Chu Yi was truly afraid. He had seen with his own eyes President Yu get engulfed by the Man-Eating Flower King’s energy and vanish alongside it. Big Brother Yu had also said that the man remained unconscious… He feared returning to find only a soulless shell, a body that would never wake again.
Thus, upon seeing President Yu standing there perfectly fine, one could imagine his immense joy!
He even ignored everything around him, including Liu Shengqing trailing behind Father Yu, and Yu Zhensheng, whose eyes suddenly widened.
However, noticing Yu Minchen turn his head at the sound, Yu Zhensheng awkwardly cleared his throat with a fist to his mouth. “Cough!”
Yu Qingxian snapped back to his senses from that light cough. He felt himself tightly encircled by a pair of strong arms, the grip so firm as if Chu Yi were reluctant to let him go.
There was still a faint scent of a recent bath on him—it seemed he had hurriedly showered on the way back before rushing to the hospital to see him.
Yu Qingxian felt a bit embarrassed. But recalling the anger and heartbreak from his dream, he empathized deeply and pushed Chu Yi away with some force.
Chu Yi: “…”
“Sorry, I…” got too hasty.
It was the first time in two lifetimes that he cared so much about someone, especially after they had shared intimacy that night. It became hard for him to view the other with his previous detachment.
He hadn’t realized it before, but this time, rushing back had been a heat-of-the-moment decision. He hadn’t thought about anything and ignored all advice.
Chu Yi’s lips moved. He wanted to say some sweet words to coax him—after all, President Yu had gotten injured because of him, so soothing him wasn’t overstepping, right?
But upon lifting his head and meeting Yu Qingxian’s cool features and the complexity in his eyes, Chu Yi’s surging enthusiasm gradually cooled… Had President Yu realized how dangerous it was to get close to him? Was this look meant to signal distance?
Chu Yi froze for a moment, a chill settling in his heart.
Yu Zhensheng didn’t know what was going on between them, but that didn’t stop him from helping to clear the room. “Dad, don’t you have something to attend to? Why are you still here? Have you changed your mind and decided to stay and keep Little Xian company?”
If someone else had said this with a smile, it might have served as a gentle way to defuse the tension. But Big Brother Yu had no such intention—his lips even curled with a hint of mockery… He had already made it clear before: Yu Minchen was a thoroughly unqualified father. Yu Qingxian had practically been raised by Big Brother Yu himself. This remark was nothing short of sarcasm.
As expected, Yu Minchen snorted coldly. “Let’s go.”
Chu Yi and Yu Qingxian had only embraced for about ten seconds. He hadn’t noticed anything special between them, merely wondering when his third son had made such a friend.
He knew Kang Zeyu had pursued Yu Qingxian for three years. With such excellent conditions, their family’s third son hadn’t agreed, and Yu Minchen had tacitly accepted that he didn’t like men.
Yu Minchen himself played around a lot, but only with women. He had little presence at home. Once the children grew up, he liked to wield fatherly authority and meddle in their affairs.
He had previously scorned Kang Zeyu’s pursuit of Yu Qingxian, but since Yu Qingxian didn’t cooperate, he had made a fool of himself.
Big Brother Yu was afraid he would start ranting again, so he deliberately shooed him away—they didn’t need to fear this father, but letting him stay and offend Chu Yi would be unwise.
Chu Yi wasn’t an ordinary person. If he ended up teaching the old lecher a lesson, whose side would they take?
Moreover, he could tell something was off between his brother and Chu Yi. The situation was already puzzling enough; letting the old man stir things up would be a disaster.
Liu Shengqing, however, refused to heed Yu Minchen’s words this time. He quickly said, “Dad, wait for me a bit. I’ll go say hello!”
With that, he turned back, his steps hurried.
“Do as you please. I’m heading down first!” Yu Minchen snapped irritably. He had swallowed a bellyful of anger at his eldest son’s place and had no desire to return to those cold faces. He stormed into the elevator with a dark expression.
“Dad—!” Liu Shengqing hadn’t expected him to be so impatient, even unwilling to wait a few minutes. He frowned and called out, but the elevator doors had already closed.
Liu Shengqing turned back and noticed Chu Yi had picked up on the commotion here. He no longer cared.
“Yi Ge, what a coincidence.” He licked his lips and walked over with some anticipation.
He believed Chu Yi had heard him call Yu Minchen “Dad.” What would his reaction be?
Chu Yi was indeed surprised. “So you and President Yu are…”
Upon closer inspection of their features, the three men did share similarities. But he hadn’t thought in that direction before. Liu Shengqing, Yu Zhensheng, and Yu Qingxian didn’t share the same mother, so he couldn’t discern the connection from physiognomy alone.
Liu Shengqing’s handsome face turned toward Chu Yi, his eyes lighting up unbelievably. Chu Yi remained oblivious and even sized him up… Yu Qingxian’s face darkened. “I’m a bit tired and want to rest. You all carry on.”
He had forgotten that besides attracting him, Chu Yi had also drawn in a Liu Shengqing!
Chu Yi had rejected him straightforwardly, but what about Liu Shengqing? Had he rejected him too?
A sour feeling bubbled up in Yu Qingxian’s heart. The words slipped out, and he regretted them instantly, but with no way to back down, he turned and walked inside.
However, Yu Qingxian was clever. He didn’t walk too fast and even perked up his ears to eavesdrop. Hearing Chu Yi quickly brush off Liu Shengqing and chase after him, his heart instantly felt at ease—good, he knew his place!
