Chapter 213

Chapter 213

The spring night’s breeze was light and warm, brushing against one’s face like fine silk. Fireworks burst across the starry sky, their glow rippling along the river, casting a dazzling light over the entire yacht.

Yu Jingmo’s deep voice was even more intoxicating than the spring night itself: “Tian Ruan, will you marry me?”

The small crimson box opened to reveal a pair of platinum rings shimmering with starlight and firelight. Like two lovers nestled together, they stood quietly against the velvet.

Tian Ruan looked across the candles and flowers, his smile warm. “I do.”

What began as a marriage of convenience had blossomed into heartfelt devotion. Though the time had not been long, it was enough for him to be certain that Yu Jingmo was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

He was willing to step into this marriage with Yu Jingmo, willing to let this little ring tie him for life.

Yu Jingmo picked up the slightly smaller ring and carefully slipped it onto the young man’s left ring finger.

Tian Ruan then took the other ring and placed it on Yu Jingmo’s left ring finger as well.

Just then, the sweet notes of a violin began to play, and a waiter approached with a small strawberry cake with “Congratulations” written on top.

“Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.”

Tian Ruan smiled shyly, while Yu Jingmo handed over a tip.

On such a private yacht, tipping was standard, and the waiter backed away with a grin.

Red wine was poured into crystal glasses, and Yu Jingmo handed one to Tian Ruan. “Every year from now, this day will be our anniversary.”

“So we get two celebrations a year?” Tian Ruan asked.

“If you’d like, we can make every day a celebration.”

“No thanks…” Tian Ruan’s backside wouldn’t survive daily celebrations.

After the candlelit dinner, the fireworks still hadn’t ended. Tian Ruan estimated they had been going for at least half an hour. Fireworks cost a fortune per second—a show this long had to cost millions.

Tian Ruan winced at the cost, but the fireworks were truly breathtaking, especially against the shimmering river, glowing like heavenly clouds.

By the time the fireworks faded, the two walked hand in hand off the yacht, only to see Mao Qi and three bodyguards holding down a shifty-looking guy on the shore. Before they could ask, Mao Qi stepped forward and said, “Mr. Yu, this man sneaked onto the ship and planted homemade bombs in several places.”

Tian Ruan: “…”

Yu Jingmo didn’t bat an eye, his voice calm. “Hand him over to the police.”

Mao Qi nodded and led the cursing man away.

Suddenly, fingers tightened around his. Tian Ruan looked up at Yu Jingmo, who squeezed his hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry. It’s nothing serious.”

“Mm.”

Having reached Yu Jingmo’s position, there were undoubtedly many who wished him harm. He had long grown accustomed to these little “catch-the-intruder” routines.

“The weather’s warming up. Time for the Wangs to go bankrupt,” Tian Ruan remarked.

Yu Jingmo chuckled. “Not the Wangs—the Liangs.”

“You already know who did this?”

“Yeah.”

"Is it dangerous?" Tian Ruan grasped Yu Jingmo's long, powerful fingers in return.

Yu Jingmo led him to the car and opened the door in a gentlemanly manner. "I'm more dangerous."

Tian Ruan ducked into the car. "As expected of our protagonist gong—the most ruthlessly charming, aloof, and tyrannical CEO dad."

Yu Jingmo neither confirmed nor denied it, only making sure Tian Ruan experienced the thrill and joy of their *newlywed* life once they got home.

...

When the mock exam results came out, Tian Ruan held his spot as #2 in the grade, just as he had hoped.

What surprised him—though not entirely unexpectedly—was that Lu Qiuyan had fallen out of the top twenty.

When the results were announced, Lu Qiuyan himself acted unbothered, but Yu Shang scowled hard. During break, he rapped his knuckles on Lu Qiuyan's desk. "Come outside for a minute."

Lu Qiuyan remained slumped over the desk, his tone lazy. "What for?"

"I have something to ask you."

Lu Qiuyan ignored him, turning his head to the other side, his gaze distant.

Yu Shang stood by the desk, his eyes lowered, his brow knotted. "Lu Qiuyan, come with me."

After a long pause, Lu Qiuyan finally sat up, his expression weary. He rose reluctantly, hands in his pockets, and shuffled unsteadily as he followed Yu Shang out of the classroom.

Only then did the classroom buzz back to life.

Tian Ruan watched Lu Qiuyan leave, too worried to stay put. Grabbing a book, he put on a show of studying diligently as he stealthily followed them.

The campus boulevard of Deyin Academy was lined with tall cherry blossom trees. Spring had sprung, the breeze gentle and the sunlight warm. Pink petals, like pink haze, swirled in the wind before settling in the flower beds in front of the teaching building.

Yellow warblers, sparrows, swallows, and flocks of white doves flitted past, a fairytale scene—beautiful and enchanting.

Tian Ruan watched as the two boys in white uniforms came to a slow stop by the flower beds. They were nearly the same height, both tall and upright; their presence alone was striking.

"...Has something happened at home?" Yu Shang asked Lu Qiuyan. "Your grades fell hard."

Lu Qiuyan tilted his chin slightly, staring at a cloud in the sky. The sunlight was harsh, making him squint slightly, his eyes glinting like onyx. "Nothing."

"Then what's going on?" Yu Shang frowned, studying his face.

Lu Qiuyan had long lashes that cast small, fan-shaped shadows on his lower lids when he lowered his gaze. His lips pressed together lightly. "Why the third degree? What’s next—the Pacific?"

Yu Shang was silent for a moment. "If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t force you."

Lu Qiuyan kicked a small pebble out from nowhere, scuffing it underfoot. His brows were furrowed, his face full of irritation. "What’s it to you? Always meddling in my business—you gonna babysit me forever?"

"Yes," Yu Shang said.

"..."

"Lu Qiuyan, I can meddle in your business for a lifetime," Yu Shang said earnestly. "If you’ll let me."

Lu Qiuyan jerked his head up in shock. A pale pink cherry blossom petal suddenly drifted over, dusting his cheeks. He raised a hand to block the gust, but Yu Shang stepped in front of him. In that moment, the blazing sun and the birdsong blurred away—only the boy before him remained, the only light he’d ever known.

Just standing there, Yu Shang was radiant, beyond words.

"Nice timing, Mother Nature," Tian Ruan muttered, hiding his face behind the open pages of his book, only his eyes peeking out as he grinned.

The wind gradually subsided, petals dusted the two boys.

Lu Qiuyan waved his hand dismissively. "My allergies are acting up. Let's not talk about it."

But Yu Shang noticed a few petals stuck in his hair and stepped closer to reach up to pick them out.

Lu Qiuyan went rigid, then swayed.

Yu Shang immediately steadied him. "What's wrong?"

Lu Qiuyan pushed him away. "It's nothing. Just a bit dizzy."

Without hesitation, Yu Shang turned around and hauled him piggyback, leaving no room for argument. "I'm taking you to the infirmary."

"...No need. I'll be fine after some rest," Lu Qiuyan slurred, head pounding.

Ignoring his protests, Yu Shang made for the infirmary in long strides.

As he jostled slightly on Yu Shang's broad back—already with his grown man's frame—Lu Qiuyan suddenly realized just how wide Yu Shang's shoulders were, how strong his arms and waist felt. Leaning against him felt strangely safe.

He suddenly felt very sleepy.

"Lu Qiuyan, what's wrong?" A chirpy voice snapped him back to reality.

Tian Ruan sounded anxious. "Do you have a fever?"

Lu Qiuyan: "...Shut up."

"Oh." Tian Ruan accompanied them to the infirmary and double-checked with the school doctor that Lu Qiuyan only had a mild fever and needed an IV drip and some rest, only then did he ease up.

Yu Shang said, "I'll stay with him. You go back to class."

Tian Ruan nodded but didn’t return to the classroom. Instead, he went to the school store, bought two energy drinks, and fetched a bento box to the infirmary. "Here, for lunch."

"Mm."

That was all Tian Ruan could do. Every family has its cross to bear, but Lu Qiuyan's was the hardest—and in the end, it still followed the story's original trajectory.

Before falling ill, Lu Qiuyan had actually had a huge fight with his family.

Somehow, Lu Qiuyan's mother had heard rumors that he and Yu Shang were dating and repeatedly questioned him about it. Each time, Lu Qiuyan denied it—at first because he couldn't be bothered to argue, until last night's blowup.

"What's Yu Shang's standing, and what status do I have? How could we possibly be dating? Mom, don't believe every rumor. There’s no way between me and Yu Shang!"

His mother was torn too. "Why not? You excel in academics, character, and looks—what about you isn't first-rate? Even if Yu Shang is of noble status, he's still just adopted. How are you not good enough?"

"Mom, what are you implying? You want me to marry up? Are you actually wishing for me to date Yu Shang?"

"That’s not what I meant!" Realizing the thin walls of their rundown apartment, she lowered her voice. "I just mean you're not inferior. If there really is something between you two, you can tell me. I’m your mother—I have the right to know who my son is dating."

"There’s nothing. I’m not dating Yu Shang," Lu Qiuyan said coldly. "And we never will."

"Then why does he bring you food every day? Why does he take care of everything for you? Why's he treat you so special?"

"...We’re just classmates. Just friends."

"You think I don't know what goes on in the minds of those noble kids?" His mother scoffed. "They're just out for fun. You’re too naive. What if you get fooled—"

"I’m not being fooled," Lu Qiuyan cut in. "Mom, cut to the chase."

After hesitating for a long while, Lu's mother finally said, "If you two are really in a relationship, it's doomed to fail, and you'll be the one who suffers in the end. I don’t want you to get hurt, Qiuyan. You need to look out for yourself."

"Think about what?" Lu Qiuyan still didn’t understand.

His mother stared at him. "Since you're together, shouldn’t you get something out of it? The Yu family is rolling in money and influence. Helping our family rise again would take no effort at all."

For a moment, Lu Qiuyan doubted his ears—how could he be hearing such absurd words? But as he looked at his mother’s face, weathered yet stern, those thin lips uttered the most devastating words he had ever heard.

"Qiuyan, you can't come out empty-handed." Lu's mother's cheeks trembled, her eyes avoiding her son’s gaze in panic. "I’m doing this for your own good. Your relationship is destined to be as fleeting as morning dew, vanishing by sunrise. Why not maximize the benefits?"

Lu Qiuyan stepped back in disbelief, bumping into a chair without even feeling the pain.

"You’re still young and don’t understand these things. A merchant’s emotions will always yield to profit. It was the same for me and your father, and it’ll be the same for you. Even if it’s not Yu Shang, you’ll eventually marry a woman you don’t love but who can help you."

Lu Qiuyan couldn’t bear to listen any longer. Furious, he let out a bitter laugh. "Absurd, Mom. You’re utterly absurd..."

On that chilly spring night, Lu Qiuyan stormed out of the house and braved the bitter cold all night.