Chapter 48#
Yan Heqing replied faintly, “Okay.”
Lin Fengzhi wanted to say something more, but Yan Heqing added, “I have something to do, I’ll contact you the day after tomorrow.”
He hung up the phone.
Putting away his phone, he noticed the red envelope had been slipped into his pocket.
Looking up, he met Lu Ruchan’s loving eyes.
Lu Ruchan was bony, her wrists and fingers terrifyingly thin, her pale skin wrinkled into thousands of furrows. But when her hand landed on his head, it carried a nostalgic warmth.
“Come again next year, I’ll give you lucky money again.”
Lu Lin entered the living room and saw Yan Heqing squatting beside the wheelchair through the glass door.
Pushing the door open and stepping out, he first heard Yan Heqing’s voice, “Is this a Wei Purple peony?”
There was a three-meter-high peony in front. Lu Ruchan was very surprised, “Yes, you know flowers?”
“I worked part-time at a flower nursery.” Yan Heqing remained squatting, looking at Lu Ruchan at eye level. The woman had been tormented by illness for years, and her lips were pale. “When flowers weren’t sold in season and were about to wither, the nursery owner would pick them, dry them, and make lipstick.”
His expression was serious. “The process is very simple and natural. When the peonies bloom this year, I’ll come and make lipstick for you.”
No need to wait until next New Year. In April or May, he would come again. Lu Ruchan’s surprise was evident. “Alright! Besides peonies, I also have roses and Chinese roses in my garden…”
Yan Heqing listened attentively.
He was usually so alert, but it took him quite a while to realize someone was behind him.
Lu Lin didn’t know how long he had been standing there.
He was dressed casually for home, wearing a long knitted cardigan over his loungewear.
“Good morning,” Yan Heqing spoke first.
“Good morning.” Lu Lin didn’t step forward, standing behind the glass door. “Breakfast is ready.”
Yan Heqing stood up, his hands naturally resting on the wheelchair handles. “I’ll push you.”
Lu Ruchan didn’t refuse, her eyes curving into crescents. “Okay.”
Lu Lin turned first and pushed the glass door open a bit wider.
Breakfast was varied and light. Lu Ruchan had a small appetite and put down her bowl after a small bowl of porridge.
Lu Lin and Yan Heqing put down their chopsticks one after another. She smiled and said, “After breakfast, A-Lin has to go back to the company to handle some matters. Xiao Heqing, you go back with him.”
She had heard Yan Heqing’s phone call and knew he had something to do on the second day of the New Year.
Yan Heqing’s gaze was clear and shallow. “I can stay until the afternoon.”
Lu Ruchan pulled her shawl tighter, smiling and shaking her head. “I don’t have much energy. I need to go back to my room to rest after digesting.” She glanced at Lu Lin and actively turned her wheelchair. “No need to push me. Don’t call me when you leave, I’ll be asleep.”
The wheels rolled over the floor silently. Lu Ruchan’s bedroom wasn’t far from the dining room, and she soon entered and closed the door.
In the dining room, Lu Lin stood up and said, “I’ll change clothes. Ten minutes.”
Lu Lin’s ten minutes were precise.
From changing clothes and going downstairs to them leaving the house, it took exactly ten minutes.
Yan Heqing walked a few steps towards the back row, but Lu Lin had already opened the passenger door.
Yan Heqing suddenly looked at the ground.
After the snow stopped last night, it didn’t snow or rain again. The ground was dry today.
He probably understood.
Last night, Lu Lin made him sit in the back to prevent slipping on the road. The driver would instinctively protect himself, making the passenger seat the dangerous one.
Sitting firmly and buckling his seatbelt, after driving out of the villa, Yan Heqing suddenly asked, “Mr. Lu, you’ve been back to your hometown twice, right?”
On the smooth downhill road, Lu Lin drove slowly. “Mm.”
“Where is your hometown?” Yan Heqing asked politely. “I seem to be from the same hometown as you.”
Lu Lin’s gaze darkened. “You don’t remember?”
Yan Heqing was very frank. “I was too young to have an impression. I only remember my mother loved to cook mint mung bean water and liked Pingtan.” He smiled lightly. “If I go back to my hometown, maybe…”
He stopped abruptly.
There was no follow-up after “maybe”.
“Ershi Qiao (Twenty Bridges),” Lu Lin replied. “My grandmother’s hometown is called Ershi Qiao.”
“Thank you.” Yan Heqing took out his phone and searched for Ershi Qiao.
It was a small coastal city in the south. In spring, there were beautiful willows, peach blossoms, and pear blossoms. In summer, one could go out to sea.
It was over 1000 kilometers from the capital. An hour and a half by plane. No high-speed rail, about 10 hours by train.
Yan Heqing put away his phone and turned to look out the window.
From the corner of his eye, he saw the young man rarely distracted. It wasn’t until they got on the highway and then off again that Lu Lin spoke to wake him up. “Where are you going?”
Yan Heqing came back to his senses. He turned his head and smiled slightly. “If it’s convenient, take me home. If not, find a subway station.”
Lu Lin drove him to the bottom of his unit building.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the residential area was still quiet. Yan Heqing got out of the car, bent down, and waved to Lu Lin. “Goodbye, Mr. Lu.”
Lu Lin looked at Yan Heqing, and Yan Heqing looked at him. After a few seconds, Yan Heqing entered the unit building first.
Knowing that Yan Heqing’s back was no longer visible, Lu Lin rolled up the window and drove away.
Entering the room, the small room was still as he left it last night. Yan Heqing hung up his coat, changed his shoes, and went into the kitchen. Shortly after, he came out carrying a bucket, put on his fishing bag, turned around, and went out again.
Traffic in the city center was light on the first day of the New Year. Lu Lin arrived at the Lu Corporation headquarters smoothly.
During the Spring Festival holiday, only two security guards were guarding the main gate of the headquarters. Seeing Lu Lin, the security guards were not surprised.
Only glancing at the paper bag Lu Lin was carrying, the security guards were slightly puzzled.
Entering the office, Lu Lin walked straight to his desk.
The documents waiting to be processed were in his email. He put down the paper bag, turned on the computer, and logged in. By the time he finished, the sky outside was completely dark. He leaned back against the chair, closed his eyes, and gently pressed his temples.
Suddenly, he stopped, opened his eyes, and looked at the paper bag.
After a few minutes of silence, he reached out, took the paper bag, took out the Haworthia cooperi, and placed it next to the computer.
Once, the Cube of Light had stood in that spot.
Having not been to Tianshan Reservoir for a while, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the fishing spots were already full.
Yan Heqing found a corner, squatted down, and poured a whole bottle of fermented bait into the water.
Without casting his rod, he set up a small stool and gazed calmly at the water surface. By the time it was completely dark, patches of slightly intoxicated fish floated on the water surface.
“Your bait is awesome!” The uncle next to him widened his eyes in envy. He leaned over. “Where did you buy it? Introduce me.”
Yan Heqing unzipped his bag, took out a bottle, and gave it to him. He packed up his tools and left without scooping up the bountiful fish.
The uncle unscrewed the cap, sniffed it a few times, clicked his tongue in wonder, and shouted enthusiastically at Yan Heqing’s back, “Young man, let’s fish together next time!”
Yan Heqing didn’t reply and walked into the night.
It was 7 PM now. There were still 12 hours until 7 AM tomorrow.
The next morning, Yan Heqing dialed Lin Fengzhi’s number at seven o’clock sharp.
Beep, beep, beep…
He waited with immense patience.
Finally, the phone was picked up. On the other end was Lin Fengzhi’s hoarse and speechless voice, “Brother, why do you always call so early… I’m still sleeping…”
The bus came, and the door opened. Yan Heqing got on the bus while talking on the phone, dropped two coins, making a crisp sound. “I’m on the bus.”
“…” Lin Fengzhi seemed to turn over, his voice soft and ethereal. “Whatever, I’m so sleepy, I’m going to sleep. Hanging up…”
The phone didn’t hang up. Even breathing sounds came from time to time.
When Yan Heqing arrived at the Lin family villa, Lin Fengzhi was still sleeping.
Mother Lin opened the door herself. Seeing Yan Heqing, her eyes lit up. She stepped forward and hugged him. “Little Yan, you’re finally here!”
Then she saw the plastic bag Yan Heqing was carrying.
She sighed softly. “You’re a student with no income. Bringing things every time you come, you’re treating us like strangers.”
Yan Heqing smiled and uncovered the bag. “It’s a few flower seedlings. Bought them by the roadside, very good deal.”
Seeing the flower seedlings, Mother Lin immediately smiled. She took them and looked through them. “Are they hydrangeas?” She was pleasantly surprised. “I’ve been thinking about them for a long time. Have you had breakfast? I’ll go cook a bowl of dumplings for you. Just wrapped them last night, all kinds of fillings. After eating, we’ll go to the backyard to plant the seedlings.”
“Mm, they are hydrangeas.” Yan Heqing didn’t refuse. “Is there cabbage and fresh meat filling?”
“Yes!” Mother Lin carefully placed the flower seedlings next to the shoe cabinet, turned back, and said to Lin Fengxian, “Eldest, you entertain Little Yan. I’ll go cook dumplings.”
Lin Fengxian was behind.
It was his first time seeing Yan Heqing. The young man had a clean temperament and was polite. He had a good impression. He smiled and handed over the prepared gift. “First time meeting, I’m Fengzhi’s eldest brother, Lin Fengxian. A small gift brought back from a business trip, consider it a meeting gift.”
It was a fountain pen.
The price was appropriate, and it suited a student.
Lin Fengxian had heard Mother Lin mention that Yan Heqing was a student at Jing University.
His smile deepened. “Jing University has always been my dream. Unfortunately, I was short by a dozen points back then.”
Yan Heqing accepted the fountain pen. “Thank you.” Then he said, “Sorry, I came in a hurry and didn’t have time to buy a suitable meeting gift. Next time—”
“Don’t buy anything next time either. I’m a minimalist, most afraid of receiving gifts.” Lin Fengxian was all smiles, inviting him inside. “Playing a few more games of chess with me is the real business. You played with my dad; his chess skills are simply disagreeable. I’ve never finished a whole game with him at home.”
Talking, the two entered the living room.
Mother Lin cooked the dumplings and brought them out. Lin Fengxian was staring at the chessboard, already lost in thought.
Mother Lin shook her head happily, put down the bowl, and called Yan Heqing. “Little Yan, you come eat first. Waiting for your big brother to play chess will take at least half an hour.”
True enough, by the time Yan Heqing finished the dumplings, Lin Fengxian hadn’t made a move. Father Lin also joined the battle, sitting aside and directing. Lin Fengxian glanced at him. “Dad, a true gentleman watches chess without speaking.”
Father Lin laughed. “Father and son soldiers in battle. Neither you nor I can beat Little Yan. Only a strong alliance makes it possible, right Little Yan?”
Lin Fengxian was extremely disdainful and called Mother Lin. “Mom, hurry and take Dad to plant flowers!”
Mother Lin had changed into loose clothes and ignored him completely, smiling and calling Yan Heqing. “Don’t pay attention to those two losers. Little Yan, come with me to plant flowers. This game of yours, trust me, can’t be wrong. They won’t be able to solve it until noon.”
At this time, Lin Fengyi came downstairs, sleepy-eyed. Suddenly glimpsing Yan Heqing, he stopped abruptly. Why was he here?!
Looking down at his loose collar, Lin Fengyi’s face twitched unnaturally, and he turned back to his room to change clothes.
“Go ahead, Little Yan.” Father Lin agreed wholeheartedly. “You played this game brilliantly. I have to study it properly.”
Lin Fengxian was already lost in thought.
Seeing this, Yan Heqing followed Mother Lin to the garden to plant flowers first.
Mother Lin was particularly happy. Yan Heqing planted flowers carefully and patiently, explaining in real-time. Mother Lin was beaming with joy.
Laughter penetrated the glass. Lin Fengzhi was a bit dazed. He rubbed his hair and went downstairs. Seeing the father and son surrounding the chessboard studying early in the morning, he asked strangely, “Dad, where’s Mom?”
Father Lin answered casually, “Your brother is here. The two are planting flowers in the garden.”
“My brother?” Lin Fengzhi repeated, his pupils suddenly widening.
Yan Heqing was here!
He ran quickly outside.
Yan Heqing was drinking water. Glimpsing the figure in the distance from the corner of his eye, he withdrew his gaze, put down the water bottle, squatted down, and continued transplanting flower seedlings, chatting casually, “Thank you for adopting Fengzhi back then and letting him grow up happily.”
“Speaking of this matter, it was also by accident.” Mother Lin pressed the soil around the flower seedling. “I actually wanted to adopt a girl back then.”
“After giving birth to the eldest, I got pregnant with the second one hoping for a girl. Unexpectedly, I gave birth to the second son. Giving birth hurts a woman’s body especially, so I absolutely dared not have a third child.”
“But I liked girls too much. A few years later, when my health was better, I discussed with your Uncle Lin to adopt a little girl.”
Mentioning the past, Mother Lin suddenly turned her head, beaming. “As a result, I saw you first when I went to the welfare home. You don’t know, you were so lovable when you were little. I liked you immensely as soon as I saw you and immediately changed my mind to adopt you.”
She still sighed now. “It’s a pity that after talking with the director, I couldn’t find you in the blink of an eye.”
“I thought maybe you didn’t like me as a new mother and hid so we couldn’t find you. I was extremely sad at that time. Unexpectedly, as I was preparing to leave, heaven let me meet Fengzhi.”
“You brothers looked much more alike when you were little than now…”
Around the corner not far away, Lin Fengzhi’s blood froze.
His ears were buzzing.
He heard every word clearly, but it was difficult to piece them together completely.
Mom meant…
He was a thief?
Stole… his brother’s things?