Day: December 17, 2024

Chapter 76

       Zhan Weiyang had been hiding under his own quilt, refusing to come out.

       Zhan Weiguang remained silent for a while and then said to him through the quilt, “Yangyang, don’t be silly. I’m your only brother. Pei Qing is hurting you. Do you understand?”

       If Zhan Weiyang hadn’t heard Pei Qing’s name, he would have ignored Zhan Weiguang, but at this moment, he couldn’t help but say, “He didn’t! You don’t understand; you don’t know how much I like him!”

       Zhan Weiguang frowned, “No matter how much you like him, he can’t kiss your lips; that’s what lovers do.”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “We are lovers!”

       Zhan Weiguang asked, “Do you know what lovers mean? You are a boy; you want to fall in love with a girl.”

       Zhan Weiyang said loudly,”I just like Pei Qing. Why should I fall in love with a girl?”

       Zhan Weiguang felt a headache.

       At this moment, Zhan Weiyang’s mobile phone that he threw on the bedside table suddenly rang.

       Zhan Weiyang stretched out a hand from under the quilt, groping for his cell phone, and Zhan Weiguang leaned over to take a look and found that it was Pei Qing who called. He was furious and grabbed Zhan Weiyang’s cell phone and answered it.

       He shouted viciously, “Pei Qing!”

       Pei Qing was still at the airport, and they were waiting to pick up the checked luggage; he stood alone in the corner and called Zhan Weiyang. As soon as he answered the phone, he heard Zhan Weiguang’s voice.

       Even though Zhan Weiyang was so angry, Pei Qing’s tone remained very calm. He said, “Weiguang?”

       Zhan Weiguang said, “Pei Qing, are you a human being? Isn’t our family good enough to you? You dare to bully my brother!”

       Pei Qing asked, “What did Zhan Xueqing say to you?” He didn’t know how much Zhan Xueqing said in her message to Zhan Weiguang.

       Zhan Weiguang angrily questioned, “What else did you do? Do you think that I won’t call the police? You molested a minor!”

       Pei Qing stood against the wall. After hearing this, he was silent for two seconds and said to Zhan Weiguang, “Can you calm down? I didn’t do anything to Yangyang, let alone molest him.”

       Zhan Weiguang roared, “Why are you pretending? Zhan Weiyang has admitted that you kissed him!”

       At this time, Pei Qing suddenly heard Zhan Weiyang’s voice coming from the other side of the microphone as if anxiously saying from a distance, “Give me back my phone.”

       Zhan Weiyang was trying to grab the phone from Zhan Weiguang, and he said angrily, “You are not allowed to say that!”

       Pei Qing said to Zhan Weiguang, “Can you give the phone to Yangyang first, I’ll have a few words with him.”

       But Zhan Weiguang could no longer hear Pei Qing’s words. He was pressed on the bed by Zhan Weiyang. In order to prevent Zhan Weiyang from grabbing the phone, he stretched the hand holding the phone far away.

       In order to grab the phone, Zhan Weiyang bent his knees and knelt on Zhan Weiguang’s stomach.

       Zhan Weiguang cried out in pain, “fvck! Are you trying to murder your own brother?!”

       Zhan Weiyang pressed him and crawled over to grab his phone. Before he could grab it, he hurriedly shouted, “Qing ge.”

       Zhan Weiguang grabbed Zhan Weiyang’s leg, which was still pressing on his stomach and lifted it up. As a result, Zhan Weiyang’s hand slipped, and the phone he had just grabbed was accidentally thrown out. It hit the wall hard and then bounced to the ground with a ‘click’.

       Zhan Weiyang didn’t even bother to put on his shoes. He jumped off the bed to pick up the phone. When he picked it up, he found that the screen was broken, and the entire touch screen had no response. He hurriedly put the phone close to his ear and heard that the call was disconnected.

       Zhan Weiguang rubbed his stomach, climbed up, and took a breath.

       Zhan Weiyang glared at him, “My phone is broken!”

       Zhan Weiguang said, “You threw it on the ground yourself.” His stomach was hurting, and his breath was not stable.

       Zhan Weiyang said angrily, “I’m going to call Qing ge!”

       Zhan Weiguang was also angry, “You are not allowed to contact him again in the future!”

       Zhan Weiyang grabbed his broken phone and turned to run outside, passing through the corridor and down the stairs to the first floor.

       At this time, Zhan Xiusong was eating breakfast in the dining room. In fact, strictly speaking, it was almost noon, but it was still breakfast for him.

       He saw Zhan Weiyang in pyjamas, with messy hair and bare feet, and asked in a daze, “What are you doing?”

       Zhan Weiyang looked around anxiously and saw Auntie Luo coming out of the kitchen. He ran over and asked Auntie Luo, “Auntie Luo, can you lend me your phone?”

       Auntie Luo took her phone out of her pocket and handed it to Zhan Weiyang, wondering, “What’s wrong? Where’s your phone?”

       Zhan Weiyang shook her phone and said, “It’s broken.”

       Auntie Luo asked him, “Who are you going to call?”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “Qing ge.”

       “Pei Qing…” Auntie Luo said, “I don’t have his phone number saved.”

       Zhan Xiusong took the initiative to say, “I have it, I have it.” As he spoke, he took out his phone, found Pei Qing’s phone number and read it to Zhan Weiyang.

       Zhan Weiyang heard it and hurriedly entered the number and dialled it. Then he looked up and saw Zhan Weiguang coming down, so he took the phone and hid in Grandma’s room.

       “Zhan Weiyang!” Zhan Weiguang walked towards him.

       Grandma was watching TV in the living room. There was no one in the room. Zhan Weiyang went in and locked the door. He heard Zhan Weiguang knocking on the door but ignored him. He hid in the corner of the room and squatted down, letting the bed block him and the door.

       Because it was an unfamiliar number, the phone rang for a long time before Pei Qing answered it.

       Zhan Weiyang shouted crisply, “Qing ge!”

       Pei Qing responded softly, “Yangyang?”

       They were on their way home from the airport. Pei Jingrong called the driver to pick them up. It was a business car.

       Pei Qing and Zhan Xueqing were still sitting in the back row. When they heard Pei Qing answering the phone, Zhan Xueqing turned his head and looked at him.

       In fact, at this time, not only Zhan Xueqing but also Zhan Yingfei in the front row turned his head and looked at him.

       Pei Qing continued, “What happened just now?”

       Zhan Weiyang felt aggrieved, “Zhan Weiguang broke my phone.”

       Pei Qing asked, “Did he fight with you?” Her tone was unconsciously a little worried.

       Zhan Weiyang said, “No, he just snatched my phone.”

       Pei Qing said, “It doesn’t matter. Just get your phone fixed if it’s broken, and don’t fight him or quarrel with him.”

       Zhan Weiyang said, “I didn’t.”

       Pei Qing was about to continue talking when Zhan Yingfei asked him, “Is that Yangyang?”

       He nodded, then asked Zhan Weiyang, “Did you take your medicine today?”

       Zhan Weiyang suddenly remembered, “Ah, I forgot.”

       Pei Qing said to him, “Then go take your medicine first, I’ll call you later.” Then he remembered that Zhan Weiyang’s phone was broken, so he asked, “Whose phone is this?”

       Zhan Weiyang answered, “Auntie Luo’s.”

       Pei Qing said, “Okay, then I’ll let Auntie Luo call you, you go take your medicine first.”

       Pei Qing then hung up the phone, and when he looked up, he saw Pei Jingrong also turned his head to look at him.

       Pei Jingrong asked, “Do you get along well with Zhan Weiyang?”

       Pei Qing replied, “Very well.”

       Pei Jingrong said, “It’s rare to see you so patient with a child.”

       Pei Qing didn’t say anything.

       Zhan Yingfei smiled and said, “That means you don’t know your son at all. Pei Qing is actually very careful. Yangyang is special and needs more patience to get along with him.”

       Pei Jingrong didn’t say anything after hearing this.

       Zhan Yingfei smiled and said to Pei Qing, “My eldest brother also said that Yangyang caused you a lot of trouble when he was not at home. Thank you for taking care of Yangyang for so long.”

       Pei Qing was silent for a while and said, “We are all family. What’s the point of saying thank you, Auntie?”

       Zhan Yingfei smiled and said, “Yes, Yangyang is also your younger brother. He has been ill since he was a child. If he often looks for you in the future, I hope you’ll be patient with him.”

       Pei Qing quietly replied, “I will.”


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Chapter 47 – I have a dragon egg.

Chapter 47 – I have a dragon egg.

Summoning the imperial physician took time, and then the physician had to travel from the Imperial Hospital to Yonghua Palace. This period was extremely tormenting for Zhao Qi. Initially, he didn’t think much of it—feeling weak and having a poor appetite in the heat seemed normal. But after vomiting, he suddenly felt uncomfortable all over and instantly became miserable.

 

“Xiao Jinzi,” Zhao Qi weakly called, “help me lie down.”

 

Xiao Jinzi, panicked, said, “Your Majesty, hang in there, the imperial physician will be here soon.”

 

Zhao Qi shook his head, staring blankly ahead, “It’s too late.”

 

Xiao Jinzi was on the verge of tears, screaming hysterically, “Your Majesty, please don’t scare me!”

 

At this moment, Zhao Qi felt that if a tear could fall from the corner of his eye, it would be perfect, but he couldn’t squeeze one out. “I’m gravely ill before reaching adulthood. What will happen to my mother and the people of Great Jing after I die? Heaven is jealous of talents, my aspirations unfulfilled—”

 

Xiao Jinzi cried, “Your Majesty—”

 

Xiao Shiqing arrived at the entrance of Yonghua Palace and heard the wailing. Upon entering, he saw Zhao Qi lying on the bed and Xiao Jinzi kneeling beside, crying loudly. His face turned pale, “Zhao Qi!”

 

Zhao Qi propped himself up, “Has the Prime Minister come?”

 

Xiao Shiqing’s face looked worse than Zhao Qi had ever seen, as if his heart had stopped beating. His hand, gripping Zhao Qi’s shoulder, trembled slightly, “What’s wrong with you?”

 

Zhao Qi was stunned by Xiao Shiqing’s appearance and took a long time to react, “Oh… I vomited.”

 

Xiao Shiqing’s expression froze for a moment, “Vomited?”

 

“Yes, Prime Minister,” Xiao Jinzi sobbed, “The emperor just had a sip of mung bean soup, and then he vomited up all of last night’s dinner. The emperor usually eats a lot and never throws up; this is the first time something like this has happened!”

 

Xiao Shiqing: “…”

 

“You sure talk a lot,” Zhao Qi said suspiciously, “Are you really called ‘Xiao Jinzi’ because you keep your mouth shut?”

 

Xiao Jinzi replied, “Yes, Your Majesty, there’s no other part of me that’s tight.”

 

Zhao Qi frowned, “What kind of question is that…”

 

Xiao Shiqing watched coldly as the two bantered, “Having fun?”

 

Zhao Qi nodded sheepishly. Sometimes acting was quite enjoyable, especially with someone to play along.

 

Xiao Shiqing gritted his teeth, “You dare to nod? Do you know I almost…” His words abruptly stopped. He closed his eyes and rubbed his brow, looking as if he had been through a great ordeal.

 

Zhao Qi and Xiao Jinzi exchanged a look, both surprised by Xiao Shiqing’s reaction. The Prime Minister, who remained unflappable even in the face of a collapsing mountain, was scared by their little joke?

 

Tentatively, Zhao Qi asked, “Were you worried about me, brother?”

 

Xiao Shiqing’s face was expressionless, “No.”

 

“Oh.” It turned out he was being overly sentimental.

 

“If you’re unwell, call the imperial physician. Crying won’t help.”

 

Zhao Qi muttered quietly, “I’ve already called.”

 

Not long after, Jiang Dehai led the imperial physician in. It was the most senior physician, Zhang.

 

Zhao Qi extended his hand for Zhang to take his pulse, watching as the old physician’s eyebrows raised higher and higher, finally knitting together in a frown. Zhao Qi was terrified—oh no, could it be an incurable disease?

 

“Don’t give up on me, physician,” Zhao Qi grasped the old man’s hand, “I think there’s still hope for me.”

 

Xiao Shiqing glanced at Zhao Qi and addressed the physician, “What illness does the emperor have? Speak freely.”

 

Physician Zhang, trembling, withdrew his hand. A layer of cold sweat formed on his forehead, but his expression remained relatively calm. He bowed and said, “Prime Minister, the emperor has damp-heat in his stomach and intestines, and a deficiency in both Qi and blood, causing a lack of appetite and nausea.”

 

Zhao Qi exhaled in relief. It was just damp-heat; nothing to be afraid of. In these times, who didn’t have some dampness in their body?

 

Xiao Shiqing asked, “Is it serious?”

 

A drop of cold sweat silently slid down the physician’s cheek, “This is a common ailment in the summer heat. The emperor needs to take some herbal medicine to clear heat and dampness, and eat a lighter diet. He should recover soon.”

 

Xiao Shiqing’s expression softened a bit, “Prescribe the medicine.”

 

Xiao Jinzi took the prescription to prepare the medicine. Jiang Dehai advised earnestly, “Your Majesty, you can’t keep eating greasy foods like pig trotters anymore.”

 

Just as Zhao Qi was about to speak, a wave of nausea hit him, and he turned away to retch.

 

Xiao Shiqing frowned, sat down by the bed, and gently patted Zhao Qi’s back to soothe him. He instructed Jiang Dehai, “Bring water for the emperor to rinse his mouth.”

 

After rinsing his mouth, Xiao Shiqing helped Zhao Qi lie down. Zhao Qi asked, “Brother, why did you come to see me?”

 

Xiao Shiqing had intended to discuss a southern tour with Zhao Qi, but seeing the young emperor’s pale face, he decided against it. “Nothing, just wanted to check on you.”

 

Zhao Qi said, “Really? I don’t believe it.”

 

Xiao Shiqing was speechless for a moment, “Do you want to travel by water or land for the southern tour?”

 

Zhao Qi considered, “Since we’re inspecting the disaster, water travel might be better.”

 

Xiao Shiqing nodded, “What kind of dragon boat do you want?”

 

A picture appeared in Zhao Qi’s mind, and he got excited, “A dragon head on the front, grass on the deck, and a skull on the flag… Are you going to help me build a new dragon boat?”

 

Xiao Shiqing ruthlessly shattered Zhao Qi’s fantasy, “No.”

 

“…” Then why did you ask?

 

“Your Majesty,” Xiao Jinzi brought over the medicine, “it’s time to take your medicine.”

 

Xiao Shiqing said, “Give it to me.”

 

Jiang Dehai reminded him, “Prime Minister, the emperor said he’s old enough to drink by himself.”

 

Xiao Shiqing looked at Zhao Qi, “Do you want my help?”

 

“No…” Seeing Xiao Shiqing raise an eyebrow slightly, Zhao Qi quickly changed his tune, “I want brother’s help, ah—”

 

Xiao Shiqing scooped up a spoonful of the medicine, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to Zhao Qi’s lips.

 

Zhao Qi drank the medicine spoon by spoon, fed by Xiao Shiqing. After finishing the medicine, he began to feel sleepy. Rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand, he said, “I’m sleepy.”

 

“Hmm.” Xiao Shiqing’s ink-scented palm covered his eyes, his voice soft and gentle, “Sleep.”

 

Meanwhile, as soon as Physician Zhang returned to the imperial hospital, he could no longer hold on. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.

 

A young physician in the courtyard, Zhang’s proud disciple Cheng Boyan, was sorting medicinal herbs. Seeing this, he dropped the herbs and ran over, “Teacher! What’s wrong?”

 

Physician Zhang clung to Cheng Boyan’s arm, “Quick, pack my things. I need to leave the capital tonight and retire!”

 

Cheng Boyan was shocked, “Didn’t you just take the emperor’s pulse? What happened to make you so frightened?”

 

Physician Zhang refused to elaborate, shaking his head repeatedly. His face was ashen, and he muttered nonsensically, “Unheard of, unseen—thank goodness I held on for a moment, or I’d have lost my head!”

 

Cheng Boyan asked, “Is something wrong with the emperor’s illness?”

 

Physician Zhang wept bitterly, “More than just wrong!”

 

“Students believe that regardless of what illness the Emperor suffers from, the doctor should be forthright. His Majesty won’t do anything to the doctor.”

 

Last time, when the Emperor’s favorite male companion was drugged with an aphrodisiac, his condition was critical. The old court physicians didn’t dare to speak frankly and pushed Cheng Boyan to report to the Emperor. Cheng Boyan had initially thought he would hear the classic royal threats like “Everyone will be buried with him,” “Bring your head to see me,” or “Take him out and flog him to death.” To his surprise, the Emperor merely asked him to think of a solution and do his best.

 

Doctor Zhang hesitated before sighing deeply, “Boyan, don’t blame your teacher for not warning you. If you want to live, you mustn’t go to see the Emperor’s illness… Enough said, I’m leaving. Take care of yourself.”

 

“Teacher!”

 

While packing his belongings, Doctor Zhang kept muttering, “How bizarre, how bizarre! Who could be so bold as to make a king submit beneath them…”

 

Xiao Shiqing, worried about Zhao Qi’s deteriorating condition, ordered the physicians to report to Yonghua Palace daily.

 

When Zhao Qi saw that a different physician had come, he asked curiously, “Where is Doctor Zhang from yesterday?”

 

Cheng Boyan’s expression was subtle, “Your Majesty, Lord Zhang’s second great-aunt passed away yesterday. He has requested leave to mourn and has returned home for the funeral.”

 

Zhao Qi was momentarily speechless, “That’s possible?”

 

Cheng Boyan respectfully asked, “Has Your Majesty’s condition improved?”

 

Zhao Qi shook his head miserably, “No. During the morning court, if I hadn’t held it in, I would have vomited in front of all the civil and military officials.”

 

Cheng Boyan thought for a moment, then said, “Please extend your hand, Your Majesty. I will take your pulse.”

 

Jiang Dehai corrected him, “Can the Emperor’s hand be called a hand? It’s a dragon claw!”

 

Cheng Boyan hurriedly said, “I was careless. Please extend your dragon claw, Your Majesty.”

 

Zhao Qi’s expression was complex, “… There’s no need for that.”

 

Cheng Boyan placed two fingers on Zhao Qi’s wrist, closing his eyes to feel the pulse. Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide.

 

Seeing Cheng Boyan’s face turn visibly pale, Zhao Qi felt a pang of alarm, “No way, not again?! Can’t you physicians manage your expressions? This is terrifying!”

 

In the blink of an eye, Cheng Boyan fully understood why his seasoned teacher, despite his years of experience, was so frightened that he abandoned his position and fled home overnight.

 

Zhao Qi couldn’t contain his impatience, “What’s wrong with me? Just give it to me straight!”

 

“Your Majesty…” Cheng Boyan knelt and kowtowed, trembling, “You… you have a dragon egg… no, you are carrying a dragon child!”

 

Zhao Qi, Xiao Jinzi, and Jiang Dehai were all dumbfounded, “What?!”

 

Cheng Boyan decided to lay it all out, “Your Majesty’s pulse is smooth and steady, indicative of a pregnancy pulse.”

 

Zhao Qi’s expression remained in the previous phase, “What?!”

 

Cheng Boyan didn’t dare to lift his head, “Your Majesty’s pulse indeed indicates pregnancy. Coupled with Your Majesty’s symptoms, you should be about two months along!”

 

Jiang Dehai sternly said, “Lord Cheng, deceiving the Emperor is a capital offense!”

 

Cheng Boyan kowtowed repeatedly, “I am innocent, Your Majesty! Even if I had a hundred heads, I wouldn’t dare deceive the Emperor!”

 

Zhao Qi looked down at his own crotch, “But… but I am a boy…”

 

Xiao Jinzi murmured, “Your Majesty, I remember before the Longevity Festival, Young Master Zhao Si gave you two bottles of medicine. One was an aphrodisiac, and the other was…”

 

These words struck Zhao Qi like a thunderbolt, leaving him as a skeletal remains. He closed his eyes and fell straight back.

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

The three of them scrambled to catch Zhao Qi, while Jiang Dehai instinctively shouted, “Quick, fetch the physician!”

 

“Sir, I am the physician!” Cheng Boyan said as he pinched Zhao Qi’s philtrum.

 

Zhao Qi opened his eyes slightly, nearly spitting blood, “No— I do not accept this scenario!”


T/N: There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

 

 

Chapter 22

       It was getting late, and Chu Yichen was leaving a social gathering. After getting in the car, he received a report from Bai Xiao.

       “Eldest Young Master just went to Lihao because of a dispute with an escort. According to the investigation, her name is Lan Xin. She is 38 years old and lives with her five-year-old daughter. Her husband has a gambling addiction, with several debts at a lending company and some external debts as well. She often physically abuses the mother and daughter and demands money from them. This time, Lan Xin was forced to try to borrow money from a customer. When the customer got angry, she was beaten. Eldest Young Master stopped him. After that, the Eldest Young Master ordered Bai Yang to mobilise some people from the East District to give Lan Xin’s husband a lesson, and…” He paused awkwardly and saw the man looking up at him, so he had to continue. He said, “And brought Lan Xin and her daughter back to Qinglan’s mansion.”

       Chu Yichen was slightly startled when he heard the words Qinglan Mansion. His handsome face looked a bit lonely under the flickering light outside the car window. He seemed a little tired. He leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. No emotion could be heard in his tone.

       “Let him be.”

 

       How long had it been since he had been back here?

       Chu Yunhan got out of the car and looked at the European-style building before him, feeling a little sad. Since his father’s death, and after his mother couldn’t bear the blow and was sent to a nursing home due to her mental issues, he rarely returned to this place called ‘home’.

       At first, he lived in an apartment under his name, but later, he spent his time in hotels or vacation villas, and days went by like that. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to come back; it was just that every time he stepped in here and saw those familiar faces and things, he couldn’t help but remember the happy days from the past, which only made him even more uncomfortable when he was alone.

       After getting the news, the old housekeeper, Feng Tai, who was waiting at the door, saw him. His eyes were a little moist, and he said, “Young Master, you are back.”

       “Yeah.” He laughed, “Uncle Feng, you should wear a bit more at night. It’s not good to be so concerned about your appearance.” As he walked inside, he continued, “You missed me, didn’t you?”

       “Yes, we all miss you very much.” Feng Tai’s voice was choked with sobs. He watched Chu Yunhan grow up and also watched him encounter changes in his parents. Although they had a master-servant relationship in terms of status, he always treated Yunhan as his son emotionally. He understood why Yunhan didn’t come back, and he was willing to wait here for him to come back.

       “Young Master is back?!” A mellow female voice rang out. The fair and plump woman hurried out in a coat. When she saw Chu Yunhan, she cried with joy and complained, “Young Master, how can you leave this family and leave us alone?!” and simultaneously asked, “Are you hungry? What do you want to eat? I’ll cook it for you.” When she caught sight of Lan Xin and her daughter following behind, she paused for a moment, her eyes lighting up, “Young Master, this child isn’t…?”

       “Auntie Song, she is my friend.” Chu Yunhan knew she was thinking the wrong way again. He couldn’t laugh or cry. He touched his stomach and said, “I’m really hungry. Make us something delicious, okay?”

       “Okay, okay.” The round, plump woman, disappointed after her failed attempt at gossip, went off to cook.

       Over there, Feng Tai had already made tea and brought it over, and he didn’t forget to prepare some biscuits for Yuanyuan. Lan Xin thanked him repeatedly, and the thin Yuanyuan stared timidly at the cookie jar in his hand, not daring to take it. She was only five years old and did not yet understand the complex world of adults. She only knew that her father was easily angry and would hit her when he was angry, so she did not dare to do anything, not even to call him ‘Daddy’. Her mother was often beaten and would always cry while hugging herself. Her mother also had to make money to support herself. She worked very late and was very tired, so she couldn’t ask for this or that.

       Seeing this, Chu Yunhan knelt down, took a biscuit and threw it into his mouth, then handed it to her, grinning, “It tastes good. Try it?”

       Yuanyuan’s big eyes stared closely at Chu Yunhan in front of him. She remembered that this uncle had just come to the house with many people dressed in black and then said, “Don’t do anything in front of the child.” Then, the men in black dragged her drunk father out. She didn’t ask where her father was, and her mother didn’t tell her. Her mother only told her that this uncle’s surname was Chu and that he would protect them. This uncle was different from my father—he was very beautiful, very clean, and spoke very softly. He even asked someone to find warm clothes for her to wear so for her he wasn’t scary.

       “You really don’t want it? Then I’ll take it.” Chu Yunhan shook the jar.

       Yuanyuan bit her lip and mustered up the courage to reach over and take a piece. He kept looking at the other person’s face the whole time, like a wary little animal.

       Chu Yunhan didn’t move and kept smiling at her.

       She finally put the cookie into her mouth, took a bite, and mumbled a thank you.

       “Is it delicious?” he asked.

       She nodded.

       “It’s all for you.” He handed over the jar. Yuanyuan looked up at Lan Xin, somewhat surprised. Lan Xin’s eyes were red as she said, “Just take it.” Only then did the little girl accept the jar, immediately expressing her thanks.

       “You should let her go to kindergarten and spend more time with her.” Chu Yunhan stood up and said to Lan Xin.

       “I saved money before and wanted her to go, but then…” She thought of her husband, who was worse than a beast. Filled with both hatred and guilt towards her daughter, she couldn’t continue speaking.

       “I will take care of Yuanyuan’s tuition. Your husband should not cause trouble again in the future. You can live here for the time being. Don’t go to Lihao anymore. Uncle Feng will arrange a job here for you. Cleaning or helping in the kitchen will not be very tiring. The salary will be higher than before, and you can spend more time with Yuanyuan. If you don’t want to work here, I can ask someone to find another job for you.”

       Lan Xin’s tears rolled down, and she choked up, “I want to. I want to… I don’t know how to thank you anymore. Really, I really… thank you…”

       “Why are you crying again?” He laughed helplessly and said jokingly, “I remember you always said that you were a tigress. Tigress don’t cry so easily.”

       She couldn’t help but smile and wipe away her tears. In a harsh living environment, she was accustomed to being covered in armour and struggling alone. Only when she had a solid shoulder to rely on did she reveal the softest side of a woman.

       Lan Xin understood that Chu Yunhan was just repaying the favour she had done for helping him. These things might not be worth mentioning to Chu Yunhan, but to her, this man pulled her and Yuanyuan out of the mire and saved their lives. Starting tomorrow, everything will be different.

 

       After settling the mother and daughter, Chu Yunhan happily drank the seafood porridge made by Auntie Song and took a shower. It was already midnight. He lay down in his room and looked at the family photo placed by the bedside. His fingers brushed over the old man’s smile and his parents’ faces little by little, with a gentle light in his eyes. His eyes slowly turned to his high-spirited self, smiled, and finally stopped on the face of Chu Yichen standing aside.

       He still remembered the day the photo was taken. The elders were laughing and talking, and the children were playing. He stood between them and secretly stretched out his fingers behind Chu Yichen and Chu Minran’s heads to make bunny ears while taking pictures. His father scolded him.

       Sure enough, he would always recall the past in this house and smile bitterly. After experiencing betrayal, escape, detention, struggle, r4p3 and suicide, looking back at old photos and thinking of the close companionship when he was young, it felt like a lifetime ago.

       In the still photo, young Chu Yichen looked at him silently with his black eyes. Chu Yunhan suddenly felt a little upset and placed the photo frame face down on the bedside table.

       I’m almost there. With just a little more effort, I can get rid of this person.

       He covered his head with the quilt and fell asleep.

 

       Lan Xin and her daughter were left in the care of Feng Tai, which made Chu Yunhan feel at ease. The next morning, he went to work with renewed energy. He needed to focus all his efforts on winning the tough battle to increase sales by eight percent. As the store’s anniversary week approached, he became busier, spending all day in the office. Unfortunately, the closer he got to the critical moment, the more problems arose, like a student about to enter an exam room suddenly realising they forgot to bring an eraser or that their pen was out of ink. Though these were minor issues, they kept his nerves on edge.

       A few days later, the anxious student Chu Yunhan finally faced this major test. The seven days of the anniversary week felt like the shortest seven days of his life. Although they extended the operating hours by four hours each day, it still didn’t feel like enough.

       He did not have high hopes for an increase in offline sales. He only hoped to remain relatively flat, focusing mainly on online sales. Since the store’s opening, Chu Yunhan, who was closely focused on the backend data of the website, had hardly had much rest. He drank one cup after another of coffee. After three days, he almost fell into a strange state of confusion and excitement, with dark circles under his eyes. With stubble on his face and messy hair, Bai Yang forced him into the office restroom and finally fell asleep.

       In a daze, he felt someone sitting down next to him and gently stroking his hair. The warm touch was a little familiar, and the light fragrance in his nose was also a little familiar. He wanted to avoid that hand, but he didn’t have much strength. He couldn’t even open his eyes to see who it was. So he could only drift off into one strange and bizarre dream after another. It was an uneasy sleep, and he woke up an hour later. No one was around him except for a thermos bucket on the table containing fragrant wild ginseng and chicken soup.

       Chu Yunhan took a sip and asked Bai Yang, “Where did the soup come from?”

       “Auntie Song made it and had it delivered.”

       He stared at Bai Yang for a while without saying anything. Then he lowered his head, finished the soup, and said, “Tell her not to bring it again.”

       “Yes.”

       He had always had a discerning palate and was very sensitive to the flavours of food. This soup had been on the bland side, with a light flavour and soft chicken, not made by Aunt Song. He had tasted this kind of chicken soup before.

       In the Chu family’s old house, it was Auntie Wang’s work.

       Who brought the chicken soup? Who was the person in the dream just now that he couldn’t see clearly?

       Since the other party wanted to hide it, he didn’t want to reveal it.

       Chu Yichen, you came to see if I can win, right?


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