ACMS 39

Chapter 39 — A Legal Agreement

“Shen Hechuan, can you hold me?”

Right after Qiao Le said those words, before Shen Hechuan could even process what was going on, his arms had already wrapped around him.

One hand pressed against the back of Qiao Le’s head, pulling him tightly into his embrace.

It wasn’t the first time Qiao Le had shown this kind of vulnerability—but it was the first time he had openly voiced his need for him.

Shen Hechuan thought to himself that he really should have come with Qiao Le today.

That way, he could have held him earlier and wouldn’t have left him standing alone in the wind for so long.

Qiao Le sniffled in his arms and reached out to wrap his arms around Shen Hechuan’s waist, feeling the warmth of the other man’s body slowly seep into the coldness at the bottom of his heart.

“Why are you crying?” Shen Hechuan asked softly. “What happened?”

Qiao Le rubbed his face against Shen Hechuan’s chest without answering.

“Lele,” Shen Hechuan called.

Qiao Le’s voice came from within his arms, muffled and nasal: “Let’s talk in the car. It’s freezing out here.”

Shen Hechuan gave his hand a small pat and said with a helpless smile, “Now you feel the cold? You were just sitting there in the wind like a fool, not afraid of the cold at all?”

Qiao Le lifted his head from his embrace, his eyes still slightly red. “I meant you didn’t have a coat. It’s freezing.”

Shen Hechuan: “…” Well, thanks for that.

He pulled Qiao Le to his feet and led him toward the car. Qiao Le looked down at their intertwined hands and quietly tightened his grip.

Shen Hechuan noticed and gently returned the squeeze.

Once they were back in the car, the warm interior made Qiao Le’s whole body relax. He half-lay in the passenger seat, wrapped in Shen Hechuan’s coat.

In the stillness of the cabin, there was no cold wind, no night.

Only him and Shen Hechuan.

“Shen Hechuan,” he called.

“Mm?” Shen Hechuan started the car and turned it around. “What is it?”

Qiao Le turned to look at him. “Do you want to know what happened?”

“I do.” Of course Shen Hechuan wanted to know, though there was no rush.

“Let’s go home first.”

Go home first.

Go home.

Those two simple words settled something oddly calm in Qiao Le’s heart.

He leaned back in the seat and buried half his face into the collar of Shen Hechuan’s coat. The clean scent of pine filled his nose.

It smelled nice—reassuring.

He reached up and tugged the collar higher, covering his eyes to hide the bitterness in them.

“…Okay.”

When they got back to the Linjiang Complex, Qiao Man was already asleep. Aunt Yang saw them return and asked if they wanted a late-night snack.

Shen Hechuan looked to Qiao Le. “Hungry?”

“Not really.” Qiao Le shook his head. He hadn’t eaten much tonight, but he didn’t have an appetite either.

Shen Hechuan nodded and told Aunt Yang to go rest.

Then he nudged Qiao Le toward the bathroom. “Take a hot bath. Don’t catch a cold.”

Qiao Le said, “I haven’t grabbed pajamas—”

“I’ll get them,” Shen Hechuan replied, turning to head for the bedroom.

Qiao Le peeked out and saw him rummaging through the closet. He called out where they were and then went to run the bath.

Before long, Shen Hechuan returned with the pajamas and placed them on the shelf. “Need help?”

Help with what?

Washing?

Qiao Le looked up at him. Shen Hechuan asked again.

It wasn’t like Shen Hechuan hadn’t bathed him before—but those times, he’d been drunk.

Qiao Le didn’t even dare imagine what would happen if Shen Hechuan helped him bathe while he was sober.

He firmly waved his hand. “I can do it myself. Just get out of here.”

“Alright, alright.” Shen Hechuan sounded a little disappointed but reminded him not to take too long before stepping out.

Qiao Le finished running the water, took off his clothes, and lowered himself into the tub.

The guest room’s bathtub had been installed later, but the bathroom was spacious enough. Soaking in the warm water, he felt like he was in a hot spring—comfortable and relaxed.

His mind kept replaying the things Jiang Hong had said tonight, and a mix of emotions churned in his chest.

That line from Liang Shuling—“Just think of me as dead”—was too heavy. It made him wonder if, in her heart, she had already considered both him and Qiao Man as good as dead.

That would explain why she’d left without looking back—even knowing he and Qiao Man had nowhere to go, she hadn’t asked a single question.

That was probably it.

Qiao Le took a deep breath and submerged himself completely, holding his breath under the water for a while before surfacing again.

He soaked for a long time before finally getting out. After drying off and putting on the pajamas, he walked out.

Shen Hechuan was sitting in a single chair in the bedroom. Hearing the bathroom door open, he looked up. “You’re finally out? I was about to knock.”

He was also in pajamas, clearly already showered.

“I wasn’t in there that long,” Qiao Le walked over. “Were you waiting for me?”

“What else?” Shen Hechuan pointed at the milk on the table. “Drink some. It’ll help you sleep.”

“I’m not a kid.” Qiao Le muttered, but still obediently picked up the warm milk and drank it.

Shen Hechuan pulled over another chair and motioned for him to sit. Only then did he ask what had happened tonight.

From the moment he called Shen Hechuan to pick him up, Qiao Le had no intention of hiding it.

He sorted through his thoughts and told Shen Hechuan everything about Liang Shuling—including the things he’d learned from Jiang Hong tonight.

He spoke in detail, saying whatever came to mind, even sharing memories from high school.

He thought it would be painful to talk about—but after getting it all out, he actually felt better than he had back at Chen Hao’s place.

Shen Hechuan listened with a slight frown between his brows, then asked directly, “Do you want to find her?”

“…Huh?” Qiao Le was caught off guard.

“Your mother,” Shen Hechuan said. “If you want to find her, I’ll take care of it.”

Finding someone might be difficult for Qiao Le—but not for him. Plus, with Hualang’s branch office in Hong Kong, it would be easier to handle.

Qiao Le had thought Shen Hechuan might comfort him, or maybe side with him and blame Liang Shuling—but he didn’t do either.

Shen Hechuan’s first reaction was to help him find her. To solve the problem.

Do you want to find her?

Qiao Le had wanted to.

Back when Liang Shuling suddenly disappeared without a word, he’d always wanted to find her.

He was afraid she’d been tricked, or gotten sick, or gone missing somewhere.

Otherwise, why would she stop contacting them? She used to love him and Xiao Man so much—how could she have changed so completely in just a year?

Because of this, he even tried persuading his father to report it to the police, hoping they could help find her. If something had really happened to Liang Shuling, at least there’d be someone to handle it in time.

But his father cruelly told him that she wasn’t coming back, and told him to stop worrying about it.

That led to a huge fight between him and his father. His father smashed a bowl, stormed out, and left behind a mess and a wailing Xiao Man in the room.

At first, he didn’t believe what his father said. He secretly reported her missing once, but after his father found out, he got a harsh scolding.

Eventually, he started to believe it. When he called Liang Shuling again, that once-familiar number had already been disconnected. Later, after his father died, he found their divorce certificate while going through his father’s belongings.

His father was dead, his mother was gone, and the house had been mortgaged.

Only he and Qiao Man were left.

He’d guessed that his mother probably knew about the debts, which was why she’d left so decisively.

Before he met Jiang Hong, he’d always thought that if he ever saw Liang Shuling again, he’d ask how she could leave without even a glance back at him and Qiao Man.

She and their father were already divorced, so the debt wasn’t hers to carry.

He could support himself—he wouldn’t be a burden to her. Wasn’t he living just fine now?

But after meeting Jiang Hong, that obsession just disappeared.

He never doubted anything Jiang Hong told him—Jiang Hong had no reason to lie. In fact, he should thank Jiang Hong for delivering that hard truth so cleanly.

It pulled him out of his delusions.

“No more searching.”

Qiao Le shook his head firmly. “There’s no need anymore.”

Saying that, it felt like something heavy had finally been lifted off his chest.

Jiang Hong was right—don’t look back.

Even if Liang Shuling had once loved him, that was in the past.

She was her own person, and so was he.

“Are you really sure?” Shen Hechuan looked at him. “You don’t have to act tough in front of me. If you want to do it, I’ll help you—whatever it takes.”

His tone was calm, but it carried a strength that made people believe him.

Qiao Le knew he wasn’t just saying it—if he asked, Shen Hechuan would make it happen.

But Shen Hechuan, why are you so good to me? Is it just because of our agreement?

For a moment, Qiao Le really wanted to ask. But he was afraid the answer wouldn’t be what he wanted to hear. He hesitated, staring at Shen Hechuan in silence.

Shen Hechuan misunderstood his hesitation, thinking he couldn’t make up his mind. He reached out and patted his head gently, like both comfort and encouragement. “Don’t rush. Take your time. Tell me when you’re ready.”

He could have gone and found her himself, told Qiao Le after, or just taken him straight to her.

But he didn’t want to overstep. Only the one who tied the knot can untie it. Some things only Qiao Le could decide—he wouldn’t interfere or influence his choice.

Qiao Le shook his head again. “Really, it’s not necessary. I’ve already made up my mind.”

Since Liang Shuling made her choice, they might as well live their own lives now.

He had so many people around him now—losing one more didn’t matter anymore.

Shen Hechuan looked at him carefully, making sure he wasn’t just forcing himself to be strong, then nodded and opened his arms. “So… still want a hug?”

Qiao Le remembered how he’d stood crying by the roadside earlier, begging for a hug, and his face flushed.

What was with Shen Hechuan? Why did he treat him like a kid?

He didn’t answer. Shen Hechuan still had his arms open. “Hmm?”

Qiao Le cleared his throat. “Since you really want to hug me… then… just a quick one.”

He mumbled it out, then leaned in and hugged Shen Hechuan.

The moment their bodies touched, he heard the thump of his own heart—it seemed to speed up.

This wasn’t the first time. Even if he’d never been in love, Qiao Le knew what that meant.

He couldn’t help but tighten his hold on Shen Hechuan, burying his face into his neck. In the warmth of their bodies, he could smell the same shower gel on both of them.

That slight pull in his arms made Shen Hechuan sigh silently.

No matter how strong Qiao Le acted, he was still only nineteen.

Being so completely abandoned by his own mother—it would be a lie to say it didn’t hurt.

Shen Hechuan gently patted his back and whispered, “Don’t dwell on other people’s choices. You’ll have a bright future, and someone will always love you.”

His words were soft and comforting, like a healing balm. In Shen Hechuan’s arms, Qiao Le felt like a weary bird that had finally found home.

“Shen Hechuan.”

Qiao Le called softly, pulled back a little, and finally couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Why are you so good to me?”

Shen Hechuan replied, “Probably because I’m a good person.”

Qiao Le was amused by his dry humor, and the gloom in his heart slowly melted away. After laughing, he said, “That’s true—you really are—”

Before he could finish, Shen Hechuan quickly pinched his lips shut. “Enough.”

Qiao Le’s lips were puckered from the pinch. He mumbled something, still trying to talk, but then—

“Tsks,” Shen Hechuan clicked his tongue, leaned down, and sealed his lips.

“!!” Qiao Le’s eyes widened in shock. Shen Hechuan had just bit his lower lip.

Not only that, he licked it, then kissed him again—finally letting go.

Qiao Le held his mouth, glaring. “Why did you ambush me?!”

“Ambush?” Shen Hechuan raised an eyebrow. “Wasn’t that totally aboveboard?”

Qiao Le corrected, “A totally aboveboard ambush.”

Shen Hechuan: “…You little rascal.”

Qiao Le had the upper hand for once and was beaming. The lonely feeling from earlier, when he’d waited for Shen Hechuan on the roadside, was completely gone.

Shen Hechuan was momentarily dazed by his smile. Suddenly, the light kiss earlier felt far too brief and unsatisfying.

He leaned in, wrapped an arm around the back of Qiao Le’s neck.

Qiao Le met his eyes at close range, held in place by that hand. “What are you doing?”

“Another kiss?”

Though it sounded like a question, the kiss came right after.

From his lips, to his chin, then down to his throat.

Qiao Le leaned back against the chair, instinctively clamping his knees together, but accidentally bumped into Shen Hechuan’s face—and was quickly nudged apart again.

He tilted his head back slightly, gripping the chair’s armrest tightly, toes curling in the heat of the moment.

After a while, Shen Hechuan stood and left the room.

When he returned, he had a condom in hand. Qiao Le stared at him, stunned. “When did you buy that?!”

“Day after we got engaged,” Shen Hechuan replied honestly.

Qiao Le: “You had ulterior motives.”

Shen Hechuan opened the wrapper. “I told you—next time, I’ll be careful.”

Qiao Le: “…”

Fair enough—you are a man of your word.

…

This time, Qiao Le hadn’t had too much to drink. When Shen Hechuan carried him to the bathroom, he was fully awake.

Both of them were drenched in sweat—they definitely needed another shower.

First time awkward, second time familiar, third time? Routine.

Qiao Le shamelessly enjoyed Shen Hechuan’s service. Like he’d said—they had a legal agreement. Once or twice—it didn’t matter.

Besides, he felt good. It was even good for his physical and mental health.

After he made peace with it, Qiao Le felt refreshed and completely awake.

When Shen Hechuan came out of the bathroom, he found Qiao Le lying on the bed scrolling on his phone. Curious, he went over for a look—only to find Qiao Le doing mock questions for the driving theory test.

Shen Hechuan: “…”

Yep. Definitely went too easy on him earlier.