Chapter 49
After getting out of the car, He Yanlu stared at the antique mansion in front of him. Even though it was already dark, he could still sense the grand and imposing outline of the villa. The entrance gate was not traditional Chinese style; it was an intricately carved iron gate with marble columns on the sides.
Ye Yixing took out the keys, and the housekeeper, Liu Yi, had already come out to greet them. She appeared gentle and kind, around forty years old.
Ye Yixing put away the keys and called out, “Liu Yi.”
Liu Yi approached with a soft voice, “I knew it was you when the taxi arrived.”
He Yanlu, dressed in dark clothes, was hiding behind Ye Yixing, which was why Liu Yi didn’t see him. Ye Yixing pulled him out and said with a smile, “He’s right here.”
He Yanlu lowered his head and greeted, “Hello, Liu Yi.”
Liu Yi immediately smiled, “Oh, such a well-behaved boy. Come on in…”
The courtyard had small orange street lamps, and the path leading to the entrance was adorned with various precious flowers and plants. There were antique-style lanterns hanging from decorative poles, emitting a warm and fragrant atmosphere.
Within a short distance, He Yanlu’s body tensed up again with nervousness.
He knew this was not an ordinary place that anyone could afford. This kind of mansion displayed the family’s status.
Ye Yixing noticed He Yanlu slowing down and asked with concern, “Are you okay?”
“Ye Yixing…” He Yanlu stopped and lightly grasped Ye Yixing’s arm, “I…”
Liu Yi turned back to look at them standing there and asked, “What’s wrong?”
He Yanlu hesitated and said, “Let’s go.”
Ye Yixing held He Yanlu’s hand and tried to lead him forward, but He Yanlu’s feet felt like they were glued to the ground.
Ye Yixing sighed and told Liu Yi, “You go in first, we’ll be right in.”
Liu Yi nodded, looking worried.
She left the door for the two kids, changed into indoor slippers, and raised her head to meet Ye Shuyan’s inquisitive gaze.
“I don’t know what happened; the kid doesn’t want to come in,” she said.
Ye Shuyan frowned, put down the newspaper, and walked towards the door. Wen Min followed suit.
Ye Yixing said, “My parents are really nice.”
He Yanlu shook his head, “Your family is so good, and I’m just a child without parents. I’m scared…”
“Don’t be afraid; my parents won’t dislike you because of your background. Trust me.”
“I’m afraid of falling from the sky. Having you is enough; I’m already so happy. I can’t be too greedy; I don’t want parents…”
“Little Lü.”
Suddenly, He Yanlu heard a familiar voice from behind. Well, it wasn’t entirely familiar; he had heard it once over the phone. He turned his head and stared at the man with slightly gray temples before him. The man’s eyes were deep and imposing, with a kind but dignified aura.
Ye Yixing looked very much like him, and He Yanlu even felt like the man before him was a fifty-year-old version of Ye Yixing.
Ye Yixing noticed He Yanlu’s steps faltering and used the opportunity to push him forward, saying, “Dad, this is He Yanlu.”
“Come here,” Ye Shuyan motioned to him, and He Yanlu slowly moved closer, until Ye Shuyan held his hand and led him into the living room.
Ye Shuyan had him sit on the sofa and sat down himself. He curiously and affectionately touched He Yanlu’s head, saying, “Child, let me take a good look at you.”
He Yanlu was too nervous to breathe, allowing the fifty-year-old version of Ye Yixing to scrutinize him.
Liu Yi brewed a pot of jasmine tea and placed it on the coffee table, saying, “Have some tea to warm up; dinner will be ready soon.”
Ye Shuyan smiled, then turned to He Yanlu and asked, “How old are you?”
“Twenty-two.”
Ye Yixing was secretly complaining on the side, thinking that his old man probably already knew everything about He Yanlu but was still pretending.
Ye Yixing asked his mom with a crooked mouth, “What’s up with my dad? Why do I feel like He Yanlu is his biological son?”
His mom, Wen Min, had been smiling at He Yanlu and didn’t hear what Ye Yixing said.
Ye Yixing then realized that his mom seemed to also like this innocent and well-behaved type of boy…
Ye Yixing was completely ignored. (=_=)
Ye Shuyan patted He Yanlu’s back and waist while frowning, saying with concern, “You’re one year older than Yixing. How come you look so much younger than him?”
Ye Yixing stared at his dad’s wolf paw and felt conflicted.
(=_=) “Let go of your dirty hands. My wife wearing a tight sweater doesn’t mean you can touch her!”
“How come this child is so thin?” Wen Min finally spoke to Ye Yixing.
Ye Yixing shrugged, “He doesn’t eat well. Before I met him, he lived alone and sometimes wouldn’t eat or eat very little. He has stomach problems, low blood sugar, and even low blood pressure.”
Wen Min said, “Arrange for him to stay here for a while during the holiday, and let Uncle Fu take good care of him.”
Ye Yixing naturally didn’t like the idea; going home meant their private time with He Yanlu would be disturbed. And it seemed that both of his parents liked He Yanlu so much. If they lived here, they would have hardly any alone time!
He was about to object, but Wen Min gave him a stern look, and Ye Yixing reluctantly nodded, “Okay, I understand.”
Ye Yixing felt upset; how long would his dad and He Yanlu need to cultivate their relationship? Although both were “dads,” did they have to get along so well?
Thirty minutes later, Uncle Fu came out of the kitchen with washed hands, changed out of his chef’s uniform, and said with a smile, “Master and Madam, is it time to eat? It’s getting late, and Young Ye and his friend must be hungry.”
Tears streamed down Ye Yixing’s face: Uncle Fu, you are my real dad!
Ye Shuyan led He Yanlu to the dining room and asked him, “Are you still scared?”
He Yanlu blushed and shook his head.
Ye Shuyan smiled, “Just now, you didn’t even call me ‘dad’ at the door. I’ll punish you later.”
He Yanlu looked at Ye Yixing for help, and Ye Yixing winked at him, meaning not to worry.
When they sat down, Ye Shuyan forcefully made He Yanlu sit next to him, and Wen Min sat on the other side of Ye Shuyan. Ye Yixing wanted to sit next to He Yanlu, but his dad scolded him, “Sit next to your mom.”
(=_=) “Okay.” Ye Yixing sat down and saw He Yanlu give him a sympathetic look.
Ye Shuyan then said to Uncle Liu, “Xiaoliu, bring two bottles of 1998 Bordeaux red wine.”
Ye Yixing had a bad feeling when he heard this! His alcohol tolerance wasn’t great, and He Yanlu was even worse. When there were more people, they could pretend to be drunk and act silly, but now it was just the two of them drinking…
“Dad! He Yanlu can’t drink!” Ye Yixing hurriedly said.
Ye Shuyan waved his hand, “It’s fine. I’m in a good mood today; let him accompany me for a few drinks. How can a young man not drink? Alcohol tolerance is built up through practice!”
But they can’t drink much. After one glass, they’ll be completely wasted!
Ye Shuyan glared at him again, “You have to drink too! Min’er, keep an eye on him and don’t let him wriggle out of it.”
Mrs. Ye nodded and softly said to He Yanlu, “Little Lü, tell us what you want to eat, and your dad will get it for you. You can also talk while eating; our family’s dinner table doesn’t have so many rules. Just order what you like.”
He Yanlu nodded and with his chestnut-brown sweater against his snowy skin, the natural blush on his cheeks made him look shy and obedient.
Uncle Liu and Uncle Fu also joined the meal, and the family chatted and laughed, making the atmosphere lively.
Halfway through the dinner, He Yanlu was already full.
Ye Shuyan kept picking dishes for him, especially the sugar-fried lotus root, which was said to be Ye Shuyan’s signature dish and the only one he knew how to make. Ye Yixing had disliked it the most since he was a child. It was so sweet that he couldn’t even taste the lotus root; it felt like he was eating sugar, not lotus root.
However, He Yanlu seemed to enjoy it very much, and it wasn’t just a pretense. Ye Yixing could tell that every time he finished the dish, licking his lips was a sign that He Yanlu really liked it.
But now he was full and couldn’t eat anymore, so he politely declined and waved at Ye Shuyan.
Ye Shuyan allowed He Yanlu to drink and poured a glass of ten-year-old red wine for him. He Yanlu felt dizzy, and his surroundings were filled with colorful lights, beautiful clouds, and feathers floating around.
But thanks to the wine, He Yanlu completely relaxed. Even when Ye Shuyan insisted on giving him more, he could naturally act spoiled and ask for forgiveness.
They say there are no father-son relationships in business, but Ye Shuyan played the game of “father and son” in the drinking scene.
Ye Yixing was about to stop He Yanlu from drinking, but Wen Min intercepted him.
She whispered in her son’s ear, “Come with me for a moment.”
Ye Yixing followed his mother to a side hall, feeling a little confused by her serious and formal demeanor. He thought something bad had happened and asked nervously, “What’s wrong?”
Wen Min said, “Don’t be nervous. I want to talk to you about He Yanlu.”
Ye Yixing lowered his head and fell silent for a second before looking up seriously, “Are you opposed to me being with him?”
Wen Min asked in return, “If I’m opposed, will you break up with him?”
Ye Yixing’s eyes showed deep struggle, and he clenched his fists tightly, “Mom, I’ve lived for twenty years and haven’t done anything to disappoint you. I really love him, and I can’t live without him… If you’re concerned that he’s a guy…”
Wen Min interrupted him, “I didn’t say I’m opposed.”
Ye Yixing breathed a sigh of relief but was puzzled, “Then what do you mean?”
“I just want to know how determined you are to be with him.”
“Determined?”
“I already know about your relationship, including He Yanlu’s background. He Yanlu’s biological father and your dad had some old grudges, although Mo Lingfeng didn’t fulfill his fatherly duties to He Yanlu and had no right to interfere with his life. But in legal terms, he has rights over He Yanlu because they share a blood relationship…”
“So what? They’ve never met, and He Yanlu doesn’t like him.”
Wen Min sighed, “You’re still young and can’t consider all the possibilities. Let me tell you, if something happens to He Yanlu, neither you nor any of us have the right to make decisions for him. He Yanlu’s legal beneficiary is Mo Lingfeng. Alternatively, if Mo Lingfeng is gone, the closest blood relative to He Yanlu is Mo Yanze, Mo Lingfeng’s son. They share a blood relationship.”
Ye Yixing’s face turned pale, shaking his head, “Nothing will happen to He Yanlu.”
Wen Min said, “That’s just an optimistic attitude of an ordinary person. When you have to hold up this family and face it on your own, you must consider further and deeper. Such things aren’t impossible. If you’re naive, thirty or forty years later, if something happens to He Yanlu and he ends up lying in a hospital, you, Ye Yixing, won’t even have the right to sign for him. Or if there’s an accident, all of He Yanlu’s wealth in this lifetime, whether given by you or acquired by himself, including the person with the right to handle it after his death, won’t be you, who has lived with him for thirty or forty years, but Mo Yanze. No matter how much you love him, can you understand and tolerate these things?”
Ye Yixing was stirred by Wen Min’s words, and his blood boiled. He grabbed his mother’s hand and anxiously asked, “What should I do?”
“You two are of the same sex, and such relationships are not mainstream in society. Your relationship is not protected by the law. If one day I’m gone, who will protect you both? As your mother, I have no right to interfere in my son’s life because you are independent individuals. I can only provide you with the correct guidance. Your relationship with him cannot be sustained by love alone. Since you are willing to take on the role of protector in love, you must shoulder the cruelty and pressure of survival. You must be strong and become his sky, his land, his support. This is your responsibility until death! So, I ask you again, how strong is your determination to be with him?”
Because of the shock, Ye Yixing hesitated for a moment but then said excitedly, “A lifetime! Mom, I will be with him for a lifetime, just like you and Dad!”
Wen Min looked at her son’s eyes intently.
Ye Yixing continued, “Mom, I’m not impulsive. I know I’m still young, but I’m stubborn. I have him in my heart, and there’s no room for anyone else. Being with him feels as natural as breathing; it’s like our love was arranged by fate. I want to protect him.”
The tense tension in Wen Min’s back relaxed, and this strong woman finally revealed her emotional side to her son at this moment, “You are just like me back then…”
Wen Min said slowly, “When I was your age, I said the same to your dad. A woman saying she’ll love a man for a lifetime and become his protector. These thirty years have been tough and tiring for me, but I’ve never regretted it.”
Ye Yixing looked at his mother, who was already fifty years old, but she was the true backbone of their Ye family, standing strong forever. But at this moment, she was just a worried mother concerned about her son’s future.
Ye Yixing stood up and hugged her, saying softly, “Mom, I will be strong, believe me.”
Wen Min touched her son’s broad back, embraced in this solid embrace, her eyes felt a bit sour.
“Then let’s register him.” Wen Min suddenly said.
“Huh?” Ye Yixing didn’t hear clearly.
Wen Min explained, “Let He Yanlu be registered under the Ye family’s household. In the future, he will be part of the Ye family.”