s reaction was rather calm.
If you didn’t pay close attention, it would be easy to overlook it.
Xu He noticed something. It seemed like he had figured something out, as he let go of Ruan Qing and looked at him, speaking in a deep voice, "You’ve forgotten me again?"
Although Xu He’s words were phrased as a question, his tone was definitive, carrying a subtle but unmistakable sense of sadness and disappointment.
Again...?
Hearing this, confusion deepened in Ruan Qing’s beautiful eyes, but he didn’t say anything. He simply stood there, quietly looking at the unfamiliar man before him.
Though there was still a hint of unfamiliarity in Ruan Qing’s gaze, the sense of resistance and distance had lessened somewhat.
After all, if they were able to sleep in the same bed and behave so intimately, they probably didn’t have an ordinary relationship.
Moreover, without Ruan Qing saying anything, the man immediately knew that he had lost his memory, which showed he clearly understood Ruan Qing’s situation very well.
And based on what the man had said, it seemed like this wasn’t the first time Ruan Qing had lost his memory.
After speaking, Xu He masked the sadness and disappointment in his eyes and gave Ruan Qing a gentle smile. "It’s okay. No matter how many times you forget, I’ll help you get to know me all over again."
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Xu He."
"Your..." Xu He paused for a moment, then gently brushed aside the hair at Ruan Qing’s forehead, his voice incredibly soft as he continued.
"Boyfriend."
Boy...friend? Ruan Qing looked at the unfamiliar man before him in shock.
He had just considered many possibilities about their relationship—brothers, cousins, close friends...
Ruan Qing had even considered a father-son relationship, but the thought of this kind of relationship had never crossed his mind.
Then, the suffocating feeling from last night, when something had covered his mouth, along with the sensation of sleep paralysis... Could they have been... doing that kind of thing?
Ruan Qing’s long eyelashes fluttered lightly like feathers. He shifted his gaze awkwardly, feeling a little uncomfortable.
Xu He had no idea what Ruan Qing was thinking. After speaking, he once again reached out to brush Ruan Qing’s hair.
Because Ruan Qing had been sleeping on his side, the hair on that side was pressed and sticking up oddly. Xu He originally wanted to smooth it down, but the stubborn hair wouldn’t cooperate, no matter how many times he tried.
Ruan Qing couldn’t see his own hair, but he could feel Xu He messing with it. He tilted his head slightly towards Xu He, as if a little puzzled about what he was doing.
Due to his hair sticking up and his head tilted, Ruan Qing looked a bit more adorably innocent.
He was like a little kitten gazing curiously at its owner, with his beautiful big eyes seemingly holding the entire world.
He was incredibly beautiful.
Xu He’s movements instantly froze, his heartbeat slightly faltered, and his pupils contracted a little.
Even the aggressiveness and possessiveness in his eyes almost slipped out of control.
Xu He had never been someone who cared about appearances. Beauty or ugliness was all the same to him, because after all, no matter how beautiful a person was, in a hundred years, they'd just be a pile of bones.
But at this moment, he realized just how shallow he truly was.
It wasn’t that he didn’t care about appearances—it was that he had never encountered someone as stunning as this young man before.
The boy seemed like a banished immortal who had accidentally wandered into the human world, turning everything else into mere background scenery. His beauty was so overwhelming that it caused the darkness in one’s heart to grow uncontrollably.
And he was so beautiful that it made people want to possess him.
It turned out that Xu He was just an ordinary man who cared about appearances after all.
Xu He’s hand, which had been stroking Ruan Qing’s hair, slid down slightly, landing on Ruan Qing's slender neck.
His gaze, too, uncontrollably shifted downward.
Although Xu He had already hidden the aggressiveness and dominance in his eyes, his gaze now carried an indescribable sensuality, as if his eyes alone were doing something inappropriate.
His gaze finally settled on Ruan Qing’s rosy, thin lips.
Whether it was because he had just woken up or for some other reason, Ruan Qing’s lips were inexplicably more flushed than before, no longer pale and sickly.
They looked as if they had been kissed or ravished by someone, making him even more alluring.
And incredibly enticing.
Paired with his innocent, pure eyes, still hazy with sleep, he looked breathtakingly beautiful.
Xu He’s eyes darkened slightly, but he didn’t look away. Instead, he tilted his head and slowly leaned in closer to Ruan Qing.
Though the morning sunlight couldn’t penetrate the basement, the warmth of the light fixtures kept the room from being dark.
The warm yellow light made the atmosphere particularly enchanting and ambiguous.
Ruan Qing’s slender white fingers curled slightly as he stiffly allowed Xu He to approach him.
It was almost as if he had given tacit consent for Xu He to kiss him.
But just as Xu He was about to touch him, Ruan Qing’s lips tightened slightly, and he turned his head a little, albeit very subtly.
If Xu He really wanted to kiss him, this small movement wouldn't have stopped him at all.
However, Xu He stopped. He looked into Ruan Qing's beautiful eyes, and whatever he thought of, his expression dimmed, and he finally backed away.
As he retreated, a trace of vulnerability and disappointment appeared on his face, and he seemed faintly upset.
Xu He wasn't unattractive—in fact, he was quite handsome.
Because he had been accompanying Ruan Qing in bed, his worker’s jacket had been placed aside, making him look nothing like a construction worker at the moment.
Instead, he resembled a successful corporate executive.
Someone like him, holding back his emotions, would evoke even more sympathy.
Moreover, Xu He’s expression of restraint lasted only for a second or two before he quickly concealed it, even offering Ruan Qing a gentle smile.
It was as if nothing had happened at all.
Anyone would feel deeply upset if their loved one suddenly lost their memory. It seemed Xu He was just forcing himself to hold it together.
And he was clearly trying to avoid burdening Ruan Qing.
Ruan Qing pressed his lips together slightly, and after a few seconds of silence, he clumsily reached out to wrap his arms around Xu He’s neck, then gently kissed him on the cheek.
It might not even be considered a kiss.
Because Ruan Qing let go so quickly that Xu He didn’t have time to feel the warmth of the kiss.
So quickly, in fact, that Xu He didn’t even have time to react.
Kissing someone on the cheek wasn’t considered a very intimate gesture. In some countries, it’s even just a customary greeting.
However, when Ruan Qing did it, it directly made Xu He widen his eyes, and his heart even skipped a beat.
He subconsciously touched the spot where he had been kissed, as if still lingering in the moment when Ruan Qing kissed him.
It took Xu He several seconds to react. His other hand clenched tightly, and it took a great deal of effort for him to control himself.
He couldn't.
He couldn’t rush it.
Otherwise, he would scare him away.
If it were anyone else, being forceful or more direct wouldn’t be an issue.
But that wasn’t the case with this young master.
The name “Moyamoya Disease” may not sound like a terminal illness, but it absolutely couldn’t withstand any kind of shock.
If his emotions became too intense or if he accidentally bumped his head, it could lead to severe consequences.
At best, it would cause unbearable headaches. At worst, it could even lead to death.
The boy was as fragile as a breathtakingly beautiful night-blooming cereus, unable to withstand any damage or forceful treatment. He was so delicate that, without meticulous care from others, he could easily wither and decay.
What Xu He wanted was not just a fleeting moment, but to have this young master belong to him forever.
This was the first time Xu He had ever felt possessive of someone, and it was also the first time he started planning for the future.
A future that included both him and this young master.
And just the thought of that future excited him beyond measure.
Moreover, due to the boy’s frequent memory loss, he had plenty of opportunities to discover the boy’s favorite version of himself, ensuring that the boy would love him forever.
And ensuring that the boy would belong to him forever.
Xu He suppressed the excitement bubbling in his heart, trying his best to appear even gentler. He looked seriously at the person in front of him and softly said, "It's okay, you don't have to force yourself."
Upon hearing this, Ruan Qing's slender, fair fingers instinctively clenched a little tighter, and after a brief hesitation, he softly apologized.
"...I'm sorry."
Having a lover who always loses their memory is painful, but it's always the one who retains the memories that suffers the most.
Xu He chuckled lightly and shook his head. He gently took Ruan Qing's hand and placed it against his own face, restraining himself, "There's no need to apologize."
"You never need to apologize to me. For you, I would gladly endure anything."
Xu He had never been one to speak sweet words, but at this moment, the words came effortlessly, as if his love for the boy was etched into his very bones. No thought was needed; he instinctively knew what to say.
Looking at Ruan Qing, Xu He spoke with unwavering resolve, "Even if you completely forget me, it doesn't matter. As long as I'm still here, I'll do my best to make you fall in love with me all over again."
As a few people stepped into the basement and overheard this, they were stunned: "???"
Thank you for the chapter!!
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