Chapter 71: Proposal

Chapter 71: The Proposal

On the day Liu Erxing returned, Cheng Yu was the first to encounter him. The man was so unshaven and disheveled that Cheng Yu initially mistook him for a homeless person who had wandered into the Wen Yanlan estate.

Cheng Yu was about to shout for help, but Liu Erxing spoke first. His voice was so hoarse it sounded as if it had been shredded.

"It's me, Da Liu," Liu Erxing said weakly.

"...Liu Erxing?!" Cheng Yu remained in shock. In his memory, Liu Erxing had always been the dashing and carefree young master.

"Where's Yun Fan? I want to see him," Liu Erxing said, about to stride toward Langyun Terrace, but Cheng Yu grabbed him after he'd taken just one step. "What? Let go."

It had been over a month since they'd last seen each other, and Cheng Yu felt Liu Erxing's temper had grown worse. He paused and explained, "Zhao Fu keeps Yun Fan with him every day now, never letting him out of his sight. They haven't returned home yet. Go get cleaned up first—you'll scare Yun Fan looking like that."

That made sense. Liu Erxing shrugged and turned toward his great-grandfather's Carp Pavilion. On the way, he encountered a shuttle car and casually tossed his luggage onto it.

Watching his back as he walked away, Cheng Yu noticed his steps weren't as long as before, and his knees seemed uncomfortable, requiring adjustment every few steps. It seemed he had been through a lot on his journey.

Wen Zhaofu indeed had Yun Fan with him all day, every day now. He didn't feel at ease leaving Yun Fan alone, and Yun Fan wasn't entirely comfortable leaving him either, so the two reached an agreement to go everywhere together.

The employees at the Wen Corporation's executive office watched the intimate pair with a sense of unease. Wen Zhaofu hadn't given Yun Fan any official appointment, but everyone could see Yun Fan was now his most trusted person.

More than trust—he was utterly smitten. Wen Zhaofu was either working or smiling at Yun Fan, often making Yun Fan blush.

"Stop looking."

"Can't get enough."

"Hey, Wen Zhaofu, you—"

Wen Zhaofu held the back of Yun Fan's neck and kissed him, only releasing him when Yun Fan was breathless, then lingeringly brushed his thumb over Yun Fan's lips.

"Sir!" Yun Fan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked at Wen Zhaofu. "We're at the company—mind your image!"

"Okay, okay, I shouldn't tarnish Assistant Yun's image," Wen Zhaofu hurriedly agreed. "My mistake."

"Hey!" Seeing Wen Zhaofu's pitiful expression, Yun Fan's heart softened, thinking this man knew exactly how to handle him.

They brought packed lunches prepared by Uncle Man every day, each dish tailored to Yun Fan's preferences. Wen Zhaofu had told Uncle Man to cook according to Yun Fan's tastes—what Yun Fan liked, he liked.

The young gardener would place a bouquet of fresh flowers in their car when they left, making Yun Fan feel surrounded by fragrance every day, bringing him immense joy.

The Wen Yanlan residence was quite far from the Wen Corporation, so Wen Zhaofu considered moving to a downtown property. But he knew Yun Fan enjoyed the lively atmosphere and, after growing close to everyone, would find it hard to leave Uncle Man and the young gardener. Thus, he hesitated to bring it up.

Days passed pleasantly like this, and Wen Zhaofu felt more relaxed than he'd ever been. After he started using a cane, the outside world quieted down briefly, but soon discussions about him surged again.

However, he considered these minor issues. If people said he was playing dumb to catch a tiger, then he was ready to become the tiger, ensuring no one could bully them.

Yun Fan chatted with Shi Ning more frequently. They were from the same hometown and had much to talk about. Shi Ning now not only cared about Wen Zhaofu's health but also inquired about Yun Fan's.

"It seems my dizziness when we first met really was due to a brain condition," Yun Fan said cheerfully. "I thought it was just ordinary acclimatization."

"Ah, speaking of that, Zhao Fu criticized me too, saying I wasn't rigorous enough," Shi Ning also laughed. "Sorry about that."

"Not at all, it's fine. Everything's better now," Yun Fan said breezily.

With a lively presence like Yun Fan around, Shi Ning also enjoyed visiting Langyun Terrace. Previously, he avoided the old butler, leaving immediately after checking Wen Zhaofu's health. Now, he often stayed for meals and sometimes even overnight.

Shi Ning secretly asked Wen Zhaofu about the old butler's situation. Wen Zhaofu glanced at Yun Fan and whispered, "Xiao Yun went to see him once, before he left Hong Kong. Xiao Yun also gave him some money from his own funds."

"My goodness, what a good Samaritan."

Wen Zhaofu smiled. "Xiao Yun wanted to do something for me. I understand, so I didn't stop him."

"Ugh, showing off again. I shouldn't have chatted with you," Shi Ning said irritably. "So where did the old butler go?"

"He went abroad. I had previously given him a property for his retirement," Wen Zhaofu sighed. "I didn’t expect it to be used so soon."

"Will Langyun Terrace hire another butler in the future? I see Yun Fan isn’t managing affairs now," Shi Ning asked.

Wen Zhaofu shook his head. "After the surgery, once things are sorted out, I’ll take Xiao Yun and leave the Wen Yanlan estate. We’ll find a smaller place to live, just the two of us."

"That’s good too," Shi Ning patted Wen Zhaofu’s arm. "That’s for the best."

*

Wen Zhaofu didn’t celebrate his birthday, and when Zu Zu’s birthday came, it passed without celebration either. Her three sons, all over seventy, came to beg her, but she wouldn't budge.

Too much had happened this year, and Zu Zu was tired. She didn’t want to use her birthday as an excuse for socializing for the Wen family anymore—inviting many guests, standing under the spotlight, and saying insincere words.

Zu Zu’s birthday fell on a weekday. She had lunch with her three sons and, in the evening, waited for Wen Zhaofu and Yun Fan to get off work before calling them to Taiping Qingshui Residence.

Though there were few people, they talked a lot. Zu Zu gave Wen Zhaofu many instructions and asked Yun Fan to listen as well.

Despite the Wen family’s substantial assets, Zu Zu still had many worries. In this family, perhaps only she was most concerned that the legacy left by Zu Hua might not endure.

Wen Zhaofu, however, was more philosophical about it. He believed many things follow natural cycles, and when the time came, it would be hard to prevent. He could accept that.

But as long as Zu Zu held on, Wen Zhaofu wouldn’t give up. He would do his best to keep the Wen legacy going.

"Xiao Yun, stay and help Zhao Fu, will you?" Zu Zu turned to Yun Fan, her tone carrying a hint of plea.

"Zu Zu!" Yun Fan quickly took the elder’s hand. "I’m not leaving, Zu Zu. Don’t worry. I... I couldn't abandon Mr. Zhao Fu either."

After speaking, Yun Fan’s face flushed pink. Wen Zhaofu, sitting beside him, affectionately patted his back to reassure him and ease the pressure.

Zu Zu laughed, but her laughter soon turned to tears. Even Wen Zhaofu was flustered and quickly called for someone to bring a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

In Wen Zhaofu’s memory, Zu Zu had never cried. She had always been strong, supporting the family with her own strength and securing enough room for Wen Zhaofu’s growth.

Today’s tears held not only sorrow and emotion but also joy. Yet for an elderly woman who had weathered many storms, the joy of this moment was not enough to overshadow the regrets of all these years.

By the time Zu Zu calmed down, she was breathing heavily. Yun Fan, concerned, asked Wen Zhaofu to call Zu Zu’s doctor.

Zu Zu looked at them weakly and whispered, "I still want to live to see your wedding."

Yun Fan and Wen Zhaofu exchanged a glance and nodded together.

When they returned to Langyun Terrace, it was already late. Wen Zhaofu walked slowly, and Yun Fan was in no hurry. After a while, he slipped his arm through Wen Zhaofu’s. Wen Zhaofu smiled, leaned over, and kissed Yun Fan’s forehead.

"I’ll stay like this, walking with you for a long, long time," Yun Fan said softly. "I’m not in a hurry, and I won’t mind if you walk slowly."

"Because you are my Mr. Zhao Fu, the best Mr. Zhao Fu."

"If this can make you feel more secure, I can often tell you what I'm truly thinking."

Wen Zhaofu stopped short in surprise, looking directly at Yun Fan. In the soft light, Wen Zhaofu caressed Yun Fan’s cheek, and he felt warmth spread through his chest.

Even without words, Yun Fan could see how deeply these words touched him. Yun Fan was the first to smile and hugged Wen Zhaofu.

"Xiao Yun, I..." Wen Zhaofu found himself tongue-tied, unable to find the right expression for his feelings. "Having you is my blessing."

"I know my showing up out of nowhere makes you worried I'll disappear just as fast. Although I find it a bit confusing too, you know my personality—now that I'm here, I'm here to stay." Yun Fan spoke very plainly, "I'm a man of my word. If I promise to stay with you, I'll definitely do it."

Wen Zhaofu kissed his forehead: "I believe you, Xiao Yun, I believe you."

"Glad you believe me." Yun Fan smiled even more happily, "Nothing can separate us, because we're in love."

"For you, I'm going all in." Yun Fan said boldly, "Who cares if a butler isn't supposed to fall in love with their employer? I'm going to love anyway, so what if I do!"

Wen Zhaofu laughed heartily, his laughter drifting down the path, startling a hidden kitten into running out. Yun Fan always had a way of easily untangling the worries accumulated in his heart, making him feel incredibly at ease.

So Wen Zhaofu took Yun Fan's hand again and walked forward step by step with him. It didn’t matter if they walked slowly; as long as they moved in sync, they would eventually reach their destination.

On the dimly lit path nearing Langyun Terrace, Yun Fan pulled out the cloud-patterned lighter Wen Zhaofu had given him from his pocket. With a nimble flick of his fingers, a flame appeared.

"It's lit!" Yun Fan laughed happily, his eyes reflecting the two small flames.

Wen Zhaofu responded, "Yes, it's lit. That's great."

With no one around and the air quiet, Yun Fan looked up at Wen Zhaofu, who was also gazing at him. In the past, Yun Fan often had to look down to see Wen Zhaofu, but now, with the man standing, Yun Fan realized how tall he was.

Others might find such a Wen Zhaofu intimidating, but Yun Fan wasn’t afraid, because he had experienced his gentleness and relied on it.

"Come here, let me hold you." Wen Zhaofu leaned on his cane with one hand and opened his other arm.

Yun Fan turned off the lighter, took a step toward Wen Zhaofu, and leaned in to wrap his arms around his waist. The embrace was tight, grounding both of them.

"Xiao Yun, after my surgery, let's get married." Wen Zhaofu asked softly, "I'll plan a proposal ceremony..."

"No." Yun Fan replied quickly, "No surprises and no scary shocks. This is enough. I agree."

Wen Zhaofu laughed softly by his ear, "You..."

"What? I am who I am—a big, fluffy cloud."

"Alright, whatever you say." Wen Zhaofu held Yun Fan’s waist and rubbed it gently.

With a loved one in his arms, you could never hold each other too long. After a while, Wen Zhaofu pulled back slightly and cupped Yun Fan’s chin. Yun Fan knew a kiss was coming and closed his eyes, his lips curving into a smile.

Wen Zhaofu cradled Yun Fan’s face and kissed him deeply, the soft touch resonating in his heart, making him silently repeat how much he adored Yun Fan.

The kiss was longer and more intense than the embrace, so passionate they were practically fused together. Yun Fan clutched Wen Zhaofu’s collar, feeling like his knees might buckle if not for the support at his waist.

Just then, a community vehicle approached from nearby, carrying Cheng Yu, Wen Haochen, and a clean-shaven, freshly trimmed Liu Erxing.

"Oh my god!" Wen Haochen exclaimed first.

Then, all three of them stood up abruptly in the community vehicle, startling the driver into slamming on the brakes.

Cheng Yu’s face turned grim, while Liu Erxing snorted coldly. None of them had expected Wen Zhaofu, who always seemed mature and composed, to engage in such an intense public display of affection.

"Mm, someone’s here!" Yun Fan reacted, pushing lightly at Wen Zhaofu’s shoulders.

Wen Zhaofu didn’t let go. Instead, he set his cane aside and wrapped both arms around Yun Fan’s body: "Baby, I haven’t had enough yet."

Yun Fan froze, and Wen Zhaofu seized the moment to capture his tongue again, leaving him defenseless and tingling all over.

That husky, deep, and magnetic voice seemed to pull Yun Fan into a whirlpool, making it impossible to resist. Never mind, never mind—Yun Fan closed his eyes completely and surrendered to the moment.