Chapter 21
Yu Li remembered that every time Yan Shiting called his name, it was always like this – a deep voice and a solemn tone.
It was not intimate, but not distant either. It just made him feel that this person was talking to him with extra seriousness.
The familiar voice sounded again, and Yu Li couldn’t hold back as the tears welled up in his shallow eye sockets and rolled down.
“What’s wrong?” Yan Shiting’s voice sounded again.
Yu Li swallowed hard, his fingers unconsciously twisting together, “I… I’m a little scared.”
On the other side, Yan Shiting gestured to Jiang Yue.
Jiang Yue received the instruction and quickly stepped forward with a cup of wine to socialize with the few executives who had just arrived.
Yan Shiting held the phone and went to the balcony outside the banquet hall. “What happened?”
Yu Li lowered his eyes and told Yan Shiting about what had happened when he was doing laundry earlier.
He calmed down for a while, secretly wiping his tears and pursing his lips, “I’m very worried, will they be able to tell I’m pregnant. These few days I can make excuses, but later on…”
They say the first three months of pregnancy have the most severe reactions, and even if he can use gastroenteritis as an excuse, how can gastroenteritis last for a month and not get better.
Yan Shiting listened quietly the whole time.
At the beginning of the complaint, Yu Li was a little incoherent, obviously panicked and not yet recovered.
Yan Shiting’s hand rested on the balcony railing, tapping his index finger lightly.
After Yu Li finished, he paused for a moment and asked, “Then how about coming to stay with me? I have other properties. If you agree, I’ll come pick you up.”
Yu Li was taken aback, “Where to stay?”
“I have other properties. If you agree, I’ll come pick you up.”
Yu Li bit his lower lip and stroked his abdomen.
Yan Shiting knew he was pregnant, and was also the other father of the child. In his heart, Yan Shiting was now actually an ally to him.
Worried that others won’t accept him, or look at him with prejudiced eyes, so Yu Li didn’t dare tell even his mother and sister – his only two relatives – about his pregnancy.
Therefore, Yan Shiting is now the only person he can trust.
Yan Shiting didn’t hurry him to make a decision, just waited quietly.
As the call time ticked by, Yu Li finally whispered a soft “Mm” in response.
Yan Shiting immediately turned and left the balcony, saying “I’ll be there in half an hour.”
The call ended.
Yu Li saw a new message appear on his chat page with Yan Shiting.
Call duration 6:05.
He could hardly believe he had actually called Yan Shiting.
He pursed his lips and placed the phone on the table, beginning to casually tidy up his belongings.
Half an hour later, the phone rang on time.
Yu Li, carrying his daily necessities and with a backpack on, came downstairs.
By this time it was past dinner, and there were only a few people passing by the dormitory building.
Yu Li walked out of the dormitory building and saw a low-key Maybach parked across the street, with Yan Shiting standing by the car door, looking quietly at him.
Yu Li’s nose stung and his heart started to beat a little faster without him realizing it.
He gripped the strap of his backpack and walked a few steps towards Yan Shiting.
When he had called earlier, he was still able to express his thoughts normally, but now facing Yan Shiting, he didn’t know what to say.
As Yu Li hesitated about what to say, Yan Shiting opened the passenger door and said, “Get in the car.”
Yu Li nodded and got into the passenger seat, fastening the seatbelt.
After getting in the car, he realized that Yan Shiting had driven here himself.
The car had no smell of leather upholstery and fragrance mixed together, it was clean and tidy, without any unnecessary decorations.
Somehow, he felt this must be the car Yan Shiting used the most.
Yu Li withdrew his gaze and leaned lightly against the car window before the car started.
Yan Shiting glanced at him and reached into the backseat to get a soft pillow.
“The trip is a bit long, if you want to sleep you can lean on this.”
Yu Li was a bit surprised, taking the pillow with a slightly dazed expression.
The car started, and Yu Li lowered his eyes to look at the pillow in his lap.
It was beige, with a small fish embroidered in the corner of one side, and the fabric had short fuzz, feeling very smooth to the touch.
This kind of pillow seemed a bit out of place in the black-themed car interior.
But…
Yu Li looked at his casual T-shirt and jeans, then at Yan Shiting’s suit and vest.
He seemed a bit out of place here, yet there was an inexplicable sense of harmony.
Yu Li was startled by his own thoughts.
He self-consciously withdrew his gaze, placing the soft pillow between his head and the window, and closed his eyes, soon falling asleep in the steady driving.
An hour later, the Maybach stopped in the garage, and Yu Li gradually woke up.
Still a little dazed, he followed Yan Shiting onto the elevator.
In the bright environment, Yu Li realized he had accidentally brought the pillow down with him.
He quickly hid the pillow behind his back, the movement a bit large, and immediately saw Yan Shiting glancing at him.
Yu Li’s scalp tingled, and he explained, “I forgot to leave the pillow in the car.”
Yan Shiting retracted his gaze. “It’s fine.”
The elevator slowly rose and finally stopped on the 21st floor.
Yan Shiting unlocked the fingerprint door in front, stepped aside to let Yu Li go in first.
This property was a large flat, with the living room alone having three bedrooms, sparsely furnished with just a few simple dark-colored pieces of furniture.
When Yu Li walked in with the pillow, the gloomy house suddenly had a bit of extra color.
Yan Shiting watched quietly for a while, then bent down to take out two gray slippers from the shoe cabinet, removing the new one’s tag and placing it in front of Yu Li.
“It’s late, go to bed early, your room is on the right.”
Yu Li was taken aback, looking at Yan Shiting, “What about you?”
Yan Shiting said, “My room is on the left.”
“I’ll be staying here tonight. I have a charity art exhibition to attend tomorrow, and it’s more convenient to go from here.”
He took off his coat and draped it over his arm, loosened his cuffs, and looked at Yu Li, “Call me if there’s anything.”
Yu Li clenched the corner of the pillow and nodded, “Okay.”
“Thank you…” He paused, not knowing how to address Yan Shiting.
Mr. Yan, Big Brother Yan, neither seemed quite right.
Fortunately, Yan Shiting seemed not to have noticed his hesitation, and after changing his shoes, he went towards the room on the left.
Yu Li breathed a sigh of relief and followed Yan Shiting’s instructions to the room on the right.
This bedroom also had an en-suite bathroom, and in the small shoe cabinet by the door there were new non-slip slippers, and two sets of new pajamas in the wardrobe.
The slippers and pajamas were all his size.
After showering, Yu Li lay on the big bed, feeling the soft fabric of the pajamas, and his instinct told him that these were all specially prepared by Yan Shiting.
Since the day he found out he was pregnant, Yan Shiting had considered him very carefully in every way.
Yu Li pursed his lips tightly.
He placed his hand on his still flat abdomen and stroked it a few times.
Whether to keep this child or not… Maybe he should ask Yan Shiting’s opinion? After all, he is also the other father of the child.
But what if Yan Shiting doesn’t want it?
Yu Li furrowed his brow in confusion.
After a moment, he rolled over, grabbing the pillow and rubbing it, venting his frustration.
Unfamiliar with the new environment, Yu Li was still a bit uncomfortable, but after caressing the short fuzz on the pillow, he gradually fell asleep.
A good night’s sleep.
In the morning, Yu Li had recovered from the nausea of pregnancy, opened the bedroom door, and met Jiang Yue’s gaze in the living room.
He was slightly taken aback.
And the Jiang Yue in the living room also looked at Yu Li with some bewilderment, to the extent that the polite smile on his face had slipped a bit.
He then looked at Yan Shiting in front of him.
What exactly happened? Why did his boss suddenly get what he wanted?
Facing Jiang Yue’s gaze, Yan Shiting was unfazed, handing him the signed documents.
“This plan is fine, execute it after the holiday.”
Jiang Yue regained his composure and put on a warm and polite smile again. “Okay, Mr. Yan.”
He looked at his watch, “Mr. Yan, the charity art exhibition starts at 10 o’clock, we need to leave soon.”
Yan Shiting responded, then turned to look at Yu Li standing at the bedroom door. “Breakfast is on the table.”
With that, seeing Yu Li nod, he went back to the closet in the bedroom to change.
Yu Li had been watching the two of them quietly.
Today was the first day of the short holiday, and he didn’t expect Yan Shiting to still be so busy, with business to attend to so early in the morning.
He closed the bedroom door and walked to the dining table. When passing by Jiang Yue, he felt a little awkward, afraid the other party would ask why he was here.
Fortunately, Jiang Yue didn’t seem to have any inquisitive thoughts, still smiling and greeting him, “Good morning, Mr. Ru.”
Yu Li secretly let out a sigh of relief and also smiled back, “Good morning, have you had breakfast?”
He looked at the table and put a piece of toast in front of Jiang Yue. “If you haven’t eaten yet, let’s have something together.”
“Thank you, I actually overslept this morning and didn’t have time for breakfast.” Jiang Yue’s tone was friendly as he sat down next to Yu Li.
The two of them didn’t meet very often, and the only familiar person – Yan Shiting – was not here at the moment.
Yu Li felt a little awkward, quietly picking up a light porridge to drink.
Jiang Yue took a bite of toast and asked in a casual way, “You’re a senior this year, right? Have you started looking for an internship?”
Yu Li thought for a moment and shook his head, “No.”
“I remember your performance in the New Program competition a few years ago was quite good. Have you considered interning at Yan Corp?”
Yu Li was a bit surprised, “You remember me?”
Jiang Yue nodded, “That competition was sponsored by Yan Corp, I’ve seen the list of winners. The game auxiliary program you made was pretty good.”
Yu Li suddenly understood, realizing that Jiang Yue was trying to dig up talent for Yan Corp.
He didn’t expect that something he did back then could be remembered by someone.
He felt a bit embarrassed, his ear tips turning red, “Thank you.”
He thought for a moment and said, “But I haven’t really considered an internship for now.”
Jiang Yue casually asked, “Thinking of taking the postgraduate or civil service exam?”
Yu Li said, “No, I just want to think more about what I really like.”
Jiang Yue had already finished the toast, and nodded, “Your abilities are not bad. If you want to develop in Y City, the Yan family would be your best choice.”
Yu Li’s hand unconsciously rubbed the hem of his pajamas, and his expression was a bit dazed upon hearing this.
He thought for a moment and said, “Let me think about it some more. If… I might go back to my hometown or go somewhere else.”
If Yan Shiting didn’t want this child, and the child was terminated, he wouldn’t want to stay here either.
Jiang Yue smiled and saw Yan Shiting just coming out of the bedroom, saying with deep meaning, “Is that so? That’s not bad either.”
He had a bit of an amused and observant attitude as he watched Yan Shiting, wanting to see how the boss would react to what Yu Li had just said.
But Yan Shiting merely gave him a cold look, and before leaving, said to Yu Li, “If there’s anything, you can call me.”
“Okay.” Yu Li nodded and watched the two leave.
As the elevator descended, Jiang Yue felt the cold radiating from beside him, and his smile also became more restrained.
“President Yan…”
He had just started speaking when Yan Shiting looked at him indifferently.
Jiang Yue could only close his mouth.
*
The charity art exhibition was held in a villa on the outskirts of the city.
It was called an art exhibition, but it could also be called an auction.
Some of the paintings on display were provided by the organizers, and some were donated by the invited guests. The proceeds from the auction would be donated to charity organizations.
It was just another occasion for name and profit.
In such an occasion, Yan Shiting would definitely be the center of attention, and everyone would be scrambling to greet him.
However, today, no one dared to approach Yan Shiting.
—Because his face was terrifyingly gloomy.
Jiang Yue followed behind Yan Shiting, also a bit too afraid to speak.
Although he knew the reason for Yan Shiting’s bad mood, he didn’t have the courage to try to comfort him.
They toured the art exhibition in this strange atmosphere.
Walking silently past painting after painting, Yan Shiting finally stopped in front of a painting of Avalokitesvara.
The Avalokitesvara in the painting had a compassionate expression, with downcast eyes seemingly looking at the viewer outside the painting.
An executive saw Yan Shiting’s gaze and boldly stepped forward, saying, “This painting is the original work of the 500-year-old painter Zhang Ni. I used to keep it, and now I’m bringing it out for charity.”
He paused and asked, “Does President Yan like it?”
Yan Shiting did not answer, but just stared into the eyes of the Avalokitesvara in the painting, making eye contact with it.
Seeing this, Jiang Yue stepped forward and conversed with the executive.
Their voices didn’t affect Yan Shiting at all.
He thought of what Yu Li had said.
【…I might go back to my hometown, or go somewhere else.】
So he and Yu Li were like two intersecting lines.
In the past, the distance between them was far, but by chance they got closer and closer, and after intersecting once, they were drifting further and further apart.
From then on, they were walking towards completely different paths.
Yan Shiting’s hand gradually clenched into a fist.
【You just don’t dare to admit that you also have selfish intentions. But in fact, everyone has selfish intentions, and this is not a big deal.】
Is it not a big deal?
Yan Shiting quietly looked at the Avalokitesvara.
Even if… he wanted to keep him by his side, using despicable means, is it really not a big deal?
The Avalokitesvara’s face remained compassionate.
Yan Shiting tightened his mouth and closed his eyes.
Perhaps, this is his only, last chance.
–
In the afternoon, as soon as he returned to the office, Jiang Yue heard Yan Shiting say, “Inventory my assets, and then have the lawyer come over.”
Jiang Yue was stunned and asked, “Inventory your assets? President Yan, may I ask what you intend to do?”
Yan Shiting, with his back to him, paused for a step, and only coldly uttered a sentence:
“Prepare for marriage.”
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this man is really terrible at communicating. he acts so dramatically “prepare for marriage”
assuming the other will run off without even asking him to stay🤨