Chapter 41: Ginger Duck

Chapter 41: Ginger Duck

Yun Fan didn't even realize that the smile hadn't left his face since he saw Wen Zhaofu.

“Is the ham dinner ready?” Wen Zhaofu asked with a smile.

Yun Fan nodded quickly and reached out to push Wen Zhaofu’s wheelchair. Most people pushing a wheelchair for someone they didn't know would do so with a hint of pity, but Yun Fan never did. Whether he knew Wen Zhaofu could stand or not, he never viewed him as weak.

At Langyun Terrace, employers and butlers usually ate together. Wen Zhaofu never insisted that everyone join; it was all about doing what you wanted, come if you felt like eating.

For instance, Uncle Man almost never joined. While cooking, he’d simply serve himself a bowl. Besides, most people don't feel like eating after they've cooked, and Uncle Man was no exception.

Most of the others didn't really want to eat with their employer either. Even though Wen Zhaofu wasn’t strict, employees generally preferred not to dine with their boss.

The old butler was the exception. Whenever Wen Zhaofu returned to Langyun Terrace, he ate every meal with him.

“Eldest Young Master, you’re finally back. I’ve been waiting for you,” the old butler said sympathetically, approaching with a warm towel. “Butler Yun, quickly pour a glass of soda water for the Eldest Young Master.”

“No need,” Wen Zhaofu said, tugging lightly on Yun Fan’s wrist. “Uncle Cheng, I’ll go change first. I’ve been on the flight for a long time and need to change clothes.”

“Xiao Yun, come with me.” With that, Wen Zhaofu pressed the forward button on his wheelchair and led Yun Fan upstairs.

The old butler watched their disappearing figures—one standing tall, one lower—and tilted his head, unable to figure out what was happening. Why was the Eldest Young Master holding Butler Yun’s wrist the entire time?

And why didn’t Yun Fan pull away, just letting himself be pulled along?

Was it appropriate for an employer to treat a butler like this?

Was there a rule in the butler’s guidelines about this?

Seems like... there wasn’t.

After years in the profession, the old butler had finally encountered a problem he couldn't solve.

Once inside the room, Wen Zhaofu took his cane and stood up. He let out a long, relieved sigh and smiled at Yun Fan.

Yun Fan, still in a daze, finally realized how he had ended up in Wen Zhaofu’s room. It must have been the comforting warmth of Sir’s hand that made him dizzy!

“I’m going to change now, Xiao Yun. Do you want to watch?” Wen Zhaofu teased, with laughter in his voice.

“I’m not watching!” Yun Fan immediately turned around, his face turning red.

Though he claimed not to look, Wen Zhaofu’s voice continued to reach him from behind. Yun Fan noticed that when Wen Zhaofu stood up, his voice sounded a bit different.

Perhaps it was because he was taller now, and the sound came from a different height?

Yun Fan’s mind wandered, responding vaguely to Wen Zhaofu’s remarks. Wen Zhaofu didn’t close the wardrobe door, not hiding anything from Yun Fan, though Yun Fan had no intention of looking.

This left Wen Zhaofu feeling somewhat hurt. He had followed Shi Ning’s rehabilitation instructions diligently and developed some lean muscle. Yet, the person he cared about didn’t even glance his way.

“Hao Chen’s school is holding a parent-teacher meeting in a few days. Father doesn’t want to go, so he asked me. But I said I’m too young to have a son that old,” Wen Zhaofu said casually, easing Yun Fan’s tension.

“Ah, parental love looks to the future. Chairman Wen is probably worried that no one will take care of Hao Chen after he passes away, so he wants you to spend more time together,” Yun Fan analyzed thoughtfully. “But what a father should do shouldn’t be done by you.”

As he spoke, Yun Fan forgot the situation and unconsciously turned around. Instantly, his eyes widened.

Wen Zhaofu had just taken off his shirt, revealing his bare back. As he stretched his arms, Yun Fan caught a glimpse of his defined back muscles.

Good heavens! How could Sir have such muscle definition when undressed?

Yun Fan’s mouth fell open, his face turned bright red, and he quickly turned away again.

Though he made no sound, Yun Fan’s reaction wasn’t lost on Wen Zhaofu—because Yun Fan had forgotten that the wardrobe was full of mirrors.

How adorable, Wen Zhaofu thought. He sighed regretfully, wishing he could kiss him right then.

Unaware of Wen Zhaofu’s thoughts, Yun Fan only knew that his heart was racing, and he wanted to escape the room. He felt hot, his gaze darting around nervously as he fanned himself with his hand.

Before he knew it, Wen Zhaofu had changed and was standing behind him, holding his cane. Softly, he called out, “Xiao Yun, you can turn around now.”

Hearing Wen Zhaofu’s voice, Yun Fan straightened his back, planted his heels firmly, and turned around. He seemed too shy to look directly at Wen Zhaofu, his eyes fixed on his Adam's apple.

Only when Wen Zhaofu chuckled softly did Yun Fan work up the courage to lift his head and meet his gaze.

Yun Fan had always sensed that Wen Zhaofu was tall, but he hadn’t realized just how tall. He had to tilt his head back slightly to see him clearly.

So gentle—Yun Fan had never seen Wen Zhaofu look at anyone else like this. His deep eyes now shone with unhidden happiness, his light-colored pupils vivid and lively.

“Xiao Yun, by international custom, when people haven’t seen each other for a few days, they hug. Shall we?” Wen Zhaofu asked.

By then, Wen Zhaofu had already leaned down, his face getting closer to Yun Fan’s face. It’s too close, Yun Fan thought dizzily. Sir is going to hear my heart beating like a drum!

“Xiao Yun?” Wen Zhaofu called again.

Yun Fan looked into Wen Zhaofu’s eyes, feeling brave for holding his gaze this long. He doubted anyone else would dare—it was too easy to get lost in them.

Seeing Yun Fan hesitate, Wen Zhaofu didn’t push it. While he was gently guiding Yun Fan, he would never force him.

Just as Wen Zhaofu began to pull back, Yun Fan grabbed the hem of his shirt and whispered, “Sir.”

His voice was so soft, like a puppy’s soft whine, tugging at Wen Zhaofu’s heartstrings. If not for his sharp hearing, he might have missed it.

Looking into Yun Fan’s eyes—still bright, focused, and sincere—Wen Zhaofu thought, This is my Xiao Yun. Unable to resist, he reached out and wrapped his arms around Yun Fan’s waist.

“Xiao Yun…” Wen Zhaofu murmured, closing his eyes for a moment.

Yun Fan nodded, and Wen Zhaofu’s hand slid up his back to rest on the back of his head.

The gentle caress made Yun Fan shiver, but Wen Zhaofu soon released him and took him downstairs to eat.

It wasn’t that Wen Zhaofu didn’t want to hold him longer, but Yun Fan’s breath against his neck was becoming overwhelming…

*

Contrary to Liu Erxing’s wishes, he was put to work immediately as soon as he arrived in Hong Kong, caught by Wen Tingwang. Surprisingly, Wen Tingwang was pleased—Wenming Entertainment had been swamped lately, and having additional help was a welcome relief.

Every day, by the time Liu Erxing returned to Wen Yanlan’s residence, Langyun Terrace lights were already out. Not only did he fail to see Yun Fan, but he didn’t even have time to send him a message.

This damn job is inhuman, Liu Erxing thought angrily. All he wanted was to be a free bird, flying freely.

Why is everything so quiet lately? Liu Erxing wondered, stroking his chin. No one was climbing wild mountains or fishing in unauthorized spots, making him feel completely unnecessary.

Then again, he reconsidered, peace was a good thing after all.

Meanwhile, far away in the Erfang residence, Hongmian Cottage, things were anything but peaceful. The matter of Wen Haochen’s parent-teacher meeting had brought three generations together for a discussion.

Grandfather Wen Tingpei, who hadn’t involved himself in family affairs for years, felt a headache coming on as he looked at his gathered descendants. Father Wen Qichang, full of vigor, was relentlessly criticizing Wen Haochen for not taking his studies seriously.

Wen Haochen’s mother, An Qishan, wanted Wen Qichang to give their son some face, but the old man was too furious to stop.

Wen Zhaofu, in his own wheelchair, watched the scene quietly, occasionally turning his head to lock eyes with Yun Fan for a moment.

When An Liwen returned, she was still wearing makeup, looking at Wen Haochen with a little sympathy but mostly just here for the drama.

Wen Qichang, his new wife, and their twin children, Wen Tingpei was never particularly fond of.

After all, the Wen family had once relied heavily on Wen Zhaofu's maternal family. Now, seeing his son remarry, the old man had just one feeling about it: annoyance.

Now that Wen Qichang couldn’t persuade Wen Zhaofu to go to the parent-teacher meeting for him, he had dragged Old Master Wen into it.

But the old man’s attitude toward Wen Zhaofu was a whole lot better.

Ever since Wen Zhaofu came back to the Wen family, his grandfather had never scolded him. Even when he was mischievous or made mistakes, his grandfather would always shield him.

Wen Tingpei often said, "Zhao Fu, my good boy, has been through so much," and frequently sent supplements to Langyuntai until the storage room was nearly overflowing.

The old man knew that if he didn’t side with Wen Zhaofu, his son might hand the family business over to someone else.

Wen Tingpei had worked hard to earn the family’s recognition back in the day, and he didn’t want his children to engage in internal strife again.

So, pouring all his favor onto Wen Zhaofu was the best solution Wen Tingpei could think of.

Because of his fondness for Wen Zhaofu, Wen Tingpei also felt a soft spot for Yun Fan. In just ten minutes, Yun Fan’s hands were filled with snacks from Wen Zhaofu’s grandparents.

"Such a good boy," Dong Lizhen, Wen Zhaofu’s grandmother, praised Yun Fan. "I heard you’ve helped Zhao Fu a lot. Thank you, dear boy."

Yun Fan quickly shook his head, thinking to himself that not causing trouble was an achievement in itself, let alone taking credit.

But Wen Zhaofu smiled, held Yun Fan’s wrist, and said to his grandmother, "Yes, Xiao Yun makes me very happy."

"If Zhao Fu is happy, Grandma is happy," Dong Lizhen replied with a warm smile.

When Wen Haochen turned around, he saw his older brother’s hand resting on Yun Fan’s, both smiling as they spoke to their grandmother.

The sight struck Wen Haochen like a sharp needle to the heart. He let out an "Ah!" and jumped to his feet. "I! Butler Yun, will go to the parent-teacher meeting!"

Huh? Everyone was stunned. Yun Fan stared blankly at Wen Haochen, wondering what was going on. Had he just been unofficially promoted to a family elder?

"Utterly disgraceful!" Wen Qichang raised his hand, ready to slap Wen Haochen, but An Qishan stopped him.

An Liwen couldn’t help but laugh. Though they were siblings, she could never quite follow her brother's train of thought.

Wen Zhaofu didn't even flinch at his brother’s outburst, even gently rubbing the inside of Yun Fan’s wrist.

It wasn’t until Wen Haochen glared at him that he let go and nonchalantly asked, "Does Xiao Yun want to go?"

If the old butler were here, he would surely pinch Yun Fan’s back to stop him. A butler has no business meddling in the family's affairs, and he certainly shouldn't be acting as a parent!

But Yun Fan had never been a parent before and was actually kind of excited to try. Plus, he’d get to see what one of Hong Kong's elite schools is like. Why not go?

So, he nodded eagerly at Wen Zhaofu.

Immediately, Wen Haochen straightened his back, as if to boast to his brother and the others. See? Butler Yun still cares about me.

Wen Zhaofu’s eyes darkened slightly, but he said nothing and smiled in agreement. Seeing Wen Zhaofu had no objections, Wen Qichang also chose to stay silent because if Yun Fan didn’t go, he’d likely have to go himself.

He couldn’t afford the embarrassment.

*

Since it was rare for Wen Zhaofu to visit, his grandparents insisted on keeping him and Yun Fan for dinner at Hongmian Cottage. Wen Haochen wanted to stay too when he saw Yun Fan remaining, but his grandfather unceremoniously kicked him out.

"Finally, some peace," Wen Tingpei sighed.

"Grandpa, was that really necessary?" Wen Zhaofu said calmly. "We’ve already agreed that all the shares under his name will be transferred to me. As for my stepmother and the children’s living expenses, he has separate trust arrangements."

"He’d better," Wen Tingpei remarked. "If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have chosen Qichang."

Indeed, Wen Tingpei had another son and daughter. His second son, Wen Qican, was currently the vice chairman of the Wen Group’s board, managing some mainland operations. He was steady and by-the-book in his work, and his two children were still too young to take over.

Grandma, who stayed out of company affairs, chatted with Yun Fan. Zhao Fu’s leg was her biggest worry, so she asked Yun Fan to help him more, so she could rest easy when her time came.

As she spoke, Grandma’s tears fell. Yun Fan was startled, but Wen Zhaofu shook his head with a smile. "Alright, Grandma, we’ve seen your acting skills. You can stop now."

Yun Fan then remembered that Grandma had once been an actress. Even at her age, she could cry on demand.

Though Wen Zhaofu joked, Grandma’s concern for his leg was genuine.

In the short two hours at Hongmian Cottage, Yun Fan felt a warmer, more human side of the family—less extravagance, more grandparent-grandchild affection.

The food at Hongmian Cottage was absolutely delicious, and Yun Fan couldn’t help eating more. The elderly loved seeing young people enjoy their meals, so despite it being far past their usual dining time, they didn’t rush him.

Especially the ginger duck dish—fried with sesame oil, then stewed with old ginger and rice wine—was neither greasy nor dry, simply incredible. Yun Fan couldn’t stop eating and even asked the chef for the recipe.

Yun Fan attending the parent-teacher meeting for Wen Haochen was settled, for the time being. After dinner, he returned to Langyun Terrace with Wen Zhaofu.

Langyun Terrace was northeast, while Hongmian Cottage was west, near Taiping Qingshuiju—quite a distance. There were shuttle carts available, but Yun Fan opted to walk alongside Wen Zhaofu’s wheelchair.

"Sir, why do we have to keep it from Grandpa and Grandma too?" Yun Fan asked softly.

Wen Zhaofu smiled, quietly admiring Yun Fan’s sharpness. He slowed his wheelchair and replied, "I’ll tell them when I’m fully recovered."

During the long pause, Yun Fan turned to look at Wen Zhaofu, who gazed back gently, a smile on his lips.

Clearly, there were things Wen Zhaofu wasn’t ready to share yet—perhaps some wealthy family secrets, Yun Fan guessed. He had enough sense not to pry further.

"Okay, I’ll wait with Grandpa and Grandma for you to fully recover," Yun Fan said, tilting his head with a cute smile.

Wen Zhaofu appreciated Yun Fan’s discretion. He nodded, looked into the distance, and repeated, "Xiao Yun, wait for me to get better."

"Mm!" Yun Fan replied with confidence.

At that moment, Wen Zhaofu was especially thankful that Yun Fan had come into his life. In the past, he hadn’t been all that committed to getting better from his leg injury, even thinking it wouldn’t matter if he never walked again.

Shi Ning often suggested he undergo another surgery, though the outcome was uncertain, telling him he needed to have a little hope.

Wen Zhaofu had hesitated, afraid of that hope—of how much it would hurt if it came to nothing.

But now, with Yun Fan promising to stay by his side until he recovered, he felt motivated to try.

"Xiao Yun…" Wen Zhaofu murmured, his thoughts shifting before he finally said, "Thank you."

*

Wenyanlandi was in southeastern Hong Kong, while Wen Haochen’s school was on a small island far northwest. Looking at the map, Yun Fan understood why Wen Haochen was always reluctant to go to school—it felt like exile.

The journey was long, and Yun Fan considered asking the old butler how to get there. As he hesitated, Wen Zhaofu called.

"I’ve arranged a helicopter for you. Take it."

"Ah?" Yun Fan stood frozen in place.