Chapter 120: I Want to Cherish You
The flow of people surged around them. Crying at an airport seemed to be a common occurrence, as no one stopped to linger.
Wen Yan took a deep breath, adjusting his emotions.
“Let’s go.”
“Mhm.” Cheng Shangshi naturally picked up the conversation, stepping forward with Wen Yan to help his parents with their modest luggage. “Let me take those.”
It was getting late. After loading everything into Cheng Shangshi’s car, the four of them headed to a pre-booked private dining room.
Cheng Shangshi drove himself today. His large hands rested on the steering wheel, and the watch on his wrist reflected a faint glint of light. His already rugged features looked even more upright and reliable.
Feeling bad about making Cheng Shangshi play the role of a driver, Wen Yan sat in the passenger seat despite just meeting him. Father Wen sat in the back, his gaze frequently drifting toward the two in the front.
Mother Wen secretly pinched Father Wen’s arm, feigning annoyance to tell him not to stare so obviously.
Cheng Shangshi acted as though he hadn’t noticed their little movements in the back, but the corners of his mouth tilted up slightly. Having been an actor, he was very sensitive to the gaze of others and could guess what Wen Yan’s parents were thinking.
Wen Yan kept his head down in the passenger seat, oblivious to the reactions around him.
Wen Yan had chosen the location—a place Wu Qingqing had recommended many times. Wen Yan wasn’t picky about food, but after years of bland meals in Country D, he couldn’t resist the intermittent “food porn” photo bombs from Wu Qingqing and Duan Mingtao.
“Shangshi, thank you so much for taking care of Yan-yan these past few years. It means a lot that he had you with him in a place where he didn’t know anyone,” Mother Wen said with a smile, her gaze lingering between the two, hoping to find a trace of something more.
However, the two of them were too normal—they maintained the distance of ordinary friends, with no signs of anything unusual.
Cheng Shangshi was usually slow to pick up on social cues, but he was nearly hypersensitive when it came to anything involving Wen Yan. He understood exactly what the parents were implying.
“Uncle, Auntie, Wen Yan actually helped me more over these years. I was the lucky one to be with him.”
The parents’ smiles widened, and Wen Yan finally sensed the strange atmosphere.
He interrupted them. “The food is here. Let’s eat before we chat further.”
During the meal, the parents intentionally or unintentionally asked about their life in Country D. Cheng Shangshi poured them water, answering with a smile.
“Yan-yan,” Mother Wen set down her cup and looked at Wen Yan across the table. “I remember one Lunar New Year, Shangshi visited us in Nan City. Now that you’re both back, bring him home again when you have time.”
Wen Yan agreed immediately and turned to Cheng Shangshi. “Just let me know when you want to go, and I’ll go with you. Nan City is beautiful in all four seasons. Last time you went, it was winter, so you haven’t seen the flowers yet.”
That bright smile dazzled Cheng Shangshi. He stared blankly for a moment, unable to find his words.
Father and Mother Wen exchanged a look. They had a pretty clear idea of Cheng Shangshi’s secret crush by now.
Father Wen added, “Exactly. Shangshi, just treat our home as your own. I’ll have your Auntie set aside a room for you when we get back.”
Wen Yan looked over in surprise, thinking this was a bit much. Cheng Shangshi couldn’t possibly visit every year, and he would naturally book a hotel for him anyway. It felt inappropriate.
He looked at his mother for help, but she simply looked away, pretending not to understand.
Suddenly, Mother Wen spoke up. “By the way.”
Alarm bells rang in Wen Yan’s head. Sure enough, the next second:
“Shangshi, are you single right now? What I mean is, do you have a…”
“Mom!” Wen Yan interrupted, his voice inadvertently loud. As the three of them turned to look at him, he lowered his voice. “Stop it, Mom. We are very good friends.”
He didn’t notice that after he said this, it wasn’t just his parents who looked disappointed; the light in Cheng Shangshi’s eyes vanished instantly.
The atmosphere remained civil afterward, but it was nowhere near as warm as it had been at the start.
This stifling tension lasted until Cheng Shangshi and Wen Yan dropped the parents off at their hotel.
“Dad, Mom, go on up first. I’ll come find you in a bit.”
“Alright,” Mother Wen agreed. “No rush. Your dad and I will rest for a while. You go walk around for a bit.”
The intention to leave him alone with Cheng Shangshi couldn’t have been more obvious. Wen Yan sighed silently, knowing they hadn’t given up.
It was autumn in A City, and the temperature was fluctuating. Today happened to be a cold front, and the hotel’s back garden was empty save for the two of them.
What should have been a lush green space was now filled with withered branches and a carpet of fallen leaves that hadn’t yet been swept away.
“Shangshi.”
After walking in silence for a while, Wen Yan spoke first.
He felt a bit frustrated, his tone muffled. “I’m sorry about today. Don’t overthink it. My parents didn’t mean any harm; they just wanted… please don’t misunderstand. I know you don’t feel that way.”
The man beside him stopped. Wen Yan stopped too, looking up at him.
Surrounded by the faded yellow leaves, Cheng Shangshi was wearing a camel-colored coat over a cream-colored knit sweater. The outfit suited his broad-shouldered, long-legged frame perfectly.
“Wen Yan, I do feel that way,” Cheng Shangshi said, articulating every word.
The frustration in Wen Yan’s eyes turned into pure shock.
Cheng Shangshi didn’t look like he was joking in the slightest. “I like you. I’ve liked you for a very long time. I don’t know exactly when it started, but I know that I like you more with every passing day.”
He spoke a long string of words without pause, yet every syllable was clear. These words hit Wen Yan with such force that he was momentarily paralyzed.
Seeing Wen Yan’s stunned expression, Cheng Shangshi lowered his eyes to hide his dejection. His voice grew raspier.
“Wen Yan, I want to cherish you. Can you give me a chance?”
Silence reigned for a long time.
“Are you joking?” Wen Yan’s smile looked more painful than a sob. “Back in Country D, didn’t you say you didn’t have feelings for me?”
“I’m sorry.” Cheng Shangshi didn’t deny the lie.
Back then, if he had admitted it, Wen Yan would have pushed him away immediately and distanced himself.
They remained in a standoff for a long time until Wen Yan’s ears were red from the cold.
“I’m sorry,” Wen Yan’s voice felt stuck in his throat.
“I truly have always seen you as my best friend. I’m so sorry.”
Looking at the guilt and sadness written all over Wen Yan’s face, Cheng Shangshi’s lips quirked into a bitter arc.
He raised his hand and used his broad, warm palm to gently cover Wen Yan’s frozen, red ear. The warmth transferred instantly to his cold skin.
“There’s no need to be sorry. You don’t have to apologize for rejecting a confession, Wen Yan. I will always wait for you.”
“Just don’t be with him. Even if you don’t like me, don’t be with a person like that.”
“Wen Yan, I’m begging you.”
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