This time, Han Ji clearly sensed hostility from Fu Mingchuan, and it was more than just casual animosity over a few exchanged words. It felt as if he hadn’t merely brushed up against someone close to Fu Mingchuan, but had taken what wasn’t his.
You Wen seemed to notice too and told Han Ji, “Let’s get in touch later.”
Han Ji agreed, nodded politely to Fu Mingchuan, and then got into his car. Fu Mingchuan’s gaze stayed fixed on the emblem of his car—a model he’d spotted from an upper floor at the bank that day.
After Han Ji drove off, You Wen explained, “Han Ji just came by to return something. He won’t be coming around again.”
Fu Mingchuan shifted his gaze back to You Wen and, after a moment’s hesitation, asked, “You two are close?”
“No,” You Wen replied honestly. He didn’t want Fu Mingchuan to misunderstand. “We used to run into each other a lot here and there. He’s a bit quiet.” Recalling past encounters, You Wen remembered that he was usually the one talking, with Han Ji mostly listening.
Fu Mingchuan retorted, “Quiet means he’s boring?”
Sensing Fu Mingchuan’s displeasure but unsure of its cause, You Wen asked, “If you don’t like him, I just won’t see him anymore. Why are you getting so upset?”
He rarely addressed Fu Mingchuan’s emotions so directly, but perhaps after seeing Fu Mingchuan’s tears that night, he now dared to touch upon matters that Fu usually kept off-limits.
Fu Mingchuan quickly masked his slight hostility. “I’m not upset. I just don’t like him.”
A faint smile tugged at You Wen’s lips as he listened to Fu Mingchuan add, “So could you avoid meeting him from now on?”
You Wen, who had had his fair share of admirers over the years and was no stranger to either overt or covert advances, was puzzled by Fu Mingchuan’s particular dislike for Han Ji. “Why?”
Fu Mingchuan replied bluntly, “I really don’t like him.”
When it was time for discharge, it was You Shi who came to pick him up, so You Wen didn’t go back to Ganxi Road. By the time Fu Mingchuan arrived at the hospital, You Shi had already taken him away.
The flight was set for three days later. Zhou Hui was staying at You Shi’s place and slept beside You Wen each night, hugging him and repeatedly saying how much he didn’t want him to leave, then adding that getting him away from a jerk like Fu Mingchuan was probably for the best.
But the next day, when Fu Mingchuan showed up, Zhou Hui bolted upstairs, too flustered to face him—quite the contrast to his righteous stance the night before.
Fu Mingchuan had brought over several suitcases filled with essentials he knew You Wen would need, along with some loose currency from Germany and a few other small, local items.
Most of the items could easily be bought once there, but You Wen didn’t mention that. He listened attentively as Fu Mingchuan explained everything, and then he heard him ask, “Tiao Tiao is here too. Would you like to see him?”
You Wen looked at Fu Mingchuan and smiled. “Sure.”
They went out to the yard to see the dog. Not having seen You Wen in a while, Tiao Tiao wagged his tail wildly, jumping all over him. Laughing, You Wen held him close, telling him to calm down.
Fu Mingchuan said from the side, “I’ll bring Tiao Tiao to you next month. Just send me your address when you arrive.”
As if worried You Wen might refuse, he added, “I can’t handle him alone anyway—he’s always with the housekeeper. He’d be better off with you.”
Gently petting Tiao Tiao’s face without looking at Fu Mingchuan, You Wen replied, “Alright.”
Fu Mingchuan let out a relieved sigh, his voice softening. “I’ll see you off at the airport the day after tomorrow. Don’t go alone, okay?”
You Wen looked up at him, and Fu Mingchuan met his gaze steadily. The dog’s wagging tail brushed against Fu Mingchuan’s leg, but he didn’t flinch. “I went to pick you up yesterday but missed you.”
In fact, You Wen had been too busy preparing for his trip to Germany and had missed Fu Mingchuan’s call last night, forgetting to call back.
Nodding, You Wen said, “I’ll let you know before I go.”
Fu Mingchuan didn’t linger much longer, as You Shi returned soon after and made her disapproval of his presence clear, saying, “Naonao, why have you left your guest standing in the yard?”
She added, “Are we keeping our guest for lunch? Have you spoken to the kitchen?”
It was obviously a dismissal, not an invitation.
After Fu Mingchuan left, You Shi remarked thoughtfully to You Wen, “A man needs to be tamed. If he can’t be, he isn’t worth keeping.”
You Wen chuckled and walked over to massage her shoulders. “Then I’ll need some tips from my aunt, who’s mastered the art of husband-taming.”
From the side, Zhou Guandong gave an amused “hmm-hmm” of agreement.
Only Zhou Hui seemed to take You Shi’s words to heart, agreeing that a wild, untamable man like Fu Mingchuan was better left behind.
But he had a soft spot for Tiao Tiao. “The man can go, but we’re keeping the dog.”
The next day, when Fu Mingchuan called You Wen, You Wen said that he was out and could meet him at the airport tomorrow.
Fu Mingchuan looked down at the traffic on the street below. The lights reflected on his face, making him look a bit aloof. He said okay, and then said, “I’ll pick up Tiao Tiao tomorrow as well.”
This meant he wasn’t willing to wait until they met at the airport.
You Wen walked away from Zhou Hui’s side to a quiet place. “Is 10 am tomorrow okay?”
Seeing that Fu Mingchuan didn’t speak, he added, “Fu Mingchuan, I won’t go alone.”
Fu Mingchuan asked him, “Where are you?”
Half an hour later, Fu Mingchuan was standing in front of You Wen. You Wen was surprised at how quickly he arrived. With traffic at this time, it was impossible for Fu Mingchuan to arrive so quickly whether he came from the company or from home.
Fu Mingchuan said, “I took the subway, it’s faster.”
As You Wen stared at him in disbelief, he added, “I was afraid that if I came too late, you would go somewhere else.”
You Wen laughed and asked Fu Mingchuan, “I’m going to get some reference books from someone, do you want to go with me?”
Fu Mingchuan nodded and asked You Wen where he was going. After You Wen told him the place, he said, “I’ll call a car.”
This was a bit strange, but You Wen didn’t think much of it. However, when he saw the taxi stop by the roadside, he still couldn’t help but ask in surprise, “You know how to hail a taxi?”
He always thought that a creature like Fu Mingchuan was detached from the lives of ordinary people. He didn’t expect him to know how to do such a down-to-earth thing.
Moreover, Fu Mingchuan was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, standing next to a taxi that had been driven for at least five years and had a current market value of no more than 30,000 yuan. This made You Wen feel particularly dissonant.
Fu Mingchuan held the car door and let You Wen get in first before getting in himself. “When I was in school, the family car couldn’t always be waiting at school.” He then added, “You Wen, I have basic common sense, you don’t have to doubt that.”
He seemed a little unhappy about being questioned.
You Wen felt that Fu Mingchuan at this moment was like a paper tiger. He held back a smile and said, “I know.”
Fu Mingchuan’s expression showed a hint of dissatisfaction, but when You Wen turned, catching his smile reflected in the car window, Fu Mingchuan’s own lips curved slightly, and he held back his complaint.
The book was a rare, out-of-print edition, and You Wen inspected it carefully on the spot. Fu Mingchuan paid, and afterward even stopped at a milk tea shop along the street to get a cup for You Wen.
Though he said nothing, You Wen refused to hold it himself, making Fu Mingchuan carry it for him, drawing glances from passersby as they walked.
“They’re staring at you,” You Wen noted.
Fu Mingchuan brushed it off. “No, they’re looking at you.”
Wherever You Wen went, he tended to draw people’s attention, naturally appealing as he was.
Eventually, they returned together to the house on Ganxi Road. Fu Mingchuan didn’t bring up taking You Wen back to You Shi’s, and You Wen didn’t mention it either. When they got out of the car, You Wen seemed fine with the plan; he even allowed Fu Mingchuan to take his hand without resistance.
Once they were inside, Fu Mingchuan pressed him against the door and kissed him deeply. Holding him close, he carried him to the bedroom, and everything moved naturally from there.
Throughout, You Wen didn’t resist. He was always the one being held in Fu Mingchuan’s grasp, his emotions and body yielding almost instinctively.
By the third time, You Wen was already crying, but Fu Mingchuan didn’t let him go. He took him to the bathroom under the pretense of cleaning up, only to make You Wen hold onto the sink, wrapping his arms around his waist from behind and biting down on his shoulder as he continued.
By the time they finished, You Wen no longer had the strength to push him away, barely able to lift his gaze as Fu Mingchuan asked softly, “Naonao, stay with me.”
“I’ll change for you. I’ll love you properly.”
“I’ll give you whatever you want.”
“We could even have a wedding, so everyone will know I’m yours.”
After a pause, when he saw You Wen still avoiding his gaze, he added, “I’ll make sure you have so much to say.” This promise, the weightiest of all, was a pledge to both You Wen and himself.
Frustrated with Fu Mingchuan’s lack of restraint, You Wen pursed his lips slightly. “No, I already promised my aunt.”
Fu Mingchuan fell silent, until You Wen turned to him again, only to be met with another deep kiss. When You Wen tried to push him away, Fu Mingchuan caught his hand firmly. “Then I’ll come to find you.”
You Wen didn’t agree, but he didn’t refuse either.
After a long silence, You Wen finally spoke. “Fu Mingchuan, I need to put some distance between us.”
“If we keep some distance, you’ll be able to see your heart more clearly.”
Fu Mingchuan asked him to look at him, but You Wen wouldn’t meet his gaze. Pressing his forehead against You Wen’s, Fu Mingchuan whispered, “Naonao, I know what I’m doing, and I know exactly what I feel for you. I don’t need distance—this heart of mine is already yours.”
But You Wen kept his eyes closed. “But I want to see what’s in my own heart, too.”
