Chapter 43: You Can Hug Me from Now On

Chapter 43: You Can Hug Me From Now On

As if he knew what Du Yang wanted to ask, the great-uncle spoke first, "Kid, past lives are the causes, this life is the effects."

"Cause and effect are already set." The great-uncle sat upright, fingers rolling the round jade Buddha beads, "Kid, don't overthink. Since you're here, take things as they come."

Du Yang's long, thick lashes fluttered slightly, and he suddenly gripped his pants. After a moment, he slowly released his fingertips.

A faint smile lit up Du Yang's eyes, his voice much lighter, "Great-Uncle, I think I understand."

The great-uncle gave a slight, gentle smile and nodded softly, "It's getting late, kid. Don't keep the people waiting for you too long. Go on."

Knowing the great-uncle wouldn't answer his other questions, Du Yang stood up, pressed his hands together, bowed his head slightly, and silently left the Buddha hall.

At the glass window at the end of the hallway, a tall, straight figure stood under the bright lights.

When Fu Yan heard the door close, he turned and walked toward Du Yang. As he drew near, he looked Du Yang over carefully, his gaze gentle.

"Hungry?" Fu Yan asked.

"No." Du Yang's eyes darted slightly. "I want to drink."

Fu Yan gently ruffled the young man's hair. "It's almost dinner time. I'll get you a drink tonight."

He looked outside and was surprised to see it was almost dark. Du Yang thought he'd only been there for less than an hour.

When they got back to the main house, all the relatives had already left. Old Master Fu was in high spirits, drinking several glasses with Du Yang and rambling on and on.

The fruit wine was sweet and didn't seem intoxicating. Du Yang set aside his worries, feeling great, and also raised his glass to toast Fu Xing and Chi Xinya.

Old Master Fu was clearly drunk, slinging an arm around Du Yang's shoulder and clinking his glass with Du Yang's, his hand shaking.

"Brother, if the feeling is deep, down it in one go!" Old Master Fu emptied his glass of fruit wine in one go.

Du Yang tilted his head, frowning at Old Master Fu, his reactions slow but his words clear, "Bro, you seem kinda old."

"But I don't mind... down the hatch!"

Fu Xing, who had been stone-faced, finally spoke, "Xiao Yan, if you keep this up, Du Yang will end up as your grandfather's brother."

"Xiao Yan loves his grandfather's brother!" Chi Xinya laughed, collapsing into Fu Xing's arms, "We'll mess up the generations."

"Mom, you're drunk." Fu Yan pinched the bridge of his nose helplessly.

"Take your time eating. I'll help Du Yang upstairs to rest—he's drunk."

Du Yang's cheeks were flushed, and he protested, "I'm not drunk!"

Fu Yan stood up, removed Old Master Fu's hand, lifted Du Yang by his armpits and hoisted him up. Without waiting for an argument, he half-carried him upstairs.

Chi Xinya shouted excitedly, reminding Fu Yan to take good care of Du Yang.

Not expecting Du Yang to handle the stairs, Fu Yan took him straight up to the third floor in the elevator.

Du Yang staggered, half-leaning on Fu Yan, his steps unsteady. With drunken, hazy eyes, he looked at the man in front of him and suddenly spoke, "Fu Yan, can I hug you?"

The third floor was home to only the two of them, and the hallway was eerily quiet. Fu Yan turned his head, looking down at the dizzy young man.

Flushed cheeks, moist eyes glistening like they held water vapor, and lips made even more crimson and tempting by the wine.

Fu Yan pursed his lips, half-carrying Du Yang, quickening his pace as he led him into the room.

The moment they entered, he lifted his foot and kicked the door shut with a bang.

He gently pressed the young man against the back of the door. Fu Yan looked down into his beautiful, clear eyes, his voice low and coaxing.

"Du Yang, call me big brother."

The room was brightly lit, and the light reflected in the young man's eyes, making them look like a pool of clear spring water.

A ripple stirred in that clear spring water. As if bewitched, the young man's voice came out soft and slurred from the wine, "Big brother."

A dark storm surged in Fu Yan's eyes. The arm around the young man's waist tightened a few notches, and even his breathing grew rapid.

His heart was in turmoil.

When he left this morning, the great-uncle said his heart was in turmoil.

He knew it but neither admitted nor denied it.

The great-uncle didn't say much, just told him to continue reciting sutras to calm his mind.

After Du Yang moved in, he stopped reciting sutras. His heart couldn't settle—no amount of sandalwood incense helped.

"It hurts." Du Yang whined, his voice on the verge of tears, "You're hurting me."

Fu Yan loosened his grip a little, still holding the young man's slender waist.

"Du Yang, why do you call Ji Zichu 'big brother'?" Fu Yan's voice was obviously jealous, but he kept it low, afraid of scaring the young man.

The young man looked up at Fu Yan, his eyes unfocused. After a long pause, he stirred slightly, as if understanding. "He's Brother F!"

His voice carried a hint of grievance, as if protesting why he had to ask such an obvious question. His hand, clutching Fu Yan's chest, weakly scratched him.

A low, short laugh escaped Fu Yan's throat. He pressed his forehead against the young man's, the air between them filled with the scent of fruit wine and the young man's pleasant smell.

The stifling frustration in his chest vanished instantly at the young man's words.

How could this kid mistake Ji Zichu for F?

So he thought Ji Zichu was F.

So he thought Ji Zichu was F!

When he called "big brother," it was for F, not for Ji Zichu.

"Can I hug you or not!" The young man grumbled in discontent, pushing against Fu Yan's chest, clearly unhappy.

Fu Yan pulled back from the young man's forehead, lowered his gaze to focus on the young man's eyes, his voice gentle and doting, "Du Yang, who am I?"

"Fu Yan." This time the young man didn't hesitate. He looked at the man with reproachful eyes, on the verge of tears, "Are you going to let me hug you or not?"

"I'll let you hug me." Fu Yan's heart melted.

The moment the words left his mouth, the young man—like a stranded fish suddenly meeting water—hurriedly wrapped his arms around Fu Yan's neck and buried his face in his shoulder and neck.

Warm breath suddenly sprayed onto Fu Yan's neck, and soft lips brushed against the skin of his shoulder and neck, sending waves of tingling numbness.

After only a moment's hesitation, Fu Yan reached his hands behind the young man's back, pulling him into an embrace. He lowered his head, burying it in the young man's neck, breathing in his scent.

"I've tried to hug you so many times, but never managed to." The young man's voice was both aggrieved and satisfied.

Fu Yan's breath caught. The young man's drunken words made his heart ache inexplicably. He tightened his arms around him, gently soothing him in response to the young man's drunken mutterings.

"You can hug me from now on. You'll always be able to hug me from now on."

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