Chapter 44: His Heart Is Sinking Deeper Step by Step

Chapter 44: His Heart Was Already Succumbing Step by Step

Hearing Fu Yan's words, the young man seemed very satisfied and nestled quietly in Fu Yan's arms without moving.

The room was quiet and bright, with warm yellow light spreading over the two intimately embracing figures, like a picture-perfect scene.

Fu Yan held the young man for a long time, until he heard steady, deep breathing, and the young man's arm around his neck was loosely draped over his shoulder.

"Du Yang?"

"Are you asleep, kiddo?"

Fu Yan's voice was low and affectionate. With one arm around the young man's waist, he slightly bent his legs and scooped him up into his arms.

The young man rested securely in the crook of Fu Yan's neck, his arm still hooked around his neck, and showed no signs of waking even when placed on the bed.

Fu Yan sat on the edge of the bed, supporting Du Yang's back, and helped Du Yang out of his jacket and sweater, leaving only the shirt.

He took off his shoes and pants. Du Yang let out a couple of mumbled sounds, wrapped his arms around the quilt and pulled it close, and stopped moving.

Fu Yan leaned over, his arms braced on either side of the young man, gazing at his delicate features.

He slowly approached, gently pressed his lips to the corner of Du Yang's mouth and licked it, then separated after a brief contact.

The young man's soft lips moved slightly; there was no milk stain at the corner of his mouth, only a trace of dampness.

A restless desire surged within him. Fu Yan stood up, turned off the ceiling light, and left the young man's room.

He turned and entered his own room, quickly took off his outer clothes, grabbed a bathrobe, and went into the bathroom.

Soon, apart from the sound of water splashing on the floor, there were faint, low, suppressed sounds from the bathroom.

More than an hour later, Fu Yan came out of the bathroom, his body still radiating steam, a languid expression.

His dark bathrobe hung loosely tied at the waist, revealing a large expanse of chest with clearly visible defined muscles.

After picking up a glass of cold water from the table and drinking it in one gulp, Fu Yan relaxed and sat back on the sofa, his legs casually crossed.

After sitting for an unknown amount of time, Fu Yan got up from the sofa, straightened his bathrobe, retied the belt, opened the door, and then eased open Du Yang's door.

The moment the door opened, there was soft mumbling. Fu Yan closed the door and gently sat on the edge of the bed.

A lamp was on by the bed. The young man was frowning, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead, as if he were having a nightmare and feeling uncomfortable.

Fu Yan gazed at the young man with tenderness, placed his large palm on his back, and gently and slowly patted his back.

This kid had nightmares almost every night. He had first noticed it by chance, and after moving into his house, Fu Yan would come over almost every night in the middle of the night.

This soothing method was very effective. Every time Du Yang felt uncomfortable in his sleep, Fu Yan would lean over the bed and gently pat his back to comfort him.

After a short while, Du Yang slept peacefully again, his brows relaxed.

Fu Yan gently withdrew his hand, quietly looked at the young man for a while, then slowly stood up and left the room.

He wanted to stay in Du Yang's room and stay with him.

But he still didn't know if this kid really liked him or was just teasing him.

Whether Du Yang was sincere or teasing, his heart had already fallen for him, step by step.

-

The Du family.

Du Debao slouched on the worn-out sofa in the living room, slamming his phone down on the table.

Last night, after coming out of the detention center, his mother tearfully complained to him about how that little bastard, Du Yang, had humiliated her and said Du Yang would never give them another cent in the future.

Du Debao realized that his meal ticket had run off before giving him much money.

In a fit of rage, he called the Lu family's maid, Aunt Wang, who had contacted him before.

After answering the phone and enduring his rant, Aunt Wang transferred him a thousand yuan and then shut off her phone.

That five thousand yuan wasn't even enough to cover the spare change of his debt. Unable to reach Aunt Wang, Du Debao started calling Qin Yue.

As a result, Qin Yue's phone was also unreachable.

He had drunk too much last night and didn't wake up until mid-afternoon today. After waking up, he continued making calls.

Finally, in the evening, he got through to Qin Yue.

As soon as the call connected, Qin Yue lowered her voice and demanded, "Are you sick? Didn't Aunt Wang give you money for food?"

"A thousand bucks? That's pocket change! You're treating me like a charity case!" Du Debao's voice was loud, and he stood up abruptly.

"Qin Yue, I'm out of money! Raising that little bastard cost me so much!"

"Du Debao, have you no shame? I gave you four million in total, and you gambled it all away. If you have the guts, kill the little bastard, and you won't have to drop another cent!"

Du Debao laughed, the fat on his face bunching up. "Do you think I'm stupid? If the little bastard dies, I'll have no leverage, and you'll still pay me?!"

"If you don't give me money, I'll go to the Lu family and spill all your old dirty secrets, and tell them Du Yang is their youngest son!"

"Don't do anything rash! I'll give you money!" The voice on the other end sounded panicked. "Don't call me; I'll transfer the money to you later!"

Before Du Debao could say anything, the other side hung up.

Du Debao looked at his phone smugly and threw it on the table.

It was dark again. Continuing to drink and sleep, Du Debao contentedly picked up the baijiu on the table, took a sip, his lips greasy, and felt very pleased with himself.

-

Du Yang slept long and soundly, waking up at noon.

His head hurt a little, but he ignored the pain and quickly took a shower to clean up.

Fu Yan wasn't in the adjoining room. Du Yang went downstairs to the first floor.

The hall was very lively with laughter and chatter, as if more guests had arrived.

Du Yang held the stair railing, standing on the last step, not daring to move. This scene was something Du Yang couldn't have dreamed of in either of his two lives.

The kid slept in and got up very late. When he got up, there were guests at home, and Fu Yan was chatting and laughing with the guests, the whole room filled with a harmonious atmosphere.

In those years at Du Debao's home, there was only oppression, fear, beatings, scoldings, and quarrels.

Snapping out of his daze, Du Yang tiptoed down the steps and walked toward the living room.

As soon as he came down, Chi Xinya, sharp-eyed, spotted him and waved at him. "Du Yang, come here quickly. Is your head hurting?"

For a moment, everyone in the living room focused their gaze on him.

Du Yang stared blankly at the arriving guests, saying nothing.

The visitors were none other than Grandma Lu and Lu Jin'an.

Grandma Lu also saw Du Yang. Their eyes met. Du Yang seemed to see an unusual emotion in Grandma Lu's eyes, but just for a moment, her gaze turned kind yet distant.

Fu Yan stood up, walked over, draped an arm around Du Yang's shoulders and guided him to the sofa. He asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Du Yang lowered his eyelids, hiding the storm of thoughts in his eyes, shook his head, and dug his fingertips into his palm under his sleeve.

"It's normal to feel unwell the day after drinking," Chi Xinya said with a knowing, maternal smile, watching her son who had finally wised up sitting with Du Yang. She turned and instructed the housekeeper to bring Du Yang a bowl of hangover soup.

"So this is the Du Yang who visited me at the hospital with Xiao Yan the other day."

Grandma Lu reached out her hand to Du Yang. "Good child, come here and let Grandma take a look at you."

Chi Xinya said, "Du Yang, this is Grandma Lu. Go on, let Grandma Lu have a look at you."

Du Yang stood up, tried to stay calm, and sat down next to Grandma Lu.

Grandma Lu's eyes glistened with unshed tears, fighting the urge to step forward and hug Du Yang as she watched him sit obediently beside her.

A pair of wrinkled, very pale hands enveloped Du Yang's balled-up fists.

The moment Grandma Lu held his hands, Du Yang's body suddenly tensed up. The suppressed grievances and longing in his heart surged and swelled in his chest, threatening to spill out as tears at any moment.

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