On the third day of the New Year, an unexpected guest arrived at the restaurant.
At the time, Gu Fei wasn’t at the shop. Since it was the New Year and everyone was eating leftovers, there weren’t many customers. The fat guy was on holiday, and Zhou Zhou was sleeping in. Only Xu Fenli was there, and she was managing just fine on her own.
When she saw a customer enter, Xu Fenli smiled and welcomed him, wishing him a happy New Year.
The man smiled back and said, “Happy New Year.”
He was dressed in a Zhongshan suit, appeared to be in his sixties, with graying hair at his temples, wearing reading glasses, and had a kind, scholarly look.
Xu Fenli’s sharp eye could tell that he was someone of significance. As expected, the man asked, “Is Gu Fei here?”
Xu Fenli said that Gu Fei had gone out to meet friends.
The man nodded. “May I ask, who are you?”
“I’m his mother.”
The man nodded in realization, then leisurely adjusted his glasses.
Xu Fenli asked, “Are you a friend of Xiao Fei’s? Would you like me to call him?”
The man smiled and shook his head, straightening his collar as he said seriously, “I’m Xiao Fei’s father.”
Xu Fenli didn’t immediately react.
The man emphasized, “His biological father.”
That evening, while cooking dinner, Gu Fei noticed that Xu Fenli seemed distracted and asked her what was wrong.
Xu Fenli smiled and said it was nothing. When the dishes were served, Zhou Zhou eagerly began to eat, almost choking on Xu Fenli’s signature dish.
Xu Fenli lamented, “Oh no, I forgot to add salt, and I added too much the second time. Stop eating.”
All the dishes were either too salty, too sweet, or burnt. Gu Fei suggested they just cook a bowl of noodles, but Zhou Zhou wanted instant noodles and went downstairs to buy some.
Once Zhou Zhou left, Gu Fei asked again, “Mom, what’s really going on?”
Xu Fenli put down her chopsticks, paused for a moment, and said, “Xiao Fei, your dad came to the shop today.”
Gu Fei froze for two seconds, then asked in disbelief, “How did he come here?”
Xu Fenli chuckled, “It’s not Gu Dali, it’s your father, your real father.”
Gu Fei’s expression shifted. He asked urgently, “He—”
Xu Fenli quickly answered before Gu Fei could finish, “It’s the New Year. He came to see you and even brought some food and clothes for you. I’ve put them on the second floor of the restaurant.”
“Mom.”
Xu Fenli said seriously, “Xiao Fei, your dad said you’ve always refused to go back, and I think—”
“I think I’m fine now.” Gu Fei smiled. “Mom, isn’t it good for us to live like this?”
“It’s good, but…”
Gu Fei tightened his grip on her rough hand. “Don’t think too much. He’s my biological dad, but you’re also my mom.”
Xu Fenli’s nose tingled, and she had to hold back her tears.
She had already known that Gu Fei’s biological father had tried to reach out to him, but Gu Fei never went back and had never accepted any compensation from his biological father.
Xu Fenli then held Gu Fei’s hand in return. “He’s your real father, it’s only natural that he treats you well, and it’s only right for you to accept his kindness. I won’t feel uncomfortable about it. Don’t hesitate to accept your father’s good intentions because of me.”
Gu Fei was touched by Xu Fenli’s delicate heart and raised his hand to tuck the white hairs at her temple behind her ear, smiling. “It has nothing to do with you, don’t worry about it.”
Just then, Zhou Zhou returned, and Gu Fei stood up saying, “I’ll make the noodles, we’ll eat soon.”
On the fifth day of the New Year, Lin Hening was more eager than ever to return home. Finally, he dropped his father, Lin Youyu, off at the airport and rushed back to Yunzhou, luggage in hand.
The night before, when he had video-chatted with Gu Fei, Lin Hening told him the landing time for his flight. As soon as he came out of the arrival gate, he immediately spotted Gu Fei, standing out in the crowd.
Lin Hening eagerly rushed forward, but perhaps his quick steps and overjoyed smile made Gu Fei misinterpret his intentions. Gu Fei instinctively opened his arms, and Lin Hening quickly halted.
The moment became somewhat awkward.
With the atmosphere so good, it really didn’t seem right not to hug.
So, as Gu Fei lowered his arms, Lin Hening unexpectedly lunged forward for a big bear hug. Fortunately, Gu Fei was sturdy enough that even when Lin Hening collided with him full force, Gu Fei remained as firm as a mountain, unmovable.
Lin Hening smiled and asked, “You didn’t run here, right?”
“Mm, I drove here,” Gu Fei said. “Because you can’t run back with me.”
Lin Hening: “…”
Gu Fei said seriously, “Unless I carry you.”
Lin Hening: “…”
Gu Fei thought for a moment, “I’ll try it next time.”
Whether serious or joking, the mere thought of carrying over a hundred pounds for forty kilometers on rugged terrain was impressive in itself.
Once in the van, Lin Hening finally asked the question he’d been holding back for a long time, the one that made him both envious and a little jealous: “How did you build all that muscle?”
Then Gu Fei said the very words Lin Hening often said to others: “Oh, just, casually practiced.”
Just like that, a casual effort leads to top marks.
Just like that, a casual test leads to first place.
Lin Hening fell silent, realizing that talent was something you couldn’t envy.
Gu Fei, while driving, asked, “How about seafood pasta for dinner?”
“Sounds good,” Lin Hening, exhausted from the flight, leaned back against the seat. “Let’s eat at my place.”
Gu Fei turned the wheel and headed for the supermarket to buy ingredients.
He drove so smoothly that Lin Hening, who had been sighing in fatigue, quickly fell asleep. When he woke up, Gu Fei was opening the door. Lin Hening straightened up, a bit disoriented, and asked, “Are we at the supermarket?”
Gu Fei smiled, placing the shopping bags in the back. “I’ve already bought everything.”
“What?” Lin Hening hadn’t realized he’d slept so deeply. The long days of visiting relatives had drained him, and holidays were always tiring.
Also, what he didn’t mention was that the flight was originally in the evening, but he changed it to the morning to come back earlier.
Lin Hening turned to look at the bags Gu Fei had bought—three large bags, including rice, flour, and oil.
“I remember your kitchen is empty,” Gu Fei said, keeping his focus on the road. “I bought oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. The eggs weren’t fresh, so I didn’t buy them. I’ll get some from the restaurant tomorrow. They’re from an elderly woman in Xinghuaxiang who specializes in mountain eggs—pure, organic, and pesticide-free.”
Gu Fei went on, but since he didn’t hear an answer from Lin Hening, he thought he’d fallen asleep again. As the car stopped at a red light, he turned to look at him, only to find Lin Hening staring blankly ahead.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Fei asked.
Lin Hening didn’t respond right away. He simply felt overwhelmed by Gu Fei’s meticulous care for him. On the other hand, he felt guilty, realizing he hadn’t done a fraction as much for Gu Fei.
“Sorry,” Lin Hening said.
Gu Fei was stunned. “What?”
Due to work constraints, Lin Hening’s time wasn’t as flexible as Gu Fei’s, who, as a business owner, could take breaks whenever he wanted. Thinking about how he would eventually become the one being tolerated and accommodated, Lin Hening felt warmth in his heart but also felt uneasy about enjoying such one-sided gestures of care.
Love should be mutual.
Lin Hening said, “I’ll cook tonight.”
Gu Fei responded, “You still haven’t answered why you’re apologizing.”
Lin Hening found it hard to explain. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Well, you’re doing so much, and I feel bad just sitting back and enjoying it.”
For the first time, Gu Fei looked at Lin Hening with a questioning gaze. “Isn’t enjoying it supposed to be natural?”
Lin Hening hesitated, “But…”
“Lin Hening,” Gu Fei interrupted him firmly, “True love means you naturally enjoy the other person’s care and efforts. If you don’t, then it’s just being polite, not love.”
Lin Hening was stunned.
Gu Fei let go of the steering wheel and placed both hands on his lap. “It’s my problem.”
“Ah?”
“It’s my fault that you feel this way. I haven’t made you feel secure,” Gu Fei said.
The worry of receiving too much care and eventually tiring the other person out, causing them to walk away, made Lin Hening want to give back in return for the care he received.
Lin Hening didn’t expect his delicate and sensitive feelings to be so easily seen through by Gu Fei.
Gu Fei even took all the blame, saying it wasn’t Lin Hening’s sensitivity, but his own fault for not making him feel secure.
Lin Hening looked out the window for a long time, then said, “Rice, flour, and oil all have expiration dates, we’d better use them soon.”
Gu Fei wondered why Lin Hening was muttering about such trivial things, then heard him say, “Give me your hand.”
Gu Fei did as told, and a key fell into Lin Hening’s palm.
After the New Year holiday, Lin Hening returned to work. During the first week, he was swamped. The office coffee was disappearing at an astonishing rate, and Lin Hening, who used to be addicted to coffee, switched to milk tea. Every day at exactly 2:00 PM, the delivery man would arrive with a cup full of milk tea.
When Lin Hening ate too much for lunch, he would pour the milk tea into paper cups and share it with his colleagues, who were all amazed by its taste and asked where he bought it.
Lin Hening tried to suppress the smile creeping up his face and said, “You can’t buy it anywhere, it’s custom-made.”
Ever since Lin Hening mentioned wanting milk tea, Gu Fei had been experimenting with making it himself, dissatisfied with the unhealthy ingredients and artificial creamers used in milk tea shops. He’d adjusted the milk and sugar levels based on Lin Hening’s feedback, creating a special recipe for Lin Hening only.
The single people in the prosecutor’s office were all envious, and those in relationships were jealous.
On the phone, Lin Hening sighed, “It’s all your fault for being so perfect. It’s seriously affecting my relationships with my colleagues.”
Gu Fei laughed. “Well, what can I do? Let them understand.”
“If it really gets bad, I’ll send a few more deliveries to shut them up.”
Lin Hening laughed and asked, “So, you’re going to make them keep quiet by feeding them your food?”
Gu Fei replied, “I’ll make them linger and yearn for it. To get more of my takeout, they’ll have to treat you like royalty, afraid that if you give an order, they’ll end up on the black list of Xinghua Restaurant.”
Lin Hening laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
“What do you want for dinner tonight?”
“Small pot rice noodles, I’ll come to your place.”
“Alright.”
When work ended on time, Lin Hening drove to Xinghua Restaurant. As he was passing through the traffic light, he saw someone who seemed familiar.
However, since he was driving, Lin Hening didn’t pay much attention. As he neared Xinghua Restaurant, he saw Gu Fei standing at the entrance talking to someone.
Lin Hening first looked for a parking spot, and by the time he walked over, more than ten minutes had passed, and the person was still there.
The person appeared to be in his sixties, dressed very elegantly with a refined and dignified demeanor, like a highly respected scholar.
The “scholar” handed Gu Fei a card, and Lin Hening, with his sharp eyesight, clearly saw that it was a bank card.
But Gu Fei didn’t take it. Instead, he seemed to avoid it, stepping back as if to keep his distance.
The “scholar” froze for a moment, a slight sense of disappointment visible on his well-maintained face. He then put the card away and said something else. From the lip movements, it seemed like he was asking, “Is it your birthday?” and “Can you come?”
Gu Fei replied, “Depends on the situation.”
The “scholar’s” face lit up, and he said a few more polite words, smiling as he got into his Maybach and drove off.
“Gu Fei,” Lin Hening called out, walking over. He looked in the direction the Maybach had gone and asked, “Who was that?”
Gu Fei answered, “My dad.”
“Oh, huh?!” Lin Hening was caught off guard, staring wide-eyed.
It wasn’t that he was shocked Gu Fei had a father, but that this father looked nothing like the degenerate, violent, and corrupt man that the fat guy had described.
Gu Fei explained, “My biological father.”
That made sense.
Lin Hening relaxed, thinking it wasn’t that unbelievable. People can’t be judged by their appearances, but the difference was still surprising.
In terms of appearance, Gu Fei’s biological father seemed to have a high social status, which was evident from his refined aura, demeanor, and every gesture. Additionally, the fact that he drove a Maybach and had a chauffeur indicated that he was wealthy.
Lin Hening thought the man looked familiar, like he’d seen him somewhere before, but couldn’t quite place it.
Then he thought to himself, anyone he’d remember would either be a suspect or a victim, so it was better not to dwell on it—it felt ominous.
Lin Hening said, “So you found your biological parents.”
“Yeah, I found them two years ago. Come inside, it’s cold out. Sit down first; I’m cooking rice noodles on the stove.” Gu Fei went to the kitchen to check the noodles. After about three minutes, he brought out a small pot of noodles.
The steam rose, and the fragrance was mouthwatering. Lin Hening added two spoonfuls of chili and sesame oil, turning the creamy broth a deep red.
Gu Fei asked, “Do you want to hear about it?”
Lin Hening replied, “If you want to tell me, I’ll listen.”
Gu Fei smiled slightly. “I want to tell you.”
These things were unknown even to Zhou Zhou and the Fat Guy, but at this moment, Gu Fei wanted to tell Lin Hening.
When you truly like someone, you want them to know everything about you.
“My mom—I’m talking about my biological mom. When I was three years old, she had an argument with my dad. In a fit of anger, she took me back to her parents’ house, but on the way, I was abducted by human traffickers.”
As soon as Gu Fei started speaking, Lin Hening’s heart tightened, and his gaze became serious.
He had once prosecuted human traffickers as a public prosecutor, and he hated them with a passion.
“My biological mom didn’t do it on purpose. When I was lost, she was frantic and sick. She went in and out of the hospital, and her health deteriorated. But my biological dad blamed her, saying it was her carelessness that caused me to be lost. Not long after, they divorced, and my mom passed away from illness seven years later,” Gu Fei paused for a moment, and Lin Hening reached across the table to hold his hand.
Gu Fei’s palm was warm. “My dad told me he used many connections and spent a lot of money to find me. The irony was that I was just thirty kilometers away in Xinghua Village.”
“Nobody knows exactly what happened. Maybe the human traffickers had a falling out, and they abandoned me in a desolate area. Luckily, my foster mother found me and took me in.”
Lin Hening asked, “Then what happened?”
“My dad quickly remarried. His second wife gave him a son and a daughter. His daughter got into a car accident and was targeted by scammers. I happened to pass by and stepped in to help. Afterward, there was a visit to the police station, then the hospital. When my dad arrived, he looked at me for a moment and froze, saying that I looked like his long-lost son.”
Gu Fei chuckled at how surreal the situation was—it felt like something straight out of a TV drama.
Lin Hening said, “Although I couldn’t see it clearly from a distance earlier, you do look quite alike from the upper half of your faces.”
Gu Fei nodded. “Afterward, we did a paternity test.”
Lin Hening, curious about Gu Fei’s calm reaction, asked, “Isn’t that a good thing?”
Gu Fei rested his chin on his hand and said, “Well, my dad was overjoyed and cried. His second wife turned pale, and his second son glared at me.”
Lin Hening: “…”
Ah, now it made sense.
However, things weren’t that simple.
Lin Hening put down his chopsticks and said seriously, “You are your dad’s biological son. This is undeniable. Your dad’s care for you is perfectly natural, and it’s also natural for you to accept his care. But to make them feel at ease, you’re going to suppress your feelings?”
Gu Fei: “Of course not.”
Lin Hening: “So it’s for your foster mother? You’re afraid that accepting your biological father’s love will make her feel hurt, thinking that you’ve betrayed her after all these years of raising you?”
Gu Fei laughed helplessly. “How did you guess exactly what my mom would think?”
Lin Hening also laughed. “I have a special connection with your mom.”
Gu Fei seemed to be craving a cigarette. Lin Hening noticed and got up to go outside with him for a break.
Gu Fei smoked half a cigarette while Lin Hening drank half a can of cola.
“He has his life, and I have mine. I don’t want to disturb him. That’s all,” Gu Fei shook off the ash from his cigarette and said.
Lin Hening paused for a moment.
Gu Fei had been separated from his biological parents since he was three years old, and now nearly thirty years had passed. Any impression he had of his biological father had long disappeared.
To him, his biological father was no different from a stranger. The blood connection might have led to their reunion in a sea of people, but it couldn’t fill the gap of decades of emotional absence.
Looking back at the way Gu Fei’s father had acted earlier, it seemed that instead of affection, there was politeness—an unavoidable politeness.
As Gu Fei had said, they each had their own lives. His dad had a current wife and children, forming a “happy” family, and suddenly the son of his ex-wife showed up, like an unexpected guest disturbing their “perfect” reunion.
And Gu Fei also had Xu Fenli, the woman who had raised him for decades, to care for.
The debt of being raised was no smaller than the debt of biological ties. Gu Fei would one day have to take care of Xu Fenli in her old age.
When Lin Hening looked at Gu Fei again, the man stood under the night sky, half of his body illuminated by the neon sign of a shop. The bright light made him seem as radiant as a blazing sun, a little dazzling; while the other half of him, shrouded in shadow, made his calm and content demeanor seem even more grounded and stable.
Gu Fei felt Lin Hening’s intense gaze on him and couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong?”
Lin Hening smiled and said, “Suddenly, I really admire you.”
