Li Chen had suddenly decided to visit his ex-wife Ye Xueyao’s grave. Over the years, he hadn’t dared to go; during Lunar New Year or Qingming, he would send the kids instead, usually avoiding it himself to prevent old grief from resurfacing.
But this time, with Shen Yuan winning the competition, he was too happy. No matter what, he had to tell Xueyao, let her know that their child was doing well, and maybe, one day, he could become a capable jewelry designer like she had dreamed. He hadn’t planned to go until the weekend, but he couldn’t wait, so he took a break from work that noon, bought a bouquet of white lilies—her favorite—and headed to the cemetery.
He wanted to speak to Xueyao, to show that the child she’d raised had grown up well, that her expectations hadn’t been in vain.
It wasn’t a holiday or festival, and few came to the cemetery. As he looked around, the grounds were desolate, only lonely gravestones dotting the landscape. Carrying the bouquet, he climbed the steps, squinting against the glare. From a distance, he thought he saw two figures at Xueyao’s grave—backlit and vaguely familiar. Or maybe they were just another family.
A sudden, ominous feeling rose in his chest. As he drew closer, he realized the two were indeed at Xueyao’s grave—and he knew both of them.
One was his child; the other, his friend.
The flowers in Li Chen’s hands slipped to the ground in shock. He couldn’t believe his eyes—Qiao Hailou was holding Shen Yuan.
In an instant, everything clicked. He remembered all the small details he had overlooked: the luxury car parked below Shen Yuan’s home, the favors Qiao Hailou gave him during Shen Yuan’s internship, why Qiao Hailou risked himself to save Shen Yuan, and why Shen Yuan had tended to Qiao Hailou with tearful devotion after he was injured.
He should have realized it earlier! Li Chen’s vision darkened with anger. It wasn’t that he hadn’t seen such indecencies before—it was just that he had never imagined it coming from his own child and his friend.
Qiao Hailou had no record of chasing after men, and Li Chen had never known Shen Yuan’s sexual orientation.
This was… Li Chen could barely breathe from rage.
Shen Yuan froze, stiff for several seconds, mind blanked with shock. He never imagined being caught so unexpectedly—and at his mother’s grave, no less!
Eventually, Shen Yuan reacted. He instinctively tried to push Qiao Hailou away—but didn’t.
Qiao Hailou, sensing the tension, held him tighter, like guarding prey. Then he realized that being affectionate in front of Li Chen was pointless—it would only provoke him.
To truly have a future with Shen Yuan, he had to overcome Li Chen’s scrutiny.
But he hadn’t yet won Shen Yuan fully. Could he really compete with an uncle who had cared for him for years and earned his respect? Even knowing Shen Yuan’s feelings for Li Chen were filial rather than romantic, could he matter more than him? Perhaps with more time, he could deepen Shen Yuan’s love and gain confidence. But not now.
Still, given the circumstances, Qiao Hailou decided to claim the title while he could. He glanced at Shen Yuan and, before he could protest, took the initiative: “I’m here with Shen Yuan.”
Li Chen picked up the dropped flowers and strode over, eyes sharp, locking onto him. “What are you doing here? What gives you the right to say you’re accompanying Shen Yuan?”
Qiao Hailou, brazen as ever, replied: “I’m his boyfriend. I came with him.”
Shen Yuan shivered, pale, glancing at his uncle, then at Qiao Hailou, lips trembling, unable to speak. He had never seen Li Chen so furious, and being caught red-handed, he had no room for excuses.
Qiao Hailou was frightening in a different way—usually obedient to him, now holding him firmly. Any denial would be futile. Shen Yuan felt guilty; Qiao Hailou was a CEO who treated him so well, yet he remained an underground lover. He felt awful.
Li Chen, stunned at Qiao Hailou’s blunt confession, was livid. Not only was he shameless enough to call himself Shen Yuan’s boyfriend, he was calm about it!
Li Chen wanted to explode—he had introduced them! He had unknowingly set Shen Yuan up!
“Rubbish! You’re his boyfriend? How dare you?” Li Chen fumed, trembling with rage. “Look at your age—you could be his father! And you call yourself his boyfriend? I trusted you to care for my child, and this is how you do it?!”
Knowing Li Chen wouldn’t listen, Qiao Hailou tried to defend himself: “I didn’t force him. We’re mutually consenting.”
Shen Yuan, hearing this, stopped struggling. He was embarrassed, uneasy, but seeing Qiao Hailou so responsible and earnest in front of his uncle reassured him. Maybe Qiao Hailou wasn’t so bad; at least he would take responsibility when needed.
Li Chen ignored the explanation, scolding: “Mutually consenting, my foot! Shen Yuan is only nineteen, barely an adult! You call that mutual consent?!”
“Qiao Hailou, behave! Let go of my child!”
Qiao Hailou ignored him, holding him tighter. Shen Yuan’s palms were sweating.
Caught between both, Shen Yuan frowned, glancing at his uncle. “Uncle, I…”
Li Chen saw his attachment, face darkening further: “Shen Yuan, come here!”
Shen Yuan closed his mouth and turned to Qiao Hailou: “Please let me go home first.”
Seeing this, Qiao Hailou softened, sighed, and released him: “Alright, we’ll meet another day.”
Hesitant, Shen Yuan walked toward Li Chen. Li Chen drew him behind, like a mother hen protecting her chick, glaring at Qiao Hailou: “Another day? I won’t let you near my child again! You beast! Forget our prior collaborations.”
He dragged Shen Yuan to the car. Shen Yuan stole glances at Qiao Hailou.
Qiao Hailou remembered something unsaid, hurried forward: “Mr. Li, don’t be hard on Shen Yuan. It’s my fault, not his.”
Shen Yuan, hearing this, teared up. Qiao Hailou was still kind to him…
Li Chen turned back, yelling: “Of course it’s your fault! Shen Yuan is young and inexperienced, and you tricked him! How dare you? Don’t follow us! One more step and I’ll fight you!”
Qiao Hailou could handle a fight, but it would trouble Shen Yuan, and if he hurt Shen Yuan’s respected uncle, Shen Yuan would resent him.
He stopped, silently watching Li Chen drag Shen Yuan away.
Every situation has pros and cons.
From this, Qiao Hailou realized an opportunity.
Look—Shen Yuan, looking lonely and vulnerable, gazing at him with tender, pleading eyes, would soften. Now that the obstacle of Li Chen stood between them, if he handled it right, Shen Yuan would return to him.
Li Chen wouldn’t even sweep the grave. Why bother? How could he face Xueyao after this? It was his own doing—introducing Qiao Hailou to Shen Yuan had led to this mess.
Qiao Hailou was no saint.
Li Chen stuffed Shen Yuan into the car, dark-faced: “From now on, you stay home. No more living out. I’ll take you home, pack, and come with me.”
Shen Yuan didn’t argue: “Okay…”
Li Chen warned: “No more contact with Qiao Hailou! He’s not a good person! Don’t be deceived… Even if you like men, don’t choose someone like him! He’s older, his character’s flawed! Find someone appropriate.”
Shen Yuan thought: Didn’t you praise Qiao Hailou before, say he was admirable and self-made? Now his character’s bad? At least Uncle isn’t against me liking men—that’s comforting.
Li Chen added: “Once your admission comes, I’ll send you abroad. No more seeing that Qiao!”
He had to cut it off decisively. Any more meetings with Qiao Hailou would risk Shen Yuan further.
Shen Yuan mumbled in agreement.
He was reluctant to leave Qiao Hailou; he now mostly believed in his sincerity.
But feelings aside, studying abroad was inevitable. This period had been a dilemma. Saying he didn’t like Qiao Hailou was false, yet being with him seemed impossible—tangled, in-between, unresolved. The universe seemed to have decided for him.