Chapter 132 – Keeping?

Chapter 132 - Keeping?

At that moment, Lu Yan was still clueless about the meaning behind Tang Rufeng's words. He was taken aback upon hearing them, but then he couldn't help chuckling, his chest shaking with mirth. "You haven't even inherited the Duan family yet, and you're talking so big?"

Tang Rufeng countered, "Can't I inherit it?"

Lu Yan shook his head, finding it unlikely. "The old man has decades left to live."

He should strive to earn more money and bring Tang Rufeng back under his care.

Tang Rufeng's voice was deep and somber, as if drenched in rain, carrying an indescribable gloom. "He'll get what's coming to him."

Lu Yan said, "Good people don't live long, while troublemakers last for millennia."

Tang Rufeng didn't believe in such sayings. He straightened his clothes and slowly stood up, showing no signs of his previous passion except for the lingering flush around his eyes. "Go back first. I'll enter later to avoid suspicion."

Lu Yan paused. "You want to stay at the Duan residence?"

Tang Rufeng tacitly agreed. "I still have things to retrieve."

The Duan family was currently hypersensitive to anything related to "Lu." If Duan Jianfeng found out about his entanglement with Lu Yan at this juncture, he would surely be enraged to death. Although Tang Rufeng didn't care about his well-being, he had to secure the inheritance before anything else, ensuring it wouldn't fall into Duan Jiyang's hands without a fight.

Lu Yan had no intention of entering the party. "No, I'm going straight home. I didn't come here to celebrate his birthday anyway."

Tang Rufeng leaned lazily against the wall, his breathing still unsteady. A strand of his neatly combed hair had slipped loose, and when he turned to look at Lu Yan, his eyelashes fluttered, his pupils shining brighter than stars in the darkness. "Then why did you come?"

"To find you."

Lu Yan made no attempt to hide his intentions. He jiggled his phone, his voice low. "My number hasn't changed. Add me back when you return, got it?"

After Tang Rufeng left without a word, he had blocked all of Lu Yan's contact methods. However, they both kept their original numbers, never changing them.

Tang Rufeng seemed to nod, though it wasn't obvious. "Understood."

Lu Yan gently touched his icy fingertips before slowly withdrawing. His figure soon vanished into the night. Tang Rufeng watched him leave, his fingers twitching in the air as if trying to grasp something, only to find nothing.

His heart, once full, now felt hollow, a sense of loss overwhelming him.

Tang Rufeng closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, feeling strangely like damp mud in a garden, his short life already a mess, yet still clinging to a sliver of hope, emerging from suffering and shadows.

He straightened his clothes, waiting for the redness in his eyes to fade, before returning to the brightly lit banquet hall. Unexpectedly, he saw Duan Jiyang standing by the entrance, looking around as if searching for someone.

"Looking for Lu Yan?"

Tang Rufeng's voice was cool, devoid of emotion—any hint of it would only be mocking. He watched Duan Jiyang's scheming with cold eyes, curious about what the other intended to do at this point.

Duan Jiyang indeed was searching for Lu Yan, frowning as he asked, "Where is he?"

Tang Rufeng gave him a long, hard look. Though smiling, there was something chilling about his demeanor. Lowering his voice, he warned, "It's none of your business. Stay away from him in the future, or I can't guarantee you won't be kicked out of the Duan family. Understand?"

His words seemed to carry deeper implications, causing Duan Jiyang's heart to skip a beat. "What do you mean?!"

Tang Rufeng stepped into the banquet hall, brushing past him. The last syllable of his words dissipated in the air. "It doesn't matter what I mean. It's best you don't understand, or it will be too late to turn back."

Just half an hour after leaving, Tang Rufeng returned to find Duan Jianfeng raging in the lounge. It turned out that the assistant planning the wedding had accidentally used lilies in the decorations. Duan Jianfeng was allergic to lilies; their scent made it difficult for him to breathe, and in severe cases, could cause him to faint. At that moment, he was leaning on his cane, berating the person mercilessly.

As expected, the assistant's job was likely over.

Standing at the door, Tang Rufeng soon saw the female assistant rush out with red-rimmed eyes, bumping into Duan Jiyang who was waiting outside. From a distance, it seemed they exchanged a few words.

Tang Rufeng gave an imperceptible smile, his gaze carrying a certain depth.

Since that day, Lu Yan and Tang Rufeng privately reconnected their contacts. Lu Yan initially thought that Tang Rufeng's talk of keeping him was a joke, but he didn't expect the other to take it seriously.

Yang Qin lived the life of a wealthy housewife, having previously enjoyed shopping. Now, to save money, she had given up that hobby. Her daily routine mostly involved gardening and cooking. Today, however, she unexpectedly went out to play mahjong with a few friends. When she returned home, her face was radiant with joy.

Lu Yan had moved his computer to the living room to review accounts. Seeing her mood, he couldn't help but ask, "Did you win the lottery?"

Yang Qin replied happily, "It feels like winning the lottery. You know, today when I played mahjong with Mrs. Chen and the others, her family runs a beauty salon. They're opening a new branch near the commercial district and wanted someone local to manage it. They offered me the position. They'll cover the costs, and I'll handle the operations. I get 60% of the year-end profits."

Lu Yan sensed something amiss immediately, looking at Yang Qin as if she were naive. "Mom, where in the world does such a good deal exist? No investment and 60% of the profits? Don't let yourself be swindled."

Yang Qin chided, "Aunt Chen and I have been friends for over a decade. She's a straightforward person. Besides, they're a wealthy family. A single diamond on her hand is worth over three million. Why would they scam a divorced woman like me? During my divorce proceedings, she helped me find a lawyer. Mrs. Chen probably wants to assist me but doesn't want to give me money directly, so she uses the shop as an excuse to save my pride."

After saying this, she patted her limited-edition bag from last season. "I've brought the contract. There's definitely no problem. Don't believe me? Check it yourself."

Lu Yan took the contract and carefully examined it, finding nothing wrong. He hissed, feeling even more perplexed. "Something's not right, Mom. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

"Smack."

Yang Qin rose and smacked him on the head. "Of course, there's no free lunch in this world. This opportunity came from our friendship of over a decade. Do you remember five years ago when Mrs. Chen lost thirty million playing cards? She couldn't cover the losses herself. I used my private savings to bail her out. Otherwise, her husband would have divorced her."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan felt it was somewhat reasonable and asked suspiciously, "Really?"

Yang Qin was tired of explaining. "Believe it or not, it's your choice. If there are losses, I won't ask you for help. Tonight, I have another mahjong session with her. Order takeout for dinner tonight."

Lu Yan glanced out the window and clicked his tongue. "It's raining, and you're still going to play? Aren't you worried about the cold? Can't you find a different hobby?"

Though already in her forties, Yang Qin maintained her appearance well, looking gentle and beautiful. "My hobby is playing the piano, but I've forgotten most of it over the years. Aside from mahjong, there's nothing else to pass the time. You should also go out more when you have the chance. Don't always stay cooped up at home. I won't talk anymore; I need to leave."

After saying this, Yang Qin tidied up, grabbed her bag, and left, leaving Lu Yan alone in his chair, lost in thought. During the time Tang Rufeng was away, he tried to keep himself busy, believing it would prevent aimless pondering. In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.

Rain pattered outside the window, marking another late autumn.

Suddenly, Lu Yan lost interest in the dense data on his screen. He shut down the computer, intending to rest on the sofa, but Pan Yuan suddenly called, inviting him to dinner. "Lu Yan, how about we grab a meal together?"

Lu Yan rolled over on the sofa, his brows furrowed, his tone languid. "No, I hate going out in the rain."

On days like these, carrying an umbrella and taking a car were useless. Every time, his pants would end up splashed with water.

Pan Yuandao said, "You'd be making a huge mistake if you didn't come. Don't blame me for not warning you later."

Lu Yan opened his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Pan Yuandao said nonchalantly, "It's about the bar we opened together. Shunzi and the others don't want to continue with it anymore. I also need to help out at my family's company. Anyway, there's not much money in it, so I'll just transfer all the remaining shares to you."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan subconsciously sat up from the sofa. He remembered the beauty salon Yang Qin was opening today, and the strange feeling in his heart grew stronger. "Why?"

Pan Yuandao drew out his words, "Didn't I tell you? I have to help out at my family's company and won't have time to manage it."

Lu Yan replied, "You make it sound like you've ever managed it before."

Pan Yuandao was taken aback. "Just take it already. It's like I'm giving you a free bar, and you're not even taking it."

After a moment of thought, Lu Yan suddenly asked, "Did Tang Rufeng ask you to do this?"

Pan Yuandao started pretending to be confused. "What did you say?! Oh, the signal here isn't very good, I can't hear you clearly... Forget it, let's talk later. I'll hang up now."

"Beep beep beep—"

Listening to the busy tone coming from the other end of the line, Lu Yan looked down at his phone screen, lost in thought. After a moment of contemplation, he finally sent out a message before putting on his coat and leaving.

Tang Rufeng was originally working overtime in the office building when he suddenly received a message from Lu Yan inviting him to dinner. He was momentarily stunned, as it wasn't a holiday or special occasion, and Lu Yan would usually try to arrange such meetings a day in advance, rarely springing surprises.

Tang Rufeng snapped back to reality and hurriedly finished his work before preparing to meet Lu Yan. However, just as he stepped out of the company's entrance, his phone vibrated in his pocket, signaling a new message:

"Waiting for you across the street."

Lu Yan had initially wanted to pick up Tang Rufeng, but appearing conspicuously under the Duan Corporation's office building would attract too much attention. So, he parked his car across the road to wait.

Recognizing Lu Yan's car, Tang Rufeng quickly crossed the street, opened the passenger door, and got in. Despite holding an umbrella, he still splashed some rainwater upon closing it, leaving his hair damp and looking somewhat disheveled. "Why did you suddenly decide to treat me to dinner today?"

Lu Yan handed him a pack of tissues, still unsure how to bring up the matter of the bar. "Nothing much. I just happened to come across a restaurant with pretty good food and wanted to take you there. Wipe off the water from your body; you wouldn't want to catch a cold."

Tang Rufeng pulled out a tissue to wipe away the droplets on his body. His gaze inadvertently swept over the car and noticed a paper bag on the back seat, the logo on which seemed quite familiar. "You bought bubble tea?"

Lu Yan seemed to smile. "Your eyes are sharp."

He stretched his arm to grab the bubble tea bag and handed it to Tang Rufeng. "Have a drink. It's still hot."

Lu Yan didn't enjoy junk food, but Tang Rufeng did. Perhaps it was because he hadn't had access to good food during his impoverished childhood, leading to a certain fixation on snacks that were essential during one's childhood.

Taking a sip of the bubble tea, Tang Rufeng felt its rich aroma spread across his tongue, a taste that was somewhat unfamiliar. He shook the cup, the warm air from the car's heater dispelling the chill brought by the rain. "You still remember that I like bubble tea?"

In truth, he hadn't had it for a long time.

To be precise, he hadn't had it since parting ways with Lu Yan. Most of the time, Tang Rufeng was preoccupied with strategizing his ascent, tossing and turning in the dead of night, trying to quell the surging hatred in his heart. He no longer had the inclination to savor anything sweet.

Lu Yan drove towards the restaurant. "I'm only in my twenties this year. My memory isn't that bad."

Tang Rufeng lifted his eyelids and countered, "Is it only because of a good memory that you remember?"

He lightly poked the pearls at the bottom of the cup with the straw, not knowing what answer he was expecting. But his expression remained calm and unbothered, as if nothing could stir any emotions within him.

Lu Yan spoke slowly. "Also because..."

Also because of what?

He fell silent.

The car made a sudden turn into a snack street. It was rush hour, and the roadside was jam-packed. Lu Yan, relying on his superb driving skills, managed to squeeze into a vacant spot. He opened the car door, got out, and held an umbrella to prevent Tang Rufeng from getting wet. "We're always eating foreign cuisine, which gets boring after a while. Look, I'm taking you to eat some roadside barbecue today. They say it's a decades-old establishment."

Tang Rufeng actually didn't mind what they ate. It was always Lu Yan who was picky about food. He glanced around at the environment, a famous snack street nearby, crowded and narrow, filled with incessant noise, yet permeated with a thick atmosphere of life. This feeling was somewhat nostalgic for Tang Rufeng. "It's perfect since the weather is getting colder. Some barbecue sounds nice."

As two grown men sharing an umbrella, they inevitably found themselves squeezed together, occasionally getting separated by the crowd. Lu Yan held the umbrella with one hand while tightly wrapping his other arm around Tang Rufeng's shoulders as they walked inside. Before long, they arrived at the barbecue restaurant.

Although the barbecue restaurant was busiest at night, it was already bustling with activity in the afternoon. The owner was a brisk middle-aged woman with a clear and crisp voice. "Two handsome gentlemen want some barbecue, right? Go inside and sit down; there's still space available!"

Lu Yan, being naturally outgoing and sociable, responded affirmatively. He directly led Tang Rufeng to find a spot and sit down. Due to the smoke and soot from the barbecue, the tables at these roadside restaurants were always covered with a sticky layer of oil that couldn't be wiped clean no matter how hard one tried. He pulled out a wet wipe to clean the table before starting to scan the QR code to place their order.

Lu Yan usually dressed casually, so it wasn't odd for him to appear at a barbecue restaurant. However, Tang Rufeng, dressed in an expensive suit, looked somewhat out of place sitting in this dingy barbecue joint. He pulled out two pairs of disposable chopsticks from the chopstick holder, carefully removing any splinters, and whispered, "I remember you used to hate coming to places like this."

Lu Yan had a phobia of dirt and disliked crowded places. The smoky and greasy snack streets were venues he would never set foot in. Yet, the impoverished Tang Rufeng of the past could only afford to eat at such places. Even though his current status had risen significantly, Lu Yan still subconsciously felt that they were from different worlds.

Lu Yan hummed in response. "It's alright, quite lively. If you invited me, I probably would have come."

But Tang Rufeng had never extended an invitation.

Hearing this, Tang Rufeng paused in his movements, tugging at the corners of his mouth in a self-mocking smile. "I assumed you wouldn't come."

Sensitive and suspicious, Tang Rufeng was, while Lu Yan was carefree and laid-back. They had never truly opened up to each other, unknowingly missing out on many things and overlooking many others.

Peeling the peanuts given by the owner, Lu Yan moved unhurriedly. Soon, a pile of plump white peanuts appeared in his hands. In a seemingly casual manner, he said, "It depends on who invites me. If someone else invited me, I definitely wouldn't come."

He was almost pointing at Tang Rufeng's forehead, telling him: You're the most special one.

Whether Tang Rufeng understood Lu Yan's intentions or not, he opened his mouth to ask something but swallowed his words several times. In the end, he silently drank the specialty rice wine offered by the restaurant, glass after glass, without touching the barbecue.

Lu Yan initially wanted to join in the drinking, but remembering that he still had to drive later, he gave up on the idea.

Tang Rufeng actually had a good alcohol tolerance, but with his mind elsewhere, he kept pouring drinks for himself. Several times, Lu Yan tried to stop him, saying not to drink anymore, but unexpectedly met Tang Rufeng's reddened eyes, causing him to instinctively retract his hand.

As dusk turned into night, Tang Rufeng was already so drunk that he could barely sit steadily. With his head lowered, he mumbled incoherently, his words unclear.

Lu Yan seemed to understand that he was feeling upset. After settling the bill, he silently supported Tang Rufeng and walked out. By then, there were far fewer pedestrians on the street, and the rain had stopped, leaving behind a ground covered with fallen parasol tree leaves that rustled underfoot.

Looking around, Lu Yan finally squatted down and said to Tang Rufeng, "Come here. I'll carry you on my back."

Tang Rufeng still retained a sliver of consciousness. Seeing Lu Yan's action, he didn't think much and directly draped himself over Lu Yan's back. His arms tightly circled Lu Yan's neck as he closed his eyes and gently rubbed against Lu Yan's back, carrying a hint of drowsiness. "Home, sleepy..."

Lu Yan carried Tang Rufeng along the narrow path, slowly retracing their steps. The long street was brightly lit, the air carrying a hint of dampness: "You're not just tired, you're drunk. If I'd known, I wouldn't have let you drink so much. Now I have to carry you."

Tang Rufeng muttered to himself, "But... but I'm in pain..."

At these words, Lu Yan paused in his steps and softly asked, "Why are you in pain?"

"..."

In response, there was only a protracted silence, punctuated by the sound of wind rustling through leaves and the pitter-patter of lingering raindrops falling from eaves. Just as Lu Yan thought Tang Rufeng had fallen asleep and was about to continue walking, he suddenly felt a warmth on the back of his neck. Something hot trickled down his collar and onto his skin.

Tang Rufeng buried his face in Lu Yan's back, tightening his grip silently, his voice hoarse: "Lu Yan..."

His eyes were red-rimmed, his lips trembling, and finally, emboldened by the alcohol, he asked the question that had gone unasked during that stormy night years ago: "Am I... am I really just a substitute for Duan Jiayang?"

Before he had entered that circle, it didn't matter. But as he delved deeper, Tang Rufeng would inevitably hear bits and pieces of their story from others' mouths, tales of how devoted and obsessed the past Lu Yan had been with Duan Jiayang.

Tang Rufeng felt a mix of jealousy and panic, powerlessness and defeat. He could outshine Duan Jiayang in every other aspect, but when it came to this issue, he felt like that impoverished student once again, utterly helpless against the tide.