Chapter 52
More and more people were gathering around the basketball court. Yu Chen’s outfit was far too eye-catching, and standing in the middle of the court, he was impossible to miss.
“So sweet! They’re definitely together.”
“What’s the difference between Yu Chen wearing a prince costume to bring He Zhen water and a girl wearing a wedding dress to confess to a guy?”
Seeing the commotion over there, Lin He happened to pass by with a friend after finishing badminton. His friend stopped him. “Isn’t that Yu Chen—the one you confessed to that day?”
At the mention of that confession during military training, Lin He looked a little awkward. Looking at Yu Chen and He Zhen in the distance, he said lazily, “I forgot who told me this, but apparently he and He Zhen are a couple.”
His friend muttered, “Isn’t he He Zhen’s younger brother?”
Lin He said, “Who knows. I guess they’re probably not blood-related.”
His friend craned his neck again to look at Yu Chen’s clothes and joked, “Not gonna lie, he really does look good.”
“Stop staring.” Before leaving, Lin He looked irritated. “Last time, He Zhen came first in the placement exam, and because of that my parents nagged me forever.”
His friend said, “Huh? Didn’t you do pretty well too? Weren’t you third?”
“Third is not the same as first.” A trace of frustration surfaced in Lin He’s eyes. “He Zhen also made it into the finals of the National Olympiad in Mathematics. I probably won’t be able to get a national gold medal anymore.”
His friend said, “If I remember right, the finals are being held in Jing City?”
“Mhm.” Just thinking of He Zhen gave Lin He a headache. “Worst case, I might have to share a room with him. From our school, only the two of us made it in.”
His friend comforted him, “It’s fine. I heard He Zhen’s actually a decent person. Besides, his grades are good because they’ve been bought with money. Our family background is average. We can’t compare with people like that.”
Lin He agreed, “Yeah. Young masters like him are just lucky—born into the right life.”
There was still a quarter of an hour before class.
Although Yu Chen was very satisfied after hearing He Zhen’s answer, he still complained in a small voice, “I asked you to help me make up my mind. If you say that, then how am I supposed to choose?”
He Zhen looked into his eyes. “The white one.”
“I’ll think about it.” Yu Chen twisted around, gave a breezy wave, and said, “I’m leaving first.”
He Zhen answered with an “Mm” and watched Yu Chen’s back until he disappeared.
At the auditorium, Yu Chen finally returned, very late.
Li Ye was helping the other actors match up their props. When he saw Yu Chen, he teased, “Where did you go to buy water? Why did you only come back now?”
Yu Chen had no idea the school group chat had long since spread the story of him going to the basketball court to deliver water to He Zhen, so he casually made up an excuse. “The vending machine was kind of slow, and I took a long time choosing.”
Li Ye took the water from him. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Yu Chen curved his eyes in a smile. “Oh right, I’ve decided. I’ll go with this pure white set.”
Li Ye said, “Made up your mind?”
Yu Chen’s smile deepened. “Mm. He said it looked good too.”
“He?” Li Ye asked while busying himself. “Who’s he?”
Yu Chen shyly clenched the hem of his clothes. “I asked my boss. He said the white one looks good.”
Li Ye was not surprised. “Alright, no problem.”
After changing clothes, Yu Chen and Li Ye hurried back to class together, chatting on the way about their project presentation.
“My boss helped me sort out the framework for my paper and told me to try submitting it.” Yu Chen kept going on and on about the research ideas He Zhen had taught him, sharing everything with Li Ye without holding anything back.
Li Ye listened very seriously. Once Yu Chen finished, he asked softly, “Are you two together?”
“Ah? No!” Yu Chen had not expected Li Ye to be so direct. He stammered out an explanation. “Why would you suddenly say that?”
Li Ye did not answer that question. Instead, he started talking about kindergarten and primary school.
“Actually, I really wanted to be friends with you, but with He Zhen around, he never wanted the two of us to play together. Back then, I already thought—what kind of kid is this jealous?”
Yu Chen parted his lips. “Boss isn’t jealous. Every child has possessiveness. Some are possessive over toys, some over food, and some over people.”
Li Ye nodded. “So you two aren’t together? Then—”
He suddenly leaned closer to Yu Chen. “Then can I pursue you?”
“Don’t joke like that!” Yu Chen quickly moved far away, his gaze utterly firm. “I already have someone I like.”
Li Ye laughed softly. “I’m teasing you.”
Yu Chen did not like that kind of joke and wrinkled his nose lightly. “How can you joke about something like that? What if someone overhears and gets the wrong idea?”
“Sorry.” With both hands behind his back, Li Ye strolled beside Yu Chen under the phoenix trees on both sides of the path. “If the person you like heard it, he’d probably get jealous.”
Yu Chen nodded in agreement. “Right. That wouldn’t be good.”
Li Ye lifted his head and slowly stretched his back. “Which university are you planning to go to in the future? What about He Zhen?”
Yu Chen answered honestly, “My boss wants to go to Harvard or MIT. As for me…”
“I’ll try my best to get into the same university as him.”
Li Ye said, “Those two schools are hard to get into.”
“Mm, I know. But I’ll try.”
Li Ye encouraged him. “Work hard. You’re very smart.”
“Thanks.” Yu Chen returned the smile.
As they spoke, the two of them walked into the classroom side by side. At a glance, Yu Chen saw He Zhen drinking water. Thinking of Li Ye’s joke just now, his eyes lowered guiltily, and once he returned to his seat, he busied himself with tidying his pencil case.
“Fat Chenchén, wow, you really did it this time.”
Although Xiao Yu had not been there in person, he had already heard He Zhi’an’s lively retelling of the whole thing. He stood up, reached over, and tugged at Yu Chen’s ear while laughing at him. “I heard you were even wearing a prince costume? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were proposing to He Zhen.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. That’s my theater costume.”
Yu Chen paid attention to He Zhen’s reaction as he explained with great seriousness, “Our drama club is really busy. I went to buy water for everyone and just happened to stop by and watch Boss play basketball.”
Xiao Yu poked holes in his excuse. “The auditorium is so far from the basketball court. How is that ‘just happening to stop by’?”
“Xiao Yu, you talk too much.” Yu Chen could not out-argue him, so he simply stopped responding and buried himself in his Chinese textbook.
Just then, Li Ye walked over to Yu Chen’s desk. “Yu Chen, you left your phone in the fitting room when you changed clothes. I casually put it in my bag and forgot to give it back to you.”
Yu Chen accepted it. “I forgot about it. Thanks.”
Li Ye gave him a meaningful smile, his gaze resting for two seconds on He Zhen beside him.
“You’re welcome.”
After Li Ye left, Yu Chen continued memorizing his text.
Then a voice suddenly came from beside him. “You really should keep your phone with you. You weren’t this forgetful even when you were little.”
Yu Chen looked at He Zhen and frowned in dissatisfaction. “Got it.”
He Zhen suddenly looked at him. “When you came in just now, you looked a little guilty.”
Yu Chen had not expected He Zhen’s observation to be this sharp. He could even notice that?
Just now, he had merely been imagining—if He Zhen had heard what Li Ye said, would he get jealous?
“It’s nothing.” Yu Chen put on a strong front and started reciting the text on purpose, trying to change the subject. “Boss, have you memorized the Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng yet?”
He Zhen looked at him lazily. “Did Li Ye say something to you?”
“No.” Yu Chen was covering his ears while stealing a bell. “We just chatted a bit about childhood things on the way. We didn’t talk about anything else.”
“Do the two of you have some precious childhood memories?” He Zhen smiled faintly. “Share them with me too.”
Yu Chen felt that something was off with He Zhen. He sounded strangely sarcastic.
He cleared his throat and decided to play dumb. “With embroidered doors flung open, one gazes down upon carved rooftops…”
He Zhen stared at Yu Chen, feeling inexplicably irritated.
Just moments ago, he had still been immersed in the joy of thinking they liked each other. It would have been one thing if Yu Chen had come back chatting and laughing with Li Ye—but then he also wore that guilty look, which left He Zhen restless and sent his thoughts spiraling.
“Yu Chenchén.” He Zhen’s voice was cool as he looked at Yu Chen slowly. “Were the two of you talking about a secret? Is that why you can’t share it with me?”
Yu Chen puffed up his cheeks in annoyance, sounding faintly aggrieved. “Boss, what’s wrong with you lately? It feels like your emotions have been kind of unstable.”
He Zhen was rendered speechless by that retort.
Just now, Yu Chen had been the one wearing a prince costume and coming all the way over to bring him water and ask for his opinion. Everyone was saying the two of them were dating.
So how had it become that he was the one with unstable emotions?
In his eyes, Yu Chen coming over so openly like that had been a subtle confession.
All of a sudden, He Zhen felt like he had been flattering himself.
Silently, he opened his book, his back a little stiff.
Yu Chen secretly glanced at He Zhen, scratched his ear, and felt at a complete loss.
The two of them stayed in that “cold war” all the way until evening self-study ended. When Yu Chen and He Zhen got into the car, even the driver could smell something strange in the air.
After returning home, Yu Chen carried his schoolbag into his bedroom alone. Before going in, he stole a glance at He Zhen. Just before He Zhen pushed open his own door, he too looked toward Yu Chen’s bedroom. The moment their eyes met, Yu Chen darted inside like a little cat bumping into the door as he fled.
A few complicated emotions stirred in He Zhen’s dark gaze. He silently set down his schoolbag and went upstairs to report the math competition to Grandpa He.
“The finals are this Friday, in Jing City.”
He Zhen had only received the notice today. Because an important meeting was going to be held in Jing City on the originally scheduled date, the competition had been moved forward.
“Go. Grandpa believes you can do it.” Grandpa He had already been preparing to rest and slowly raised a hand toward He Zhen. Seeing that, He Zhen stepped forward and let Grandpa He stroke his hair.
“I’ll send Li Huan and a few bodyguards with you.” Grandpa He smiled weakly. “You haven’t been to Jing City before, have you? If you have time, go have a good look around over the weekend. If you like the courtyard houses there, we can buy two. Oh, right—when Grandpa was young, I once went to see the flag-raising ceremony. If you want, you can go see it too.”
“Grandpa, let Uncle Li stay home with you.” He Zhen said softly, “Otherwise I won’t feel at ease.”
“Are you worried about Grandpa, or worried about Chenchén?” Grandpa He saw right through his thoughts. “Then let He Heng go with you. If you stay there over the weekend for sightseeing, I won’t feel at ease unless there’s someone thoughtful by your side.”
He Zhen smiled. “Nothing can be hidden from you. But I really am worried about you too. Even the doctor said your heart condition needs quiet rest. You should avoid overworking yourself and putting too much strain on your mind.”
Grandpa He shook his head helplessly. “This old body of mine has to hold on at least until you graduate from university. Company affairs are complicated. How could I possibly feel at ease leaving them in someone else’s hands?”
“You should learn from your friends.” He Zhen lit a calming incense stick and began massaging him. “Their groups aren’t small either, so why do they all have time to travel around and act like hands-off bosses?”
Grandpa He laughed at that. “Because your grandpa is diligent.”
“You should be diligent when it’s time to be diligent.” He Zhen’s expression gradually turned serious. “You have to take good care of your health. This is not a small matter.”
“Don’t worry. Grandpa has to hold on until you get married.” The topic clearly put Grandpa He in a much better mood. “I still need to choose a suitable partner for you, someone who can manage the group together with you.”
When the subject came up, He Zhen fell silent.
Grandpa He only assumed he was still young and had not yet awakened to matters of love. After having He Zhen massage his head a little longer, he urged him to go rest.
But before leaving, He Zhen remained standing in the doorway for a long while.
Grandpa He could tell he had something on his mind and asked in a deep voice, “What is it?”
Standing in the dim light, He Zhen looked hesitant. “Grandpa, when it comes to my future marriage partner, can I choose them myself? Maybe you won’t be satisfied, but I want to be with the person I truly like.”
“Of course you can.” Grandpa He gave a hoarse laugh. “But how do you know that the person you choose would be someone I’m dissatisfied with?”
“Your standards are fairly high.” He Zhen murmured, “From childhood until now, there haven’t been many things I’ve liked. If I ever meet someone I truly like, someone I’m certain I want to stay with for the rest of my life, then I won’t give up. But I worry that one day my stubbornness might end up hurting you, Grandpa.”
Grandpa He’s pale brows drew together slightly. After thinking for a moment, he nodded in relief.
“The only reason I might be dissatisfied with the partner you choose is if they’re a bit too ordinary. But I trust your judgment. If they’re someone who can make you fall for them, then they must have something shining about them. As long as they’re not a bad person, Grandpa won’t separate you.”
“Really?” Light rose in He Zhen’s eyes, and his tone carried a rare delight. “As long as they’re not a bad person, you won’t stop us?”
Grandpa He stared at him, then suddenly smiled meaningfully. “Xiao Zhen, do you already have someone you like? Is it just that her family background is rather ordinary?”
“No.” He Zhen hid the smile in his eyes and explained, “Actually, I’ve always had a lot of expectations for my other half. I long for a free, romantic love, but I’ve always worried that the person I choose in the future might not satisfy you and end up affecting our relationship.”
“It won’t.” Grandpa He was already tired after talking so much with He Zhen today. “As long as the person has good character and proper values, the rest is up to you.”
A faint smile lingered at the corners of He Zhen’s lips. “Thank you, Grandpa.”
After He Zhen left, Grandpa He continued to think things over.
He felt that He Zhen must be hiding something from him. Maybe he already had a little girlfriend at school.
Grandpa He shook his head and smiled. His precious grandson still needed more tempering. He still had not fully mastered the art of keeping emotions from showing on his face.
Once he had the time, he would definitely have to ask Yu Chen about He Zhen’s recent movements.
It was only during breakfast the next day that Yu Chen learned about He Zhen’s Olympiad competition this Friday. To be honest, he felt a little wronged.
Wasn’t he the person He Zhen cared about most?
Then why had He Zhen not told him about something as important as the Olympiad?
And what was more, he was going to Jing City for three days!
They were going to be apart!
Grandpa He had gotten up unusually early today and was eating with them. He asked Yu Chen, “Fat Chenchén, do you want to go to Jing City too and have a look around? It’s an ancient capital of several dynasties. If there’s a chance, you should really go see it.”
Yu Chen chewed on a steamed bun and shot He Zhen an angry look.
The moment He Zhen met his gaze, he lowered his eyes. “Grandpa, I’m leaving Thursday night. Yu Chen still has class.”
Grandpa He nodded in agreement. “That’s true. Then Fat Chenchén can stay behind and keep Grandpa company.”
“Alright.” Yu Chen answered crisply, deliberately not looking at He Zhen.
When they went to school, the two of them walked one in front of the other for once. Even Grandpa He noticed that something was off. In the past, the two of them had wanted to stick together every second—so why did they feel so distant today?
Thinking back to what He Zhen had asked him yesterday, Grandpa He suddenly made a guess.
Could it be that He Zhen needed to chat with his little girlfriend every night now, and that Yu Chen had been driven out of the bedroom by him?
If that were really the case, Grandpa He felt that He Zhen had gone too far.
He did not object to He Zhen dating, but He Zhen clearly seemed to be completely infatuated already—even making a good friend of so many years leave his bedroom. That was truly not very proper.
In the car, neither of them paid attention to the other.
One lowered his head to play on his phone, while the other wore earphones and listened to an English listening exercise.
That state continued for two whole days, until even Xiao Yu and the others sensed that something was wrong.
During the break, He Zhi’an seized the chance to ask He Zhen, “What’s going on with you two? Weren’t you still showing off your love on the basketball court two days ago?”
He Zhen looked gloomy. “I asked him what he and Li Ye were chatting about so happily, and he said my emotions were unstable.”
He Zhi’an burst out laughing.
In the whole world, probably only Yu Chen would dare to mock He Zhen like that.
On the other side, while buying snacks with Yu Chen, Xiao Yu joked, “Since when do you ever ask me to go buy food with you? Why the sudden change today?”
Yu Chen said bluntly, “Boss is mad at me.”
Xiao Yu said, “Huh? Why?”
Yu Chen told him what had happened that day. Xiao Yu shook his head and complained about Yu Chen’s blockhead nature. “He Zhen was jealous, obviously.”
“Ah? Just because I was talking to Li Ye?” Yu Chen muttered, “If he actually heard what Li Ye said, wouldn’t he get even more jealous?”
“What did Li Ye say to you?” Xiao Yu asked.
“Nothing. He was just joking.” Yu Chen let out a long sigh. After savoring the thought for a moment, the corners of his lips secretly lifted.
So that was what jealousy felt like?
“My boss is leaving tonight. Even if I want to coax him now, it’s too late.” Thinking of the lucky koi charm he had stayed up late making for He Zhen the night before, Yu Chen planned to find a chance to give it to him.
“Just kiss him once.” Xiao Yu offered his strategy. “Guaranteed he’ll stop being mad immediately.”
Yu Chen murmured, “That would be too embarrassing.” Besides, the two of them were only engaged verbally for now. Their relationship had not officially started yet.
Xiao Yu said, “Big brother! You still know how to be shy? Do you have any idea what everyone said about you the other day, when you went to the basketball court in your theater costume?”
Yu Chen asked, “What did they say?”
Xiao Yu said, “They said you dressing up like that was basically forcing He Zhen into marriage.”
Yu Chen: “……”
Did everyone’s imagination really run that wild?
Or was the study pressure just too heavy?
“I just wanted to let him see whether the clothes looked good.”
Yu Chen admitted that there had indeed been a tiny bit of vanity in it.
But how had it become forcing a marriage?
Xiao Yu shrugged. “Who knows.”
At three in the afternoon, He Zhen packed up his schoolbag and prepared to head to the airport with the teacher. The whole class was wishing him a swift victory and hoping he would bring back a gold medal to win honor for the school.
Yu Chen held the koi charm in his hand and could not find a chance for the longest time.
He Zhen had already stood up.
Finally, he looked once at Yu Chen, who was sitting there with his head lowered in sulking silence. “I’m leaving.”
Yu Chen raised his head at once and awkwardly held out the charm with both hands. “Hang it on your schoolbag. I made it myself. I hope your exam goes well.”
He Zhen stared at the exquisite handmade charm in his hand, faint surprise showing between his brows. “Yu—”
“He Zhen! Hurry up! We’re going to be late!”
There was no time for more. He Zhen said quickly, “I’m leaving first. I’ll let you know I arrived safely after I land.”
Yu Chen lowered his eyelids, his voice soft and slightly sticky. “Remember to lock the hotel door tonight.”
He Zhen nodded and hurried away on his long legs.
After watching their whole interaction, Xiao Yu sighed, “The way you two get along really feels like an old married couple.”
Yu Chen muttered, “Don’t talk nonsense.”
After hesitating for a moment, he quietly ran to the corridor window and looked down at He Zhen, who was about to get in the car.
Suddenly—
As if guided by a ghost, He Zhen looked toward the window closest to their classroom.
Yu Chen’s whole face turned visibly red, and he crouched down at once.
He Zhen seemed to have seen him.
This was way too embarrassing.
Sure enough, a WeChat message popped up.
[He Zhen: Go back inside. The hallway is cold.]
Yu Chen tried to cover his tracks after the fact. “Mm, I’m going to the bathroom.”
Throughout the entire evening self-study session, Yu Chen stared at the empty seat beside him, feeling as though a piece of his heart had been hollowed out.
He Zhen was often absent from evening self-study anyway, but today, Yu Chen felt so stifled he could barely breathe.
His mind wandered a little, and he secretly looked up the probability of a plane crash.
After checking it, he felt that he had been thinking too much.
His boss would definitely live to a hundred.
That night, after returning home, Yu Chen was called into Grandpa He’s room. Copying the way He Zhen usually did things, he softly massaged Grandpa He.
“Chenchén, Grandpa wants to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
Yu Chen waved his little fists, his bright eyes carrying a smile.
“Does Xiao Zhen have a girl he likes recently?”
Yu Chen froze, his expression turning a little chaotic. “Ah?”
Watching Yu Chen’s startled look, Grandpa He smiled knowingly. “So he really does, right?”
“N-no, he doesn’t.” Yu Chen hurriedly suppressed the panic in his heart and stumbled over his explanation. “He studies until midnight every day. Where would he even find the time to date?”
He Zhen really was not dating, so technically Yu Chen was not lying.
Grandpa He frowned. “But I feel like something about him is off. He even gave me advance warning and said he absolutely had to find someone he truly likes.”
“Is that so?” Yu Chen felt guilty to death. “Boss has always been more mature. He thinks further ahead than most people.”
“Really not?” Grandpa He still looked doubtful.
Yu Chen raised his hand and swore, “Grandpa, Boss really doesn’t have a girlfriend. If I’m lying to you, then I—I—”
“That’s enough.” Grandpa He could not help laughing. “Look how frightened you are.”
Yu Chen forced out a stiff smile. “I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me.”
Grandpa He sighed. “I’ve already told Xiao Zhen that as long as the person he chooses in the future has good character, I won’t interfere.”
Yu Chen slowly froze in place. “I see.”
“You know what that boy’s personality is like.” Grandpa He recalled what He Zhen had said not long ago. “If I forced him to be with someone he didn’t like, who knows what he might do. He doesn’t even care about taking over the company, so I have no bargaining chip to force him with.”
Yu Chen slowly echoed him. After finishing the massage for Grandpa He, he returned to his own room.
Actually, ever since he had realized he liked He Zhen, he too had been worried that Grandpa He would stop them from being together one day.
There was a huge gap between his family background and He Zhen’s, and on top of that, he was a boy. Grandpa He would definitely never agree.
Even though Grandpa He had spoken those words today, the chances of him changing his mind later were still very high.
Still, through all this, one thing had been proven—his boss had long since been working hard for the sake of the two of them.
Yu Chen sat dazedly on the bed, his mind full of He Zhen.
On Friday evening, He Zhen came out of the exam hall with the DIY koi charm Yu Chen had made hanging from his pencil case.
The little koi was very cute. At a glance, it was obvious Yu Chen had shaped it himself out of ultra-light clay. It was chubby and round, very much like Yu Chen when he was little.
The teachers accompanying him would not return until Saturday night. Since they were already in Jing City, everyone planned to spend the weekend looking around properly.
Lin He had been assigned to the same room as He Zhen, but He Zhen had already checked out and moved to another hotel with He Heng.
Lin He had no problem with that. After all, if He Zhen was not there, sleeping alone would be much more comfortable.
After spending just one night with He Zhen, he had gained a whole new understanding of what a wealthy young master was. Not only was even the tableware He Zhen carried around with him from Hermès, but even his slippers were absurdly expensive.
By contrast, although Lin He’s own family was fairly well-off, they could not compare to He Zhen at all.
Lin He’s mindset had begun to tilt out of balance.
He felt that He Zhen’s good grades were entirely built on money. If he had that kind of family background too, maybe he would be even better than He Zhen.
After checking into the new hotel, He Zhen took a shower and prepared to make a video call to Yu Chen.
It was already November now, and the temperature in Jing City was much lower than in Hai City. Through the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze landed on the Forbidden City not far away. He planned to use his camera tomorrow to take some photos for Yu Chen to see.
Last night, his flight had landed very late. Afraid of disturbing Yu Chen’s sleep, he had only sent a short message before starting to unpack.
Today he had time, and he wanted to see Yu Chen.
Though he did not know whether Yu Chen was still angry.
Thinking about it now, that little matter truly had not been worth it.
Leaning against the sofa, He Zhen tidied his messy hair, then finally pressed the call button.
The ringtone went on for a long time, but no one answered.
After hesitating for a few seconds, He Zhen decided to call him directly.
At this hour, Yu Chen had definitely finished school.
Just as he was about to hang up, the screen suddenly flickered.
Then, a boy wearing a brown little-bear hat appeared on the screen. The tip of his small nose was red from the cold, and because he was so happy, his neat little tiger teeth were completely exposed.
“I hereby announce!”
“Student He Zhen!”
“If you don’t come downstairs to the hotel entrance to find me within ten seconds, you’re going to lose your cute little brother!”
With a bodyguard following behind him, Yu Chen stood there alone, dragging a suitcase. His smile was light, his dark lashes trembling softly, carrying a joy and shyness too hard to put into words.
He Zhen’s heart pounded wildly. Not even bothering to put on shoes, he ran madly outside.
The hotel entrance was empty.
He hurried anxiously to the roadside and looked all around, until at last he saw the boy in the distance, almost melted into the moonlight.
As soon as Yu Chen saw He Zhen, he stopped walking and folded his arms proudly, quietly waiting for He Zhen to run to him.
A few seconds later, the tall figure blocked out the moonlight around him.
Yu Chen lifted his eyes slightly. The moment he met He Zhen’s joyful, anxious gaze, grievance instantly surfaced on his face.
“I’m tired from walking. I can’t walk anymore.”
He lightly nudged the suitcase with his foot, his dark bright eyes full of suggestion.
Intense delight hid in He Zhen’s eyes. Stepping close, he bent down just as he used to when they were little and firmly lifted Yu Chen onto his back.
Yu Chen hooked his legs around him, settled against He Zhen’s neck, and closed his eyes with a smiling expression.
