Chapter 65: Desire and Restraint Overlap and Pull Repeatedly

Chapter 65: The Repeated Interweaving and Pulling of Desire and Restraint

Lu Jin'an was stunned for a moment when he saw Fu Yan open the door, then asked nervously, "Lao Fu, is Du Yang okay?"

Last night, after Lu Jin'an returned, he had thought it over and still felt uneasy, so he called Fu Yan to ask about Du Yang's condition.

Unexpectedly, his buddy he'd known since they were kids hung up on him without a word.

Lu Jin'an panicked, knowing his good brother's temperament—Fu Yan was angry.

Fu Yan was angry with him, surely because of Du Yang. Tossing and turning all night, Lu Jin'an finally decided to go to Du Yang's place to check things out.

He didn't expect Fu Yan to answer the door.

Fu Yan gently closed the door and stood outside the door with Lu Jin'an, his voice calm, "Du Yang still has a fever. He's in a bad mood."

"I... I didn't know a few words would make him sick." Lu Jin'an paused. "Sorry, Old Fu, it's my fault."

Fu Yan wasn't as angry as he had been the previous night. The main reason Du Yang got sick was Fu Yan himself—if he hadn't crossed a line with Du Yang that night, Du Yang wouldn't have lost so much weight in three days.

Lu Jin'an's words were just the last straw.

But that didn't mean other people could mess with his kid.

"Old Lu, Du Yang is an orphan, but that doesn't mean you can talk down to him like that." Fu Yan's voice was calm, without anger, but his attitude made it clear he was protecting his own. "If you don't want Grandma Lu to be in close contact with him, you should convince Grandma Lu, not make things hard for Du Yang."

Fu Yan looked at his old friend seriously, "Du Yang is my person. From now on, I'll protect him. Tell Grandma Lu for me that she should stop sending food to Du Yang."

The meaning was clear: Du Yang is mine; bullying Du Yang is bullying me.

Don't bully Du Yang; it's on your grandmother.

Lu Jin'an's expression shifted. Yesterday he had indeed been a little testy. Though he knew Du Yang and Fu Yan had a close relationship, Fu Yan had never openly acknowledged anything.

He just didn't want Du Yang to take his brother's place, and he didn't dare to argue with his grandmother, so he said things he shouldn't have.

He had to admit, deep down, he figured Du Yang had no backup and was the easiest target.

Lu Jin'an suddenly felt ashamed of his behavior last night. When did he become a bully?

"Old Fu, I'm sorry. I was wrong." Lu Jin'an pursed his lips and continued, "Grandma treats him like the dead Lu Yang. I went about it the wrong way—I shouldn't have said those things to Du Yang."

Lu Jin'an wiped his face, guilt all over his face.

After a short silence, Fu Yan raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder.

"Just don't bully my person again in the future."

"Don't make the same mistake twice," Lu Jin'an said with a bitter smile.

"Du Yang is still asleep. I don't think he wants to see you right now, so I won't invite you in."

Lu Jin'an waved his hand and turned to leave. "I don't feel right going in either. I just came to see how Du Yang is. I'll come again to apologize to him."

Remembering the video of Du Debao and Qin Yue he had seen on Du Yang's computer last night, Fu Yan felt it necessary to remind his friend.

"Jin'an." Fu Yan called him back.

"Hmm?" Lu Jin'an turned around.

Fu Yan said, "Keep an eye on your stepmom."

Lu Jin'an frowned. Seeing that Fu Yan didn't elaborate, he noted it in his mind, even though he was confused.

Guiltily, Lu Jin'an returned to his new home. As soon as he sat down on the sofa, Grandma Lu came out of the kitchen carrying a heavy insulated bag.

"Jin'an, where did you go so early this morning?" Grandma Lu put the bag on the table. "Since it's the weekend, take this to Yangyang again. That child is too thin—it breaks my heart."

Lu Jin'an immediately sat up straight, worried that his grandmother might discover something, and also wondering if Du Yang was really that thin.

"Grandma, Du Yang is just a bit skinny. It's not as bad as you say." Lu Jin'an said, "Always sending food—I'm not going. He's not my brother, Grandma. Don't be confused."

Grandma Lu was displeased and slapped her grandson on the arm. "You're the one who's confused! Xiao Yan is still your childhood friend—can't you give some food to Xiao Yan too?"

Grandma Lu picked up the insulated bag angrily. "If you won't go, I'll go myself!"

"Grandma! Grandma!" Lu Jin'an jumped up. "Grandma, I'm afraid... you can't... go right now maybe."

"What's wrong? What happened to Du Yang?" Grandma Lu dropped the bag, grabbing his sleeve, looking anxious.

"Grandma, please don't be angry when I tell you."

Knowing he couldn't hide it, Lu Jin'an told her everything: what he had said when delivering food yesterday, how Du Yang got so angry he fell sick, and his visit this morning to Du Yang's place to apologize to Fu Yan.

"Grandma, it was my fault. You can hit me or yell at me, but please don't let it hurt your health." Lu Jin'an supported his grandmother, worried she'd get too worked up.

After hearing this, Grandma Lu walked silently to the sofa and sat. Tears began to fall, one by one onto the leather sofa.

"Grandma, hit me. It's my fault. Don't get sick from anger." Lu Jin'an panicked, handing tissues to his grandmother to wipe her tears.

"That child Yangyang is so pitiful. His father and that wicked grandmother either hit him or scold him—he never had a good day." Grandma Lu sobbed uncontrollably. "Grandma's heart aches for that child. Grandma just treats him like Lu Yang. Can't you grant me this wish?"

Lu Jin'an hurriedly rubbed his grandmother's back, truly afraid she might fall ill. Then, he agreed to whatever Grandma Lu said.

"You must apologize to Yangyang!"

Lu Jin'an: "I'll do as you say!"

"Then take me to see Yangyang later!"

"Alright! I'll take you!"

Snapping out of it, Lu Jin'an: "??!!"

-

At Du Yang's apartment.

After Lu Jin'an left, Fu Yan went inside and found Du Yang had dozed off again.

He was curled up hugging the blanket, facing the door as if waiting for Fu Yan to come back.

His forehead felt normal. Fu Yan touched it, then withdrew his hand and picked up Du Yang's underwear from the bedside.

In the laundry room, he saw the neatly folded cloth wrapped inside. Fu Yan let out a soft laugh.

How embarrassed was he to hide it like that?

His fingers caressed the soft cloth, and gradually, emotions flickered in Fu Yan's eyes. The touch of his fingers turned into a kneading motion.

The soft feeling of holding the young man's thin waist last night seemed to come alive under his fingers.

Fu Yan was torn. He despised the uncontrollable lecherous thoughts within himself at that moment, yet he couldn't let go of the piece of cloth in his hand.

Desire and restraint warred within him, pulling back and forth.

He was no enlightened monk; he couldn't suppress his lust for Du Yang—or maybe he just didn't want to.

In the end, Fu Yan clutched the cloth tightly, turned around, and locked the bathroom door behind him.

Du Yang slept restlessly, jolted awake from a nightmare. After a moment to compose himself, he felt his body had finally eased up. He heard no sounds in the room—had Fu Yan left?

Not bothering to put on a jacket, Du Yang slipped on his slippers and opened the door to the living room.

The living room was quiet and tidy; Fu Yan was not there.

He heard a faint noise coming from the guest bathroom. Du Yang approached and lifted his hand to knock on the bathroom door.

After two knocks, the bathroom door opened.

Just as Du Yang was about to speak, he saw what Fu Yan was holding, and his cheeks instantly turned bright red.

----------------------------------------