The group exited the hotel, with Cohen Phillips lagging behind.
Kerry Phillips slowed his pace to wait for him, reaching out to feel his forehead with concern.
"Feeling unwell?"
Cohen shook his head.
"I'm okay. I think I want to go home now."
"Then I'll have someone drive you back. I can't get away from here right now."
"Mm."
Cade Phillips stood by the car but wasn't in a hurry to get in.
He waited for them to approach and said amiably, "Big Brother, Second Brother, I'm not feeling too well, so I'll head back first. Also, Dad asked me to see when you both have time to come home for a meal."
Kerry Phillips curved his lips into a smile.
"Got it. We'll come back in a few days."
"Okay. I'll wait for you."
He looked at Cohen Phillips, struggling to suppress the emotions in his eyes.
"Second Brother, I hope you enjoyed yourself tonight."
Cohen Phillips, with his eyes slightly narrowed, gave a nod.
Cade Phillips got into the car, waved with a smile, but once the car pulled away, he could no longer control his expression, his eyes reddening.
Cohen Phillips went home early without telling Bard Morgan.
The moment he stepped inside, he received a message.
[Bard: Went back?]
[Cohen: I'm home.]
In the glitzy private room of the club, Bard Morgan, sitting on a corner sofa, absently rubbed the edge of his phone.
He still didn't get up to leave.
[Bard: Take a hot shower and go to bed early.]
[Cohen: I know.]
Bard gritted his teeth in secret.
Was his boyfriend really this cold to him?
Should have made that little rascal chase him a bit longer.
Tch.
But he wasn't sure he could hold out much longer either...
With such a temperament, a little teasing made him overthink and imagine things.
If he kept holding back and playing hard to get, he was afraid Cohen would just run away.
---
The next morning, Cohen Phillips, who had been excited and hadn't slept all night, emerged from his room with two large dark circles under his eyes.
Seeing the man sitting at the dining table, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
Anthony Ferguson was wearing noticeably oversized pajamas.
Propping his chin on his hand, he greeted Cohen with a weary expression.
"Morning."
"Got him calmed down so quickly?"
Cohen asked.
"Hmph. Grown-up matters are none of a kid's business."
Kerry Phillips came out of the kitchen carrying two bowls of porridge, frowning at Cohen.
"Why do you look so pale?"
After drinking a glass of warm water, Cohen pulled out a dining chair and sat down.
"Didn't sleep well."
"Get some more sleep after breakfast."
"Oh."
After eating quietly for a bit, Cohen thought for a moment and spoke up casually, "Bard and I are dating."
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Anthony Ferguson choked, coughing violently, his face contorted as if he'd seen a ghost.
"You... what did you... say?"
Kerry Phillips handed him a couple of tissues, his face darkening as he looked at his shocking brother.
"When did this happen?"
"Last night."
"When did you get involved with Bard?"
Anthony's eyes were practically popping out, his cool, domineering CEO image completely gone.
"No, this is insane. Why would he date you?"
Cohen gave him a cool glance.
"Why wouldn't he date me?"
"How many times have you even met him? Do you know him? Does he like you?"
"We'll get to know each other slowly. Maybe he's somewhat interested in me too."
"Over all these years, countless men and women have thrown themselves at him. I've never seen him show interest in anyone."
Anthony was getting agitated.
He glared at Kerry Phillips.
"Say something!"
Surprisingly, Kerry's expression had lightened a bit.
"Say what?"
"Huh? You approve of this relationship? He's young and doesn't know better. He hasn't had any dealings with Bard before. Don't you know what Bard's personality is like? By the time he's eaten alive without a trace left, you'll be crying!"
Cohen looked at him leisurely.
"Does sister-in-law disapprove of me being with Bard?"
"I disapprove!"
Anthony blurted out, then caught himself.
His face flushed red, and he stood up in panic, shame and anger warring on his face.
"Who's your sister-in-law!"
Kerry, stifling a laugh, pretended to be serious and chimed in, "Cohen, be good. Don't date him."
"I'm rebellious. I won't listen."
"Your sister-in-law will be upset."
"Then you cheer him up."
The two mischievous brothers chatted as if no one else was there, completely ignoring Anthony, whose face was as red as a shrimp's head.
He glared at them in mortification, but felt an inexplicable joy in his heart.
He snorted angrily, strode quickly towards Kerry's bedroom, and slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
A doting smile flickered at the corner of Kerry's mouth, but he quickly suppressed it and asked Cohen seriously, "Is Bard serious about this?"
Cohen stirred the noodles on his plate.
"I think so."
"I want you to be happy, but I'm also afraid you'll get hurt."
"I'm not that fragile."
"I know. That's why I won't stop you from doing anything. Just make sure you manage the boundaries yourself."
"Don't worry."
Shortly after, Anthony Ferguson emerged, now dressed in a suit, his handsome face stern.
"I'm going to work."
Kerry finished clearing the dishes and dried his hands.
"Do you want me to drive you?"
"No need."
He refused coldly, but lingered by the entranceway.
Cohen, drinking his milk, commented leisurely, "If you want it, just say so. Why so tsundere?"
Anthony glared at him fiercely.
Kerry chuckled.
"Wait for me to change."
Kerry changed into a set of grey casual clothes, put on a down jacket, and carried a black overcoat draped over his arm.
Anthony stood at the door, tilting his chin up slightly as he glanced at him.
"Aren't you going to work? Your company just moved to City B. Have you even stabilized your footing yet?"
Kerry draped the overcoat over Anthony's shoulders and bent down to change his shoes.
"There are people watching the company. It'll get busy after New Year's."
Anthony pursed his lips uncomfortably and tightened the coat around himself.
"Oh."
After changing his shoes, Kerry naturally took his hand.
"Cohen, remember to get some more sleep."
Cohen was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window admiring his artwork and waved his hand dismissively.
Anthony let Kerry lead him out the door, his ears red as he muttered, "Such a mother hen."
Kerry squeezed his hand.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."he said in a gruff tone.
"Hurry up, we're going to be late..."
---
After mounting his painting, Cohen sent a message to his impatiently waiting mentor, then yawned and went back to his room to sleep.
He slept until 3 PM, only waking up because he was hungry.
He rummaged in the kitchen for some bread slices, munching on them while checking his phone.
After replying to messages from his mentor and senior brother, he finally clicked into the chat with Bard Morgan.
Bard had sent messages in the morning, at noon, and an hour ago, asking if he was awake, what he was doing, and to reply to his boyfriend when he wasn't busy.
Cohen stared at the word "boyfriend" for over ten seconds, then casually initiated a voice call.
Bard Morgan was probably busy; he didn't answer.
Cohen typed a single period and sent it, then exited the chat interface.
Half an hour later, while Cohen was sitting in front of his easel painting, Bard Morgan sent a video call request.
He reached out to accept it and continued applying color.
Bard Morgan, looking at the ceiling on his screen, raised a puzzled eyebrow.
"Where's the person?"
Cohen leaned forward slightly, revealing half his face.
"Painting."
Bard snorted.
"Busy from morning till afternoon, no time to reply to a message, huh?"
Cohen set down his brush and picked up the phone.
"No, I ate breakfast and then went back to sleep. Didn't sleep well last night."
"I thought you'd stopped cherishing me now that you've got me. Not replying to messages, acting like a player;."
"I was asleep and didn't hear it..."
Bard Morgan stared at his face, his gaze gradually shifting to his pink lips, a trace of something dark flashing in his eyes.
"Were you scared last night?"
Cohen's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.
He lowered his eyelids, avoiding eye contact.
"No..."
"I'd had some alcohol, was a bit out of control. Glad I didn't scare you."
Bard Morgan rubbed his fingertips together, murmuring as if sighing, "After getting to know the real me, will you really not get scared away?"
Cohen wasn't sure if he meant "getting to know" in that way, but his face grew warm anyway.
He changed the subject.
"Were you busy earlier?"
"Mm, I was in a meeting. Didn't have my phone with me."
"Oh..."
"Baby, have dinner with me tonight?"
He wasn't used to such an intimate address yet and shrank back slightly from the screen.
"I have something on tonight."
"Ah."
Bard's tone carried a hint of regret.
"Alright then. How about tomorrow? Are you busy tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow should be fine."
"Good. I'll call you again tonight."
"Mm."