Chapter 59
As the days passed one by one, preparations for He Zhen’s departure abroad began in earnest. Everything went smoothly. Thanks to He Zhen’s outstanding performance in the international math competitions, along with the various achievements he had accumulated over time, he quickly received his admission offer.
Yu Chen’s birthday also arrived that Saturday.
Although Old Master He had already undergone surgery, it was not suitable for him to get out of bed yet, so he could not personally attend Yu Chen’s birthday party.
Still, he had He Jinglin attend on his behalf and present Yu Chen with a special birthday gift.
“Chencheng, this fountain pen was given to Grandpa by his own father. In the meantime, it was repaired by several skilled craftsmen from the Vatican, so it carries very special meaning. Giving it to you as a birthday gift is also my hope that you will keep improving and achieve success in your studies.”
Yu Chen lightly stroked the body of the pen with his fingertips and nodded in delight. “Thank you, Grandpa and Auntie.”
For Yu Chen’s birthday this time, besides inviting his close friends, Old Master He had also prepared a fireworks show and a live band performance.
The largest banquet hall in the estate was filled everywhere with lively birthday decorations.
Yu Chen liked a British rock band called YB. After Old Master He learned about it, he specially arranged for them to come, letting Yu Chen’s favorite idols perform the birthday song for him.
Xiao Yu thought the band was absolutely amazing and kept filming nonstop on his phone, planning that when he became a big boss in the future, he would also hire a band to perform at his birthday party.
“Fat Chencheng, your birthday is way too cool.” Holding a plate of desserts, Fang Jingrao grinned foolishly. “I think you’re really happy.”
Yu Chen was completely surrounded by happiness today and said with smiling eyes, “Of course I’m happy. On a day this important, I’ve got all of you here with me.”
Fang Jingrao scratched his head shyly, then looked at Xiao Yu, who was whistling excitedly, and teased, “Look at Xiao Yu. He really seems to like this band.”
Yu Chen said, “Yeah, he was the one who recommended their songs to me.”
Once again, Fang Jingrao envied Yu Chen fiercely.
He Zhi’an had been the first to find out that He Zhen was going abroad, and he had asked him privately, “I heard from my mom about you leaving for overseas. Since you’re going ahead of schedule, is Yu Chen still going too?”
He Zhen gave a quiet “mm.” “He is. He’ll first prepare for the biology competition.”
“Graduating from MIT in two years… that’s got to be insanely hard.” He Zhi’an patted He Zhen on the shoulder. “Take it easy. Don’t work yourself into the ground.”
“Mm.” He Zhen’s gaze fell on Yu Chen, who was currently munching little cookies with his aunt. “Can I ask you for a favor?”
He Zhi’an answered readily, “Say it. As long as I can do it.”
“After I leave, look after Yu Chen a bit. His personality makes it unlikely for him to make enemies, but exceptions do happen.”
“Alright, don’t worry.” He Zhi’an smiled. “I heard Grandpa officially recognized Chencheng as his god-grandson?”
He Zhen said, “Mm.”
He Zhi’an asked, “Then what are you two going to do in the future?”
“There’s still a way.” He Zhen’s expression turned complicated. “No matter what, Grandpa will be furious. As long as he doesn’t direct that anger at Yu Chen, it’ll be fine.”
He Zhi’an sighed. “What if Grandpa’s stance is really firm and he just refuses to let the two of you be together?”
He Zhen’s dark pupils tightened slightly. “Then all I can do is make my position clear and tell Grandpa that no matter what, I’m going to be with Yu Chen.”
He Zhi’an’s mood grew complicated.
That made him think of his own situation again.
Not long ago, he probably had liked Lin Jiashu.
If he were to tell He Jinglin that he liked boys, there was a high chance she would not stop him.
On the other side, Yu Chen and Xiao Yu were singing karaoke in front of the band.
He Zhen got up and went back to his room, taking out the birthday gift he had prepared in advance for Yu Chen.
It was a lifelike ceramic cartoon figurine.
He had had a craftsman make it based on what Yu Chen looked like at age five.
It had to be said, the craftsman truly had skill. Even Yu Chen’s chubby little cheeks had been faithfully captured, along with grape-like round eyes smiling sweetly and a little cake held in his hands.
A faint smile curled at He Zhen’s lips as he used a key to open the back of the figurine.
With a soft clatter, a ring fell out.
He Zhen gently lifted the ring, its reflection clearly mirrored in his eyes.
This ring was different from an ordinary one. Its design was made of two rings intertwined and wrapped around each other.
When he had bought it, the sales associate had seen how young he was and assumed he was choosing it for family members. They had told him that the platinum ring represented a promise of advancing and retreating together, while the rose gold ring represented the responsibility of lifelong protection. With the two fused into one, it symbolized both trust and responsibility between lovers, and also meant that no matter what difficulties they faced, neither of them would waver.
He Zhen lowered his gaze in quiet loneliness.
Originally, he had planned to confess to Yu Chen today.
At first, he had thought that at the very least he could stay by Yu Chen’s side until Yu Chen finished his competition. That way, even if the two of them had to part afterward, Yu Chen would already have finished the college entrance exam and would not have his studies affected by romance.
But under the current circumstances, confessing his feelings right before leaving felt a little selfish.
They would be apart for so long, and it would be far too easy for Yu Chen to become anxious and insecure.
He Zhen gently placed the ring back inside the figurine and locked it again.
“Boss! What are you doing?”
Yu Chen’s cheerful voice came from the hallway. He Zhen lifted his head just in time to meet those eyes full of shimmering laughter.
He Zhen slipped the key into his pocket and looked at him gently. “Getting your gift.”
“What gift?”
Yu Chen ran over eagerly and leaned over He Zhen’s back, wrapping his arms around his neck. “A doll?”
“Mm. Does it look like you?” He Zhen studied Yu Chen’s expression, a trace of tension flickering in his dark eyes.
“It looks exactly like me!” Yu Chen naturally sat down beside He Zhen and rested his head on his shoulder, rubbing against him. “But was I really that fat when I was little?”
He Zhen chuckled softly. “It was made from your photos.”
Yu Chen narrowed his eyes. “That craftsman must’ve exaggerated it.”
He Zhen raised a hand and rubbed Yu Chen’s earlobe, breathing in the faint scent of freesia and white cherry blossom from Yu Chen’s body.
His eyes closed slightly, as if trying to remember that scent forever.
“Are you happy today, on your birthday?”
“Of course I’m happy.” Yu Chen flicked the little belly of the figurine and grumbled, “My figure was originally very proportional. I only got fat because you kept feeding me.”
He Zhen had no intention of accepting that blame.
Smiling but not quite smiling, he said, “When you had those missing front teeth, wasn’t that when you had just arrived? You weren’t skinny even back then.”
Yu Chen could not stand people digging up his embarrassing past, and he immediately bared his teeth and growled at He Zhen, “You’re talking nonsense!”
He Zhen held his face and squished his mouth into a pout. “I should take a picture of your expression right now and hang it in the room to ward off evil.”
Yu Chen raised his brows smugly. “Then print it out and take it to America with you. Hang it above your bed so you can see me every day.”
He Zhen’s heart clenched hard.
Still smiling, he said, “Mm. I’ll take a few more and hang them everywhere.”
Yu Chen laughed carelessly, then turned his head and secretly wiped at his eyes while He Zhen was not looking.
The birthday party did not end until nightfall.
He Zhen accompanied Yu Chen in seeing off all his friends, and the next day he deliberately went alone to the hospital.
Old Master He had been in fairly good spirits recently, and the surgery had been very successful. He would even joke from time to time that his chest was now full of metal.
He Zhen used warm water to wash Old Master He’s face, then very skillfully picked up an electric razor and shaved him.
“You should leave this sort of thing to other people. With this time, you ought to go study.”
Although Old Master He said that, the look and posture he carried revealed clear satisfaction.
“I’m leaving soon, so I wanted to spend more time with you.”
After finishing everything, He Zhen fed Old Master He breakfast. “Grandpa, if I want to finish all my credits in two and a half years, the biggest factor is time. If time allows, I’ll come back regularly. But if my coursework gets too heavy, I might not even be able to come back during winter and summer breaks.”
“It’s alright. If I miss you, I’ll video call you.” Ever since hearing that He Zhen had gotten his MIT offer, Old Master He’s mood had improved, and his condition had been effectively brought under control.
“Mm. I’d like to ask you to take care of Yu Chen for me.” He Zhen stirred the porridge bowl. “Of course, I know that even if I didn’t say it, you’d still dote on him.”
“Of course.” Old Master He let out a breath. “Chencheng is my grandson too. He’s been running around constantly during this period and hasn’t spared any effort in taking care of me.”
“Mm.” He Zhen lowered his eyes. “If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll be leaving next month.”
“I’ve found several people to look after your safety and daily life there. We don’t know whether the food over there will suit your tastes, so it’s still better to bring some of our own people.”
“Thank you, Grandpa.” The reluctance in He Zhen’s expression was impossible to hide. “Wait for me to come back.”
Old Master He pulled him into an embrace. “Alright.”
Day after day passed. Class 2-1 held a lively farewell party for He Zhen. Fang Jingrao cried his eyes out, tearfully urging He Zhen to take good care of himself.
In contrast, Yu Chen remained cheerful the whole time. When Xiao Yu asked why he was not crying, he only replied calmly that it was a good thing He Zhen had gotten into MIT early, and that he was truly happy for him from the bottom of his heart.
The night before He Zhen left was Thursday.
From the moment school ended, Yu Chen stayed holed up in his room and never came out. When Li Huan asked, he only made up the excuse that he had a headache and needed some sleep.
On Friday morning, he had taken leave. He was going to see He Zhen off at the airport.
At midnight, He Zhen knocked on his room door and found it locked.
Yu Chen was secretly crying under the covers, afraid He Zhen would notice how swollen his eyes were, so he called out cheerfully that he had already taken all his clothes off and gone to sleep.
He Zhen sat outside Yu Chen’s bedroom door until deep into the night before finally leaving.
The next morning, Yu Chen used an egg to soothe his eyes and forced down two bottles of black coffee before barely managing to suppress how worn-out he looked.
Today He Zhen was leaving. He absolutely had to be bright and cheerful, otherwise He Zhen would not be able to leave without worry.
The He family’s private helipad was twenty kilometers from home. He Zhen came over and knocked on the door. “Chencheng, it’s time for us to go.”
“Oh!” Yu Chen was sitting on the sofa tying his shoelaces, tears gradually filling his eyes, making it impossible for him to do it properly.
This time, He Zhen noticed that Yu Chen’s door was not locked. He pushed it open and stepped inside, only to find Yu Chen crying like a complete mess.
His gaze dropped to Yu Chen’s loose shoelaces, and he quietly walked over.
Yu Chen wiped at his tears in panic and forced out a silly smile. “Boss, I’m just a little emotional. I—”
He Zhen suddenly dropped to one knee and lowered his head to tie his shoelaces for him.
Yu Chen froze, staring at the He Zhen before him, his voice choked with sobs. “Boss, once you get to America, take good care of yourself. If anything makes you feel wronged, remember to tell me.”
“Mm.” He Zhen tightened the laces for him but did not stand up immediately. He remained in that one-knee position, looking up at Yu Chen.
Yu Chen was crying so hard his shoulders were shaking, but he still tried to joke, “Don’t kneel like that. It looks like a proposal.”
He Zhen gently pulled Yu Chen into his arms. “There’s a thirteen-hour time difference between there and here. When you get out of school in the evening, I’ll just be waking up. We can video call every day, and I can even keep you company while you work through practice problems and do homework. See? We’re actually not that far apart, right?”
“That’s right!” One tear after another dripped from Yu Chen onto He Zhen’s neck. Frowning lightly, he said, “Oh right, there’s something else I wanted to ask you.”
“What is it?” He Zhen let go of him and looked into his eyes.
“I looked it up online. Foreign countries are very open.” Yu Chen lowered his eyes, sniffing quietly. “When you get there, do you think you’ll—”
“I won’t. I promise you.” He Zhen’s expression turned solemn, then he suddenly laughed softly. “So that’s what you were worried about.”
“I was not! I was just…” A blush slowly spread across the tips of Yu Chen’s ears, his damp lashes trembling. “I was just worried about you, so don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Idiot.” He Zhen raised his fingers and gently wiped away his tears. “How about I report my whereabouts to you every day? I remember there’s an app where, if you link it, you can see the other person’s location.”
“Oh please, that’s not what I meant.” Yu Chen could not help sneaking a smile as he scratched his head and pulled out his phone. “What… app? I guess trying it wouldn’t be impossible.”
He Zhen’s gaze was gentle, full of nothing but Yu Chen.
As Yu Chen fiddled with the setup, he secretly kept glancing at He Zhen. By the time they finished setting it up, the roots of his ears were already burning red.
There was laughter in He Zhen’s eyes as he took Yu Chen’s hand and led him out to the car.
An hour later, he boarded the plane bound for America.
