Chapter 20#

The elevator doors closed and descended again.

No one dared to crowd into the area where Lu Lin stood, creating a small, isolated space, while everyone else flocked to Zhang Qing’s side.

Zhang Qing had to move towards Yan Heqing, squeezing him to the side so that his shoulder occasionally brushed against Lu Lin’s arm.

Yan Heqing’s expression remained unchanged, though he was a little surprised to see Lu Lin again so soon.

Ding.

At this moment, the elevator reached the 55th floor. The doors opened, and the Lu Corporation employees swarmed out, waiting on both sides for Lu Lin.

Lu Lin didn’t look at Yan Heqing and walked straight out of the elevator.

Once the elevator doors closed, Zhang Qing let out a long breath. “That man just now must have a very high status! His eyes were so intimidating. He glanced at me, and my legs went weak…”

Yan Heqing didn’t reply.

Back at the coffee shop, it wasn’t long before his shift ended. The coffee shop didn’t sell overnight cakes, so employees could buy unsold cakes at half price.

Yan Heqing bought three donuts and a small cream cake square.

The cream cake square was packaged separately.

After changing back into his clothes, Yan Heqing left the shop carrying his items.

It was completely dark by five o’clock. The streetlights were on, heavy snow was falling, and the ground was very wet.

It was wet snow today; the snowflakes melted as soon as they hit the ground. Yan Heqing opened his umbrella, but instead of going to the subway, he went to the Lu Corporation building next door.

Arriving at the Lu Corporation building, he stopped at the revolving door, closed his umbrella, and waited quietly.

It was off-work hours, and people were constantly coming and going. Gradually, there were fewer and fewer people.

After a long time, another elevator stopped, the doors opened, and Lu Lin walked out.

At the same time, Yan Heqing saw the Maybach slowly drive up and stop at the main entrance.

Yan Heqing turned slightly sideways and vaguely saw Lu Lin’s figure through the revolving glass door.

Yan Heqing stepped forward, and when Lu Lin came out, he took the initiative to speak.

“Mr. Lu.”

Lu Lin had already noticed Yan Heqing. He stopped and his gaze fell on Yan Heqing’s face.

Yan Heqing handed over the cream cake square. “I didn’t have time at the hospital last time. I didn’t expect to run into you here. This cake tastes good. Thank you for saving me last time.”

Lu Lin didn’t take it. “I remember your financial situation isn’t very good.”

Yan Heqing revealed a shallow smile. “Treating you to a cake is still no problem.” Then he added, “Besides, this cake was half price. Of course, it tastes very fresh, you don’t have to worry about that.”

It was the first time Lu Lin had received a half-price cake. His dark eyes flickered slightly, but he eventually took it. “Thank you.”

Yan Heqing nodded slightly. “Goodbye, I wish you a happy life.”

He left from the other side, opened his umbrella, and walked into the night.

Lu Lin watched him walk away, then withdrew his gaze and got into the car.

As the car slowly started, Lu Lin opened the paper box. It was an ordinary small cream cake.

Lu Lin didn’t like sweets, and he especially didn’t touch cream cakes. He picked up a spoon and took a scoop. The cream was light and sweet, and the cake was soft and delicate.

As the young man said, it tasted good.

…

Meanwhile, Yan Heqing was called by Zhang Qing. “Xiao Yan, are you going to the subway station? I didn’t bring an umbrella, give me a lift.”

Zhang Qing held her bag over her head with both hands. Her coat was visibly wet from the snow, and she was heartbroken. This was her newly bought coat, waiting to be worn back to her hometown for the New Year.

Yan Heqing stopped and offered half of the umbrella.

Zhang Qing happily ran under the umbrella. “Thank you!”

The two walked side by side towards the subway station, the umbrella tilting slightly towards Zhang Qing.

Zhang Qing noticed it and felt very regretful. What an excellent boy, if only he were her boyfriend!

But Zhang Qing knew she couldn’t catch him.

Yan Heqing was easy to get along with, humble and polite to everyone, but that was all. The indifference and alienation in his bones meant no one could truly get close to him.

Zhang Qing didn’t start a conversation along the way. Walking quietly to the subway entrance, she took out a bag of cream from her bag. “The pet cream cups provided for free in the store. There are a lot left over. Keeping them in the store means throwing them in the trash can. Doesn’t the community you live in have a lot of stray cats? Take it to feed them, don’t waste it.”

Yan Heqing took it and put it into the bag with the donuts. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Zhang Qing smiled brightly and hopped out from under the umbrella. “I’m leaving first, see you tomorrow.”

Waving her hand, Zhang Qing ran thump thump thump to catch the subway.

Yan Heqing put down the umbrella, gently shook the umbrella surface towards the ground, closed it, and entered the subway.

He had to transfer two lines to get home. By the time Yan Heqing got home, it was almost seven o’clock.

He delivered the cream to the stray cats first before going home.

“Cough cough.”

He hadn’t fully recovered from falling into the water last time, and Yan Heqing still coughed from time to time.

Taking off his coat and changing his shoes, he walked to the coffee table. There was a bottle of loquat paste on the table, two-thirds of which had been consumed.

Yan Heqing took a spoon, poured a spoonful into his mouth and swallowed it. His throat felt much more comfortable, and then he went to the kitchen to make dinner.

There were vegetables bought yesterday in the refrigerator. Yan Heqing picked a few ingredients and made three-delicacy soup, stir-fried pork slices with bell peppers, and steamed eggs.

Not long after sitting down to eat, someone knocked on the door.

Yan Heqing ate a few mouthfuls quickly and got up to open the door.

The door opened, and Lin Fengzhi stood outside. Having not seen each other for a week, Lin Fengzhi’s attitude was much more natural. His gaze lingered on the canned cat food. “Are these cans of cat food yours?”

“No.” Yan Heqing stepped aside. “Come in.”

Lin Fengzhi entered the room and changed his shoes. Seeing the food still on the coffee table, he was very surprised. “You’re eating just now?”

It was already eight o’clock…

“Mn, just got back from work.” Yan Heqing paused and asked, “Do you want a bowl too?”

Lin Fengzhi was still shocked that Yan Heqing was working part-time. Hearing the last sentence, he quickly shook his head. “I’ve eaten, no need.”

He liked eating king crab. Today Lin Fengyi brought a box home, and he ate until he was stuffed. He was still full now.

Yan Heqing didn’t insist. He nodded, “Then I’ll eat first.” He sat down and continued eating.

Lin Fengzhi didn’t see a stool. After thinking about it, he sat down at a distance from Yan Heqing. Feeling awkward, he actively found a topic. “You’re working?”

“Mn, doing a few part-time jobs.”

A few? Lin Fengzhi’s eyelids twitched. He studied photography, and his classmates were all from well-off families. No one worked part-time, let alone a few jobs.

“Are you short of money?” Lin Fengzhi regretted asking as soon as the words left his mouth.

What if… Yan Heqing said he was short, should he give or not?

Fortunately, Yan Heqing didn’t answer that he was short. “Saving for tuition, and I want to get a driver’s license during the holidays.”

Lin Fengzhi breathed a sigh of relief. He stole a glance at Yan Heqing.

After being beaten inexplicably last time, he went back and thought for a while, roughly guessing that the couple who beat him had mistaken him for Yan Heqing.

That couple was very likely Yan Heqing’s adoptive parents.

It was the first time Lin Fengzhi had seen such a man with no manners who abused violence.

He seemed to understand a little why Yan Heqing severed ties with them.

He asked in a low voice, “Are your adoptive parents… treating you very badly?”

Yan Heqing was very open. “Mn.”

Lin Fengzhi lowered his head and stared at his slippers. “Actually… I met your adoptive parents when I went to school that day.”

Yan Heqing pretended to be surprised and turned to look at him. “The day you picked up the ID card?”

Lin Fengzhi nodded, choosing his words carefully. “They were a bit rude…”

Before he finished speaking, a slight roughness suddenly fell on his face. He looked up in surprise. Yan Heqing was very close to him, his thumb landing on the place on his left face where he was beaten.

His skin was thin, and marks lasted a long time. Actually, it didn’t hurt anymore, but there was still a small bruise in one place.

Yan Heqing frowned. “Yan Shengbing hit you?”

That man who smelled of rancid sourness was called Yan Shengbing? Lin Fengzhi didn’t want Yan Heqing’s relationship with them to deteriorate further.

They might have done something not very good to Yan Heqing, but they were still Yan Heqing’s relatives. Past events would be diluted by time, but kinship could never be severed.

Thinking this way, Lin Fengzhi turned his face away. “No, I accidentally bumped it.”

Of course, Yan Heqing knew that Lin Fengzhi was beaten, and he was sure that Lin Fengzhi would deny it.

He was playing the role of a good brother who cared about his younger brother.

He cherished the brother who depended on him in his memory, not this naive young master who lived in a honey pot, couldn’t distinguish good from evil, and advised others to be magnanimous.

A cough surged up, and Yan Heqing turned his face away, coughing lowly twice.

“You have a cold?” Lin Fengzhi blinked. “I’ll ask my brother, my second brother to send medicine. I don’t know the brand, anyway, just take one pill and you’ll be fine.”

Yan Heqing turned back to clear the dishes. “Almost recovered, no need.”

“Alright.” Lin Fengzhi’s eyes rolled around, wanting to speak but feeling a bit embarrassed.

Yan Heqing could guess the purpose of Lin Fengzhi coming to find him, which was nothing more than asking him not to reveal their relationship.

He didn’t speak, waiting for Lin Fengzhi to take the initiative. Picking up the bowls and plates, he said, “You sit, I’ll wash the dishes.”

Lin Fengzhi nodded.

Yan Heqing went into the kitchen, then took out his phone and composed a text message.

[Did you buy the canned cat food at the door?]

Then he entered Lu Muchi’s phone number.

In a dim and hot room, Lu Muchi sat on a leather sofa, his shirt neat, but his suit pants unzipped.

A young man was buried between his legs.

Lu Muchi’s expression, however, was very indifferent.

Ding.

Suddenly, a sound, and the phone lit up.

Lu Muchi grabbed the phone. The moment he saw the sender, Lu Muchi suddenly slapped the young man’s head away.

A text message from [Ungrateful]—

[Did you buy the canned cat food at the door?]

Buying canned cat food was Lu Muchi’s whim.

Last week, after accompanying Lin Fengzhi to treat his wound, Lin Fengzhi went to a pet store to buy things. He suddenly thought of Yan Heqing.

Ungrateful and poor, couldn’t afford imported canned cat food.

After Lin Fengzhi got in the car, he went back to the store to place an order, asking the boss to deliver it to Yan Heqing’s address.

However, that was a week ago.

Did Yan Heqing just get home?

The man who sent Yan Heqing home that night appeared in Lu Muchi’s mind. The corners of his mouth, which had been raised in pleasure, suddenly dropped. He stood up, zipped up his trousers, and strode out.

…

On the other side, seeing that it was getting late, Lin Fengzhi finally made up his mind.

Yan Heqing came out of the kitchen. He stood up and said, “I have a favor to ask you.”

Yan Heqing wiped the water from his fingers, didn’t look at Lin Fengzhi, and asked lightly, “What?”

Lin Fengzhi pursed his lips several times. “Can you keep our relationship a secret for the time being?”

Yan Heqing looked calm. “Mn.”

Lin Fengzhi didn’t expect it to go so smoothly, and instead stammered a little. “I, I don’t mean anything else, it’s just that you know, the Lin family is a listed company. If there’s news because of me…” He lowered his head. “It’s not very good.”

Yan Heqing looked up, a shallow smile on his lips. “Don’t be nervous. This matter didn’t need to be announced to others with gongs and drums anyway. You were a member of the Lin family before, and you are now, and will be in the future. This will never change.”

Lin Fengzhi stared blankly at Yan Heqing. He thought that Yan Heqing probably really didn’t intend to use their relationship to get benefits from the Lin family.

He touched the tip of his nose and suddenly didn’t want to leave.

Tonight…

He glanced at Yan Heqing’s bed. It was a bit narrow, but both he and Yan Heqing were on the thin side, so they should be able to sleep.

Lin Fengzhi asked expectantly, “Can I stay overnight tonight?”

Yan Heqing didn’t even need to think of a reason to keep him. Yan Heqing’s bright eyes curved slightly.

“Of course.”