It’s Not Easy To Be A Stand-In

Quan Quan thought he would see a look of surprise on Qiao Guang Yu’s face. He didn’t expect Qiao Guang Yu to become enlightened suddenly. “The boss is not stupid, is he?”

Quan Quan, “…”

Suddenly, he felt a little sympathy for Huo Zhou.

Since Quan Quan had mentioned it, Qiao Guang Yu had a high enough EQ to understand the meaning of Huo Zhou’s canceling his job to go with him to his hometown. He wanted to accompany him to his mother’s grave.

So, of course, he became nervous. “Brother Quan, tell me he, he, he, he will not like me, right?”

Although it was inevitable to develop feelings after spending so much time together, Qiao Guang Yu really had a crush on Huo Zhou at the very beginning. Later, however, he got rid of those ideas he shouldn’t have. Over the years, he became clearer and clearer about the difference between “work” and life. In addition, Quan Quan was always there to remind him what to pay attention to. His performance was nowhere near what Wu Yu had to offer. It perfectly explained the meaning of “counterfeit goods.” Anyone with brains could see that Wu Yu was 100 times better than he was, and Huo Zhou would only give up Wu Yu and like him instead if he were blind.

Quan Quan answered calmly, “If you don’t overreach yourself, it should be ok.”

Qiao Guang Yu wanted to ask what overreach himself was, but he had stayed too much in the kitchen, so fearing that Huo Zhou would become suspicious, he swallowed his question and went to pack his suitcase.

He didn’t travel on business with Huo Zhou too often, so his suitcase cover had accumulated a layer of dust. While taking off the cover, the dust went all over his face, so Qiao Guang Yu had to go to the bathroom to wipe it off with a towel.

As soon as he went back, Qiao Guang Yu saw Huo Zhou, who, instead of sitting on the sofa to watch TV, was standing in front of his wardrobe, picking clothes and throwing them on the bed. He put the ones he liked on the left and those he didn’t like on the right. Huo Zhou also opened the bottom drawer to take out his underwear.

“I, I … I’ll do it.” The clothes were fine, but the underwear was … not acceptable! Afraid that Huo Zhou would touch them, Qiao Guang Yu squeezed himself to the front of the wardrobe, grabbed some underwear, and stuffed them into the suitcase.

Huo Zhou didn’t grab them from him. He just watched him quietly. He seldom saw Qiao Guang Yu so embarrassed.

Then, Huo Zhou hugged him from behind. “Quan Quan told you. I will go with you this weekend and accompany you to sweep your mother’s grave.”

Qiao Guang Yu became so stiff that he almost could not hold the clothes in his hands. “Well … It’s rare for Mr. Huo to remember this. I didn’t expect it,” he said, deliberately using a joking tone.

Huo Zhou buried his head in his neck and took a deep breath. “There are some things I have to think about … I’ll just go with you to relax. Also, let your mom see I take good care of you so that she is relieved in heaven and doesn’t worry about you.”

“…” Qiao Guang Yu wanted to say, if my mother knew I was acting as a stand-in for several years, she would break my leg.

Qiao’s mother hated third parties interfering in other people’s relationships. When Qiao Guang Yu was very young, she would hold him while watching TV and complain to him about the men who made excuses for cheating in romance dramas. She would say, “If the buck stops here, I still respect him as a man. But a man who secretly keeps a mistress not only destroys a family but also delays the future of other people’s girls. That kind of man is even worse!”

Qiao Guang Yu agreed with his mother’s words, so even as Wu Yu’s substitute, he still had the mentality of “I’d rather demolish ten temples than destroy a marriage,” and sincerely hoped that Huo Zhou could get back together with Wu Yu; otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed to such a thing.

But now … something seemed to have gone wrong.

Qiao Guang Yu patted his arm and tried to use a normal voice. “Mr. Huo, how can I pack my luggage like this?”

Huo Zhou kissed his face. “Then I’ll wait for you outside.”

“Give me ten minutes.” Qiao Guang Yu smiled softly at him.

After Huo Zhou left, he rubbed his stiff, smiling cheek and buried his head to pack.

Qiao Guang Yu’s hometown was not far away. It was just at the junction of this province and the next. In fact, it was not his hometown, it’s just that his pregnant mother had settled there, and later the two lived there for a long time. Qiao Guang Yu was born there, and his household registration was also in that town.

Later, his mother’s health gradually worsened, and she died without accepting treatment. While Qiao Guang Yu was still confused by grief, Quan Quan arranged the funeral and bought a plot in a cemetery with good Feng Shui. Quan Quan took Qiao Guang Yu’s handwritten paper and asked the artisan to engrave it according to his handwriting.

Many people traveled back on weekends, and what took them now 3-4 hours to reach the small town, used to take 7 hours in the past.

It was dark when they arrived, so they could only go to sweep the tomb the next day.

Quan Quan had always been very reliable. He had booked a hotel room for them early in the morning. They first found a place to eat and then went to the hotel.

Before, when going out with Huo Zhou, Qiao Guang Yu had stayed in the same room with him, but they had always slept in two separate beds. This time, after opening the door with the key, Qiao Guang Yu saw a large double bed.

Qiao Guang Yu, “…”

This is not the type of “double room” he wanted!

He subconsciously looked at Quan Quan. Before the latter could respond, Huo Zhou said, “I asked him to change to this bed. You haven’t been in a good mood recently, so I want to hold you to sleep to make you comfortable. Also, sleeping together means we won’t feel cold at night.”

… I’m really not in a bad mood! I swear to God!

Qiao Guang Yu was ready to cry, but he said with embarrassment on his face, “You will only hug me to sleep and nothing else?”

“Don’t you believe me?” Huo Zhou asked softly.

“How come?” Qiao Guang Yu smiled and shook his head, giving him an affectionate look, like seeing an exquisite snack.

Huo Zhou suddenly felt a fire rising from the soles of his feet, burning all the way to his heart.

“Cough” Quan Quan cleared his throat in time. “Mr. Qiao doesn’t have to worry about catching a cold. I asked the staff to bring an extra quilt.”

He was reminding Qiao Guang Yu.

An extra quilt meant almost like having two beds, which was not bad.

Qiao Guang Yu relaxed for the moment and then couldn’t help yawning.

“I’m sorry …” Qiao Guang Yu was embarrassed seeing the two men watching him. “I’m a little tired; I’ll take a shower first …”

“Then I won’t disturb you two. Good night.” Quan Quan took his suitcase and went to the next room.

Qiao Guang Yu took out his pajamas and underwear and bounced into the bathroom to take a quick shower. Then he got into the quilt without even drying his hair as if he were exhausted after sitting in the car for several hours. He also deliberately laid his quilt on the other side of the bed, wrapped it around himself like a butterfly cocoon, and then closed his eyes tightly, pretending to be asleep.

When Huo Zhou came out of the bathroom, he saw a giant cicada pupa shrinking in the inner side of the bed, showing only a tiny piece of black hair, and he couldn’t help feel a little funny.

He stepped forward and grabbed the quilt. “Guang Yu, dry your hair before going to sleep, else you’ll have a headache.”

Qiao Guang Yu wanted to pretend to be deaf, but Huo Zhou didn’t give up and called him twice. So he sat up reluctantly, trying to get out of bed to find the hairdryer.

Huo Zhou held him down. “I’ll blow dry your hair.”

He took the hairdryer from the bathroom, plugged it in, and sat on the bed to blow Qiao Guang Yu’s hair. Huo Zhou’s movements were somewhat out of practice. He was afraid he couldn’t handle the speed and temperature well. Every now and then, he would ask whether it was hot or it hurt. Qiao Guang Yu could only shake his head, and his sleepiness, which was scarce, was also blown away.

After finally drying his hair, Qiao Guang Yu was about to get back into his quilt, but Huo Zhou followed his movements and put another quilt on the one covering them.

Then Huo Zhou took Qiao Guang Yu into his arms and whispered, “Go to sleep.”

Qiao Guang Yu, “…” This was not what he had promised!

He was quite embarrassed. Huo Zhou’s body was fresh after bathing, and there was a hint of masculinity around him. His face was next to Huo Zhou’s chest, and if he tilted his head, he could even bite his nipples. The two were so close that by just moving a little, they would touch places they shouldn’t.

Moreover, he heard Huo Zhou’s breathing above his head become heavier.

… This was not a good sign.

Qiao Guang Yu wanted to force himself to empty his mind and quickly fall asleep. As long as he was sleeping, Huo Zhou couldn’t force him to do anything.

However, when he closed his eyes, Huo Zhou’s lips pressed down, and his hot body pressed tightly against Qiao Guang Yu’s, leaving no gap. At this moment, Qiao Guang Yu could clearly feel the thing poking his thighs.

“Hm …” Qiao Guang Yu pushed Huo Zhou away without even thinking about it, turned over, and got out of bed like an Energizer Bunny, even forgetting to wear his shoes. He ran out of the room in a hurry and knocked on the next door.

“Open the door! Open the door!”

When Quan Quan opened the door, Qiao Guang Yu almost jumped in.