483: 8.83 Assisting You*

8.83 Assisting You*

They had actually never discussed Ellen's true identity, nor the fact that the world he was living in was only a simulator, as well as his role as the villain. Yet for some reason, Lu Yizhou's instinct told him that Ellen would understand even without him explaining anything and to no one's surprise, Ellen did not say anything about Lu Yizhou's choice of words.2

They stayed like that for a while, basking in the serene warmth each other emitted. That's why, when the first droplet of tears fell from Ellen's eyes to his shoulder, Lu Yizhou thought he had conjured it up. But then there was the second, the third…

Lu Yizhou's heart gave a lurch and he hastily pulled away to check on his lover. "Ellen?!" 

The sight that greeted him instantly shattered his heart into pieces. Ellen, his lover, sweetheart, the love of his life, his precious baby, currently had his eyelids lowered as crystalline tears descended in large droplets from his eyes. Lu Yizhou had never seen someone crying like that before, so quiet yet heart-wrenching at the same time.

On the other hand, Ellen's expression was still completely frosty and he did not look like he realized what was happening. The tears just fell, like they had a will of their own, one after another to trail down his beautiful fair cheeks. It was not until Lu Yizhou cupped his face and gently wiped the tears away with his thumb did he snap out of his senses. "Huh…?" Ellen looked at him, bewildered. "What am I—"

"Sssh, it's okay." Lu Yizhou's heart ached so much he thought it had shriveled up into dust. He tried to wipe the tears away to no avail, it was simply unstoppable. In the end, he could only cradle Ellen in his arms and gently rocked them back and forth like he would with a baby. Lu Yizhou peppered kisses onto his forehead, his damp lashes and the crown of his head. Again and again. "It's okay… everything is okay now. I won't leave you behind anymore. I promise."

Ellen's voice cracked as he retorted, "You're a liar. I have your record."

Lu Yizhou let out a wry chuckle. Even at this time, he still wanted to settle grudges. "I know… I am wrong. I promise… One day, even if we have to die, then we will die together."

Ellen's response was surprisingly fierce. He snapped his head up and snarled, fists bunching on Lu Yizhou's shirt. "No! There will be no next time. I won't let something like this happen to you again!" With eyes filled with unshed tears, he was akin to a bristling kitten, so righteously angry yet suffocatingly adorable at the same time. "Don't you dare die on me. Do you hear me, Lu Yizhou?!"

"Mn," Lu Yizhou responded with a smile. "I will have to depend on you, then."

Fortunately, the small interlude had succeeded in distracting Ellen. His tears finally stopped. Otherwise, Yizhou had no idea what he should do to salvage the situation. He always had the urge to raze the ground flat and destroy everything that had made his lover cry. Alas, now that the source of his tears were none other than him, Lu Yizhou just wanted to beat himself up...

Ellen harrumphed and then snuggled his head deeper into the crook of Lu Yizhou's neck. Now that his fur was smoothened, he transformed into an affectionate kitten. Lu Yizhou simply couldn't get enough of him. He stroked the top of Ellen's head and asked gently, "You've been working all day long. Are you tired or hungry?"

"Not hungry." Ellen murmured quietly. "But I am sticky all over. I want to take a bath."

"As you wish." 

Before Ellen could react, Lu Yizhou bent down to scoop him easily into his arms. Perhaps the emotional outburst had utterly drained him of energy, Ellen did not care to protest anymore; only resting his head on Lu Yizhou's shoulder and hooking his arms around Lu Yizhou's neck. Just like that, he made himself comfortable and guided Lu Yizhou to the ensuite bathroom. 

It was clear that Ellen still hadn't gotten the chance to rest yet because the bed was completely untouched, not even a wrinkle could be seen on the mattress. 

Lu Yizhou strode into the bathroom with large strides. Upon seeing the dark room, he shifted Ellen's body to one arm and used the other to fumble around the wall for the light switch. Click. The light came on and washed over them in a warm glow. When he turned back, Ellen was staring at him with a gaze so intense that it caught him off guard. He asked, confused. "Is there something wrong?"

Ellen merely shook his head. "Put me down here."

"No can do." Lu Yizhou carefully placed him on the marble sink and propped his hands on Ellen's side, smiling. This scene overlapped with the time he was helping Moshe to bathe. The only difference was the obvious change of temperament between the two. 

Moshe would occasionally show his fragile side for Lu Yizhou to see but Ellen's hard shell was even more impenetrable than that. The crying incident notwithstanding, there was still a hint of wariness in his eyes as though he expected Lu Yizhou to bolt out running at any moment. However, Lu Yizhou believed that it wouldn't last for long. He would try his best to slip into the chink in Ellen's armor and stripped it piece by piece until nothing remained. By then, Ellen would not keep him at arm's length anymore.

He stroked the bridge of Ellen's nose and told him softly, "You're exhausted. Wait here for a while. I will draw a bath for you." 

"What?" Ellen snorted. "Are you going to bathe me next?"

"If you want," he answered leisurely, all the while rolling up his sleeves so it wouldn't get in the way. There was no answer from Ellen so Lu Yizhou directly got to work. 

The VVIP suite truly befitted of its name. The service was impeccable. Lu Yizhou pressed the button to let hot water running before mixing it with cold water so as to not irritate Ellen's fair skin. Warm mist wafted in the air as the tub was steadily filled with water. There was a bottle of olive oil and a bowl of rose petals on the side handle. Lu Yizhou did not hesitate to add them into the water. His movement was quick and dexterous, not even ten minutes later, the bath was ready. 

He turned back to see Ellen lounging leisurely on top of the sink like it was a throne, his leg crossing one above the other. He was staring at Lu Yizhou through half-lidded eyes that were tinged with drowsiness and stubbornness to keep himself awake. Lu Yizhou quietly smiled to himself as he moved in front of his lover and started to unbutton his shirt one by one. 

Ellen stared at him as if he had grown a second head. "...What are you doing?"

"Assisting you," he replied as though it was the most natural thing to do. "You may sleep if you're tired. I will bring you out after you're done."

Another small snort escaped Ellen's nose. "Assisting me?" All of a sudden, he straightened up and yanked Lu Yizhou closer by the collar, catching the latter off guard. If not because of Lu Yizhou's superb reflex to prop his hands up by the sink, he would have already fallen straight on top of Ellen! Lu Yizhou whipped his head up in time to see Ellen leaning in, his gaze so serious as he stared at the area around Lu Yizhou's collarbone. "Then you might as well join me in it."

Without waiting for a reply, Ellen opened his mouth wide and chomped down on the area below Lu Yizhou's left collarbone, so hard that it instantly drew blood. 

.

.

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Mini theater

Ellen, when LYZ suddenly carried him only with one arm: "!!!"

Ellen: "I seem to have developed a strength kink? Alright, chill. Can't let the man know."

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