Yan Zhengbo briefly talked about it and also recalled what happened back then. Yan Yu and He Yue were college classmates. Both of them were fond of outdoor sports and shared similar interests. The Yan family was not in the habit of pressuring their children to marry for business purposes. There was no pressure on Yan Yu, and the two soon got together.
Yan Sui’s grandfather and the patriarch of the He family are old comrades in arms. They once joked about arranging a marriage between their children, but at that time, they were referring to Yan Yu and He Yue, who were still in the womb. Later, both were born as boys, and not long after, He Yue went missing, so this matter was never brought up again.
The He family later had another son and a daughter, which somewhat eased the pain of losing their child. When the Yan family held a banquet, they would naturally send invitations to the He family. He Wan had plenty of opportunities to see Yan Yu. Nobody knows when it began, but He Wan has fallen in love with him.
After learning that Yan Yu and He Yue were together, she once chased them to their university and said many misleading things to He Yue. She even secretly had people suppress He Yue’s adoptive parents’ family. When Yan Yu found out, he directly brought He Yue back during the birthday banquet of the old lady, who is Yan Sui’s grandmother.
After all the chaos, the He family’s face was swept away, and they naturally felt embarrassed. However, at that moment, Mother He suddenly noticed a birthmark behind He Yue’s ear. It turned out that He Yue was their long-lost eldest son who had gone missing years ago. After this revelation, Yan Yu and He Yue’s relationship should have been smoother.
But the He family has truly spoiled He Wan; it was unclear how she managed it, but she actually got herself pregnant with Yan Yu’s child. By the time everyone found out, the baby was already nine months along and could be born at any moment.
He Yue first experienced the loss of his adoptive father to cancer, followed by the suicide of his adoptive mother. Then he faced betrayal from his biological sister and lover. He left the country in sorrow, and while climbing a mountain, he encountered an avalanche. When the news reached home, Yan Yu immediately went mad. He rushed to the He family, wanting to take He Wan down with him.
He Wan was admitted to the hospital, while Yan Yu took a flight abroad to find the person. Unfortunately, that flight happened to crash. One after another, both of them were lost, leaving nothing but bones. He Wan gave birth to Yan Yu’s son, but her son lost his father just like that.
The He family and the Yan family both lost their sons one after another. No matter how good the relationship was in the early years, it broke here.
Just two days after He Wan gave birth, she secretly brought the baby out and kneeled in front of the Yan family’s old residence, saying that the child had lost a father and could not lose a mother as well. She expressed her willingness to compensate the Yan family with her remaining life, even if it meant marrying a deceased man and remaining a widow for life——she was willing to do so.
The two elders of the Yan family could ignore He Wan, but they could not ignore Yan Yu’s child, Yan Sui. He Wan was too emotional at the time, and one careless move could have harmed Yan Sui, who was only two days old, or perhaps there were other considerations at play that led the old lady to make the decision.
He Wan married into the Yan family, but she only married a cold memorial tablet. The old lady took care of the child herself and did not allow He Wan to interfere much.
“Your father has been very certain of his orientation since childhood, and He Wan never had a chance at all. Manjia and I have speculated that she was most likely conceived through artificial insemination.” It must be said that while He Wan loves Yan Yu, it doesn’t really seem that way. Yet, she did whatever it took to snatch Yan Yu from He Yue.
Her hatred, it seems, can only be understood by herself. Now, she cannot hate Yan Yu or He Yue; she can only direct her anger at the Yan family and vent it on Yan Sui. This is the only way she can continue to survive.
Her life is lamentable, yet it’s hard for others to feel sympathy for her.
Yan Zhengbo already knew quite a lot, but there were still some details that didn’t add up. Given what Yan Sui knows about He Wan, she wouldn’t have the ability to manipulate both families so easily; there must be someone behind her giving her advice and strategies.
Otherwise, with her temperament, once she confirmed she was pregnant with Yan Yu’s child, how could she possibly wait until the child was about to be born before revealing it? She would undoubtedly flaunt her belly in front of He Yue, showing off her power. Without a doubt, she hates this older brother, He Yue, who suddenly appeared and took everything from her, even more than she hates Yan Yu.
What is the purpose of the person behind He Wan? The Yan family, or perhaps even more than that.
“He Yue…” Yan Sui pondered this name for a moment, then raised his eyes to look at Yan Zhengbo. “Uncle, there’s no need to worry. I will keep an eye on the Yan family; this is what Grandpa and Grandma entrusted to me. No one is allowed to touch it.”
Yan Zhengbo nodded. Back then, when the Yan family faced a crisis, many watched without extending a helping hand. Not necessarily because they wanted to vent their hatred towards He Wan on Yan Sui. However, ultimately, what flows through Yan Sui’s veins is the bloodline of the Yan family. He bore all the burdens without saying a word, which is why he now holds his current position within the Yan family.
“Yan Yu… probably doesn’t know how to face you,” Yan Zhengbo paused for a moment, unable to continue. Logically speaking, the messy affairs of the previous generation shouldn’t affect the next, but achieving that is truly very difficult.
Yan Sui has known since childhood that his birth was not welcomed. He did not meet He Wan’s expected goals; she does not like him. He indirectly caused the deaths of four elderly men’s sons, including Yan Manjia’s elder brother. Although they tried hard to control their emotions, there were moments when their unusual feelings and misplaced anger slipped through.
He was a child born through artificial insemination, which seemed more acceptable to him than He Wan raping Yan Yu.
“I know,” Yan Sui replied lightly, and they moved on from the topic.
***
He and Yan Zhengbo chatted about other things for a while. An hour later, he brought Meng Ting out of Yan Zhengbo’s study and into the guest room, where they were temporarily staying for the day.
As soon as the door to the room closed, Meng Ting pressed Yan Sui against it and hugged him tightly. His eyes were astringent, and the tip of his nose was slightly red. He didn’t even know why he was sad; he just felt sad.
Meng Ting knew he was not good with words, but he didn’t realize he could be this clumsy. He didn’t know what to say to express his feelings, and after a long pause, he stammered, “Mom isn’t good, Dad isn’t good, but you are very good.”
Yan Sui leaned against the door and froze for a while. A faint smile appeared on his face as he reached out to rub the fluffy head at his side. “I know.”
Yan Sui has a fierce determination deep down, which has been the case since he was young. The issues from the previous generation do indeed have an impact on him, but the more this is the case, the more he wants to make them understand that even though his birth was not anticipated, he can still live well.
He will not let go of what he deserves, nor will he shirk the responsibilities that are his to bear.
However, this does not mean that his mood is not affected. He may not know as much as Yan Zhengbo, but he has done quite a bit of investigation in the past. The more he learns, the more he finds himself falling silent for several days.
Yet at this moment, being tightly embraced by Meng Ting, the uncontrollable silence he usually feels did not descend upon him. The warmth of Meng Ting’s breath, exhaled against his neck, reached deep into his heart.
He raised his hand to embrace the person again, gently rubbing Meng Ting’s nape. “Silly, I’m not sad at all. Why are you sad?”
“I don’t know,” Meng Ting replied in a muffled voice. The colder Yan Sui became, the more distressed he felt. It was clear that Yan Sui must have gone through even more sadness to react this way now.
Upon hearing this, Yan Sui’s gentle touch on the back of Meng Ting’s neck became even softer. He whispered, “I won’t let us go through something like that.”
The situation between Yan Yu and He Yue didn’t solely stem from external factors; both of them had their own issues to some extent. Learning from past experiences, he wouldn’t allow himself and Meng Ting to find themselves in such a predicament.
“Mm,” Meng Ting replied, “I will work hard with you.”
Together, they would protect their relationship.
“Good,” Yan Sui responded, his expression suddenly softening. He tilted his head and kissed Meng Ting’s hair. “Thank you.”
Meng Ting raised his head upon hearing this, his eyes slightly red but still clear. He kissed Yan Sui’s cheek and said, “It’s only right that I treat you well, accompany you, and protect you.”
Because Yan Sui also treated him in this way. He may not do it as well as Yan Sui, but he will try his best to do so. This is not a deliberate act of repaying kindness; it’s simply his true feelings wanting to treat Yan Sui this way. He likes him.
“Knock, knock, knock.”
Before Yan Sui could say anything else, there was a knock on the door behind him.
He helped Meng Ting to his feet, tidied his hair, and then retreated two steps back, along with Meng Ting, before opening the door.
“What is it?”
“I…I, I am Yan Shuya. Are you my father’s cousin?” He didn’t expect that the youngest patriarch of the Yan family would look like this——handsome, tall, and quite young.
A teenager who looked to be about the same age as Meng Ting stood in front of their door, his eyes fixed on Yan Sui, staring at him intently. “You look very young.”
“What is it?” Yan Sui asked again, his voice very cold, completely lacking the tenderness he had shown towards Meng Ting earlier.
Yan Shuya didn’t seem to expect that Yan Sui would still be so cold to him after knowing his identity. His expression immediately turned timid. “My dad invites you to the tea house to have tea. He asked me to come over and invite you.” In fact, he was the one who took the initiative to come over.
Yan Sui did not respond to him. Instead, he turned to Meng Ting and asked, “Do you want to go?”
Meng Ting glanced at Yan Sui, then at Yan Shuya, and shook his head. “I want to sleep.”
There was not a trace of sleepiness in his eyes, nor could one see any hint of ‘want’ in his expression; he simply did not want Yan Sui to follow that person. He did not like the way he spoke to Yan Sui.
Yan Sui nodded lightly when he heard this, “I’ll sleep with you.”
He turned to look at Yan Shuya and said, “Tell Yan Mu that we will go find him after we wake up.”
Yan Shuya couldn’t act coquettishly towards Yan Sui, so he could only respond dryly, “Yes.”
Then Yan Sui closed the door.
Phew, almost forgot today’s update. I had a kitten emergency yesterday. It’s been a long day. The vet suspected Panleukopenia, but I hope it’s just stress.
This chapter will be split into 3 parts.
List of Idiom in Chapter 042.1
似是而非 (sì shì ér fēi): seemingly so, but not really; appears right, but in fact wrong; specious (idiom); seeming (to be) right/reasonable but not so in fact.同歸於盡 (tóng guī yú jìn): to perish together with one’s foe; to die in such a way that sb (or sth) else also perishes; to take sb down with oneself; to end in mutual destruction; end up in common ruin; be doomed to the same fate.
不擇手段 (bù zé shǒu duàn): (derogatory) to take any measures to do something; to stop at nothing; by hook or by crook; unscrupulously; by fair means or foul.
出謀劃策 (chū móu huà cè): (sometimes derogatory) to put forward plans and ideas; to give advice (idiom); offer advice and suggestions; provide counsel; strategize; devise plans; give guidance; plot and plan; refers to giving advice to others.
耀武揚威 (yào wǔ yáng wēi): to show off one’s military strength (idiom); to strut around; to bluff; to bluster; to prance about; to thump one’s chest; to swagger about.
毫無疑問 (háo wú yí wèn): undoubtedly; without a doubt; certainly; beyond doubt.
前車之鑒 (qián chē zhī jiàn): lit. the warning taken from the overturned cart ahead; previous experience of failure that serves as a lesson for oneself or others; to learn a lesson from the mistakes of one’s predecessor (idiom); lesson from the past; warning from others’ mistakes; cautionary tale; a metaphor that the previous failure can serve as a lesson for the future.
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