LNTSWJLY Chapter 16

Yu Zhi spent a week recuperating in the hospital, and his health improved significantly during that time. However, instead of immediately leaving the hospital, he waited another week before finally checking out.

After leaving, he didn’t choose to go home but opted to stay at the Yu residence. Many affairs were piling up at the company, and he used these as an excuse to avoid going home.

Unable to return home, naturally, he couldn’t tutor Yin Xu either. Yu Zhi called him, “I’ve arranged for a new teacher to teach you. He will start in a few days. During my absence, take good care of yourself and don’t neglect your studies. The end of term is approaching, and I hope you achieve satisfactory results.”

“I have someone to take care of me at home. Is it comfortable for you to stay at the company?” Yin Xu hesitated for a while before answering the phone.

In reality, he wanted to ask why Yu Zhi didn’t return home despite being so close, but after a moment of hesitation, he didn’t bring it up.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, Yu Zhi looked out at the cityscape below, his eyes drifting. Hearing the words of concern, his tone softened inevitably, “I’m fine, Yin Xu. Take care of yourself and Xiao Pang. That way, I won’t worry about you.”

“Yeah…”

After hanging up the phone, Yu Zhi sighed softly.

The truth was, he didn’t stay away from home because he was too busy. He could wrap up the pending matters at the company within two days. He simply didn’t want to go back home.

He didn’t want to see Yin Xu.

To this day, he couldn’t forget the eyes he saw when he woke up, and the emotions they held.

Despite everything he had done, it seemed like nothing had changed.

The accident seemed to have made Yin Xu even more alert than before.

However, this newfound alertness gave him a headache.

“Sir, the accident has been investigated. It was deemed an accident, with no signs of foul play. Do you want to continue the investigation?” His assistant, back to work after recovering from his injuries, showed no decrease in enthusiasm, especially considering the substantial compensation involved.

“No need. We’ll close the case as an accident.” Yu Zhi knew in his heart that it was just an accident, and further investigation wouldn’t reveal anything new. It was merely going through the motions.

The assistant went to call the police station and also sent Yu Zhi’s schedule for the next two days.

Yu Zhi was still contemplating how long he should stay at the company before returning. However, he hadn’t expected that, after only two days, this plan would almost become irrelevant.

During the weekend break, Yin Xu stayed home and cooked chicken soup with the nanny.

“Yin Xu, do you know where Mr. Yu’s company is located?” the nanny asked.

Yin Xu: “I don’t know, but the driver and Xiao Pang should know.”

The nanny smiled reassuringly, “I was just worried you might not know the way.”

With that, she packed the chicken soup into a thermos, along with rice and other dishes. “Would you like to eat at home first or eat there later?”

“I think their company should have a cafeteria. Don’t worry, Auntie, I won’t go hungry,” Yin Xu reassured her.

Xiao Pang, who had stayed up late playing games the night before, groggily woke up as the sun rose. “Smells so good!”

“Are you going to see your dad?” Yin Xu asked him.

After hearing about Yu Zhi’s recovery from the accident, Xiao Pang visited the hospital twice. Now, he hesitated, “Do I have to go? Will my dad confiscate my phone again?”

Yin Xu paused before replying, “Is your dad more important or your phone?”

Rubbing his stomach, Xiao Pang thought he was being clever, “Of course, my dad is more important, but he’s fine now, while my phone isn’t.”

“If you don’t go now, I’ll tell your dad you’re wasting your time on useless things and secretly take your phone back. But if you do go, I’ll put in a good word for you in front of him,” Yin Xu said.

Xiao Pang’s expression immediately changed, and he said seriously, “Brother Xu, what are you saying? My dad loves me so much. Of course, I need to care about him when he’s in trouble.”

“One word, are you going or not?”

“I’m going!”

Yin Xu led Xiao Pang to change clothes, and as they stood in front of the dressing mirror, Xiao Pang suddenly realized, “Brother Xu, something’s off about you!”

Yin Xu paused in picking out clothes, “What do you mean by ‘something’s off’?”

Xiao Pang gave him a skeptical look, “You never used to care this much about me, let alone picking out clothes for me!”

Yin Xu pretended to be unaffected, swiftly going through the clothes without lingering, “Can’t I care about you? Didn’t I care about you before?”

Xiao Pang scratched his head, “It’s just different now. You’re being… attentive? Yeah, that’s it, attentive!”

If his dad hadn’t warned him against speaking out of turn, Xiao Pang would have asked if Yin Xu wanted to be his stepdad. The way Yin Xu was picking out clothes for him had a stepdad vibe.

Yin Xu casually tossed a set of clothes onto Xiao Pang’s head. “Stop talking nonsense and put these on.”

Xiao Pang glanced at him and muttered, “Definitely a stepdad.”

Back in his room, Yin Xu felt ashamed of himself for trying to manipulate Xiao Pang to achieve his own goals.

If Mr. Yu doesn’t like him and doesn’t want to accept him, does he have to drive a wedge between father and son?

Returning kindness with ingratitude

Yin Xu, you’re scary.

More than ten minutes later, the two of them arrived at the Yu Group in the driver’s car. It was Yin Xu’s first time coming here, and Xiao Pang didn’t come often either. They didn’t know many people. When they reached the front desk:

“Hello, I…” Yin Xu hesitated for a moment, then pushed Xiao Pang forward and smiled, “This is President Yu’s son. We’re here to see him.”

Xiao Pang glared at him, thinking he had found the truth – he was just a pawn.

Yin Xu, however, was lost in thought. At that moment, he found himself speechless about his own identity.

Who was he to see Yu Zhi?

What was his relationship with Yu Zhi?

Family? Relative? Guest? Lover?

None of those.

It turns out, he couldn’t even find a suitable identity or reason to come see that person.

Lost in thought, he didn’t notice the front desk and passing employees giving him several glances.

After being escorted upstairs, the staff began to excitedly discuss.

“Wasn’t that boy the one involved in the previous incident?”

“Did you see him? He’s handsome! If I were a guy, I’d bend over for him too!”

“I don’t believe it. How can someone have such a gorgeous beauty by their side and remain indifferent? President Yu is indeed fortunate!”

“Ah! I can’t decide whether to envy President Yu for having such a beautiful young man or envy the young man for making President Yu bend for love!”

“Sour grapes, no matter how sour, it’s not yours.”

“Ouch!”

It was Yin Xu’s first time here. He and Xiao Pang were escorted to the waiting room, where it was said that Yu Zhi was still in talks with someone about cooperation.

Xiao Pang grew bored waiting and found himself reaching for his phone in his pocket, feeling restless.

Yu Zhi saw off his guests and then learned from his assistant about Yin Xu’s arrival, halting in his tracks at the news.

“When did he arrive? Why weren’t they directed to my office?” he asked.

The assistant replied earnestly, “They probably didn’t want to disturb you, sir.”

“Got it. Next time, direct them straight to my office,” Yu Zhi said as he headed toward the waiting room.

“Yes, sir,” the assistant acknowledged.

Pushing open the door to the waiting room, Yu Zhi immediately spotted the young man by the window, gazing outside. The expansive floor-to-ceiling window offered an unobstructed view of the cityscape beyond.

Approaching swiftly, Yu Zhi reached out and grabbed the young man’s wrist, pulling him back inside.

Caught off guard by the sudden tug, Yin Xu stumbled, losing his footing and falling into the man’s arms.

The faint scent of lavender filled the air, soothing Yin Xu’s senses even before he could see who was holding him. His heart yearned to linger in this moment, in this embrace.

But all good things must come to an end. Yu Zhi gently pushed him away, helping him stand. His voice carried a hint of depth as he spoke, “Why were you standing by the window? Don’t you think it’s dangerous?”

Yin Xu paused, surprised. “Sir, this is your place. Do you still feel it’s dangerous?”

A flicker of emotion crossed Yu Zhi’s mind, but his expression remained composed as he released Yin Xu’s hand. “Danger is danger, no matter where you are.”

Yin Xu smiled, grateful for Yu Zhi’s concern. “I understand. Thank you, sir, for caring.”

He appreciated Yu Zhi’s worry, feeling rather pleased with himself.

Yu Zhi turned and saw Xiao Pang lying asleep on the sofa, his brows furrowing slightly. “Did he stay up late playing games again last night?”

He knew Xiao Pang well enough to not expect him to stay home and study obediently.

Yin Xu, feeling he had manipulated Xiao Pang a bit, decided to speak up for him. “I asked him today if he wanted to come, and he said he misses you. He’d rather not play games if it means you getting better.”

Yu Zhi: “…”

Comparing him to games, was Yin Xu implying that winning over him was something to be proud of? Yu Zhi couldn’t quite decipher if Yin Xu was trying to speak up for Xiao Pang or subtly criticize him.

Yin Xu also sensed the awkwardness and quickly tried to rectify the situation. “If it weren’t for him today, I might still be stuck downstairs in the lobby. Sir, please don’t be mad at him. Kids being playful is just their nature. At least he’s studying seriously now.”

As he spoke, Yin Xu opened the thermos and arranged the food for Yu Zhi.

“What do you mean ‘stuck downstairs’?” Yu Zhi inquired. It was just a matter of making a phone call.

Yin Xu’s hand paused momentarily. He had been about to subtly imply that they didn’t have any clear relationship, but the memory of Yu Zhi’s words about adopting him gave him pause, and he held his tongue.

He would rather have no relationship than a father-son one.

“It’s nothing. Sir, please eat. I asked the housekeeper to make this. You haven’t been home lately, and I worry that you might not be eating well outside. Homemade food is always healthier and safer than what you can get outside, don’t you think?” Yin Xu’s smile was gentle, and he met Yu Zhi’s gaze without hesitation.

The affection in Yin Xu’s eyes neither intentionally concealed nor freely released itself; it simply remained quietly by his side, arranging everything for him.

Worried that Xiao Pang might catch a cold, Yin Xu even found a thin blanket to cover him.

Yu Zhi watched silently, his thoughts deepening.

He finally realized what was amiss.

The boy now made almost no effort to hide it—he arranged everything for him, took care of all his worries and left him with nothing to be concerned about.

Just look at those words and actions—he was clearly taking on both the roles of a virtuous wife and a good mother.

He had had once tried to slowly and subtly shift the nature of their relationship through quiet influence. And now, the boy was using the exact same method to infiltrate his life—until Yu Zhi could no longer live without him.

Under such circumstances, discovering that the boy had already become fully aware of his feelings and was even attempting to pursue him—Yu Zhi could only feel a sense of “so it’s finally come to this” settling like dust in his heart.

What did this count as?

Heaven is always watching, and retribution never misses?

……………………………

Author’s Note:

Yu Zhi: My head hurts.

Yin Xu: Want me to give you a massage?

Yu Zhi: …Now it hurts more.

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