He seemed to understand a little why Yan Heqing had cut ties with them.
He asked quietly, "Your adoptive parents... were they really awful to you?"
Yan Heqing was perfectly candid. "Yes."
Lin Fengzhi lowered his head, staring at his slippers. "Actually... when I went to your school that day, I ran into your adoptive parents."
Yan Heqing feigned surprise and turned to look at him. "The day you picked up my ID?"
Lin Fengzhi nodded, choosing his words carefully. "They were a little rough..."
Before he could finish, something slightly rough touched his face. He looked up in surprise. Yan Heqing was very close, his thumb resting on the spot on Lin Fengzhi's left cheek where he had been hit.
His skin was thin and marks lingered. It had actually stopped hurting long ago, but a small patch of bruising remained.
Yan Heqing frowned. "Yan Shengbing hit you?"
Was Yan Shengbing the name of that man who smelled sour and foul? Lin Fengzhi did not want Yan Heqing's relationship with them to deteriorate any further.
They might have done some unkind things to Yan Heqing, but they were still his family. Time would wash away the past, while family ties could never be severed.
Thinking this, Lin Fengzhi turned his face away. "No, I bumped into something."
Of course Yan Heqing knew Lin Fengzhi had been hit, and he had been certain Lin Fengzhi would deny it.
He was playing the part of a good older brother who cared about his younger brother.
The one he cherished was the younger brother in his memories, who had depended on him as they struggled to survive together, not this naive young master who now lived a pampered life and urged others to be forgiving without distinguishing right from wrong.
The urge to cough rose, and Yan Heqing turned his face away, coughing softly twice.
"Do you have a cold?" Lin Fengzhi blinked. "I'll ask my brother-my second brother-to bring some medicine. I don't know the brand, but one pill will make you better."
Yan Heqing turned back to clear the dishes. "I'm almost better. No need."
"Okay." Lin Fengzhi's eyes darted about. He wanted to speak but felt a little embarrassed.
Yan Heqing could guess why Lin Fengzhi had come to see him. It could only be to ask him not to reveal their relationship.
He said nothing, waiting for Lin Fengzhi to bring it up himself. Picking up the dishes, he said, "Have a seat. I'll wash the dishes."
Lin Fengzhi nodded.
Yan Heqing went into the kitchen, then took out his phone and composed a text.
[Did you buy the canned cat food at my door?]
Then he entered Lu Muchi's phone number.
In a dim, heated room, Lu Muchi sat on a leather sofa, his shirt neat and his suit trousers unzipped all the way.
A young man had his head buried between his legs.
Yet Lu Muchi's expression was cold and indifferent.
Ding.
With that sudden sound, the phone lit up.
Lu Muchi grabbed his phone. The instant he saw the sender, he abruptly slapped the young man's head away.
A text from [Ungrateful]-
[Did you buy the canned cat food at my door?]
Buying the canned cat food had been a whim of Lu Muchi's.
Last week, after he had accompanied Lin Fengzhi to have his injury treated, Lin Fengzhi had gone to a pet store to buy some things, and he had suddenly thought of Yan Heqing.
Ungrateful and poverty-stricken, unable to afford imported canned cat food.
After Lin Fengzhi got into the car, he had gone back into the store to place an order, asking the owner to deliver it to Yan Heqing's address.
But that had been a week ago.
Had Yan Heqing only just come home?
The man who had taken Yan Heqing home that night surfaced in Lu Muchi's mind. The pleased curve of his lips abruptly fell. He stood, zipped up his trousers, and strode out.
Meanwhile, seeing that it was getting late, Lin Fengzhi finally made up his mind.
When Yan Heqing came out of the kitchen, he stood up and said, "There's something I'd like to ask of you."
Yan Heqing wiped the water from his fingers without looking at Lin Fengzhi and asked mildly, "What is it?"
Lin Fengzhi pressed his lips together several times. "Could you keep our relationship a secret for now?"
Yan Heqing's expression was calm. "Yes."
Lin Fengzhi had not expected it to go so smoothly, and instead began to stammer. "I, I don't mean anything else by it. It's just, as you know, the Lin Family runs a listed company. If it makes the news because of me..." He lowered his head. "That wouldn't be good."
Yan Heqing looked up, a faint smile on his lips. "Don't be nervous. There was never any need to announce this to everyone with drums and gongs. You were part of the Lin Family before, you are now, and you will be in the future. That will never change."
Lin Fengzhi stared blankly at Yan Heqing. He thought Yan Heqing really must not have intended to use their relationship to gain anything from the Lin Family.
He rubbed the tip of his nose and suddenly did not want to leave.
Tonight...
He glanced toward Yan Heqing's bed. It was a little narrow, but he and Yan Heqing were both on the thin side. They should fit.
Lin Fengzhi asked hopefully, "Can I stay the night?"
Yan Heqing did not even need to think of a reason to keep him there. His bright eyes curved slightly.
"Of course."
Chapter 21: 021
With the radiant heater on, the room was fairly warm. They chatted for a while, and soon it was ten thirty.
Lin Fengzhi went to check out the bathroom.
It was cramped and crowded, with no underfloor heating or any other heating equipment.
Away from the radiant heater, wearing only a cashmere sweater, Lin Fengzhi was so cold that he sneezed.
"Achoo!"
Lin Fengzhi decided to wait until he went home tomorrow morning to shower.
His lower abdomen felt a little full, but Lin Fengzhi did not relieve himself either. Although the toilet had been scrubbed very clean, there was a crack in the toilet lid, and he really did not want to use it.
He gave his hands a quick wash and came out of the bathroom.
Yan Heqing was making the bed. Lin Fengzhi watched for a while, then rubbed the back of his head and said, "I showered this morning. It's okay if I don't shower now, right?"
It was fine, because Lin Fengzhi would not be sleeping here tonight.
"It's fine." Yan Heqing tucked in the quilt, then went to a box and found a tracksuit for him. "Freshly washed. You'll have to make do."
This time, Lin Fengzhi did not refuse.
He took the clothes. He had a long-sleeved top on underneath, so he was not worried about them rubbing against his skin.
Getting ready for bed, Lin Fengzhi unfastened his watch.
It was a white ceramic mechanical watch, exquisitely made and beautiful.
He took it off and placed it at the head of the bed. The room was too quiet, so he brought up a topic himself. "This is a Richard Mille in white ceramic." Then he stuck out his tongue. "I'd never bring myself to buy a watch that costs over a million. A friend gave it to me for my eighteenth birthday."