The bedroom curtains were drawn tightly shut. Light from the hallway spilled inside, revealing a small mound on the broad, soft bed.
Lin Fengyi tiptoed in with the hot food.
He reached the bedside, set the tray on the nightstand, and crouched down to coax Lin Fengzhi softly. "Zhizhi, have some congee before you go back to sleep. It's your favorite king crab congee."
Lin Fengzhi ignored him, remaining buried beneath the covers.
Lin Fengyi tried to lift the covers. "It's uncomfortable being all shut up under there. You..."
Lin Fengzhi immediately grabbed the covers and tugged against him, refusing to let him lift them.
Lin Fengyi could only let go. He sat on the carpet. "If you don't eat, neither will I, and neither will Mom. The whole family will go hungry with you."
After a while, a corner of the covers finally lifted. "Mom hasn't eaten?"
Lin Fengyi's lips curved fondly. "You're her precious baby. How could she eat when you won't? Mom's lying in bed right now. I think her stomach..."
The next second, the covers flew back. Lin Fengzhi hurried out of bed and pattered away barefoot.
Lin Fengyi couldn't help laughing, then followed him.
Lin Fengzhi rushed into Mother Lin's room. Mother Lin was arranging the carnations in the vase.
Hearing him, Mother Lin turned around, delighted. "Zhizhi, you're up."
Only then did Lin Fengzhi realize he had been tricked.
He stared wide-eyed, then suddenly deflated.
After these past few days, he had actually already accepted that he was adopted.
What upset him was that Lu Lin had ignored him.
He had sent Lu Lin several texts, but during the darkest days of his life, Lu Lin hadn't replied to a single one.
At the thought that Lu Lin didn't care about him, Lin Fengzhi's eyes quickly reddened. Mother Lin hurriedly put down the flowers and came over, wrapping him gently in her arms. "My poor baby. Don't cry, don't cry."
Lin Fengzhi's tears instantly spilled over. He buried himself in Mother Lin's embrace and cried without restraint. "Mom, I feel awful..."
Lin Fengyi arrived then too. Seeing that Lin Fengzhi had finally regained some life, he felt relieved even as he inwardly cursed Yan Heqing.
He wouldn't let him off easily for making his beloved little brother feel so wronged!
Lin Fengzhi cried for a long time before he finally calmed down.
He raised his head, his eyes red and swollen, and took several deep breaths before finally making up his mind.
"I'm going to see Yan Heqing tomorrow."
Mother Lin was deeply gratified. She wiped the tear tracks from Lin Fengzhi's face. "Good boy. Mommy's proud of you."
Lin Fengyi didn't want him to go. He worried that Lin Fengzhi would grow closer to Yan Heqing in the future.
But since Lin Fengzhi had brought it up himself, he couldn't very well object. He could only say, "I'll take you."
Lin Fengzhi had too many things he wanted to ask Yan Heqing. Going alone would be easier.
He shook his head. "I'll go by myself."
Early the next morning, Lin Fengzhi set off alone in a taxi.
He remembered Yan Heqing's address.
The taxi stopped at the entrance to the apartment building. Lin Fengzhi got out and was momentarily stunned by the shabby surroundings.
Had the driver come to the wrong place? Yan Heqing lived somewhere like this?
Following the door numbers, he climbed to the third floor. Looking at the rusty iron door, Lin Fengzhi called Yan Heqing instead of knocking.
"Are you home?" Lin Fengzhi sounded a little awkward. "I'm outside your door."
The door opened at the same time.
Yan Heqing wore an apron and held a spatula, his smile warm. "Come in."
Seeing Yan Heqing again still felt unfamiliar to Lin Fengzhi. His gaze shifted evasively as he nodded and entered.
The moment he stepped inside, Lin Fengzhi was shocked.
This was Yan Heqing's home?! It wasn't even as big as his cat's room...
Yan Heqing didn't miss his expression. He tipped his chin toward the shoe rack. "The blue slippers are clean. I'm cooking. Sit wherever you like."
Yan Heqing went into the kitchen.
Listening to the sounds of cooking, Lin Fengzhi hesitated for a few seconds before taking off his coat and hanging it behind the door, then changing out of his shoes.
The slippers fit perfectly and were very soft.
Lin Fengzhi walked farther inside and took in the entire place at a glance.
A sofa, a coffee table, a bed. That was it.
At least it was exceptionally clean and tidy. A large vase of wintersweet stood beside the sofa, giving off wafts of delicate fragrance.
Ten books were stacked on the sofa's armrest. Lin Fengzhi glanced over them. Cell Biology, Immunobiology, Life Sciences, Cell and Molecular Biology...
There were also some in Japanese, Russian, and languages he couldn't identify.
Lin Fengzhi looked away and sat down at the other end of the sofa.
He waited a few minutes before Yan Heqing emerged with the dishes: a plate of stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, and a plate of stir-fried pork.
After setting them on the coffee table, Yan Heqing returned to the kitchen and brought out two bowls of white rice.
"This is your first time eating my cooking." Yan Heqing's lips curved. "I'm very happy."
Lin Fengzhi pressed his lips together and picked up his chopsticks. He had never eaten such a simple meal. He picked up a piece of egg, but it tasted unexpectedly delicious.
Lin Fengzhi took another piece. The atmosphere had relaxed considerably since he first arrived, and he gradually began talking more.
"Do you live alone? What about your parents? Don't they live with you? Or do they live somewhere else?"
Yan Heqing's voice was calm. "My parents passed away. If you mean my adoptive parents, I've cut ties with them."
The first statement had left Lin Fengzhi feeling awkward, but the second immediately upset him.
He got along well with his parents and truly couldn't understand Yan Heqing's actions.
"You cut ties with them because you found out they weren't your biological parents?"
Yan Heqing's movements paused, but only briefly. He resumed taking food as though nothing had happened. "I haven't
lost my memory
. I had other reasons for cutting ties with them."
"Whatever the reason, they raised you." Lin Fengzhi put down his bowl. "Doing this will really hurt them."
Yan Heqing suddenly recalled how Lu Muchi had described Lin Fengzhi in the novel.
[My innocent, kindhearted little fool of a fawn.]
It was true. His little brother was as clear and translucent as crystal, pure and flawless, so foolish, and yet so detestable.
Yan Heqing smiled lightly and put down his chopsticks. "I'm going to the bathroom. Sorry for the trouble, but could you take the bowls to the kitchen? Just leave them in the sink."