Chapter 81#
His awakening changed the timeline. Cheng Jian, who was supposed to appear a year later in the original text, appeared early.
In the original text, Cheng Jian was Lu Muchi’s business partner, a rich second generation who frequented nightclubs. He took a fancy to Yan Heqing at Lu Muchi’s villa and hinted that Lu Muchi should give Yan Heqing to him to play with.
Lu Muchi readily agreed. As a result, Yan Heqing hid a fruit knife in advance, and when Cheng Jian tried to force himself on him, he stabbed Cheng Jian in the shoulder.
The project fell through at that time.
However, Lu Muchi still cooperated with Cheng Jian later, and the two made tens of billions together.
To them, Yan Heqing was just a tradable plaything. In the end, interests spoke loudest, and the two even became sworn brothers.
In the grand finale, Lu Muchi and Lin Fengzhi had a wedding of the century. Cheng Jian, as the best man, met his true love at the wedding and lived happily ever after.
…
“We’re here.”
Lu Han stopped in front of Ward 777, turning his head to be polite with Yan Heqing, “Muchi’s friend just visited him. Now that you’re here too, his mood will definitely improve a lot.”
The corners of Yan Heqing’s mouth raised slightly, “Hopefully.”
Lu Han pushed the door open and went in. Lu Muchi was still buried under the quilt.
The nurse was organizing the fruit basket and nutritional supplements sent by Cheng Jian.
Lu Han walked to the foot of the bed, “Xiao Chi, your friend came to see you.”
Lu Muchi didn’t react.
Lu Han looked back at Yan Heqing, then said again: “It’s Yan—”
Lu Muchi instantly lifted the quilt. He sat up, immediately searching the ward, and soon his gaze fixed on the ward door.
Not seeing him for a week, the look in his eyes when looking at Yan Heqing was like he wanted to swallow him alive. His back molars clicked. Yan Heqing dared to appear in front of him! Lifting the quilt, he was about to get out of bed, looking aggressive as if he wanted to beat someone up.
Lu Han was startled and quickly grabbed him, “You…”
Lu Muchi directly pushed Lu Han’s hand away. Without wearing shoes, he rushed barefoot to Yan Heqing in a few steps.
Lu Han stepped forward to stop the fight. Suddenly, with a “bang”, Lu Muchi went around Yan Heqing, closed the door, and locked it quickly.
Lu Muchi’s heart beat extremely fast, his eyes never leaving Yan Heqing for a moment. He missed him, he missed him damn much!
“Xiao Chi!” Lu Han was even more worried. He blocked Yan Heqing in a few steps, winking desperately at Lu Muchi, “Don’t be so excited when a friend comes!”
Yan Heqing was brought by him. If something happened, Lu Changcheng would scold him for being stupid again!
Lu Muchi stared at the distance between the two of them. Lu Han was too close to Yan Heqing. He frowned, “You go out first.” Then he instructed the nurse, “And you too.”
Lu Han was stunned and didn’t react. Lu Muchi opened the door and pushed him out. The nurse followed closely. Lu Muchi quickly closed and locked the door again.
He was afraid Yan Heqing would leave again.
But on his face was coldness, “Who asked you to come?”
Yan Heqing looked calm, “Your grandfather.”
Lu Muchi didn’t believe it, “Since when are you so familiar with my grandfather?” He stared at Yan Heqing intently, trying to find a flaw in his calm face.
Yan Heqing knew what he wanted to hear. He hooked his lips sarcastically, “I’m not a masochist. After being strangled and treated violently by you, I wouldn’t rush to see you.”
“You…” Lu Muchi was poked in the sore spot. He swallowed hard several times and finally found words to refute, “You angered me first, I couldn’t control myself…”
“Your grandfather asked me to persuade you to eat.” Yan Heqing interrupted him.
Lu Muchi felt a blockage in his chest, uncomfortable and stifled. He knew Yan Heqing wanted to see him himself, but was still angry with him, so he used his grandfather as an excuse.
He gritted his teeth, “I’ll eat.”
He still blocked the door until Yan Heqing walked to the sofa and sat down, then he followed.
Yan Heqing’s gaze fell on the fruit platter on the coffee table, full of high-end fruits, and a fruit knife. He picked up the fruit knife, his thumb seemingly inadvertently sliding across the tip of the knife. Lu Muchi’s eyes lit up, and he coughed, “I’ll eat an apple.”
As soon as the voice fell, Yan Heqing put the fruit knife back in its original place.
Lu Muchi’s face changed several times, “…” He sat heavily on the sofa opposite Yan Heqing, grabbed an apple casually, took the fruit knife and peeled it randomly.
Not long after, the servant brought the meal.
Lu Han was outside the door and didn’t hear the sound of smashing plates. After a while, the servant came out empty-handed. His eyelids twitched a few times. This Yan Heqing… was really useful?
Lu Han took out his phone to report to Lu Changcheng. After walking a few steps, he suddenly turned back and asked the bodyguard guarding the corridor, “Why are you the only one?”
He remembered there were two bodyguards guarding the hospital.
The bodyguard replied: “Zhao Qiang asked for leave this afternoon.”
Lu Han asked casually. Getting the answer, he hurried into the next room to make a call.
At the same time, Zhao Qiang arrived at a fishing ground trembling with fear.
It was past seven o’clock, and the fishing ground was lit up. In the huge venue, only one man was fishing by the shore.
Zhao Qiang’s legs were trembling. He asked the young man who brought him in in a low voice, “What does President Lu want with me?”
The assistant looked gentle, “You’ll know when you go.”
Since joining the Lu family, Zhao Qiang had only seen Lu Lin from a distance, a very long distance, a few times. Approaching the shore, his legs went soft directly, and he almost fell. The assistant was quick-eyed and supported him, “Don’t be afraid. Just answer whatever President Lu asks.”
Zhao Qiang nodded quickly, “Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely answer.”
Orange light fell on Lu Lin’s back. He sat on a folding chair, with a bucket beside him. A fish was jumping, splashing a few drops of water on the ground, the color fading quickly.
The assistant stopped and bowed slightly, “President Lu, Zhao Qiang is here.”
Zhao Qiang also bowed quickly, “Hello, President Lu! I am Zhao Qiang.”
Lu Lin didn’t turn back, still holding the fishing rod, his voice low, “You go out first.”
The assistant left silently.
Only Zhao Qiang and Lu Lin were left. The weather wasn’t cold, but not hot either. Zhao Qiang’s back was almost soaked with cold sweat. Lu Lin didn’t speak for a long time, so he had to swallow his saliva and ask proactively: “President Lu, what do you want with me?”
The float moved. Lu Lin reeled in; it was a small fish. He took the small fish off and put it back into the pool, speaking unhurriedly, “Tell me about the things Lu Muchi did privately last year, pick the important ones.”
Zhao Qiang’s heart trembled. Lu Muchi had too many private affairs. Which ones were considered important? But he didn’t dare to ask Lu Lin, so he simply confessed all the bastard things Lu Muchi had done since he started protecting him, in detail.
Lu Lin continued fishing. Only when it came to October last year, his eyebrows condensed, and his tone dropped a few degrees, “Peking University student?”
Zhao Qiang said immediately: “Yes, yes. I heard from that Peking University student that there was a freshman in the school who looked somewhat like the young master of the Lin family, instigating the Young Master to go take a look.”
Lu Lin rubbed the fishing rod with his fingertips, “What’s the freshman’s name.”
Zhao Qiang shook his head, suddenly realizing Lu Lin had his back to him and couldn’t see. He hurriedly said: “I don’t know this, but that student probably didn’t agree. The Young Master even went to his door, causing quite a commotion. That student called the police, but it was useless. His parents all sided with the Young Master.”
Zhao Qiang hesitated, “There is one thing, I don’t know if I’m overthinking…”
“Speak.”
Only then did Zhao Qiang embolden himself, “I feel that the parents and the student the Young Master fancied don’t look alike, don’t look like a family at all. I can’t describe it, looks don’t match, temperament also…”
Zhao Qiang suddenly realized Lu Lin had been silent for a long time. He stopped abruptly, terrified.
After an unknown amount of time, Lu Lin spoke, “You can go.”
Zhao Qiang was overjoyed, nodding vigorously, “Enjoy your fishing!”
Zhao Qiang quietly rubbed his soft legs and ran away silently.
At the entrance of the fishing ground, the assistant was waiting for him.
The assistant handed over a red envelope. How could Zhao Qiang dare to take it? He waved his hands repeatedly, “It’s my honor to do things for President Lu. Can’t take it, absolutely can’t take it!”
The assistant smiled, “President Lu gave it, just take it.”
Zhao Qiang accepted it. The assistant said again: “You know how to reply when you go back, right?”
Zhao Qiang nodded rapidly, “Know, know. I went home today. Rest assured, I guarantee to keep my mouth shut.”
…
Inside the fishing ground, Lu Lin let go of the fishing rod, squatted down and looked at the bucket.
In the bucket was a blackfish that didn’t give up, constantly trying to escape the bucket, constantly splashing water.
Occasionally a few drops splashed onto Lu Lin’s face, with a faint coolness.
After a moment of silence, Lu Lin fished out the blackfish and put it back into the pool.
Yan Heqing didn’t eat. He was leaving after Lu Muchi finished eating.
It seemed he really came to persuade Lu Muchi to eat.
Lu Muchi had mixed feelings. He wanted to keep Yan Heqing, but was afraid of defeating his own purpose like before. His mouth opened and closed several times, squeezing out a voice, “Will you tomorrow…” changed his words, “Did my grandfather ask you to come tomorrow too?”
Yan Heqing didn’t look back, saying faintly: “You are not sick at all. Instead of wasting time, you might as well do your career well. Maybe—”
He didn’t continue, opened the door and left.
Precisely because of this, Lu Muchi automatically completed the sentence.
Maybe—they could be together openly!
His current start-up capital all came from his grandfather. Yan Heqing wasn’t wrong; he hated being controlled by his grandfather.
From childhood to adulthood, his food, clothing, housing, and transportation were all arranged and decided by his grandfather. Even as an adult, bodyguards were arranged to monitor him in the name of protecting him!
If the cooperation with Cheng Jian was successful this time, earning at least hundreds of millions, it would be his first step to break away from his grandfather, and also prove to his grandfather that although he couldn’t compare to his uncle, he wasn’t bad either!
And being with Yan Heqing was no different from finding Xu Qiaoyin.
Lu Muchi had long thought of a reason for Yan Heqing during this time. Yan Heqing helped Xu Qiaoyin escape, actually for him! Yan Heqing hoped he and Xu Qiaoyin would reconcile. Continuing to lock Xu Qiaoyin up would only intensify the conflict.
Lu Muchi’s heart surged. He walked quickly to the window and looked down.
Not long after, Yan Heqing appeared.
His father’s driver drove to Yan Heqing, but Yan Heqing refused and walked towards the hospital gate.
Until Yan Heqing’s back disappeared completely, Lu Muchi turned and strode out of the ward.
“Tell Grandpa, I want to be discharged.”
…
On the subway, Yan Heqing received a call from Lu Yicheng.
Lu Muchi not only ate but also wanted to go back to the company to work on the plan. Lu Yicheng was quite satisfied and praised Yan Heqing greatly.
Finally, he said with a smile: “Ask for whatever you want. The Lu family can satisfy anything.”
Outside the window was a pitch-black tunnel. The glass reflected Yan Heqing’s expressionless face, “I’ll tell you when I think of it.”
Lu Yicheng didn’t take it seriously. It was nothing more than money or job opportunities. He agreed generously and hung up the phone.
Yan Heqing put away his phone, and the listening training resumed in his headphones.
He was teaching himself Russian. His vocabulary was enough, and now he started listening to articles, translating in his mind while listening.
Study time passed quickly, and in a flash, he arrived at Peking University Station.
Putting away the headphones, Yan Heqing got off the subway.
It was completely dark. He wasn’t hungry, but he had to eat dinner. Being away for a week, the refrigerator was empty.
Walking into the community supermarket, Yan Heqing picked some cabbage and potatoes, and a box of shredded pork.
Passing a row of shelves on the way to the cashier, he paused slightly, looking at the instant noodles on the shelf.
That night in the sunroom, he didn’t tell Lu Lin that he actually felt that cup of instant noodles was more delicious than ever before.
Withdrawing his gaze, Yan Heqing walked to the cashier.
“21.6.”
Yan Heqing took out his phone. Just as he was about to scan the code, he caught a glimpse of the candy rack at the cashier from the corner of his eye.
Colorful candy wrappers, colorful under the light.
Light flowed in the bottom of his eyes. He took down a bag of candy and put it on the cashier counter, “Pay together.”
Entering the apartment building, someone was stewing radish and ribs. The particularly homely aroma was blown by the wind, especially enticing.
It was a bit cool. Yan Heqing tightened his coat. The sensor light lit up with his footsteps.
Approaching the third floor, a tall figure stood in front of his door.
Yan Heqing was very surprised. He quickened his pace, went up the stairs in a few steps and stopped in front of Lu Lin, freeing his hand to find the key, “When did you…”
Before he finished, he was pulled into an embrace full of cedar scent.
Lu Lin held his waist with one hand and protected his head with the other, hugging Yan Heqing deeply into his arms.
The boy carried the chill of the night. He rested his chin on his cold ear tip and whispered: “Let me hug you.”