Chapter 60

Chapter 60

8:36 PM. Fu Yanhuai was still at the office.

A project was nearing completion, and Fu Yanhuai was working overtime to tie up loose ends. Tomorrow was the day he and Lu Yao would go to the hospital, and he wouldn't be back at the company until around 4:00 PM.

Besides, going home only meant sitting alone in his study—no different from being at the office.

Another twenty minutes passed before Fu Yanhuai finally closed his laptop. He paused for a brief two-second blank stare at the cold dinner on the coffee table. Then, he stretched his neck, stood up, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows on the top floor of the Fu Group building, looking out.

He wondered what Lu Yao was doing now. In the past, Fu Yanhuai would have been rushing home around this time, and Lu Yao would be waiting for him on the living room sofa.

But what Lu Yao did in his daily life, or what he truly wanted to do at this hour, Fu Yanhuai didn’t know.

Before, waiting for Fu Yanhuai to come home was something Lu Yao genuinely looked forward to with eager anticipation. But now, that was probably no longer the case.

A knock sounded at the door before his assistant entered. “All the documents are sorted. Here’s the summary from each department.”

Fu Yanhuai didn’t bother turning around. “Leave it there.”

The Group’s CEO worked tirelessly, forgetting food and sleep, so the employees hardly dared to leave on time. Even now, the Fu Group building remained brightly lit. Overtime was the norm, though thankfully, the pay was generous enough.

But the assistant didn’t leave immediately. He hesitated before speaking. “When I went out for dinner earlier, I think I saw Mr. Lu.”

Fu Yanhuai turned around, a hint of confusion in his eyes. “Lu Yao?”

The assistant replied honestly, “He seemed to be looking at shops with Young Master Xia. Actually, Mr. Fu, this is more your area of expertise.”

The assistant’s words were vague, but Fu Yanhuai understood his implication. “You want me to help Lu Yao open a shop?”

The assistant put it delicately. “This way, Mr. Lu could avoid some detours. And since this phase of the project is wrapping up, you’ll have some time to rest. It might be good for you to adjust your schedule a bit.”

Fu Yanhuai had been working longer and longer hours, and the assistant suspected he wasn't just working; he was using the busyness to briefly forget reality. Fu Yanhuai’s meals and sleep schedule were highly irregular, and coupled with frequent glandular fluid extractions, the assistant genuinely believed a period of rest was necessary.

Moreover, even if they only discussed work and their child, it would still increase the time they spent together. Fu Yanhuai was walking on eggshells with Lu Yao, and the assistant sincerely believed it would be better to act like an overbearing CEO from an idol drama—splashing money on fireworks and flowers across the city would still be better than this stagnant, awkward state.

Fu Yanhuai fell silent. Honestly, he didn't know what to do now. Being too presumptuous might make Lu Yao feel he was as overbearing as before. But if he kept too much distance, Lu Yao would naturally ignore him.

“We’re going to the hospital together tomorrow,” Fu Yanhuai murmured. “Perhaps I can ask if he needs my help.”

“You should do something,” the assistant encouraged him. “Pursuing reconciliation requires action.”

Fu Yanhuai looked up and retorted, “Do you have a lot of experience?”

The assistant cleared his throat. “No.”

But the assistant felt his emotional intelligence was slightly higher than Fu Yanhuai’s.

Fu Yanhuai had no interest in discussing his difficult path to winning back his partner with others, so the assistant tactfully excused himself, leaving Fu Yanhuai alone to continue staring aimlessly out the window.

Lu Yao’s solo time actually seemed quite monotonous. Back in school, he was either juggling part-time jobs or doing homework. After dropping out, it was just work.

Even now, Lu Yao wasn’t doing anything particularly interesting. At this hour, Nian Nian wasn't sleepy yet, and Lu Yao was trying hard to coax him to sleep.

That afternoon, Lu Yao and Wen Zheng had teamed up to trick Nian Nian and sneak out. Nian Nian unilaterally expressed his displeasure, and the moment Lu Yao returned, Nian Nian cried pitifully, whimpering for a hug.

Lu Yao took out a new toy, a plush puppy that looked just like Cream. “Nian Nian, look. Doesn’t it look exactly like Cream?”

Nian Nian’s eyes widened curiously as he reached out to grab it. Lu Yao smiled and placed it in his hands. “Cream sneezed when she saw this toy earlier. It really is very similar.”

Nian Nian quieted down. He sat in Lu Yao’s arms, holding the little dog, playing with it while tugging at Lu Yao to make him watch.

Nian Nian had been fussy today, and his nap was short. He played for a while and soon grew sleepy. Lu Yao put Nian Nian in bed, tucked him under the small blanket, and gently patted him.

“Nian Nian, do you like playing with your father?”

Fu Yanhuai probably knew Lu Yao didn’t want to see him, so he only came to visit Nian Nian when Lu Yao wasn’t around.

Nian Nian was already asleep, sleeping soundly. Lu Yao’s voice lulled him into an even deeper dream.

Lu Yao smiled bitterly. “Co-parenting after divorce is also a challenge.”

Lu Yao didn’t dwell on it too much, because thinking wouldn’t help. He stood up, turned off the light, and quietly left the room.

When Lu Yao returned to his room, Xia Shiyue was lying on the bed, engrossed in a drama. Seeing Lu Yao enter, he casually asked, “Got Nian Nian to sleep?”

“Mm.” Lu Yao climbed onto the other side of the bed. “The nanny is with him now.”

“Tomorrow you’re going to the hospital. After you get back, let’s make another trip and just finalize the store location.”

Xia Shiyue asked for Lu Yao’s opinion. “Do we need to find a professional team? Like for brand design concepts, specific business plans, precise customer targeting…”

Lu Yao pondered, “Perhaps we should first ask some elders for their advice, like Uncle Xia. I think that would be more reliable than us rashly finding a team ourselves.”

“No way,” Xia Shiyue’s face fell. “My dad has too many concerns. If we involve him, we won’t be able to do things as we please.”

Lu Yao sighed helplessly. “Uncle Xia does have a lot of concerns, but he’s very experienced. Or perhaps we could ask him to help us find a team?”

Lu Yao thought it would be good to consult professionals. If he and Xia Shiyue opened it directly, the chances of failure would be high.

“No,” Xia Shiyue firmly refused. “At that point, we might as well just ask Fu Yanhuai. When it comes to successful experience, he has more authority in that area.”

Fu Yanhuai had successfully started his own business in college, and shortly after graduating, he took over such a large corporation. His business acumen was truly exceptional.

Lu Yao froze, instinctively rejecting the idea. “Fu Yanhuai? He’s very busy, with all the company matters…”

“I’ve always thought he should compensate you for something,” Xia Shiyue said, turning off the projector and rolling onto his side to face Lu Yao, analyzing seriously. “Putting everything else aside, just considering marriage and childbirth, you’ve heard about that newlywed omega from a certain wealthy family, right? At their baby’s full-moon banquet, his alpha directly gifted him a piece of land.”

Seeing Lu Yao’s lack of reaction, Xia Shiyue emphasized, “Even if it’s not out of consideration for you, given the dual physical and mental damage you’ve suffered, it’s only right that he helps.”

What was wrong with asking him to help start a business? Xia Shiyue thought Fu Yanhuai was getting off easy—he could have demanded much more.

Lu Yao lay flat on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. “Perhaps that’s true.”

Lu Yao just couldn’t bring himself to be so straightforward, to view everything in terms of clear prices. If only he could face Fu Yanhuai calmly.

Lu Yao had trouble sleeping, which led to him waking up late the next day, feeling groggy.

Not long after getting into the car, he yawned, leaning back with half-closed eyes to rest.

“Didn’t sleep well?”

Fu Yanhuai adjusted the air conditioning. “Get some rest.”

Lu Yao turned his head away. “We’ll be at the hospital soon.”

Fu Yanhuai was rejected by Lu Yao, but he showed no sign of displeasure.

After driving for a while, Fu Yanhuai confirmed that Lu Yao was indeed not sleeping. He looked down at the proposal in his hand and finally spoke to Lu Yao.

“This is the brand plan I drafted last night. You can take a look.”

Lu Yao opened his eyes and turned his head, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Fu Yanhuai stated firmly, “Didn’t you want to open a shop with Xia Shiyue?”

Lu Yao paused for two seconds to process this, then unhappily questioned Fu Yanhuai, “How do you know? Did you ask Mom?”

Fu Yanhuai always acted as if he knew everything about Lu Yao’s life, which Lu Yao found intrusive.

“No,” Fu Yanhuai clutched the proposal but didn’t withdraw it. He maintained his outstretched hand and said casually, “My assistant overheard it last night, by chance.”

Before Lu Yao could refuse, Fu Yanhuai spoke first, “I just wanted to do something.”

Lu Yao’s body stiffened. Fu Yanhuai’s voice slowly softened. “I don’t know what I can do to make you a little happier. If you don’t like it, I won’t interfere.”

Lu Yao remained silent for a long time, then said, “I don’t like that you don’t respect me.”

He was a little annoyed, but the free proposal was innocent. Lu Yao ultimately took it.

Lu Yao said bluntly, “I don’t understand it. Whether or not we use it will be decided with Shiyue. Thank you, but in the future, unless I ask, you don’t need to do these things. I don’t need them.”

Even though Lu Yao’s attitude remained cold, the fact that he accepted the proposal made Fu Yanhuai smile slightly.

“Alright, I won’t do it again.”

With Lu Yao accepting it, this proposal, written until the early hours of the morning, gained meaning.

Fu Yanhuai didn’t feel he had sacrificed anything; this was something he was good at. Besides, his sleep time was already short. Since he couldn’t sleep, he might as well do something Lu Yao might like.

After Lu Yao put the proposal away, Fu Yanhuai didn’t speak again. He sat silently at the other end of the seat, maintaining a safe distance that put Lu Yao at ease.

Lu Yao closed his eyes, trying to forget what had just happened, but he couldn’t. He pursed his lips, turning his head as if to say something to Fu Yanhuai, but his gaze stopped when it met Fu Yanhuai.

Fu Yanhuai was leaning back in his seat, looking out the window. He noticed Lu Yao’s gaze and turned his head.

With great patience, Fu Yanhuai asked, “What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable?”

Lu Yao quickly averted his eyes. “No.”

Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on the proposal. Was it his imagination, or did Fu Yanhuai seem a little different from before?

It had been a long time since Lu Yao had carefully observed Fu Yanhuai. That brief glance just now seemed somewhat different from the Fu Yanhuai in his memory.

Did Fu Yanhuai look a bit pale? Perhaps because he had lost weight?

Lu Yao became uncertain. Had he lost weight, or had something else changed? Why did it feel a little strange?

Fu Yanhuai’s voice interrupted Lu Yao’s wandering thoughts. “We’re here. Let’s get out.”

After getting out of the car, Lu Yao couldn’t help but glance at Fu Yanhuai again. The alpha still seemed as imposing and unapproachable as before. Lu Yao pressed his lips together, thinking he might have overthought it.

Ever since Lu Yao had mentioned that Fu Yanhuai took too long to get the medicine, these past two times, Fu Yanhuai would quickly get out of the car after Lu Yao had barely settled in.

But today, he didn’t get back in the car. Fu Yanhuai stood outside the car door and handed the medicine to Lu Yao through the window. Lu Yao hesitated before taking it. He couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, but he just felt something was off.

As the car started moving again, Fu Yanhuai’s figure quickly disappeared from view. Lu Yao withdrew his gaze and hesitantly lowered his head.

After a long pause, he picked up the inducer from the paper bag—transparent, colorless, and odorless.

Slowly, Lu Yao raised his hand and pressed it against his own gland. Had Fu Yanhuai ever worn a special type of gland patch before?

Why was the gland patch on the side of his neck so large? Lu Yao grew puzzled. This kind of gland patch wasn’t sold commercially, was it?