Lin Fengzhi felt bad eating Yan Heqing's food for free. Although he had never washed dishes before, he still volunteered. "It's fine, I'll wash them!"
The corners of Yan Heqing's lips lifted slightly. "Thanks for the effort."
Lin Fengzhi went into the kitchen. Listening to the clatter coming from inside, Yan Heqing picked up his glass of water, walked to the entryway, and calmly splashed it onto Lin Fengzhi's coat.
At the same time, he spoke in a gentle tone.
"Fengzhi, I'm not feeling very well. Could I trouble you to pick something up from my university?"
Lin Fengzhi's voice came from the kitchen. "When?"
"Now."
Yan Heqing looked at the alarm clock.
One in the afternoon. Zhao Huilin and Yan Shengbing had probably finished lunch and gone to the university to wait for him again.
Chapter 17: 017
Crash.
The glass fell to the floor.
Lin Fengzhi came out at the sound and saw Yan Heqing frowning slightly, shattered glass and water scattered around his feet.
Yan Heqing looked up, his pale, cool face apologetic. "I got your coat wet."
Only then did Lin Fengzhi notice that his coat was dripping. He did not mind, though. He had several wardrobes full of cashmere coats like that.
The only problem was-
He asked awkwardly, "How am I supposed to go out and pick it up for you without a coat?" He couldn't possibly go out wearing nothing but a thin sweater...
Yan Heqing walked over to the box of clothes and took out a long padded coat. "This one should fit you."
The padded coat looked cheaply made. Lin Fengzhi hesitated for a long time but took it anyway.
"What is it?"
"My ID card," Yan Heqing said calmly. "I transferred my household registration to the university and had my ID reissued. It's at the household registration office in the security department."
Lin Fengzhi pressed his lips together again. Clearly, Yan Heqing's transfer of his household registration meant he intended to sever ties with his adoptive parents completely.
But no matter how unpleasant things had become, they were still family...
Lin Fengzhi thought Yan Heqing was being a little too heartless. He silently put on the padded coat. It was rather thin and smelled pleasantly of laundry powder.
Lin Fengzhi was about to open the door. "Wait." Yan Heqing came over and handed him a scarf as well. "Put on a scarf. It's cold out."
Lin Fengzhi paused before taking it. "Thank you."
Yan Heqing's eyes brightened slightly. "I'm your older brother. You can try not being so formal with me."
Lin Fengzhi did not answer. He still could not get past that mental hurdle for now and only gave a noncommittal nod.
After leaving, Lin Fengzhi did not put on the scarf. He had sensitive skin and would have an allergic reaction to ordinary yarn.
Besides, he was wearing a custom-made cashmere sweater underneath. It was very warm, so he would not feel cold even with a thinner padded coat.
Upstairs, Yan Heqing silently watched Lin Fengzhi walk away. Lin Fengzhi held the scarf in his arms.
Yan Heqing turned back to the sofa and pulled out a copy of Immunobiology.
Lin Fengzhi probably would not return from this errand until very late.
Yan Shengbing stood watch at Beijing University's main entrance.
The strong wind carried snowflakes, and students streamed past without end. Yan Shengbing searched for Yan Heqing without blinking.
Snowflakes got in his eyes, and Yan Shengbing rubbed them.
Suddenly, a familiar padded coat approached from the distance.
Last year, an unprecedented cold snap had struck, and Yan Heqing had finally bought himself a padded coat. When Zhao Huilin found out, she had given him a thorough scolding for being wasteful and throwing money away.
"Every day, you're either at home or at work. It's not like you have to stand outside in the wind. How could you possibly freeze to death? You should've bought your little brother a pair of sneakers instead."
He had finally caught him!
Delighted, Yan Shengbing pulled out his phone to notify Zhao Huilin at the other gate, then rushed over and grabbed the familiar padded coat. "You little bastard! I've finally caught you today!"
Grabbed by a stranger, Lin Fengzhi asked in confusion, "Who are you looking for?"
Yan Shengbing had never paid much attention to what Yan Heqing looked like. Lin Fengzhi's eyes and brows resembled his, and Yan Shengbing was certain that he was Yan Heqing. "I'm your father! Who the fuck do you think I'm looking for?"
His voice was loud and his language coarse, drawing looks from quite a few people.
Lin Fengzhi had never been treated like this before and failed to react for a moment. "I don't know you. Let go first..."
"Son!" A woman's ringing voice suddenly came at him.
Zhao Huilin clung tightly to Lin Fengzhi from behind, raising her voice as she cried. "I finally found you! Don't refuse to acknowledge your mother!"
Afraid that Lin Fengzhi would run away, Yan Shengbing stepped forward and seized him with both hands.
Lin Fengzhi was completely dumbfounded. What on earth was going on?
Yan Shengbing reeked of grease and sour sweat, and his hair had not been washed in a long time. The top of his head was right beneath Lin Fengzhi's nose. Lin Fengzhi could barely breathe. He tried to push them away. "I don't know you! Let go of me!"
The scarf in his hand fell to the ground and was soon trampled into a mess by several pairs of feet.
More and more people gathered to watch.
Zhao Huilin's eyes darted around. She released Lin Fengzhi and plopped down on the ground.
Feigning anguish, she slapped the ground and lowered her head to wipe at her tears. "Oh! It's my fault. I shouldn't have come to your university and embarrassed you. If you're angry, you can hit me or curse at me. Boo-hoo, I'll let you hit me and curse at me all you want. Just calm down and come home with me..."
Yan Shengbing slapped Lin Fengzhi across the face out of sheer habit. "Who the hell do you think you are? You dare hit your mother! Just because..."
The slap stunned Lin Fengzhi. He did not even register the taste of blood at the corner of his mouth and stood frozen in place.
It was the first time anyone had hit him, and the man was spewing filthy language he could not understand.
While he stood there dazed, Yan Shengbing raised his foot and kicked him. A piercing pain shot through his □□, and Lin Fengzhi cried out and crouched down.
Yan Shengbing kept kicking.
He was experienced, aiming every kick at the body's most vulnerable spots. "You little bastard, give me back my money! My 4.9 million! If you don't hand it over today, I'll fight you to the death!"
Lin Fengzhi did not know how to fight at all. Yan Shengbing's kicks came fast and painfully. Clutching his abdomen, he fell to the ground, his mouth full of bloody foam.
Several female students called for the gate guards and ran forward to stop him.
Zhao Huilin wailed and made a scene on the ground. When a guard approached, she lunged at him and hugged his legs to keep him from moving. Yan Shengbing grew even more worked up as he kicked, his eyes bloodshot as he swore. "A father has every right to beat his son! Don't even think about not giving me the money! You worthless little shit, an orphan nobody wanted. Fuck! I'll kick you to death!"