The final two days before the independent audit felt like walking on cracked glass.
Guàn Jǐngchén tried to maintain the illusion of normalcy, but Lin Yuè could feel the tension radiating from him — the way his touches lingered a fraction longer, the way his eyes searched Lin Yuè's face when he thought he wasn't looking, the way he held him at night like he was afraid the younger man might vanish before morning.
On the first of those two days, they barely left the penthouse.
Guàn Jǐngchén woke Lin Yuè with slow, open-mouthed kisses along his spine, hands sliding possessively over bare skin. He rolled him onto his back and settled between his thighs, kissing him deeply while his fingers teased sensitive nipples until they peaked.
"I need you," Guàn Jǐngchén murmured against his lips, voice rough with need. He slicked himself and pushed inside with one deep thrust, both of them groaning at the tight heat. He set a slow, intense rhythm — hips rolling deeply, eyes locked on Lin Yuè's face the entire time.
Every thrust dragged against that sensitive spot, drawing soft, broken moans from Lin Yuè. Guàn Jǐngchén's hand wrapped around him, stroking in perfect time.
"I love you," the CEO whispered, voice raw. "No matter what happens in two days, I love you."
Lin Yuè came with a trembling cry, spilling between them. Guàn Jǐngchén followed moments later, burying himself deep with a low groan as he filled him.
They stayed connected for a long time afterward, foreheads pressed together.
That afternoon, Guàn Jǐngchén received a call from the board chairman. Lin Yuè sat on the couch pretending to read while the CEO paced the living room, voice calm but edged with steel.
"The audit will proceed as scheduled," Guàn Jǐngchén said flatly. "But if it targets Lin Yuè specifically, I will consider it a personal attack on my authority."
He ended the call and immediately pulled Lin Yuè into his arms, kissing him fiercely.
"They won't touch you," he growled against his lips. "I won't allow it."
The kiss turned urgent. Guàn Jǐngchén lifted Lin Yuè onto the kitchen island, pushing his sweater up and trousers down. He slicked himself quickly and thrust inside with one smooth stroke, setting a hard, claiming rhythm.
"You're mine," he panted between thrusts. "No board, no audit, no one will take you from me."
Lin Yuè moaned, clinging to broad shoulders as pleasure crashed through him. They came together hard and fast, breathing ragged, bodies slick with sweat.
On the final night before the audit, the tension reached its peak.
Guàn Jǐngchén took Lin Yuè to the bedroom and undressed him slowly, reverently, as if this might be the last time he could touch him without shadows hanging over them.
He laid Lin Yuè down on the bed and worshipped every inch of his body — mouth and tongue tracing collarbones, nipples, the dip of his waist, the sensitive skin of his inner thighs. When he finally took Lin Yuè into his mouth, it was slow and thorough, tongue swirling while fingers stretched him open with care.
Lin Yuè whimpered, fingers gripping the sheets. "Jǐngchén… please…"
Guàn Jǐngchén rose up and pushed inside with one deep thrust, setting a slow, emotional rhythm. Their eyes stayed locked as he moved.
"I love you," Guàn Jǐngchén whispered with every deep roll of his hips. "No matter what the audit finds tomorrow, I love you. You are my future."
Lin Yuè came with a soft, broken sob, tears slipping down his temples. Guàn Jǐngchén followed moments later, burying himself deep as he filled him, whispering Lin Yuè's name like a vow.
Afterward, they lay tangled together, Guàn Jǐngchén holding him so tightly it almost hurt.
"Whatever happens tomorrow," the CEO said quietly into the darkness, "you are mine. Nothing will change that."
Lin Yuè pressed his face into the older man's chest, hiding the fresh tears.
"I love you," he whispered back, voice thick.
He had never meant any words more.
And never been more terrified that they would be the last honest ones he could say.
Tomorrow the audit would begin.
Tomorrow the hunter might finally catch the ghost.
And Lin Yuè could only hold onto the man he loved, praying that love would be enough to survive the truth when it finally tore them apart.
End of Chapter 37