Chapter 100: Along the Way
After booking the flight, Lin Shiyu also felt a bit ridiculous. They had only been apart for a day, yet he was already unable to bear the feeling.
Lin Shiyu looked at the neon lights outside the floor-to-ceiling window and let out a sigh of resignation.
What could he do? The person he loved was far too radiant. Countless people fought over him, countless people coveted him, countless people liked him, and even more wanted to possess him.
He could only watch over him a little more closely, and then a little more, to catch even the slightest, most minuscule opportunity.
Wen Yuhuai had slept for a while on the plane in the afternoon, so he couldn’t fall asleep at night. Combined with the new environment, he tossed and turned in bed for a long time without a hint of sleepiness.
He simply kicked off the covers and got up. He pulled the remaining half-pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his jacket pocket and went to the balcony to smoke.
The smoke slowly drifted past his face as Wen Yuhuai leaned against the railing with one hand, watching the swaying shadows of the trees outside.
This place was worlds away from Jing City. In Jing City at this time of year, the outside was mostly desolate, but the trees here were still lush and green, showing no trace of winter.
When he finished the cigarette, he checked the time. It was past one in the morning.
He stood on the balcony for a while longer until the scent of smoke on him had mostly dissipated before turning back into the room.
It was time to sleep. In less than a month, he would be twenty-five years old. He was getting older and couldn’t handle pulling all-nighters anymore.
Fortunately, falling asleep this time was quite smooth. When he opened his eyes again, it was broad daylight outside.
Wen Yuhuai sat up and checked the phone on the nightstand. As expected, there was a missed call.
He had sensed it vaguely, but he was too sleepy at the time to bother, letting the ringtone end automatically after two tries.
It was currently 9:30 AM. The call from Lin Shiyu had come at 8:30 AM, exactly an hour ago.
Not knowing why he called so early, Wen Yuhuai returned the call anyway.
It was picked up as soon as it rang. Faint sounds of conversation could be heard in the background. Lin Shiyuās voice carried a hint of a smile. “You’re awake?”
Wen Yuhuai asked uncertainly, “Are you busy?”
The smile in Lin Shiyuās voice became even more apparent. “No. Since you’re awake, get ready and come downstairs. I brought you a gift; I don’t know if you’ll like it.”
Wen Yuhuaiās mind went blank for a second. Where was he? He brought a gift?
He wanted to ask more, but Lin Shiyu had already hung up. Wen Yuhuai had to head to the bathroom to wash up. Only after he had made himself presentable did he push open the door and leave his room.
As soon as he stepped out, he heard voices from downstairs. It sounded like more than one person, and the atmosphere seemed quite good.
Wen Yuhuai rested his hand on the wooden staircase railing and listened for a moment before walking downstairs at a leisurely pace. Sure enough, the person who had been on the phone with him in Hai City last night was now sitting on the sofa in his home. The smiles on Wen Chenglin and Jiang Jingās faces hadn’t faded for a second.
“Gege, you’re here.”
Song Xingmian, whose face was the most unpleasant, was the first to see him. He immediately stood up from the sofa to greet him, his arm familiarly hooking around Wen Yuhuaiās in an intimate manner.
Lin Shiyu was sitting with his back to the stairs. Hearing this, he turned his head to look. Seeing the two in such a close posture, the smile at the corners of his mouth dimmed slightly.
Wen Yuhuai still remembered the forced kiss from last night. He gave Song Xingmian an elbow nudge, naturally breaking free from his arm, and met Lin Shiyuās gaze. “Why are you here?”
Lin Shiyuās lips hooked up again. He picked up a gift box from beside him and handed it over. “Business expansion. I have to come here for a business trip, so I happened to visit Uncle and Auntie and stopped by to see you.”
Wen Yuhuai didn’t believe the “stopped by” bit for a second. This man had just said he missed him on the phone yesterday and arrived today.
Besides, the resort in Hai City wasn’t even finished yet. What kind of business was he expanding here?
He took the gift box and looked inside. It was a wristwatch. The deep blue dial was grand and luxurious, clearly worth a fortune.
One doesn’t slap a smiling face, especially one bearing gifts. Wen Yuhuai sat down in an empty spot on the sofa. “When are you leaving?”
Lin Shiyu sat right beside him, close enough to touch him if he just reached out. “Iām leaving this afternoon. There are still things to handle in Hai City; they can’t do without me.”
Wen Yuhuai lifted his eyelids to meet Lin Shiyuās gentle, smiling eyes. He couldn’t help but find it amusing and gave a teasing curve of his lips.
“Itās such a long way, and it wasn’t easy to get here. You aren’t staying for a few more days?”
Lin Shiyu gave a sigh and said with feigned seriousness, “Thereās no other way. Itās all for work.”
Wen Yuhuai let out a soft snort through his nose. His tone was unclear if it was sarcasm or praise. “President Lin is truly a busy man these days.”
Lin Shiyu just smiled indifferently at the comment. “Do you have time today? Want to go out for a stroll together?”
Before Wen Yuhuai could speak, Jiang Jing spoke up enthusiastically from the side. “Perfect. Xiao Mian, you three go together. See if thereās anything you like and buy more…”
“Alright, Mom, I got it.”
On the bustling streets of Shen City, one could see Wen Yuhuaiās face filled with a casual smile. Beside him were Lin Shiyu and Song Xingmian. The three walked together, and no matter how much tension brewed beneath the surface, they appeared harmonious on the outside.
Most importantly, Wen Yuhuai looked very happy being with them.
Gu Yanxiu didn’t continue watching. Instead, he slowly lowered his phone and looked up at the vast blue sky outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
Today was a clear day in Jing City as well.
If he hadn’t made that wrong first step half a year ago, would he have been among those people today?
Unfortunately, there were no “ifs.” He had schemed so much just because he wanted to possess him.
And it was because he had done so much that he finally understood: the result of his desperate schemes to possess him was that he could never possess him again.
Translator’s Note: Lin Shiyu’s “business expansion” is the oldest trick in the book! Also, poor Gu Yanxiu. He’s realized too late that forced love only leads to distance.
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