Chapter 136 IF Line: Raised in the Palm 3

Chapter 136 If Line: Raised in His Palm 3

Fu Yan dropped his gaze, his eyes landing on the small hand gripping his wrist.

Though very thin, it had surprising strength, clutching his wrist tightly as if clinging to a lifeline.

Before Du Yang was stolen away by Qin Yue, he had been the Lu family's treasured young master. Fu Yan had only seen Du Yang as a child in photo albums.

Pink and fair, with big beautiful eyes, chubby and soft—a perfect little cherub.

During his four years with the Du family, Du Yang had grown very thin, his body covered in a patchwork of old and new scars.

His chest ached, and Fu Yan felt his throat tighten.

Seeing that Fu Yan didn't answer right away, Du Yang's heart suddenly jumped into his throat.

Afraid his brother would abandon him, his voice trembled with pleading. "Brother, please don't go."

He didn't want to go back to that home. His father and grandmother always beat and scolded him, often leaving him without food.

Fu Yan set down the bowl, leaned forward toward the child, and cupped Du Yang's small face with his large, well-proportioned hands, vowing seriously.

"Yangyang, your brother will never leave you, I promise."

"Do you believe your brother, Yangyang?"

His big, clear eyes welled up with tears. Du Yang pressed his small lips together tightly and nodded hard, trying not to cry.

Fu Yan was amused by his brave act, picked up the bowl again, and said, "Let's finish up the porridge."

Du Yang took the bowl from Fu Yan's hands with both hands, tilted his little head back, and slurped down the remaining porridge.

"Brother, you eat too. I can eat by myself."

Du Yang picked up another pair of chopsticks and handed them to Fu Yan. "I won't be a bother, brother. I can sweep and mop, wash dishes and clothes. Brother, if you let me stay, I can work!"

The little boy spoke with a firm tone, his big round eyes showing a cautious eagerness to please.

A nine-year-old knowing how to do so much—Fu Yan didn't find it impressive at all. Instead, he felt heartache and pity.

Uncle Zhang, listening nearby, felt a silent ache in his heart too.

What decent family would make a child so young do laundry, mop floors, and wash dishes?

This child the young master had brought back was at most seven or eight.

And covered in so many wounds, left in a stairwell by his family to freeze.

People from a place like that—his family definitely weren't good people.

Fu Yan's gaze softened as he gently pinched the child's cheek. "You don't need to do any of that, Yangyang. Just rest and get better. Once you're well, I'll take you to my home."

The moment he heard he could go to his brother's home instead of his own, the child's eyes lit up with joy, a big smile spreading across his face.

His brother was so handsome and had given him such good food.

His brother really was sent by the Bodhisattva to save him.

Fu Yan unhurriedly ate what was left of Du Yang's meal, while Du Yang watched his brother eat, not blinking once.

His brother was handsome, and even eating looked graceful.

Butler Qi quickly cleared the dishes and had the auntie take them back to prepare dinner, while he went out to buy clothes for the child the young master had brought home.

"Yangyang, take another nap this afternoon. Sleeping more when you're sick helps you get better faster."

Fu Yan sat in the chair by the bed, tucking the blanket around Du Yang. "Your brother will stay right here with you. Sleep well."

Du Yang nodded, but kept his big round eyes fixed on Fu Yan, showing no sign of wanting to sleep.

Fu Yan sat by the window with his laptop open, taking care of company business. It was winter break, and he had been learning from his father since his freshman year.

Having been reborn, handling company affairs came easily to him.

Fu Yan had just opened his laptop when a certain child's poorly hidden stare became too obvious. He looked at Du Yang and, sure enough, the boy was still awake.

Fu Yan closed his laptop and asked softly, "Yangyang, why aren't you sleeping?"

The child in bed blinked, worry showing in his eyes. "I'm afraid that if I fall asleep, you'll disappear."

This was a good sign—the little guy was starting to depend on him.

Fu Yan's eyes crinkled with a smile as he placed his hand next to Du Yang's. "Then Yangyang can hold my hand while you sleep, and your brother won't disappear. Okay?"

"Okay, thank you, brother."

His small, thin hand gently wrapped around Fu Yan's middle finger, and this time, the little boy in bed finally closed his eyes, at peace.

Having spent the whole night in the stairwell, Du Yang had been too scared to sleep much. On top of that, he had a high fever, and sick kids get sleepy easily. He had been forcing himself to stay awake until now.

Within five minutes, his breathing evened out, and he was fast asleep.

Even in sleep, his little hand didn't let go of Fu Yan's finger. Fu Yan didn't pull away either—one hand resting on the bed, the other busy with work.

By dinner, Du Yang was in noticeably better spirits. Sitting up in the hospital bed, he scooped spoonful after spoonful of shrimp and pork porridge into his mouth.

He had never eaten porridge this good at the Du family's home. It was the first time Du Yang knew porridge could taste so delicious.

Seeing Du Yang focused only on the porridge, Fu Yan picked up a piece of bok choy and brought it to the child's lips. "Yangyang, eat some vegetables."

The child's round eyes instantly lit up with joy and barely hidden excitement. As if under a spell, he obediently opened his mouth and took a bite.

Chewing away, his cute eyes never left Fu Yan.

Fu Yan seemed to discover the joy of feeding him, and picked up a piece of fish to place in the child's mouth.

Butler Qi, watching from the side, was even more confused.

The young master always used serving chopsticks when eating with his parents. He would never use his own chopsticks to feed someone else.

Could this really be the future lady of the Fu family?

None of this was normal.

"Grandpa, can I have another bowl?" Du Yang held up his white porcelain bowl, looking at Butler Qi hopefully.

This grandpa had been serving the food earlier, so he knew there was still porridge left.

Butler Qi's old heart melted. Such an adorable child—he would give him ten bowls if he asked.

Ultimately, the decision rested with the young master, for the Fu family's future was his, and he was the one who had taken the child.

Catching the silent approval from his young master, Butler Qi took the bowl and scooped out another small portion of congee for Du Yang.

That evening, Fu Yan sent Butler Qi back, deciding to stay at the hospital to look after Du Yang.

Du Yang still had a slight fever at night, his little belly slightly rounded from the meal, and content and sleepy, he was ready to doze off again.

"Yangyang, you need to take a bath and brush your teeth before sleeping."

Fu Yan grabbed the little bunny slippers he'd bought that afternoon, knelt down to help the child put them on, and led him into the bathroom.

After setting the hot water and laying out the toiletries, Fu Yan turned to leave.

A soft, tiny hand caught his finger. The child looked up with wide eyes, his voice full of pleading.

"Brother, can you stay here with me and not go?"

Little Du Yang thought he was still dreaming, afraid that if he shut the door to shower and came out, the dream would end and the handsome brother would disappear.

Fu Yan lowered his gaze to those watery eyes, seeing fear, hope, and a hint of pleading.

In his past life, Du Yang had never made such a request. Before they could even see each other one last time, Du Yang had burned to death with Grandma Lu at the Lu residence.

Fu Yan couldn't bring himself to refuse Du Yang's request; he also wanted to stay by the child's side at all times.

He was still so young, just a child—what was there to be embarrassed about?

Fu Yan agreed readily, reaching out to gently pinch the little guy's cheek. "Alright, brother won't leave. I'll stay here with you."

"Thank you, brother." The child's joy was plain to see, a smile immediately lighting up his eyes.

Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Fu Yan watched with interest as the child brushed his teeth seriously.

After brushing, Du Yang glanced at his brother again and began to undress, taking off his hospital gown. Once all his clothes were off, he realized there was nowhere to put them—the rack was too high for him.

So the child held up his clothes to Fu Yan. "Brother, can you hold my clothes for me? I'll be quick in the shower."

Fu Yan's gaze darkened slightly as he took the hospital gown, averting his eyes a little.

The child really didn't treat him as an outsider, showing no guard at all.

Yet at the same time, a wave of warmth surged in his heart.

The sound of splashing water filled the room, and Fu Yan's gaze unconsciously drifted back to the prominent bruises on Du Yang's body.

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