BTMDY Chapter 132

Ever since the Shenlin ESports Hotel opened, Lin Wangye rarely stayed at the Lu family home anymore. So there wasn’t much left behind, and before moving, he only went through the motions of checking for anything important he might’ve forgotten.

 

His room looked exactly the same as when he had last left—nothing had changed at all.

 

Lu Wei had specially prepared a new suitcase for him.

 

After circling the room a few times, Lin Wangye still felt like something was missing.

 

He checked carefully and confirmed that nothing had been left behind. Shi Yuan folded the clothes and socks in his wardrobe and started putting them into the suitcase. Just as he was about to close it, Lin Wangye stopped him and shoved the little box he had just gotten from Lu Wei inside.

 

A long time ago, Lin Wangye had mentioned in front of Shi Yuan the little snowman that Lu Chengxuan had kept in the fridge. Shi Yuan, being smart, pieced things together and couldn’t help but wonder where it had come from.

 

“Do you think this has something to do with Lin Shen?” Shi Yuan asked.

 

The snowman belonged to an era far too distant and unfamiliar for Lin Wangye to recall clearly.

 

But knowing Lu Chengxuan as he did, anything he treasured enough to keep for so long had to be connected to someone he cared about.

 

Since Vivian had no idea where it came from, the answer was obvious.

 

“Of course.” Lin Wangye didn’t hesitate for a second and answered with full confidence, then rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “But just to be safe, I’ll ask Brother Lu myself, make sure there’s no mistake.”

 

“No mistakes,” Shi Yuan echoed, staring at him for a moment. Then he noticed there was something hidden behind Lin Wangye’s words and asked with a smile, “What are you planning?”

 

Lin Wangye grinned, a sly little smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

 

“You already figured it out, huh?”

 

“Do you think I can’t read that little scheme of yours?” Shi Yuan zipped up the suitcase and stood it upright, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “Come on, tell me—what’s this clever idea of yours?”

 

The bedroom was spotless. Lin Wangye sat cross-legged on the carpet, his eyes rolling as he said, “Look… first, they both have feelings for each other. That’s for sure, right?”

 

Shi Yuan nodded. “Obviously.”

 

“I think they need a little push.” Lin Wangye propped his chin on one hand, pondering aloud. “They’re both way too stubborn. My dad’s so bullheaded and prideful, he’d never say a word first. Brother Lu’s reliable with other stuff, but when it comes to feelings, he’s like a newbie—completely clueless. If this drags on, my dad’s only gonna get more irritated; he doesn’t have much patience.”

 

Shi Yuan listened quietly, then spoke when Lin Wangye finished.

 

“So you want to play matchmaker?”

 

Lin Wangye nodded eagerly. “Yeah, I feel like they just need a little push and it’ll happen.”

 

Shi Yuan had always supported Lin Wangye’s ideas without question.

 

“Any plan yet?” he asked.

 

“Not really,” Lin Wangye shook his head, thinking aloud. “I need to figure it out first. The main thing is to talk with Brother Lu, give him some ideas on how to win my dad over.”

 

Before Shi Yuan could reply, they suddenly heard a knock at the door.

 

They looked at each other at the same time. Shi Yuan turned and opened it, only to find Vivian standing there.

 

Thinking back to the conversation they’d just had, Lin Wangye felt a jolt of panic. He quickly got up from the floor and stood properly. Vivian didn’t show any reaction, so he wasn’t sure if she had overheard anything. She walked in as usual, followed by the nanny holding a notebook in her left hand and a small rabbit in her right.

 

“Little Gray!”

 

Lin Wangye suddenly remembered, rushed forward, and took the rabbit’s cage, letting out a relieved sigh. “Ah, that’s why I kept feeling like something was missing—it was this! Oh man, it’s gotten so fat… it’s been ages since I held it, and it’s so heavy now.”

 

“Darling, try not to hold it too much, it might bite,” Vivian said with a helpless smile. “Xuan Xuan specifically told me to take good care of him. Maybe it’s because he’s been eating so well, he’s just gotten fatter and fatter.”

 

“He’s turned into a little fat ball,” Lin Wangye muttered. Holding the cage was exhausting; he bent down and put it on the floor, shaking his hands. “Thanks, Auntie, for taking such good care of him! I’ll get a bigger cage when I go back and make sure he’s well looked after!”

 

Vivian nodded, then took the laptop from the nanny and handed it to him. “This is Xuan Xuan’s computer. There should be some files on it. They might not be very important, but please pass it back to him for me.”

 

“Ah, okay.”

 

Lin Wangye took the laptop, and Shi Yuan immediately opened the suitcase and shoved it inside.

 

During this, Lin Wangye glanced at Vivian and couldn’t help asking, “Auntie, since we’re moving, didn’t Brother Lu come back to pack his stuff?”

 

He felt like Lu Chengxuan’s personality was not the type to forget things.

 

As expected, Vivian shook her head slowly.

 

“No. He hasn’t lived here for a long time, so there’s nothing to pack. His room is even emptier than yours. Besides, ever since… never mind. Let’s not talk about the father-son stuff.”

 

Lin Wangye and Shi Yuan both knew about Lu Chengxuan and the Lu family.

 

They understood exactly what Vivian was hesitating to say, reading the same emotion in each other’s eyes.

 

Father-son conflicts can vary.

 

Lin Shen had also gone through times when things were tense at home—leaving the house, having his bank card confiscated. Both father and son expressed themselves intensely, practically showing a grudge that made your teeth itch.

 

Lin Pengcheng certainly had his faults, but he still chose to trust his biological son, giving him everything in black and white in his will.

 

Lin Shen had lived up to that trust and held the family together.

 

Lu Chengxuan and Lu Chenghan, on the other hand, had no open arguments or fights. The calm exterior hid a silent war—one without gunpowder or winners.

 

Because both father and son grew up with the same style of upbringing, sharing many personality traits, neither would back down once they were set on something.

 

The result was inevitable: some wins, some losses, and both sides hurt.

 

Vivian, as both a wife and mother, naturally ended up caught in the middle, feeling the most uncomfortable.

 

Lin Wangye could sympathize with her, but he couldn’t change the situation.

 

All he could do, just as before, was make time to be with her when she needed him or when they met, to cheer her up and help her pass the time.

 

Facing the Lu family’s household issues, Shi Yuan could only stand silently beside Lin Wangye. Lin Wangye noticed that Vivian’s mood seemed a little low, but for the life of him, he couldn’t think of anything to say or do that might comfort her. He just froze there, his mind racing for some kind of plan.

 

Seeing the two kids standing side by side, sharing almost identical expressions, a gentle smile finally spread across Vivian’s beautiful face, and the shadow in her eyes lightened considerably.

 

“My mood has affected you two, hasn’t it?” She gestured for the nanny to leave and let out a soft sigh. “No wonder my father didn’t want me to marry so young. Running a family and enjoying happiness is harder than it seems. All these years, I always wanted this home to be lively, but it’s… oh, sorry, I suddenly can’t remember the word.”

 

Vivian couldn’t help but smile, showing a clear hint of helplessness.

 

Lin Wangye, extremely empathetic, felt a pang of discomfort seeing her like this, and his mouth twitched downwards in response.

 

Fortunately, Shi Yuan spoke up quickly, preventing any awkward silence.

 

“Things didn’t turn out as hoped, I guess.”

 

“That’s right,” Vivian replied softly, turning to him with a gentle smile.

 

“I’ve always loved the Chinese language and culture—they’re so full of meaning. Back when I first met Xuan Xuan’s father, before we knew each other very well, he said to me: ‘This feeling cannot be dissolved by any plan; it leaves the brow but stays in the heart.’ At the time, my understanding of Chinese was limited, and I spent a long time pondering it, feeling the charm of classical poetry. Later he said: ‘When the golden wind meets the jade dew, it surpasses countless worldly things. Though distant, our hearts remain close, not hindered by clouds or seas.’ He was extraordinary, and I felt like I had found perfect love. I couldn’t wait—when he came to pick me up, I stepped onto this land with him.” ①

 

Vivian paused briefly, then continued.

 

“In reality, there’s no such thing as true perfection. He was devoted, caring, and trustworthy, but the love he gave me wasn’t as much as I imagined. Or maybe he simply didn’t understand the nature of feelings—he was just following the routine: marrying and having children. What hurt me the most was that by the time I finally realized it, my child had already been raised to be just like him.”

 

At this point, Vivian’s expression didn’t change, but a clear trace of sadness appeared in her eyes.

 

As a junior, Lin Wangye felt he had no position or right to judge Vivian’s feelings, so he had stayed silent until the very end. Then he couldn’t help speaking.

 

“Auntie, Brother Lu does have feelings.”

 

Hearing this, Vivian suddenly gave a knowing smile, her gentle gaze resting on him. “I know. So when he confessed that he wanted to stand up to his father, even knowing in advance how things would turn out, I didn’t hesitate—I let him do it. No matter what happens, his mother will always be his support.”

 

Just a few sentences, yet Lin Wangye felt his blood stir with emotion. His eyes reddened as he struggled to keep his excitement in check and said to her:

 

“Auntie, you’re an amazing mother!”

 

“Most mothers in the world are amazing; I’m just one of them.” Vivian’s smile was soft and gentle. She stepped forward and lightly touched Lin Wangye’s face. “And now I want to tell you the same thing, Xiao Lin—whatever you want to do, just go for it.”

 

Lin Wangye felt his heart skip a beat. He remembered the conversation he had been having with Shi Yuan just before Vivian walked in, and quickly realized that she might have actually overheard some of it.

 

But Vivian’s reaction was completely different from what he had imagined.

 

He didn’t know exactly how much Vivian knew about Lu Chengxuan and Lin Shen, but as a mother, her understanding of Lu Chengxuan wouldn’t be any less than his.

 

In fact, she probably knew far earlier than he did.

 

That snowman was from so many years ago; if she wanted to, Vivian could easily trace where it had come from.

 

So how could she possibly not see where Lu Chengxuan’s heart lay?

 

Lin Wangye thought it over again and again, but in the end, he didn’t dare speak too plainly. He could only wrestle with his deepest fears, turning them over in his mind, carefully organizing his words before tentatively asking, “Then… will Uncle—”

 

Would he… put more pressure or punishment on Lu Chengxuan?

 

Would he take it out on Lin Shen?

 

“Don’t worry.”

 

Vivian shook her head and answered decisively.

 

“He’s being shortsighted. Xuan Xuan’s father insists he’s right, thinking that losing the Lu family’s resources is a one-sided loss for his child, and that he’ll regret it sooner or later. But he’ll also eventually realize just how outstanding a son he drove away. Even without the Lu family, Xuan Xuan will still do very well.”

 

Lin Wangye still hesitated, speaking cautiously, his voice growing quieter: “They are father and son, after all… will it really stay like this?”

 

“Their sense of family bond is also thin,” Vivian said. “One is already looking for a new heir, and the other says he won’t come home and simply won’t. But it won’t stay like this forever. Lu Chenghan will eventually realize he made a logical mistake.”

 

“Ah…” Lin Wangye blinked, a little dazed. “What do you mean?”

 

Vivian explained: “At first, he chose to strip his son of his rights not just because he couldn’t accept his son liking boys, but more importantly, because he couldn’t accept his son defying him. But no matter how he searches within the Lu family, he will never find an heir more outstanding than Lu Chengxuan. One day he will be grateful that he didn’t drive his son out completely and ruin their relationship.”

 

Lin Wangye felt a little confused but seemed to understand.

 

As a father, Lu Chenghan was dissatisfied with his son’s rebellion, yet he had to acknowledge his son’s talent.

 

He would realize sooner or later that if he could look for an heir outside his biological son, then Lu Chengxuan could do the same.

 

So no matter who Lu Chengxuan liked—male or female, whether he would have children in the future, or even if he ended up alone—it really didn’t matter.

 

What the head of the Lu family valued most was the future of the family.

 

Everything else could be compromised.

 

Lu Chengxuan had once been considered the rightful heir not only because he was Lu Chenghan’s son but also because he was truly outstanding in his own right.

 

An heir can be groomed—it doesn’t have to be the biological son.

 

With this logic in mind, it was only a matter of time before father and son reconciled.

 

Lin Wangye had been upset before, furious that Lu Chengxuan’s authority had been stripped.

 

But thinking about it carefully, how could the actions of someone who had lived through two generations ever be so simple?

 

Since leaving the Lu family’s power center, not to mention anything else, Lu Chengxuan’s business performance had clearly taken a hit. His monthly revenue was quickly overtaken by Shengtian.

 

Was that a coincidence?

 

Impossible.

 

Lu Chengxuan appeared to have passively left the family’s power center, but in reality, he had his father completely under control.

 

He had never mentioned a single word to anyone.

 

Yet when it came to reshaping the future, he showed absolute, all-or-nothing determination.

 

When Lin Wangye tentatively voiced his own guess, Vivian smiled. “You’re very smart, dear. That means there’s still a lot of room to maneuver. Both father and son are distant yet clever, and when they act, they leave leeway for each other. This family won’t fall apart—not while I’m still here.”

 

When he first learned Lu Chengxuan’s secret, Lin Wangye had felt like he had discovered the ultimate ally in life. He acted boldly, spoke freely, and even walked with the wind at his back.

 

And now, at this very moment, an even deeper confidence surged through him.

 

“I understand, Auntie!”

 

A boundless drive rose in Lin Wangye’s heart. He stood up straight, clenched his fists, and swore with all his might:

 

“From now on, I’ll be Brother Lu’s love-bodyguard!”

 

Vivian smiled faintly, gently stroking his hair.

 

“Go for it, Xiao Lin.”

 

*

 

Lin Shen: Do you know where you lose to your dad, Lu Chengxuan?

 

Lu Chengxuan: Where do I lose?

 

Lin Shen: If you’d just recited a few cheesy lines of poetry, would I have teased you for this long?

 

Lu Chengxuan: No, you would have just blocked me immediately.

 

Lin Shen: …

 

Lin Shen: How do you even know me better than I know myself?

 

*

 

①: Excerpts respectively from:

 

A Cut of Plum · Red Lotus Fragrance Fades, Autumn Jade Mat (《一剪梅·红藕香残玉簟秋》) — Li Qingzhao

Magpie Bridge Immortal · Fine Clouds and Clever Craft (《鹊桥仙·纤云弄巧》) — Qin Guan

The line ‘Though distant, our hearts remain close, not hindered by clouds or seas’ (与君远相知，不道云海深) — attributed to Wang Changling, preserved in the anthology Wen Jing Mi Fu Lun (《文镜秘府论》).

 

(All are beautiful poems; ‘cheesy poetry’ is Lin Shen’s comment, not the author’s.)

 

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