Chapter 51 Fireworks

Chapter 51: Fireworks

In the middle of the night, Zhan Jiayu suddenly felt something extra in his arms. Opening his eyes in the darkness, he saw a fuzzy head had rolled against his chest.

It was Yan Zhoubai.

The bed was large and spacious—when they had first lain down, there was even a wide gap between them in the blankets. But now, Yan Zhoubai, along with his blanket, had rolled right into Zhan Jiayu’s arms. Zhan Jiayu made sure he hadn't budged at all and was still in his original position.

He glanced at the person in his arms and realized that Yan Zhoubai had rolled over while hugging his blanket tightly. Zhan Jiayu initially wanted to pull the blanket out and readjust it, since half of Yan Zhoubai’s body was now exposed, but the blanket was too firmly held. Instead, he simply spread his own blanket over Yan Zhoubai.

He didn’t bother adjusting Yan Zhoubai’s sleeping position, assuming that since Yan Zhoubai had rolled over on his own, he would likely roll back eventually.

As it turned out, Zhan Jiayu’s guess was completely correct. The next morning, when Yan Zhoubai woke up, he had no idea he had rolled into Zhan Jiayu’s arms during the night. All he felt was that he had slept quite well.

Yan Zhoubai woke up bleary-eyed, washed up, changed clothes, and only after he was fully ready did he see Zhan Jiayu returning from outside. It seemed he had gone out for exercise—he was wearing workout clothes, with a light sweat on his forehead.

So disciplined, Yan Zhoubai thought. It was only a little past eight, and he had already finished his workout.

After a quick shower, Zhan Jiayu went with Yan Zhoubai to have breakfast at the restaurant and filled him in on the day’s itinerary. During the day, they would explore the city to experience the local flavor of Jiang City, and in the evening, they would head to the seaside. Jiang City had a famous beach known for its stunning scenery.

Jiang City was also rich in history and culture, but due to its coastal location and international orientation, its historical character was entirely different from that of Jing City.

Although Zhan Jiayu had offered to host Yan Zhoubai and show him around Jiang City, it was actually his first time there as well. Choosing to explore the city on the first day was partly because he wanted to get a sense of Jiang City.

Yan Zhoubai thought the plan was excellent. He loved exploring new places—it was the best way to experience local customs and culture.

With Zhan Jiayu around, Chen Chu had the day off. Zhan Jiayu drove Yan Zhoubai around the city.

Along the way, Yan Zhoubai realized that Zhan Jiayu was surprisingly down-to-earth. He didn’t mind street food stalls or hole-in-the-wall spots, and he patiently accompanied Yan Zhoubai to places that required waiting in line, never showing any impatience.

Yan Zhoubai had previously assumed that a powerful figure like Zhan Jiayu, having grown up in a competitive environment among siblings and receiving an elite education abroad, would be accustomed to only the finest things. He never expected Zhan Jiayu to be so grounded.

Not only did Yan Zhoubai gain a new perspective on Zhan Jiayu, but Zhan Jiayu also saw a different side of Yan Zhoubai.

He knew that Yan Zhoubai’s parents and older brother, Yan Anxuan, had never paid much attention to him since childhood. Although they never deprived him materially, Zhan Jiayu assumed Yan Zhoubai would still have the high-maintenance tastes you'd expect from a rich kid—which was why he had intended to provide only the best for him.

However, after spending time with Yan Zhoubai, he realized that wasn’t the case. Yan Zhoubai would eagerly get in line at food trucks to try whatever was popular, seek out humble but highly recommended eateries without minding the simple surroundings, and even buy souvenirs marked up for tourists.

These things were inexpensive and, in Zhan Jiayu’s original view, not fitting for a young master like Yan Zhoubai. Yet Yan Zhoubai engaged in them naturally, as if it were second nature to him.

“Does your family give you decent spending money?” Zhan Jiayu asked as they sat together in a modest roadside eatery, unwrapping a pair of disposable chopsticks.

On the small table in front of them were two bowls of noodles, rich in aroma, topped with large pieces of beef and garnished with greens—a truly appetizing sight.

The shop was simple and worn, with old furniture that had seen years of use. The place was packed, and the owner was too busy to attend to customers. Their two bowls of noodles had taken quite a while to arrive.

Zhan Jiayu didn’t mind the humble environment, though the low tables and chairs left him feeling a bit cramped, as if he couldn’t stretch his legs properly.

Yan Zhoubai had found this place online and made a point of bringing Zhan Jiayu there. They had waited a long time for their noodles. As soon as the bowls were served, Yan Zhoubai could tell it was exactly the kind of food he loved. He eagerly began unwrapping his chopsticks when Zhan Jiayu suddenly posed the question.

He nodded. Yes, it was quite generous—he never lacked for money. Why do you ask?

“Nothing, let’s eat.”

Zhan Jiayu thought it made sense—the Yan family wouldn't skimp on Yan Zhoubai's allowance. It seemed these preferences were just how Yan Zhoubai is.

That evening, they went together to the most beautiful beach in Jiang City. Although it was still a weekday, the beach still had a good crowd.

Some people were playing beach volleyball in the sunset, others gathered in small groups under sun umbrellas chatting, and some children were playing with the sand by the shore, building sandcastles. In the distance, people could be seen enjoying jet skiing, parasailing, and even flyboarding in the shallow waters.

Under the glow of the red sunset, everything felt incredibly beautiful, exactly as Yan Zhoubai had imagined. He was thrilled.

“Do you want to go play in the water?”

Zhan Jiayu asked, noticing how happy Yan Zhoubai was as he watched the people enjoying the water activities.

Yan Zhoubai was indeed eager to try. Those water sports looked really fun. When he had visited the beach as a child, those kinds of activities didn't exist.

He typed a message on his phone: But I didn’t bring swim trunks. We need to buy a pair.

Swim trunks? Zhan Jiayu hadn’t intended for Yan Zhoubai to go into the water wearing just swim trunks. Although he would have loved to appreciate the sight, there were too many people around, and the thought of others seeing Yan Zhoubai’s body irritated him.

Better to take Yan Zhoubai to a private pool next time, or perhaps to the private island the Zhan family owned overseas.

“No need,” Zhan Jiayu remarked offhandedly, trying to steer the conversation away from swim trunks. “We can just try the activities without changing. If your clothes get wet, it’s fine—we have plenty of clothes back at the hotel. I’ll have someone bring some over later.”

Yan Zhoubai thought Zhan Jiayu made a good point. The only reason to change into swim trunks was to avoid getting clothes wet. Since that wasn’t a concern, changing didn't matter.

So, for the next two hours, Yan Zhoubai and Zhan Jiayu tried out all the water sports. During that time, aside from the sound of the sea breeze, Zhan Jiayu heard Yan Zhoubai’s laughter most often.

They had dinner at a seaside music restaurant, where most of the diners were tourists enjoying themselves. The atmosphere was lively and cheerful.

At 10 p.m., fireworks lit up the sky over the beach. Fireworks weren’t anything unusual, but Yan Zhoubai had enjoyed himself so much that day that the display felt like it pushed his excitement to another peak.

“So… beautiful, Zhan Jiayu… look.”

Overwhelmed with joy, Yan Zhoubai tugged at Zhan Jiayu’s sleeve to share his feelings. To his surprise, he managed to speak a full sentence again.

In fact, he had noticed earlier in the day that his speech difficulties had improved significantly. Several times, he felt he could speak normally.

Zhan Jiayu turned to look at Yan Zhoubai, whose eyes were shining brightly under the fireworks in the night sky. He replied softly, “Yes, it’s beautiful.”

Just like you.

By the time they returned to the hotel, it was almost midnight. Yan Zhoubai had spent the entire day having fun and was both happy and exhausted. After a shower, he climbed into bed and was deep asleep within minutes.

When Zhan Jiayu finished getting ready for bed, Yan Zhoubai was already sound asleep. Zhan Jiayu turned off the lights, kissed Yan Zhoubai’s forehead, and whispered, “Goodnight.”

The next day, Zhan Jiayu wasn’t able to join Yan Zhoubai. It was the day he had agreed to join his three uncles for the ancestral worship ceremony.

The three uncles, clearly stirred up by Zhan Fifth Master, seemed intent on causing trouble. Chen Chu, who had been with Zhan Jiayu for years, could handle a lot, but Zhan Jiayu didn’t feel comfortable leaving Yan Zhoubai alone. Since Yan Zhoubai only knew Chen Chu among his associates, Zhan Jiayu left Chen Chu with Yan Zhoubai and went alone.

The weather seemed to cooperate, as if to set the mood. While the previous day had been sunny, it began raining from the morning onward. The gloomy weather suited the ancestral worship ceremony.

Zhan Jiayu arrived at Zhan Fifth Master’s home—the so-called ancestral residence of the Zhan family in Jiang City—in three cars.

It was Zhan Jiayu’s first time there. As expected from where the brothers got their start, the ancestral residence was far more imposing than the one in Jing City. It was more estate than residence.

Dressed in a black suit for the occasion, Zhan Jiayu even wore a small white flower on his lapel.

The rain showed no sign of letting up when they arrived. As soon as Zhan Jiayu stepped out of the car, someone immediately held an umbrella over him.

Seven or eight people emerged from the two cars behind him, all dressed in matching black suits, fitting for an ancestral worship ceremony. However, judging by their demeanor, they looked less like attendees and more like a group ready to cause trouble.

The three Zhan brothers stood under the eaves of the ancestral residence, waiting for Zhan Jiayu. Their expressions darkened when they saw the number of people he had brought with him.

Quite the entourage. Bringing so many people to pay respects to your ancestors?