Chapter 24: Just Physically Compatible

Sebastian stood in front of the sink brushing his teeth, his mouth full of foam reflected in the mirror.

Lucian leaned against the doorframe, watching him, and suddenly spoke.

"Since we're together now," he said, "I’ll officially confess to you tonight. It should be formal."

Sebastian’s brushing faltered. He gave Lucian a sideways glance through the mirror and continued.

Once finished, he rinsed his mouth and wiped his face with deliberate slowness.

"I don't care about that," he said, his tone flat.

Lucian was confused. "What do you mean you don't care?"

Sebastian hung up the towel and turned to face him.

"Exactly what I said."

Lucian stared at him, his brow furrowing.

"Then why did you sleep with me?"

Sebastian leaned against the sink, crossing his arms with a faint, ghost of a smile on his face.

"We’re physically compatible."

Lucian froze.

Then his face darkened.

"Physically compatible?" he repeated, his voice rising. "That’s all you're looking for? That's it?"

Looking at his reaction, Sebastian nearly laughed.

"What else would there be?"

Lucian glared at him, his chest heaving.

"I want you to like all of me!"

Sebastian finally couldn't hold it back; he burst out laughing, leaning against the sink as his shoulders shook.

Lucian grew even angrier.

"What are you laughing at?!"

Having had his laugh, Sebastian wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and looked at him.

"Young man," he said teasingly, "don't be so greedy."

Lucian opened his mouth to argue but found himself speechless.

Sebastian continued: "Our relationship cannot be known by anyone."

Lucian stared at him, his stomach churning with unvented rage.

"Fine," he said. "If that’s the case, we’ll just live our separate lives."

He took a step forward, closing the distance between him and Sebastian.

"Just physically compatible."

"That works," Sebastian said.

Lucian’s eyes widened in shock.

"What did you say?"

Sebastian pushed past him and walked out.

"I said that works," he said without looking back. "Just physically compatible."

Lucian stood frozen, watching the man's back. His mouth opened and closed several times.

"You! You just agreed to that?!"

Sebastian had already reached the bed and begun dressing himself.

"Why wouldn't I?"

Lucian chased after him, grabbing his arm.

"You don't want to have a real, proper relationship with me?!"

Sebastian turned to look at him.

His gaze was indifferent, tinged with a slight smile.

"Didn't you say it yourself? We'll live our separate lives. Mm... mutually beneficial, let's call it."

Lucian was choked for words.

He stared at Sebastian—at that smirking face—and suddenly felt like he’d been played.

The corners of Sebastian's mouth curved upward as he watched him.

He reached out and patted Lucian's cheek.

"Alright," he said. "Pack up. It's time to head back."

Lucian stood there, watching him walk back into the bathroom and close the door.

...

On the drive back, Sebastian was in a great mood.

He leaned against the passenger seat with a tablet on his lap, scrolling through a case file.

The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating his face.

Lucian drove, stealing glances at him every now and then.

Seeing the man look so relaxed only made him angrier.

This guy—after saying all those things about being physically compatible and living separate lives—now acted like nothing had happened.

Lucian felt a fire burning in his chest and nowhere to release it.

Sebastian's lips curled into a smile as he read.

"What are you smiling at?" Lucian finally snapped.

Sebastian didn't look up.

"This case is quite interesting. A married man with kids, turns out he's deep in the closet. He's been emotionally abusive to his wife for years while secretly hiring escorts. The wife found out, wants a divorce and a property settlement."

Lucian blinked.

"In the closet?"

"Mm." Sebastian flipped a page. "On the surface, he's a good husband and father. Behind the scenes, he hooks up more often than anyone. His wife was with him for ten years and they barely touched."

Lucian was silent for a moment.

"That kind of person is freaking disgusting."

Sebastian lifted his eyes to look at him.

"Oh? You have an opinion on it?"

"Of course I do," Lucian said, his tone sharp as he gripped the steering wheel. "A bastard who traps someone in a sham marriage and wastes a woman's entire life... shouldn't he be rot?"

Sebastian watched him.

Seeing his righteous indignation, the corners of his mouth curved again.

"And what about you?"

Lucian turned to him. "What about me?"

Sebastian retracted his gaze and returned to the tablet.

"Nothing."

Lucian stared at the man's profile, wanting to say something, but he forced himself to swallow it back.

The car fell silent.

...

What they didn't know was that from the moment they left the hotel, someone had been following them from the shadows.

An unremarkable grey sedan trailed them at a steady distance. A phone was held up, the shutter clicking over and over.

The way Sebastian walked slowly while supporting his waist.

The way Lucian reached out to help him.

The unreadable looks they shared when they locked eyes.

Every moment was captured.

When the photos arrived on Marcus's phone, he was having a drink.

He looked at the images and let out a sinister laugh.

"Good," he said. "Excellent."

He dialed a number.

"Hello, Journalist Zhang? I have a lead. I wonder if you’d be interested."

The person on the other end replied.

Marcus’s grin deepened.

"A prominent lawyer, glamorous on the surface, but secretly keeping a young boy. He even took him home for the New Year to stay at a hotel together. I have the photos. It’s quite the scandal."

He hung up, leaned back against his chair, and watched the night sky outside, slowly raising his glass.

"Sebastian," he said. "You ruined my reputation. Now, it's your turn."

——

Meanwhile, at the Sebastian family home.

The trunk was packed to the brim. Cured meat, sausages, homemade pickles, and dumplings Sebastian’s mother had stayed up all night making... bags and boxes were piled high.

"That’s enough, Mom," Sebastian said, watching her try to cram more in. "Any more and it won't close."

"It's not enough," his mother said as she pushed things in. "These are all your favorites. Take them back and eat well. Lucian, you eat more too, look how thin you are."

Lucian stood by, nodding and smiling.

But his smile looked a bit forced.

His mother gave him a look.

"What's wrong, Lucian? Feeling unwell?"

"No, no," Lucian waved it off quickly. "Just didn't sleep well last night."

She nodded and didn't pry further.

Once everything was packed, they got into the car.

Standing outside the window, she fussed over them with endless instructions: "Drive slowly, call me when you get there, eat on time, don't keep ordering takeout..."

Sebastian nodded.

The engine started, and the car slowly pulled out of the small town.

In the rearview mirror, his mother's silhouette grew smaller and smaller until it became a speck and vanished at the end of the road.

On the way back, Sebastian continued reading his case.

Lucian drove without saying a single word.

The silence in the car was heavy, almost suffocating.

After flipping through a few pages, Sebastian finally spoke.

"Our firm is representing the wife in this case."

Lucian said nothing.

"She wants the entire estate and sole custody of the children," Sebastian continued. "The husband is refusing. He claims he truly loves the kids, but in reality, he's just afraid coming out will affect his career."

Lucian still didn't speak.

Sebastian finally lifted his head to look at him.

"What's the matter with you?"

Lucian stared at the road, his knuckles white against the steering wheel.

"Nothing."

Sebastian watched him, wearing a look that saw right through him.

"Still thinking about that 'physically compatible' comment?"

Lucian's face stiffened.

"No."

Sebastian leaned back and returned to his tablet.

"Good."

Lucian took a deep breath.

He wanted to say something. He wanted to ask,

is that really all you want?

He wanted to ask,

then what are we?

He wanted to ask,

do you actually have any feelings for me?

But he said nothing.

He just kept driving, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened.