Chapter 18
Inside the living room, only the sound of the mechanical clock remained.
Why He Nan could say such things was self-evident. That was also exactly why He Jingtai was so flustered and uneasy.
He Jingcheng had been frightened by his father’s fury. No longer caring about the alliance between brothers, he quietly left with He Ling.
Meanwhile, He Nan, looking at his father’s ashen face, already knew he had made a terrible mistake and was so frightened that he burst into loud sobs.
He Jingtai had taken the slap and did not dare talk back. He only bent over humbly and explained, “Dad, I really didn’t teach He Nan those words.”
Old Master He’s expression was cold, clearly not fooled.
The slap from just now still stung faintly.
Lowering his head, He Jingtai touched his cheek, then slowly turned his cold gaze toward Yu Chen. “Dad, Xiao Nan was indeed wrong, and I also failed to discipline him properly. Don’t worry. Words like that will never be said again.”
Old Master He was obviously deeply disappointed and paid no attention to He Jingtai’s weak assurance. His tired gaze shifted to He Zhen.
At this moment, He Zhen showed no especially strong emotion. Only a trace of surprise stained his light brown pupils.
“Li Huan, take Xiao Zhen and Yu Chen to have their injuries checked.”
“Yes, sir.”
After the three of them left, Old Master He tapped his cane against the floor. “Kneel.”
With a smack, He Jingtai dropped to his knees on the heavy wooden floor.
He Nan had been completely scared senseless by the situation before him. The crying he could not control carried straight out into the courtyard, making Yu Chen look back again and again.
Li Huan stroked Yu Chen’s head, his eyes full of deep worry.
That night, both little cubs had trouble sleeping.
Although what had happened during the day was already over, the aftershock still lingered in both their hearts.
By the moonlight, Yu Chen rolled his lively big eyes, then quietly climbed into He Zhen’s blanket.
He Zhen lay there with both arms folded behind his head, staring silently at the ceiling, lost in thought. When he noticed his blanket suddenly being lifted at the edge and saw a round little bulge moving under it, a faintly disdainful smile rose to his lips.
Just as Yu Chen was about to pop out from under the covers to scare him, He Zhen moved first, pulling the chubby little baby charging at him into a tight hug and pinning him firmly beneath him.
Still half hidden under the blanket, Yu Chen laughed like a little fox.
“Boss! How are your reflexes so fast!”
He Zhen raised a brow. “You’re the one who’s too dumb.”
Yu Chen did not move. In the pitch-black night, his beautiful round eyes slowly opened, quietly gazing at He Zhen in front of him.
He Zhen did not let go and still kept him in that “captured” position. His delicate, deep-set features were turned away from the moonlight, making him look even prettier.
In a soft baby voice, Yu Chen praised him, “Boss.”
He Zhen: “Mm?”
Yu Chen: “You look like a little prince.”
Hearing that, He Zhen froze for a moment. He had heard that description already on the second day he and Yu Chen met. Back then, he thought Yu Chen had been deliberately flattering him. Hearing it again now, it should be genuine praise from the bottom of Yu Chen’s heart.
“That’s because I look like my mom.” He Zhen let go of Yu Chen, slipped under the blanket, and lay face to face with him. His beautiful, quiet eyes were especially focused. “Yu Chenchen.”
Yu Chen: “Here!”
For once, Young Master He actually praised him. “You’re good-looking too.”
Yu Chen foolishly lifted his little feet and answered in a sweet baby voice, “That’s because… I look like… Mama too!”
He Zhen looked at him quietly and finally asked the question he had always been curious about. “Yu Chenchen, why haven’t your dad and mom come back all this time?”
At once, a trace of grievance flashed through Yu Chen’s eyes, impossible to suppress. Tears slowly welled up and trembled in his eyes. But very quickly, he pressed his plump lips together and forced a smile. “My mama went to the sky, and Daddy doesn’t want me anymore.”
He Zhen was stunned.
For a very, very long time, there was no response in the bedroom.
He began to regret it.
He should not have asked Yu Chen that question. The little hand lying on top of the blanket slowly clenched. After a long silence settled over the room, he secretly studied Yu Chen’s eyes, terrified that his question had made Yu Chen cry.
After a long while, He Zhen called softly, “Yu Chenchen.”
Yu Chen’s voice carried a trace of forced restraint. “Mm!”
After struggling with himself for a long time, He Zhen grabbed Yu Chen’s hand. “Our parents are both gone too, but we can still be very happy.”
Yu Chen nodded his little head in agreement. “Right!”
He Zhen cautiously moved closer and awkwardly pulled Yu Chen’s little head into his arms. “You’re my little follower. I’ll always protect you.”
“Really?” Yu Chen lifted his round little face, the tip of his nose accidentally brushing against He Zhen’s collar. Inwardly, he wondered what kind of magic his boss used. His clothes always smelled nice.
“Of course it’s true. I would never lie to a child.” In He Zhen’s mind, Yu Chen was a little child, while he himself was a big child.
After getting He Zhen’s promise, Yu Chen smiled even more sweetly. But the tears gathered in his crescent-shaped eyes could no longer be held back, and in the end, several big fat tears dropped onto He Zhen’s neck.
Not long after, a faint sniffling sound rose in the quiet room.
Yu Chen no longer tried to hold it in. Like a small beast separated from its mother, he sadly licked at his wounds.
Imitating Li Huan, He Zhen patted Yu Chen’s back again and again with his small palm, as if that might make Yu Chen stop crying.
A very, very long time later—
Yu Chen’s tearful voice sounded in the air. “Boss, I’m hungry. I want braised chicken wings.”
He Zhen’s expression stiffened for a moment. He stared speechlessly at the little meatball in his arms.
“Yu Chenchen.”
“Are you a little pig?!”
“Forget it. You’re still little. You’re growing.”
Young Master He climbed out of the warm blanket, put on a padded jacket, and walked off coolly with his hands behind his back. “Wait for me…”
Curled up in the blanket, Yu Chen’s wet eyes were full of expectation.
“Hurry back, okay? Bring a lot.”
Winter in Hai City was cold and dry. As the temperature kept dropping, light snow began to fall all over the sky on the last day of 2023.
Today was the day of Yingzhuo Kindergarten’s New Year performance. The school had specially invited all the children’s parents to attend. After hearing about it, He Heng deliberately took time out of his work schedule to come over. When he saw that his young master was not only playing a big tree but was also serving as an announcer, he was extremely gratified. He even specially recorded the best parts and sent them to He Zhen’s maternal grandparents overseas and to Old Master He.
Naturally, He Jinglin was not absent either. When she saw her beloved son and nephew playing two tall palm trees, her face shone with pride.
So what if they were palm trees?
As long as He Zhi’an was having fun, that was what mattered most.
After the performance, the little actors lined up to receive their own exclusive New Year gifts.
Clutching the long-awaited chocolate in his hand, Yu Chen smiled more sweetly than anyone else. Dressed in his imposing little guard costume, he struck pose after pose for Li Huan to photograph him.
Li Huan was extremely serious about it, constantly changing angles and praising Yu Chen so much that he might as well have been praising a flower into bloom.
At the side, He Jinglin laughed. “Butler Li is really giving him so much emotional value. Just look at Yu Chen’s proud little mouth—it’s practically tilted up to the sky.”
He Zhen mocked Yu Chen for having so little self-restraint, then quietly stuffed his own chocolate into Yu Chen’s schoolbag.
Yu Chenchen could eat so much that two portions were probably barely enough for him.
This New Year’s Day, He Zhen was going to spend the holiday with He Zhi’an at Old Master He’s place. So after school, the driver picked them up directly, planning for them to stay there overnight.
Of course, Yu Chen was naturally part of the arrangement. First, with Li Huan gone, there would be no one at home to look after him. Second, Old Master He understood He Zhen’s temperament very well—if Yu Chen did not go, there was a high chance He Zhen would throw a fit, so he simply invited Yu Chen along as well.
As a result, Old Master He’s home was especially lively on New Year’s Day. In the living room, the adults drank tea and chatted, while the courtyard belonged entirely to the children as their own place to play.
Last week, He Zhen had fought with He Nan and He Ling. This time, none of them acknowledged each other. He Nan and He Ling hid whenever they saw him, and the traces of injury on their faces could still vaguely be seen.
Yu Chen, on the other hand, was in excellent spirits. With the two annoying brats no longer bothering him, he ate and drank happily with He Zhen and He Zhi’an. He could not have been more delighted.
Among the children, however, there were many unfamiliar faces Yu Chen did not recognize. According to He Zhi’an, they were the children of He family relatives, and they had all grown up playing together.
Among them was one particularly beautiful child who had just come with his parents. He was holding a marvelous toy in his hand. The toy flashed with colorful lights and looked incredibly pretty. If you tossed it into the air, it would fly back by itself. Yu Chen kept sneaking glances at it, unable to stop staring.
Just then, a beautiful middle-aged woman came out of the house. She waved at that pretty child and at the same time called out to He Zhen, “Little Zhenzhen, come over to Auntie.”
He Zhen nodded and ran over.
“Did you miss me?” This lady was named Qin Zhi. She was He Zhen’s mother’s younger cousin. Six years ago, thanks to a match arranged by He Zhen’s mother, she had married He Zhen’s father’s cousin. The two were very much in love.
He Zhen had always carried goodwill toward his mother’s relatives. He nodded politely. “Hello, Cousin Auntie.”
Qin Zhi smiled warmly and brought her child over in front of He Zhen. “This is your younger brother. You two played together when you were little. Do you remember?”
He Congxing shyly hid behind Qin Zhi and sweetly called out to He Zhen, “Hello, big brother!”
He Zhen’s expression remained calm. “Hello, little brother.”
“Your grandpa is calling for you inside. Hurry along now.”
He Zhen inclined his head. Before leaving, he glanced back at Yu Chen, who was sitting under the tree holding snacks, then hurried inside with He Congxing.
Yu Chen’s beautiful big eyes followed them the whole way. Only after they had disappeared completely did he slowly look away.
After thinking for a moment, he lifted his little feet and ran after them.
The house was lively and noisy. Aside from He Jingcheng and He Jingtai, who seemed somewhat more reserved, everyone else wore smiles on their faces and greeted one another warmly.
Yu Chen steadied himself against the doorframe and curiously lifted his little head, looking for He Zhen. After searching for a long while, he finally spotted He Zhen and He Congxing in another room.
The two of them stood in the corner, secretly whispering about something.
Tucking his little hands together, Yu Chen called out crisply, “Boss!”
He Zhen turned around and glanced at him. “Yu Chenchen, did someone bully you?”
Pouting, Yu Chen said, “No. Let’s go play.”
He Zhen replied, “You go first. I’ll come find you in a little while.”
After saying that, He Zhen lowered his head again and continued murmuring with He Congxing.
Having been gently rejected, Yu Chen unhappily puffed out his lips, then marched back out to the courtyard with all the swagger of a tiny general and sat down by the koi pond, eating snacks by himself.
His boss really was too much.
The moment he had a new friend, he forgot all about him.
Little friend Yu Chenchen felt terribly sad. Clutching the railing by himself and staring at the big plump koi, his chubby little face was full of grievance.
Just last night, He Zhen had said he would protect him forever.
It was all lies!
Yu Chen pouted, big teardrops trembling in his eyes.
About a quarter of an hour later, He Zhen came hurrying over.
“Yu Chenchen!”
He was panting, his little face flushed.
Yu Chen kept staring at the big fat fish in the water and ignored him completely.
Holding a toy in his hand, He Zhen squatted down beside him in confusion. “Hey! Yu Chenchen! What’s wrong with you?”
Yu Chen’s skin was delicate. He had only been leaning on the railing for a short while, yet a red mark had already formed.
“Aren’t you playing with your new little brother?”
He copied He Zhen and folded his little arms too, but because his arms were too short, he only managed about half the effect.
He Zhen looked puzzled. Weighing the ball in his hand, he said, “I just went to borrow this ball. Didn’t you want to play with it?”
Only then did Yu Chen see that the thing in He Zhen’s hand really was the marvelous toy ball he had been staring at for ages just now.
A trace of guilt instantly appeared on Yu Chen’s plump little face. He lovingly touched the ball and muttered, “I thought… you weren’t going to play with me anymore.”
At last, He Zhen understood why Yu Chen was angry. The feeling was very strange—he could not describe it, but it made him especially happy. Raising a brow, he smiled. “That depends on how you behave. If you don’t behave well, I really might stop playing with you.”
The moment Yu Chen heard that, his little face scrunched up. He stopped touching the ball altogether and turned to leave.
He Zhen had still been smiling just a second ago, but immediately froze. Without thinking, he rushed after the angry little winter melon in two or three steps and stopped him.
“Yu Chenchen, are you angry?”
Puffing out his cheeks, Yu Chen nodded furiously. “Yes!”
He Zhen scratched his head and awkwardly put his hands behind his back, trying to figure out how to coax his little follower.
He had just been saying it casually.
How could he really not want Yu Chen?
He was going to be Yu Chen’s boss for life.
“I was teasing you.” He Zhen had thin skin, and after thinking for a long time, he managed only this clumsy explanation.
Closing his eyes, Yu Chen’s little chubby face trembled pitifully. “I’m hurt.”
“Don’t—” Having no experience soothing anyone, He Zhen looked at him helplessly. “I was just talking nonsense.”
Yu Chen said nothing and still looked like a poor little thing whose heart had been completely broken, making He Zhen look like a miniature version of a heartless scoundrel.
“I won’t stop playing with you! I swear!” He Zhen had never been this anxious before, practically to the point of jumping up. “Yu Chenchen, I promise!”
Seeing He Zhen’s eyes wide and round, Yu Chen finally felt satisfied. Lowering his beautiful eyes halfway, he asked, “Do your words count?”
“They count.” He Zhen stepped forward and rubbed Yu Chen’s little face.
“Boss, hug.” Pouting, Yu Chen was already standing on tiptoe.
Though there was still a hint of hesitation, He Zhen immediately picked Yu Chen up anyway. “To borrow this toy for you, I begged him for a long time.”
“Thank you, Boss.” Leaning on He Zhen’s shoulder, Yu Chen instinctively wrapped his short little legs around He Zhen’s waist and began fiddling with the toy in his hands.
He was not light, so every time He Zhen held him, he had to use this face-to-face way of carrying him.
“You’re welcome.” He Zhen pressed his lips together and supported Yu Chen with all his strength.
Yu Chen wrapped his little arms around him. “I knew it. You’re the bestest in the whole world!”
Those words worked wonders on little He Zhen.
At this moment, He Zhen had already completely forgotten how Yu Chen had just thrown a fit. All that remained in his heart was the rainbow praise his little follower had showered him with.
The two of them continued walking slowly along the stone path.
Yu Chen thought to himself that his boss was really amazing. He could actually carry him.
Only—
It seemed a little unsteady.
So little friend Yu Chenchen asked worriedly, “Boss, am I heavy?”
“Of course… not!” He Zhen lifted his trembling little legs, gritted his teeth hard, and kept walking shakily.
