Chapter 60#

“The coin was boiled at high temperature,” Yan Heqing added, “It’s very clean.”

Lu Lin suddenly chuckled, a sound that seemed to spill from deep within his throat, like the lingering note at the end of a cello piece, very low, very deep, penetrating to the bone.

His noble, slender fingers slowly closed.

He turned his gaze back, slightly lifted his chin, and gazed at Yan Heqing’s sky lantern rising into the deep sky. “Your gifts are always unique.”

“Are they?” Yan Heqing also looked up at the night sky.

One by one, the sky lanterns slowly flew towards the horizon. There were gasps of amazement all around, but it didn’t feel noisy.

He thought he should make another wish.

Besides the sunrise that day, he also wanted to come to the amusement park one more time.

“Yes.” Lu Lin withdrew his gaze and involuntarily looked at Yan Heqing again. The young man suddenly closed his eyes, raised his hands, clasped them in front of his chest, and his long eyelashes fluttered gently in the flickering candlelight.

“Making a wish?” Lu Lin asked.

“Mn.” Yan Heqing didn’t open his eyes, his expression devout. “With so many sky lanterns, maybe one was missed and didn’t have a wish written on it, so it can make up for my wish.”

Lu Lin smiled silently. “Mine wasn’t written on. Your wish can also come true.”

“You don’t have a wish?”

“I didn’t before, but now I have one.”

“Then you lost out.” Yan Heqing let go of his hands and opened his eyes, but didn’t look at Lu Lin, still gazing at the sky lanterns. “I’ll give the wish to you; I’ve already made mine.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Lu Lin put his hand into his pocket and let go; the coin gently fell into the pocket. “The coin you gave will bring me good luck.”

The sky lantern event was coming to an end. Most of the sky lanterns had risen high into the sky and become tiny. Yan Heqing withdrew his gaze and turned his head. “I passed Subject 1 yesterday. When are you free? I need to clock in the study hours for Subject 2 and 3.”

Lu Lin took out his phone and opened his schedule. “Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, Saturday.”

“School starts the day after tomorrow.” Yan Heqing knew Lu Lin didn’t mind letting him use the car for practice. Even if he knew how to drive, he wasn’t comfortable using a car worth millions just to clock in hours. He proactively suggested, “Where is the practice site you mentioned? I’ll drive my car there tomorrow morning.”

Lu Lin remained composed. “Finding a designated driver is too troublesome. Tomorrow morning at eight, I’ll pick you up. It’s been too long since I went to the suburbs for fresh air; going for a spin isn’t a bad idea.”

The air quality in the capital wasn’t great, but the suburbs weren’t much better.

Yan Heqing wasn’t sure about Lu Muchi’s situation now. Just in case, he said, “I need to go to school tomorrow morning. Wait for me at the school gate?”

Lu Lin replied, “Okay.”

Xiao Rong had been listening to their chat, but didn’t understand much. After Lu Lin left, she asked Yan Heqing curiously, “Brother Yan, are you close with Uncle (Bobo)? You talked a lot!”

Yan Heqing was very quiet. Except for reading stories to them, he rarely spoke.

There would be a rush of people returning soon. While the crowd was still reluctantly watching the sky lanterns flying away, Yan Heqing pushed Xiao Rong towards the parking area first.

The crowd hadn’t surged yet; there were only a few scattered people on the road.

That cheerful pirate song was still looping.

Yan Heqing didn’t answer, only pulled up Xiao Rong’s hood and put it on her.

At the end of February, the night wind was still cool.

——

After sending the children back to the welfare institute and getting home, it was almost 11 o’clock. Yan Heqing stood against the wall for 15 minutes, didn’t read anymore, took a shower, and went to bed.

At the same time, Lu Lin was called back to the Lu family’s old residence by Lu Han’s frantic calls.

Lu Muchi had gone crazy for some reason. He ran back to reject the marriage on the night of the banquet, and the Qi family left on the spot.

Lu Changcheng was so angry that his blood pressure soared. He beat Lu Muchi soundly with his cane, confiscated his phone, and locked him in his room for several days.

Lu Han tried to persuade both sides, but no one paid attention to him.

Everything in Lu Muchi’s room was smashed, and the bodyguards were beaten black and blue by him.

The bodyguards didn’t dare to fight back, nor did they dare to let him go. They guarded the door in shifts.

Lu Han paced anxiously back and forth at the door. It was almost midnight when Lu Lin’s car arrived.

Lu Lin let the driver get off work and drove back himself.

He didn’t plan to stay overnight, so he parked the car outside the gate.

Just as he got out of the car, Lu Han rushed up quickly and poured out his grievances, “Ah Lin, I really have no other way. One big and one small, one is more stubborn than the other. Go in and persuade them!”

Lu Lin didn’t know the specific situation, only receiving a call from the doctor saying Lu Changcheng’s blood pressure exceeded 200.

Now learning the sequence of events, he stopped walking. “Since the blood pressure has gone down, I’m going back.”

Lu Han’s face instantly turned ugly. He knew Lu Lin looked down on him, his biological brother. For so many years, Lu Lin never attended his birthday parties, making him lose face completely. Lu Han quietly clenched his hands, trying hard to force a smile. “Dad hasn’t eaten or drunk anything. Even if his blood pressure is down, it’s still dangerous. He won’t listen to me. If you wash your hands of this, I’ll have to call Mom to come over.”

Lu Han’s feelings for Lu Ruchan had faded long ago. They lived together for a while when he was young, but after Lu Ruchan got sick and moved away, they rarely saw each other. When he divorced Xu Qiaoyin, Lu Ruchan rushed over and slapped him several times in public. Lu Han held a grudge against Lu Ruchan and never visited her again.

His dad wasn’t wrong. They were both Lu, but it depended on which Lu. In Lu Ruchan’s heart, the only treasure was Lu Lin, who took her surname.

And Lu Lin’s only weakness was Lu Ruchan.

Lu Han made a gesture to take out his phone.

Lu Lin didn’t stop him.

The hand holding the phone dared not move again. After a few seconds of stiffness, Lu Han sighed and put the phone back. “It’s too late; I won’t disturb Mom. You go. All I can do is persuade Dad again. If he still doesn’t eat, then it’s up to fate.”

Bang!

At this moment, a loud noise came from the villa.

Followed by Lu Changcheng’s exasperated roar, “Catch him quickly!”

Hurried and chaotic footsteps. Lu Han rushed in and was met by Lu Muchi running fast. Seeing Lu Lin, he didn’t react at all and continued to rush forward, with bodyguards chasing closely behind.

Lu Han shouted angrily, “You little brat, stop!”

Lu Muchi turned a deaf ear, looking at the gate with a triumphant smile. Just as he reached the door, he saw the figure outside. His heart skipped a beat, and he stopped urgently. The bodyguards caught up, discovered Lu Lin, and also stopped one by one, lowering their heads, not daring to chase further.

Lu Muchi called out obediently, “Uncle.”

Lu Lin’s gaze fell on Lu Muchi’s right hand. The entire back of his hand was dripping with blood. He was barefoot, not wearing shoes.

Lu Changcheng chased up with the support of a servant. His eyesight was failing, and it was even worse at night. He didn’t notice Lu Lin, extending his cane to point at Lu Muchi and roar, “Run! Even if you run to the ends of the earth, don’t even think about being with that kid Lin Fengzhi!”

The marriage alliance was a small matter, but Lu Muchi rejecting the marriage in front of everyone was a challenge to his authority. This was what Lu Changcheng could not tolerate the most. Reluctant to blame his precious grandson, he blamed it all on Lin Fengzhi.

It must be because Lin Fengzhi was present that Lu Muchi rejected the marriage!

A perfectly good young master of the Lu family was completely corrupted by that unworthy thing!

Lu Muchi was a bit surprised to hear Lin Fengzhi’s name.

However, his reaction was quite fast, guessing the reason. So they thought he rejected the marriage for Lin Fengzhi.

Lu Muchi didn’t refute.

A misunderstanding was good, saving his grandfather from going to find Yan Heqing. Yan Heqing witnessed him rejecting the marriage that night; he should be very moved, right?

Lu Muchi missed Yan Heqing fervently.

If Lu Changcheng hadn’t locked him up that night, he wouldn’t have been so desperate. The more he was obstructed, the more his longing for Yan Heqing grew like wild grass, more vigorous day by day.

He crazily wanted to see Yan Heqing!

Lu Changcheng noticed the bloodstains on the ground and trembled all over. “You idiots! Why don’t you take the Young Master inside to treat his wound!”

The bodyguards looked at each other, then looked at Lu Lin.

Lu Changcheng then discovered Lu Lin. His blood pressure soared again; they were lining up to anger him!

Lu Lin didn’t make a sound, simply bowed to Lu Changcheng, turned, and left.

Lu Changcheng’s eyes twitched, and he stomped his cane loudly, venting all his anger on the bodyguards. “None of you have ears! What are you standing there for!”

Only then did the bodyguards step forward to hold Lu Muchi.

On the way back, the car was quiet. After a while, Lu Lin turned on a song.

“Wellerman”

Yan Heqing had been sleeping dreamlessly until dawn recently. He got up at six o’clock sharp.

As usual, he washed up first, reviewed his textbooks, and cooked breakfast.

Everything was done by seven. He was ready to leave. Changing shoes at the door, he paused, then went back to the kitchen, steamed twenty more dumplings, and packed them in a lunch box.

He still arrived at the school gate half an hour early.

School started tomorrow, and many students were returning one after another. But it was early, and the campus was still quiet as if asleep. The main gate only had a small side door open, and Yan Heqing waited in front of the side door.

The temperature had risen, and today wasn’t too cold. Yan Heqing wore an orange puffer jacket.

It was the color of a ripe persimmon, not bright, but a low-key and restrained orange, which complemented his skin tone very well. Yan Heqing had cold white skin, and with better nutrition these past few months, his palm-sized face was fair and translucent, as if his whole face was glowing.

In the distance, a bicycle approached.

During the holidays, except for the few days of Chinese New Year, Gu Xingye would come to the school to do experiments. He was applying for a project next semester. Approaching the school gate, he suddenly glanced ahead in surprise.

A thin boy seemed to be waiting for someone.

From Gu Xingye’s view, he could just see half of the face.

For a moment, he thought it looked a bit like Lin Fengzhi. When he stopped with one foot on the ground and looked again, he realized it wasn’t.

The boy was a few centimeters taller than Lin Fengzhi and thinner. The main difference was the completely different temperament.

Since it wasn’t Lin Fengzhi, Gu Xingye withdrew his gaze, stepped on the pedal again, and entered the campus.

Yan Heqing didn’t wait too long before Lu Lin arrived.

This time the driver was driving. Yan Heqing sat in the back seat, and Lu Lin was on the other side. Yan Heqing carried a backpack, which was quite heavy. Lu Lin asked, “Bringing things for driving practice?”

“Brought some water and food.” Yan Heqing took off his backpack, unzipped it, and took out a lunch box.

It was the most ordinary stainless steel lunch box, still hot to the touch. He handed it to Lu Lin, “Breakfast for you.” He seemed to just remember, “Have you eaten?”

There was a paper bag beside Lu Lin; he didn’t touch it. “No.”

He took the lunch box and opened it. Steam rushed out first. Inside were neatly arranged steamed dumplings, pinched like goldfish, their bulging bellies revealing the filling of fresh meat and cabbage.

There was also a small stainless steel fork.

Lu Lin forked a dumpling. “Have you eaten?”

“Ate after six.”

Lu Lin put it in his mouth, swallowed, and asked again, “You made them?”

“Mn, but not freshly made. Wrapped them a while ago and froze them.” Yan Heqing smiled. “If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll treat you to freshly made ones. The taste is still different.”

Lu Lin forked another one. “This is already very good.”

The driver followed the navigation, driving with complete focus, ignoring everything else.

Lu Lin was a germophobe and never ate in the car, only keeping a few bottles of water.

The driver’s skills were good, avoiding red lights all the way, and they arrived at the destination in less than two hours.

Lu Lin and Yan Heqing got out of the car, and the driver drove away first.

The car was temporarily parked in the yard of the flower nursery owner.

The owner was named Zhu Xiumei. Hearing the noise, she came out. Having done business for decades and met many people from all walks of life, she could tell at a glance that Lu Lin’s identity was not simple.

Having the opportunity to make friends with such a big shot, Zhu Xiumei was exceptionally enthusiastic and insisted on giving Yan Heqing honey.

“This batch is lychee honey. Didn’t you like it? You came just in time. Sit down and rest for a while before leaving.” Zhu Xiumei served tea and water, shouting towards the inner room, “Old Zhang, Xiao Yan is here. Go cut two bottles of lychee honey.”

Yan Heqing wanted to refuse, but thinking of Lu Ruchan, he changed his mind.

He wouldn’t take it for free. He proactively followed the male owner to cut honey.

“Wait for me here for a while?” Yan Heqing looked at Lu Lin.

Lu Lin nodded, and Yan Heqing followed the male owner who just came out to the backyard where bees were kept.

Left alone with Zhu Xiumei, Lu Lin had no desire to speak, nor did he touch the tea. Zhu Xiumei started the conversation first, “Are you Xiao Yan’s relative?”

“No.”

“Oh, then a friend!” Zhu Xiumei opened up, “Xiao Yan helped out here for two years. High school time, I think. To be honest, he was underage then. I was quite scared hiring him.”

Mentioning Yan Heqing, Lu Lin looked at Zhu Xiumei.

Zhu Xiumei got excited and immediately continued, “At first I didn’t dare to hire him. He said he wouldn’t take money so it wouldn’t count as working, as long as I taught him how to plant gladiolus. Sigh, such a small kid helping you work, obedient and diligent, how could I have the heart not to pay him wages? So I quietly kept him.”

“And the lychee honey. I taught him to cut honey, only to find out he had never eaten honey. So I filled a big bottle for him.”

“Xiao Yan should be doing well now, right? Those two years he was so thin it was heartbreaking. I guessed his family treated him badly. I kept him to eat with us. We didn’t have any good dishes, just let him eat his fill.”

Zhu Xiumei talked endlessly until footsteps sounded at the back door, then her voice stopped.

Yan Heqing bought three bottles of lychee honey. The male owner didn’t know the reason and accepted the money.

Zhu Xiumei was exasperated, rolling her eyes to the sky. This idiot!

Didn’t see there was a potential big client here!

Now everything was ruined!

Before leaving, Lu Lin asked Zhu Xiumei for a business card.

Not long after they left, Zhu Xiumei received a call.

In the receiver, a woman with a very pleasant voice wanted to sign a two-year flower contract with Xiumei Flower Nursery.