The days following the public announcement moved with a dangerous new rhythm.
By the third day, the entire company had adjusted — or at least pretended to. Employees still whispered when Lin Yuè walked the halls beside Guàn Jǐngchén, but the stares had softened into a mix of curiosity and envy. In meetings, Lin Yuè sat quietly at the CEO's right hand, soft sweater sleeves pulled over his knuckles, offering gentle, insightful suggestions that made senior staff nod in reluctant approval.
Guàn Jǐngchén's possessiveness had only grown.
He kept Lin Yuè close at all times — an arm around his waist in the corridors, a hand on his thigh during meetings, a quick stolen kiss in the elevator when no one was looking. At night in the penthouse, the CEO's touches became even more intense, as if claiming Lin Yuè physically could silence the growing rumors.
That evening, after a long day of back-to-back strategy sessions, they returned to the penthouse exhausted but unable to keep their hands off each other.
The moment the door closed, Guàn Jǐngchén pushed Lin Yuè against the wall, kissing him with raw hunger. His hands slid under the cream sweater, palms hot against bare skin.
"I've wanted to do this all day," Guàn Jǐngchén growled against his mouth. "Watching you sit there so sweetly while everyone stared… knowing only I get to touch you like this."
Lin Yuè gasped as the CEO's fingers teased his nipples, pinching lightly until they hardened. "Jǐngchén… the windows…"
"Let them see," Guàn Jǐngchén replied, voice dark. He lifted Lin Yuè, wrapping the younger man's legs around his waist, and carried him to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the glittering Shanghai skyline.
He set Lin Yuè down facing the glass, pressing his chest to the cool surface. The city lights sparkled below like a sea of stars. Guàn Jǐngchén pushed the sweater up and off, then tugged Lin Yuè's trousers and underwear down in one motion, leaving him completely bare against the glass.
"So beautiful," the CEO murmured, hands roaming over Lin Yuè's back and hips. He dropped to his knees, spreading Lin Yuè's cheeks and pressing his tongue against the tight entrance.
Lin Yuè moaned sharply, forehead pressed to the glass, hands splayed on either side of his head. Guàn Jǐngchén worked him open with his mouth and fingers — slow, thorough, and relentless — until Lin Yuè was trembling and begging.
"Please… I need you inside…"
Guàn Jǐngchén stood, slicked himself quickly, and pushed in with one deep thrust. Both of them groaned at the tight heat. He set a hard, claiming rhythm — hips snapping forward, one hand braced on the glass beside Lin Yuè's head while the other stroked him in time.
"Look at the city," Guàn Jǐngchén growled against his ear. "They're all down there. And none of them will ever have you like this. You're mine."
Lin Yuè cried out with every deep thrust, pleasure building fast and intense. The combination of the cool glass against his chest and the heat of Guàn Jǐngchén behind him was overwhelming. He came first with a broken moan, spilling over the CEO's hand and the glass. Guàn Jǐngchén followed moments later, burying himself deep with a low groan as he filled him.
They stayed pressed against the window for several minutes, breathing hard. Guàn Jǐngchén turned Lin Yuè around gently and kissed him — slow, tender, full of emotion.
"I love you," he whispered. "More every single day."
Lin Yuè's eyes stung with tears he refused to let fall. He clung tighter, whispering back, "I love you too."
Later that night, as they lay in bed tangled together, Guàn Jǐngchén stroked Lin Yuè's hair and spoke quietly.
"The whispers are getting louder. Some people are questioning how fast this happened. Li Wei even suggested running another background check on you."
Lin Yuè's heart clenched, but he kept his voice soft. "Are you worried?"
Guàn Jǐngchén tightened his hold. "Not about you. I trust you completely. The scan was clean. The documents are signed. You're mine now — legally and in every other way."
Lin Yuè buried his face in the CEO's chest, guilt twisting like a knife. The next deeper cross-reference was scheduled in four days. Even with the backdoor dormant, one small inconsistency in old financial trails or IP logs could expose everything.
He had burned every bridge to stay.
Now the fire was closing in.
The next morning, during a casual coffee break in the executive lounge, Li Wei approached them with a polite smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Congratulations on the relationship," he said smoothly. "It's quite the whirlwind. Lin Yuè, your coding talent is impressive for someone so young. Where did you train exactly?"
Lin Yuè ducked his head shyly. "Just self-taught, mostly. Late nights and online courses."
Guàn Jǐngchén's arm tightened around Lin Yuè's waist. "Is there a point to this, Li Wei?"
Li Wei shrugged. "Just curious. The company's security is paramount. We can't be too careful."
The words hung heavy in the air.
That night in the penthouse, after another round of slow, emotional intimacy, Guàn Jǐngchén held Lin Yuè close and whispered, "Ignore the whispers. They don't matter. Only we matter."
Lin Yuè nodded, pressing a kiss to the CEO's collarbone.
But as Guàn Jǐngchén fell asleep, Lin Yuè lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
The whispers were growing.
The next scan was approaching.
And the boy who had once been Eclipse was running out of time to keep the mask from shattering completely.
End of Chapter 28