OSM Chapter 13: A thief secretly coveting someone else’s love?

Many times, He Zhiqiu would think about Li Yuze.

Think about what kind of person he was.

Think about the things they had done together.

But time moved too fast and showed no special mercy to him. Memories were slowly worn away, leaving only a handful of things he could still recall.

Sometimes, He Zhiqiu was afraid of forgetting, so he got a notebook and wrote them down.

The year, the month, how it happened—everything documented in detail.

But then he worried that if he remembered too clearly, he would never forget in this lifetime.

If he couldn’t forget, then what did that make him?

A thief secretly coveting someone else’s love?

Most of the time, reason and emotion couldn’t coexist. His feelings for Li Yuze weren’t like a fan idolizing a celebrity—they were love, enduring even after ten years, still brimming with passion.

From his perspective, this love seemed deep and fervent. But to someone who already had a family, it was nothing but excessive, even a burden.

He seemed to have another strange dream. He dreamt he was walking on a bustling street, always following someone ahead who had their back to him.

On that person’s ring finger was a shiny ring—identical to the one Li Yuze wore.

He didn’t know why, but he suddenly wanted to see what that person looked like. Before he could catch up, the person abruptly turned around, revealing a face identical to his own?!

He Zhiqiu woke with a start, drenched in cold sweat.

He never expected his heart to be so dark—not only coveting someone else’s love but even wanting to steal their ring?

It was… too much!

He Zhiqiu often thought about Li Yuze.

Thought about what kind of person he was.

Thought about the things they used to do together.

But time moved too fast and showed him no mercy. Memories wore away bit by bit, until only a handful of moments remained in his mind.

Sometimes, He Zhiqiu feared forgetting, so he started writing them down in a notebook.

The year, the month, the way it happened—everything documented in precise detail.

But then he worried: if he remembered too clearly, would he never be able to forget?

If he couldn’t forget, then what would that make him?

A thief, secretly coveting someone else’s love?

Reason and emotion rarely coexisted. His feelings for Li Yuze weren’t like a fan idolizing a celebrity—they were love. Ten years had passed, yet his heart still burned with affection.

From his perspective, this love seemed deep and fervent. But to someone who had already built a family, it was excessive—unnecessary, even burdensome.

He had another strange dream. He dreamt he was walking down a bustling street, always following someone ahead who had their back to him.

On that person’s ring finger was a shiny ring, identical to the one Li Yuze wore.

He didn’t know why, but he suddenly wanted to see the person’s face. Before he could catch up, the person abruptly turned around—revealing a face identical to his own?!

He Zhiqiu jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat.

He never imagined his heart could be so dark—not only coveting someone else’s love but even wanting to steal their ring?

That was… too much!

He silently berated himself and quickly got up from his chair.

It was ten at night, and the sky was already dark. From the bathroom came the sound of running water—Li Yuze had sobered up and was now showering.

He Zhiqiu didn’t dare linger another moment. He was just about to seize this opportunity to leave when Li Yuze finished his shower and walked out.

Still unsettled from the dream, He Zhiqiu’s feet slipped, and he nearly fell to the floor.

Li Yuze noticed him and asked, with a perfectly ordinary tone, “What’s wrong?”

What’s wrong? He was shirtless, barefoot, with only a white bath towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was damp, slicked back casually, with occasional droplets of water falling from his hair to his chest. The water traced a path down his toned muscles before disappearing beneath the towel at his waist.

And he asked, “What’s wrong?”

He Zhiqiu steadied himself against the door, forcing his expression to remain calm. With a smile, he replied, “Nothing.”

Ever since they had reconnected, He Zhiqiu had been polite and distant toward Li Yuze.

No matter what his heart felt, he couldn’t let it show—not anymore.

“Heading home?” Li Yuze walked to the table and casually picked up a bottle of mineral water.

He Zhiqiu nodded. Just as he was about to say goodbye, he saw Li Yuze tilt his head back and take a sip of water.

Xu Lanlan once said that no one could resist Li Yuze’s face. Even Tao Yang had remarked that in the entertainment industry, Li Yuze’s looks would still be top-tier.

He Zhiqiu stared, dazed, as Li Yuze’s Adam’s apple moved under the warm light. He wasn’t drinking hurriedly, yet a single drop of water escaped from the corner of his lips, sliding down his sharp jawline before resting in the hollow of his collarbone.

Was it normal… to drink water like this?

He Zhiqiu gripped the doorknob tightly, forcing himself to look away. Calmly, he said, “Since you’re awake, I’ll head home now.”

“Oh.” Li Yuze put down the water bottle, glancing at He Zhiqiu’s visibly reddened ears. “Don’t want to chat for a bit?”

“Chat…?” He Zhiqiu asked, “About what?”

“Anything.” Li Yuze, seemingly forgetting his earlier comment to Gao Kui, casually walked closer, still in his towel. Politely, he added, “Thanks for bringing me back.”

He Zhiqiu shook his head, then realized avoiding eye contact might seem rude. Meeting Li Yuze’s gaze, he said, “It’s nothing. Senior Gao had something urgent come up, and I happened to know how to drive, so I just helped out.”

Li Yuze chuckled lightly. “Still, thanks. Come in and sit for a while. Want something to drink?”

He Zhiqiu was about to decline, but Li Yuze had already walked to the room’s built-in wine cabinet and picked up a bottle of red wine.

“Just water is fine,” He Zhiqiu quickly said, worried he might start drinking again.

Li Yuze didn’t insist. He poured a glass of water and handed it to He Zhiqiu.

He Zhiqiu accepted it with a quiet “thank you,” only to see Li Yuze, without hesitation, undo his towel.

“What are you…?” He Zhiqiu froze, nearly dropping the glass.

“Hmm?” Li Yuze pulled a black suitcase from the wardrobe. Taking out a pair of black underwear, he slipped it on before looking up. “What about me?”

His expression was one of pure innocence, as if he had no idea anything was amiss.

And really, nothing was amiss. After all, they were both men, and the romantic feelings were long in the past.

Changing clothes in front of each other shouldn’t be a big deal.

Still, He Zhiqiu’s face flushed red. He quickly averted his gaze and muttered, “It’s nothing.”

He planned to wait until Li Yuze was fully dressed, exchange a few polite words, and then leave. But after nearly five minutes, Li Yuze still wasn’t done dressing?

He Zhiqiu stole a glance and saw that Li Yuze’s suitcase was a chaotic mess. There were shirts, socks, jackets, and underwear everywhere—but not a single pair of pants?

Li Yuze frowned as well, seemingly troubled by the situation.

He Zhiqiu asked tentatively, “Did you forget to bring any pants?”

“Yeah.” Li Yuze stood up, glancing disdainfully at the pair he had worn earlier that day, hesitating whether to put them on again.

He Zhiqiu offered, “Did your assistant organize your clothes? Maybe they’re somewhere else? Why not ask him?”

Li Yuze replied, “My assistant doesn’t go to my house, so how could he help organize my things?”

“Oh…” He Zhiqiu had assumed that a personal assistant might handle more. Remembering Li Yuze’s early work commitments the next day, he softly suggested, “Do you want to call your… your spouse, and see if they can help somehow?”

“I don’t have a spouse,” Li Yuze said casually.

“Huh?” He Zhiqiu froze, not comprehending.

After a pause, Li Yuze explained, “I’m not actually married.”

“So I have no partner.”

“Not… really married?” He Zhiqiu’s heart skipped a beat, and the glass he had narrowly saved earlier fell from his hands.

Fortunately, the carpet cushioned its fall, and it didn’t break.

“But didn’t you announce it publicly ages ago…?”

“Fake news,” Li Yuze said flatly. “I made it up.”

“Why would you lie?” He Zhiqiu asked in disbelief. “You’re really not married?”

Li Yuze nodded, a trace of helplessness in his tone. “You know how much I hate trouble. If I didn’t claim to be married ahead of time, I’d have been surrounded by endless rumors over the years.”

He Zhiqiu left the hotel still unable to process the revelation. At the elevator, he brushed past Meng Lin but didn’t even register the need to say hello.

Meng Lin had received a call earlier from Gao Kui, who said Li Yuze had drunk too much and should be left undisturbed to rest. However, Meng Lin had just been approached with a director’s proposal and had to come up to get Li Yuze’s opinion.

After briefly discussing the work situation, Meng Lin noticed Li Yuze’s suitcase was a mess, so he stepped over to organize it. As he finished, he noticed something missing and asked curiously, “Ge? Where are the few pairs of pants I packed for you?”

At that moment, Li Yuze, now dressed in a bathrobe, was leaning against the balcony railing, sipping a glass of red wine and enjoying the breeze.

From his vantage point, he could see He Zhiqiu driving away from the hotel. Only after the car disappeared into the distance did he turn around, lean against the railing, and casually say, “Under the bed.”