Chapter 47

Chapter 47 (Second Update)

Yu He stepped outside and went to the large kitchen outside the villa to fetch some sweet potatoes.

The large kitchen was fully stocked with rice and flour; on the windowsill, sweet potatoes, potatoes, cabbage, and other easily stored vegetables were laid out to dry. There were also preserved chickens and sausages hanging high up, while two rows of refrigerators were crammed with various beverages and condiments. In the back room, hydroponic organic vegetables were being grown.

In case of a zombie apocalypse, Fu Yunzhen’s manor could easily be transformed into the Observing Cloud Mountain Base.

When the lights were turned off, Yu He heard a rustling sound behind the cabinet.

It couldn't be a rat, could it?

Yu He turned on the light, grabbed a bamboo pole used for picking cured meat, and poked open the curtain in front of the cabinet door.

Ten minutes later, Yu He returned to the villa, cradling a cardboard box in her arms.

Fu Yunzhen saw the cardboard box in Yu He's arms: "How many sweet potatoes did you grab? Why did you bring back a box too?"

Yu He placed the cardboard box on the coffee table and took out two sweet potatoes from the pocket of her down jacket: "I only took two."

Fu Yunzhen expressed his confusion: "What’s inside the box...?"

Yu He brought the box over for Fu Yunzhen to see, revealing a velvet blanket covering the top of the cardboard box.

Lifting the velvet blanket, four little kittens looked straight into Fu Yunzhen’s eyes.

There was also a big cat, using its tail to circle the little kittens in its embrace, without lifting its head, only moving its ears slightly.

Fu Yunzhen: "......"

Yu He: "I picked up a whole litter of cats."

Indeed, it was an entire litter, even the mother cat had been brought over in the box.

Fu Yunzhen fell silent for a moment: "I see."

Yu He asked: "What should we do?"

Fu Yunzhen said: "Do you want to keep them?"

Yu He glanced at the big cat in the cardboard box, lowered her voice and whispered to Fu Yunzhen: "Why do I feel like this is a wild cat?"

Fu Yunzhen: "......"

Fu Yunzhen also lowered his voice, leaning slightly towards Yu He’s ear and whispered: "Wild cats can't understand human speech."

Yu He: "......"

The mother cat in the cardboard box glanced at Yu He, and Yu He felt that the big wild cat’s gaze was profound and meaningful.

Yu He placed the cardboard box back on the coffee table: "I found them in the main kitchen, hiding behind the cabinet. They even managed to snatch a cured chicken to eat. A domestic cat wouldn’t be able to jump that high, and besides, where would a stray cat come from in these remote mountains and forests?"

Fu Yunzhen took another glance at the cardboard box: "It’s fine if they’re wild cats, as long as they’re not leopard cats. They didn’t scratch you, did they?"

Yu He shook her head: "They’re surprisingly well-behaved."

Fu Yunzhen advised, "They say a mother cat can be fiercely protective of her kittens just after giving birth. Don’t try to grab them directly next time."

Yu He also looked towards the cardboard box: "So, what should we do with these cats? The kittens are most vulnerable to freezing to death in the dead of winter."

"Let’s keep them for now." Fu Yunzhen maneuvered his wheelchair, leading Yu He to a room at the end of the corridor on the first floor, and opened the door: "I’ve kept a cat for a few days before. There's still some cat litter and cat food here; you can sort it out."

Yu He was astonished: "You’ve kept a cat before?"

Fu Yunzhen responded, "Hmm, before you came."

"Where’s the cat now?" asked Yu He.

Fu Yunzhen replied, "I couldn’t take care of it properly, so I gave it away."

Yu He frowned and sized up Fu Yunzhen: "You won't decide to send me away one day if you think I'm too much trouble to take care of, will you?"

"No," Fu Yunzhen looked up at Yu He, "You’re easy to take care of."

After arranging the food, water, and cat litter, Yu He also opened a small crack in the screen window to allow the big cat to come and go freely.

Cats are highly alert animals; if it doesn't feel safe here, it will naturally leave.

Yu He was very casual about adopting the cats, fully respecting their wishes. They could come and go as they pleased, without any insistence on her part. She wouldn't insist on keeping them just because she found the kittens cute. On the way back to the living room, pushing Fu Yunzhen’s wheelchair, Yu He couldn't help but feel that this laissez-faire attitude seemed very familiar, yet she couldn’t recall where she had encountered it before.

The New Year’s Eve dinner was an extravagant compromise.

At first glance, the table was laden with an assortment of dishes, but upon closer inspection, many were semi-finished products, and even the syrupy peaches were served in a crystal bowl to make up the numbers.

The variety of flour-based dishes was thanks to Yu He and Fu Yunzhen spending the entire morning kneading a whole five kilograms of dough.

There were two strangely-shaped loaves of bread, baked in the bread machine; there were also deep-fried dough twists, their color similar to fried dough sticks, but they were not as soft when eaten, somewhat hard on the teeth instead.

There were also two types of soup: one was called ‘Pearl and Jade White Jade Soup’, a masterpiece of Fu Yunzhen, with ‘pearls’ and ‘white jade’ both made of dough. The ‘white jade’ were large chunks of partially cooked dough, while the ‘pearls’ were small bits of dough, stewed until soft. The other soup was close to sliced noodles, a hand-pulled noodle dish made by Yu He. The knife became blunt as she cut, and she had to pull the dough by hand, hastily shaping it into noodles before boiling them.

The two spent nearly three hours busying themselves in the kitchen, eventually coming to a unanimous conclusion:

Neither Fu Yunzhang nor Yu He had any culinary talent.

As they started the meal, Yu He and Fu Yunzhang clinked their wine glasses together, wishing each other a Happy New Year. Then, they began to circle the feast with their chopsticks, which, almost as if on cue, simultaneously reached for the sugared yellow peaches.

This was the only dish that had not been altered by their cooking efforts, preserving its original deliciousness.

Fu Yunzhang usually adheres to a strict nutritional diet, meticulously planning each meal. Even so, he has yet to fully recover from the physical toll of his car accident.

Watching him pick his way through the hard-to-swallow dishes, eventually settling on boiled bamboo shoots dipped in soy sauce, Yu He suddenly felt a surge of guilt. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had brought a noble prince down to his level, forcing him to endure a life of humble meals.

Yu He pushed a dish of roasted squab towards Fu Yunzhang, suggesting, "Try this. The squab was marinated in advance in the kitchen; it should be delicious.”

Fu Yunzhang responded nonchalantly, “The bamboo shoots you made are also delicious.”

The Spring Festival is an odd holiday. Even though it is a time for reunion, people often find themselves inexplicably melancholic.

Memories of deceased loved ones and those who have left us flood back, making their absence all the more palpable amidst the celebration.

The livelier the gathering, the more stark the solitude when everyone departs, underscoring the bittersweet nature of “when the music’s over, turn off the light.”

After a busy year, people return home full of expectation, carrying with them a year’s worth of homesickness. Yet, things have changed; reunions never quite match our imagination, and every gathering is followed by another farewell. Time marches on, and the people around us come and go. Will they still be here next year?

At the end of all the glamour, we must each walk our own path, no matter how difficult it may be.

Yu He couldn’t help but wonder, would Fu Yunzhang still be by his side next Spring Festival?

When you love someone, you want to give them the very best the world has to offer.

The tender bamboo shoots were quite good, but Fu Yunzhang deserved better.

Logically speaking, Fu Yunzhang should be celebrating the New Year with his family, surrounded by prosperity and warmth, with everyone respectfully deferring to Fu Yunfeng.

Yet here he was, shutting himself in his private residence under the pretense of illness, all to give Yu He a peaceful New Year. Peaceful it might be, but aside from tranquility, Yu He realized he had little else to offer Fu Yunzhang. He couldn’t even manage to prepare a decent New Year’s Eve dinner. If Fu Yunzhang were not wealthy and influential, and instead was an ordinary man who had chosen to be with him, would he be facing a New Year without even a proper meal?

Yu He also picked up some bamboo shoots and began to nibble on them.

The blanched bamboo shoots were crisp, carrying a hint of bamboo leaf fragrance; they were indeed very tasty.

But their deliciousness was inherent, having nothing to do with Yu He’s culinary skills.

Like Fu Yunzhe, he was originally on a smooth and successful path; the addition of Yu He was not even icing on the cake.

Lost in his thoughts, Yu He didn't notice Fu Yunzhe taking his hand.

It seemed as if Fu Yunzhe could read Yu He's mind. Putting down his chopsticks, he said, "Xiao He, I enjoy being with you, without any conditions."

Yu He fell into a pit of self-doubt and responded gloomily, "But I am useless; you shouldn't have to eat this."

Fu Yunzhe replied, “If everything in the world had to be 'ought to be done' before it could be done, then the least I ought to do is indulge my desires and bring you by my side.”

Fu Yunzhe looked at Yu He with a gentle gaze, filled with infinite warmth—an emotion rarely seen in his eyes. “But I am also useless. Despite knowing that my health is fragile and unlikely to fully recover, that doing this would inevitably tarnish your life, and that you and I are utterly mismatched, I still want you.”

Yu He looked at Fu Yunzhe, at a loss for words.

He had never understood why Fu Yunzhe chose him. Initially, he thought it was because of his good looks, but Fu Yunzhe treated him too well, and there are so many attractive people in the world; attractiveness alone couldn’t explain it.

Today, Fu Yunzhe gave him the answer.

Fu Yunzhe told Yu He, "We met a long time ago. About two years ago, at the Mingdu charity gala, I was giving a speech, and you were standing in the audience."

Yu He suddenly looked up at Fu Yunzhe, straining his memory to find Fu Yunzhe's image in it.

Fu Yunzhe reminisced softly, "That day, amidst the clinking of glasses and the lively atmosphere, no one could overshadow your brilliance. Many young masters and ladies from prestigious families were talking to you, while others looked on in awe at your extraordinary beauty. Yet, you seemed indifferent, as if having everyone’s attention was not enough to truly make you happy."

Fu Yunzhe was also looking at Yu He, as if he could see through the present Yu He to the stunning youth who had captivated him years ago.

Yu He furrowed his brows, trying to remember—two years ago, he should have been in his senior year of high school…

A charity gala, a speech?

Memories long forgotten suddenly resurfaced.

Yu He remembered.

He had met Fu Yunzhe before!

Two years ago, behind the banquet hall, they had even shared a cigarette together!

*

Two years ago, at the Mingdu Charity Gala.

At the banquet, a youth philanthropist, acclaimed as one of the most influential globally, stood tall and elegant.

Holding a trophy of honor in his hands, he spoke eloquently, sharing the entirety of his charitable journey from the past year with the audience.

Beneath the stage, Yu He was utterly bored.

Standing beside him was Huang Shaohang, the younger son of Mingdu’s wealthiest man.

Huang Shaohang took a sip from his wine glass and asked, “Brother Yu, what are you looking at?”

Yu He shifted his gaze, casually took Huang Shaohang’s wine glass from his hand, and placed it on a waiter’s tray, saying, “Are you even of age? Drink orange juice instead.”

In Mingdu, Huang Shaohang was known to be a pampered young master, but he was quite obedient around Yu He. He didn’t get upset even when Yu He took his wine glass away.

Huang Shaohang chuckled, “I’ll listen to whatever Brother Yu says.”

Yu He glanced at Huang Shaohang.

Huang Shaohang met Yu He’s gaze for a second, his face flushed red. He turned his head away, avoiding Yu He's eyes, and said with a shy smile, “Brother Yu, why are you looking at me like that?”

Yu He, distracted, responded casually, “You get flushed from alcohol way too quickly.”

Huang Shaohang’s heart pounded wildly.

After the charity gala, Yu He would be returning to Fengcheng. He had originally planned to confess his feelings to Yu He under the influence of alcohol, but taking a sip only made him more nervous.

Huang Shaohang and Yu He attended the same prestigious private high school, with Huang Shaohang being a junior to Yu He.

Yu He was a well-known figure in the school, recognized as the male god by the entire student body. Handsome, formidable in fights, and with a sunny disposition, the number of boys and girls who had a crush on Yu He could fill the school’s running track three times over.

When Huang Shaohang first transferred to the school, he was unfamiliar with his surroundings and was bullied by some senior students. Yu He, happening to pass by, kicked one of them to the ground, stood casually on the bully’s stomach, and declared, “This guy is under my protection now.”

From that day forward, Huang Shaohang stuck closely by Yu He’s side, buying him meals, copying homework, and collecting love letters for him...

But no one knew that Huang Shaohang had feelings for Yu He as well.

Yu He was about to graduate, and Huang Shaohang was worried he would never get another chance. The charity event happened to be hosted near his home, so he invited Yu He over to his place in advance, hoping to seize the opportunity to confess. Unfortunately, he kept hesitating and the moment was delayed until the day of the gala.

The Mingdu Charity Gala invited a promising young philanthropist, and the school organized a group of student representatives to attend—

Essentially, this was a selection of students from affluent families within the school, utilizing the school’s event as an opportunity for these students’ parents to make acquaintance with the young philanthropist.

It was said that this young philanthropist was extremely wealthy, with personal donations exceeding 300 million US dollars worldwide just last year.

This figure accounted only for his personal donations, excluding those made by his family’s enterprise.

Huang Shaohang’s gaze shifted from the young philanthropist, instead settling on the few classmates standing sporadically around Yu He.

Yu He was incredibly popular; from the onset of the banquet, classmates flocked to his side, leaving Huang Shaohang no opportunity to speak with Yu He privately.

Huang Shaohang turned to Yu He and commented, “Brother Yu, you seem to be listening quite intently.”

Yu He snapped back to reality, shrugging his shoulders, “Who is this guy anyway?”

Huang Shaohang, with all his attention on Yu He, hadn’t been listening attentively and could only recall his parents mentioning something about a powerful figure from the Fu family.

The lighting at the banquet was dim, but knowing Yu He’s night blindness, Huang Shaohang squinted and read the name of the speaker, “Fu...something Feng.”

“What Feng?” Yu He squinted, trying to get a look. The venue was dark, and with the spotlight shining directly on the speaker's name tag, he couldn’t make anything out. He eventually gave up, muttering, “Ah, forget it.”

Huang Shaohang asked, “Forget what?”

Yu He rubbed his eyes, “He seemed handsome, I wanted to get to know him.”

Huang Shaohang’s face darkened instantly, “Brother Yu, isn’t he a bit too old for you?”

Yu He looked at him in surprise, “What does age have to do with it? Besides, he’s not that old, is he? Just in his twenties?”

Huang Shaohang argued, “He’s probably in his thirties. That guy is a major capitalist, incredibly influential. Even my dad has a hard time talking to him, let alone us.”

Yu He laughed, “What are you talking about? I meant his experiences are impressive. Didn’t you hear him? He’s taught in the mountainous areas of the southwest, worked in African medical development, and annually leads his personal convoy to the Northwest Qing-Tibet line for sandstorm prevention and wildlife rescue. He even confronted poachers in Northern Myanmar... He's incredible. This is what a real man should do. His journey has been absolutely thrilling. Otherwise, how could he be recognized as one of the world’s most influential young philanthropists?”

Huang Shaohang hadn’t paid any attention to what the man was saying; his mind was solely on Yu He. Hearing Yu He speak like this made him feel slightly embarrassed, and he sheepishly responded, “Oh, I thought you were talking about his looks.”

Yu He looked up, “Handsome? I can’t see clearly. In my eyes, he’s just a dark green silhouette. Ah, my eyesight…”

Huang Shaohang was speechless for a moment before saying, “Brother Yu, maybe you should eat some carrots. He's wearing a dark blue suit; how could you see that as dark green?”

Yu He: “......”

At this moment, the young philanthropist on the stage concluded his speech, prompting a unanimous toast from the audience.

After concluding his speech, the man gracefully descended the stage amidst the applause, soon becoming engulfed in a crowd and disappearing from view.

Yu He lingered at the venue for a while longer, surrounded by classmates engaged in conversation. The air was filled with the scent of jasmine incense, intertwining with the aroma of alcohol to create a somewhat cloying atmosphere, which gradually became stifling.

He nudged Huang Shaohang, who was beside him, “Chat amongst yourselves; I'm going to step out for a bit.”

Huang Shaohang grabbed Yu He’s arm, “Brother Yu, I have something I need to tell you.”

Yu He furrowed his brows, “Tell me when I get back.”

Releasing his grip, Huang Shaohang watched as Yu He left the banquet hall.

The city of Mingdu was filled with willows, and March brought a dance of willow catkins, resembling both snow and smoke, filling the air with a fragrant woody scent.

Yu He took a deep breath, only to sneeze immediately after.

How annoying.

Staying in such a social climbing and superficial environment for too long easily irked Yu He. Finding no cigarettes in his pockets, he decided to stroll around the banquet hall, hoping to bum a smoke from one of the security personnel.

Whenever negative emotions bubbled up inside Yu He, nicotine was his go-to solace.

Just a puff was enough to reconnect him with the beauty of the world; otherwise, he'd become unbearably irritable, to the point where he might start a fight just to blow off steam.

Fortune smiled upon Yu He as he reached the back door; a car was just pulling in, and two bodyguards descended from it, one of them holding a cigarette.

With no hesitation, Yu He called out, “Hey, big brother!”

Both bodyguards turned around at once.

As Yu He approached, he casually said, “Got a light?”

The bodyguard with the cigarette lifted his head and tossed a lighter towards Yu He.

Catching the lighter, Yu He fiddled with it in his hand, “It'd be even better if I could bum a smoke as well.”

The bodyguard laughed, tossing over his pack of cigarettes, “Here you go, handsome. It’s all yours.”

Yu He caught the pack, placed a cigarette between his lips, lit it up, and took a drag.

Connection successful.

Feeling relaxed in body and mind, Yu He casually removed the platinum cufflinks from his suit and tossed them to the bodyguard as he walked towards the back door, “Thanks a lot, big brother. This cigarette is a lifesaver.”

The bodyguard, without responding, respectfully quickened his pace to open the glass door for him.

Yu He looked up, just in time to see a tall man in a dark blue suit stepping out through the back door.

The man seemed to be the young philanthropist, but Yu He didn’t dare to be certain, as it would be quite awkward if he were mistaken.

The warm orange light from inside the building shone through the glass door, casting a faint glow. Yu He’s vision was severely impaired, and he could only discern between dark blue and dark green.

The man was tall with long legs, dressed in a well-fitted suit, exuding an aura of affluence. He seemed to be around the same height as Yu He, but perhaps due to being more mature and having a stronger presence, Yu He couldn’t shake the feeling that the man was taller than him.

Not showing any surprise upon seeing Yu He, the man merely glanced at the cigarette in his hand and commented, “Smoking at such a young age?”

People tend to have a misconception that when you can’t clearly see someone else’s face, they can’t clearly see yours either.

Anyway, Yu He didn’t know when he would ever visit Mingdu again, so facing this young man who he might only meet once in his life, Yu He was utterly uninhibited. He offered the pack of cigarettes, “Of course, want one?”

The man lowered his head and softly said, “As long as you’re of age.”

He pulled out a cigarette and told Yu He, “I don’t have a lighter.”

Without much thought, Yu He fished out a lighter from his pocket.

In the next second, a gust of night wind blew, swirling the willow catkins around and blinding Yu He.

The man also turned his head to avoid the wind.

The wind howled, and Yu He tried to light his cigarette several times, but the flame was extinguished by the wind each time.

Sighing, Yu He tossed the useless lighter into the trash can, resignedly saying, “I don’t have a light either. Maybe you shouldn’t smoke, it’s bad for your health.”

“My mind is a bit in turmoil; I just wanted to have a smoke...” the man hesitated, his voice resonating deep from his chest, embodying the popular bass trend, incredibly magnetic, “Kid, come here.”

With a cigarette in his mouth, the man tilted his chin upwards, his posture indescribably suave.

Yu He got the hint and also leaned in with his cigarette.

Cigarette to cigarette, the crimson flame stood out dazzlingly in the night. As Yu He took a breath, the fire, like a star, successfully transferred to the man's cigarette.

Yu He vaguely smelled a particularly pleasant scent, but in the next second, it was overwhelmed by the smell of smoke.

Almost simultaneously, they exhaled a puff of light blue smoke.

What was different, though, was that through the faint, swirling smoke, Fu Yunzhe memorized Yu He’s face.

While Yu He, from beginning to end, never got a clear look at the man.

He only remembered that the willow catkins that night were particularly annoying.