He is Too Stingy, This Sand Sculpture Cannon Fodder

Shu You straightened his clothes and tried to stand up.

His eyes were still moist. At this moment, he just wanted to find a place where nobody was around and have a moment of peace.

But the next second, Lin Mingxu spoke.

The man’s eyes were still deeply intense. He casually asked, “Where are you going?”

This was the third time he asked Shu You this question.

The previous two times, the question was filled with anger, but this time it was much calmer. However, if Shu You observed carefully, he would notice that Lin Mingxu’s heart was not calm at this moment.

His knuckles clenched and turned pale, as if he was trying to restrain something. The man’s eyes were deep and dark, and he repeated the question once again.

“Where are you going?”

“I…” Shu You hadn’t thought about where to go at all.

The filming was over, and Lin Mingxu had agreed for him to leave. He could go wherever he wanted.

However, like a kite with a broken string, Shu You suddenly realized that he had nowhere to go.

The first person Shu You saw after becoming ‘Shu You‘ was Lin Mingxu.

The most familiar place was also the home he shared with Lin Mingxu.

He had arranged the room, changed light bulbs, paid utility bills, and even carefully painted the corners where the paint had peeled off the walls to make the whole house look neater.

He knew which bus routes were available downstairs, which one would smoothly take him to Lin Mingxu’s company, and which one would take him to the place where he had a part-time performance.

In his heart, that place had already become his home.

Leaving home, where could he go?

Shu You hung his head, momentarily speechless.

The tall figure of the man stood in front of Shu You, blocking his way. Looking down at Shu You, he observed his disheveled and soft hair, messy, just like their current state of mind.

Damn it.

Lin Mingxu’s heart softened.

At the moment when Shu You fell, he softened.

He hadn’t properly cherished and cared for the person in front of him, yet he felt so distressed when he saw him crying.

Shu You cried like a stray puppy on the street, and each sob shook him to the core. It shattered his self-control, which he took pride in, and revealed his most genuine thoughts.

He wanted Shu You.

Even if he had deceived him, even if it was for this absurd reason that he left without saying goodbye.

He still wanted him.

Lin Mingxu had thought that being reborn had no meaning for him, but Shu You’s appearance gradually changed his mind.

Unconsciously, his entire attention was drawn to the young man, and unconsciously, he developed so many feelings for him. When Shu You revealed the truth, Lin Mingxu’s heart momentarily stopped.

He thought Shu You was hiding something for some reason, but he never imagined it would be that kind of truth.

At that moment, his anger became difficult to suppress.

He was angry that he was just a dream for Shu You, an existence he could abandon at will.

He was angry that in Shu You’s heart, he was nothing more than a cruel revenge target, an object to be feared and avoided.

So he said hurtful words, trying to force Shu You and himself.

The result was already clear.

Shu You cried in pain, and he too felt a heart-wrenching agony.

But if he regained his composure and thought carefully, how did this situation come to be?

Lin Mingxu knew best what

he had done and what kind of person he was.

Was Shu You wrong to be afraid?

He was just trying to protect himself, out of fear and worry.

Once he put himself in Shu You’s shoes, many things became justifiably explained.

He should have realized it sooner.

When he believed that being reborn had no meaning and couldn’t bring back his parents, he overlooked the biggest change in this rebirth and didn’t value Shuyou enough.

He should have recognized himself earlier, much earlier.

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu took a deep breath and finally spoke, “Let’s talk.”

“…”

Shu You kept his head down and didn’t look at him. He simply said in a low voice, “Go ahead.”

After all, he was the one who had done something wrong. Lin Mingxu could scold or punish him, and he was willing to bear it.

Seeing Shu You like this, Lin Mingxu felt a pang in his heart.

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu helped him up and sat him down on the edge of the bed.

He turned and went to the bathroom, wetted a towel with warm water, and returned, bending down and squatting, gently wiping away the tears on Shuyou’s face.

First the cheeks, then under the eyes, and then the hands. Gradually, he wiped them clean.

His movements were gentle and soft, as if he was treating a precious treasure. He even used his fingers to gently comb through Shu You’s disheveled hair.

His slender fingers weaved through the soft strands. As he continued his actions, Shu You gradually regained consciousness, blinked his eyes, and a hint of liveliness returned to his gaze.

Shu You’s swollen and sore eyes felt a bit relieved. He couldn’t help but raise his eyes to look at the man, feeling a indescribable bitterness in his heart.

In reality, Lin Mingxu was very gentle.

For example, despite being angry with him so many times, he hadn’t actually done anything.

When he hit him, he didn’t use much force, mainly because it was too embarrassing.

Shu You, with a strange impulse, whispered, “Lin Mingxu, you’ve hit me already. Just go ahead and scold me a few more times, okay?”

He wanted to get it over with in one go, to endure it and move on.

However, Lin Mingxu’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, “No.”

“…”

Shu You lowered his head, feeling like a clown.

The atmosphere was extremely awkward, and he felt embarrassed. He softly said, “Then go ahead and hit me again.”

Unexpectedly, Lin Mingxu said, “I won’t scold you, and I won’t hit you.”

Such extreme and excessive actions driven by anger were unnecessary.

Shu You was stunned.

He stared blankly at the other person, not moving a muscle, like a silly goose.

His face and hands were clean.

Apart from slight redness and swelling in the corners of his eyes, there was nothing unusual.

After finishing, Lin Mingxu himself sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze level with Shu You’s, and said softly, “Are you feeling better?”

“…”

Shu You pursed his lips and nodded.

The temperature of the warm towel was just right, and he had also calmed down.

He looked at Lin Mingxu, waiting for his next words.

But the man didn’t say anything further.

He just gazed at him, as if he wanted to carefully, earnestly imprint him in his mind.

Shu You couldn’t help but blink his eyes again, and involuntarily met Lin Mingxu’s gaze.

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu looked at him for a long time before speaking, “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed you like that.”

Shu You was dumbfounded, as if he didn’t hear clearly what he said.

“I was too angry and said hurtful things in the heat of the moment, and I even hit you.”

“I shouldn’t have hit you.”

Lin Mingxu softly and slowly continued, “I shouldn’t have treated you like that.”

Shu You felt a bit dazed.

He hadn’t expected Lin Mingxu to say these things.

He heard Lin Mingxu say further, “I’ve thought it over. I can’t blame you for hiding this from me. It was just a misunderstanding caused by a lack of proper communication between the two of us.”

Shu You said, “Ah.”

“Besides, I also have my share of responsibility.”

Shu You widened his eyes, finding it hard to believe what he was hearing.

Lin Mingxu paused for a moment and let out a faint sigh, “I should have realized earlier that I liked you.”

He said “liked” again.

Lin Mingxu was so clear and straightforward, once again saying “liked” in front of him.

He always seemed more sincere in expressing that word than Shu You.

“In the past…”

Lin Mingxu’s words continued to flow, like a barrel of aged wine that had been brewing for a long time.

“Many things have happened, just as you dreamed. Out of the anger of revenge, many methods were used that weren’t entirely clean.”

“It is indeed as you thought. I am someone who has been called cruel and devilish by many people.”

“At that time, I was extreme. I lost my parents, lost my former life, lost everything.”

“I had nothing left to lose. Even the things I once cherished were no longer there. So I took desperate measures without any boundaries. I would do anything as long as it achieved the goal.”

“And then I met you.”

The man’s deep gaze locked onto him, focusing solely on him, as if he was attentively observing his entire world.

“You are different.”

But Lin Mingxu initially failed to perceive it.

It was only when he almost lost him that he truly understood his own feelings.

“Shu You.”

“You are different.”

He repeated the words and then softly added, “Meeting you has been my lucky encounter.”

At this moment, Lin Mingxu was grateful for his rebirth.

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu looked deeply into his eyes, slightly leaning forward, and suddenly embraced him.

The man’s deep voice echoed in Shu You’s ears, stirring waves upon waves in his heart. Their warm chests pressed against each other, intimately close.

The sound of his heartbeat and his words were equally clear, like an unending melody that lingered on.

Shu You heard a sentence.

“Thank you for coming into my life.”

Thanking him for making his rebirth meaningful.

Shu You accepted the embrace in confusion.

He was caught off guard.

He had thought Lin Mingxu would retaliate fiercely, scold him for the harm he caused, call him a fraud and a liar, a lousy villain.

He really hadn’t expected Lin Mingxu to apologize.

“I…”

Shu You opened his mouth and murmured softly, “It’s my fault.”

It was his fault for deceiving Lin Mingxu in the first place, for leaving home without a word twice. It was understandable that Lin Mingxu would be angry.

“You are good.”

Lin Mingxu let go of him, but his arms still encircled him. Deep affection filled his eyes, so profound that Shu You couldn’t understand it but wanted to immerse himself in it. He spoke softly yet solemnly, contradicting his words.

“To me, you are the best, the right one, the perfect one.”

Lin Mingxu held his hand, transmitting a warmth that was deeply comforting. He spoke softly once again, “Shu You.”

“I like you.”

“I don’t know what you saw in your dreams, but at least for me, they don’t represent everything.”

“I like you.”

“I like the Shu You who is optimistic and cheerful, bringing laughter to those around him.”

“I like the Shu You who is occasionally vulnerable and actually lacks a sense of security.”

“I like the Shu You who acted out love for me so convincingly, making me unable to resist.”

“I’m willing to be deceived by you for a lifetime, as long as you’re willing, you can continue deceiving me.”

“As long as you’re willing, as long as you don’t leave.”

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu squatted in front of him, looking up at him. His brows relaxed, and his eyes were focused solely on him, completely engrossed.

“We can start over.”

“You don’t need to fear me anymore, don’t worry about anyone coming between us.”

“Don’t think about your dreams, don’t dwell on things that haven’t happened yet, things that shouldn’t cause excessive anxiety.”

“This time, you don’t need to do anything, and you don’t have to go out of your way to please me.”

“Try to get along with me well, give your affection and my affection a chance.”

“A chance for us to try being together.”

“Let’s start over.”

“Okay.”