Wen Yan spent those days in a daze after his grandfather and grandmother passed away one after another. His heart was deeply pained and uncomfortable, yet his face remained numb, like a walking corpse.
Relatives came to cause trouble, but he had no interest in dealing with them. Even when he was struck, he merely got up with a cold expression on his face.
Until Wen Xueli, like a deity descending from the heavens, came to his rescue.
At that time, he was surrounded by relatives, the scolding voices of aunts and uncles stabbing at his ears. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, his face swollen and throbbing painfully.
He thought, even if he couldn’t save the house, as long as his grandfather and grandmother could rest in peace.
Wen Xueli entered the funeral parlor at this moment.
The bodyguards pushed aside the relatives, and the man walked up to him with long strides.
He saw the man glance at him with deep and mysterious eyes, then, after lowering his gaze, placed white chrysanthemums in front of the deceased.
Afterward, the man helped him reclaim the house, accompanied him in handling the funeral arrangements, and took him to Hongcheng.
He stayed with the Wen family for about ten days before slowly realizing he had been taken in.
He had just turned eighteen, and the man couldn’t legally adopt him.
He was considered a guest.
Originally, he was planning to work during the summer vacation. His tuition was covered, but he still needed to earn living expenses.
However, on his first day in Hongcheng, Wen Xueli gave him a black card.
Wen Yan didn’t want to accept it, but the man told him that every child in the Wen family had pocket money, and now that he was his nephew, he could enjoy such treatment.
At that time, the man’s eyes were deep, and he casually looked at him, saying, “If you really don’t want it, just pay me back when you start working.”
With that, Wen Yan naturally had to accept it.
Wen Xueli’s temperament was somewhat unpredictable. He appeared gentle on weekdays but always exuded a sense of distance.
He spoke little, and with a busy work schedule, Wen Yan could only meet him in the evenings. The two didn’t exchange many words, sometimes just bidding each other good night.
It wasn’t until that drunken night when the man pressed him down that he realized how powerful the man’s presence was, dominating the absolute position in bed.
His back ached for several days afterward.
Unfortunately, the man didn’t remember this incident.
He thought about it for a long time, unsure how to face the man.
Since the man didn’t remember, he decided to forever keep this matter hidden in his heart.
Later, the man suggested going to Disneyland. He scheduled a weekday to go, but on that morning, the man stayed back and unexpectedly skipped work to accompany him.
Still taciturn, he would protect him when the crowd grew, even buying him many stuffed animals.
Wen Yan had only been to an amusement park in his childhood and had never bought any stuffed animals. The family’s financial situation was tough, and he became responsible for helping his grandparents with chores as he matured, later taking on part-time jobs.
This was the first time he received a stuffed animal gift as an adult and the first time he played so freely.
The man treated him as a real child, even buying him cotton candy and a cone of ice cream in the end.
Wen Yan quietly held the two snacks, feeling a bit embarrassed but also a pulsating sense of gratitude in his heart.
Due to the events of that night, he deliberately kept his distance from Wen Xueli these days.
However, the trip to Disneyland gradually made him more familiar with Wen Xueli.
He developed a growing dependence on Wen Xueli.
Being a guest in someone else’s home made him anxious, fearing that this uncle might not like him, afraid of annoying anyone.
As a result, this uncle turned out to be unexpectedly kind to him.
In this way, two months passed, and he and Wen Xueli got along quite harmoniously.
During his leisure time, he studied his freshman courses, played with the dogs in the villa, took walks, and time flew by.
However, communication between the two remained minimal.
Two days before the start of the school year, he prepared to bid farewell to Wen Xueli and go back alone. Unexpectedly, Wen Xueli instructed the servants to pack their bags, saying they were heading back to Haicheng.
He was quite surprised.
Wen Xueli said he had business to attend to in Haicheng and would take the opportunity to accompany him back to school.
So, the uncle and nephew boarded the plane.
Upon arriving in Haicheng, Wen Xueli directly asked Wen Yan to go to the prepared villa with him.
Wen Yan had thought about returning to his grandparents’ old house, but Wen Xueli said no one had cleaned it, and besides, he would be living on campus after school started, only returning on weekends. There was no need to bother, so he moved into Wen Xueli’s house in Haicheng.
The next day, Wen Xueli sent him to school. His roommate patted him on the shoulder, saying that his brother was really good to him, helping him with everything.
Wen Yan was stunned for a moment, correcting that it was his uncle.
The man looked very young. Usually, when he wore a suit and tie, it didn’t strike him, only exuding an air of aristocratic elegance. Today, dressed in casual clothes, he easily blended into the student crowd.
He had always called the man uncle, ignoring the fact that the man was only twelve years older than him.
The roommate’s calling him brother was like a thunderbolt hitting his heart.
Before, when he had a relationship with the man, he gradually let go of the guilt by considering the man as an elder.
But… in fact, the age difference between the man and him was not that significant…
He suddenly found his thoughts becoming complicated.
So, after the military training, he stayed at the school and never returned to the Wen family.
Wen Xueli called to inquire, and he only mentioned the heavy academic workload.
After more than half a month passed like this, they met again on the day of Ye Ting and He Jing’s wedding.
Wen Xueli went to the school early to pick him up and they went to the He family together.
On the way, he remained silent, while Wen Xueli was amiable and asked him, “Are you still adjusting well at school?”
Wen Yan softly replied, “I’m used to it.”
This kid had always been shy, and Wen Xueli didn’t think much of it. “When you’re not busy, come home and visit. Aunt Liang always talks about you, saying you love the Squirrel Mandarin fish she makes.”
Aunt Liang was the cook Wen Xueli brought from Hongcheng, originally from Suzhou. The Squirrel Mandarin fish was a famous dish from Suzhou.
A century ago, when the Wen family migrated south to Hongcheng, they brought local cooks and servants with them. Aunt Liang was the descendant of the cook from that time.
As the conversation reached this point, Wen Yan couldn’t find an excuse to stay at school any longer and said, “I have time during the National Day holiday.”
Aunt Liang had been very kind to him. During the initial days in Hongcheng when he was unfamiliar with the surroundings, Aunt Liang conversed with him in Suzhou dialect. Suzhou dialect and Haicheng dialect were somewhat similar, making him feel a sense of familiarity.
Wen Xueli glanced at him, smiling slightly, “Hmm.”
In Hongcheng, he was known as the fox, and not without reason. The young man had been distant from him these days, and how could he not perceive it? Bringing up Aunt Liang was a deliberate move, confident that Wen Yan wouldn’t feel comfortable refusing.
Sure enough, as soon as he mentioned it, the young man willingly agreed to go home with him.
He Jing and Ye Ting’s wedding was grand yet understated, the happiness in their eyes almost overflowing.
Wen Yan looked at the silly smile on his friend’s face. Somehow, his eyes suddenly glanced at the man beside him.
If one day he were to get married, would he be as happy as his friend…
…But who would he marry?
He felt a bit lost, a bit embarrassed to even think about it. Lowering his gaze, he dared not look at the person beside him again.
In the afternoon, after leaving He’s house, Wen Yan and Wen Xueli returned to the villa together.
On the way, Wen Xueli chatted with him, “Aunt Liang got a puppy. It’s very cute, and you should like it.”
Wen Yan was absent-minded, but he forced a smile.
Wen Xueli turned his head to look at him, “Are you tired?”
He shook his head in silence.
The man remained silent for a few seconds and said, “Then close your eyes, take a rest, and I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
Wen Yan felt a bit uncomfortable as if the air was thin and oppressive. The man’s words seemed like a lifeline, and he immediately complied.
Closing his eyes, perhaps the sunlight outside the window was too warm, shining on him. He actually fell asleep.
When he woke up, he realized the car had stopped, and he was leaning on the man’s shoulder. The man’s shoulder was slightly damp.
He instantly sat up, his face turning red, and apologized, “Sorry…”
Wen Xueli closed the file and smiled, “Get off the car.”
With that, he opened the door.
Wen Yan patted his cheeks, waited until he calmed down, and then followed him out.
The driver, waiting outside to park the car in the underground garage, whispered, “You slept in the car for half an hour. The sir didn’t want anyone to wake you up.”
So, Wen Xueli waited for him for half an hour, letting him rest on his shoulder until he woke up naturally?
Wen Yan’s face, just recovered from embarrassment, blushed again.
He walked into the house slowly, and a little dog suddenly ran towards him, squatting at his feet and whimpering.
Wen Yan liked small animals.
In the past, there were no conditions to have pets at home, but when he saw stray dogs and cats on the roadside, he would share his leftovers with them.
In Hongcheng, the Wen family had a few Golden Retrievers, and he liked them a lot.
However, adult dogs weren’t as affectionate as small ones. Sometimes when he tried to play with them, they couldn’t be bothered.
Now, a white puppy was lying at his feet, wagging its tail at him, and his heart was melting.
Wen Xueli turned around, smiled, and said, “Hug it, and it will become close to you.”
Wen Yan crouched down, picked up the little puppy, and held it in his arms.
Aunt Liang walked over, smiling, “It’s a boy, and we call him Xiao Ai.”
He held Xiao Ai in his arms, stroking the soft fur on Xiao Ai’s back, and softly exclaimed, “Hello, Xiao Ai.”
The little puppy nuzzled his palm and licked his fingers.
He couldn’t help but smile.
Because he had been busy working to earn tuition fees, he had become somewhat mature for his age and didn’t smile much.
Now, this smile was pure and adorable, with a hint of childlike innocence, as if he had just received his most beloved toy.
Wen Xueli looked at him for a few seconds and said, “Alright, go change your clothes and play with Xiao Ai.”
Wen Yan obediently put the puppy down and walked upstairs.
As he passed by Wen Xueli, he noticed that the man’s shoulder was still damp.
He dared not look again, quickening his steps to go upstairs.
The room had been arranged during his last stay, right next to the man’s.
The room was very clean, and the sheets carried the pleasant scent of laundry detergent and the freshness of sunlight, probably changed just today.
He changed into casual clothes but lingered, sitting on the edge of the bed, reluctant to go downstairs.
Mainly because Wen Xueli was downstairs, and he wasn’t sure how to face him.
During those two months in Hongcheng, the man was rarely at home, and there were plenty of things on weekends. He had rarely spent time with the man in broad daylight.
Initially, when he agreed to come back, he intended to pass the time in his room.
But the little puppy was in the living room… thinking about the cute puppy, he took a deep breath and decided to go downstairs.
At this moment, the man had also changed into casual clothes, looking very young, with a handsome and gentle face, appearing quite approachable.
But Wen Yan knew that the man in front of him was not as gentle and harmless as he appeared.
It was said that the Wen family had once helped those in higher positions, so the Wen family’s status was outstanding. Wen Xueli, in particular, was personally groomed by the patriarch of the Wen family as the successor.
Despite his young age, Wen Xueli already held considerable power, and no one in Hongcheng dared to offend him.
The old fox in the eyes of the people in Hongcheng was now waving at him, “Come over here.”
The man, holding the little puppy, smiled at him with a quirk on his lips.
Wen Yan’s heart pounded. He collected his thoughts and walked over quickly.
The man handed the little dog to him.
During the exchange, he touched the man’s fingertips, feeling as if he had been scalded, and quickly withdrew his hand.
Wen Xueli glanced at him and said, “Take it outside for a walk.”
Wen Yan nodded, cradling the puppy as he walked into the yard.
Surprisingly, the man followed behind him.
He felt inexplicably nervous and uncertain, silently hugging the little puppy tightly. As they walked to the backyard, he wondered why the man, who seemed always busy, wasn’t in the study attending to work.
The villa was also in the southern part of the city, very close to He Jing and Ye Ting’s home. Because it was a large standalone villa area, the yard was spacious.
On the left, there was a garden with vibrant colors despite being early autumn. On the right, it looked like a wilderness of plants, with a small bridge, flowing water, and a pavilion for running and resting.
Wen Yan put the little dog down, and it joyfully pounced onto the blue stone path.
Worried that the dog might fall into the water, he hurriedly followed.
The little dog sniffed here and there, lifting its leg to pee from time to time.
Wen Yan: “…”
Wen Xueli followed casually, chuckling, “Haven’t you seen a little dog pee before?”
The man’s warm breath brushed into his ear, causing Wen Yan to shiver. He subtly avoided it without showing any reaction.
He couldn’t believe that someone as refined as Wen Xueli would use the phrase “little dog pee.”
With complex emotions, he glanced at the man, then turned his gaze away and answered honestly, “I’ve seen it…”
Wen Xueli patted his shoulder, “Raising a little dog is like raising a child; it requires love and time.” He smirked, glancing at Wen Yan, and added, “If you like it, come back and spend more time with it. I can tell it likes you too.”
Wen Yan agreed with a nod, but his mind drifted elsewhere.
The man took him in, but he didn’t spend much time with him.
Could it be that he’s not as good as a little dog?
Perhaps the man only treated him as a pet, providing a place to stay and some food.
Then he shook his head, dismissing such thoughts from his mind.
Regardless, the man saved him in a time of need, giving him a place to rely on, and he would be grateful for the rest of his life.
After taking the puppy for a walk, they slowly returned to the house as the sun set. The little puppy happily wagged its tail, leading the way.
The crimson sunlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows of the two.
Neither of them spoke, the man walked beside him, and Wen Yan could smell the pleasant sandalwood fragrance emanating from the man.
He thought, if it continued like this, walking with the man every evening, taking the dog for a stroll, it would be quite nice.
But he inexplicably recalled that night in Hongcheng, the man panting on him, gripping his waist and relentlessly advancing…
His ears burned, and he pretended to chase after the little dog, striding back to the room.
For dinner, Aunt Liang indeed made Squirrel Mandarin fish. Wen Yan didn’t let himself dwell on that matter, and in the presence of the man, he remained much calmer, eating quite contentedly.
Wen Xueli used chopsticks to separate the fish meat from the skin, dipped it in sauce, and put it in his bowl.
Wen Yan whispered his thanks but felt a bit uneasy.
Seeing this, Wen Xueli paused with his chopsticks, calmly engaging him in conversation, “You’re studying polymer materials. Which direction are you planning to specialize in?”
When it came to his major, Wen Yan relaxed a bit, honestly replying, “I’m still learning the basics, haven’t chosen a direction yet.”
Wen Xueli said, “Wen’s family plans to build a hospital in Haicheng and also intends to set up a laboratory for instruments and equipment… Are you interested in doing research?”
Wen Yan, hearing the man mention Wen’s family business for the first time, paid close attention.
He was somewhat surprised that Wen’s family was also involved in the medical industry.
Next, Wen Xueli briefly explained the plan for this trip to Haicheng.
The hospital was a joint investment with the Haicheng government, and the Zhou family also had a stake. Although it was labeled as a hospital, the real purpose was to research new equipment and medicines.
This was a government project that required significant upfront investment, and talents in this field were hard to come by.
Wen Yan, who had just started studying materials science, didn’t understand the industry very well and said softly, “I don’t really understand…”
Wen Xueli smiled, “No rush, once you’ve learned, come and help me.”
This statement left Wen Yan slightly stunned.
Did the man mean for him to join Wen’s family after graduating?
But he never considered joining Wen’s family.
Although they were uncle and nephew, the blood ties were thin, and he wasn’t from the direct line of Wen’s family but a distant relative…
Thinking about it, with four years left until graduation, he might pursue a master’s or a doctorate. By then, Wen Xueli might have changed his mind, so he decided to keep his refusal to himself.
As they chatted about the company and academics, their relationship seemed to grow closer.
After dinner, Wen Xueli took a tablet, and Wen Yan held the little dog, watching TV together in the living room.
The puppy had already had a bath, smelling fresh, and its fur was exceptionally comfortable.
After about fifteen minutes, Wen Xueli’s phone rang, and he got up to answer it by the floor-to-ceiling window.
The bright light in the living room illuminated the man, tall and upright, with long legs standing straight.
Wen Yan bit his lip and slowly averted his gaze.
Before long, the man returned, saying, “I need to go out for a bit. Rest early.”
After saying this, he went upstairs to change his clothes and left with the driver.
Wen Yan’s body stiffened, and he watched the man disappear at the entrance.
He recalled the last time when a friend called the man out, and upon returning, he had had too much to drink, leading to the intimate encounter.
This time, the man probably wouldn’t get drunk, right?
He curled up on the sofa with the little dog, his lips almost bleeding from biting them.
At ten o’clock, he couldn’t hold on any longer, so he went upstairs to get ready for bed.
The little dog followed him upstairs with a panting sound.
Aunt Liang made a bed for the puppy in the living room, and the puppy was supposed to sleep in it.
He squatted down, touched Xiao Ai’s white fur, and said gently, “Go to sleep, see you tomorrow.”
But the little dog bit his pants, refusing to let him go.
At this moment, Aunt Liang walked over, smiling, “It wants to be with you. Just take it to your room.”
Wen Yan felt a bit joyful, “Is it okay?”
Aunt Liang nodded with a smile, “But don’t let it onto the bed. It just got its first vaccine, so be careful.”
Wen Yan nodded gently and carried the little dog back to his room.
After finishing his evening routine, he walked out of the bathroom. The little dog, originally curled up on the sofa ready to sleep, saw him get on the bed and immediately jumped down, circling the bedside, whimpering as if accusing him of not allowing it on the bed.
Thinking of Aunt Liang’s words, he wasn’t planning to spoil it.
But those round, big puppy eyes looked pitiful.
He thought of himself.
After his grandparents passed away, he became like an unwanted pet, living in his distant uncle’s house.
And this uncle…
He lowered his eyes, lifted the little dog onto the bed, kissed its forehead, and said, “Then, sleep with me.”
However, he tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep no matter what.
The little puppy was already sleeping soundly, but the thoughts of Wen Xueli kept him awake, and the more he thought, the more alert he became.
Around midnight, a car entered the courtyard.
It should be the man coming back.
Would he get drunk like last time? Should he go downstairs to check?
Wen Yan hesitated but ultimately didn’t move.
Just as he decided to get some good sleep, he heard footsteps in the corridor, and a few seconds later, it seemed like the man stopped at his bedroom door.
His heart suddenly tightened.
Author’s note:
I’ll update again tomorrow night, daily updates, love you all~^_^
For this chapter, leaving 2 comments will also get a red envelope~
