Chapter 123#

Good Luck Will Arrive#

Jian Yunchen came home unusually early today.

When Qin Mu stepped out of the bathroom, he smelled the aroma of food. This wasn’t the usual time the housekeeper came to cook. Drying his wet hair casually with a towel, he walked out.

Rounding the corridor, he saw a lean and elegant back standing in the semi-open kitchen.

The apron strings were tied tight around his narrow waist, and his tall suit pants outlined legs that were straight and slender.

Jian Yunchen had taken off his jacket and was wearing only a light-colored shirt; his shoulder blades rose and fell slightly with his movements.

Qin Mu slowed his pace and approached quietly.

He embraced him from behind.

Jian Yunchen’s body trembled slightly, and he turned his face to the side to look at him.

Qin Mu tightened his arms, resting his chin lightly on the other’s shoulder, a faint smile dancing in his eyes. “Back so early today?”

Jian Yunchen blinked, averting his gaze somewhat guiltily. “I wanted to come home early to give you a surprise… but I think I messed it up.”

He moved aside, revealing the dumplings in the water that had already “bloomed” and split open.

Qin Mu’s gaze paused, his voice turning slightly dry. “Dumplings?”

Jian Yunchen lowered his eyes, feeling a bit embarrassed to even admit these were dumplings.

With his ear tips flushing red, he put the lid back on the pot and turned around rather dejectedly. “I didn’t expect it to be… this hard. When I watched Jian Xin making them before, it looked very simple…”

Qin Mu stared at him, his Adam’s apple bobbing unconsciously.

“Who told you to make dumplings?”

Jian Yunchen’s eyelashes fluttered as he looked at him softly. “Qin Zhao… told me. She said you like eating dumplings.”

Qin Mu was speechless for a long moment.

He couldn’t quite describe his feelings at this moment.

It felt as if his heart had been nudged by something soft.

Seeing that he didn’t speak, Jian Yunchen felt even more unsure. He turned off the stove in a fit of pique and grumbled, “Forget it, I’ll take you out to eat.”

Qin Mu stopped Jian Yunchen from leaving and pulled him back into his arms.

He laughed softly, his head lowered. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t eat them. Why are you so easy to ruffle?”

“Who’s ruffled?” Jian Yunchen glared up at him. “Even if they don’t look good, the filling is definitely fine! Once you eat one, you’ll have to beg me to give you the rest.”

Qin Mu was amused and started laughing. He rested his head lightly against Jian Yunchen’s shoulder, his vibrating chest pressed close against him.

His voice was full of mirth. “I beg of you, Chef Jian, please let me have a few more.”

Jian Yunchen gave him a bashful shove, turned around, and lifted the lid.

The steam rose slowly, blurring Qin Mu’s vision. Qin Mu looked down at Jian Yunchen’s profile with a smile.

A bowl of steaming dumplings was brought to the table.

Qin Mu sat at the dining table with chopsticks in hand. Under Jian Yunchen’s expectant gaze, he waited for several seconds before raising an eyebrow. “Just one bowl? I’m eating alone?”

Jian Yunchen pursed his lips. “You eat first. I’m not hungry. I’ll eat after you’re finished.”

Qin Mu frowned slightly, but under the other’s hopeful eyes, he slowly picked one up and put it in his mouth.

“Mm!” Qin Mu’s eyes lit up. “It’s delicious!”

“Try one.” He picked one up and held it out.

Jian Yunchen hesitated for a second before slowly opening his mouth to eat it.

He nodded repeatedly as he ate, his eyes brightening with excitement. “It is good! It’s good!”

Qin Mu fed him while he ate himself. After feeding him several in a row, Jian Yunchen suddenly realized what was happening and refused to eat any more no matter what.

With a smile playing on his lips, Qin Mu coaxed him softly, “The last one. After this one, no more.”

Jian Yunchen looked at him suspiciously. “The last one?”

“The last one,” Qin Mu promised with a smile.

Jian Yunchen opened his mouth and began to chew slowly. After two bites, his eyes suddenly widened.

He cupped his hand and spat out a small coin.

Qin Mu’s eyes crinkled as he said with a smile, “Such good luck. Eating the coin means you’ll have good luck for the whole year.”

Jian Yunchen’s expression didn’t look happy at all. He knit his brows, the corners of his eyes drooping as he looked at him aggrievedly.

Qin Mu helplessly pulled him into his lap, placing the small coin in his palm.

“You’ve eaten the good luck and you’re still unhappy? Be careful or the Heavens might take the luck back.”

Jian Yunchen pouted and leaned into his chest, saying with annoyance, “This was supposed to be for you.”

Qin Mu flicked the tip of his nose. “Cheating doesn’t work with luck.”

With the Spring Festival approaching, decorations were everywhere. Qin Mu didn’t have the habit of celebrating holidays; for the past few years, Jian Yunchen had been busy running around and didn’t have the habit either.

This was the first time for both of them, and they were clumsy at it.

Yet they were remarkably consistent in their desire to hand this bit of good luck to the other.

Jian Yunchen looked at the coin in his hand, which was still radiating a slight warmth. He pulled at Qin Mu’s hem. “Qin Mu, let me give it to you, okay?”

Qin Mu looked at him and smiled. “How can luck be given away?”

“If I say it can, it can.” Jian Yunchen looked at him with great stubbornness, refusing to back down.

He pursed his lips and paused. “Jiang Sheng is out.”

Qin Mu’s eyes flickered.

“The moment he got out, he was desperate to ask me about your whereabouts.” Jian Yunchen looked up at him. “Qin Mu, I’m really not scaring you. It’s dangerous outside. Stay obediently by my side, and I’ll protect you, okay?”

Qin Mu struggled to suppress his laughter, drawling out his words, “Then—can you protect me well?”

“Of course I can!” Jian Yunchen propped himself up and promised him, “I said I can protect you!”

He grabbed Qin Mu’s hand, placed the small coin into his palm, and then hugged him tightly. “I’m here, Qin Mu.”

Qin Mu tightened his fingers until the coin began to hurt his palm. He held Jian Yunchen close and took a deep breath.

Good luck…?

He had never needed that kind of thing.

But Qin Mu thought that he truly began to hope that good luck would arrive.

With the consecutive days off for the Spring Festival, it was rare for Jian Yunchen to be able to rest at home.

The next day, Qin Mu was woken up by the doorbell.

Jian Yunchen shrunk into his arms, humming irritably with a frown, looking as if he might open eyes full of anger in the next second. Qin Mu slowly opened his eyes and stroked Jian Yunchen’s back; soon, the latter obediently turned his face and went back to sleep.

Qin Mu rubbed his hair, stood up, put on the clothes tossed at the foot of the bed, and went to open the door.

Standing outside was a delivery guy wearing a courier vest.

Seeing Qin Mu, the man was startled for a moment before looking down to confirm: “Is this Jian Yunchen?”

Qin Mu yawned, assuming it was something Jian Yunchen had bought.

He gave a casual affirmative and received a tightly sealed envelope.

Closing the door, he tore it open as he walked back inside.

The envelope had only one thin layer, and what slid out was a red invitation.

Qin Mu’s footsteps halted. The morning sunlight spilled across the card.

Two words were clearly written on it—“Wedding Invitation.”