Seeing the rings, Kerry Phillips's brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed completely.
Perhaps Baldur Morgan was genuinely serious about their little cabbage.
At noon, Baldur Morgan treated everyone to a meal.
The four of them went out to eat, and afterward, the two couples went their separate ways.
Baldur Morgan held Cohen Phillips's hand as they strolled leisurely to the cinema, continuing the date that had been interrupted last time for certain reasons.
Cohen Phillips and he entered the theater early, sitting in the couple seats, with a large bucket of popcorn Baldur had bought for him in his arms.
The movie hadn't started yet.
Baldur Morgan noticed faint camera flashes from the row in front.
An idea struck him.
He leaned closer to Cohen Phillips.
"Baby, don't you want to commemorate this?"
"Huh?"
Cohen Phillips was puzzled.
"Commemorate what?"
Still remembering the 'wife' incident from the morning, Baldur reached out.
"Give me your phone."
Cohen Phillips took his phone out of his pocket and handed it over.
He then watched as Baldur Morgan opened the camera, took a picture of the two movie tickets, then clasped his right hand, showing off the two conspicuous rings.
Baldur Morgan looked at the photo with a satisfied smile, leaned over, and planted a soft kiss on Cohen Phillips's cheek.
"How about I post this on WeChat, baby?"
Remembering they were in a cinema, Cohen Phillips moved aside, putting some distance between them, his shyness hidden in the dim light.
"Whatever..."
Baldur lowered his head, first sent the photo to himself, then opened WeChat and started editing.
Two minutes later, he turned off the phone screen and stuffed it back into Cohen Phillips's pocket.
Cohen Phillips looked at him with curious, shining eyes, handed him the popcorn bucket, took out his own phone, and saw the latest message on his WeChat.
[Cohen Phillips: Baby, Happy New Year /heart [Image][Image]]
In just a few minutes, there were already over a dozen likes and comments underneath, not just screams from his riffraff friends, but also from Dave Doyle and others from the B City circle whom he'd added later.
The roots of his ears felt warm.
He refreshed the page and saw the post Baldur Morgan had just made.
[Baldur Morgan: Baby, Happy New Year /heart [Image][Image]]
Cohen Phillips turned his head blankly to look.
Baldur Morgan was leisurely eating popcorn.
A tingling sensation spread from Cohen Phillips's heart.
He hooked his arm around Baldur's.
Baldur picked up a piece of popcorn and brought it to Cohen Phillips's lips, saying happily, "It's official now. It wouldn't be polite for anyone to call you 'wife' after this."
"Baldur, I want to kiss you."
Cohen Phillips said.
A dark glint flashed in Baldur Morgan's eyes.
He threw the popcorn back into the bucket and leaned down.
"Go ahead."
Cohen Phillips grabbed his collar, lifted his head, and pressed against his slightly cool, thin lips.
The full extent of his affection poured out in their entangled kiss...
Dun dun dun...
The loud sound of the movie starting jolted them apart.
Cohen Phillips straightened up and sat properly.
Baldur Morgan took a deep breath, stared seriously at the big screen, and forcibly suppressed his restlessness.
Cohen Phillips tried to pry the hand off his waist, wanting to sit further away, but the more he moved, the tighter he was held.
Baldur slightly lowered his gaze, his voice hushed.
"Be good, don't move. It's uncomfortable if I don't hold you."
"..."
Cohen Phillips stopped moving, nestling obediently in his embrace.
The movie was a newly released sci-fi film, with engaging plot and action scenes.
Cohen Phillips was captivated.
Baldur Morgan's agitation gradually subsided, and the two stayed close, occasionally discussing in low voices.
"Mmm... I don't want any more."
Cohen Phillips turned his head away, avoiding another piece of popcorn offered to his lips.
By the middle and later part of the movie, Baldur Morgan had developed a liking for feeding Cohen Phillips.
"Be good, have one more."
Cohen Phillips looked up pleadingly.
"I'm too full. Can't eat anymore."
Baldur Morgan stared at his rosy lips, and indecent thoughts began surfacing in his mind again.
He tossed the popcorn into his own mouth and mumbled indistinctly, "It should be okay..."
Cohen didn't catch it.
"What?"
"Nothing..."
Baldur Morgan couldn't focus on the rest of the movie at all.
His messy thoughts ran wild...
What a beast!
Baldur Morgan mentally scorned himself over a dozen times.
Finally, when the movie ended and everyone was still lingering, he had already pulled Cohen Phillips out to a corridor corner.
It wasn't the same cinema, but in a similarly dim environment, Cohen Phillips, like last time, had his lips and tongue forcefully captured by a kiss.
The person in front of him was even more fervent than last time.
Baldur Morgan truly didn't want to suppress himself any longer.
He caressed Cohen's face and tempted him with his magnetic voice, "Baby, come home with me tonight, alright?"
Cohen Phillips panted lightly.
Hearing this, he tightened his grip on the man's clothes.
"Mhm..."
"So good."
Baldur Morgan sighed in contentment.
What an absolutely peerless little treasure!
Afraid of a repeat of the last situation, Cohen Phillips soon pushed and struggled free.
Keeping his head down, he said, "Let's go."
Baldur Morgan patted the top of his head.
"Let's go."
It was only 4:30 PM, still early.
After leaving the mall, Baldur Morgan didn't drive but texted for his driver to come.
Cohen Phillips received a message and swung their joined hands.
"I prepared a gift for you. The shop owner is at the store and said they can deliver it now."
He showed the watch on his wrist.
"Haven't you already given me one?"
"You said before you wanted me to draw a portrait for you, right? Yesterday I passed by an oil painting shop and went in to paint one."
Baldur Morgan pulled him into a hug.
"You've given me so many gifts already."
Chibi character designs, a small sketchbook, a watch, and now a portrait.
Cohen Phillips wrapped his arms around Baldur's waist, his eyes curved.
"I like to."
To be honest, Cohen Phillips could be a bit lazy.
He tended to procrastinate on commercial commissions early on, only frantically catching up as the deadline approached.
Drawing the chibi pictures for his riffraff friends also usually waited until they pestered him enough.
But when it came to Baldur Morgan, he painted very proactively – digital art, sketches, oil paintings – he never got tired of it.
This was the favoritism shown to someone he liked.
While waiting for the driver, Baldur Morgan led Cohen Phillips into a coffee shop and ordered a coffee to warm his hands.
As he drank, Cohen Phillips muttered, "The oil painting shop isn't far from here. I asked the owner to wait for us at the shop. We can go pick it up later, so we don't trouble her with delivery."
Baldur Morgan was utterly charmed by his unconscious little mannerisms.
He couldn't resist leaning over and gently biting his slightly puffed cheek.
"Okay, we'll go get it in a bit."
There were still quite a few people in the coffee shop.
Feeling embarrassed, Cohen Phillips glared at him in flustered annoyance.
"Be more restrained in public."
Baldur Morgan tapped his forehead and chuckled.
"Little double standard."