Lin Yichu gripped the arms of the soft chair with both hands, his voice tense as he asked, “How did you end up with Chief Liang? Where have you been all these years? When did you come back?”
Three minutes earlier, the meeting had ended. Lin Yichu had shot Wen Yan a meaningful glance. Secretary Cheng had been trailing behind Liang Shijing, reporting on some work matters at the time. Wen Yan had seized the chance to slip quietly out of the Chief’s Suite, and Lin Yichu had led him straight to his office in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Lin Yichu had been classmates and close friends with Wen Zecheng. After graduation, the two of them had entered government service together. Lin Yichu was known for his kindly, generous nature. Back when Wen Yan was a child, he had often come and gone from the Wen Family home, so he had watched the boy grow up with his own eyes.
“Uncle Lin, how did you know I’d ‘returned’?” Wen Yan gazed at him in bewilderment.
Traces of age had etched themselves into the corners of Lin Yichu’s eyes, and the white hair at his temples stood out starkly. He wore a sharply tailored black suit, a crisp pocket square folded neatly at his chest. His face was angular and deeply lined, but age had marked him unmistakably—he had grown old, so visibly old.
If Wen Zecheng hadn’t died… he might look just like this by now, wouldn’t he?
“It’s a long story. I’ll explain later. But first, tell me—how did you end up with the Chief? What’s your relationship with him?” Lin Yichu’s mild voice carried a note of urgency.
“There’s no relationship. I’m just temporarily useful to him… We don’t have anything between us.” Wen Yan explained in a quiet voice.
“Does he need you, or is he using you?” Lin Yichu pressed.
“Using me, I guess.” Wen Yan said hesitantly. “He never hurt me because of my father. He’s been good to me.”
As for what had happened that rainy night, Liang Shijing had more than enough reason and evidence to throw him in prison. But he hadn’t. Instead, he had raised Liang Wangyou well and treated Wen Yan well too, providing a life of comfort and plenty without a single want. The mere fact that none of the servants at Oak Bay dared to slight him was proof enough of the respect Liang Shijing showed him.
“That’s good, that’s good.” Lin Yichu relaxed at last, leaning back into his chair with a long sigh. “Back then, when Zecheng met with that sudden accident and you vanished right along with him, I searched high and low but couldn’t find a trace of you. I kept fearing the worst had happened. Six years went by like that, and thank heaven you’re safe and sound…”
“But why are you with the Chief?”
Wen Yan lacked the courage to speak the true reason aloud. He pressed his lips together, his eyes slowly turning red.
“Never mind, never mind.” Lin Yichu waved the question away, his expression turning grave. “As long as you’re doing well, that’s all that matters. I won’t pry into the rest. But there’s one thing you have to tell me.”
“How exactly did your father die? Why was his death announced before the trial even happened?”
“Suicide.” Wen Yan’s lips trembled as he answered.
“The National Security Office has security tighter than a drum. And Liang Shijing—how could he let something like that happen?” Lin Yichu said, incredulous.
“I don’t know. Liang Shijing was the one who told me.” Wen Yan replied softly.
Lin Yichu let out another deep sigh. “I see. It must be that way, then. Where is his grave?”
“I don’t know…”
“Where have you been these past few years? Who were you with? Were you safe? Where do you live now? Have you been mistreated?”
Wen Yan wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. “I’ve been living in the safe house my father arranged for me. Now I’m at Oak Bay. It’s safe, and no one’s mistreated me.”
“It’s for Liang Wangyou, isn’t it?” Lin Yichu asked intently.
“How do you know about him?!”
“The story starts three years ago.” Lin Yichu gave a wry smile. “I got transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and started working here. As you know, you don’t see the Chief unless there’s important business. That day, I was in my office when he suddenly walked in holding Liang Wangyou. I was stunned. When did he have a kid? And that child—he looked just like you!”
“Just like me?” Wen Yan clutched the armrests fiercely. He had always thought Liang Wangyou resembled neither Liang Shijing nor himself. To hear Lin Yichu say otherwise struck him as utterly inconceivable.
“Yes. Back then, Liang Wangyou’s face was the spitting image of yours as a little boy.” Lin Yichu went on. “The Chief came in without a word, set him down on the carpet. Liang Wangyou was such an outgoing little thing—he crawled right over to me.” A fond smile warmed his face at the memory. “He was babbling away, playing around me. I figured he couldn’t talk yet, but after listening a bit, I realized he kept repeating ‘Daddy’.”
Wen Yan let out a choked sob and clapped a hand over his mouth.
“What a clever, lovable child.” Lin Yichu said. “Right then, Chief Liang asked if I knew where you were.”
“I was shocked and overjoyed. Yes, I hadn’t been wrong—Liang Wangyou was your son, and you were still alive. I asked him why he wanted to know, but he wouldn’t explain. He just demanded an answer. I had no idea what had passed between you two, or even where you were. He fell silent for a moment, then picked up Liang Wangyou and left.”
“Now that I look back, he must have been searching for you.” Lin Yichu’s face grew solemn. “Little Yan, I know you have your reasons. That’s fine. But if you want to do something about it, Uncle will stand by you.”
“Thank you, Uncle Lin. Liang Shijing never hurt me. It’s me who wronged him. It’s all my fault.” Wen Yan caught his meaning and choked on a painful sob.
“What your father did had nothing to do with you. He may have already paid a price we can only guess at. You need to live well—you’re a good kid.” Lin Yichu’s eyes reddened too. “Thank heaven you’re alive. Thank heaven you’re still alive and well…”
A knock sounded at the door. Cheng Zhu pushed it open. “Mr. Wen, the Chief is waiting for you to have lunch.”
Wen Yan hurriedly dried his tears.
“Go on. Come see me whenever you can.” Lin Yichu nodded and murmured.
The Chief Office Restaurant already had a two-person lunch laid out. Liang Shijing sat at the table, plainly having waited some time. Wen Yan took the seat beside him in silence.
“You’ve been crying.” Liang Shijing glanced at him and said softly.
“Yes.” Wen Yan stared at the chopstick rest in front of him. “Liang Shijing… That year I left, you were already sick, weren’t you?”
Why else would Liang Shijing have looked for him?
Why force him to stay by his side now?
“What did you talk about?” Liang Shijing stirred his soup tureen unhurriedly, turning the question back on him.
Wen Yan realized he couldn’t steer the man. Someone as sharp as Liang Shijing simply skipped questions he saw no need to answer—but in skipping, he had given his reply all the same. Wen Yan understood. He wanted to know where Wen Zecheng was buried too, but he simply didn’t have the nerve to ask.
Liang Shijing had never hidden bringing him to the Chief’s Mansion from anyone. In a flash, it clicked for Wen Yan. So Liang Shijing had known from the start that he’d cross paths with Lin Yichu—or perhaps he’d seated him in that compartment just to make sure they did?
Lin Yichu was one of the few people left in the world who truly cared about him. Not only had Liang Shijing refrained from obstructing them from learning about each other—he had even taken the initiative to make arrangements.
In truth, Liang Shijing was a good man.
“Thank you,” Wen Yan said softly.
“Finally smart for once,” Liang Shijing remarked flatly.
Wen Yan offered a serene smile, his eyes curving slightly at the corners. A faint dimple appeared on his left cheek, and his face, nourished by recent meals after returning from the wilds, had gained a healthy flush. His skin was fair and smooth.
Liang Shijing gazed at him for two seconds before lowering his eyes.
Wen Yan quietly ate his meal, thinking that these peaceful days were just perfect. Little You could grow up safe and healthy, and Liang Shijing’s condition would fully recover thanks to his pheromones. It had been ages since he’d felt this sense of fulfillment. He wasn’t greedy—a little contentment was better than chasing everything. Nothing could be better than this…
“So happy?” Liang Shijing asked.
Wen Yan suppressed a smile at the corner of his mouth. “A little.”
“No one here will restrict your movements, and you’re no stranger to the place. If you want to go out, just go.”
The implication was crystal clear: if he wanted to see Lin Yichu, he should.
“Does it matter if you can’t get pheromones for a while?” Wen Yan asked.
“Then will you sleep with me?” Liang Shijing replied.
“Hm?”
It took Wen Yan a moment to process what Liang Shijing meant. Right—he didn’t seem to need his pheromones every moment of the day. After all, he hadn’t required Wen Yan to provide them even during sleep.
Wen Yan schooled his expression into seriousness. What if Liang Shijing wanted him to sleep alongside him? That wouldn’t do. He could endure the pain, but he couldn’t bear the thought of standing by the bed without sleeping…
If it came to that, would Liang Shijing make him stand there all night?
“Fool,” Liang Shijing delivered his sharp verdict once more.
“Sorry.” Wen Yan buried his head in his bowl and ate…
After lunch, he slipped into the restroom and quietly swallowed two painkillers he’d swiped from the laboratory. Then he turned the neck ring’s one-way pheromone release to its highest setting. He’d already taken painkillers today, but at maximum output, he needed an extra dose.
A little pain was nothing. Being able to do something for Liang Shijing in his final days was more than enough.
During the brief lunch break, Liang Shijing continued handling official business from behind his desk. Wen Yan returned to his side and sat down, silently scooting a bit closer.
The more pheromones Liang Shijing absorbed, the faster he’d recover!
Liang Shijing clearly noticed the movement. He turned his face toward Wen Yan. “Should’ve let you see him sooner.”
Wen Yan sensed a hint of displeasure in him, a touch of reluctance. He was about to slide his chair back when Liang Shijing spoke. “Stay like that.”
For some reason, in that moment, Wen Yan felt that Liang Shijing was pleased. His expression hadn’t changed, but Wen Yan was certain of it.
The rest of the afternoon passed without a word between them. Wen Yan spaced out while Liang Shijing worked. At exactly five o’clock, Liang Shijing tossed his pen onto the desk like a boss punching out after slacking off. “Let’s go.”
The car drove for a while before Wen Yan realized they weren’t heading back to Oak Bay. He peered out the window. “Aren’t we going home to Oak Bay?”
“First, we’re picking up Liang Wangyou from school,” Liang Shijing said, reclining against the seatback with the back of his bent fingers resting against his thin lips. He drawled lazily, “Then we’ll take him to the aquarium, and finally head home.”
Wen Yan’s eyes lit up.
“Not hating my guts anymore?” Liang Shijing eyed him steadily.
“Never again,” Wen Yan replied with a sweet smile. “You’re the best.”
