Don’t Ignite It chapter 43

I wanted to see you

When Xia Yu walked out of the villa’s front gate, the house was quiet. The living room and the veranda were lit, and small stone lamps lined the gravel path in the garden, casting a soft glow.

There was no one around, only the sound of his footsteps echoing lightly in the garden.

Xia Yu wrapped his coat tightly around him, stepped out of the garden, turned left, and passed through a street that was dozens of meters long, leading to the Square.

After walking only twenty or thirty meters, he stopped in his tracks.

Because at the end of this road, Lu Zhao was standing there, his figure straight as a bamboo, blending into the darkness of the night except for his pale face.

Xia Yu watched him for a while before slowly approaching.

Beneath the slender trees, dry leaves were scattered sparsely on the ground. Xia Yu stood in front of Lu Zhao. He had come here impulsively, but when he truly met Lu Zhao’s eyes, he didn’t know what to say.

His shoe tip touched a dry leaf, as if he had stealthily stepped on the edge of Lu Zhao’s shadow.

“What are you doing here?” he asked in a low voice. “Didn’t I tell you not to come?”

Lu Zhao lowered his gaze to Xia Yu.

On this winter night, even though Xia Yu was bundled up in a thick coat, a strip of his slender neck was exposed, swan-like and pale.

Lu Zhao reached out and gently held Xia Yu’s neck, pulling him into an embrace.

“I wanted to see you.”

He only said these words, and his face was pressed against Xia Yu’s. Xia Yu’s cheeks still carried a hint of warmth, while Lu Zhao felt ice-cold.

He had been busy with work all day, and the afternoon meeting had exploded in his face due to a project mishap. He had to summon the heads of the projects one by one for a thorough review. After it ended, he had raced to Xia Yu’s doorstep, obeying the city’s highest speed limit to arrive just in time.

But there was no need to tell Xia Yu about any of this.

As he held Xia Yu, he could smell the sweet scent of cream on him, along with a faint fruity fragrance.

On this desolate winter night, Xia Yu appeared warm, making it impossible for anyone to resist drawing near.

“I originally just wanted to see you from afar,” Lu Zhao explained to Xia Yu.

He wasn’t that bad to come and ruin Xia Yu’s birthday on purpose.

He just wanted to catch a glimpse of the person he loved.

But after saying this, he suddenly asked, “Can I kiss you?”

Xia Yu tightened his grip on Lu Zhao’s coat.

His mind was still a mess, not understanding why he had run out without even changing his slippers.

But he stared at Lu Zhao for a while, and in a daze, nodded.

Lu Zhao leaned in for a kiss.

In the quiet and still New Year’s night, this area wasn’t a commercial district, there were no New Year’s Eve activities, and no young people in festive attire passing by. There was only the moonlight, casting a frosty glow on the ground.

Xia Yu gently closed his eyes.

Just a short distance away, all his family members were asleep, while he was hiding under the trees, kissing the person he had sworn not to meet again.

In his youth, he had fantasized about such a scenario.

When he was twenty, he loved daydreaming. He would imagine that Lu Zhao fell in love with him, and even if his family didn’t quite agree, Lu Zhao would need to display patience to gain their approval.

But that didn’t matter. He would secretly slip out of the garden to meet Lu Zhao. He would open the window on the balcony and smuggle Lu Zhao into his room, just like forbidden lovers in movies.

Now he was twenty-six.

He no longer indulged in such fantasies.

But the person he had once loved, Lu Zhao, had suddenly appeared outside his window, like a dream from years ago.

Half a minute later, Lu Zhao released Xia Yu.

Both of them were a bit breathless, and Lu Zhao’s hand reluctantly touched Xia Yu’s cheek.

Xia Yu’s face inexplicably felt warm, and he turned his head to the side, his gaze dropping slightly. He noticed something in Lu Zhao’s pocket.

A dark red, small bundle.

Following Xia Yu’s gaze, Lu Zhao also saw his own pocket.

He took out what he had kept inside.

It was a rose, and because it had been kept in his pocket, several petals had fallen off.

Lu Zhao explained in a low voice, “Before coming here, I picked a rose from the greenhouse.”

Originally, he had wanted to pick a bouquet, but he didn’t know if he could meet Xia Yu. If Xia Yu went back home carrying a whole bouquet of roses, how would he explain it to Xu Zhan and the rest of the family?

Now, he was no longer the one qualified to openly give Xia Yu roses.

This single rose was tucked away in his pocket, like a forbidden secret.

But he still placed the rose into Xia Yu’s palm, as if placing a burning heart.

Xia Yu suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed.

Lu Zhao hadn’t said much, but the rose in his hand felt scorching hot.

He glanced at his watch; it was almost one o’clock.

He said in a low voice, “I should go. If I don’t go back now, I might get discovered.”

Lu Zhao gazed deeply at him, kissed his forehead again, and whispered, “yeah, It’s getting late.”

Perhaps it was because of the moonlight, but Lu Zhao looked exceptionally gentle, almost unlike himself.

The impression Lu Zhao had left on Xia Yu in the past was one of aloofness. He had naturally cold eyes, and he did everything in a calm and unhurried manner, seemingly indifferent to many things, including Xia Yu.

But now, as Lu Zhao looked at him, his gaze was almost burning, yet he had to restrain himself.

He asked, “Can I meet you tomorrow?”

Xia Yu didn’t know how to respond.

He lowered his head, his expression somewhat darkened, and said, “Let’s see. If there’s nothing urgent tomorrow, we can meet.” He took a step back. “I should go back, and you should too.”

Lu Zhao didn’t stop him, only saying, “I’ll stay here and watch you. Once you’re inside, I’ll leave.”

Xia Yu wanted to refuse, but when he opened his mouth, no words came out.

He nodded halfheartedly, expanded his pocket, and carefully placed the rose inside it before turning and walking away.

He walked quickly, but Lu Zhao’s gaze was so obvious and palpable that it left his back feeling scorching hot.

After walking a dozen meters or so, he finally turned around.

At the end of the road, Lu Zhao was still standing in front of the car, under the tree’s shadow. He seemed to blend seamlessly with the night, standing there all alone.