Chapter 60: Pre-Departure Dumplings

Chapter 60: Pre-Departure Dumplings

The two men instinctively clutched their backsides. Yun Fan noticed the prominent hickeys on their necks—red and round—and felt that Wen Zhaofu covering his eyes was indeed the right thing to do.

What an eyesore, truly an eyesore. Two scoundrels, devoid of integrity and breaking the law!

"President Wen, please don’t tell our families."

"Yes, yes! We can refund any amount of money, just don’t tell anyone!"

"Too late." Yun Fan shrugged. "Who do you think informed us of your illicit rendezvous here? They already know."

"It’s just that we couldn’t bear to let them come along today." Wen Zhaofu leaned down, scrutinizing them with intense pressure. "You still care about saving face?"

"I don’t agree to a private settlement, nor am I here for one." Wen Zhaofu waved his hand. "The police will intervene subsequently; this will be handled officially."

The two looked up, a flash of panic in their eyes, quickly replaced by ferocity. They fixated on Yun Fan but didn’t elicit the expected fear.

Yun Fan pointed at himself. "Me, a mere junior butler—are you planning to exact revenge on Wen Zhaofu through me?"

"Boss, you’d better fire me quickly. My life is in danger!"

If the situation weren’t so inappropriate, Wen Zhaofu would have burst out laughing. Only Yun Fan could discern others’ intentions at a glance, immediately expose their schemes, and subtly alleviate Wen Zhaofu’s tension.

The moment their eyes locked onto Yun Fan, Wen Zhaofu’s breath hitched. He could remain calm in any other situation, but when it came to Yun Fan, he had long lost that ability.

After the two were escorted away by the police, Wen Zhaofu narrowed his eyes at the messy room, a lingering fear in his heart. He had instinctively prevented Yun Fan from seeing, not wanting to cast any shadows on Yun Fan’s mind. He hoped Yun Fan, like him, would anticipate intimate moments born of love.

Seeing Yun Fan’s cheerful demeanor, it seemed the matter was already behind him. Wen Zhaofu envied this about Yun Fan—he seemed to carry no burdens and could always resolve his own and others’ troubles effortlessly.

Who wouldn’t like him? Wen Zhaofu knew this too well, which made him even more reluctant to let Yun Fan leave his side.

After dealing with these two, Wen Zhaofu finally made a public appearance, stationed at the company in Lion City for two days to resolve personnel and funding issues.

Learning from past mistakes, Wen Zhaofu didn’t involve the original company staff, only calling Yun Fan and his two trusted aides.

Yun Fan created spreadsheets quickly, making them easy to review, with headers so aesthetically pleasing they delighted Wen Zhaofu to no end.

With Yun Fan’s assistance, Wen Zhaofu’s efficiency reached new heights. His strength lay in predicting potential future issues based on current situations and proactively avoiding them.

This was why the companies he built were like unshakeable roly-poly toys—no matter how hard you pushed them, they always found a way to stand back up.

Yun Fan deeply admired this effortless competence, wondering how much experience it took to cultivate such skill. In that moment, Yun Fan felt that this was the kind of work that made life interesting!

*

They quietly went to Lion City and returned to Hong Kong as if nothing had happened.

Although Wen Zhaofu’s Home Return Permit wasn’t lost due to Yun Fan, the old butler still criticized him, saying he discovered it too late and delayed Wen Zhaofu’s return home.

Wen Zhaofu wanted to speak up, but Yun Fan reassured him with a look, indicating he was fine and a few words of criticism wouldn’t harm him.

As for the old butler’s criticism, Yun Fan didn’t care before, and he cared even less now. After all, he and Wen Zhaofu had carried out a secret mission together.

After the old butler finished his lengthy reprimand, Wen Zhaofu reached out, took Yun Fan’s hand, and led him back to their room. Wen Zhaofu said nothing, but the old butler understood.

He stood frozen in place, staring at them in shock. Was Wen Zhaofu no longer hiding or concealing his feelings, regardless of what others thought?

This wouldn’t do. The old butler decided to report to the family matriarch, Madam Wen Lin Jiali!

Grandmother listened, let out an "oh," and gently set down her small teacup without expressing an opinion. The old butler grew anxious but didn’t dare rush her, only waiting for the old lady’s orders.

"Ah, the butler academy in London is about to start classes, right?" Grandmother looked at the old butler. "Enroll Yun Fan."

The old butler paused. "They require a recommendation letter. I—"

"I’ll write it." Grandmother stood up, picked up her cane, took two steps, then stopped. "Have Zhaofu write it. His person, his responsibility."

"But what if—what if the young master follows him there?" the old butler asked, trembling with fear.

Grandmother glanced at him and said strangely, "Hey, Wen Cheng, wake up. Zhaofu isn’t your son; you can’t shackle him. I advise you not to meddle—you can’t control him anyway."

The old butler was even more shocked. "Madam, are you also not going to intervene in the young master’s affairs?"

"Zhaofu has his reasons for what he does. As long as he and his chosen partner love each other, I have no objections." Grandmother waved her hand, signaling the end of the conversation.

In an instant, the old butler felt that the entire Wen family had changed. His control over the household had vanished completely. He was no longer the experienced, strategic butler but rather an outsider who could manage nothing.

To make matters worse, Wen Zhaofu actually asked him to hand over the management authority of the family’s collections to Yun Fan!

This privilege had always been reserved for the most trusted butler. Transferring this right meant that Wen Zhaofu’s most trusted person was no longer Wen Cheng but Yun Fan.

"Uncle Cheng, it’s not that you’re being removed. You still need to guide Xiao Yun," Wen Zhaofu said patiently. "Xiao Yun has a talent for antique appraisal and management. Why not put it to use?"

"Young Master, what if you’ve misplaced your trust?" the old butler retorted.

At these words, Wen Zhaofu’s expression cooled considerably. He lifted his eyelids. "Are you questioning my judgment?"

"Uncle Cheng, how long can you stay with me, and how far can you go with me?" Wen Zhaofu sighed. "I need more than just people who work for me."

The old butler looked at Wen Zhaofu in astonishment, realizing for the first time that he was no longer the Wen Zhaofu who would believe and comply with everything he said.

"I don’t want you and Xiao Yun to be at odds, Uncle Cheng. You’ve done me a kindness, and I’ll always remember and repay it." Wen Zhaofu closed his eyes briefly. "But Uncle Cheng, if Xiao Yun and I are in love, you cannot stop us."

"Butler Cheng, I won’t allow you to harm Xiao Yun. This is my requirement as your employer."

The matter was settled. The old butler dejectedly took Yun Fan to the villa dedicated to housing the collections.

Hong Kong is one of the major auction hubs for classical furniture, and the Wen family had amassed quite a collection. Upon entering, Yun Fan marveled at the dazzling antiques but felt a slight unease before he could fully appreciate them.

The lighting was dim, the temperature low, and the emptiness echoed. Every step felt uncomfortable.

He thought of Liu Erxing’s methods of preserving antiques and briefly wished Young Master Liu could give the Wen family a lesson.

"The young master values you. Don’t let him down," the old butler said eerily, making Yun Fan shudder.

"Ah, this piece could be sold," Yun Fan said, carefully examining the jewelry under the glass case. "Sell it and use the funds to bid on a South American diamond currently being auctioned overseas. It could double in value in a couple of years."

"Really?" The old butler perked up. He only knew how to study the existing treasures but had no grasp of market trends.

"Why would I lie?" Yun Fan smiled. "Let’s appraise them together and propose a plan to Mr. Wen. Earn a little extra money—wouldn’t that be nice?"

The old butler stared at Yun Fan, his expression shifting from doubt to understanding. He knew Yun Fan was tempting him, trying to pull them onto the same side. Rationally, he should refuse, but this was a way to prove himself in front of Wen Zhaofu. He had no reason to decline.

"Fine, I agree," the old butler said with a dignified smile.

*

Wen Zhaofu didn’t know how Yun Fan managed to win over the old butler. In the days before Yun Fan left for London, the two seemed very close, often whispering together.

Yun Fan’s brilliance was becoming increasingly impossible to hide. Wen Zhaofu no longer wanted him to hide it because he intended to take Yun Fan into a broader world.

Not just because he loved Yun Fan, but because Yun Fan deserved it. And he would not only let more people see Yun Fan but also let everyone see his love.

Before Yun Fan flew to London, Wen Zhaofu returned to Langyun Terrace for dinner every night, turning down every social invite no matter how important they were.

On their last day together, Uncle Man specially gathered everyone to make dumplings. It was said he had been watching a famous TV series recently, where they spent three whole episodes making dumplings, making him crave them intensely.

Uncle Man prepared three types of fillings: sea urchin with greens, pork with scallions, and chive and egg.

Yun Fan enjoyed the latter two, while Wen Zhaofu only tasted the sea urchin with greens dumplings before switching to sweet rice balls (tangyuan).

"Sir, you don’t like dumplings?" Yun Fan asked with a smile.

Wen Zhaofu nodded and then shook his head; he was mostly in a low mood. Although Yun Fan was sitting right in front of him, the thought of not being able to see him the next morning made him feel down.

He had never imagined he would experience being apprehensive about gains and losses. For a moment, his usually calm heart was tossed by waves of emotion, difficult to describe.

"Sir, you’ll come to see me, right?" Yun Fan blinked and asked softly.

This time, Wen Zhaofu nodded without hesitation: "I should take a vacation too. Once I finish my current tasks, I’ll fly to see you immediately."

These few words seemed to carry magical power. Yun Fan kept putting dumplings on Wen Zhaofu's plate, who ate them all and repeatedly praised Uncle Man’s cooking skills. As a result, Uncle Man puffed up with so much pride during the meal that his back started hurting, forcing him to apply a pain-relief patch afterward.

After dinner, Dr. Shi Ning arrived, looking weary from travel. Wen Zhaofu stood by the window with his cane, listening to Yun Fan and Dr. Shi Ning converse.

Yun Fan cared more about his leg than he did, so he asked many questions. Though tired, Dr. Shi Ning remained patient, as Dr. Shi’s greatest wish was for Wen Zhaofu to be able to stand again.

"Yes, the risks are significant, and the recovery process is tough," Dr. Shi Ning said honestly. "Perhaps maintaining his current condition is the safest option, but I want to give it a try."

"Yun Fan, do you want Zhaofu to try?"

This question was not only Dr. Shi Ning’s but also Wen Zhaofu’s. Wen Zhaofu turned around, wanting to tell Yun Fan not to feel pressured, but Yun Fan spoke before he could.

"I want Mr. Zhaofu to be happy and free, so I’m all for him giving it a shot," Yun Fan said firmly. "Worst case, he stays exactly as he is now. If Sir can accept it, so can I."

Dr. Shi Ning arched an eyebrow and glanced at Wen Zhaofu, meeting his smiling gaze. Yun Fan had said everything he wanted to say, leaving him with nothing to add.

"Alright, then it’s settled. I’ll go back and start preparing. We’ll aim for the third quarter to perform the surgery," Dr. Shi Ning patted his thigh. "Well, well, I’ve been persuading Zhaofu for so many years, yet Yun Fan’s one sentence achieved what I couldn’t."

Hearing Dr. Shi Ning’s teasing, Yun Fan blushed and looked to Wen Zhaofu for help. Wen Zhaofu slowly walked over, raised his cane, and poked Dr. Shi Ning’s calf: "You’re dismissed."

"Yes, sir!" Dr. Shi Ning playfully bowed. "I won’t intrude on your wonderful evening."

After Dr. Shi Ning left, Yun Fan’s eyes still held worry. Wen Zhaofu sat beside him and held his hand.

"Xiao Yun, I need you," Wen Zhaofu said softly, his voice unusually unsteady.

At that moment, Yun Fan sensed Wen Zhaofu’s vulnerability. Who doesn’t face hurdles that are hard to overcome?

"Sir, I’ll stay with you. I will," Yun Fan gripped Wen Zhaofu’s hand in return.

Wen Zhaofu smiled at him: "What if it takes longer than a year?"

Yun Fan opened his mouth but didn’t answer immediately. He wanted to say that after everything they’d been through, he would reevaluate the matter, but Wen Zhaofu seemed to take his hesitation the wrong way.

"It’s alright, Xiao Yun," Wen Zhaofu raised his hand and gently stroked Yun Fan’s head. "Don’t pressure yourself because of me."

Yun Fan turned to look at Wen Zhaofu, seeing the faint affection in his light-colored eyes. Yun Fan felt he understood, because his own heart was also aching with emotion.

Wen Zhaofu smiled again, leaned in, and embraced Yun Fan.