Chapter 111#
Lin Fengzhi was going crazy. His mind kept replaying the words:
“I am not your mother.”
“Heqing, can you accompany me to the ward?”
So when a voice he knew all too well came from the receiver, Lin Fengzhi took a long time to react. His nostrils flared forcefully, and he was on the verge of a breakdown. “Why is it you again!”
Yan Heqing said calmly, “You are disturbing others.”
“That’s none of your business!” Tears burst from Lin Fengzhi’s eyes. “Can you just disappear from my world!”
“I already disappeared once.”
Lin Fengzhi only thought Yan Heqing was referring to the 13 years after the adoption. He bit his lip hard. “So you suffered, and you want me to suffer too? You succeeded. Now Uncle Lu belongs to you, Mom… my classmates, they all belong to you!”
Yan Heqing was noncommittal. “Are you done? Then I’m hanging up.”
Lin Fengzhi hated this feeling. It was as if whatever he said meant nothing to Yan Heqing. But he desperately needed someone to help him now.
Now only Yan Heqing would help him.
He felt humiliated but had no choice. “I need your help.”
“I can’t help you.” Yan Heqing cut off his hope. “And I won’t help you.”
Yan Heqing hung up the phone.
This time, the phone didn’t ring again. Yan Heqing returned the phone and went into the laboratory.
Gu Xingye looked at the dark phone screen, unable to describe the feeling in his heart.
A sense of loss, relief, or something else.
But soon he had no time to think about it. Tonight at midnight was the deadline for submitting the experiment report.
Gu Xingye put the phone back in his pocket and quickly walked into the next laboratory.
Yan Heqing was also rushing. At 23:30, he sent the report to Professor Yang Rucheng from the laboratory.
After logging out of the email, Yan Heqing logged into the school’s official website.
There was a small box in the lower left corner scrolling with newly released news. One of them was the latest document on postgraduate recommendations.
Yan Heqing then logged into the school forum and clicked into the software engineering section.
There were not many posts about postgraduate recommendations, only a few scattered ones.
Yan Heqing clicked on the latest one, and there were not many replies.
[Sigh, there’s only one spot this year, I won’t get it.]
[Already know who it is, Zhao Weifang.]
[Don’t be discouraged, brothers and sisters. Zhao Weifang gave it up. He already got an internship opportunity at XX Company, with a starting annual salary of one million.]
Yan Heqing was a little surprised.
In the original book, Zhao Weifang was recommended for postgraduate studies and started his own company in his first year of graduate school.
But it made no difference.
After confirming the information, Yan Heqing turned off the computer.
After packing his things, he cleaned the laboratory from inside out before leaving with his laptop bag. He didn’t need to come to the laboratory tomorrow.
The campus was silent, with only street lamps casting small patches of light and shadow on the ground. Yan Heqing walked along the roadside. Halfway there, he suddenly changed direction and went to the house in the family housing area.
At one o’clock in the morning, only one household still had lights on. Yan Heqing looked up at the lit balcony, his heart skipping a few beats.
He didn’t expect Lu Lin to be here.
Yan Heqing quickened his pace. He went upstairs and opened the door. The sliding wooden doors of the living room and balcony were wide open, letting in the night breeze. It was cool inside without the air conditioner on, but Lu Lin was not there.
Yan Heqing closed the door and put down his things. Lu Lin’s leather shoes were neatly arranged at the entrance. Yan Heqing opened the shoe cabinet and found a pair of new slippers inside. He took them out and put them on, then walked quietly to the bedroom.
The door was ajar, leaving only a narrow slit. It was dim inside, and nothing could be seen clearly. Just as Yan Heqing was about to turn around, he was hugged from behind. The overwhelming scent of cedar enveloped him. Slightly wet hair tips brushed against Yan Heqing’s cheek. Lu Lin was wearing a bathrobe, his chin rubbing lightly against the hollow of his shoulder.
“Experiment finished?”
“Why are you here?”
Both spoke at the same time.
Lu Lin chuckled and answered first, “Waiting for you.”
Yan Heqing also replied, “Yeah, the results will be out in a month.”
“Nervous?” Lu Lin held him, showing no intention of letting go.
Yan Heqing had been busy all day and his body was aching. He allowed himself to rest in Lu Lin’s arms for a moment. “Not nervous.”
To be precise, it wasn’t that he wasn’t nervous, but he was too busy to be nervous.
“What a pity, I even prepared something for you to relieve stress.”
Yan Heqing turned his head. “What is it?”
Lu Lin took him to the kitchen and gestured for him to open the refrigerator.
Yan Heqing realized something. He opened the refrigerator, and sure enough, it was mint mung bean soup. In the transparent glass pitcher, the color of the mint water looked enticing.
“I tasted it, it’s not bad.” Lu Lin took out the pitcher and poured a glass for Yan Heqing. “It’s so late, it doesn’t hurt to eat something. Drink it and go take a shower. I’ll cook you a bowl of noodles.”
There were a few bottles of water, a few boxes of blueberries, a pack of noodles, a carton of eggs, and some vegetables in the refrigerator.
Lu Lin had bought them when he came.
Yan Heqing was indeed a little hungry. He nodded, drank the mint water in a few gulps, and went to the bathroom.
It was only when he got to the bathroom that Yan Heqing realized something was wrong.
On the changing cabinet in the dry area, there were several sets of brand new clothes. It was normal for Lu Lin to prepare other things in advance, but he even prepared his underwear, as if he was certain that he would come tonight.
But he had decided on a whim.
Did Lu Lin meet Lu Muchi when he went to his place? Yan Heqing took out his phone and turned it on. There were no missed calls or messages from Lu Muchi.
One side of the bathroom was the shower area, and the other was the bathtub. Yan Heqing entered the shower, and the constant temperature water poured down from above. Yan Heqing closed his eyes, listening to the pattering sound of water, and suppressed the thought he just had.
The soup pot in the kitchen was also bubbling.
Lu Lin put in the eggs, his gaze deepening. Lu Changcheng and Lu Han had gone to Yan Heqing’s place tonight.
Although they didn’t stay long, Lu Lin guessed that Yan Heqing would come here, so he bought things and came over in advance.
A few minutes later, the alarm rang. The time Lu Lin set for the soft-boiled eggs was up.
He fished them out and put them in ice water.
These were the most successful soft-boiled eggs Lu Lin had ever cooked. Yan Heqing ate the noodles and soft-boiled eggs clean. At two o’clock, he rested for another half an hour before going to bed.
There was only one bed. Lu Lin didn’t touch Yan Heqing, but just pulled him into his arms. “You’re too tired, go to sleep.”
Beside his ear was Lu Lin’s steady and powerful heartbeat, like the best lullaby. Yan Heqing fell asleep in no time.
Yan Heqing had only one day of classes left this semester. After finishing his afternoon classes, just as he walked out of the teaching building, he received a call from Lin Fengxian.
“Sorry, Heqing, to disturb you at this time.” Lin Fengxian’s tone was full of helplessness. “My mother insisted on being discharged from the hospital and is now home…”
Lin Fengxian found it hard to say the rest.
Logically speaking, although Yan Heqing was Lin Fengzhi’s biological brother, they had no legal relationship. Now that Lin Fengzhi and Mother Lin were in conflict, Yan Heqing shouldn’t be dragged into it. But Mother Lin’s intention was clear: she wanted Yan Heqing to come over.
Lin Fengxian had no choice but to say, “My mother also called Fengzhi back. Is it convenient for you to come over?”
Yan Heqing replied, “I just finished class. I’ll come over now.”
Hanging up the phone, Yan Heqing took a taxi to the Lin residence.
He knew the Lin family’s feelings for Lin Fengzhi, especially Mother Lin. Even a dog or a cat raised for a few days would have feelings attached, let alone Lin Fengzhi who had been raised for 13 years. Mother Lin’s maternal love for him could not be let go of overnight.
Mother Lin’s actions the day before were mostly due to her being disheartened, leading to disappointment in Lin Fengzhi.
He now needed to make Mother Lin maintain this disappointment.
If Mother Lin gave up on Lin Fengzhi, it meant the Lin family gave up on Lin Fengzhi.
Thinking of this, Yan Heqing called Lu Lin. “I have to go to the Lin family’s house. I won’t be back for dinner.”
It was very quiet on Lu Lin’s end. “Come to my apartment after you’re done. It’s quiet and convenient for you to review.”
Yan Heqing agreed. He hung up the phone and arrived at the Lin family’s house shortly after.
Lin Fengyi opened the door. He looked haggard, and his hair was a little messy. Seeing Yan Heqing carrying a schoolbag, he wanted to take it but then held back his hand. “Follow me.”
Yan Heqing changed into slippers and followed Lin Fengyi to the living room.
The living room was silent.
Mother Lin and Father Lin were sitting on the sofa. Lin Fengzhi was standing in the center of the living room, and Lin Fengyi was standing beside the sofa.
None of the four spoke. Mother Lin seemed to have lost her soul. When Yan Heqing arrived, Lin Fengzhi was first surprised, then lowered his head and stared at the tips of his shoes, his eyes red, holding back tears.
Mother Lin finally seemed to come back to life a little. She forced a smile and invited Yan Heqing to sit down.
Yan Heqing nodded politely. “I’ll just stand.”
Mother Lin didn’t force him. She finally looked at Lin Fengzhi. Her eyes held memories, melancholy, reluctance, and determination.
“Lin Fengzhi,” she began. “Go abroad.”
She hadn’t discussed this with the Lin family. As soon as she said this, they were all shocked. Lin Fengzhi looked up in panic and said, “I won’t go! Mom, I was wro—”
“It’s fine if you don’t go.” Mother Lin interrupted him, her tone still calm. “You are 18 years old and can make your own decisions. Move out. I will pay for your tuition and basic living expenses until you graduate from university.”
Her words were tantamount to cutting ties with Lin Fengzhi. Father Lin pulled her hand. “You…”
Mother Lin shook her head, signaling Father Lin not to speak.
Lin Fengxian and Lin Fengyi were also stunned.
They only knew that Lin Fengzhi was going to jump off the building, but they didn’t know the content of the conversation on the roof.
Lin Fengzhi was completely panicked this time. He took a step towards Mother Lin, but Mother Lin shook her head. “You don’t need to come over. I’ve thought it through very clearly.”
“Is it because of him?!” Lin Fengzhi completely broke down. He pointed excitedly at Yan Heqing. “You don’t want me anymore because of him!”
He suddenly lunged at Yan Heqing. No one expected this scene. Yan Heqing let him pounce.
Lin Fengzhi grabbed Yan Heqing’s collar, tears streaming down his face. “Tell me, what kind of potion did you give my mom? You…”
Just as Lin Fengyi was about to pull Lin Fengzhi away, Mother Lin stood up, clutching her chest and gasping for breath. “You still blame others even now. I spoiled you into a devil! I really regret adopting you back then!”
As soon as these words came out, Lin Fengzhi stopped moving. He felt wronged and didn’t know what to do, so he just kept crying.
Father Lin felt that Mother Lin’s words were too harsh. He whispered, “Xiao Qin, stop talking.”
Mother Lin swallowed her tears. “I want to say it. I want to tell you all today what a failure of a mother I am.”
She closed her eyes and stopped looking at Lin Fengzhi, not wanting to be soft-hearted anymore. “The day he threatened Yan Heqing with jumping off the building, he said it himself. For Lu Lin, he could do without parents and brothers.”
Her voice was bitter. “Back then, the one I wanted to adopt was Heqing. He hid himself to give the chance to Lin Fengzhi. Lin Fengzhi knew it, but he still blamed Heqing for Lu Lin’s sake.”
“Tell me, did I raise him into a devil who disowns his own family?”
After she finished speaking, the living room was instantly dead silent.
At this moment, Lin Fengzhi felt as if he had been stripped naked. He felt cold all over, and black shadows overlapped in front of his eyes, making it hard to see clearly.
His head was buzzing. After a moment, he let go of Yan Heqing, shook his head mechanically, turned around, and ran out.