Wen Yu’s worry was completely unnecessary. After opening his eyes, Fu Chen let out a silly chuckle and promptly closed them again.
Gently wiping away that trace of moisture from Fu Chen’s face, Wen Yu took it as wiping it away for his past self.
By the time they got Fu Chen back home, it was already very late. Not wanting to disturb anyone else, Wen Yu simply carried Fu Chen upstairs all by himself. An Alpha’s physical build was indeed vastly different from that of a Beta or an Omega, but fortunately, Wen Yu was accustomed to doing heavy manual labor since childhood, so he genuinely managed to haul Fu Chen up to the second-floor bedroom entirely on his own.
Even so, the commotion still woke a maid. The maid hurriedly helped Wen Yu change Fu Chen’s clothes. Apprehensive that Fu Chen might vomit during the night, she intended to stay on watch by his side, but Wen Yu told her to go back and rest, assuring her that he would take full responsibility for looking after Fu Chen.
When Fu Chen woke up the following day, he discovered that the adjacent bed was already empty. His head felt heavy and throbbing. Sitting up on the bed and massaging his temples, he pressed a bedside button used for summoning the servants and requested that water be brought up.
Fu Chen didn’t have much recollection of the events from the previous night, and he was surprised to find that his clothes had actually been changed; he was wearing a bathrobe instead.
Then, he also spotted a neatly stacked bundle of cash on the bedside table.
A maid soon entered carrying a glass of honey water.
Gazing at the honey water and then glancing back at the maid, Fu Chen listened as she explained, “Xiao Yu said the young master drank quite a bit of alcohol last night, and it is best to drink a glass of honey water upon waking up.”
Xiao Yu? So he was already calling him Xiao Yu.
“Xiao Yu stayed up and took care of the young master the entire night, you know,” the maid added.
Without a word, Fu Chen picked up the glass of honey water and walked over to the bedroom balcony. After taking a sip, he instructed the maid, “You may leave.”
“Yes.”
Fu Chen’s bedroom balcony looked directly out over the front yard. Lowering his gaze, he saw Wen Yu down below, lowering his head as he watered the flowers. Uncle Chen was standing nearby, saying something and apparently teaching Wen Yu how to properly water this newest variety of plants.
After putting down the watering can, Wen Yu said something else, prompting Uncle Chen to break into a bright, joyful smile, looking thoroughly pleased.
Meanwhile, the cook was moving today’s fresh ingredients in the yard. Wen Yu walked over to help carry a few items, and the cook smiled as she chatted with him. Working together in full cooperation, the two of them carried the ingredients into the kitchen.
Fu Chen drained his glass of honey water in a single gulp.
Unexpectedly, Shen Yuqing came back this weekend. Ever since returning to the Fu household, Shen Yuqing rarely seemed to stay there long.
Especially now that he was serving as the Student Union President at Alliance University, holding the distinction of being the first freshman in the university’s history to hold the post, a position reportedly secured through the strong recommendation of the previous Student Union President.
During the very first month of the semester, Shen Yuqing had been rushed off his feet every single day, seemingly keeping himself intentionally busy to avoid having too much idle time. After more than a month and under the barrage of Shen Wanjun’s repeated phone calls, he finally found the time to return.
Hearing that Shen Yuqing was coming back today, Fu Chengze and Shen Wanjun specially instructed the butler to prepare an exceptionally lavish lunch.
Perhaps because he was still feeling unwell from drinking the night before, Fu Chen didn’t even go out.
This marked the first time Wen Yu dined together with all the members of the Fu family.
Seated directly opposite Shen Yuqing, Wen Yu focused entirely on his meal. He could feel Shen Yuqing’s heavy gaze fixed upon him, but he had no choice except to pretend he remained completely oblivious.
Regarding his past relationship with Shen Yuqing, Wen Yu did not deny that he once held genuine affection for him. After all, back then, Wen Yu had believed they belonged to the same world. To him, Shen Yuqing was simply a neighbor’s older brother, and those budding romantic sentiments had indeed felt quite wonderful.
At the time, Wen Yu even found it amusing how such a coincidence could happen, with two illegitimate children ending up as neighbors.
After Wen Xiaohui passed away and Wen Yu was taken back into the Zhou family, their paths crossed again in the Zhou family’s backyard.
Wen Yu was being ridden like a dog by Shen Yuqing’s cousin, Zhou Yu’an. Acting almost out of his mind at that moment, Shen Yuqing flew into a rage and beat Zhou Yu’an up.
Back then, Wen Yu actually felt a sense of quiet distress. He didn’t feel happy or vindicated by Zhou Yu’an getting thrashed, because Shen Yuqing wouldn’t stay by his side forever; every single punch Shen Yuqing threw at Zhou Yu’an would ultimately be repaid tenfold upon his own body.
When Shen Yuqing inspected Wen Yu’s injuries, he saw bruises covering Wen Yu’s entire body until hardly any unblemished skin remained.
That was the first time Wen Yu ever saw Shen Yuqing shed tears.
Shen Yuqing told Wen Yu that he could turn to him for help whenever he needed anything. By that time, Shen Yuqing had already been welcomed back into the Fu family, and Shen Wanjun had entered the household through the front door with full legitimacy. It was then that Wen Yu belatedly realized that although both of them were illegitimate children, the chasm between their standings was immense.
It turned out not all illegitimate children were treated like him; disparities clearly existed even among illegitimate offspring.
The relationship between Shen Wanjun and Shen Yazhi wasn’t actually all that close, yet Shen Yuqing still frequented the Zhou family residence to check in on his maternal aunt before walking straight back to the courtyard.
Whenever Shen Yuqing visited, Wen Yu’s life would become noticeably easier. Every time he came, Shen Yuqing would check for any new injuries on Wen Yu’s body and tutor him on school subjects he struggled with, making it feel as though the two of them had returned to the days when they lived together in that run-down apartment complex.
Reflecting on it, Wen Yu figured his brain must have been flooded back then. Blinded by the illusion of the past meticulously crafted by Shen Yuqing, he acted on impulse and accepted Shen Yuqing’s confession, completely overlooking the massive chasm dividing their realities.
In truth, being officially together changed very little. Wen Yu still called him Brother Yuqing, and Shen Yuqing addressed him as Xiao Yu just the same.
Shen Yuqing had declared that he disliked the Fu family, promising that once he got into Alliance University, he would work hard to earn money. He said that when Wen Yu reached college age as well, the two of them could rent an apartment near campus, step into marriage just like ordinary people, and build a family of their own.
Growing old together, just like most couples.
Hearing Shen Yuqing map out their future, Wen Yu’s eyes had lit up with hope, especially when Shen Yuqing spoke of building a home with him, since a home held an irresistible temptation for someone like Wen Yu.
Wen Yu never anticipated that Shen Yuqing would plan so far ahead.
The promises of youth always sounded so enchanting, resembling illusory soap bubbles, captivating to look at yet bursting at the slightest touch.
Back then, both of them had been completely immersed in sweet fantasies about the future, ignoring the menacing reality lurking around them.
They also forgot that someone of Shen Yuqing’s background, his very person and his purported affection, would ultimately only bring harm to others.
“I don’t like the Zhou family either, and I want to take Xiao Ling away with me,” Wen Yu had said.
“Alright,” Shen Yuqing had smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to Wen Yu’s forehead.
After finishing lunch, Wen Yu helped Uncle Chen water the flowers in the courtyard. Suddenly, a shadow fell over him from the side. Without turning his head, Wen Yu continued watering the plants with intense focus.
“Have you been well lately?” It was that familiar, gentle voice accompanied by a faint, clean scent of pine wood.
“Quite well,” Wen Yu replied with lowered brow and lowered gaze, refusing to look at Shen Yuqing.
Shen Yuqing gazed at Wen Yu’s slender, graceful figure. As a gentle breeze swept past, his clothes fluttered, revealing the fair and slender line of his waist.
There were countless things he wanted to say. The moment he heard that Fu Chen had marked Wen Yu during the engagement banquet, Shen Yuqing knew everything was hurtling headlong toward collapse, while also understanding with chilling clarity that he was completely powerless to change any of it.
“Xiao Yu.” Shen Yuqing called out to him, just as he had countless times in the past.
Wen Yu uttered a soft hum of acknowledgment by way of response.
“Give me a little more time, and I will take you away. I will take you away from here.” Shen Yuqing caught Wen Yu’s delicate wrist. His tone sounded calm, yet Wen Yu could feel him trembling.
Falling silent for a brief moment, Wen Yu turned his face to look at him.
Instead of mocking Shen Yuqing’s wild talk, Wen Yu simply looked at him calmly, his voice devoid of fluctuation: “Brother Yuqing, I actually gave you a chance.”
“When I was at my most helpless, I did come to look for you.”
Back then, Cheng Xiaoling’s medical treatment required money, and Wen Yu had swallowed his pride to seek help from Shen Yuqing.
What Wen Yu received in return was two slaps across the face from Shen Wanjun, a torrent of verbal abuse, and the news that Shen Yuqing was getting engaged, while he stood in the courtyard locking eyes with Shen Yuqing up on the second-floor balcony.
Cheng Xiaoling’s illness could not be delayed, and Wen Yu had no one else left to turn to. In the end, he accepted Shen Yazhi’s proposition.
A sharp pang stabbed through Shen Yuqing’s heart. “I am sorry, I am sorry Xiao Yu.”
Initially, Wen Yu had harbored some resentment toward Shen Yuqing, but he quickly came to terms with it. Shen Yuqing and he simply did not belong to the same world; it was his own wishful thinking that had caused it.
He didn’t blame Shen Yuqing. He only blamed himself for being too naive, wondering how he could have ever pinned the hopes of his wretched life onto Shen Yuqing.
Even now, Wen Yu shuddered to think how close he had come to relying on someone else. Fortunately, although he used to be terribly naive, his capacity for introspection and analyzing mistake patterns was quite strong, meaning he would never commit the exact same error twice.
“You don’t need to apologize to me.” Wen Yu suddenly smiled, looking almost embarrassed. “There is no rule saying someone must apologize just because they were asked for help and declined. It was my own affair to begin with. I shouldn’t have bothered you back then and caused you trouble. I am sorry, Brother Yuqing.”
Wen Yu’s words were no different from a knife twisting in Shen Yuqing’s heart, effectively invalidating their past romance.
For the most part, Wen Yu remained exceptionally calm and easygoing.
He had long since grown accustomed to using this detached attitude to confront all the hardships life threw at him, since it was an instinctive self-preservation mechanism of living creatures. Wen Yu couldn’t afford to dwell too deeply on the whys, or else he wouldn’t be able to keep living.
“Don’t be like this, Xiao Yu.” Shen Yuqing couldn’t bear to see Wen Yu act this way. “Please don’t be like this. I love you, I have always loved you. Don’t say things like that.”
“I haven’t congratulated you in person yet, Brother Yuqing. Happy engagement. You and Ms. Cheng are truly a well-matched pair, and I wish you both happiness.” A genuinely radiant smile bloomed at the corners of Wen Yu’s lips, though his expression remained utterly ice-cold.
“Let’s not dredge up things from the past anymore, alright?” Pulling his wrist free from Shen Yuqing’s grasp, Wen Yu had no intention of continuing to reminisce about bygone days with him here.
Shen Yuqing embraced Wen Yu from behind. Though Wen Yu didn’t struggle at all, Shen Yuqing held him fiercely tight, as if wanting to fuse Wen Yu completely into his own body.
“Back then, my mother said as long as I got engaged to Cheng Xinyou, she would give you the money. I knew you needed money, but I had no choice, Xiao Yu. I had to agree to her at the time. I never expected you would go looking for my maternal aunt, and that she would force you to undergo a gland transplant surgery.” Flustered, Shen Yuqing pulled Wen Yu even tighter. “It’s all my fault, Xiao Yu. I was useless and let you resort to such surgery just to scrape together money.”
“Cheng Xinyou has someone she likes too, and we agreed beforehand that neither of us will interfere with the other. No matter what you’ve become, I still love you. Forget being a low-grade Omega, I would love you even if you were a Beta. Can’t we go back to how things were before? Xiao Yu, you still love me too, don’t you?”
“Haven’t you always wanted to leave the Zhou family? I’ll take you away, I’ll take you away from here. Xiao Yu, give me a little time, and I’ll arrange everything properly. Won’t you wait for me?” Shen Yuqing’s tone was laced with a plea. To think that the Fu family’s eldest young master, usually so poised, capable, and impeccably self-disciplined in public, would reveal such panic-stricken expressions and adopt such a pitiful, humble tone, anyone else witnessing this scene would surely be stunned out of their minds.
“Brother Yuqing, you don’t need to do this,” Wen Yu said. “I just didn’t see things clearly in the past. Even if we cannot be lovers, we can still be family.”
“Didn’t I get engaged to Fu Chen? In the future, we might truly become family members.” Breaking free from Shen Yuqing’s embrace, Wen Yu turned around to face him with an all-inclusive, beaming smile. “You probably don’t know, but I share a room with Fu Chen now. If his condition requires a complete mark, who knows, I might actually end up marrying him and carrying on the family line for the Fu household.”
“When that time comes, our child will even have to call you uncle.” While Shen Yuqing loved dwelling on the past, Wen Yu decided to paint a picture of the future with him.
Every single word from Wen Yu felt like a sharp blade driving straight into Shen Yuqing’s chest, every syllable dripping with poison and carrying a freezing malice as it passed his lips.
Yet Wen Yu delivered it all with such calm, smiling composure, serving as the most vicious form of revenge.
Merely following the trajectory of Wen Yu’s words to imagine the scene he depicted filled Shen Yuqing with agonizing pain spreading through his entire body. Shen Yuqing’s eyes instantly reddened, and a lump formed in his throat as if blocked by something. Staring at Wen Yu, he found himself unable to utter a single word for a long, long time.
Meanwhile, Wen Yu caught sight of Fu Chen’s gaze meeting his through the window from inside the room.