Passion Raga Novel (Completed) - Chapter 85 (End)

Ling Xinlu didn’t exactly like having outsiders in the house; on the contrary, he quite enjoyed entertaining Yuri’s friends.

Whenever someone from abroad visited Yuri, he would stick close to him, putting on an expression as if to say: ‘This is truly the most ideal and generous husband in the world.’

Even if it was a family member of someone he hated to the bone, as long as he didn’t have to directly confront them, showing them a few books wasn’t a big deal.

The problem was that precisely because of this, Kyle inadvertently became a guest at Ling Huolong’s party, bringing Jeong Taeui as his escort.

“Hmm… today I looked through the guest list for Father’s birthday party, and I saw Kyle Riegrow will be with Taei-hyung.”

One evening, just a few days before Ling Huolong’s party, Ling Xinlu suddenly spoke up while relaxing with a hot towel over his eyes.

Since that afternoon, he had seemed uncomfortable, making Yuri wonder what had happened. But when he heard Ling Xinlu say this with an air of confessing something important, though trying to appear calm, Yuri suddenly understood: Ah, so this was it.

“Hmm, I heard that too.”

“You knew already?”

Ling Xinlu removed the towel from his eyes and stared at Yuri.

“Yes, Kyle sent another email earlier, reminding me about the books, and also informed me that he would be coming with Jeong Taeui.”

Hearing this, Ling Xinlu frowned, sat up abruptly, looked at him intently, and then sighed.

He handed the towel to the attendant, telling them to leave. The attendant seemed confused, but since the task was almost done, they said nothing more and left the room. Ling Xinlu sat upright in front of Yuri, hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

“Do you want to come to my father’s birthday party?”

“Me?… Hmm, if it’s not absolutely necessary, I’d prefer to stay home.”

Hearing his answer, Ling Xinlu was silent for a long time, then, as if having made a decision, he spoke.

“I had no idea Taei-hyung would be at Father’s party. I also don’t want to meet him there, but there will probably be too many people, so there won’t be time to talk. If we run into each other, I’ll just say hello. I won’t deliberately seek him out; it’s just if we happen to cross paths, we’ll deal with it then.”

His tone was unclear, whether he was explaining himself or talking to himself. Yuri quietly watched him, trying to understand the current situation.

“Ah… It’s fine. You two haven’t seen each other in a long time, just be comfortable.”

Ling Xinlu looked at him strangely, then frowned, asking cautiously.

“Are you sure you’re not bothered? Because I’ll be meeting Taei-hyung without you there?”

“Huh? How could I be? I don’t mind at all.”

A question beyond imagination. Yuri had never thought about that. He truly didn’t care, nor did he think Ling Xinlu needed to care. So he just smiled and shook his head.

At that moment, he didn’t know that he should have answered differently. Ling Xinlu silently watched Yuri, then suddenly withdrew all emotion from his face.

He whispered as if to himself.

“Ah… You really don’t mind.”

“Yes, so just talk freely.”

The atmosphere became silent.

Yuri didn’t have time to think deeply about the meaning of that silence. He was still worried about whether meeting Jeong Taeui would stir up unpleasant past memories for Ling Xinlu, making him sad or hurt.

“It’s good that you’re not bothered or uneasy at all.”

“Yes?”

His voice suddenly turned cold, making Yuri look up. Ling Xinlu’s dark eyes gleamed with an unusual sharpness.

“It’s good that you don’t feel sad or uneasy. That’s really good.”

The cautious tone from before had vanished, leaving only a sharp, sarcastic edge that echoed coldly in his ears.

“You don’t see any problem with me meeting Taei-hyung again? …Your lover meeting someone who once stirred his heart, and you truly don’t care at all? Completely unbothered?”

Yuri froze, seeing Ling Xinlu’s face clearly showing hurt.

What kind of sudden change was this? It wasn’t like red bean porridge in summer; why say two different things within ten seconds?

His mind felt like it was spinning, but fortunately, this time Yuri quickly composed himself and replied:

“Because I trust you. I trust the affection and reliance you’ve shown me all this time.”

Ling Xinlu paused. Yuri secretly breathed a sigh of relief at his quick response. A perfect, flawless answer.

However…

It didn’t work.

“I know. I know that, but still, you could care a little, couldn’t you? A little jealousy is fine, isn’t it? No, it’s not that I want you to actually feel uncomfortable or angry or hurt, and there’s nothing worth making you feel that way, but… at least you could hold me a little tighter.”

Ling Xinlu complained irritably. But as soon as he finished speaking, perhaps he realized he was pouting unreasonably like a child, because his scowling face immediately flushed crimson. He abruptly stood up and left the room. Yuri was left behind, stunned for a moment before rushing after him, but Ling Xinlu had already darted into the study, locking the door and refusing to come out.

“Don’t come in here now. I’m so embarrassed.”

He left such a resentful remark and then confined himself to the study, leaving Yuri with no choice but to quietly turn and leave.

That night, it wasn’t until late, when Yuri was sound asleep, that Ling Xinlu returned to the bedroom. The next morning, he acted as if nothing had happened.

“I was unreasonably clingy yesterday, I’m sorry.”

He only said one sentence with his usual gentle expression and immediately changed the subject. Yuri wanted to continue the conversation, but seeing him try to act normal while still feeling awkward inside, he kept his mouth shut.

After that was a period so busy that they barely had time to breathe. Ling Xinlu’s work grew steadily, and his daily schedule was packed. Moreover, Ling Huolong’s eightieth birthday celebration was approaching with an incredibly large number of guests. Every day, from waking up to going to bed, they hardly had a second to rest.

And so, after the grand birthday party was over and all the guests had been entertained, they finally had a little free time.

“You’re not bothered, and there’s nothing to be sad about, right?”

Ling Xinlu whispered softly, then placed a kiss on Yuri’s lips, who was looking up at the night moon. As if, if Yuri said yes, he would immediately swallow that emotion without leaving a trace. Ling Xinlu’s lips sought Yuri’s, slowly brushing against them.

“In this world, I fear nothing but one thing: that I will hurt Gable.”

Yuri quietly felt his breath on his lips, then gently replied:

“I have never been sad because of you, not even once.”

He leaned back, pulling away slightly so he could clearly see Ling Xinlu’s face, mused for a moment, then continued:

“But when I see you sad because of me, my heart feels heavy.”

Ling Xinlu parted his lips as if to say something, but in the end, no words came out. He pressed his lips tightly, his face looking aggrieved like a child. Yuri gently stroked his cheek and smiled softly:

“See? You’re the one who understands me best in the world. You know every tiny detail about me, you know where I was born, how I grew up, who I met, what I did, you know who I once loved, and you know clearly who I love now.”

Yuri looked directly at Ling Xinlu. He remained silent, but his eyes never left Yuri’s, only nodding slightly.

“So, even knowing who you are currently with, just because you happened to meet someone you knew before, I should feel bothered and uneasy like that?”

“Yes.”

“….”

Oh. That’s not right.

Stunned by the blunt answer, Yuri paused, momentarily speechless. He intended to continue but stammered:

“But… from the beginning, you and Jeong Taeui weren’t really dating. Should I be bothered by people you weren’t even truly with?”

“How can you not be bothered?”

Ling Xinlu, as if he found Yuri to be the strange one, frowned and asked back, clearly showing his resentment. Yuri unconsciously rubbed his forehead and sighed.

“The first time I met you—not counting when you fell into the sea as a child—do you remember?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ling Xinlu froze.

“At that time, you were completely engrossed in Taei, to the point where your attitude towards me wasn’t good at all…”

Before Yuri could finish his sentence, Ling Xinlu grabbed his arm tightly. His face showed a rare look of panic, his lips moving as if he didn’t know what to say.

Actually, saying “attitude wasn’t good” was an understatement. He had hit him, kicked him, made his head bleed, even pointed a gun at him (though it was just a paintball gun).

“At that time… at that time I still didn’t know that we would end up like this. I had no idea—”

“I know. At that time, your mind was completely focused on someone else, so there was no room to share with me.”

“No! At that time, I was angry because of Rick, that bastard! Yuri, I’ve never been crazy about anyone like I’m crazy about you. I swear. That’s in the past, why bother?! It’s not like that now. Absolutely not now.”

Yuri just quietly watched Ling Xinlu frantically explain.

Facing his gaze, Ling Xinlu suddenly fell silent as if realizing he had inadvertently revealed something, he lowered his head, cursed softly, and ruffled his hair in frustration.

“Actually, I just don’t want Gable to overthink and feel sad. But…”

“…..”

“…..”

He slumped his shoulders, groaning softly. After a moment of silence, a gloomy voice spoke as if it had fallen to the darkest depths.

“I know. I also know I’m acting like a crazy person, and I hate that you have to worry about trivial things. But if you don’t worry, I feel let down. I want you to pay more attention to me, I want you to be more obsessed and concerned about me. But I don’t want you to be hurt because of it.”

“…….Ling.”

“I know this is unreasonable. This is my problem, it actually has nothing to do with Taei-hyung or anyone else. I just…”

Ling Xinlu’s words suddenly stopped mid-sentence. He stared at Yuri with an earnest look, then slowly closed his mouth and lowered his head. A soft, helpless remark like a child who doesn’t know what to do.

“It’s so annoying…”

“Did I not make you trust me enough?”

Before Yuri’s calm question, Ling Xinlu immediately shook his head.

“Hyung, I know you’re mine, I’ve never doubted that. But it’s just… it’s just…”

Ling Xinlu’s hesitant voice gradually faded.

“It’s just… I like you too much. How can I like you this much…? More and more. To the point where…”

Ling Xinlu bit his lip tightly. His dark eyes seemed to ripple. He suddenly sprang up and plunged straight into the swimming pool.

The water exploded, foam splashing everywhere. The moon’s reflection on the surface of the lake shattered into thousands of sparkling pieces. Amidst the shimmering bubbles, Ling Xinlu’s figure receded.

Yuri, drenched and left alone behind, could only stare blankly as that slender figure gradually disappeared into the dark water in the distance.

“How can I like you this much?”

That soft, trembling sentence seemed to still echo in his ears. It seeped deep into him, wrapped around Yuri, and gradually sank to the bottom of his heart.

—How can I like you this much?

Yuri clenched his hands, trying to stop them from trembling. He also pressed his lips tightly to keep from shaking, but his heart couldn’t be held tight; it just trembled uncontrollably.

How could he like him this much?

He and Yuri were too different.

From head to toe, from appearance, personality, preferences, to the way they loved, expressed, and longed for affection, nothing was alike.

Even though Yuri had tried to express himself, perhaps he still couldn’t do what that person desired. Perhaps never in this lifetime. Yuri was not like Ling Xinlu; he couldn’t express his feelings like him.

But even if he couldn’t express it, he could still love so deeply.

Ling Xinlu, who had just plunged into the water like a wild beast, now slowed down. He silently glided for another lap, then swam back towards Yuri.

Ling Xinlu remained submerged, only resting his hands on the edge of the pool, propping his chin on them, and gazing intently at Yuri. Yuri stood up, approached him, and sat down in front of him. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind: this beautiful man emerging from the water was like a mermaid.

“Do you want me to be even greedier for you?”

That voice rose like a spell. In the silent night, with only the bright moonlight in the dark sky, the other person was like a mermaid rising from the night lake, captivating Yuri.

Yuri gazed at him for a long time, then spoke:

“I care.”

“……”

“I care who you’re with, what you do, who you’ve given your affection to. I’m jealous. Sometimes I get so jealous I want you to only look at me, only talk to me. But because you’ll always be by my side, I’ll learn to be generous.”

Ling Xinlu blinked. His already wide eyes widened even further as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard. Those eyes were pitch black, shining brightly, deeply imprinted in Yuri’s vision.

Now, even without an alarm, he thought of that person. He wanted to text even when there was nothing to say, and longed for messages even when nothing was happening. But more than messages, he just wanted to be with that person.

His love was originally something as bland as water, a simple and peaceful love, but over time it had gradually changed, becoming similar to the other person’s love.

“No one in this world can love you as much as I do.”

“…..”

Ling Xinlu’s expression subtly shifted. Perhaps due to the water droplets running down his face, Yuri felt as if he was about to cry. That face was too beautiful, so beautiful that Yuri couldn’t help but kneel down, bow his head, and place a kiss on those lips.

He gently touched and then pulled away. His dark eyes trembled slightly. Yuri touched his lips again and again.

Ling Xinlu, who had been silently staring at Yuri, suddenly murmured softly.

“Are you teasing me?”

He whispered in a hoarse, restrained voice, then unexpectedly reached out and pulled Yuri into his embrace as if a beast hidden in the water had suddenly pounced on its prey. Before Yuri could react, he was forcefully pulled into the water.

The quiet space was torn apart by the crashing water. Foam splashed high into the sky. A few struggles echoed, but soon after, the place fell silent again.

Underwater, where there should have been no sound, Ling Xinlu’s passionate kiss was so loud it drowned out everything.

The water was clearly cold, yet it felt like sinking into a scorching hot pool. The heat wrapped around his skin, almost suffocating him.

Yuri gently returned the other’s tight embrace, greedily enjoying those hot lips. The fabric wrapped around their skin in the surging water, little by little, was swept away into the distance.

Their lips never left each other. Aside from fleeting moments brushing against his cheek, gently biting his earlobe, licking his eyelids, the beast in the water only bit tightly onto Yuri’s lips and swallowed him whole. The hands tightly embracing Yuri continuously left marks on his skin.

Only when Yuri was completely unburdened, when he had exhaled his last drops of air, did Ling Xinlu finally release him, pulling him to the surface. But just as he managed to gasp for a breath, Ling Xinlu couldn’t help but pull him back towards himself.

Although they were out of the water, Ling Xinlu’s kiss was still so persistent that it made breathing difficult. At the same time, under the water, he hastily stripped off his own clothes, then tightened his grip around Yuri’s waist, pulling him even closer.

“Sorry… Sorry… Just once… just once first…” Ling Xinlu whispered impatiently, his voice urgent as if he couldn’t bear it any longer. He unhesitatingly thrust his hips under Yuri’s body like a seasoned player.

“Uh…—”

Without warning, what had been hard for a while now plunged straight inside. The merciless thrust penetrated deep to the very end, making Yuri let out a choked cry. But even that sound was immediately swallowed as Ling Xinlu covered his lips with his own, then continued with powerful, unhesitating hip thrusts.

Yuri had no room, held so tightly he couldn’t move, only able to cling to this wild beast as he was shaken by the unhesitating, rapid movements, like pounding a ball.

“Like… Like it so much. Really like it. How, how can I like it this much…!”

Low growls, mixed with curses and moans, tore at Yuri’s ears. His breathing became ragged. The gaps between the short moans narrowed further.

Yuri twisted his waist with each of his movements, unable to distinguish whether the rough act was pain or pleasure. The hot body he held tightly seemed to be stiffening. All movements suddenly slowed for a moment, then a surge of heat erupted, tearing through him.

“…!…!”

Ling Xinlu groaned intensely. Yuri’s body, clinging to him, convulsed, trembling in spasms.

The deeply embedded penis, lubricated by the released fluid, could now move in and out more smoothly. Ling Xinlu, seemingly lost in his lust, regained a bit of reason, and his violent movements softened slightly. But clearly, he didn’t care about his earlier promise of “just once,” shamelessly remaining inside him without pulling out.

Ling Xinlu continued to slowly rotate his hips, grinding back and forth inside Yuri, while supporting Yuri’s trembling, unsupported back against the pool wall.

Yuri relaxed, looking up at Ling Xinlu who was intently observing him. Sparkling water droplets rolled down his smooth, jade-like body, illuminated by the full moonlight. His deep black eyes burned with fire, shining brightly, looking straight at him. Yuri gazed at this beautiful yet dangerous creature, blurting out the thought he had just had in his mind:

“You look like a mermaid.”

Ling Xinlu raised an eyebrow, then chuckled softly. His eyes narrowed charmingly.

“That’s right. Because I can’t live without water.”

He whispered, then leaned forward again. The penis that had already filled him now pressed tighter, making Yuri hold his breath. That rough sensation began to transmit heat again, meticulously thrusting in waves.

“Continue… then… go ashore… do it…”

Hearing Yuri stammer those words, Ling Xinlu just squeezed his chest lightly and kissed it. He was clearly showing that he wanted to do it down here, and Yuri knew it was useless to say anything now.

Unlike Yuri, who didn’t like doing anything other than swimming in the pool, Ling Xinlu preferred to tease him more than swim. Especially on days like today when the water was changed.

“You know… how much I like doing this underwater.”

Ling Xinlu whispered to Yuri in a gentle, coaxing voice, but it contained an uncompromising firmness:

“I want to swim in this water. Swim in the water that has mingled with me, so that when I see someone who loves water sometimes even more than me, I won’t have to be jealous of the water itself.”

“So… a few more times, okay?” His voice, mixed with ragged breaths, brushed past Yuri’s ear. The rhythm increased as he pushed deeper inside him.

Yuri looked at Ling Xinlu with a resigned gaze, about to say something, then fell silent. If he asked, “Why do you think such strange things?”, this man would surely smile brightly and reply, “Do you really want to know what ‘strange’ is?” before lunging at him.

The sound of water continued to echo in his ears.

Splashing sounds mingled with bursting bubbles, interspersed with wet, unpleasant noises. They quickly turned into a suffocating sensation, clinging to his entire body. From head to toe, he felt submerged in water. That thick stickiness became a suffocating pleasure that enveloped everything.

In his swaying vision, Yuri saw Ling Xinlu, who had been staring at him unblinkingly for who knew how long. They bit, sucked, and swallowed each other whole.

“Beautiful.”

Ling Xinlu’s whisper seemed to float somewhere in space. Unable to penetrate Yuri’s intoxicated mind, it vanished instantly. He clung tightly to the hot body, the only clear sensation at this moment.

“So beautiful… I want to let the whole world know you’re mine.” The passionate voice licked over Yuri’s body.

The voice, filled with heat, seemed to lick Gable’s skin.

He couldn’t understand what this beautiful merman was saying. With the sound of water filling his ears, Gable could only curl his body. But no matter how many times he curled up, he couldn’t stop the heat pouring into his body. No, in fact, he didn’t want to stop it; he wanted more, more… He wanted to make this person his own.

“I want to love you. I want to tell the whole world you’re mine. I want to show everyone how much you love me. So no one dares to covet you anymore. I want to engrave in your heart that you are mine. I made you like this… But I don’t want anyone to see you. How can something so beautiful be admired by others? Only I know.”

The greedy aquatic beast muttered as if grinding his teeth, then swallowed Gable whole.

Just like that, Gable was completely taken by him.

After slowly swimming about twenty laps around the pool, the chaotic thoughts also dissipated, and his mood became much more relaxed.

All the heavy, uncomfortable emotions lingering in his mind seemed to have dissolved into the water. Gable lifted his head from the water as usual and slowly swam forward.

When his eyes met Ling Xinlu, who was leaning lazily on a poolside chair, he chuckled and sat up.

“Feeling better now, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. Xinlu, do you want to come down?”

“No. I already swam a few laps earlier. You know I don’t like swimming. Besides, there’s no reason to go into the pool anymore today.”

“…..”

The remark was a bit annoying. The strange feeling in the water made Gable slightly uncomfortable. But just as he was about to frown, Ling Xinlu, who always had a devilish ability to read others’ moods, leaned forward, smiling softly with the adorable expression he liked most.

“Don’t want to come up? I want to kiss Gable again.”

“Then you come down here.”

“If I come down there, it won’t just stop at a kiss. I’m fine, but can Gable handle it?”

“……”

It might just be a joke now, but if he hesitated for a few more seconds, it would become the truth.

Gable immediately swam towards the pool ladder. Partly because he was afraid Ling Xinlu would actually jump in, and partly because he felt he had swum enough; if he continued, he might actually get tired.

Gable got out of the pool and sat on an empty chair. Ling Xinlu immediately wrapped him in a large towel and handed him a glass of water.

A faint salty taste of brine spread on his tongue, making Gable chuckle.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing… It just tastes like seawater. It’s delicious.”

“You think seawater is delicious?” Ling Xinlu frowned as if he had heard something strange.

Gable drank the rest of the water, took the empty glass from his hand, and then gently placed a kiss on his lips. Ling Xinlu pulled the empty chair closer and sat next to him, both looking in the same direction.

In the sky, a bright full moon hung, casting down pure white light. A starless night sky, a quiet garden with a gentle breeze. And amidst that scene, a body of water sparkling with moonlight.

A perfect night to love a mermaid.

The damp sensation still lingered in his body, Gable gently exhaled.

“I just thought of something.”

Ling Xinlu suddenly spoke.

“What if Gable is actually a merman? You love water so much, and mermen don’t age.”

His serious tone made Gable laugh helplessly.

“I’m not a merman.”

“How are you so sure?”

“Hmm… That’s right. Can’t be entirely sure.”

Gable had never won against Ling Xinlu in these strange arguments, so this time he decided to give up early, lazily leaning back in the chair and enjoying the cool breeze.

“What if you really are a merman? Would I hate you?”

“I hate you?”

Ling Xinlu chuckled, waving his hand as if it were a question not worth answering. After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head.

“No. Merfolk live too long, that would be troublesome.”

“Then Gabe can’t become a merman.”

Ling Xinlu concluded as if it were an obvious truth, as if one could become a merman just by wishing it. Yuri silently watched him for a long time before speaking.

“So I’m not allowed to live long?”

“No. You’re not allowed to live longer than me. Are you planning to leave me alone in a world without you? No way. What if someone covets you?”

“……”

Yuri glared at Ling Xinlu, who was brazenly saying such selfish things as if they were obvious. But it seemed this wasn’t a joke. Ling Xinlu stared at him, saying seriously:

“You’re not allowed to live longer than me, nor are you allowed to die before me. We will die on the same day.”

“……”

Wanting to die on the same day as someone else, was that a Chinese tradition? Yuri unconsciously thought idly, then whispered:

“By then, we’ll be old men. Who would target old men anymore?”

But this time, what he received was a mocking snort.

“You think you’ll be an old man by then? Look at you, over thirty and still like this, who knows if you’ll be as perfectly preserved at eighty or ninety? People age with time, but you just stay beautiful like this, it’s unsettling.”

Ling Xinlu said with an extremely displeased expression, then emphasized with a decisive tone:

“I’m not kidding. I really want to die with you.”

The sincerity in his voice was so clear that anyone could feel it. Yuri stared at him stunned for a moment, then chuckled softly.

“Well, it’s true I look a bit younger than my age… But not as much as you think. It’s just your eyes are clouded. And you yourself are very beautiful too. You’re always so beautiful, it’s not just me who’s to blame.”

Yuri said calmly.

Suddenly—

Ling Xinlu froze.

His body was motionless as if he had turned to stone. His face also showed no movement, only a blush slowly spreading, dyeing his entire skin. Yuri had no special intention when saying that, but Ling Xinlu’s reaction made him blink slightly in confusion.

He didn’t expect someone who was always calm, unperturbed no matter what he heard, could be so happy because of a sentence like that. Just because it was something he said.

Ling Xinlu gritted his teeth, muttering something that sounded like a curse or a sigh. But before those murmurs could finish, he suddenly lunged, pinning Yuri down.

The two slid lightly on the grass, but strangely the chair didn’t tip over. Ling Xinlu pressed close to Yuri, holding his face, then kissed him.

A kiss so passionate it swallowed his breath whole. Yuri, who initially struggled, gradually accepted reality, wrapping his arms around his neck.

“……Do you want to go back into the water?”

Ling Xinlu whispered, panting between kisses. Yuri hesitated, looking at him for a moment, then relaxed his shoulders.

“…Stay here.” He whispered, pressing his lips to his chin.

Ling Xinlu smiled.

“Anywhere is fine with me. Wherever I am, I’ll still be immersed in my own water.”

He whispered that, then gently embraced him with all the tenderness he could give.

The creature of water had now transformed into a nocturnal beast, silently standing under the bright full moon. Although his face was obscured by shadow, those dark eyes still shone so brightly that one couldn’t look away.

Eyes that only saw Yuri. Eyes that Yuri had always gazed into.

A wild creature, untameable, erratic, and sometimes infuriatingly unreasonable, yet so adorable that he couldn’t let go.

Yuri wrapped his arms tightly around him.

A strong scent of water permeated the air.

He didn’t know if the scent came from him or from Yuri. But at that moment, none of it mattered anymore.

No matter whose it was, that scent was enveloping both of them.