Chapter 78
Lin Zheng sat in the coffee shop, looking at the man across from him.
Zhao Yi leaned back, his hands tucked into the pockets of his coat. His gaze was lowered, not on Lin Zheng, but on the porcelain coffee cup at the edge of the table. “Brother Lin Zheng, do you know what you’ve given up?”
There was no discernible emotion in Zhao Yi’s voice.
Lin Zheng was well aware of what he had gained and what he had lost with his choice.
He set down his cup, the warmth still lingering in his palm. “I know. Zhao Yi, thank you. Thank you for telling me there was a way for me to go back. I’m truly grateful.”
Zhao Yi looked up at him, his voice slightly agitated. “If that’s the case, then why didn’t you go back?”
Lin Zheng looked at the person before him, who felt like a younger brother, several years his junior. A thought came to him, and a brilliant smile spread across his face. He said slowly, “Because I have a family here that needs me more.” He paused, then added, “A family I’m prepared to spend the rest of my life with. I don’t regret my choice.”
Zhao Yi froze.
Then, as if he had expected this all along, he leaned his head back and let out a relieved laugh. “Is that so?” He pressed a hand to his forehead. “I understand.”
Lin Zheng wasn’t sure what to say. As he hesitated, Zhao Yi flashed him a bright smile. “No matter what, I hope you’ll be happy, Brother Lin Zheng. I mean it.”
Lin Zheng hadn’t expected the sudden blessing, but since it was offered, he accepted it.
He smiled back at the boy who felt like a brother. “Thank you.”
With the atmosphere lightened, a thought occurred to Lin Zheng. He rested his hands on the table and asked Zhao Yi in surprise, “By the way, have you really been reborn three times?”
Zhao Yi glanced around and coughed.
Lin Zheng quickly covered his mouth.
Seeing no strange looks from their surroundings, Zhao Yi finally nodded.
Lin Zheng lowered his voice this time, asking curiously, “You said that when you were reborn before, you really saw me successfully go back?”
Zhao Yi paused for a few seconds before replying, “Yes.”
Lin Zheng grew even more curious. “Why did I go back then? Was Gu Lin not good to me? Or was he not with me at all at that time? Ah, wait, or maybe he got tired of me and dumped me, so I went back in a fit of anger?”
Zhao Yi stroked his chin, pretending to think. After a moment, the smile on his face faltered into a frown. “Well, perhaps it was something like that.”
Zhao Yi was too good at whetting his appetite, and he had successfully piqued Lin Zheng’s. “What do you mean, ‘something like that’?” Lin Zheng pressed.
“Just that.”
“Zhao—Yi,” Lin Zheng called his name in a threatening tone.
Zhao Yi raised his hand to check the time, as if suddenly remembering something. “Crap, Brother Lin Zheng, I have to meet someone later. I should probably get going.” With that, he picked up his phone, stood up, and said to Lin Zheng, “See you next time, Brother Lin Zheng. I’ve already had someone take care of the bill.”
“No, you haven’t answered my question yet.”
Zhao Yi smiled at Lin Zheng, his face full of sunshine and a flamboyant energy that was captivating at a glance. “Brother Lin Zheng, next time we meet, bring your man along.”
“Ah, oh… wait, no, my answer?” Lin Zheng watched him walk to the door, smiling as he cursed, “You brat, your personality is just like my brother’s.”
The phone on the table rang. Seeing the caller ID, Lin Zheng’s handsome eyes curved into crescents. He answered the phone and said to the person on the other end, “Hello? Time to go home? Yeah, I’ll be there soon, ten minutes at most…”
Zhao Yi walked out of the coffee shop and looked up at the approaching twilight, letting out a soft breath.
Light snow began to fall from the sky.
He started walking towards the other side of the street.
He should have known. This time, Lin Zheng would still choose to stay.
The snow fell heavier.
How awful.
Zhao Yi crossed the road and continued along the street.
He stared at the ground in front of him, just wanting to get back to the hotel as quickly as possible, to escape this awful situation.
Suddenly, a pair of leather shoes appeared in front of him, and the snow on his head was blocked.
He slowly lifted his head. When he saw the man in a suit and tie, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, his hair impeccably styled, he was slightly stunned.
After a few seconds, his expression softened.
There were two people in Zhao Yi’s world: one who was willing to weep for him, and one who had raised him and protected him.
Zhao Yi hunched his back slightly, reached out his arms to hug the man in front of him, and a corner of his mouth lifted. “It’s good that I still have you, Uncle.”
Zhao Ming raised his hand, hesitated for half a second, and finally patted his back. “Let’s go home.”
Zhao Yi: “Okay.”
Time flew by. After Christmas came New Year’s Day, and after New Year’s, it was almost time for the Lunar New Year.
A sunny morning.
Lin Zheng sat up in bed and stretched.
Just as he was about to lower his hands, the person beside him wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him back down.
A uniquely sexy morning voice came from above his head. “It’s still early. Sleep a little longer.”
Lin Zheng glanced at the time. It was almost nine. “It’s not early.”
Though he said it wasn’t early, he still obediently snuggled back into Gu Lin’s embrace.
He didn’t know if it was because he had been sleeping very well recently, but Lin Zheng had been waking up with a lot of energy every morning, even earlier than usual, and once he was awake, he couldn’t fall back asleep.
Gu Lin’s arm lay across his waist over the quilt, patting the small of his back. “Then just sleep a little longer anyway.”
Gu Lin wanted to sleep, but Lin Zheng couldn’t.
His eyes darted around, and he wriggled his body, shrinking down a bit.
Gu Lin had stayed up late last night and was still very sleepy. Just as he was about to drift off again, his eyes snapped open, his mind instantly clearing.
He propped himself up on one arm, lifted the quilt, and looked at the person who was up to no good underneath.
Lin Zheng poked his head out and smiled at the person outside, not a hint of guilt on his face.
Gu Lin helplessly pulled him out from under the quilt. Now, what sleep was there to talk about? All his sleepiness had been stirred away by Lin Zheng.
“Awake now? If you’re awake, then let’s get up…” Lin Zheng was pressed down onto the bed by Gu Lin. “…okay.”
Lin Zheng looked at the man above him with wide, sparkling eyes.
“Do you think we can get up now?” the man asked, his eyes tinged with desire.
Lin Zheng held back the smile that was threatening to lift the corners of his mouth. He tried to look away, but just as he did, his chin was turned back by a few fingers, and his mouth was covered.
The week before the Lunar New Year, the two prepared to go to the old gentleman’s place to bring him over to celebrate the new year with them.
Lin Zheng had nominally been adopted by the Zhao family, but that wasn’t his real home.
After meeting Gu Lin’s family, he had experienced the warmth of an elder for the first time.
When the weather was cold, they would tell him to wear more clothes. When he was busy, they would remind him not to forget to eat.
Of course, besides the warmth from the elders, the gentleman by his side was just as good. The warmth he gave him was almost enough to melt him.
But even so, he still wanted to hold onto him tightly.
Lin Zheng was tidying the bed, trying to ignore the broad body that was practically glued to his back.
They were going to the old gentleman’s place today.
“It’s still a bit cold out, so we need to bring hats and scarves. By the way, how many days are we going for? How many sets of clothes should I pack?”
Gu Lin’s hands were wrapped around his waist, and he nuzzled his neck. “Not sure. Depends on when the old gentleman is ready to leave.”
Lin Zheng placed a folded scarf in the suitcase. “Oh, okay. Then I should pack a few more sets. Let me see…” Lin Zheng sized up the wardrobe, took out a long, thick down jacket, and said, “You have to wear this one. This one is warmer.”
Gu Lin took a moment to look up. “Won’t it be too thick?”
“Is it?” Lin Zheng lifted his arm, holding up the down jacket to look at it. “It looks fine to me.”
Gu Lin kissed him on the face. “Okay, if you think it’s fine, then we’ll take it.”
Lin Zheng was satisfied and put the down jacket in the suitcase.
After they had packed their luggage and changed their clothes, it was about time.
Just before leaving, Lin Zheng received a call from Mrs. Gu.
Gu Lin took the luggage from Lin Zheng’s hand and handed him the phone.
Lin Zheng answered the phone while reaching for the key card on the entryway cabinet. “Hello, Auntie. Yes, yes, we’re just about to leave.”
Gu Lin waited outside with the luggage.
Lin Zheng said, “I know, we’ll definitely be safe. By the way, should I put Gu Lin on? Ah, no need? Okay, okay.”
Lin Zheng held his phone, looking at the man standing outside, and the hand extended toward him.
His eyes warmed with happiness. He reached out and took the large hand.
Lin Zheng leaned against Gu Lin, his face pressed against his shoulder as he hugged his arm, and happily replied to the person on the phone, “We’ll bring gifts for you and Uncle when we come back.”
Gu Lin looked down at the person by his side, his eyes filled only with tenderness.
As they walked out, Gu Lin asked, “What about my gift?”
Speaking of gifts, Lin Zheng suddenly remembered. “Ah, I just remembered. You still want a gift from me? You haven’t even given me the gift you prepared a long time ago.”
“What gift?”
“The lover’s knot! Yan Yang clearly told me you were going to give it to me, but I haven’t even seen a shadow of it.”
“What are you talking about? Isn’t it on your neck?”
“Huh?… Eh? It really is. No, when did this get on my neck?”
“Last night, after you fell asleep.”
“Gu Lin!”
“Do you want to confess?”
“Con-confess what?”
“Do you love me?”
“Well… I-I do.”
Gu Lin placed a kiss on the lips of the person beside him. “I love you too. I love everything about you, my little rabbit.”
Lin Zheng stood on his tiptoes, tilted his head up, and returned a kiss to Gu Lin’s lips. “I love you more.”
They looked at each other, their eyes filled with deep smiles, happiness overflowing from their clasped palms.
The rest of our lives is still long, but because I’m holding your hand, I have nothing to fear.
I’m so happy I was able to meet you, so lucky to meet you again.
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