Chapter 2: Sunflower
Wen Yan closed his laptop, and silence returned to the rental apartment.
His mentor had just finished an online meeting with their group. The competition entry they had been preparing for over a month had finally passed the preliminary review.
He rubbed the sore back of his neck and let out a long sigh of relief.
This competition carried significant weight.
Outstanding entries would not only receive industry recognition and a large cash prize but could also directly secure an internship qualification for the Pei Group’s latest robotics project.
Although A University was already a top-tier institution in the country, everyone knew that interning at Pei Group, a tech giant with massive financial backing, would add a significant stroke of brilliance to any resume.
The whole group had poured their hearts into this competition. For Wen Yan, the team leader, staying up all night like he did yesterday was nothing.
The soundproofing in the rental was poor; Wen Yan could hear the sound of a key turning in the lock clearly.
He got up and went out to welcome his parents back.
Because of his father’s illness, both his parents had become much thinner, and their hair was peppered with white.
“Yan-yan, we went for a check-up today. The doctor says your dad has no issues now,” Wen Yan’s mother said as she supported his father to sit down.
Wen Yan felt a pang of heartache but forced a smile. “That’s good news. I said he would definitely get better.”
After chatting for a bit, his father suddenly spoke up. “Yan-yan, summer break is almost over. Your mom and I are getting ready to go back to Nan Shi (South City) for recovery treatment. You’ll be alone in Jiang City, so get along well with Yulan.”
Wen Yan remained silent for a long time before agreeing.
His father suffered from a rare disease. The costs were enormous, and finding medical care was difficult. It had dragged the Wen family from a comfortable middle-class life into debt. In the end, it was Gu Yulan who helped transfer Wen’s father from Nan Shi to a private hospital in Jiang City for his recovery. This rental apartment was also leased specifically for the medical treatment.
His mother was a high school teacher; with school starting soon, she naturally had to return.
The phone on the table suddenly pinged, breaking the heavy atmosphere.
[Yan-yan, come tonight. I have a very good relationship with them, and since I already agreed, it wouldn’t be good to go back on my word.]
[I’m almost at the entrance of your residential complex. Is Uncle feeling better today?]
“Who is it?”
“Yulan-ge,” Wen Yan answered truthfully. His parents knew about their relationship. “It’s his friend’s welcome-back party, and he wants me to go with him. He already promised his friend. He’ll be at the gate soon.”
His mother frowned, eventually sighing. “Yan-yan, you know our family and the Gu family aren’t in the same circle. We already owe Yulan enough; we will pay it back slowly in the future…”
Wen Yan knew.
His agreement with Gu Yulan not to meet each other’s parents or friends was because of this. The gap between him, Gu Yulan, and Gu Yulan’s social circle was too wide. Rash contact would only embarrass everyone.
Gu Yulan might not have considered these things.
“Forget it, if he promised, then go. Yulan doesn’t have any bad intentions, it’s just meeting friends. Yan-yan, you two get along well,” his father said, his voice hoarse. The once-spirited middle-aged man now looked weary.
“I know, Dad.”
His mother turned to take some fruit from the basket to wash, and Wen Yan went to help.
The washed fruit was cut and placed into a clean glass container. The whole container was then put into an insulated bag.
“Go on, have fun. Don’t always let Yulan spend money.”
“I know.”
Wen Yan left with the insulated box, calculating Gu Yulan’s arrival time in his head.
Just before exiting the complex gate, Wen Yan suddenly stopped.
Inside a glass window, a bouquet of sunflowers was blooming vibrantly.
…
When he walked to the entrance of the complex, Gu Yulan’s car had just pulled up. The man hurriedly got out of the car and ran toward him.
“Yan-yan!”
Wen Yan smiled and suddenly held up the hand he had been hiding behind his back. His beautiful eyes brightened even more with the smile.
Gu Yulan stared, momentarily lost in thought.
“Yulan-ge, for you.”
Wen Yan spoke to remind him. Gu Yulan smiled, accepted the flower, and took the opportunity to hold Wen Yan’s hand.
Wen Yan instinctively wanted to shake it off, but realizing it was Gu Yulan, he obediently let the other hold it, lowering his head to hide his blushing face and ears.
He had never been in a relationship, and rarely had such intimate contact. This was the first time he and Gu Yulan had held hands.
Since they were dating, they would surely do other intimate things in the future. He would adapt as soon as possible. Dating meant being good to the other person. Gu Yulan was good to him, so he would be good to Gu Yulan.
“Mom cut a fruit platter and asked me to bring it to you.” Wen Yan’s voice was awkwardly soft.
Gu Yulan felt the stiffness of the person he was holding and smiled even more. “Thank you, Auntie…”
The two walked hand in hand under the midday sun, chatting idly, the picture of an affectionate young couple that others would envy.
Inside a car nearby, Pei Zhouye stared fixedly at their joined hands, his knuckles pressing against the steering wheel until they turned white.
Holding hands? Who does Gu Yulan think he is, daring to touch Wen Yan! And he deserves to have Wen Yan give him flowers?
Pei Zhouye’s breathing was unstable, and his knuckles cracked with a crisp sound under the pressure.
Moments later, Gu Yulan received a phone call.
Afterward, he looked apologetic. “Yan-yan, there’s an emergency at home. I have to go back first. I just promised to go to the library with you this afternoon… if anything happens, tell me on the phone.”
Wen Yan was a little disappointed but shook his head slightly. “It’s okay, you go get busy. I didn’t have anything important to do, I just wanted to be with you.”
Gu Yulan pursed his lips, looking down at Wen Yan’s disappointed expression, his heart fluttering.
He hadn’t expected that someone who got shy just holding hands would express his feelings so bluntly. It was a pleasant surprise.
Wen Yan was too good-looking, had great academic credentials, a clean family background, and a good personality—cold on the outside, soft on the inside. He was also well-known. Undoubtedly, he was an excellent choice for a partner.
“Okay. Be slow on your way alone, I’ll come find you very soon.”
Gu Yulan didn’t delay for long; the driver brought the car around.
Shen Yao had suddenly called him to come over. He didn’t know if Pei Zhouye was there, but the Crown Prince’s time and patience were precious, and he didn’t want to waste this opportunity.
The rental apartment wasn’t far from the back gate of A University. Only after Gu Yulan left did Wen Yan realize he had forgotten to give him the sunflower; it was still in his hand.
The sunflower’s petals had lost their moisture under the scorching sun and looked wilted.
The midday road was empty. The green light turned on, and Wen Yan stepped onto the zebra crossing.
A gray sedan accelerated and rushed toward him, showing no sign of slowing down.
Wen Yan looked up sharply, his pupils constricting, his body frozen in place.
Bang—
A black car shadow cut in violently from the diagonal rear, ramming into the side of the gray sedan at a near-suicidal angle. Amidst the sound of metal crashing, the gray sedan was forcibly knocked off course, finally forced to a stop ten meters away from Wen Yan.
His heart raced wildly, and the fear of death washed over him belatedly.
If he died, what would happen to his mom and dad?
The door of the Mercedes flew open. The person inside walked over with large, angry strides. His clothes were wrinkled by the airbag, his arm scratched by shattered glass, and a trail of blood snaked down the back of his left hand to his wrist bone.
Pei Zhouye grabbed Wen Yan’s wrist, his grip painfully tight. “You don’t look up when crossing the road?!”
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