Chapter 44
“I-I…”
The gossip on this side very quickly drew everyone’s attention. Quite a few passing students stopped in their tracks, excitedly crowding around to watch the fun.
Xiao Yu and Fang Jingrao just happened to spot He Zhen being blocked there. They squeezed through the crowd and discovered that someone was actually confessing to Yu Chen.
“Classmate Yu Chen, we can get to know each other first. Usually we could play games together, or discuss schoolwork.”
“Oh, right! I’m in Class Three, on the same floor as you.”
Yu Chen glanced at He Zhen and quietly asked with his eyes, Boss, how should I answer?
He Zhen made as if to push through the crowd and leave. “That depends on you. I’m going back to the dorm first.”
“Hey—”
Yu Chen hurriedly called after him, “Boss, why are you leaving me behind?”
He Zhen’s body stiffened in place, then he walked off again.
This time, Yu Chen was left alone in the middle of the crowd. Surrounded by so many people, he gave an awkward smile. “Thank you for liking me, but I’m not interested in dating right now.”
Lin He smiled and said, “That’s okay. We can be friends first.”
As more and more students gathered around to watch, Yu Chen awkwardly twisted his fingers together and hesitated. “But I didn’t bring my phone.”
He was not lying. His phone really was under his pillow in the dorm.
Phones were forbidden during military training.
Lin He raised a brow. “Then can you at least tell me your WeChat ID?”
“Sure, I’ll tell you if there’s a chance.” With that, Yu Chen slickly slipped away, pushing through the crowd and bolting out.
The chubby boy standing by watching patted Lin He on the shoulder. “See? I told you, he definitely wouldn’t agree.”
Lin He was not discouraged at all and said with a smile, “Actually, making another friend would’ve been fine too, but he just didn’t seem too willing.”
The chubby boy comforted him. “That’s because you confessed right away. If you’d started by saying you just wanted to be friends and exchange study tips, he might’ve agreed.”
Lin He asked, “That guy who was beside Yu Chen just now—that was his brother?”
“Mm. I heard they’re not biological brothers, just childhood friends.”
“Right.” Lin He slid one hand into his pocket. “He Zhen, right? My entrance exam score was only three points lower than his.”
“You’re already a top student.” The chubby boy shrugged. Before leaving, he remarked meaningfully, “After today, there’ll probably be even more people who like Yu Chen. You’ve got a long road ahead.”
Lin He smiled at a few familiar faces passing by.
His confession had failed, and honestly, he felt pretty awkward.
On the other side, the moment Yu Chen got back to the dorm, he immediately started complaining to He Zhen. “Boss, that was so unfair of you. In a situation like that, you actually left me there by myself.”
He Zhen had just finished showering and was quietly drying his hair.
Yu Chen stood there staring at him and asked in a small voice, “Are you still feeling unwell? Do you want to go to the infirmary?”
“I already went. I got some medicine.” Holding the hairdryer, He Zhen started to walk away. “There’s some Huoxiang Zhengqi in there too. You can drink some, so you don’t get heatstroke.”
“It’s too bitter. I’m not drinking it.” Yu Chen trailed after He Zhen like a little tail, following him into the washroom to blow-dry his hair. “Boss, why didn’t you help me? I was especially awkward just now.”
Holding the hairdryer, He Zhen said softly, “If you don’t like him, reject him. If you like him, agree.”
“But you still have to consider the other person’s dignity.” Yu Chen began regretting how he had handled it just now. “I should’ve just said I already have someone.”
He Zhen did not answer. He turned on the hairdryer.
The noise grew louder and louder. Yu Chen shut his mouth and stared at He Zhen with those round, dark eyes of his.
Ever since yesterday, He Zhen had been off.
Yu Chen’s stomach could only hold food, not secrets. He could never bottle things up, so today he had to get to the bottom of it.
After He Zhen finished drying his hair, Yu Chen grabbed his arm and pouted. “Boss, what exactly is wrong with you? You started sulking right after the lamb skewers yesterday, and no matter how I tried to coax you, it didn’t work.”
He Zhen’s eyes dimmed slightly as he lifted them to look at Yu Chen.
“Of course you don’t know why I’m angry.”
The seriousness in He Zhen’s face frightened Yu Chen, and little by little, the rims of his eyes reddened.
He Zhen’s voice turned hoarse as he looked away. “Don’t cry.”
Yu Chen bit down hard, trying to hold it in, but his tears still fell uselessly.
He Zhen set down the hairdryer. In the end, he still could not bear it and gently cupped the sides of Yu Chen’s face.
“I haven’t even said anything yet, and you’re already crying.”
Yu Chen’s voice caught in his throat. “Wuwuwu, I really don’t know what I did to make you unhappy.”
He Zhen rubbed his face lightly and gave a soft sigh. “Yu Chen.”
“Why are you so angry?” Yu Chen’s shoulders trembled faintly, and he wiped his tears while accusing him. “You don’t even call me Yu Chencheng anymore.”
His tears broke like a burst dam. Ever since he had grown up, he had never cried this hard.
He Zhen closed his eyes for a moment. His slightly trembling voice was a little hoarse. “Since you think two boys being together is strange, then why did you say those things to me in the first place?”
“You must’ve been joking, right?”
“Huh? What did I say?” Yu Chen sniffed. “Help me remember.”
Suppressing the sting in his nose, He Zhen said quietly, “You said you wanted to marry me. You said you wanted to stay with me forever.”
“Ah…” Yu Chen was clearly stunned. His expression loosened only after a long moment. At last he said, “Boss, are you saying you think I…”
“You were joking, right?” Ever since yesterday, He Zhen had already anticipated this answer. His face was silent and full of sorrow. “But I took it seriously.”
Yu Chen looked at He Zhen’s worn, haggard face and froze where he stood. Even after He Zhen turned and left, he still stared blankly at the water pipe in front of him without moving for a long time.
Then the whistle blew.
The teachers were reminding everyone that it was time to sleep.
Today’s variety show had everyone excited, especially a few particularly unforgettable performances, which had become the hottest bedtime topic.
Yu Chen’s hands hung empty as he slowly walked down the corridor by himself.
“Hey—Yu Chen.”
Yu Chen looked up and saw that the homeroom teacher had just come up the stairs carrying two boxes of medicine.
“Good timing. Help me bring this medicine to He Zhen.”
Yu Chen gave an “oh” and took it. The homeroom teacher explained, “He went to the infirmary for medicine today, but they didn’t have a few of the things he needed. The infirmary teacher asked me to pass them on to him.”
Yu Chen looked at the medicine inside. “Teacher, my brother just has a cold, right?”
The homeroom teacher replied, “Seems like it’s a bit of chill combined with internal heat. Just remind him to take it on time for a few doses.”
Yu Chen nodded. “Thank you, teacher.”
Back in the dorm, Yu Chen sat blankly on the lower bunk holding the medicine.
He still had not fully digested what He Zhen had said just now. At the moment, he had no idea how to face him.
Yu Chen hugged a washbasin and quietly slipped outside.
At this hour, the showers were already closed. If he wanted to rinse off, the only option was to make do in a toilet stall.
He carried his thermos around for ages looking for hot water. Only after running into a helpful classmate did he learn that hot water had to be fetched from downstairs.
They were living in an old dorm building without an elevator. In the mornings, the water had always been fetched by He Zhen for him.
Shuffling along in his slippers, Yu Chen let out a soft sigh.
So this was how He Zhen had really been thinking all along.
From He Zhen’s perspective, it was not exactly wrong for him to feel deceived. Still, Yu Chen had to explain himself.
Even though the autumn heat lingered fiercely, splashing water over himself in a crude little toilet stall still took effort, and soon he was shivering all over with ice-cold hands and feet.
He Zhen liked cleanliness, and if Yu Chen wanted to coax him, he had to wash himself all nice and fresh first. Otherwise how could he go burrow into someone else’s blanket?
Thinking that way, Yu Chen worked hard at rinsing himself off.
By the time he came out of the toilet stall drenched from head to toe, he discovered that outside the washroom, that familiar figure was actually standing there.
“Boss, why are you here?”
Yu Chen wiped his hair, looking exactly like a little dog that had fallen into water.
Leaning against the wall, He Zhen said, “I thought you’d fallen into a pit.”
Yu Chen awkwardly rubbed his nose. “The showers were closed, so I just rinsed off in the toilet.”
He Zhen’s gaze fell on Yu Chen’s shorts, and he frowned slightly. “They’re soaked through.”
“Yeah.” Yu Chen rubbed at his messy hair hard and explained casually, “I’ll just change once I get back to the room.”
He Zhen nodded and made to leave.
“Boss!”
Yu Chen called him back. After hesitating for a long time, he said, “I have something to explain to you. Can you maybe not sentence me to death first?”
He Zhen’s expression grew complicated. “Sentence you to death?”
Yu Chen gave a little “mm.” “I really didn’t lie to you. At least give me a chance to explain.”
Seeing the cool water still streaming down Yu Chen’s calves, He Zhen pulled him away from the washroom. “Change your clothes first.”
“No—”
“Listen to me first.”
For once, Yu Chen stubbornly stood his ground. Lowering his head there in the corridor, he said, “When I said I was willing to stay with you forever and never part, that was always true. And when I said if I could marry you, I would, that was true too. That has nothing to do with those two boys we ran into in the little grove yesterday.”
“Didn’t you say they were strange?” He Zhen stared at him. “Then it wouldn’t be strange if the two of us were together?”
Yu Chen tried to sort out his thoughts. “I’m definitely not the same as them. What we have is friendship. What they have should be—”
“Love.”
He Zhen gave a humorless laugh. “So just on the basis of friendship, you’d be willing to spend your whole life with me?”
“Yes! That’s exactly what I mean.” Yu Chen was extremely satisfied with his own answer, and there was even a little happiness in his tone. “In my heart, the family affection I have for my dad and the friendship I have with you are equally important. I don’t need anyone else’s love. As long as I have the two of you, that’s enough.”
After hearing that, He Zhen also fell silent for a moment.
He knew that what he wanted was not just friendship.
But what it was that he did want, he himself could not clearly explain.
The only thing he could be sure of was that he only wanted Yu Chen.
“What if one day you meet someone you really like?” All of a sudden, He Zhen felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. “Wouldn’t you just throw friendship aside and throw yourself into love then?”
“I wouldn’t. I swear.” Even though Yu Chen had never tasted love before, he could still tell what mattered more and what mattered less. In his heart, aside from his dad, nobody’s place was higher than He Zhen’s.
Even hearing Yu Chen speak with such certainty, He Zhen still felt wave after wave of dull anguish sweep through his chest.
It was as if some giant boulder were pressing down on him, leaving him unable to breathe.
“I’ve never lied to you…” Yu Chen scratched at his reddened ear. “Except in matters related to food… every promise I’ve ever made to you counts.”
He Zhen looked at him again. “For example, being my child bride?”
Yu Chen laughed with perfect unconcern. Water from his hair trickled recklessly down toward his collarbone.
“Of course that counts. It’s just that boys and boys can’t get married. If they could—”
He Zhen pressed gently, “If they could?”
Yu Chen rubbed at his hair. “Then when we hit the legal age, we’d go get the certificate.”
He Zhen’s heart was full of tangled feelings, and he did not know whether to be glad or worried.
“Yu Chencheng.”
Yu Chen immediately stood at attention just like when they were little. “Here!”
Because the movement was too exaggerated, droplets from his hair splashed onto He Zhen’s face.
He Zhen said, “Don’t you usually go online?”
Yu Chen leaned his fluffy head closer. “What do you mean?”
He Zhen decided to just let things take their course. “Read the news more.”
Yu Chen still did not understand what He Zhen meant. He draped the damp towel around his neck and rubbed back and forth. “Boss, say it more clearly.”
He Zhen answered, “Forget it. Let’s go sleep.”
Yu Chen stared at him blankly. It was only when He Zhen caught hold of his hand that he finally came back to himself.
Even though he still did not know what exactly He Zhen was hiding from him, one thing was clear—He Zhen was no longer angry.
Humming under his breath and almost bouncing with joy, Yu Chen ran behind He Zhen, suddenly jumped onto his back, and made him carry him.
“Boss, if you’re unhappy in the future, you can’t just bottle it up and say nothing. It affects our relationship.”
Supporting Yu Chen’s legs, He Zhen let out a quiet “mm.”
As Yu Chen happily kicked his legs a little, this was what he was thinking inside.
If two boys could get married, it probably wouldn’t happen for decades.
He would agree first. Then if He Zhen ever found someone he liked in the meantime, Yu Chen would absolutely let him go at once to find his happiness.
It would hurt, but his boss being happy was what mattered most.
As for himself, every single second he spent in the future with He Zhen and his dad, he would treasure deeply.
He truly believed there would never be a third person in the world whose place in his heart could surpass those two.
As long as his boss needed him, he would never leave.
Back in the dorm, the others were still awake, chatting noisily under the bright lights. Seeing Yu Chen and He Zhen come back together, Chen Ru tugged at the chubby boy beside him, and the two of them secretly sized up the pair.
Yu Chen’s clothes were already soaked through. He Zhen pulled a clean set of pajamas out of the suitcase and urged him to put them on.
Draped in a dry towel, Yu Chen suddenly got playful and deliberately wiped the water from his hair onto He Zhen’s face, grinning brightly.
“Stop playing and change.” He Zhen reminded him. “Go change by the head of the bed.”
Their dorm was not laid out like a regular rectangle. Yu Chen and He Zhen’s upper and lower bunks happened to be in a corner, so if Yu Chen changed by the head of the bed, no one else could see.
“Roger that!” Yu Chen kicked into a little marching step and trotted over.
Taking advantage of the moment, He Zhen finally swallowed the medicine to reduce his internal heat. When he raised his head, his eyes met Lin Jiashu’s directly.
Lin Jiashu’s lips curved slightly in greeting.
He Zhen gave a small nod. By then, Yu Chen had already changed into his fluffy little puppy pajamas and walked back over, naturally climbing onto He Zhen’s bed.
He Zhen looked at him. “I’ve got a cold. Go sleep in your own bed.”
“No way—”
Yu Chen had the sort of personality where the moment you gave him a little sunshine, he shone brightly. Since He Zhen was no longer angry, he immediately reverted to his true nature again.
After thinking it over, He Zhen decided that since his cold was not contagious anyway, he might as well indulge him. So he climbed up and slept with him.
The bed was only 1.2 meters wide, and Yu Chen had a small frame, so nestled in He Zhen’s arms, he fit just right. Even though the two of them had only been upset with each other for one day, for Yu Chen it had felt like a whole year apart. Like a koala, he sprawled over He Zhen’s body, only agreeing to sleep after he had played enough on his phone.
People always talked about how terrifying military training was, and at first Yu Chen had really been worried.
But now he felt there was nothing scary about it at all.
As long as He Zhen was there beside him, then being a little tired or suffering a little did not amount to anything.
In the middle of the night, He Zhen coughed lightly. Afraid of waking Yu Chen, he got up and went to the bathroom.
The moment he stepped inside, he immediately smelled cigarette smoke mixed with mint.
His brows tightened at once, and he walked farther in.
“What a coincidence.”
Lin Jiashu was leaning against the innermost wall of the bathroom, a cigarette held between his long, handsome fingers. “Does unrequited love taste especially sour?”
He Zhen’s fingers paused. He looked at him. “What do you mean?”
Lin Jiashu smiled mildly. “I’m talking to myself.”
Expressionless, He Zhen used the bathroom and quickly left through the washroom.
As he stepped out, he heard Lin Jiashu pick up a call.
“I already told you, we broke up.”
“Don’t come looking for me. I already have a new boyfriend.”
He Zhen had no intention of prying into other people’s privacy and left quickly.
The next morning, when Yu Chen woke up, his head hurt a little. After checking his throat, He Zhen took him to report it to the homeroom teacher.
The weather was scorching hot, and with Yu Chen’s head aching too, there was no way he could handle that level of high-intensity training.
The homeroom teacher was very easygoing. After all, even He Zhen had persisted through illness without taking leave. If Yu Chen was asking now, he really must have been feeling awful.
So Yu Chen was smoothly assigned to the sick bay area.
“You stay here and rest properly. If it gets really bad, tell me and I’ll have the driver take you to the hospital.”
“I’m fine. My head just hurts.” With how big a fuss He Zhen was making, even someone as thick-skinned as Yu Chen felt a little embarrassed. Most of the students in the sick area had strained backs or fractures. Him sitting among them because of a headache alone did seem a bit excessive.
After taking the medicine, Yu Chen sat by the supply area by himself, head heavy and fuzzy. That made him think again of the summer camp in second grade.
Without all those pretty teachers who used to hand him candy, it really was less interesting.
While practicing formation, Xiao Yu noticed that Yu Chen did not have to train today, and he turned red with envy. Especially after hearing that Yu Chen had been the standout of their waltz performance, he was so annoyed his teeth itched. Taking advantage of a bathroom break, he rushed over just to complain at him.
“Chubby Chencheng! Exactly where are you not feeling well?”
“From where I’m standing, you look pretty pleased with yourself over here. Your face looks healthier than mine.”
Listening to Xiao Yu’s sour and sarcastic tone, Yu Chen replied coolly, “My head hurts. Boss got me leave. You should go find yourself a boss too.”
Xiao Yu got even angrier and glared furiously in He Zhen’s direction.
“Good fortune should be shared, and hardship should be shared too. Since you’ve risen to glory today, once the convenience store opens, go grab me a sausage. At least that way our brotherhood won’t have been so deep for nothing.”
Yu Chen agreed readily. “Alright.”
Sausages were scarce resources. Each batch sold only fifteen, and after noon training you either stood in a long line to buy one or you did not get any at all.
Xiao Yu had come out on a formal excuse and dared not linger too long. After mocking Yu Chen a little more, he hurried off.
With nothing to do, Yu Chen wandered around the sick bay area and accidentally overheard quite a lot of gossip.
Like how someone from some class had smelly feet.
Or how some other person had learned street dance since primary school and had crowds chasing after them.
Or how Lin Jiashu was gay.
He even ended up overhearing gossip about himself.
Pretending to drink water, he quietly edged himself closer into the group.
“I heard Lin He got rejected by Yu Chen. Yu Chen seems to already have someone.”
“Isn’t Yu Chen’s boyfriend He Zhen? I heard from He Zhen’s middle school classmates that the two of them have a childhood engagement. Yu Chen was raised in He Zhen’s home since childhood. He’s basically a custom-made wife for He Zhen.”
“Sure enough, rich families really are something. But Yu Chen really is beautiful. He was so stunning that day playing the violin. If He Zhen weren’t there, I would’ve written him a love letter myself.”
Yu Chen gulped down his water, inwardly feeling quite pleased.
He was very good at selective listening—he only paid attention to the parts that praised him.
“Do you think those two will get married when they grow up?”
“Probably. Same-sex marriage is legal now anyway.”
“Pfft—”
Yu Chen sprayed the water out of his mouth, coughing violently. The students gossiping nearby noticed him and immediately pulled back their smiles, whispering among themselves while avoiding him.
As he wiped his nose, Yu Chen frowned, his flushed little face scrunching into a tiny bun.
Huh?
Same-sex marriage was legal?
Then what he had said last night…
A faint worry started to creep into Yu Chen’s heart.
Did his promise from last night count as a disguised marriage proposal?
Given He Zhen’s action-oriented personality, maybe the moment they reached legal age, he really would drag him off to get the certificate.
Dazed, Yu Chen walked into the convenience store and stood in line to buy the sausage.
But honestly speaking, if he married He Zhen, he would not be the one taking a loss.
His boss was that outstanding. He would be the one getting the better deal.
Stuffing the sausage into his pocket, Yu Chen returned to the sick bay area in a daze. He planned to find a chance to look up marriage law and learn some new knowledge ahead of time.
But then he thought again—his boss was a rich young master from a wealthy family. Wouldn’t he have to enter some kind of business marriage in the future?
Novels were always full of powerful alliances.
Would what they had done count as privately pledging themselves to each other?
Then what if Grandpa He flew into a rage and forcibly broke up the lovers? He and He Zhen would kneel together in the snow, weeping in each other’s arms.
The more Yu Chen thought about it, the worse his head hurt. He slumped weakly against his chair, surrounded by the smell of grilled sausage.
The blazing sun was fierce. Yu Chen narrowed his eyes, his head a complete mess.
Then suddenly—
The sunlight disappeared.
“Yu Chencheng, what’s wrong?”
Yu Chen opened his eyes and discovered that He Zhen had crouched down in front of him at some point, his face full of concern.
“Boss…”
Weakly, Yu Chen held up the sausage in his pocket. “I bought this for you and Xiao Yu and the others.”
“Where do you feel bad? I’ll take you to the hospital right now.”
He Zhen helped him lean against himself. “How did it suddenly get this serious?”
Actually, Yu Chen did not feel that bad at all. He was simply troubled by the whole marriage issue and feeling restless about it. Seeing that He Zhen had really gotten anxious, he quickly sat up and forced himself to look more spirited. “I’m okay. I’m just a little anxious.”
He Zhen carefully studied his condition. “Anxious about what?”
Yu Chen muttered, “Lovers being torn apart.”
“What do you mean?” He Zhen thought Yu Chen was acting very strange. “Who’s being torn apart?”
Yu Chen stared at him and then suddenly sighed.
“Boss, I want to go back to the dorm and lie down for a while.”
He Zhen helped him up. “Do you need me to carry you?”
“No.” For once, Yu Chen was not acting spoiled. Hooking his arm through He Zhen’s, he moved along as slowly as a snail.
He Zhen kept quietly watching the serious look on Yu Chen’s face and had a strong feeling that Yu Chen was hiding something on purpose.
When they passed the tree-lined path on the way to the dorm, an unfamiliar male voice called out to Yu Chen. Turning around and seeing a tall, skinny boy, Yu Chen suddenly had a very bad premonition.
“I came on behalf of my friend to ask whether you have someone already.”
The boy cast a quick glance at He Zhen, then lowered his head and ran up to Yu Chen. “He wants to get to know you.”
This time, Yu Chen did not look to He Zhen for guidance. Instead, he lowered his eyes slightly and thought for a few seconds.
The early autumn light reflected in his eyes, clear and clean.
A moment later, he lifted his beautiful brows and replied in a soft voice, “Sorry. Please tell your friend that I already have someone—the kind where we’ll probably get married once we’re old enough.”
The boy’s nose twitched slightly, as though he was annoyed and disappointed.
“I’m sorry, and thank you to your friend for liking me.”
With his arm looped through He Zhen’s, Yu Chen quietly walked away.
He Zhen stared at Yu Chen’s face, and a few guesses slowly rose in his heart.
Putting on a little cough from his cold, he said, “Yu Chen.”
Yu Chen covered He Zhen’s lips with his hand and looked at him intently. “I know now that two boys can get married.”
A flash of surprise passed through He Zhen’s eyes.
He had known Yu Chen would find out sooner or later, but he had not expected it to happen this soon.
Thinking back to Yu Chen’s reaction just now, faint ripples stirred in those light-brown eyes.
“So? What do you think?” He Zhen’s pupils contracted slightly, and he deliberately concealed his nervousness.
Yu Chen asked in a small voice, “Boss, what’s the legal marriage age for us?”
He Zhen answered almost at once, “Twenty-two for men.”
After counting on his fingers, Yu Chen said, “By then we should be in graduate school.”
He Zhen was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Yu Chen to accept it just like that. Taking hold of Yu Chen’s hand, he asked with a trace of uncertainty in his tone, “So?”
Yu Chen’s expression turned serious. “Boss.”
He Zhen’s brows knitted together slightly. “Go on.”
Yu Chen said, “This is what I’m thinking. If by the time we reach legal marriage age, you still want to partner up with me and live together, then we’ll get married. But if halfway through you find your true love, then our agreement won’t count anymore. Okay?”
A coldness settled over He Zhen’s features.
“Yu Chen, what do you mean? You think I—”
“Boss, you have no idea how important you are in my heart.” Yu Chen sighed and murmured, “If you found love one day, and I still insisted on forcing you to spend your whole life with your brother, how miserable would that make you? As long as you’re happy, I’m fine with anything.”
At that moment, He Zhen could not describe what he was feeling. He had no idea how to explain the sadness and anxiety stirring faintly in his chest.
“How do you know I wouldn’t want that? Do you think your place in my heart isn’t important?”
“Of course not. It’s exactly because I trust you and know that even if you got a wife, you’d still keep me, your little brother, in your heart.”
Though Yu Chen was usually rough around the edges, he actually thought about many things inside. “Boss, marriage is a serious matter. I’m afraid you’ll regret it one day. You should know that in my heart, it’s all you. My biggest wish is just to make lots of money and be filial to you and Dad.”
He Zhen was so frustrated he felt a headache coming on, yet looking into Yu Chen’s sincere, clean eyes, he could not bring himself to say anything harsh.
Dimples appeared at the corners of Yu Chen’s lips, and he smiled at him tentatively, exactly like the first time they had met.
At that moment, He Zhen suddenly let go of the tension inside him.
Fine. Even if Yu Chen did not like him that way right now, it did not matter.
As long as Yu Chen kept him in his heart, the identity he had at present was not what mattered most.
He Zhen gave a helpless little smile and reached up to rub Yu Chen’s head.
Yu Chen was still young. There was no need to rush things.
During this time, he also needed to prepare in advance for eventually making things clear to Grandpa.
“Yu Chen.” He Zhen gently pulled him over and drew him into his arms. “You also have no idea how important you are to me.”
Yu Chen replied, “I do. Very important.”
He Zhen pinched his cheek helplessly. “Let’s leave it to time.”
At that moment, something suddenly occurred to Yu Chen.
He smiled a little sheepishly and pleaded in a low voice, “Boss, if we really do get married someday, can we be the kind of couple that never kisses?”
The calm on He Zhen’s face cracked slightly.
“Yu Chencheng, you’re getting way ahead of yourself.”
“Not really. Other than kissing, everything else is fine.”
