He finally spoke. "I can't find the way!"
His long lashes fluttered slightly. Yan Heqing held out his hand. "Give me your phone."
Lin Fengzhi obediently handed over his phone. Yan Heqing took it, glanced at the map, then looked up at the road signs. "Follow me."
This time, Yan Heqing led the way.
The back of the boy's head was beautifully rounded, exactly like his own. Lin Fengzhi stared at it in a daze and walked straight into Yan Heqing's back.
Even through the padded coat, the impact jarred Lin Fengzhi's shoulder, and he gave a muffled grunt.
Only when he looked up did he realize they had reached the restaurant...
Yan Heqing stopped and turned around. "Are you okay?"
Lin Fengzhi flushed a little and shook his head. "I'm fine."
A server from the hot pot restaurant came out to greet them. "Hello, how many?"
"Two," Yan Heqing replied.
"Of course. Please follow me." The server led them inside.
There weren't many people having hot pot at this hour, and plenty of tables were empty. The server led them to a table for four.
Once they sat down, Yan Heqing picked up the menu. "What broth would you like?"
"Anything's fine," Lin Fengzhi replied.
"Would a split pot with mushroom and tomato broth be okay?"
Lin Fengzhi actually wanted spicy broth. Hot pot had no flavor without it, but he had already said anything was fine, so he nodded awkwardly. "Sure."
"What about the dishes?"
"Anything's fine."
Yan Heqing asked no more questions. He checked off a few dishes and a pitcher of blueberry juice, then handed the menu to the server.
Hot pot orders came out quickly, and the broth and dishes arrived one after another.
But the split pot actually contained spicy broth and tomato broth. Lin Fengzhi stopped the server. "You brought the wrong-"
"No, they didn't." Yan Heqing picked up one of the baby cuttlefish and put it into the spicy broth. "I haven't forgotten. You liked spicy hot pot when you were little."
Something suddenly stirred in Lin Fengzhi's chest. He stared at the bubbling spicy broth, where a baby cuttlefish surfaced from time to time. He liked baby cuttlefish very much, too.
So it had been a habit of his as a child...
Deeply touched, he tightened his grip on his chopsticks. "What do you like? I'll put some in for you."
"Beef."
Lin Fengzhi put a slice of beef into the tomato broth, then happily reached for the baby cuttlefish.
Yan Heqing lifted his cup and took a small sip of barley tea, lowering his lashes to hide the emotions in his eyes.
Lin Fengzhi had never eaten spicy broth or baby cuttlefish as a child.
They hadn't eaten spicy food.
"Yours is ready too!" Lin Fengzhi picked up the beef and placed it on Yan Heqing's side plate. "Here!"
Yan Heqing looked up, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "Thank you."
Lin Fengzhi chewed his baby cuttlefish, stealing glances at Yan Heqing from time to time.
Yan Heqing added vegetables to the pot. "Is something on your mind?"
Lin Fengzhi's earlobes reddened a little. It wasn't really anything important. He was just a little, a tiny little bit curious. "Do you still remember your... our birth parents?"
Yan Heqing put down his chopsticks, a faint smile appearing in his eyes. "Our mother's name was Yan Qiushuang. She was a gentle, refined woman from Jiangnan. Her voice was light and clear, soft and sweet, with a lilting cadence. She also made wonderful mint and mung bean water."
"Our father's surname was Dong. I think he was a university lecturer who taught history... We had lots of history books at home..."
Lin Fengzhi listened, absorbed, when his pocket suddenly began vibrating furiously.
He took out his phone. The call was from Lu Muchi.
"I'm out eating," Lin Fengzhi said as he answered.
Lu Muchi chuckled. "A friend gave me a crate of king crabs. I was just about to send them over to you, but since you've eaten..."
"I still have dinner to eat tonight!" Lin Fengzhi smiled. "You've already offered me those king crabs. Don't even think about taking them back!"
Hearing their conversation, Yan Heqing guessed he was talking to Lu Muchi.
He stood up and said, "I'm going to the restroom."
Lin Fengzhi nodded. "Okay."
Lu Muchi heard Yan Heqing's voice, and something stirred in his chest. "Who are you eating with?"
Oh no! Lin Fengzhi's eyes darted about. "Just a friend," he said vaguely.
Lu Muchi didn't ask any more questions. "Take your time eating. I've already told the driver to deliver the king crabs to your house. If you like them, I'll send you more tomorrow."
Lin Fengzhi smiled happily. "Okay, thanks!"
Lu Muchi hung up. Thinking back to Yan Heqing's voice, he felt an intense itch in his heart. Then he stood, grabbed his coat, and strode out of the office.
After they finished eating, Lin Fengzhi wanted to pay, but Yan Heqing stopped him.
"Treat me once you're earning your own money." Yan Heqing raised his hand and patted him very lightly on the head. "This one's on me."
With that, he went to the register to pay.
A faint scent of hand soap lingered on Yan Heqing's fingers, similar to the soap pod powder scent on his clothes. Lin Fengzhi stood dazed for quite a while before hurrying after him.
Once they left the hot pot restaurant, Yan Heqing finally handed the paper bag to Lin Fengzhi. "It's still early. Would you like to come over for a while?"
Lin Fengzhi opened the paper bag and saw the white ceramic item on top. He breathed a sigh of relief and looked up. "No, I'll pass. Let me drive you to the entrance of your complex. I drove here."
Yan Heqing smiled. "Don't trouble yourself. I'm a little full, so walking home will help me digest."
"All right, then." Lin Fengzhi waved with a smile. "I'll get going. Keep in touch!"
Yan Heqing nodded and watched Lin Fengzhi run off with the bag, the boy brimming with vitality as he raced away like the wind.
A little later, Yan Heqing withdrew his gaze. Instead of going home, he silenced his phone and turned toward a nearby bookstore to read.
Only at ten that night, when the bookstore was about to close, did Yan Heqing take a few books to the counter to pay.
Bags cost one yuan each. Yan Heqing declined one and walked home at an unhurried pace with the books in his arms.
After entering the complex, he was nearing his apartment building when he spotted two people facing off at the entrance in the distance.
Yan Heqing stopped.
Dim light fell over them. The slightly taller one was Lu Muchi.
The other was Feng Zhixian.
Chapter 24: 024
Yan Heqing walked over to the wall and concealed himself in the shadows.
Up ahead, Lu Muchi's dark eyes were like ice as he stared coldly at Feng Zhixian.