Surprise! My online crush turned out to be... - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“They’re quite a match.” The man’s words seemed to still echo in his ears.

Shu Yang touched his still-hot face. Was he just being flirted with? Yes, he was! Or was it Da Ge who flirted with him?

Just now at the Wild Dog Club, although Francis had moved closer and closer to his face, the two of them didn’t end up making any more intimate contact. After a brief eye contact, Francis stepped away, turned to nod at Tao Zi, and then pulled Shu Yang, who was still dazed, away.

Shu Yang was no fool. He knew with his tailbone that Francis had done that specifically for Tao Zi’s sake, but what was the specific reason…?

Shu Yang glanced at Francis, who was sitting next to him, and cleared his throat.

“Um…”

“Hmm, what’s up?” Francis casually pulled his belongings from the bag and sorted them neatly. The guest room, which had been a bit empty, now seemed somewhat lively after the two of them had spent a day shopping.

“Nothing,” Shu Yang swallowed, walking towards the door and exiting the room. “You’re still feeling unwell. Get some rest.”

Francis paused, looked at the now-vanished figure, and couldn’t help but chuckle.

He opened the light computer on his wrist, still busy with his work, and dialed Joyce.

Though his minor injuries had made him look rather discomfited, they had long since healed after nearly a day of recovery. Only someone so fragile would think they were such a big deal.

“Marshal,” Joyce’s face appeared on the screen. After he saw Francis’s movements, he asked, “Have you found a place to stay?”

“Yes,” Francis replied. “Let Professor Broad continue his research. Tell no one except Broad about my location. Keep an eye on Broad and prevent him from contacting anyone outside.”

Now trapped on Earth, he could only rely on Joyce to handle matters on the capital planet. He could only hope Broad could truly uncover something.

“Continue to communicate with that civilization and demand an explanation.” Francis didn’t think this was a surprise.

After he and Shu Yang established communication, everything that happened felt like a giant hand invisibly controlling the course of events. This made him, accustomed to being in control of the situation, feel uneasy.

Within Earth’s space-time plane, there was also a junction point for advanced civilizations. He had to find a way to contact that junction and send him back, knowing how he had arrived.

Francis unconsciously exerted pressure, rapidly forming deep wrinkles on the soft fabric in his grip.

If he couldn’t find a way back, he might have to stay on Earth forever. Francis glanced at the clothes in his hands. There were still many things he needed to attend to on the capital planet, and unknown security risks threatening the Empire’s safety…

He couldn’t just disappear like that.

The responsibility and honor he shouldered wouldn’t allow him to bring disgrace upon the Tours family.

“First, stabilize the royal family and the military. Externally, stick with the previous plan. And don’t tell my mother or the general yet.” Francis put the clothes in the closet. “I’ll stay here for a while. Thank you, Joyce.”

“It’s an honor to serve you, Marshal. You’ve always been the pride of the Empire. I and all the soldiers of the First Legion await your return.”

After hanging up with Joyce, Francis took his change of clothes and went into the bathroom. He shook his head slightly at the somewhat antiquated bathroom fixtures.

The scene before him brought back memories of the club.

A clear-eyed boy stood before him, looking up slightly, his rosy lips unconsciously pursed in an invitation.

Francis’s eyes darkened, and he turned on the shower. The cool spray of water washed over him, sobering him up a bit.

He had done it on purpose, to appease the thoughts of the man named “Taozi” behind him. He was older than both of them, and could more clearly see the longing in Taozi’s eyes.

He didn’t like this.

Francis wiped his hair, but he couldn’t stay on Earth forever.

When he first arrived here, he had not only sustained minor injuries, but also a slight loss of mental strength. Now that he had fully recovered, he felt even more confused.

—

Shu Yang leaned against the wall, listening to the rush of water. A cunning look flashed in his eyes.

Being flirted with today was a complete mistake. My panicked escape just now was a sudden, unexpected event.

At the club, Da Ge suddenly became a completely different person. There must be something fishy going on.

Shu Yang calculated the time, and as the sound of running water gradually faded, he rushed out of his room.

“Monster!” Shu Yang screamed, diving into the adjoining guest room.

After making sure he was inside, he looked toward the bathroom door, but his vision went black.

A soft bath towel covered his head completely. When he pulled it off, he saw Francis standing over him in a bathrobe, looking down at him.

“You’re not my Da Ge! Tell me! Who are you!” Shu Yang leaped back two steps, striking an attacking stance, his eyes narrowed, staring intently at the man before him.

Francis, observing him like this, remained silent for two seconds before turning and walking towards his bed.

Shu Yang, left alone, withdrew his composure and rubbed his nose, feeling a bit awkward.

He just wanted to be naughty.

Before they left, Da Ge had been aloof and aloof, barely even saying a word, perfectly in line with his chatty persona. And then, suddenly flirting with him in the club, how could he not be surprised…

“Well, you should get some rest…” Shu Yang smacked his lips secretly and turned to leave.

He felt a strong gust of wind against his ear, and he instinctively tried to duck, but it didn’t work. He reacted too slowly, and by the time he could duck, Francis had already appeared behind him. With Francis’s force, they both fell onto the guest bed.

The white bathrobe opened a little, draping over Shu Yang’s calves.

Shu Yang was a bit bewildered. He stared at the blue eyes so close. “Big, big pigeon?”

“Francis, Francis Berkeley Tours.” As the voice began to speak, the man’s thin lips gently closed. His gaze followed his gaze upwards, revealing a high nose bridge that connected to deep eye sockets.

His eyes were slightly lowered, and his long eyelashes cast a shadow across his face. Shu Yang couldn’t see Francis’s expression clearly. He could only see the small sliver of ocean color that passed by as the man blinked.

Shu Yang didn’t dare move. He could still feel the man’s arm resting on his waist.

“What, what’s wrong?” Shu Yang twitched his lips. “Francis, you’re…”

“My body has fully recovered, and so has my mental strength.” Sensing the tension of the people around him, Francis withdrew his hand, placed it at his side, and gently twisted it out of Shu Yang’s sight.

“That’s good.” Shu Yang breathed a sigh of relief as the weight on his waist disappeared.

“What were you trying to do just now?” Francis opened his eyes and looked at the boy before him. If it weren’t for his extraordinary five senses, he would have been the one making a fool of himself.

“Nothing,” Shu Yang said innocently. “Nothing at all.”

Francis curled his lips, no longer dwelling on the matter, nor on Shu Yang’s lies. He got down to business. “How many star coins did you spend on your outing today?”

Such an abrupt change of subject made Shu Yang forget the explanation he had prepared, or the fact that two grown men were now lying in the same bed.

“We call it Renminbi here. It’s not much. Why are you asking?” Shu Yang adjusted his position.

“I might have to stay here a while.”

“It’s okay. I’ll support you.” Shu Yang’s mind worked incredibly fast, so long as he wasn’t studying. He understood Francis’s meaning after only half a sentence.

That classic line came out almost instantly.

The man’s eyes shone with stars and a smile. “Why?”

On this remote, backward little blue planet, Francis truly felt an unprecedented sense of peace and comfort. Perhaps it wasn’t just because it was far from the chaos of the capital planet, but also because the boy before him was unlike anyone he had ever met.

He was powerless and utterly weak, yet he possessed something the Imperials lacked. His eyes held no trace of war, no bloodshed, no chaotic desires. Instead, they were pure and clear, as if encompassing all that was beautiful and tender.

Shu Yang patted the spot beside him. “Oh, there’s no reason. As long as you agree to be my mistress, you can use your card.”

…

Shu Yang no longer knew how he had left Francis’s room. Now he just wanted to travel back to where he was five minutes earlier, pat his head, and clear his mind.

[Chen Fatty, you’ve been through this before. See… how can I take this a step further…]

Shu Yang typed a line of text rapidly and sat on the living room sofa, waiting for a reply. After all that, he thought the rift between him and Francis was gone.

Chen Yi, a phone addict, would reply to almost any message instantly. “Call Daddy and I’ll tell you.”

“I’ll go find Meng Ran.”

“Wait, wait, wait, what good does that do me?”

“I’ll go find Meng Ran.”

“There’s only one way, and that’s to flirt with her as hard as you can. Flirt awkwardly. Seize every opportunity to flirt. Don’t be shy. Daddy will always love you and support you. Muahmu.

Shu Yang stared at the phone in his hand, lost in thought. Was he really trying to have something happen with Francis? Was he already gay? Did everyone know? What about Francis?

Throwing the phone away, Shu Yang collapsed back, the soft couch enveloping him.

Shu Yang felt like he was done.

After all this contact, he was truly gay. It had been easier said than done before, when he couldn’t see or touch her. Even if he was his ideal type, he could still remind himself that he was just a paper figure.

Now she was in his house, lying on his bed… the guest bed. How could he suppress his restless teenage heart?

For the first time in eighteen years, he’d fallen for a man of his caliber. There was nothing shameful about it.

Shu Yang’s mind was filled with the image of the two of them at the club that afternoon, when Francis had leaned in close to him.

Young people are always curious about new people and things, eager to challenge anything that interests them. Shu Yang gazed at the night view outside the huge glass window, his heart slowly calming down.

He was only eighteen years old. What was wrong with falling in love? It wasn’t a big deal, right? If you met someone you liked, you should pursue them. That’s what a man should do, right?

Shu Yang mentally reassured himself. He wasn’t exactly like the face he’d imagined Francis to be. They’d talked for a long time. They knew each other well. They’d even slept in the same bed just now (crossed out). That’s right.

Starting tomorrow, he would pursue Francis.