The shoes were cleaned until they looked brand new, without a trace of wear. The shower room has a 24-hour ventilation system, and he placed the shoes under the vent. With the bathroom temperature, they should be dry by tomorrow.
After arranging the cooking bowls, Yan Heqing washed his hands and left.
Lu Lin changed his bedding in the guest room, which was prepared for Lu Ruchan, but Lu Ruchan hadn't visited yet. As he came out of the guest room, Yan Heqing had just come out of the bathroom. Lu Lin told him, "Take your medicine and get some rest."
Yan Heqing nodded. "Good night, Mr. Lu."
Lu Lin, "Goodnight." He still had work to do. He walked towards his study, but after a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and asked, "In the story you told last time, how do you think the injured whale won in the end?"
Yan Heqing was somewhat surprised, but he still replied, "Wait."
A slight smile played on his lips. "As long as the supply ships don't arrive, the sailors' strength will be weakened. If the whale is patient enough and waits for the right opportunity, it can wipe out the enemy in one fell swoop."
--
In the study, Lu Lin was processing documents, but after a while, he put them down, unable to concentrate.
He opened his desk drawer, where there was a pack of cigarettes. He took one out, was about to light it, but then looked up at the closed door and put the cigarette back.
A few walls away, Yan Heqing took the medicine but didn't touch the packet of candy.
He wasn't afraid of hardship; sweet things are too easy to become addictive, and then one would fear hardship.
He lifted the covers and lay down on the bed, which felt as soft as cotton. The covers also had a faint cedar scent, just like his own. The medicine contained sleeping pills, but Yan Heqing's mind was perfectly clear.
He can confirm it now.
Lu Lin did not investigate him.
Although this was easy for Lu Lin.
Yan Heqing's gaze drifted into the distance. He turned over and lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling.
The room features a no-main-light design, with a soft, warm glow emanating from the ceiling on all four sides, making it perfect for sleeping.
After an unknown amount of time, Yan Heqing's eyelids began to droop.
Just as he was falling asleep, his phone suddenly vibrated several times.
The light sleep vanished instantly, and Yan Heqing's consciousness returned to normal.
He picked up his phone; a notification showed a message from Sep 12.
Sep12 is Lin Fengzhi's WeChat name. Sep means September, and September 12th is the date Lin Fengzhi first met Lu Lin.
Yan Heqing opened it.
Lin Fengzhi sent four messages in a row.
[Brother, why is your phone always busy?]
[Are you busy, bro?]
I'm going to buy a New Year's gift for someone I like tomorrow, will you come with me?
[Reply to me when you're done! Urgent, very urgent!]
Chapter 40
Yan Heqing's eyes were calm. He didn't reply, turned off the screen, put it on the bedside table, closed his eyes, and fell asleep again.
After waiting for almost ten minutes, Lin Fengzhi stared at the unresponsive chat page, feeling quite puzzled.
He looked down and gently stroked the head of the ragdoll cat in his arms. "It's already 12:30. Are you still on the phone?"
Lin Fengzhi exited WeChat, opened the call log, and dialed Yan Heqing's number.
It was still that woman's voice--
"The number you dialed is busy, please wait..."
Lin Fengzhi hung up the phone, even more curious. He had called Yan Heqing at 11:30, and more than an hour had passed, yet he was still on the phone. Who makes phone calls for so long these days? Aren't they all voice calls or video calls now?
Could it be with that woman who likes Yan Heqing?
Lin Fengzhi's eyes lit up. That must be right. This makes sense. Since they hadn't agreed yet, or weren't close enough to video chat, it wasn't appropriate to do so first, so they called first.
Lin Fengzhi is also pursuing Lu Lin now, and he feels a sense of shared misfortune, hoping that Lu Lin will successfully win over Yan Heqing.
This explains...
He and Lu Lin will definitely be together!
Just thinking of Lu Lin's name Lin Fengzhi's heart race, his cheeks flushing with excitement. He hugged the cat tightly and fell onto the warm, soft carpet, gently poking its head with his chin. " Little Dot, I really love Uncle Lu so much..."
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door. " Zhizhi, still awake?"
It was Lin Fengyi. He had just returned and, as usual, came to visit Lin Fengzhi. Seeing that the light was still on in his room, he knocked on the door.
Lin Fengzhi called out towards the door, "The door's unlocked, come in."
Lin Fengyi turned the doorknob and pushed the door open to enter the room.
In the bright and warm bedroom, Lin Fengzhi was playing with the cat, and Lin Fengyi's eyes warmed as well. He loosened his tie, "Still not asleep so late?"
He reeked of tobacco and alcohol. Lin Fengzhi wrinkled his nose. "It's not early, only 12:30. Who sleeps that early on a holiday?"
Lin Fengyi had drunk a bit too much today. He didn't sit on the sofa, but instead sat next to Lin Fengzhi, wanting to pet the cat. "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy."
Lin Fengzhi quickly, scooping the cat away. "Don't touch it! You stink!"
Lin Fengyi grabbed his shirt collar and sniffed it. He then looked at Lin Fengzhi with a smile, "It's inevitable to have a few drinks when socializing outside. All men are like that."
Lin Fengzhi muttered, " Uncle Lu doesn't do that."
Not having heard clearly and feeling dizzy, Lin Fengyi chuckled, "What are you muttering about?"
"It's nothing." Lin Fengzhi kicked him in disgust. "You really stink! Go back to your room, take a shower, and go to sleep!"
"Yes, my young master." Lin Fengyi stood up, leaning on the coffee table, and noticed a set of ironed clothes hanging nearby. "Going out tomorrow?"
"I'm shopping with my brother," Lin Fengzhi replied.
Lin Fengyi didn't react at first. Just as he reached the door, he suddenly stopped. His hazy mind flashed back to that night at the bar, rolling dice, those light brown, fox-like eyes. He turned his head. " Yan Heqing?"
"Yes," Lin Fengzhi urged him, "Stop asking so many questions, you're just like Mom. Go take a shower!"
Lin Fengyi's eyes flickered slightly, then he closed the door and left.
*
Without setting an alarm, Yan Heqing woke up promptly at six o'clock the next morning.
He got out of bed, straightened the blankets, walked to the door, and opened it, intending to wash up first. As he opened the door, something on the doorknob wobbled slightly and bumped into the back of his hand. Yan Heqing looked down and saw a paper bag.