CEO loves me with all his soul.-Chapter 103. A day for them.

The room was bathed in soft golden light, the warmth of the sun streaming through the half-open curtains. The scent of fresh flowers drifted through the air, blending with the faint medicinal aroma lingering in the space.

Ethan sat on the bed, his back propped up by pillows. His eyes—brighter than they had been in a long time—were fixed on Adrian, who sat by his side, his silver eyes clouded with hesitation.

It had been a few days since Ethan had awakened. His strength was slowly returning, though his body still felt weak at times. But none of that mattered to him.

What mattered was the man before him.

Adrian.

His delicate features were troubled, his fingers fidgeting slightly against the hem of his sleeve. His long black hair cascaded over his shoulders, a few strands falling over his face as he lowered his gaze.

Ethan frowned slightly. He didn’t like seeing that look on Adrian’s face—like something was weighing heavily on his heart.

"Adrian?" Ethan’s voice was still a little hoarse, but there was warmth in it. "What’s wrong?"

Adrian hesitated. He bit his lower lip, a habit he had when he was overthinking something. Ethan recognized it immediately.

"I..." Adrian trailed off before exhaling softly. "I wanted to tell you something."

Ethan tilted his head slightly, waiting patiently.

For a long moment, Adrian didn’t speak. Then, as if gathering courage, he finally looked up, his silver eyes meeting Ethan’s golden ones.

"I... might not be a normal human."

The words hung in the air between them.

Ethan blinked.

Then, without missing a beat, he reached out and pinched Adrian’s cheek.

"E-Ethan?!" Adrian yelped, his face flushing in surprise.

Ethan chuckled, his voice low and soothing. "Yep. Feels real to me."

Adrian swatted his hand away, his blush deepening. "I’m serious!" freewebnσvel.cѳm

Ethan’s amusement didn’t fade, but he softened. "I know. And I meant what I did. You’re real, Adrian." His voice turned gentle. "You’re here. With me."

Adrian’s lips parted slightly, but he had no words.

Ethan reached for Adrian’s hand, threading their fingers together. His grip was warm, firm.

"I don’t care what you are," Ethan murmured. "Human or not. You are you, Adrian."

A faint tremor ran through Adrian’s hand. "But... what if I’m something unnatural? What if—"

Ethan leaned forward and kissed Adrian’s cheek.

The moment their skin touched, Adrian froze.

His entire body went stiff, his silver eyes widening in shock. A warm, tingling sensation spread across his cheek, his mind blanking out for a moment.

Ethan pulled back slightly, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "Still thinking about all that?"

Adrian felt his face burn.

"I—You—That’s—!" He stumbled over his words, completely flustered.

Ethan chuckled, obviously enjoying his reaction.

"You’re too cute when you blush."

Adrian glared at him, but it lacked any real bite. His face was still a deep shade of pink, his heart racing.

Ethan, seeing his adorable expression, decided to push further. He gently tugged on Adrian’s wrist, pulling him onto his lap.

Adrian gasped, his hands instinctively pressing against Ethan’s chest for balance. "Ethan—!"

Ethan wrapped an arm around Adrian’s waist, holding him securely.

Adrian was completely red now, his long lashes trembling slightly as he stared at Ethan in disbelief.

Ethan, on the other hand, looked entirely pleased with himself.

"Much better," Ethan murmured, resting his forehead against Adrian’s. "Now, can we stop worrying about nonsense?"

Adrian pouted, still a little embarrassed. "...It’s not nonsense."

Ethan sighed softly. "Adrian." He cupped Adrian’s cheek, making him look into his eyes. "I love you."

Adrian stiffened again. His silver eyes quivered.

"Whether you’re human or not." Ethan’s voice was steady, unwavering. "It doesn’t matter to me."

Adrian swallowed.

Ethan brushed his thumb gently over Adrian’s cheek. "I love your pure eyes, the way they see the world with kindness even after everything you’ve been through." He ran his fingers through Adrian’s long hair. "I love your innocent soul, the way you try to help others even when it puts you in danger."

Adrian felt like his heart was going to burst.

His grip on Ethan’s shirt tightened slightly.

"I love you, Adrian." Ethan’s eyes burned with sincerity.

A shiver ran down Adrian’s spine.

And then—without hesitation—Adrian threw his arms around Ethan’s neck, hugging him tightly.

"...I love you too," Adrian whispered, his voice barely audible.

Ethan’s arms tightened around him, holding him close.

For a long time, neither of them spoke. They simply stayed like that—wrapped in each other’s warmth, feeling each other’s heartbeats.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ethan murmured against Adrian’s ear, "So, are you feeling better now?"

Adrian pulled back slightly, still flustered but much calmer. "...Maybe."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Just maybe?"

Adrian huffed. "You’re annoying."

Ethan smirked. "But you love me."

"...Shut up."

Ethan chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to Adrian’s temple.

Adrian hid his face against Ethan’s shoulder, completely overwhelmed.

Ethan let out a soft sigh, stroking Adrian’s back gently. "Stay like this a little longer?"

Adrian nodded without hesitation. "...Okay."

Ethan smiled.

At that moment, nothing else mattered.

Not their past. Not the dangers ahead.

Just the warmth of Adrian in his arms.

--

The house was quiet.

For the first time in weeks, there was no flurry of doctors, no hushed discussions of test results, no urgent calls.

Dr. Zara, Lucas, and Isaac had left for the hospital to finalize some tests regarding Ethan’s condition. Augustin and Leclair had taken the twins out for a drive, wanting to give them some fresh air after all the chaos.

That left Adrian and Ethan alone in the house.

Ethan, still recovering, was upstairs resting in bed.

Adrian, however, found himself pacing in the living room, unable to stay still.

He glanced toward the kitchen.

"...I should make something for him."

The thought was sudden, but warmth bloomed in his chest at the idea. Ethan had barely eaten much since waking up, and he needed something light yet nutritious.

A small smile played on Adrian’s lips. He wasn’t always good at cooking.

In fact, growing up, he had been absolutely terrible in the kitchen.

Back then, he had burned water. He had mistaken salt for sugar, once nearly poisoned himself with an undercooked dish, and had set off the smoke alarm more times than he could count.

But when he left home and lived abroad, there was no one to cook for him. No personal chefs. No prepared meals waiting. If he didn’t learn, he would starve.

So he did.

It had taken months of failures, burnt pans, and tasteless meals before he had finally gotten the hang of it.

And now, he could cook.

Maybe not like a five-star chef, but enough to take care of the person he loved.

With that thought, Adrian tied an apron around his waist and stepped into the kitchen.

Adrian opened the fridge, scanning its contents.

Ethan’s body was still recovering, so heavy or oily foods were out of the question.

Something warm, easy to digest, but also delicious.

His fingers tapped against the counter as he thought.

Rice Congee with Shredded Chicken, Steamed Egg Custard, and Honey Lemon Tea.

Adrian washed half a cup of rice and added it to a pot of water, placing it on the stove.

As the water began to boil, he lowered the heat, letting the grains soften and break down into a smooth, thick consistency.

Meanwhile, he took a chicken breast, placed it in a separate pot, and added ginger slices and a pinch of salt before boiling it.

After twenty minutes, he took the chicken out, let it cool slightly, and then shredded it into thin pieces with his fingers.

By now, the congee had turned into a soft, creamy porridge. He added the shredded chicken, a dash of soy sauce, and a few drops of sesame oil to enhance the flavor.

He gave it a gentle stir, letting the aroma rise.

Perfect.

Now he was done with one dish, time for the next one.

Adrian cracked two eggs into a bowl, adding a cup of warm water while whisking it gently.

The trick to a smooth custard was not over-mixing—just enough to blend.

He strained the mixture through a sieve, removing air bubbles. Then, he poured it into a small ceramic bowl and covered it with foil.

Setting up a steamer, he placed the bowl inside and let it steam for ten minutes on low heat.

The result?

A soft, silky custard, jiggling slightly when touched.

Satisfied, he drizzled a few drops of soy sauce on top and garnished it with chopped spring onions.

Lastly, he boiled a cup of water, adding a spoonful of honey and a few slices of lemon.

Simple, but refreshing.

Adrian placed everything onto a tray, arranging the dishes neatly.

He stepped back for a moment, looking at his work.

A small smile formed on his lips.

"Not bad."

Lifting the tray carefully, he walked out of the kitchen, heading upstairs.

When Adrian entered the room, Ethan was sitting up slightly, his eyes looking out the window.

At the sound of Adrian’s footsteps, he turned his head.

Adrian saw the faint surprise in Ethan’s expression when he noticed the tray in his hands.

"You cooked?" Ethan asked, amused.

Adrian placed the tray down beside the bed. "Is it that shocking?"

Ethan chuckled, his gaze softening. "I’m just teasing you."

Adrian huffed and picked up the spoon, scooping up a bit of congee. "Open your mouth."

Ethan raised an eyebrow but obeyed.

The warm congee touched his tongue—soft, mild, comforting.

"...It’s good," Ethan murmured.

Adrian’s heart skipped a beat.

He tried to act normal as he scooped another spoonful. "Of course it is."

Ethan chuckled. "Confident now, aren’t you?"

Adrian glared at him. "Eat."

Ethan obeyed, his eyes never leaving Adrian’s face.

Warmth filled the space between them.

For the first time in a long while, things felt peaceful.

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