Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Yuan Ting quickly shook off Cheng Nanyi's hand and dashed toward the old man's bedroom: "Grandfather, do you need my help?"

Cheng Nanyi tried to grab him but failed; the kid was as slippery as an eel.

Cheng Shaolin couldn't help but chuckle.

Dr. Zhong also chuckled softly.

Cheng Nanyi looked at Cheng Shaolin and sighed, "Uncle, you can still find humor in this?"

"Why shouldn't I laugh?" Cheng Shaolin sized up Cheng Nanyi. "I know many people like... you. We lived under the same roof, and I never suspected a thing. You really hid it well."

Cheng Nanyi sat down opposite Cheng Shaolin and asked, "Do you think Grandfather will accept it?"

"I don't know," Cheng Shaolin shook his head and sighed, "I think it's going to be tough."

Cheng Nanyi glanced at Dr. Zhong, then said softly, "But Grandfather accepted Grandfather Liao's situation."

Cheng Shaolin raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Wow, you're well-informed, aren't you?"

"You always have to do some research before acting. You can't go in completely unprepared."

Grandfather Liao was Dr. Zhong’s teacher in traditional Chinese medicine and an old friend of their grandfather.

Cheng Nanyi often saw him and knew he had never married, always living with Grandfather Liang.

Grandfather Liang was their grandfather's childhood friend; they grew up together and were as close as he was with Mo Yikai.

Grandpa's two closest friends never married in their lifetime. Cheng Nanyi never wondered why before; after all, the world is full of oddities, and this seemed just another.

But once he realized his own sexual orientation, his view of his grandfathers changed, sparking new thoughts.

Cheng Shaolin patted Cheng Nanyi's shoulder: "Your Grandpa Liang was cast out by his father, cut off financially, with a word spread to ensure no one would help him. Only your grandpa stood by him."

Cheng Nanyi: "So..."

"But..." Cheng Shaolin suddenly shifted his tone, "it's always different when such things happen to oneself."

Cheng Nanyi: "..."

It was Little New Year's Eve. Despite the unpleasant incident, the old master didn't take out his anger on Yuanting, instead, he warmly welcomed him home, giving him due respect.

Yuanting's eyes reddened again, nearly breaking into another embrace and cry with the old master.

The old master sighed, "Please don't cry. I don't want to change my clothes again."

The family burst into laughter.

Since it was a reunion dinner, the two babies were also brought to the dining table.

The old master sat at the head, with Doctor Zhong to his left, followed by two side-by-side baby strollers, then Cheng Shaolin and... Yuanting.

Cheng Nanyi sat alone on the opposite side.

Yuanting was determined to draw a clear boundary between them.

Unable to contain himself, Cheng Shaolin laughed to himself, earning several stern looks from the old master.

After dinner, Cheng Shaolin asked Yuanting to stay the night. Yuanting had planned to, but now he didn't want to; the mental strain was too much, and he needed time alone to process the day's events.

Cheng Shaolin seemed to guess his thoughts, so he didn’t insist on staying, asking Cheng Nanyi to drive Yuanting home instead.

“No, no need,” Yuanting hastily waved his hands in refusal. “It’s okay, let Brother Zhang take me. Don’t trouble Nanyi Brother. Bye!!!” He dashed off as if chased by a dog.

Watching his retreating figure, Cheng Shaolin couldn't help but laugh again.

Yuanting ran to the gate, feeling the cold winter air. He sighed deeply, relieved; the afternoon had been more exhausting than climbing a mountain.

Yuanting texted Cheng Nanyi: Brother, don’t come out to send me off, please.

Just as he sent the message, a familiar car stopped beside him. The window rolled down, revealing Cheng Nanyi’s somber face.

Yuanting: “…” This uncanny understanding...

“Get in.”

With a drooping head, Yuanting opened the door and got into the car, feeling an ominous premonition.

As the car left the neighborhood, both remained silent.

Yuanting leaned back in the passenger seat, eyes closed, trying to empty his mind. He was too exhausted from crying all day, his head aching, wanting to think of nothing.

It felt like a dream, where he was playing football in the yard, with the old master and Cheng Shaolin drinking tea at the table. He looked up to see a young man watching from the second floor.

Their eyes met, then both looked away.

Turning his head, he saw his mother entering in a beautiful dress, carrying a bag. Yuanting instinctively blurred her out in his mind, a full-body mosaic.

Suddenly jolting awake, he was still in the car, covered with Cheng Nanyi’s down jacket.

"Did I fall asleep?" Yuanting asked in a groggy voice.

"Yes." A hand reached out to touch the corner of his eye. "Do your eyes hurt from crying?"

"A bit, and my throat feels sore too."

Cheng Nanyi reached out again, this time holding a cup of milk tea with a straw. Yuanting instinctively took a sip. It was hot rock sugar pear tea.

"Where did you get this?"

"Just bought it. You’ve been crying for so long, I thought your throat might be sore."

Yuanting: "..." Can we not mention that?

After a few big sips, Yuanting regained some energy. Turning to glare at Cheng Nanyi, he started to quibble, "Next time you decide to come out, could you give me a heads-up? It caught me off guard."

"Why should I inform you in advance?" Cheng Nanyi countered.

"…" Yuanting was left speechless by the question.

After a few seconds of silence, Yuanting huffed: "Fine, I don’t deserve to know."

Cheng Nanyi reached out to tilt his chin, turning his face to meet his gaze. "So, why did you cry today?"

"I was overwhelmed, okay?" Yuanting replied defiantly.

Cheng Nanyi said nothing, just kept looking at him.

They were in a dim alley with no streetlights, and the car lights were off. Only the faint glow from the main road filtered through.

Yuanting couldn’t help but purse his lips, slapped Cheng Nanyi's hand away, trying to turn his face aside. The next second, Cheng Nanyi leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

Yuanting's breath hitched for a moment.

Unlike their last kiss, when Cheng Nanyi was drunk, this time both were completely sober, their lips touching, eyes locked.

Being so close made their eyes strain, so Cheng Nanyi covered Yuanting's eyes with his hand, whispering against his lips: "Close your eyes."

Yuanting obeyed, closing his eyes in the palm of Cheng Nanyi's hand. His trembling lashes brushed against the skin, making Cheng Nanyi's breath turn heavy.

Yuanting wrapped his arms around Cheng Nanyi's neck, pulling him closer, pressing their lips more firmly together.

Neither had much experience in kissing, the only reference being that drunken night. Like then, both vied for control now, their kisses almost combative, ending in a breathless embrace.

After calming down, Cheng Nanyi finally asked: "When did you realize?"

"Realize what?"

"Realize my feelings for you..."

"What feelings for me?"

"…" Cheng Nanyi turned his head and nibbled on Yuanting's earlobe, murmuring softly, “These feelings.”

Yuanting's chin rested on his shoulder, he drawled lazily: "I'm not telling you."

Cheng Nanyi pulled him away to look at him: "Fine, I won’t ask. Let's talk about today."

"Talk about what?" Yuanting blinked, uncomprehendingly gazing at the lips so close to his, unable to resist leaning in for another peck.

Kissing felt surprisingly good.

This nearly reignited Cheng Nanyi's temper, forcing him to push Yuanting away and create some distance between them.

"…" Yuanting glared at him. "Do you despise me?"

Cheng Nanyi: "…"

"Let’s talk about today first. Why did you say those things to grandpa?"

"Say what?" Yuanting retorted, annoyed.

"That you have nothing to do with me."

"Right now, I don’t have anything to do with you," Yuanting turned to look outside, his ears red with embarrassment, yet he defiantly continued, "What are we to each other, anyway?"

Cheng Nanyi thought about it, realizing Yuanting did have a point.

During Yuanting's nap, he had replayed the entire situation in his mind.

Yuanting must have known about his feelings for a while, likely since that night he was drunk.

"What did I say to you when I was drunk and kissed you?" Cheng Nanyi turned to look at Yuanting.

Yuanting rolled his eyes, coughing lightly: "You said you liked me, loved me desperately, that just one glance from me would make you brave fire and sword."

"…" Cheng Nanyi couldn’t help but chuckle softly, "So, when did you start liking me?"

"I never liked you," Yuanting protested, "Don’t accuse me wrongly. From the start to the end, I’ve been forced by you."

"Okay, it was me who forced you," Cheng Nanyi nodded nonchalantly, feeling exceptionally good.

Coming out had been in his plans for a while, but choosing today was spontaneous. The biggest surprise was Yuanting, who, like a blindfolded rabbit, had unwittingly run into his arms.

Cheng Nanyi patted Yuanting's head gently.

Yuanting dodged his hand and then glared at him: "Don't tell grandpa that the person you like is me."

"Why not?"

"Are you dumb?" Yuanting said exasperatedly. "You should first tell grandpa you like someone else, like Mo Yikai. Let him think, ‘What an odd choice!’ After a few visits like that, when I finally show up, I’ll seem like a prince in comparison. Then grandpa will surely approve.”

Cheng Nanyi rested his forehead on the steering wheel, laughing softly. He finally understood the reason behind Yuanting's strange behavior today.

Seeing him laugh, Yuanting got annoyed, grabbed his chin, and turned his face towards him, saying sternly, "Cheng Nanyi, I’m not joking with you. Don’t make grandpa dislike me; I couldn't bear it."

Cheng Nanyi, seeing his serious expression, also turned solemn, whispering, "Don’t worry, I promise I won’t let grandpa dislike you."

Yuanting huffed and released his hand.

Cheng Nanyi caught his hand and kissed it.

He had thought a lot about how Yuanting might react when he finally confessed, but he never imagined it would be this natural and logical.

Yuanting, blushing, withdrew his hand: "Stop being touchy."

Cheng Nanyi brought his own hand to his lips: "Then you return it."

？？？

Yuanting, speechless, retorted: "Brother, I never realized before how thick-skinned you are."

Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow: "You’ll find out there are times I can be even thicker-skinned."

Yuanting's mind wandered off, and then he spat out a "Pah."

As a child, when Yuanting spat at him, Cheng Nanyi used to dodge and walk away. Now, when Yuanting spat, Cheng Nanyi lightly touched the back of his hand to Yuanting's lips, saying, "I'll do it myself."

"…" Yuanting turned to look out the window, muttering softly, "Shameless."

Author’s note:

Thank you to the angels who voted for me or nourished me with nutrient solutions between 2023-10-08 20:12:18 and 2023-10-09 18:11:52~

Thanks to the angels who dropped landmines: Sunflower 2;

Thanks to the angels who irrigated with nutrient solutions: Winter Cat, King of Turtles Taking Over the World 10 bottles; Boss Mi 3 bottles; Bitter Brother Sweet, A Single Berry, ^_^ 1 bottle;

Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!