Chapter 7 Beginning

Chapter 7: The Beginning

"Two little children, making a phone call, hello, hello, hello, where are you—"

The clear, tender child's voice roused Xue Shu from his slumber. He groggily pushed himself up from the carpet, following the sound until he found a phone with a mostly shattered screen under the sofa.

He thought hazily: *Strange, this doesn't look like my phone.*

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm at kindergarten—"

The shrill child's voice pierced his eardrums.

Xue Shu had spent the night on the floor, his muscles aching all over, his head still foggy. Since no one was watching, he simply sprawled out on the sofa and answered the call.

"Who is this?"

The other end fell silent for a moment before a somewhat familiar child's voice spoke up: "Who are you?"

"..." *Wrong number.*

Xue Shu frowned, about to check the caller ID—it was probably another one of those families Guya Nvshi envied and used to pressure him.

The morning light beside him softened, a gentle breeze carrying a subtle fragrance brushed past his nose, and the outer edge of the sofa dipped where a hand pressed down. Xue Shu’s body slid a fraction of an inch along the indentation, his skin coming into contact with someone else's.

Two pale, slender fingers entered his field of vision, plucking the phone from his hand. As they moved, they accidentally grazed his cheek—the cold touch sent a shiver down his spine.

Xue Shu’s eyes snapped wide open, all drowsiness vanishing in an instant. He stiffly turned his head.

A beautiful profile was outlined against the light, its fair features softened by the unique glow of early morning. Since the hand holding the phone was on the inner side of the sofa, its owner had one arm braced on the outer edge while the other held the phone—

Pulling away from close proximity to him.

A few specks of dust landed on his bare, firm chest. Beautiful peach-blossom eyes glanced down momentarily before the hand on the outer edge lifted and brushed twice over the skin of his chest before its owner straightened up.

Light as a feather, like a kiss.

The air around Xue Shu grew still.

After casually brushing off the dust, Wen Yu straightened up, oblivious to President Xue’s frozen expression, and walked aside to take the call.

"Why are you up already?" He glanced at the dim morning light outside; it wasn’t even six yet.

"Dad, where are you?" The child’s voice sounded downcast and weary.

This wasn’t the first time Wen Yu had stayed out all night, but it was the first time he’d given such vague notice at the last minute without arranging for a friend to look after his son. Wen Xiaoyi probably didn’t want to disturb him yet was worried something had happened, so he’d called around the time Wen Yu usually woke up.

Who knew if he had been too worried to sleep all night—alone.

Wen Yu’s heart clenched, aching painfully.

"Thud—" Something heavy hit the floor behind him.

"Dad will be home in about an hour. Stay put and be good, alright?"

Wen Yu hung up and turned to look at the dazed cause of it all.

The blanket from the sofa had been pulled loose and now covered him, hiding his nudity. But it was, after all, a blanket sized for a single sofa, so the tall, broad-shouldered President Xue was left with his broad shoulders and muscular calves exposed.

As if teasing him coyly.

"..."

*Completely unnecessary.*

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Wen Yu tried hard to banish the thought of that dramatic and unrestrained persona, attempting to recall the serious figure frequently seen in news reports instead.

When he opened his eyes again, the man was leaning against the sofa's edge, one leg propped up, his expression calm and composed, his gaze deep and somber—once again the aloof, stern president.

Their eyes met, and the darkness in Xue Shu’s eyes flickered, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.

Wen Yu didn’t notice, nor did he care to. Being stuck here overnight was already an undeserved ordeal; refraining from taking his frustration out on the other party was already being exceptionally magnanimous.

He coolly lowered his peach-blossom eyes. "President Xue, let’s leave last night as it is. You probably don't remember much of it anyway. Butler Xue will fill you in on what happened."

He paused, then nodded slightly; he introduced himself politely but distantly. "I’m the intern doctor temporarily caring for Madam Gu. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave."

Xue Shu’s pupils contracted. Unfortunately, last night’s dream... no, not a dream—he remembered it all.

Before he could digest this, Wen Yu moved past him. In his urgency, Xue Shu grabbed Wen Yu’s pant leg.

The fabric felt damp and chilly, making him start.

His bewildered gaze traveled upward—the dark pants were wet from the hips down to the cuffs.

"I borrowed the bathroom earlier," Wen Yu explained, noticing his stare. "Washed some things away. Hope you don’t mind."

"..." Xue Shu swallowed, studying Wen Yu’s calm expression before cautiously asking, hoping against hope, "What... was it?"

"Semen."

Wen Yu replied matter-of-factly as he picked up his jacket. When he turned back, the man’s composed pose had faltered—his knees had slipped apart, and a prominent bulge tented the dark brown blanket beneath.

Those eyes lacked focus, lost in thought, their already profound gaze growing even darker, like a beast that had gone hungry all night coveting its prey.

Wen Yu’s fingers curled, itching to pinch something.

A sudden chill below made Xue Shu’s heavy eyes clear up.

The feeling of being suddenly targeted by a predator vanished again, and Wen Yu paid it no mind. He assumed President Xue was warning him. He had no intention of spreading word about last night anyway, so President Xue wouldn’t do anything to him. Besides, he didn’t think their paths would cross again.

Wen Yu glanced at his watch: five minutes had already passed.

He headed for the door.

"Wait," Xue Shu said, snapping out of his daze and quickly getting up from the floor. "Are you leaving? Let me drive you."

His mind had been too unsettled earlier; he’d only caught something Wen Yu said about an hour or so—the other man was probably in a hurry.

"Think of it as making up for last night."

"No..."

Before Wen Yu could finish his objection, Xue Shu had already grabbed the clothes he brought last night and rushed into the bathroom.

"..."

Wen Yu sighed, picking up the clothes Xue Shu had thrown all over the floor. He appreciated the gesture, but the matter... probably wouldn't be resolved anytime soon.

Wen Yu folded the clothes and placed them on the sofa, as a thank-you for his kindness.

A pink corner peeked out from under the brown sofa.

Wen Yu bent down to pick it up: two almost brand-new bills.

*Who left cash in a presidential suite? Does anyone even carry cash these days?*

His gaze fell on the expensive suit... *Surely it couldn’t be President Xue’s?*

He casually stuck it in his pocket, planning to hand it over to the front desk later.

The bathroom door was suddenly flung open with a loud bang.

*That fast?*

Wen Yu turned around to see the man dressed in casual clothes, his hair tousled into a messy, casual style that made him appear much younger. But Wen Yu’s focus wasn’t on the man’s accidentally impressive look. He glanced down at Xue Shu’s lower body—the bulge was gone.

He was a little curious.

*Could he have... taken care of it in two minutes?*

Xue Shu quickly walked over, a faint, pleasant scent wafted into Wen Yu’s nostrils. He brushed right past Wen Yu, picked up the clothes, and folded them carefully into a bag.

As if they held something precious.

Wen Yu paused, stepping aside to maintain a proper social distance, unaware that Xue Shu, who had been sneaking glances at him, breathed a sigh of relief.

Xue Shu stood up, his expression much more confident, a slight smile playing on his thin lips. "Let’s go, Doctor Wen."

Wen Yu’s eyes shifted.

"Just call me Wen Yu."

—

The two of them arrived together in the hotel lobby on the first floor.

"I need to make a phone call," Xue Shu said, stepping aside.

Wen Yu nodded and walked toward the front desk.

The two receptionists from last night had been replaced. The new ones were much more natural in their demeanor.

A male receptionist asked politely, "Sir, how may I assist you?"

"I found 200 yuan in cash in room 2101," Wen Yu handed over the two banknotes. "It must have been left by a previous guest."

The front desk staff showed no surprise at finding cash in a presidential suite. Maintaining a warm, polite smile, he thanked Wen Yu: "Thank you very much, sir. We’ll look into it. Would you like to leave your contact information so we can notify you if we find the owner?"

"No need." After all, this was a prestigious hotel. Though it was a bit unexpected, he trusted their professionalism.

After handling the matter, Wen Yu turned around.

Xue Shu had just finished his phone call and walked over, his deep, dark eyes fixed intently on Wen Yu.

"Let’s go." The man approached, slightly lowering his gaze to meet Wen Yu’s peach-blossom eyes. A faint smile softened the inexplicable intensity.

"..."

Wen Yu followed him out, feeling puzzled. Was it because President Xue’s behavior last night had been so bizarre? He couldn’t shake the illusion that this man had some ulterior motives toward him.

*It must be a misunderstanding.*

======

"We’re here. You can’t drive inside, so just drop me off here."

The understated yet luxurious car stopped outside the residential building. The handsome young man with a gentle appearance got out from the passenger seat.

Subtle glances came from all directions, lingering briefly before shifting away.

"Thank you, President Xue." Wen Yu thanked him and turned to leave, but Xue Shu called out to him.

"Wen Yu."

Wen Yu turned back, meeting a pair of slightly trembling eyes.

Xue Shu’s low, magnetic voice was strained. His grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Do you... remember me?"

"Of course," Wen Yu replied, a bit confused by the question. He listed everything he knew: "President Xue is the CEO of Hongfeng, one of the sponsors of LH University’s scholarship program, and also... Madam Gu’s son."

After he finished, he noticed Xue Shu’s tense expression and asked, "What’s wrong?"

"...It’s nothing."

"Then I’ll be going. Thank you, President Xue."

"Don’t—" *mention it.*

The young man turned away decisively. Before Xue Shu could even utter the second syllable, Wen Yu was already too far away to hear the strained sound from his throat.

He really didn’t linger at all.

The air in the car fell silent.

Xue Shu’s hands slipped from the steering wheel. He let out a deep sigh.

Maybe it was better that he didn’t remember. As long as there was no disgust or distance, it was...

The best possible start.

======

Wen Yu opened the triple-locked door to his home. A pair of bright, peach-blossom eyes, a smaller version of his own, gleamed back at him as he stepped inside.

A brilliant smile spread involuntarily across his face. Wen Yu crouched down just in time to catch the child who came rushing toward him.

"Daddy!" The tender little face nuzzled endlessly against Wen Yu's chubby cheek. "I missed you so much."

"Daddy missed you too."

Wen Yu kissed Wen Xiaoyi's chubby cheek, then picked him up and carried him into their cozy home.

On the blue floral-patterned dining table, the special children's meal made by Brother Mu had only been touched a couple of times.

Wen Yu looked down at Wen Xiaoyi, who had frozen in his arms, with an expression that said, "I knew it." "Didn’t eat properly?"

"Hmm..." Wen Xiaoyi’s eyes darted around before he wrapped his arms around his father’s neck, burying his face and whining, "Daddy, I missed you so much."

"...Cut it out. You already said that just a moment ago."

"But I missed Daddy thiiiiis much," the child stretched his little arms wide, as if trying to encircle the whole world, "one time isn’t enough to say it all!"

"Such a smooth talker."

Wen Yu couldn’t help but laugh. He placed the little drama king into his high chair and affectionately pinched and wiggled his nose.

"Sleepy?"

"Sleepy."

As if triggered by those three words, all the energy seemed to drain from the child’s body. He slumped listlessly onto the table.

*So he really hadn’t slept all night?* Wen Yu’s heart ached, and he frowned slightly.

"Eat a little something first, then you can sleep," he said softly, patting the child’s back. "Xiaoyi?"

"Hmm," Wen Xiaoyi mumbled drowsily, "Daddy, no work today?"

"No, Daddy’s whole day belongs to Xiaoyi."

"Then I want to go..."

Wen Yu bent down closer, but the child, completely relaxed, had already fallen fast asleep—without even finishing what he wanted Daddy to do with him today.

Wen Yu let out a helpless chuckle.

He picked the child up, carried him into the only bedroom, tucked him in, and pulled the covers over him.

He placed a soft kiss on his forehead.

"Good night."

In his sleep, Wen Xiaoyi replied with two soft, sticky words: "Good night."

======

"Ring, ring, ring."

Wen Yu walked out of the bedroom and closed the door, then pulled out his crumbling phone.

It was an unfamiliar number.

"Hello?"

"It’s me, Xue Shu."

"President Xue? What can I do for you?"

"There’s something I’d like to give you."

Before Wen Yu could refuse, Xue Shu quickly added, "I’m really sorry about last night. I broke your phone—this is to make up for it."

Wen Yu’s words caught in his throat. President Xue had put it that way—if he refused now, it would be like saying he didn't forgive him.

"...Then come over. I’m in Building 3, Unit 302."

The breathing on the other end of the line seemed to halt for a moment. Once again, Wen Yu heard that voice that seemed tense and dry with nervousness.

"Okay."

[Author's Note]

Children's Song: "Making a Phone Call"

Two little children, making a phone call.

Hello! Hello! Hello! Where are you?

Hey! Hey! Hey! I’m in kindergarten.

Two little children, making a phone call.

Hello! Hello! Hello! What are you doing?

Hey! Hey! Hey! I’m learning to sing.