Chapter 67: Deep Affection

Chapter 67: Deepening Affection

Yun Fan's face flushed, but he quickly laughed, pointing at Wen Zhaofu and telling Shi Ning, "I'm the one he loves."

Shi Ning chuckled, "Didn't they say a butler can't fall in love with his employer?"

"So what if I do!" Yun Fan lifted his chin, a defiant look on his face.

Wen Zhaofu, holding his cane, wrapped his free arm around Yun Fan's waist, pulling him closer. Shi Ning walked over, laughing so hard his small eyes were nearly crinkled shut.

"I want to sit at the head table at the wedding," Shi Ning declared.

Wen Zhaofu didn't respond immediately, instead turning to Yun Fan, "Should we have a wedding? What kind of wedding would you like?"

Seeing Wen Zhaofu's earnest expression, Yun Fan's eyes widened in surprise. They had only been dating for a few days—how had the relationship progressed to marriage so quickly?

Oh my god! What on earth was going on in Wen Zhaofu's head?

Shi Ning burst into laughter, and Wen Zhaofu couldn't help but chuckle too, giving a light kiss to Yun Fan's forehead. He released Yun Fan's waist and gently patted his back to calm him down.

"I consulted with several doctors in London about your leg," Shi Ning said, his expression turning serious. "They all agree with me—the surgery can be done."

"I'll invite my senior colleague to perform the operation, and I'll be in the operating room with you, Zhaofu," Shi Ning nodded.

Yun Fan tightened his grip, tugging at Wen Zhaofu's sleeve. "Can I be in the operating room too? I want to be with you, sir."

"Well, it's not entirely impossible..." Shi Ning glanced at Wen Zhaofu's expression and trailed off. "It is our own hospital, after all."

"No, Xiao Yun," Wen Zhaofu turned to Yun Fan with a smile. "Just wait for me outside. I want to see you first when I wake up."

Shi Ning could tell that Wen Zhaofu didn't want Yun Fan to worry or suffer. How could he cherish someone so deeply? Shi Ning, a single man, couldn't understand it.

"Alright then," Yun Fan calmed down, deciding not to make things difficult.

Wen Zhaofu affectionately pinched Yun Fan's cheek, smiled, and took his hand as they walked forward with Shi Ning. They stopped discussing the surgery and instead chatted about their recent experiences. Shi Ning and Yun Fan immediately hit it off, agreeing that the food there was terrible and that Uncle Man's cooking was far superior.

"When we return, I'll cook a meal for you," Yun Fan rolled up his sleeves. "We'll have an authentic Chinese feast!"

Shi Ning laughed heartily, patting Wen Zhaofu's shoulder. "You're a lucky man."

"Yes, very lucky," Wen Zhaofu replied with a broad smile.

*

Back in Hong Kong, the Old Butler quickly noticed that the atmosphere between Wen Zhaofu and Yun Fan had changed again. For a man with decades of experience, this was difficult to accept.

The Old Butler had seen butlers and employers develop feelings before, but in his experience, those relationships always ended badly.

Yet he knew Wen Zhaofu and Yun Fan would be different because he understood Wen Zhaofu—he wasn't a reckless person. He wouldn't toy with Yun Fan and discard him. If he was in a relationship, it was surely with marriage in mind.

Heavens above! Would Yun Fan become the other master of Langyuntai?

The Old Butler simply couldn't accept it!

Yun Fan had no time to worry about the Old Butler's feelings; his mind was preoccupied with concern over Wen Zhaofu's upcoming surgery. It was a secret, so he couldn't discuss it with anyone.

Wen Zhaofu noticed Yun Fan's anxiety. After returning to Langyuntai from work, he took Yun Fan to the garden for a swing. Yun Fan had been busy with tasks at Langyuntai these days, and Wen Zhaofu wanted to take him to work but didn't know how to ask.

"How are the accounts?" Wen Zhaofu inquired about Butler Yun's work.

Yun Fan frowned and shook his head. "It's a bit messy. I've said we should hire a professional, but Uncle Cheng always insists he can handle it."

"I'll reorganize the accounts from the past three years and redo them," Yun Fan sighed. "What a headache."

"Then take a break and clear your mind," Wen Zhaofu handed Yun Fan a poster. "Go have some fun doing this first. Those matters aren't urgent."

Yun Fan took a closer look—it was a dragon boat race. The bright red background made it look lively and intense.

"Me? What would I do?" Yun Fan laughed, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Wen Zhaofu smiled. "I got the lead drummer spot this year."

Hearing how competitive it was, Yun Fan blinked. Wen Zhaofu scratched the tip of his nose and added, "I donated three million and finally secured it."

"Oh my god!" Yun Fan exclaimed.

Wen Zhaofu chuckled, patting his back and taking his hand. "So you must train hard and bring back a prize."

"Of course! That's three million!" Yun Fan said, placing a hand over his heart.

"Don't stress too much, just..." Wen Zhaofu didn't finish before Yun Fan cut him off.

"How can I not? Three million is a fortune! I have to win first place!" Yun Fan patted his chest firmly.

For the next two weeks, Yun Fan threw himself into training. Uncle Man and the little gardener, seeing how driven he was, made sure he used sunscreen every day.

The Old Butler said nothing, merely watching coldly. Wen Zhaofu noticed his unusual behavior and tried to talk to him, but the Old Butler didn't say much.

No one could persuade him, not even himself. The Old Butler was in despair.

"Keep up, you must keep up!" Yun Fan shouted, waving his drumsticks, his face covered in sweat. He looked up and exclaimed, "Huh? Young Master Liu, what are you doing here?"

Liu Erxing, holding an oar and wearing tight athletic wear, was pointing at someone on the boat, preparing to take their place.

Clearly, Young Master Liu had bought his way into the race and was ready to show off his skills.

The news that this man, who could fly planes and race cars, was now getting in on the action on the water reached Wen Yanlan's residence. Wen Haochen was furious, and Cheng Yu looked grim, but Wen Zhaofu remained unfazed, merely smiling faintly.

So childish. All of them.

Hanging around too much might backfire because Yun Fan didn't fall for that kind of thing. If you wanted to get through to Yun Fan, you had to do something that would truly matter to him.

Wen Zhaofu flicked the ash from his cigarette, picked up the newspaper from the small table, glanced at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, and peacefully began reading the entertainment news.

*

Wen Zhaofu's birthday fell around the beginning of autumn. Because he was preparing for surgery, he didn't feel like having a birthday party this year. He discussed it with Yun Fan first, but to his surprise, Yun Fan was the first to object.

"We must celebrate, sir," Yun Fan said, frowning. "A birthday is a happy thing. I want to celebrate yours."

Wen Zhaofu laughed, pulling Yun Fan into his arms. "A small gathering, no big event, alright? That way, I can stay with you the whole time. Otherwise, it'll be all socializing, and I'll be exhausted."

Yun Fan looked at him sympathetically. He had seen photos from previous years—it was a huge affair. He didn't want Wen Zhaofu to be tired, so he nodded, wrapping his arms around Wen Zhaofu's neck and saying seriously, "On that day, you're not allowed to work overtime. I want to have cake with you."

"Alright," Wen Zhaofu kissed Yun Fan's temple. "You'll stay with me the whole day. If I work overtime, you can give me a serious talking-to."

Yun Fan laughed, gazing quietly at Wen Zhaofu. After a moment, he leaned in and kissed Wen Zhaofu's Adam's apple. "I adore you, sir."

"That makes me so happy..." Wen Zhaofu let out a long sigh, rubbing Yun Fan's back.

His heart was racing, and even after a while, it didn't calm down. Suddenly, he tugged Yun Fan's arm, pulling Yun Fan off-balance so he fell against his chest. Yun Fan looked up at him with watery eyes.

How could he resist? Wen Zhaofu wrapped his arms around Yun Fan's waist, guiding him to sit straddling his lap.

"Sir, your leg!" Yun Fan exclaimed, pushing up on his toes as if to stand.

Wen Zhaofu patted Yun Fan's bottom, leaned in close, and whispered in his ear: "It's fine, sit still."

This made Yun Fan lower his head and look at Wen Zhaofu. Wen Zhaofu's expression remained unchanged, his gaze still intently fixed on Yun Fan, his light-colored eyes filled with tenderness. Their breaths mingled, and naturally, their lips met.

Their kissing was a game they played daily—in the quiet of the night or sneaking away from the others at Langyuntai—never growing tired of it.

Even with their daily closeness, it seemed that just kissing could no longer satisfy them.

Wen Zhaofu's hand slipped under the hem of Yun Fan's shirt, caressing his smooth skin. Yun Fan shuddered, burying his forehead into the crook of Wen Zhaofu's neck.

At that moment, Wen Zhaofu was reminded that supporting Yun Fan's reform of Langyuntai's dress code had been an absolutely correct decision.

Yun Fan was wearing an athletic short-sleeved shirt and shorts that day. Wen Zhaofu glanced at him and with a flick of his wrist, Yun Fan's clothes fell away.

"Xiao Yun..." Wen Zhaofu held his waist, his voice particularly alluring, "Scoot forward a little, so I can hold you better."

"Zhaofu, Mr. Zhaofu," Yun Fan murmured distractedly, his entire body buzzing with sensation.

What happened next left Yun Fan in a haze. He gained a whole new understanding of Wen Zhaofu's control.

At first, he was still sitting on Wen Zhaofu, who held his hands as they removed each other's pants. Later, Yun Fan sank heavily against Wen Zhaofu, biting his lip, soft moans escaping his lips.

When Yun Fan regained awareness, he found himself lying face down on the sofa. Wen Zhaofu, behind him, was still wearing his shirt, though it was now unbuttoned.

His thighs burned with pain, but Yun Fan still managed to ask, "Sir, is your leg okay?"

"Xiao Yun..." Wen Zhaofu leaned over, wrapped his arms around him, and kissed the back of his neck, "I love you, Yun Fan."

Yun Fan reached back with his hand, and Wen Zhaofu took it, holding him tightly against his chest as Yun Fan caught his breath and smiled.

"Wen Zhaofu," Yun Fan called him by his full name, his voice still breathy. He felt dizzy, needing an anchor.

Wen Zhaofu turned with Yun Fan in his arms, cradling him completely, and kissed his cheek: "Did you enjoy it?"

"Yes, it felt amazing." Yun Fan lifted a hand, tugging lightly at Wen Zhaofu's hair, and the two laughed together.

"Love you." Wen Zhaofu pecked Yun Fan's nose, then picked up his cane and stood, helping Yun Fan get dressed and cleaning up the aftermath.

Yun Fan took a moment longer to stand up. Held in Wen Zhaofu's affection and love, he realized there were many feelings he had yet to express to him.

He would save them for Wen Zhaofu's birthday.

That night, Yun Fan secretly slept beside Wen Zhaofu. The two stubbornly stayed awake, talking for a long time. Early the next morning, before Yun Fan woke, Wen Zhaofu slipped away and told the old butler not to allow anyone upstairs before nine.

The butler was baffled but didn't dare ask, only staring resentfully at the floor.

*

On the day of the dragon boat race, Wen Zhaofu had Shi Ning drive him to the venue. With his surgery in its final preparation stage, Shi Ning had been frequently monitoring Wen Zhaofu's vitals.

Though Doctor Shi's eyes were small, his perception was sharp. One look told him Wen Zhaofu was in an exceptionally good mood.

Exceptionally good indeed.

Once it started, it became routine. Yun Fan now secretly slept in Wen Zhaofu's room every night. Sometimes they'd be intimate; other times, they'd do nothing but hold each other while reading or watching movies.

Wen Zhaofu had never been one to rush things, especially with Yun Fan. As long as they were together, he felt at ease. As long as Yun Fan was happy, he had no other worries.

"I'd better be at the head table at the wedding," Shi Ning emphasized once again.

"Okay, okay," Wen Zhaofu nodded in agreement.

Cheng Yu didn't show up; it seems like he's still getting over his rejected confession. Liu Erxing was competing in the race, while Wen Haochen followed Wen Qichang and didn't come over to Wen Zhaofu's side.

This was just as well, sparing him from Liu Erxing's constant buzzing (like a mosquito) in his ear. Wen Zhaofu adjusted his sunglasses and switched on the fan feature on his wheelchair.

He hadn't shown this feature to Yun Fan yet, but right now, Yun Fan was probably more concerned with him standing up soon.

Amid the racket of gongs and drums, the people on the shore were even more excited than those in the water. Yun Fan raised the drumsticks high, cheering loudly to pump up the team.

Success or failure hinged on this moment. A little sunburn was nothing—bringing home the trophy was what counted!

As the starting gun fired, six teams took off to roaring cheers. Wen Zhaofu sat up straight, clenched his fists, and watched intently.

"Does your family even need another trophy?" Shi Ning teased.

Wen Zhaofu shook his head immediately. "If Xiao Yun wants to win, then let him win."

"No more slacking off, huh?" Shi Ning said with a laugh.

"Ah, the power of money," Wen Zhaofu concluded.

Thanks to Wen Zhaofu's three million, Yun Fan and his team won!