Chapter 119#

The next morning, Yan Heqing woke up promptly at six o’clock. He first looked out the window; it was foggy and extremely gloomy.

At least in the capital, there was no place where the sunrise could be seen today.

Only then did he turn back and poke Lu Lin’s shoulder. “It’s six o’clock.”

Lu Lin closed his eyes, caught his hand, pulled him back into his arms, and buried his chin in Yan Heqing’s neck. “It’s still early, sleep a bit longer.”

Lu Lin handled all the aftermath last night, so Yan Heqing slept very well. He wasn’t sleepy at the moment, so he turned over, grabbed his phone, leaned his back against Lu Lin’s chest, and opened Weibo.

The reposts of Beijing University’s statement on Weibo had already exceeded one million.

Such a huge scandal occurring in a top domestic university, especially during the enrollment period after the college entrance examination, had netizens constantly posting comments demanding action.

“With face and voice clearly visible, and no trace of editing found, it’s set in stone! Hurry up and deal with this scum.”

“It’s truly disgusting! The thought that my daughter might also be targeted by these rats in the dark terrifies me. I hope Beijing University can deal with this seriously and set an example!”

…

While scrolling through the comments, a notification suddenly popped up indicating an update. Yan Heqing refreshed the page, and a new situation report from Beijing University appeared.

Yan Heqing clicked on it.

At this moment, Lu Lin’s deep voice sounded behind him. “After investigation and verification, the violation of school rules by student Zhao X X from the School of Software Engineering is true. In accordance with relevant regulations, he is expelled from the university—”

There was another paragraph following that, but Lu Lin didn’t read it.

He kissed the outer rim of Yan Heqing’s ear. “Get up, let’s go to the terrace for breakfast.”

He didn’t mention watching the sunrise at all.

The hotel was located in a prime location on the riverbank, offering a view of a large expanse of azure water from the terrace.

But today’s weather was really not suitable for dining on the terrace.

Although it hadn’t rained yet, the clouds were dark, signaling an impending storm. The azure water, encountering the heavy rain, had not yet recovered its original color and was a muddy turbid color.

The entire field of vision was gray.

The wind was urgent and strong, but Lu Lin picked up a slice of golden-toasted bread, spread blueberry jam on it, poured a cup of hot coffee, and placed them all in front of Yan Heqing. “Eat.”

Yan Heqing was full of doubts but still picked up the bread. After taking a few bites, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a bright color out of the corner of his eye, like the sunrise breaking through the darkness at dawn, the first ray of sunlight offered to the earth.

Immediately following was the distant sound of explosions, gradually breaking the silence.

Yan Heqing stopped swallowing. He looked towards the sound and saw countless trails of white smoke blooming on the previously gray riverbank, rushing into the high sky.

Then, orange-red colors appeared within the white smoke, spreading rapidly block by block, like morning glow, instantly turning into colorful clouds.

Yan Heqing was captivated. He put down the bread, stood up, walked quickly to the railing, and stared intently at the miraculously appearing scene.

At this moment, another beam of red light rushed into the sky, changing from red light into a crescent moon, then a semicircle, and finally reaching the clouds resembling morning glow, turning into a large orange-red disk.

Just like a real sunrise.

This was a grand daytime fireworks display.

Yan Heqing’s fingers gripped the railing, his pupils reflecting the overwhelming, warm, and bright colors. It seemed as if a sunrise had also risen in his eyes, dispelling all the haze.

“Do you like it?”

Lu Lin’s voice sounded from behind.

Yan Heqing nodded. He stared intently into the distance, his voice sounding a bit wet when he spoke. “I like it.”

“Then what about this?”

Immediately after, a ring suddenly fell before Yan Heqing’s eyes.

The ring was tied to a thin chain, 4.5 millimeters wide, with a matte texture, engraved with a whale leaping out of the sea, its eyes inlaid with small and exquisite light brown gems.

The inner circle was engraved with two letters, Y&L.

This was a wedding ring.

The fireworks in the distance turned into orange-gold and pink threads, falling down like rain. The colors gradually faded and dissipated before hitting the ground. Only the ring in front of him became clearer and clearer.

Yan Heqing felt something blocking his chest, so heavy that his breathing became a bit heavier. When he opened his mouth, he heard the wetness in his voice. “I like it too.”

Lu Lin smiled, encircled Yan Heqing with one hand from behind, and whispered in his ear, “Let’s get married next month, okay?”

In the tightly pressed posture, through the thin clothing, Yan Heqing clearly felt the heartbeat coming from Lu Lin, steady and powerful, in the same rhythm as his own. Facing the sky full of morning glow opposite, he caught the ring and took it down, wanting to use action instead of an answer.

But unexpectedly, it was snatched away by Lu Lin. “The wedding ring must be put on by your lover.”

Lu Lin held Yan Heqing’s hand and firmly put the ring on his ring finger.

Yan Heqing stared at the ring for a while and thought of a question. “Your ring…”

“Help me put it on.” Lu Lin took out another ring.

It was the same style as Yan Heqing’s, only the pattern was different. Lu Lin’s wedding ring was not engraved with a whale, but a plum blossom, so detailed that even the veins of the flower were shown.

To be able to carve whales and plum blossoms so vividly on the ring band showed that the craftsman Lu Lin found had superb skills.

Yan Heqing knew the meaning of Lu Lin choosing the plum blossom.

It was still him.

Moved could no longer describe the warmth and shock Lu Lin brought him.

He blinked away the moisture on his eyelashes, took the ring, and carefully put it on Lu Lin’s ring finger.

Just as he put it on, before he even intended to withdraw his hand, Lu Lin took his hand first, interlocking fingers with him. Lu Lin’s other hand also tightened around Yan Heqing’s waist, holding him firmly in his arms.

The two embraced and held hands like this, quietly watching the fireworks in the distance until they extinguished and the sky returned to calm. Lu Lin released him and said, “The Lu family has a family gathering once every quarter. The end of this month is the second one this year.”

The Lu family was a huge family, and Lu Lin was the current head. Even if he wanted to keep his marriage low-key, he couldn’t.

Besides, he didn’t want to keep it low-key.

Yan Heqing understood Lu Lin’s meaning. Attending the Lu family gathering would inevitably mean seeing Lu Changcheng and Lu Muchi. The corners of his mouth curved up, and a smile appeared in his eyes. “I’m on vacation now, I’m free every day.”

The implication was that he agreed.

Lu Lin’s purpose didn’t stop there. He asked another question, “What about today?”

Lu Muchi had fantasized about Yan Heqing in front of him several times. He had endured until Yan Heqing finished the last thing, and now was his limit.

He urgently wanted everyone to know that he was Yan Heqing’s man.

So his question was also an affirmation.

Fortunately, Yan Heqing also gave him an affirmative answer. The young man stood on tiptoe and actively kissed his lips. “Okay.”

At the same time, Lu Lin’s phone rang.

He went back to the long table to pick up the phone, listened for a while, put down the phone, and told Yan Heqing, “Zhao Weifang went to find Cheng Jian.”

It was about the same time as Yan Heqing estimated. After receiving the punishment, Zhao Weifang would go to find Cheng Jian without stopping. As long as the two colluded, the last step of his plan would be completed.

His eyes curved. “I know you will worry, but if someone follows me, don’t stop them anymore.”

Lu Changcheng knew that Lu Muchi had shifted his affection to him now, but hadn’t made things difficult, surely because Lu Lin helped block it.

But next, he had to let the people sent by Cheng Jian notice Yan Shengbing, so he had to let them succeed in tracking.

Lu Lin looked deeply at Yan Heqing. After a moment, he sighed and rubbed the top of Yan Heqing’s head vigorously. “I’ll follow in the dark without hindering you. This is my bottom line.”

Yan Heqing suddenly smiled. “Even if you didn’t mention it, I would have asked you to do so.”

Before Lu Lin could respond, he pulled down Lu Lin’s neck, imitating the way Lu Lin whispered in his ear, and softened his voice. “Remember clearly, during this three-month vacation, you must follow me like a shadow every day.”

Lu Lin instantly felt numb from his ears all the way to his brain. His eyes darkened like ink that couldn’t be dissolved. Just thinking that Yan Heqing had been tired these past two days, he loosened his collar and led the person away directly. “Let’s go. If we don’t go now, we won’t be able to leave today.”

Yan Heqing’s smile grew wider and wider. He held Lu Lin’s hand back and followed him gently.

Lu Muchi hadn’t gone home for a few days and had been drinking in the bar. The private room was filled with the unpleasant smell of alcohol. Managers and waiters passing by quietly covered their noses.

Lu Muchi’s brain was particularly chaotic, recalling Yan Heqing’s social circle over and over again in his mind.

There was never a matching man.

Lu Muchi even suspected Lin Fengyi. Among the people Yan Heqing could contact, only Lin Fengyi could be considered somewhat wealthy, but he quickly dismissed this thought.

That niche handmade watch, Lin Fengyi didn’t have that aesthetic. Besides, Yan Heqing looked down on him, and even less so on Lin Fengyi.

Just when Lu Muchi was extremely drunk, he received a call.

“Young Mr. Lu, I didn’t find out the identity!” The person on the other end reported excitedly. “But I found their whereabouts! They had dinner at a restaurant and are now heading towards—”

The man reported the address Lu Lin gave.

Lu Muchi’s blood-red eyes instantly straightened. He stood up abruptly, his body swaying violently. He didn’t reply, hung up the phone, and strode out.

Good, the adulterer dares to go to Yan Heqing’s residence. This time he’ll catch them in the act!

Lu Muchi went straight to the parking lot. The driver was still sleeping. He opened the car door directly and tried to pull the driver out. “Get down!”

The driver woke up and smelled the alcohol all over him. Of course, the driver didn’t dare let him drive. “Young Master, where are you going? I’ll drive—Ah!”

Lu Muchi raised his foot and kicked the driver to the ground, cursing coldly, “Who do you think you are, bargaining with me? Get lost!”

The driver clutched his stomach, speechless from pain, and could only watch helplessly as Lu Muchi drove away drunk. As soon as Lu Muchi drove away, a car not far away quietly followed.

Inside the car were the Lu family’s bodyguards.

One of the bodyguards was Zhao Qiang, who was called by Lu Lin for questioning last time. He pretended to play with his phone and quietly sent a message to the assistant.

When the assistant reported back to Lu Lin, Lu Lin had just finished taking a shower.

Staying in the Beijing University house for a night or two occasionally was fine, but Lu Lin wasn’t at ease for a long time. Even if the materials were environmentally friendly, it was newly renovated. He would only be at ease for Yan Heqing to move in after airing it out for a few more months to disperse the formaldehyde.

They returned to the house Yan Heqing rented first.

But this was also Lu Lin’s plan. Otherwise, they could have returned to his apartment in the city center. He deliberately came back here so that Lu Muchi could see clearly with his own eyes who Yan Heqing’s man was.

He didn’t bring a change of clothes, wearing a bathrobe, leaning against the sofa with a book open. It was Yan Heqing’s professional book, not his field, but he read it with relish.

Approaching bedtime, Yan Heqing finished standing against the wall for 15 minutes, his face covered in sweat. After steadying his breathing, he went into the bathroom to take a shower.

The sound of pattering water rang for a while, then a loud bang suddenly came from downstairs, as if something had been knocked over, mixed with the sound of braking.

Lu Lin didn’t even lift his eyelids, turned a page, and continued reading.

At this time, Yan Heqing also finished showering. Just as he put on clean and soft loungewear, a deafening sound of kicking the door came from outside.

And—

“Yan Heqing, open the door!”