Chapter 70
Half an hour later, Yu Chen hurried home with He Zhen.
The moment he stepped through the door, the fragrant smell of beef steamed dumplings hit him. Kicking off his shoes in a flash, he ran into the kitchen. “My dearest dad! How did you know I was craving dumplings?”
Li Huan was busy in an apron.
Turning back, he smiled at Yu Chen with indulgent affection. “Dinner’s almost ready, so go wash your hands! Did Xiao Zhen come too?”
“Uncle, I’m here.” He Zhen helped Li Huan carry out the dishes. “You worked hard making so many dishes.”
“Xiao Zhen, don’t spoil Yu Chen like that. Let him carry the dishes. You go rest in the dining room.” Li Huan urged Yu Chen on when he caught him secretly stealing a chicken leg. “Hurry up and help your brother.”
Yu Chen licked his fingers resentfully. “Dad, you really do play favorites.”
“We’re all family.” He Zhen smiled seriously. “Please don’t be so formal with me.”
Li Huan did not refuse again. After stir-frying one last dish, he called the two of them over to eat.
Yu Chen ate ferociously, swallowing one steamed dumpling in just two or three bites.
Li Huan was pleased, but he was also afraid Yu Chen would upset his stomach, so he kept telling him to slow down.
“Chenchén has always eaten too fast since he was little. Back when you were around, you could still keep him in check. Ever since you left and he went away to study, he’s picked up the bad habit again.”
Li Huan complained to He Zhen, then joked, “In my opinion, what he needs is a good beating.”
Yu Chen puffed up his cheeks. “Dad, you always call in outside help.”
A faint smile tugged at He Zhen’s lips. “Uncle, don’t worry. Now that I’m back, I’ll help you keep Yu Chen in line.”
“You’re so busy. Doesn’t Chenchén always bother you?” Li Huan added vegetables into Yu Chen’s bowl. “Everything about him is good, except he’s a little reckless.”
He Zhen put a large shrimp into Li Huan’s bowl. “Chenchén is still young. He’ll grow steadier little by little. Don’t worry—leave him to me.”
Li Huan laughed awkwardly. “Alright. With you watching over him, I feel relieved too. I just worry you’re so busy and don’t have that much energy, while Yu Chen is always causing you trouble.”
“I like Yu Chen—”
Just as He Zhen said that much, Yu Chen choked. He barely managed to swallow the food in his mouth.
He stared at He Zhen nervously and began coughing non-stop.
Li Huan patted his back and kept nagging, “Look at you. Eat so fast and you’ll choke yourself.”
He Zhen immediately caught on. He ladled Yu Chen a bowl of soup and continued, “I like having Chenchén around to play with me. When he’s there, even work becomes more interesting.”
Li Huan smiled in relief. “Then I’m at ease.”
He Zhen shot Yu Chen a meaningful smile and slowly stirred the pork rib soup with his spoon.
Yu Chen glared at him from the shadows, blaming him for talking in that stop-start way on purpose.
After dinner, Yu Chen insisted on washing the dishes. He Zhen stayed beside him cleaning up the kitchen and taking out the trash. Seeing how sensible the two children were, Li Huan could not hide his satisfaction, and from the living room he watched TV while quietly observing them.
Yu Chen really did love clinging to He Zhen. Even while washing dishes, he could not stay still. Every so often he would sneak over and punch He Zhen with a little fist, bump hips with him, or knock elbows together—more mischievous than when he was little.
While shelling nuts for them, Li Huan shook his head with a smile.
If he did not already know how close the two of them were, then the way they interacted was no different from a couple madly in love.
But…
Li Huan suddenly began to worry about something.
By the time they finished cleaning up the kitchen, it was already late.
Seeing how late it was, He Zhen said goodbye to Li Huan, changed into his shoes, and prepared to leave.
Yu Chen stood up and stared at He Zhen eagerly.
Those eyes held something deeper. In the shifting light of his gaze there was a little reluctance, like hooks tugging at He Zhen’s thoughts and making him unwilling to leave.
“Bye-bye. Be careful on the way.” Afraid Li Huan might notice something, Yu Chen did not dare actively go see him off.
He Zhen smiled. “See you. Cover yourself properly tonight.”
The door shut with a bang.
Yu Chen began massaging Li Huan’s shoulders and neck, soothing the tension there.
Li Huan patted the back of Yu Chen’s hand. “Chenchén, the auntie next door said she saw you dragging a suitcase out a few days ago. Where did you go?”
Yu Chen’s fingertips trembled slightly, and the color drained from his face.
So his dad already knew he had been lying.
“I went to stay with my brother for a few days.”
Yu Chen struggled to keep his voice steady. He was incredibly grateful that Li Huan was facing away from him—otherwise he definitely would have given himself away.
“You went to stay with Xiao Zhen?” Li Huan smiled calmly. “Then why didn’t you tell Dad? Just the day before yesterday, you said on the phone that staying here alone meant you could only eat takeout.”
Yu Chen carefully studied Li Huan’s attitude. Seeing that he was not angry, Yu Chen muttered apologetically, “Dad, I’m sorry. I was just worried you’d scold me and say I was interfering with Brother’s work.”
Li Huan nodded lightly. “Mm. Xiao Zhen is very busy now, and I really am worried you’ll bother him.”
“But you heard what Brother said too.” Yu Chen was deeply uneasy. “He likes having me around.”
At that moment, Yu Chen hesitated over whether he should tell Li Huan about him and He Zhen. But before saying anything, he knew he had to discuss it with He Zhen first.
“I know the two of you are close.” Li Huan lifted an arm and patted the hand resting on his shoulder. “Next time, if something comes up, just tell me directly. If I can’t find you, I’ll worry.”
“I know.” Yu Chen obediently crouched by Li Huan’s knees, hugged his arm, and acted spoiled. “I won’t dare again.”
Li Huan rubbed Yu Chen’s hair and sighed softly. “Chenchén, the main thing is, I’ve seen a lot of news. They’re saying same-sex marriage is legal now. The two of you are so close, and I’m afraid it might affect you. You know the He family’s background too. What if his future marriage partner takes issue with you? You’re grown now, and I think some distance needs to be kept.”
This time, Yu Chen did not speak. He only pressed his lips together.
“Dad, I—”
“I’m not asking for anything else. I’m only afraid you’ll get hurt.” Li Huan’s voice carried exhaustion and helplessness. “I understood what Xiao Zhen meant that day at the family banquet. But there are many things that won’t be up to him. If one day he has to marry for status, and you keep sticking to him like this, then of course his partner will feel uncomfortable. And what kind of small figure do you think his future partner would be? If they trip you up behind the scenes, you won’t be able to withstand it at all. You may say the two of you are just brothers, but others may not see it that way.”
“I understand, Dad.” Yu Chen slowly lowered himself against Li Huan’s knees, his expression complicated. “I’ll protect myself and won’t make you worry.”
“You’re only eighteen. The road ahead is still very long.” Just like when Yu Chen had been little, Li Huan smoothed a hand over his back. “Dad’s not telling you to stay away from Xiao Zhen. I just hope the two of you can grasp the proper limit when you’re together. The way you cling to He Zhen—how is that any different from a couple?”
“I’ll be careful.”
Yu Chen raised his eyes and looked at the anxious, worried expression on Li Huan’s face, feeling as though an iron rod were viciously stirring his heart.
All his father’s countless considerations came down to one thing only: he did not want Yu Chen to get hurt.
That night, Yu Chen lay beneath the blanket, unable to sleep no matter how he tossed and turned. In the end, he still could not resist telling He Zhen what had happened tonight.
But after editing a huge block of text and sending it over, He Zhen did not reply for a long time.
At this hour, Yu Chen guessed He Zhen had probably already gone to sleep.
He did not disturb him again and planned to talk about it tomorrow instead.
The early-summer night carried a faint heat.
Yu Chen kept his eyes shut, but no matter what, he just could not fall asleep.
He did not want to make Li Huan sad, and he did not want to make He Zhen unhappy either.
His head ached as if it were about to explode, and he sighed again and again.
The vibration of his phone rang sharply in the silent room.
Seeing that the caller was He Zhen, Yu Chen shot upright and answered at once.
“Chenchén, put your clothes on. I’m downstairs.”
Yu Chen’s heart thudded heavily. Almost before he had even processed it, he was already dressed and racing downstairs in a flurry.
Outside the apartment building, He Zhen leaned against the car, his gaze quietly fixed on the elevator. The instant Yu Chen ran out, He Zhen opened his arms and pulled the running figure tightly into his embrace.
Lowering his head, he buried his face lightly in the warm hollow of Yu Chen’s neck, breathing in that scent that belonged only to Yu Chen.
The two of them held each other for a long time, and even then Yu Chen’s heart was still pounding.
After a while, Yu Chen finally said in a muffled voice, “Boss, why did you come?”
He Zhen said, “I saw your WeChat and was afraid you’d be upset, so I came to see you.”
The cool, steady voice by his ear made the restless heat in Yu Chen’s heart slowly ease.
So this was what it felt like to be cherished.
Although his terrible mood had improved quite a bit, he still looked dejected. “Boss, what are we supposed to do? Right now I’m really scared my dad will oppose us. I also don’t want him worrying about our relationship all the time.”
The guilt weighing on Yu Chen now was crushing. If Li Huan firmly opposed them, Yu Chen did not have the courage to wage some fierce struggle and make Li Huan heartbroken.
If Li Huan had not picked him up back then, he would be a stray child no one wanted. He might not even have survived to this age.
“Boss.” Yu Chen’s voice thickened slightly, and his eyes had already gone red from anxiety.
“I understand Uncle’s concerns. If it were me, I’d probably think the same way.” He Zhen gently stroked Yu Chen’s back and soothed him. “Uncle’s biggest concern comes from my grandfather. Once Grandpa agrees, Uncle probably won’t oppose us too much.”
“As for my grandfather—” He Zhen lifted Yu Chen’s face lightly with his fingertips. “What day does your summer break start?”
Yu Chen thought for a moment. “About half a month from now.”
He Zhen nodded. “I’ve already found your summer internship lab for you.”
At last, Yu Chen broke into a smile. “You found one?”
“Mm.” He Zhen rubbed the edge of his ear. “You’ll enter the lab at the end of July, so I want to make use of the time before that and take you on a trip.”
“Where are we going?” Yu Chen’s mood instantly improved. “I want to go abroad. Can you take me around MIT?”
“Of course.” He Zhen pulled out his phone and gave it a little wave. “Then should I book the tickets right now?”
Yu Chen nodded frantically. “Yes!”
There was something obscure in He Zhen’s eyes as he lightly squeezed Yu Chen’s palm. “Don’t worry. Before your sophomore year starts, I’ll settle everything. As for you, stop being anxious for now. The most important thing is to eat well and sleep well.”
Looking into He Zhen’s eyes, Yu Chen had no idea why, but he believed his promise completely.
If He Zhen said so, then he would absolutely be able to do it.
“Okay, I will!”
He Zhen gave a light tug with his arm, and Yu Chen was immediately gathered back into his embrace. Leaning closer, He Zhen’s thin lips brushed Yu Chen’s ear. “Chenchén, I want to ask you something.”
Yu Chen was the classic optimist. Since the knot in his heart had already been untied, he went right back to being carefree again.
Grinning, he said, “Ask away.”
He Zhen knew his question was childish, and he gave a quiet laugh at himself before speaking. “If Uncle strongly opposes us, would you give up on me?”
In his heart, he could already predict Yu Chen’s answer, but he still wanted to hear Yu Chen say it himself.
“Of course I wouldn’t give up on you. You actually don’t trust me?” Yu Chen folded his arms, irritation flashing between his brows. “I already gave you the most precious thing I had! And you still ask me something like that?”
He Zhen’s eyelids twitched lightly as he held back a smile.
“The most precious thing… you mean?”
“You’re asking when you already know!” A layer of pale pink immediately spread over Yu Chen’s face as he said in mortified anger, “A boy only has that once. I gave it to you, and you’re still not satisfied.”
He Zhen raised a brow, suddenly intrigued. “I’m satisfied. Having you is enough for me.”
“Hmph.” All the bitterness in Yu Chen’s stomach suddenly began spilling out. “You still need to improve in that department. The male leads in novels are all incredibly good at it. They especially know how to treat people tenderly.”
He Zhen’s eyes darkened, and his smile in the night looked faint. “I promise you, I’ll study it properly.”
“So long as you know you need to learn.” Yu Chen crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes slightly. “Then I’m heading back upstairs first. You should hurry home too. Don’t miss me too much. Once you’ve sorted out our situation, I’ll come keep you company again.”
The smile in He Zhen’s eyes deepened. “Alright.”
“Oh, right.” Yu Chen coughed twice in a reserved little way and leaned close to whisper by He Zhen’s ear, “I prepared some things at your place. Don’t touch them yet—wait until I come back.”
He Zhen looked at the mysterious smile on Yu Chen’s face and replied softly, “Okay.”
Yu Chen shot him a flirtatious glance, then trotted off with cheerful little steps.
Watching Yu Chen’s disappearing back, He Zhen leaned once more against the car door, his expression hidden too deeply in the night to make out clearly.
After a long while, he sent He Heng a WeChat message.
[Help me buy two tickets arriving in Boston on 6/21, booked under Yu Chen’s and Li Huan’s names.]
