Chapter 27

Chapter 27
FLORENCE UNIVERSITY
Lian walked to class beside Andy and Leila. The campus was loud, students talking about the chaos that broke out online overnight.
Leila scrolled through her phone. “Amy and Luisa’s fathers just lost their companies, it really going down the drain. Cheng’s really crushed and dealth with them. It’s all over the news. Damn your husband is a knight in shining armour i wish my future husband will be like him.”
Andy clicked his tongue. “That’s what happens when you mess with power, mess woth the wrong person. They are definitely getting their karma the hard way.”
Lian said nothing. He kept walking, eyes forward, trying to ignore the looks people threw their way. The whole school had seen the headlines the scandals, the revenge, the fallouts.
They were halfway up the stairs when a sudden noise made everyone turn.
Two girls were kneeling in front of the lecture hall doors.
Amy and Luisa.
Their hair was mess, eyes swollen they looked unkempt. People stopped walking, phones came out fast immediately.
“Mei!” Amy cried out, voice shaking. “Please, forgive us!”
Lian froze. His stomach turned.
Luisa crawled forward and grabbed his hand. “Please! We’re begging you! Tell Cheng to stop! He’s destroying our fathers’ companies!”
Students gasped. Some whispered, “No way… they’re really begging her?”
Leila frowned. “What the hell… they still have the guts to still call him by his name that way.”
Andy stepped closer, his jaw tight. “Get off the ground. You’re making a scene.”
Amy shook her head. “We don’t care! We’ll kneel here all day if we have to. Please, Mei, talk to him! We’ll lose everything!”
Lian took a slow breath. His heart pounded but his face stayed calm. “Get up.”
Luisa cried harder. “Please, Mei! We didn’t mean for things to go this far. The video, the gossip, it wasn’t supposed to ruin you ”
Lian’s voice came low. “But it did or almost did.”
They froze.
“You humiliated me,” Lian said. “You spread rumors, you laughed when the video leaked. You watched me fall and said nothing. Now you want forgiveness because your families are losing money?”
The crowd went silent. Cameras clicked.
Amy sniffed. “We didn’t leak it! We were just ”
Lian cut in sharply. “You were just what? Watching? Laughing?”
Andy crossed his arms. “Pathetic.”
Leila glared at them. “You both had no problem calling her slut and whore, remember? Now you’re begging her to save you?”
Amy’s voice broke. “Please, Mei! He listens to you! You’re his wife!”
That word hit Lian hard. He felt his stomach tighten, but his face didn’t change. “If you think I can stop Cheng,” he said coldly, “you don’t know him.”
Luisa grabbed his ankle again. “Please, just ask him! He’ll listen to you!”
Lian’s eyes darkened. “You think he’ll spare you because of me? You humiliated him too. He’s not forgiving anyone.”
The crowd murmured, phones catching every word.
Amy sobbed harder, voice shaking. “We were jealous, okay? You got everything! The ring, the name, the man! We made one mistake!”
Lian leaned down slightly. “A mistake is spilling coffee. What you did was betrayal.”
Luisa tried to hold his hand again, but Lian stepped back. “You should’ve thought of this before you crossed him. Now deal with the consequences.”
Andy’s voice came hard. “You heard her. Move.”
Amy cried louder. “Please! We’ll do anything!”
Lian sighed and looked away. “I’m late for class.”
He started walking. Andy followed. Leila turned to the luisa and amy. “Next time you plan to ruin someone’s life, remember this moment.”
Then she followed them.
Behind them, Amy and Luisa stayed on their knees, crying. Students whispered. Some filmed. Some shook their heads.
“She told them off.”
“They deserved it.”
“Cheng doesn’t play.”
Lian kept walking, his expression blank. Andy and Leila didn’t speak for a while.
Finally Andy said, “You okay?”
Lian nodded. “Yeah. They got what they deserved.”
But his chest felt heavy. He didn’t know if he was relieved or guilty.
By the time they reached the lecture hall, the whispers were still spreading. The video of Amy and Luisa kneeling would hit the internet before lunch.
Lian sat down quietly. Leila leaned closer. “You did the right thing. Don’t let them mess with your head.”
Lian gave a small nod. “I won’t.”
But deep down, he knew this wasn’t over.
Amy and Luisa were finished, but the fire Cheng started was still burning.
…………………………………………………………………….
Lian got home late that evening.
The house was quiet.
Jin, stood near the hallway.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Li,” Jin said.
Lian sighed. “Just call me Mei, Jin.”
Jin nodded. “Mr. Li asked me to make sure you arrived safely.”
Lian dropped his bag. “He’s been coming home late lately, right?”
“Yes. Work has been keeping him busy. Most nights, he returns after midnight.”
Lian frowned. “Do you know when he’ll be back tonight?”
“He didn’t say.”
Lian nodded slowly. “Tell me when his car leaves the company. I’ll wait for him.”
Jin looked unsure. “It might be very late. You should rest.”
Lian shook his head. “No. I’m not sleeping tonight until he comes home.”
He paused, then added quietly, “I’ll make him dinner. Maybe he’ll actually eat something this time.”
Jin nodded. “Understood.”
Lian turned toward the kitchen. “If he calls, don’t tell him I’m up. I just… want to see him myself.”
“I understand.”
Lian walks into the kitchen, opened the fridge, pulling out what he needed. He didn’t cook much for months, but he wanted to do this.
He felt like portraying a good house wife.
…………………………………………………………………….
Cheng pushed the door open quietly.
The house was silent.
The only light came from the living room.
He walked in then he saw him Lian, fast asleep on the couch.
Cheng loosened his tie completely, his eyes locked on Lian’s face. He looked peaceful, his long lashes resting on his cheeks, lips slightly parted.
Damn it, Cheng thought. Why does he look like that even when he’s sleeping?
He walked closer, slow steps, careful not to wake him. Lian’s small hand rested against his chest like he had fallen asleep waiting for him.
Cheng stopped right beside him, looking down for a long moment.
You waited for me again, he thought, jaw tightening. I told you not to, but you never listen, do you?
His gaze softened a little, dark eyes tracing every delicate line of Lian’s face.
You have no idea what you do to me, Carinò.
You make me want to keep you locked somewhere no one else can touch.
He crouched down, brushed a strand of hair from Lian’s face. The soft touch made his chest ache.
He hated it. He hated how gentle he became around this person.
Cheng sighed under his breath and slipped his arms beneath Lian’s body. “You shouldn’t sleep here,” he murmured quietly, voice deep, almost tender.
He lifted him easily but the movement made Lian stir.
Lian’s eyes fluttered open, dazed and half-asleep. “Cheng…?”
Cheng froze for a second, their eyes meeting in the dim light. “Go back to sleep,” he said lowly. “You’ll catch a cold out here.”
Lian blinked, confusion flickering in his gaze. “You’re home…”
“I am.” Cheng’s voice dropped softer now, rough but calm. “You waited for me again, didn’t you?”
Lian didn’t answer. He just looked at him quietly, his head resting against Cheng’s shoulder.
Cheng stared back something unreadable in his eyes.
Why do you make me feel this way? he thought. I should hate you for everything. But instead, every time I see you, I just want to keep you close.
He carried Lian toward the bedroom, his grip tightening slightly.
“You should’ve gone to bed,” Cheng said, his tone still low but heavy. “Next time, listen when I say don’t wait up.”
Lian murmured softly, “I wanted to see you.”
That single line hit harder than he expected.
Cheng paused for a second, eyes darkening. “Then look. I’m here now.”
He laid Lian gently on the bed, watching him curl up against the pillow. For a long moment, Cheng just stood there, staring down at him the person the world thought he married, the person who kept wrecking his control without even trying.
He exhaled slowly and unbuttoned the rest of his shirt. “Sleep,” he muttered, almost to himself. “Before I do something you won’t forget.”
Lian blinked slowly, still fighting the sleep in his eyes. “You should eat,” he said quietly. “I made dinner for you.”
Cheng stopped mid-step, glancing back. “Dinner?”
Lian nodded, pushing himself up. “Yeah. It’s probably cold now, but I can warm it.”
“You should rest,” Cheng said, his voice deep, steady. “It’s late.”
“I waited,” Lian murmured, standing from the bed. “You’ve been coming home late every night. I barely see you anymore.”
Cheng’s jaw tensed. He wanted to tell him to go back to sleep, to stop doing this stop being so damn considerate. But the look in Lian’s eyes made the words die in his throat.
Lian moved toward the door, still sleepy but stubborn. “Go freshen up,” he said softly. “I’ll reheat the food.”
“Carino,” Cheng called out, his tone heavier. “Don’t.”
Lian turned. “Why?”
Cheng stared at him for a long second. “Because I don’t deserve it.”
Lian frowned slightly. “It’s just dinner.”
“No,” Cheng muttered. “why do you care?”
Lian lowered his gaze. “You’re my husband,” he said simply. “I should take care of you.”
That word husband hit something raw inside him.
He clenched his fists. “You shouldn’t say things like that when you don’t mean them.”
Lian met his eyes then, voice steady but soft. “Who said I didn’t?”
Silence stretched between them. The air felt thicker, almost too heavy to breathe.
Cheng looked away first. “You’re stubborn.”
“Maybe,” Lian said with a small smile. “But you’re eating. No arguments.”
He slipped past him and headed toward the kitchen. Cheng stood there for a moment, watching the sway of his steps, the quiet confidence even in small movements.
He never listens.
And yet… that’s what keeps pulling me back.
He sighed and went to shower. By the time he came back, the table was already set again. The smell of food filled the room. Lian was arranging plates, focused, gentle.
Cheng sat down slowly. Lian poured him watet, then sat across the table. For a moment, neither spoke.
Cheng finally broke the silence. “You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to,” Lian said.
Cheng stared at the food, then at Lian’s face soft, tired, but smiling faintly. “You’ll make me lose my mind,” he said under his breath.
Lian tilted his head. “What?”
“Nothing.” Cheng picked up his fork. “Eat with me.”
Lian hesitated but nodded, sitting back down.
For the next few minutes, the only sound was the quiet clink of cutlery. Cheng kept watching him between bites, like every small move meant something.
You waited for me, cooked for me thats something new of you.
You really don’t know what kind of danger you’re living with, do you?
When Lian reached to pour more water, Cheng caught his wrist. His voice dropped. “Don’t do that.”
Lian blinked. “What?”
“Don’t look after me like that. It makes me want things I shouldn’t.”
Lian froze for a second, then gently pulled his hand back. “Then maybe you should stop wanting them,” he said softly.
Cheng smirked faintly, dark eyes narrowing. “You think I can?”
Lian didn’t answer. He looked down at his plate, pretending not to notice the intensity in Cheng’s gaze.
Cheng leaned back, watching him silently. You have no idea how close you are to driving me insane.
He finally spoke, quieter this time. “Next time, don’t wait for me. I mean it.”
Lian gave a small nod. “Okay. But you’ll still eat, right?”
Cheng’s lips curved slightly. “Yeah. I’ll eat.”
Lian smiled, relieved. “Good.”
Cheng looked at him for another moment, then muttered almost to himself, “You really don’t listen, do you?”
“You know what carino, i’d rather eat you,” Cheng muttered, his tone dark, unfiltered.