Chapter 31

Chapter 31

A few days after Fu Rulan’s birthday banquet, Yu He received another call from Yu Qingyan.

During his lunch break, his phone was on silent mode. The screen lit up and dimmed twice before Yu He noticed the incoming call. He swiped to answer.

“What is it?” asked Yu He.

Yu Qingyan was in a good mood: “Yu He, why aren’t you answering your phone?”

Yu He laughed: “I’m not your husband. Why should I answer your calls?”

Yu Qingyan took a deep breath: “You’re not replying to my WeChat messages either.”

Yu He didn’t know what to say for a moment.

Since their last meeting, Yu Qingyan had been very keen to stay in touch with Yu He, sending him WeChat messages every now and then, even more frequently than the course-selling teachers in training schools on his friend circle. He often forwarded messages like [Confirmed, in a month, these exams are open for registration], [Three months to go, I will help you pass the XX qualification test], [Middle school graduates can apply! 2584 positions waiting for you], and similar recruitment and certification information.

It was clear that Yu Qingyan was very dissatisfied with Yu He’s current profession.

But who would want to reply to those messages? Each time Yu He saw them, he couldn't help but roll his eyes, and eventually, he set Yu Qingyan's messages to Do Not Disturb.

Yu Qingyan seemed to harbor some sort of messianic complex, determined to help Yu He become self-reliant and change his current situation.

Yu He couldn’t comprehend it at all and wondered if something had gone wrong with Yu Qingyan, or if he had recently read some classic novel about saving fallen women.

He was fed up and expressed his firm stance to Yu Qingyan on the other end of the line, “I’m not interested in certifications or job recruitments. I’m content with making money while lying down. Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?”

Yu Qingyan replied, “I do want to discuss these matters with you, but there’s something more urgent right now... Dad is sick, did you know?”

Yu He had a vague idea about Yu Shiqian being ill.

Before being kicked out of the Yu family, Yu Shiqian had taken him for a physical examination, mentioning that the disease might be hereditary and deciding to screen him for potential onset. It was this screening result that showed an anomaly, revealing that Yu He’s genetic sequence did not match Yu Shiqian’s, thereby uncovering that Yu He was not his biological son.

Yu He briefly explained this, concluding with, “It must be quite serious, huh? He couldn't even go to the hospital for minor illnesses and misfortunes. Did you get screened?”

Yu Qingyan’s voice sounded somewhat low, “He has kidney failure. It’s a long story, and I’d prefer to talk about it face-to-face.”

Yu He let out a sigh and fell back onto the bed, “Face-to-face again? We're not dating; why do we need to meet so often? I get carsick and don't like going out.”

In a gentle and persuasive tone, Yu Qingyan said, “Yu He, I’ve chosen a Traditional Chinese Medicine Food Therapy class as an elective for next semester. I’m going to learn some nutrition knowledge from the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine to help Dad with his recovery. Mom said you have a natural talent for medicine. Do you want to attend the class with me?”

The fingers Yu He had wrapped around his phone suddenly tightened.

In Yu Shiqian’s eyes, Yu He was good for nothing, and Zhang Wan had never praised any of his talents to his face—except for his good looks.

Yu Qingyan had a good temperament, good grades, and was the perfect son in the eyes of that couple...

And yet Zhang Wan had actually told Yu Qingyan that he had a talent for medicine? What talent did he have, aside from being able to give an IV drip?

Zhang Wan was as exaggerated as ever in her speech.

Yu He turned on his side, asking casually, “Did she ask you to find me?”

Yu Qingyan immediately responded, “Yes, she’s really worried about you. After all, Mr. Fu is... Let’s talk when we meet. If you don’t want to come to Fengcheng, I can come to Yun Su to find you.”

The last time he saw Yu Qingyan, the branches outside were just starting to shed their leaves. A ginkgo leaf had fallen on Fu Yunzhang, and under a maple tree, Yu Qingyan saw himself kissing Fu Yunzhang.

Now all the leaves had fallen, leaving the bare tree trunks pointing straight at the sky, as if asking the heavens a question. He really didn’t know what they could be dissatisfied about.

Yu He didn’t refuse, and said, “Alright, then come find me.”

The Fengcheng University that Yu Qingyan attends is not a specialized medical institution, but its College of Traditional Chinese Medicine is nationally renowned. This is because Shen Han, a towering figure in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine, teaches public lectures there every semester, providing students at Fengcheng University with the opportunity to become his external disciples.

Shen Han, also known as Shen San Zhen, is a living fossil in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine, serving as the personal physician to a certain leader. He rarely takes on external consultations, and it is said that his acupuncture skills are so advanced that he can snatch people back from the clutches of the King of Hell. As long as one is still breathing, he can bring them back to life.

He is a visiting professor in the Department of Acupuncture and Tuina at the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Master Meng from the live streaming platform is an external disciple of Shen San Zhen. Although the Traditional Chinese Medicine Diet Therapy class that Yu Qingyan has chosen as an elective is unrelated to Acupuncture and Tuina, the class is held at the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

After hanging up the phone, Yu Qingyan sent Yu He a WeChat message to persuade him:

[Yu He, come with me to the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, maybe we’ll have a chance to meet Shen San Zhen? I want to ask Master Shen to treat my father.]

What a filial son.

Yu He tossed his phone aside.

It seems that Yu Qingyan gets along very well with Yu Shiqian and Zhang Wan, but his own biological parents…

Forget it, Yu He hugged the pillow tightly to his chest. What Yu Qingyan said was not wrong. If his biological parents knew that he was being kept by someone, they would definitely be furious to the point of spitting blood.

But Fu Yunzhe is really good to him.

Just thinking of Fu Yunzhe made all the gloominess in Yu He's heart dissipate like morning fog in the sunshine.

Yu He was not interested in learning dietary therapy from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, but he was genuinely interested in learning Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage).

Fu Yunzhe, who tends to hide his illnesses and avoid medical treatment, has not undergone professional physical therapy or massage for a long time, resulting in muscle atrophy in his legs.

Massaging along the meridians can provide a clear picture of the condition of the legs. However, every time Fu Yunzhe underwent massage therapy, the results indicated that his muscles were becoming stiffer and his blood vessels and meridians were more clogged than before. The situation was getting worse each time… No one likes to hear bad news all the time, and Fu Yunzhe is no exception. Even though the therapists stopped telling him directly, their facial expressions gave them away.

Therefore, Fu Yunzhe stopped inviting therapists over. He had already gotten used to living in a wheelchair. The chance of healing was slim to none, and the effects of massage therapy were not immediately visible, but it was taking a toll on his mental state. After weighing the pros and cons, Fu Yunzhe decided to let nature take its course.

Fortunately, Fu Yunzhe did not object to Yu He massaging his legs. In general, Fu Yunzhe was not opposed to anything that Yu He did, seemingly willing to go along with whatever Yu He wanted to do.

They had tried almost all the health care devices that they bought from Master Meng's live stream. As for the results, it was better than nothing... Although Master Meng also taught some massage techniques during his live stream, he spent more time selling products. It would be good to find a formal place to systematically learn these skills.

Master Meng once said that people with steady hands are naturally suited to medical professions. Yu He has very steady hands. He participated in a blue line challenge on a short video platform, where people tested how steady their hands were while holding a needle. Many people’s needles trembled, creating a wavy line, but when Yu He did it, the blue line simply showed a photo of him holding a needle.

He remembered that Fu Yunzhe once mentioned in passing that acupuncture was more effective than massage. Yu He was somewhat interested in learning acupuncture, but he couldn’t bear to watch others perform acupuncture.

Just like how a person who faints at the sight of blood can’t be a surgeon, how can someone who faints at the sight of needles learn acupuncture?

Yu He took out a needle from the sewing kit. He was fine looking at the needles in the box, fine holding the needle with his own hands, and even fine poking himself with it. This gave Yu He a lot of courage.

He found a video on acupuncture learning online. The lecturer was demonstrating on a dummy, and Yu He couldn’t help but hold his breath. The moment the silver needle was about to touch the lecturer’s partner, Yu He threw his phone away.

The phone hit the carpet, making a dull sound.

Fu Yunzhang lifted his head from behind the computer screen, his gaze moving from the phone to Yu He, “What’s wrong? You’ve been out of it all morning.”

Yu He let out a sigh, “I was watching a horror movie.”

Fu Yunzhang wheeled himself over, bent down to pick up the phone from the floor, and upon seeing the video titled [Introduction and Practice of Acupuncture], a barely noticeable smile flickered in his eyes, “Quite a unique choice of a horror film.”

Yu He lay on the bed, “Hey, Yu Qingyan asked me to go to school. He’s taking a course at Fang University’s College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and I kind of wanted to learn acupuncture, but I’m afraid of needles.”

“Fangcheng University?” Fu Yunzhang asked, thinking that Yu He also wanted to go to Fangcheng University. He had studied abroad and graduated more than a decade ago, so he wasn’t very familiar with the current state of universities in China. He asked earnestly, “Can you go there if you donate a library?”

Yu He: “......”

Using a library donation to secure a university spot? What kind of extravagant move is that?

Yu He answered, “I don’t think so. Admissions are all standardized now.”

Fu Yunzhang pondered, murmuring, “Standardized... Then we can donate a laboratory.”

Yu He: “?????”

What does standardized admissions have to do with donating a laboratory? Does it mean extra money is required?

“A lab would cost tens of millions, right?”

Yu He asked tentatively, never having thought in his life that he would feel inadequate when it came to money.

Fu Yunzhang checked on Yu He’s phone, “Tens of millions should be enough, but a better one would cost over a hundred million.”

Yu He was truly shocked by Fu Yunzhang’s extravagant style.

In just a moment, Fu Yunzhang had found the Project Management Department’s phone number on Fangcheng University’s official website, and was about to make a call to inquire.

Yu He quickly pressed down the call button, “Wait a minute... Are you really going to spend money to donate a laboratory just to let me study at Fang University?”

"How can you say it's to make you go to Fengda to study?" Fu Yunzheong said calmly, "Publicly speaking, every entrepreneur has an unshirkable responsibility to contribute to the education of our motherland. Privately speaking, it's a way to accumulate virtue, do good deeds, and it also comes with tax benefits."

Yu He’s eyes went vacant: "......"

Is that even possible?

Watching Yu He’s dazed expression, Fu Yunzheong couldn’t help but slightly move the hand that was being held by Yu He. Startled, Yu He suddenly let go of Fu Yunzheong’s hand as if he had been burnt.

Yu He snapped back to his senses: "You don't need to donate a laboratory for me. And I didn’t plan on studying at Fengda. It’s just their College of Traditional Chinese Medicine... Just leave it alone."

Fu Yunzheong nodded slightly, handing back the phone to Yu He: "Whenever you feel like studying, let me know. There are also several good universities abroad."

Yu He fell back onto the bed, stretching lazily and yawning: "Let's talk about it later. I just want to stay with you right now."

Fu Yunzheong couldn't help but smile, the laughter spilling from his deep eyes: "So it’s because I don’t interfere with you, isn’t it?"

Yu He rolled around on the bed: "Hmm, being with you is interesting, even if we're each doing our own thing, not talking. It's better than being alone."

Even though it was almost lunchtime, Yu He suddenly felt a wave of sleepiness. He took off his clothes and crawled back under the covers, the direct contact of his skin with the cotton bedding bringing a pleasant sensation.

Yu He murmured, wrapping the blanket tightly around himself and closing his eyes.

Fu Yunzheong said nothing, only drawing the curtains closed for him.

Yu Qingyan arrived at Yun Su at four in the afternoon.

Before leaving, Yu He dug out a short down jacket from the wardrobe, in white.

Yu He put on the down jacket and said to Fu Yunzheong, "Tell them not to buy light colors next time. They get dirty easily."

Fu Yunzheong put down the book in his hand, saying three words: "High maintenance."

Yu He paused while zipping up his down jacket, looking at Fu Yunzheong in suspicion.

Fu Yunzheong carelessly brushed his hand over the gold lettering on the book cover: "You're too lazy to choose for yourself, yet you are picky when a designer helps you pick."

"The ones chosen by the designer aren’t practical either," Yu He zipped up the jacket and pulled on the hood, "I'm not shooting for the cover of a fashion magazine. Just pick something simple."

Yu He bypassed those highly-designed cashmere coats and chose a warm down jacket instead. He wore grey fleece sweatpants and basketball shoes – a completely ordinary outfit.

Driving past Xueyuan Road casually, eight out of ten male college students dressed like this. However, Yu He, with his height and long legs, didn’t look bulky in the puffy down jacket. White is a very picky color, but Yu He’s good looks could easily land him on the cover of a magazine, looking just as striking.

The plainest of clothes couldn’t mask the striking aura exuding from Yu He; it brightens one’s eyes instantly amidst a crowd.

Some people effortlessly outshine others in elegance, even without meticulously chosen outfits.

In terms of looks and temperament, Yu He is undeniably one of the fortunate few blessed by the heavens. What’s infuriating is his nonchalance towards his own allure; he genuinely sees nothing special in it, harboring no intentions of overshadowing others. This unintentional arrogance is more infuriating than deliberate pretense, and it is, perhaps, one of the reasons why Yu He rubs some people the wrong way.

Fu Yunzhe didn’t express agreement nor disagreement regarding Yu He’s definition of ‘casual.’

“Will you be staying over tonight?” Fu Yunzhe asked nonchalantly.

Yu He took off his hat, his brow furrowing, eyeing Fu Yunzhe with mistrust: “Why ask that? Planning to see someone else when I’m not around?”

Fu Yunzhe shook his head in disbelief, flipped open his book to continue reading, no longer entertaining Yu He’s antics.

Logically, Yu He deduced the chances of Fu Yunzhe seeing someone else were slim. Emotionally, however, even a one in ten thousand chance was unbearable for him.

Unbeknownst to himself, Yu He’s aversion to the idea had gradually shifted from a fear of unemployment to a desire to possess Fu Yunzhe exclusively. His subconscious had already added a layer of exclusivity to their relationship without his explicit realization.

Yu He, feeling uneasy, walked through the foyer and shouted just before leaving, “I’ll be back in a bit, okay?”

Yu Qingyan’s car drove straight into the estate, stopping right at the front door.

The temperature inside the car was warm. Yu Qingyan wore a beige turtleneck cashmere sweater, the light color wrapping around his sharp chin, giving off a gentle and graceful demeanor.

Since their last meeting, the impetuousness that once clung to Yu Qingyan had completely settled. In just half a year, he had managed to polish away all traits that fell short of elegance, transforming himself into a piece of radiant, smooth jade.

Yu He opened the passenger door, “Young Master Yu personally picking me up, I’m quite flattered.”

Yu Qingyan glanced at Yu He and shifted into reverse, “Must you always speak in such a sarcastic tone?”

Yu He tossed his coat onto the back seat, reclined the seat back, and sprawled lazily in the passenger seat, “You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to.”

As the car left the estate, the servants and butlers they passed all stopped to bow slightly in salute.

Yu Qingyan was no stranger to the Fu family’s grandeur, having inquired extensively about Fu Yunzhe’s background after his last visit.

Yu Qingyan turned the car around, “I didn’t get this kind of reception when I drove in. Anyone would think there’s a prince in my car.”

Yu He, resting on his arm, turned his head to look at Yu Qingyan, “You tell me not to be sarcastic, but listen to the crazy talk coming out of your own mouth.”

Outsiders all know that the true young master of the Yu family, Yu Qingyan, although raised in an ordinary household, is polite, easy-going, clearly born a young master but lacks the temper of one, making him extremely easy to get along with. Upon returning to the Yu family, he quickly gained the family’s approval, with Grandfather Yu Lao even giving him the heirloom Imperial Green Jade Pendant during their first meeting.

Only Yu He knows that beneath Yu Qingyan's seemingly gentle appearance hides a cunning mind. Yu Qingyan puts on a flawless act in front of others, but in front of Yu He, he doesn’t bother to hide his disdain.

Perhaps he feels that Yu He's intelligence doesn’t warrant his full effort.

That’s why Yu He believes that Yu Qingyan is faking his death; if Yu Qingyan had truly wanted to get along with him, Yu He would have undoubtedly treated him as a good brother. But Yu Qingyan only shows his thorns when he’s with him.

Yu He is full of anger, but if he talks about it with others, they wouldn’t believe him.

This black lotus!! It infuriates him!!!

Yu Qingyan apologized insincerely: "I'm sorry, I was just really worried about you on my way here. But when I arrived, I found that you were enjoying yourself as a canary. 'Pity for the misfortune, anger for the lack of struggle'—do you understand what I mean?”

"You were worried on your way here that I was living too well, but then you found out I actually am living well, and now you're feeling unbalanced, right? You've dropped your rabbit disguise and shown your true colors?” Yu He cracked the window slightly: “Doesn’t living like this tire you out? Last time we met, there were others around and you were speaking softly and even helped me peel a crab, pretending to care about me. Now that it’s just us, you've dropped the act of being a good little brother..."

"Brother,” Yu Qingyan interrupted, "I was born before you."

Yu He sneered, his thin lips parting slightly as he spoke clearly: "Little brother."

Yu Qingyan took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his anger.

Yu Qingyan has always considered himself to have deep composure, able to maintain his calm in any situation.

But just a few minutes with Yu He, and his blood rushes to his head, his entire being as if cursed with stupidity, all his self-restraint and cunning useless, as he fights the urge to grab Yu He by the neck and brawl with him.

Since childhood, everyone has said that Yu Qingyan is as pleasant as a spring breeze.

Yu Qingyan has never actually been in a fight.

But he wants to hit Yu He.

Before this, Yu Qingyan had crafted an image of himself as compassionate and tolerant, never believing in the existence of natural enemies. And then Heaven sent down Yu He, giving him a harsh lesson.

Truth be told, Yu Qingyan holds no hostility towards Yu He. What confuses him the most is that Yu He doesn’t seem hostile towards him either, yet whenever they meet, they inexplicably end up fighting.

Yu Qingyan is very aware that he has a pleasing personality, excelling at making others feel good about him – his foster parents, biological parents, teachers and classmates at school, and the young masters from prestigious families he met after returning to the Yu family...

Many people can feel his charm—

Yu He is not one of them.

Throughout the journey, neither of them spoke to the other again.

As the car turned onto the highway, Yu He leaned against the car window, "Where are you taking me?"

Yu Qingyan kept a straight face, "Feng City."

Yu He muttered a curse under his breath, "Are you out of your mind? Tricking me into leaving with you to Feng City, how could you be so sinister?"

"Dad is in the hospital, he's in a really bad condition, needing dialysis every three days..." Yu Qingyan's expression was indifferent, showing no signs of sadness, just stating the facts, "I've done a kidney donor match, and we are compatible. However, my body is not in the condition for a live kidney donation right now. I'm also trying to take care of my health. If I can't undergo the kidney transplant within a year, he might die."

Yu He sat up straight, looking incredulously at Yu Qingyan, "Yu Qingyan, have you lost your mind? You've only known him for half a year, do you feel that strongly about him to donate a kidney?"

Yu Qingyan did not answer the question, and calmly said, "Family members should help each other out. You come with me to the hospital to see Dad, and I'll take you back to your hometown to meet your biological parents. If you are not ready to recognize them, I can say you're my classmate."

Yu He looked at the somewhat unfamiliar Yu Qingyan in front of him, "You really are Yu Shiquan's own son, playing this game of mutual benefit as if it's in your blood."

"Smart people take what they need," Yu Qingyan glanced at the rearview mirror, "only fools waste energy fighting each other... Yu He, there’s been a Mercedes van following us all the way."

Yu He looked back, then calmly leaned back in his seat, "Oh, it's a bodyguard."

What? A bodyguard?

Is this a scene from some kind of wealthy family drama?

Yu Qingyan almost lost grip of the steering wheel, the car quickly swayed left and right on the high-speed road, the shaking wasn't severe, but it was enough to make Yu He dizzy.

Yu He felt as if he had been poisoned, his energy rapidly draining from his body, waves of dizziness attacking him. He closed his eyes, weakly cursing at Yu Qingyan, "Do you even know how to drive? I told you I get carsick, I’m going to throw up on you in a moment."

Yu Qingyan gave Yu He a meaningful sidelong glance, "He really does care about you."

Suffering from carsickness, Yu He felt terrible and gave Yu Qingyan the middle finger.

Yu Qingyan lowered the temperature of the air conditioning, and the car sped along towards Feng City Central Hospital.

At 5:30 in the evening, the sky was a deep, ocean-like dark blue. It was the busiest time at the hospital as it neared the end of the workday, everyone was in a hurry.

Following Yu Qingyan through the crowded payment hall, Yu He stopped to listen to two aunts arguing about the queue.

It wasn’t until Yu Qingyan had almost reached the elevator that he realized Yu He wasn’t following. Turning around, he saw Yu He, arms crossed, enjoying the commotion.

The refined poise cultivated in the lap of luxury is teetering on the brink.

"Yu He." Yu Qingyan couldn't help but grab Yu He's arm tightly: "What are you doing?"

Yu He snapped back to reality, immediately responding: "Observing the various facets of life."

Yu Qingyan closed his eyes momentarily, pulling Yu He forward as he walked: "You can observe from the 17th floor just as well. Your foster father is seriously ill and hard to treat. Are you really so indifferent? After all, he has raised you for nineteen years."

Yu He was pulled into the elevator. He was half-leaning on the handrail inside when Yu Qingyan abruptly pulled him up.

Yu Qingyan remarked, "Stand up straight; the elevator is dirty."

Yu He's intended words were interrupted by Yu Qingyan, causing him to forget what he was about to say. He swatted away Yu Qingyan's hand: "Why are you meddling so much? Stop pulling and dragging me; I have a sugar daddy, don't mess with my business."

The nurse, who was organizing some reports in the elevator, paused in her movements and turned to glance at the two of them.

Yu Qingyan was a bit shorter than Yu He. The nurse, looking up, saw Yu Qingyan first. Her eyes widened slightly before she shifted her gaze to Yu He and froze on the spot.

Yu He zipped up his down jacket, covering half of his face, and then turned his body, using Yu Qingyan to shield himself.

Yu Qingyan: "......"

High blood pressure, high blood pressure, high blood pressure.

A soft electronic sound rang out, indicating: "17th floor has been reached."

As the elevator doors opened, Yu Qingyan pulled Yu He out.

The hospital ward on this floor was very quiet. The elevator area was empty, devoid of the surging crowds, and the distinct smell of alcohol in the hospital was particularly pungent.

Yu He stopped in his tracks.

It was only when Yu He truly didn’t want to move forward that Yu Qingyan realized how strong Yu He was; he simply couldn’t pull him along.

"Forget it," said Yu He, "He won't be happy to see me. He will only think I’m here to watch the show."

Yu Qingyan furrowed his brows: "Yu He, how can your heart be so cold?"

Yu He responded indifferently: "Yes, my heart is cold. I don’t want to see my foster parents or my biological parents." He crossed his arms and looked down at Yu Qingyan from a higher position: "Don’t you like being the only good son? You can be it; I don’t want to anymore."

Yu Qingyan’s face changed, as if he had just been slapped across the face, and it burned hotly.

It had been a long while since he felt so mortified. The little thoughts he had harbored in the depths of his heart were thus laid bare, exposed under the harsh light of day.

So it turned out that Yu He knew everything. He simply... couldn’t be bothered to fuss over it.

Yu He pressed the elevator's down button, turning around to wait: "Yu Qingyan, you are already outstanding. There's no need to always use me as a point of reference. You can mingle and form close bonds with them just as well."

Yu Qingyan opened his mouth, eventually lowering his head to whisper softly, "...I'm sorry."

Yu He shook his head: "I don't need your apology. Everything you have obtained is deserved. You might not believe this if I say it out loud, but I don’t owe you anything."

"I’ve never felt that you owed me anything." Yu Qingyan’s voice quivered slightly, "I just... I grew up in a small town. The day I went for college registration was my first time in Fengcheng. Before I was brought back to the Yu family, I didn’t even dare to take an extra look at those luxury cars and mansions. And there you were, like a natural-born young master, throwing money around, flamboyant and carefree..."

Yu He interrupted, "Wait a minute, when have I ever been flamboyant? Don't spread rumors."

Yu Qingyan gave a wry smile: "Do you know how many people in Fengcheng’s circle of young elites fancy you?"

“I don’t know.” Yu He turned around, raising an eyebrow as he stared at Yu Qingyan: "Don’t make up stories here."

Just then, the elevator arrived, and Yu He lowered his head as he walked inside.

The elevator doors opened, and a breeze carrying a faint fragrance swept in, masking the pungent smell of disinfectant.

That perfume smelled so familiar.

Yu He abruptly looked up, finding himself face to face with a lady in a caramel-colored cashmere coat.

The lady's red lipstick formed a surprised expression.

It was Zhang Wan.

Yu He was equally surprised, freezing on the spot.

He hadn’t seen Zhang Wan in several months.

Zhang Wan grabbed Yu He, her eyes slightly red: "Yu He, are you here to visit your dad as well?"

Yu Qingyan turned his head to wipe away tears, his voice hoarse as he called out, “Mom.”

Zhang Wan still held a thermos in her hand. She thrust the thermos into Yu Qingyan's hands and, pulling Yu He along, asked: "Why don’t you ever come back home to visit? Are you really holding a grudge against us?" She pounded on Yu He’s shoulder, "Do you have any idea how your dad has been these past few months... sob, sob, sob, sob, sob, sob."

She embraced Yu He, tears flowing uncontrollably.

Yu Qingyan clenched his fists around the handle of the thermos basket, involuntarily biting his lower lip.

Yu He's eyes welled up as he wrapped an arm around Zhang Wan's delicate shoulders: "I'm back now, aren't I?"

Zhang Wan was not easily deceived. She pulled out a silk handkerchief from her pocket and wiped away her tears: "What do you mean you're back? Weren’t you just about to leave in the elevator? You've been such a fibber since you were a child, not straightforward like Qingyan."

Yu He: "......"

Only then did Zhang Wan remember that Yu Qingyan was also present. She pushed Yu He away, took Yu Qingyan’s hand, and asked softly, “Why are your eyes so red, Qingyan? Did Yu He bully you again?”

Yu He: "......"

What did she mean by ‘again’? When had he ever bullied Yu Qingyan? If Yu Qingyan didn’t bully him, he would already be counting his blessings!

Great, any emotional turmoil caused by their reunion had completely dissipated.

With his hands in his pockets, Yu He followed behind Zhang Wan and Yu Qingyan as they entered the hospital room.

Room 1712, the nameplate below bore the name Yu Shiqian.

It was a single patient room, complete with a private bathroom and a small living area, although the tables and chairs were arranged quite tightly.

A nurse came out from the inner room, saying, "Madam and young master are here! Mr. Yu just finished his IV drip, and he was just talking about you. Oh, you’ve brought a friend as well."

Yu Shiqian coughed and remained silent.

The nurse winked at Zhang Wan, signaling that despite his silence, Yu Shiqian was still thinking about his wife and son. She took the thermos from Yu Qingyan, raising her voice, “Madam, you’ve made soup again. Would you like to have some now, Mr. Yu?”

Yu Shiqian's voice came from inside: “Bring it in.”

The nurse carried the thermos back inside, the chatty woman in her fifties couldn’t help but comment, “The young master has brought a friend to see you. Oh my, such a tall and handsome young man.”

The door to the inner room was very narrow, allowing only one person to enter at a time. Once all four of them were inside, the room suddenly felt cramped.

Yu Shiqian was sitting up in bed, his face deeply lined. Half a year had passed since they last met, and he seemed to have aged a decade, his face filled with fatigue and illness.

Upon seeing Yu He, Yu Shiqian was momentarily stunned. He glanced at Zhang Wan and then at Yu Qingyan, deducing from their expressions that it must have been Yu Qingyan who brought Yu He here.

Yu Shiqian lifted his eyelids to look at Yu He, his voice deep and indifferent, “You’re here?”

Yu He walked over, subconsciously glancing at the numbers on the bedside monitor, his brow furrowing slightly. He originally only understood that the little red heart represented the heart rate on the monitor, but since Fu Yunzheng mentioned surgery three years ago, Yu He had been intentionally and unintentionally learning some medical knowledge.

He casually picked up the medical record hanging at the head of the bed. The report had several pages. After a quick glance, Yu He's heart began to sink.

It was indeed kidney failure.

The test results showed: a decrease in platelets, an increase in white blood cells, and an accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, all clear signs of anemia; the urine osmolality was low, at only 1.014, while the urinary protein quantitation was increasing.

Yu He didn’t like Yu Shiqian’s utilitarian way of handling things, and even held a bit of dislike for this capricious ‘father’.

His foster father, Yu Shiqian, was a very utilitarian person and firmly believed that strictness produces filial sons. Yu He had felt since childhood that his father was too harsh. He had once tried hard to study and do his best, hoping that if his father was in a better mood, he would get beaten less.

However, it didn’t really help. Good grades couldn’t save him from a beating, and later on, he realized that Yu Shiqian didn’t just beat him because of his studies. He was just a punching bag for Yu Shiqian, who would take out his frustrations on Yu He whenever things didn’t go his way.

Later, Yu He fought back with a chair, and Yu Shiqian never hit him again. Yu Shiqian was cunning and realized that Yu He was not someone to be trifled with, so he stopped bothering him.

That was when Yu He was thirteen.

So, from junior high to high school, Yu He could even be said to have hated his father. However, this hatred gradually dissipated as he grew up. After all, six years had passed, and Yu He was no longer the young boy who could only tremble in a corner. Meanwhile, Yu Shiqian was getting older and didn’t bother Yu He as much anymore.

Probably starting from the year before last, Yu Shiqian had even been very good to Yu He. Not only did he not make any demands of Yu He, but he also didn’t care where Yu He went to play or how much money he spent.

Perhaps during that time, Yu Shiqian’s business was going particularly well.

In short, time is really amazing. It silently erases so much. No matter how unbearable the past might have been, looking back after two years, you can simply laugh it off.

Holding a grudge against someone is exhausting, and what Yu He is best at is letting himself off the hook.

It’s not about forgiveness; it’s just about letting go and moving on.

Just like now, as Yu He looked at this medical report that felt like a countdown to death, those bad memories instantly disappeared. He remembered the times Yu Shiqian took him horseback riding, to the amusement park, calling him 'good son.'

He remembered when he accidentally broke Zhang Wan’s limited edition perfume, and Yu Shiqian casually said, “Just buy another one, it’s no big deal.”

No big deal.

In the face of life and death, Yu He himself felt embarrassed to hold onto those petty grievances from his childhood.

Yu He put down the medical record: "How did it get this bad? The urine osmolality is dangerously low."

Yushiqian gave Yuhe a glance and said gravely, "What can you understand?"

Yes, all the familiar feelings came back.

Yushiqian habitually belittled and depreciated Yuhe; in Yushiqian's eyes, Yuhe was incompetent in everything.

The unpleasant memories dissipated for half a second, then coalesced back again.

Yuhe hadn’t even stepped into the realm of 'believing everything is forgivable' when Yushiqian’s simple six words pulled him back.

Still can’t forgive. Even the grievances that had been released all came back.

If there really are vengeful spirits in this world, then at this moment, there should be black mist surrounding Yuhe, constantly mocking him for his delusional desire for a kinship that doesn’t belong to him.

Yuhe’s face turned cold, and he stopped talking.

The atmosphere was slightly tense.

However, such a heavy atmosphere is not uncommon in the hospital. The nurses, accustomed to it, brought chairs over and invited everyone to sit down.

Yuhe had no resistance against the warm and affectionate aunt, and followed the nurse’s lead to sit down on the chair.

The smell of disinfectant in the ward was slightly lighter than in the corridor. There was also the bitter smell of chemical reagents and the scent of overripe fruit on the verge of rotting. Yuhe looked around the ward and saw three unopened fruit baskets in the corner.

The bananas in the fruit basket had started to develop black spots, and the mango skins were slightly wrinkled.

Yuhe found the source of the rotten fruit fragrance.

No one likes hospitals. Everything here highlights the passing of life, even the expired fruits seem to be hinting at something.

Yushiqian first talked with Yu Qingyan for a while. Their conversation was harmonious, with questions and answers, and his mood was very stable, without any finger-pointing or bossiness towards Yu Qingyan.

Yuhe could tell at a glance that Yushiqian was putting on airs, talking in a calculated manner as if he were negotiating a business deal.

Yushiqian has a strong patriarchal mindset. To display his absolute authority at home, he habitually dismisses others’ opinions and instructs others in a preachy tone. After Yuhe understood Yushiqian’s true nature, he would, of course, not play along. Conversations with Yushiqian could always get heated after just a few sentences.

Both of them were acting exaggeratedly, and yet they spoke with gusto.

Yuhe crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair, watching the father and son act out their drama, trying to please each other.

The topic soon turned to Yuhe.

Speaking with Yuhe, Yushiqian was blunt, "I heard you've been following Fu Yunzheng around lately?"

Yuhe nodded slightly, "Yes."

Yushiqian put down his soup spoon and pressed a napkin to the corners of his lips, "When you were with the Yu family, you refused to learn anything of value. Now that you’ve left, you can only do these kinds of things. Don't you feel ashamed?"

"Not at all." Yuhe leaned back in his chair, fully aware of the father he had lived with for nineteen years, "Just say what you really want to do."

Yushiqian was momentarily choked up by Yuhe's retort, starting to cough. Each cough produced a cicada-like whirring sound from his chest, as if there was water in his lungs.

Hearing this, Yuhe changed his posture, just about to stand up when the nurse and Yu Qingyan had already gathered around, one patting Yushiqian's back, the other bringing water.

Amidst the chaos, Zhang Wan squeezed Yuhe’s hand, her gaze sorrowful yet not harming, as if she had many things she wanted to say to Yuhe but ultimately only managed to say, "Have a proper talk with your dad."

After his coughing fit, Yushiqian pointed towards the door. Yuhe thought he was being told to leave and stood up expressionlessly, but then he heard Yushiqian ask, "The person at the door, did he send him to follow you?"

The person at the door?

Yuhe glanced towards the ward’s entrance. The door had a glass panel, and through it, Yuhe saw a piece of a suit jacket, belonging to a bodyguard in black.

Yuhe: "......"

This was truly bizarre.

Yu Qingyan noticed a car following them after twenty minutes, and Yushiqian noticed someone guarding the door after ten minutes. But when Yuhe went out to play basketball, it took him three whole days to realize a bodyguard was following him. If it weren't for Fu Yunzheng telling him, he would have been oblivious to the protection for his entire life.

Is this the inconsistency of the world?

Yuhe shifted his gaze back and answered, "Maybe."

Yushiqian spoke indifferently, "Having someone follow you even on a trip back to Fengcheng. Fu Yunzheng really doesn’t trust you, does he? Is he worried something might happen to you visiting me, or is he afraid you might take the chance to run away?"

Anger surged in Yuhe, finding that even a normal matter could sound so malicious when it came out of Yushiqian’s mouth. If Fu Yunzheng hadn’t already told Yuhe that any car leaving the manor had to be followed, he might really have been deceived by Yushiqian into thinking that Fu Yunzheng was having him monitored.

Yuhe didn't want to argue with Yushiqian. His attitude turned cold and indifferent as he answered, "If he's worried, then he's worried. What can I do about it?"

Yushiqian said, "Right now, you are powerless and insignificant, just an ant in his hands. Don’t forget your place just because you’ve tasted some sweetness; he could crush you without a second thought."

Yuhe crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair, not wanting to stay a minute longer.