Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Yu He hung up the call, extinguished the cigarette, and opening the window, he asked Fu Yunzhen, “A friend of mine wants to come visit me, is that okay?”

Fu Yunzhen looked at Yu He standing under the sunlight and replied, “Why wouldn’t it be okay? You’re not in prison. Didn’t you just say a couple of days ago that you could leave whenever you wanted?”

“So you’re not letting this go, huh?” Yu He, supporting himself with one hand on the windowsill, said, “Catch me.”

Fu Yunzhen spread out his arms, and as Yu He pushed himself off the windowsill to flip inside, he landed right in Fu Yunzhen’s arms.

Yu He lowered his head and sent the villa’s address to Yu Qingyan.

Fu Yunzhen’s voice, unable to discern joy or anger, remarked, “A perfectly good door available, yet you choose this just to show off your legs, demonstrating that you can run and jump.”

Yu He was not at all flustered. He knew that Fu Yunzhen didn’t mind when others brought up his leg injury, nor would he vent his anger on Yu He for it. If Fu Yunzhen was someone with such a narrow-minded disposition, why would he have bothered to build a basketball court in the main house of the villa for Yu He?

Fu Yunzhen simply doesn’t like others treating him as a disabled person, as a useless person.

Perhaps this is also one of the reasons why Fu Yunzhen chose to keep him by his side.

After lunch, Yu He took a walk in the garden with Fu Yunzhen.

The garden was rich in autumn colors, with withered flowers and fiery red maple leaves, golden ginkgo leaves, bright and vibrant colors that you wouldn't see in spring or summer. A sudden gust of wind rose, sending leaves flying and covering the ground with red maple and golden ginkgo leaves.

It also carried the desolation and sparseness that you wouldn't find in spring or summer.

A ginkgo leaf fell on the blanket covering Fu Yunzhen’s knees.

Fu Yunzhen picked up the leaf, his phoenix eyes slightly lowered, deep in thought, casting two fan-shaped shadows from his long eyelashes, exuding an indescribable charm.

Such sharp phoenix eyes paired with his dark, long lashes are truly a sight to behold.

Fu Yunzhe's physical appearance was impeccable; his jawline was sharp and defined, resembling the exposed blade of a sword, exuding a chilling aura. Yet, the gentleness in his raven-feather-like eyelashes softened the intensity of his features, creating a delicate balance.

Yu He squatted opposite Fu Yunzhe, took the ginkgo leaf from his hand, twirled it around, and brought it close to his nose for a gentle sniff. "What are you thinking about?"

The ginkgo leaf carried a fresh, plant-like fragrance. Yu He passed the leaf to Fu Yunzhe, "It smells so good, take a sniff."

Fu Yunzhe lowered his head slightly, his nostrils fluttering. "It's odorless."

"Huh?" Yu He sniffed again, "It has the scent of a leaf, slightly bitter and astringent, yet with a hint of sweetness unlike ordinary leaves. Is there something wrong with my nose?"

Fu Yunzhe lightly tapped Yu He's nose with the ginkgo leaf, "Dog nose. You always say that I have a pleasant scent, but I've never smelled it myself."

Yu He responded, "You do smell nice, and it's my favorite kind of scent."

Fu Yunzhe supported Yu He's arm to help him stand up, "You don’t have to squat down every time you talk to me."

On the surface, Yu He appeared lazy and carefree, seemingly unconcerned about everything. In reality, he was meticulous and attentive, which was evident in the little things. Fu Yunzhe, who sat in a wheelchair, noticed that Yu He always made an effort to maintain eye contact during their conversations. If Yu He was standing, he would squat down, showing a natural and genuine respect that spoke volumes about his character.

In his own way, Yu He took care of Fu Yunzhe's emotions, not wanting him to feel any different from others.

Every time he maintained eye contact, it was as if he was silently telling Fu Yunzhe: "There's nothing wrong with being disabled. If you can't stand up, then I will squat down."

Yu He stood up with Fu Yunzhe's support, leaning forward to rest on the armrest of the wheelchair, "But when I talk to you, I want to look into your eyes."

Fu Yunzhe looked up, meeting Yu He's gaze, "What's so special about my eyes?"

"They are beautiful," Yu He admired sincerely, his eyes free from any hint of desire, "I love your eyes."

Fu Yunzhe's eyes trembled slightly. Yu He had expressed his affection too many times today.

'Liking his scent', 'loving his eyes'... Fu Yunzhe was far from obtuse; in fact, he was widely acknowledged for his high emotional and intellectual quotient. People often praised him for his astuteness and unparalleled insight, attributing his success in the business world to his ability to understand human nature.

He knew what Yu He was hinting at.

Nineteen-year-old Yu He wore his heart on his sleeve, his feelings for Fu Yunzhe plainly written across his face.

But how could he, Fu Yunzhe, possibly hold Yu He back?

He was a man, a disabled man, and he was more than a decade older than Yu He.

Fu Yunzhe had genuinely been unaware that Yu He had never been in a relationship or been intimate with anyone before. After all, given Yu He's handsome appearance and bold personality, it was hard to imagine him being so reserved.

If he had known this would happen, he would never have led Yu He down this tricky path. He did fancy Yu He's face, but he had no idea how long this shallow attraction could last, nor did he know how long Yu He’s impulsive decision would hold.

From a biological perspective, Yu He's appearance, voice, and behavior stimulated Fu Yunzheng's brain to secrete dopamine, creating feelings of happiness, relaxation, and other positive emotions.

In short, the production of dopamine is the source of all happiness.

Therefore, when love first appears, everyone is infatuated and lost in their emotions.

Fu Yunzheng was no exception; under the influence of dopamine, there were moments when he had the impulse to throw caution to the wind.

Fortunately, reason always held its ground, constantly reminding Fu Yunzheng: to restrain himself.

This relationship was too unequal; in terms of power and status, he had the upper hand, but in terms of age and health, Yu He was better off. They were mismatched in any case.

He had been fixated on Yu He’s face for far too long, ever since that fleeting glance at the charity dinner, which he had harbored in his heart for an entire year. Upon hearing about Yu He’s plight, he hesitated for a long time, contemplating whether to simply help Yu He out of Jinse Terrace or take this opportunity to have Yu He accompany him for a while.

He even went to his regular temple to draw a divination lot, and the message on the lot only had two characters—

自在 (At Ease).

At that time, his third surgery had failed, and life seemed utterly devoid of interest. The only thing that could spark a bit of enthusiasm in him was Yu He.

Only Yu He.

Then, let’s be at ease for once.

Being at ease does not mean being selfish. Fu Yunzheng has always been clear that one day, Yu He’s life will return to normal.

Yu He is too young; even if she stays by his side for a year or two, or even ten years, she would only be 29 years old by then. It’s not too late for her to choose another male partner or to get married and have children.

Fu Yunzheng is willing to let Yu He go; she can leave whenever she wants.

But human desires tend to expand indefinitely. Fu Yunzheng knows his own character very well. If he and Yu He only maintain a physical relationship, he can clearly define the boundaries and will never develop a possessive desire for her.

Yet, love has a strong exclusivity to it.

Once he develops feelings for Yu He and their relationship turns romantic, he would lose control. Yu He is too beautiful and alluring; he would become insecure and neurotic, especially due to his physical disability.

He can't afford to let that happen.

Yu He has the heart of a youth, but Fu Yunzhe is no longer a young man.

The impulsive passion of love is fleeting, but the troubles it brings can be endless.

A relationship maintained through money, power, and physical intimacy is much more solid than one based on ethereal emotions.

Things are perfect the way they are now; he gives whatever Yu He wants, making Yu He happy, which in turn makes him happy.

Fu Yunzhe is willing to give Yu He everything.

Seeing Fu Yunzhe fall silent for a long time, Yu He straddled his legs and asked, “What are you thinking about? You seem upset all of a sudden.”

Worried that Yu He might fall, Fu Yunzhe instinctively reached out to embrace his waist, firmly denying, “I'm not upset.”

Yu He was slightly skeptical, “Really?”

To tell the truth, although Fu Yunzhe's facial expression didn’t change much, Yu He keenly noticed a slight dimming in the brightness of his eyes.

He must be upset.

Yu He felt a bit smug, thinking to himself how quickly he had progressed. When he first met Fu Yunzhe, even interpreting the direction of his gaze was a challenge. Now, he could read the nuances in his eyes. It probably wouldn’t be long before he could understand Fu Yunzhe’s thoughts just as Fu Yunzhe could read his, deciphering what was on his mind.

Fu Yunzhe leaned back slightly, burying all his emotions deep inside, calm and composed, “You can't tell what I'm thinking.”

Yu He: “......”

This was truly baffling. Were his thoughts written on his forehead? How could Fu Yunzhe read him so accurately?

“Has the tech company under Fu’s corporation secretly invented some kind of mind-reading device?” Yu He patted around Fu Yunzhe's pockets and waist, “Come on, where have you hidden it?”

Trapped in his wheelchair, Fu Yunzhe couldn’t escape Yu He's playful hands. He tilted his neck and caught Yu He's hand, “It's not on me.”

Yu He raised his eyebrows, “Where is it then?”

Fu Yunzhe’s Adam's apple bobbed as he pressed his lips together.

“Oh, so it’s hidden in your mouth.” Yu He leaned in, capturing Fu Yunzhe’s lips with his own, and gently licked them, “Open up, I need to conduct a thorough search.”

Fu Yunzhe obediently opened his mouth. In moments of intimacy, he was almost entirely submissive to Yu He.

Yu He could embrace and kiss him whenever he wished.

However, he rarely took the initiative to hold Yu He, and he had never initiated a kiss.

That would be overstepping boundaries.

Fu Yunzhe didn’t want Yu He to feel the slightest bit of discomfort, so he completely yielded the initiative to him.

And what about Yu He?

He didn’t know anything, and Fu Yunzhe didn’t need him to.

Yu He meticulously explored with his tongue, besieging and overwhelming Fu Yunzhe, forcing him to retreat unconsciously. With one hand cradling the back of Fu Yunzhe’s head, Yu He temporarily spared his opponent, turning instead to gently suck on those cool, thin lips.

Just then, the security personnel who had been waiting in the distance saw the two suddenly kissing. Fearing that things might escalate, they braced themselves and quickly approached.

Fu Yunzhe noticed someone coming out of the corner of his eye, placed his hands on Yu He's chest, and gently pushed him away, signaling, “Someone’s coming.”

Yu He took a step back.

Fu Yunzhe first wiped away the water at the corner of Yu He's mouth with his thumb, then used the back of his hand to wipe his own lips.

Even though they had been seen kissing in the garden, Fu Yunzhe remained composed and asked in a deep voice, “What’s the matter?”

The uniformed security personnel bowed slightly and reported in a low voice to Fu Yunzhe, “Mr. Fu, the young master’s friend has arrived.”

“Take him to Linghua Ting,” Fu Yunzhe instructed indifferently.

The security personnel’s breath hitched. He felt his well-paid job slipping away, but at this point, he had no choice but to slightly turn, clench his teeth, and reply, “Mr. Fu, that young master said that Yu Shao asked him to come directly here.”

Yu He and Fu Yunzhe both turned their heads at the same time.

They saw a figure standing dumbfounded under a maple tree not far away, staring at them in disbelief.

Yu Qingyan, with a face full of panic, called out, “Yu He!”

*

Linghua Ting serves as the Fù estate’s reception area for distinguished guests, situated atop Bibo Lake on the north side of the manor. The west side boasts a koi tank made of crystal instead of a wall, a manifestation of utmost luxury. Surrounded by water on all sides, the lush greenery and serene scenery make it a delightful sight.

Yú Qīngyàn and Yú Hè sat facing each other. Suddenly, more than a dozen uniformed servants filed in, each performing their tasks with precision—some serving dishes, some pouring water. They placed the dishes on the table, bowed, and retreated, moving in a well-ordered fashion from the top left to the bottom right.

The dishes on the table were so exquisite they could rival a state banquet. Ever since Yú Qīngyàn entered the Fù family's manor, he has been in a constant state of awe.

He originally thought the Yú family was one of the top wealthy families in Fèng City, but compared to the imperial style of the Fù residence, they were insignificant. What shocked him even more was that the person providing for Yú Hè was actually Fù Yúnzhèng!

The Fù family's enterprises span the globe, with their strength ranking among the top nationwide. As the head of the Fù family, countless people strive to get close to Fù Yúnzhèng. In the past, not to mention Yú Qīngyàn, even his father, Yú Shìquán, rarely had the chance to meet him.

After the car accident, Fù Yúnzhèng has rarely appeared in public, residing instead in the Yún Sū manor, making it even more difficult for others to approach him.

He is truly a capitalist with enormous influence over the country's economic trajectory.

If Fù Yúnzhèng becomes displeased, a mere tightening of the supply chain from his end would lead countless families to bankruptcy.

Yú Qīngyàn’s gaze swept over the scab on Yú Hè’s eyebrow and fell upon the bruise near his lip. His hands clenched into fists, his heart filled with mixed emotions, “Yú Hè, how have you been living?”

Yú Hè, supporting his cheek with one hand, lay lazily on the table, and glanced at Yú Qīngyàn with a similarly indolent tone, “Why did you come here after all?”

Yú Qīngyàn closed his eyes; his features were gentle, and his eyelashes were long. As he closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembled slightly, easily arousing protective instincts in others, reminiscent of a delicate white lotus.

Seeing his soft demeanor, Yú Hè couldn’t help but roll his eyes towards the sky, feeling irritated.

Yú Qīngyàn spoke softly, “There are many ways to make money. You are still so young, how can you do this for money?”

Yú Hè was speechless, “...You traveled all the way from Fèng City just to teach me a lesson?”

Yú Qīngyàn frowned slightly, “If mom and dad find out...”

Yú Hè straightened up, his gaze suddenly becoming intense, “I’m not afraid of anyone finding out.”

Yú Qīngyàn stood up abruptly, “Mom and dad are upright people. How can I explain this to them? Should I tell them that their own son is being kept by a disabled old man, locked up in a private residence in Yún Sū, as a forbidden delicacy?”

Yú Hè leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, not the least bit angry. He was very aware that Yú Qīngyàn was deliberately provoking him, and he had no intention of falling for it.

This was exactly how Yú Qīngyàn used to manipulate him back in the Yú family.

Yú Hè looked up at Yú Qīngyàn, “Fù Yúnzhèng is not old at all. He is much better looking than your stupid boyfriend.”

Mentioning Zhōu Wénxiāo, Yú Qīngyàn lost some of his confidence. Yú Hè's job as a waiter in Jǐn Sè Tái was not without Zhōu Wénxiāo’s encouragement. In this matter, Yú Qīngyàn was in the wrong. He sat back down, picked up his tea cup, and took a sip, “I have already broken up with Zhōu Wénxiāo.”

If Yu Qingyan mentioned that, it would certainly pique Yu He's interest.

Yu He took the initiative to pour tea for Yu Qingyan, saying, "Tell me more."

Yu He was terrible at serving; he spilled half a cup while pouring the tea.

While wiping the table with a napkin, Yu Qingyan thought to himself that it was no wonder Yu He was treated so badly when serving Fu Yunzhe.

Seeing that Yu He was about to pour more tea, Yu Qingyan quickly took the teapot from him. Before being taken back by the Yu family, he worked part-time and had experience as a waiter. He demonstrated how to pour tea without spilling or creating bubbles, and then he taught Yu He how to serve dishes properly.

So, Yu He ate the dishes served by Yu Qingyan while listening to him talk about his relationship conflicts with Zhou Wenxiao.

If Yu Qingyan wanted to play the role of a great good man, Yu He was more than willing to sit there and be served.

"You know how to dismantle a crab?" Yu He scooped a spoonful of crab meat into his mouth, finding it fresh and sweet. He then handed another crab to Yu Qingyan, saying, "You should eat too. I think Zhou Wenxiao actually really likes you, but he is a bit chauvinistic, doesn't respect you enough, and is rather self-righteous."

"I don't like eating it; you can have it." Yu Qingyan cracked open the crab, dismantling its shell with a crab-picking tool. "He was my senior at university, an outstanding graduate from Fengcheng University. We started dating before the Yu family found me. At that time, being together felt good, not like now... I can't really say what has changed."

Yu He, propping his head up, analyzed seriously, "In the past, you were just an ordinary college student; you'd be together if things were good and break up if they weren’t. It was more genuine. But now, you are the young master of the Yu family. Before he does anything, he thinks not of you, but of the Yu family."

Yu Qingyan lowered his eyes, his hand pausing slightly as he picked at the crab meat: "Maybe."

After lunch, Yu He personally escorted Yu Qingyan to the estate's gate. Yu He straddled his motorcycle, while Yu Qingyan, in a daze, stepped off the pillion.

Pushing up the visor of his helmet, Yu He took off the silver helmet from Yu Qingyan's head, "Come and visit often, alright? Take care."

With a roar, the motorcycle stylishly turned a corner, heading back into the estate.

The driver sent by Fu Yunzhe to take Yu Qingyan back to Fengcheng opened the car door, inviting Yu Qingyan inside.

Sitting in the luxurious Maybach, Yu Qingyan couldn't understand why he, who had come to persuade Yu He to turn back from his misguided ways, ended up being counseled by Yu He on how to date.

Yu He was always like this! His points were scattered, and conversations with him easily veered off course.

As his fingers gently traced over the leather seat, Yu Qingyan was puzzled. They had sent a car, so why had Yu He insisted on riding his motorcycle to escort him?

The driver answered, "Because Young Master Yu He gets carsick easily, he can only ride his motorcycle to escort you to the gate. We hope for your understanding."

Yu Qingyan: "......"

The driver handed his business card to Yu Qingyan, "If you'd like to visit Young Master Yu He in Yun Su in the future, please give me a call. I'll come to pick you up."

Yu Qingyan took the business card, “Thank you. Is this arranged by President Fu?”

The driver responded, “Yes, it is.”

*

Yu He received another text message from the Bean Sprout Live Streaming platform. His live stream had been flagged by the AI for 'lack of signs of life,' leading the system to conclude that Yu He was neglecting his streaming duties.

While working out at the gym, Yu He propped up his phone to live stream the view of his back, ensuring there were now clear signs of life.

After a few days of this 'fishing' routine, Yu He was categorized under fitness bloggers, gaining six new followers. Someone even left a comment praising the attractiveness of his back muscles.

In the evening, with his back to Fu Yunzhe, Yu He spread his arms wide, showcasing his back muscles as he did chest-expanding exercises. The smooth lines of his back and the deep groove along his spine were especially captivating, enhanced by the pronounced dimples above his waist.

Fu Yunzhe couldn't help but chuckle, offering a four-word commentary: "Like a crane spreading its wings."

Yu He scoffed and turned his head to give Fu Yunzhe a sidelong glance, half annoyed and half playful.

“Come here,” Fu Yunzhe said, flipping Yu He's phone face down on his lap and pulling up Yu He's pants slightly, "Go on, I’m recording for you."

Yu He pulled on a T-shirt that had been hanging on the workout equipment and, with his back to Fu Yunzhe, completed a set of lat pulldowns. His muscles tensed and relaxed rhythmically through the workout, completing six sets of twenty reps, followed by a set of crunches.

After finishing, he checked his phone to make sure his face hadn’t been shown before posting the video. There were no edits or filters applied; it was as raw as it could get.

Post workout, beads of sweat dripped down from Yu He's nose and neck. He lifted his tank top to wipe off the sweat, and when he saw Fu Yunzhe’s gaze sweep across his abdomen, he provocatively lifted his shirt, insisting that Fu Yunzhe touch his abs.

Yu He’s waist still retained the slender quality of youth, not the traditional rigid eight-pack. His abdominal muscles were defined yet not overly aggressive in appearance, making them seem even more touchable than the more imposing alternatives.

Fu Yunzhe looked away, “I’m not touching, you're all sweaty.”

Yu He let go of his shirt, plopping down onto Fu Yunzhe's lap and rubbing his sweaty forehead against Fu Yunzhe, “Now you’re dirty too. Go on, touch it. Don’t be shy.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m the dirty one,” Fu Yunzhe leaned back, avoiding Yu He's fluffy head, “Get down. Stop flirting with me all the time. Last time Yu Qingyan saw us, weren’t you worried he might go back and talk behind your back?”

Yu He smirked nonchalantly, a hint of cheekiness in his grin, “If he dares to talk behind my back, does he dare to talk behind yours?”

Fu Yunzhe was left speechless, pushing up Yu He’s wet hair to reveal his smooth, full forehead, “You sure are something.”

Yu He looked intently at Fu Yunzhe, starting to reciprocally praise, “Mr. Fu is indeed impressive. I’m just riding on your coattails.”

Fu Yunzheng couldn't help but cough and chuckle: "Such a loose tongue. Since when do people refer to themselves as dogs?"

Ding Dong—

The phone buzzed with a notification.

Yu He lowered his head for a glance and, with a triumphant smile, showed Fu Yunzheng the comments on the recent workout video.

[Oh my, what a body! I’ve been righteous all my life, I deserve to see this. I really want to touch it.]

"See, others wish they could touch, but can't." Yu He lifted his chin, proud like a little peacock: "You can touch for free, yet you refuse."

Hearing this, Fu Yunzheng chuckled lightly, his eyes softening: "Indeed, I've also lived a life of virtue, which is how I managed to catch you, my little crane."

At this moment, Yu He was still unaware that their first meeting had actually been at a charity gala.

Fu’s Corporation has always been committed to philanthropy, and Fu Yunzheng, even before the car accident, actively participated in charitable activities, such as planting Populus euphratica trees with herdsmen in the Northwest desert.

However, it seemed like the heavens didn’t reciprocate Fu Yunzheng’s kindness. At the peak of his life, a sudden accident confined him to a wheelchair.

What a regret that was.

Yu He couldn’t truly empathize. He found it hard to imagine, if one day he also lost the use of his legs, whether he could be as open-minded as Fu Yunzheng. Open-minded enough to watch another young man in the prime of his life play sports and work out right in front of him.

Feeling somewhat uneasy, Yu He stood up as the phone buzzed twice more. He handed it to Fu Yunzheng: "Look, there are new comments."

"Someone sent you a gift." Fu Yunzheng’s finger slid across the screen: "What made you think of live streaming?"

Yu He, who often signed contracts without reading them, was always a point of criticism for Fu Yunzheng. He didn't dare to admit that he had carelessly signed an electronic contract with the Douya platform. Even though a 100,000 RMB penalty was nothing to Fu Yunzheng, Yu He still wanted to maintain a positive image in Fu Yunzheng’s eyes.

Accidentally registering as a live streamer and signing a contract didn’t sound very smart.

He came up with an excellent excuse for himself.

As Yu He pushed Fu Yunzheng’s wheelchair out of the gym, he said, "I thought I could make some money to donate to those in need. It’s just another way to do good deeds."

In recent years, short videos and live streaming have been booming. Fu’s Corporation even has a subsidiary that specializes in incubating internet celebrities. Fu Yunzheng had researched this emerging industry structure and was familiar with the basic models of internet celebrity marketing. He was very indulgent about Yu He’s whims, as if to say, if Yu He wanted to tear the roof off, he would just hand him a ladder.

If it were any other parent hearing that their child wanted to follow the trend and become a live streamer, their reaction would definitely not be like Fu Yunzheng's.

Fu Yunzheng did not raise any questions; instead, he readily agreed, “Good, I'll contact a marketing team to assist you tomorrow.”

"There's no need for that," Yu He replied nonchalantly, his tone suggesting a fleeting interest, "I'm just doing this for fun."

Fu Yunzheng’s thumb, which had been scrolling through short videos, paused slightly. He darkened the screen with his index finger, flipped the phone over onto his legs, and stared blankly at his disabled legs, his eyes deep and unfathomable like an ancient well.

The slight upward curve at the corners of his pale lips disappeared, settling into a straight line.

Yu He, pushing the wheelchair from behind, missed the warmth that flickered and vanished from Fu Yunzheng's phoenix eyes.