Although the hall was spacious, it was not empty or desolate. Yet at that moment, not a sound could be heard. Everyone stared at the two people embracing each other, as though time itself had stopped.
The servants did not dare show themselves. They hid and secretly watched the drama unfold. To be honest, they had never witnessed such an exciting spectacle before.
The younger brother was embracing his older brother’s fiancé. Anyone could see that something was going on between them. Who knew when they had secretly started getting involved?
And the older brother, the one who had been cheated on, had a face as dark as thunder. Yet he did not look surprised. Clearly, he had already noticed some signs beforehand. Tsk, tsk.
Yu Zhi had noticed Lan Jingzhi’s foot long ago. Watching him make his way down the stairs, Yu Zhi had been on edge the entire time. Now that he finally had Lan Jingzhi in his arms, he could not help asking with concern, “Does it hurt?”
Lan Jingzhi instinctively wanted to nod. He wanted to use his pain to win someone’s sympathy and tenderness. But then he thought of Yu Zhi, and the movement of his head abruptly stopped before he could nod.
Yu Zhi looked at him, his eyes and brows softening into a gentle smile. Holding Lan Jingzhi’s hand, he let his body heat and presence reach him as he said, “Showing your wounds to people who don’t care about you or give a damn about you is called begging for their pity. But showing them to someone who cares about you? That’s called being spoiled.”
“My person doesn’t need to beg anyone for sympathy. But he can be spoiled with me.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Lan Jingzhi leaned against Yu Zhi’s shoulder and began laughing silently.
This man— this man who was five years younger than him— was holding him in his arms right now, solemnly declaring that he was allowed to act spoiled.
Over the past ten years, Lan Jingzhi had long forgotten what it felt like to be spoiled and pampered. Whenever he recalled how affected and pretentious he had been in the past, all he felt was mockery and disgust. But with Yu Zhi, his heart was filled with nothing but excitement and warmth.
He had received nothing tangible, not really, yet it felt as though he were wrapped in a gentle, comforting warmth, with transparent cotton candy surrounding him on every side.
Soft, warm, fragrant, sweet… A wonderful sensation enveloped him, making him forget whether he was in heaven or on earth.
Watching his younger brother and his fiancé embrace so intimately in front of everyone, Yu Chen finally reached the end of his patience. He stepped forward and shouted furiously, “Yu Zhi! Lan Jingzhi! You two… You planned this together, didn’t you?! You did it on purpose, didn’t you?!”
Lan Jingzhi’s enjoyment of this moment of happiness was interrupted by someone he despised. His expression darkened with displeasure, and he was just about to turn around and fire back when Yu Zhi gently stroked his head to soothe him.
Yu Zhi looked up at Yu Chen. Seeing the furious expression on his older brother’s face, he asked calmly, “Big Brother, what are you angry about?”
Yu Chen was so angry that he laughed. Wasn’t he supposed to be angry? His own younger brother was involved with his fiancé! Wasn’t that reason enough to be furious?!
Yu Zhi continued, “You already have someone in your heart. You’ve never liked him, and you never intended to treat him seriously or make a genuine effort to be good to him. So how is getting together with Jingzhi not doing you both a favor?”
Yu Chen was left speechless. His chest felt tight, and he could barely catch his breath. He wanted to explode. He wanted to tell Yu Zhi that this was a matter of his dignity! It had nothing to do with whether he liked Lan Jingzhi!
Yu Zhi simply smiled again and said, “Big Brother, are you sure you really want Jingzhi to stay? Mr. Xia looks like he’s about to cry.”
The moment Yu Chen heard that, he hurriedly turned to look at Xia Ningyang. Sure enough, Xia Ningyang wore an expression of utter heartbreak. Yu Chen’s lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing more.
After all, his dignity was still less important than Xia Ningyang.
Father Yu and Mother Yu had no time to deal with their eldest son’s tangled love life. Yu Zhi’s little performance today had left them too occupied to care about anything else.
They looked at Yu Zhi, took a deep breath, and spoke with stern expressions.
“Yu Zhi, do you know what you’re doing? Are you planning to run away from home?!”
Yu Zhi replied, “I’m already an adult. This can hardly be called running away from home. I’m simply becoming independent.”
“Dad, Mom, you never liked me anyway. Now that Big Brother has recovered, you have even less need for me. Since that’s the case, leaving home and becoming independent should be exactly what you want.”
Lan Jingzhi looked at him with concern in his eyes, but Yu Zhi reassured him by gently patting his back.
Yu Zhi looked up at the people above him once more.
“As I said before, I won’t shirk my responsibility to support you. Beyond that, however, I owe you nothing else.”
“If you want, from now on, you can tell everyone that the Yu family has only one son.”
He smiled, his expression carrying a hint of deeper meaning.
“I hope that without me around, you’ll have fewer things to get angry about. Better yet… I hope you live to be a hundred.”
May you live to be a hundred was a common blessing, one many people offered sincerely. Yet when Yu Zhi said it now, there was not the slightest trace of a blessing in his words. Instead, they sent a chill down everyone’s spine.
After saying that, Yu Zhi paid the others no further attention. He crouched down and gestured for Lan Jingzhi to climb onto his back. Smiling, Lan Jingzhi leaned forward and climbed on.
“Let’s go.”
Only after the two of them had left the Yu residence did the people inside seem to snap out of a daze.
Mother Yu’s face was terribly dark. She pointed furiously at the doorway.
“What kind of nonsense was that?! I refuse to believe that useless good-for-nothing can survive out there! Just wait until he runs out of money and comes crawling back, trying to butter us up so we’ll let him return. Ha! He can forget about it! I’ll be waiting to watch him regret it!”
Her chest heaved with anger, and her furious, exasperated state was plain to see.
Yu Chen frowned. He was sick of hearing Mother Yu shout as well. Yu Zhi had already made him lose face completely. Every time Mother Yu brought it up again, she only reminded him of the humiliation he had just suffered— of the fact that he had been cheated on!
“Enough! If he wants to leave, then let him go. We’re all adults here. He should take responsibility for his own decisions!”
No one had expected that the first person to speak up and interrupt her would be Father Yu, who had remained silent until then.
His expression was dark, and he clearly wasn’t in a good mood either. Mother Yu had been about to say something more, but she swallowed her words.
Father Yu then turned to Yu Chen. “Xiao Chen, let’s talk about you, Lan Jingzhi, and… Xia Ningyang.”
Yu Chen’s heart sank. His voice was uneasy. “Dad…”
Xia Ningyang’s heart gave a nervous jolt. He cowered behind Yu Chen, somewhat afraid, trying to keep himself out of Father Yu’s sight.
Only then did Mother Yu remember that not just Yu Zhi, but Lan Jingzhi had also been involved in the commotion just now. Thinking back to what the two of them had said, her expression darkened as well, and she looked at Xia Ningyang with displeasure.
It was true that she had never thought much of Lan Jingzhi, but that didn’t mean she was a fool.
Thinking back on Xia Ningyang’s words and behavior in the past, she could now understand everything.
Her son was in love with Xia Ningyang, and Xia Ningyang loved him, too. He had even gone to great lengths to drive Lan Jingzhi away.
“If you didn’t like him, why did you date him in the first place? You’ve caused your mother and I to make so many mistakes and created so much trouble for us!” Father Yu said coldly as he looked at Yu Chen.
Yu Chen’s lips moved, but he had nothing to say.
“You two only got engaged recently. We’ve already sent out the invitations and held the wedding banquet. Now the person has run off! Do you have any idea how many people will take advantage of this once the news gets out? Do you realize that the company’s stock price could fluctuate because of this, too?”
Yu Chen lowered his head and said quietly, “I’m sorry, Dad. I was wrong…”
“Since things have come to this, all we can do now is try to make up for it.”
Yu Chen glanced at Father Yu, then hesitantly ventured, “Dad, as long as we clarify that this was all just a misunderstanding and announce the cancellation of the engagement banquet, people will eventually forget about it as time passes.”
Father Yu sighed. “Do you think it’s that simple? What if our competitors use this news to stir things up and spread rumors that we’re ungrateful? Or what if they expose the fact that we were deceived? What are we supposed to do then?”
“Would you rather be seen as an ungrateful person, or become a laughingstock?”
Yu Chen frowned. He wanted neither.
“Isn’t there any other way?”
“Alternatively, we could announce that the engagement was arranged for Lan Jingzhi and Xiao Zhi from the very beginning, and make it clear that you had nothing to do with it.”
“No!” To everyone’s surprise, it was Mother Yu who vehemently objected.
Her voice rose in anger. “That brat already told us to act as though he doesn’t exist. Why should we acknowledge him publicly?! If he insists on running away from home with Lan Jingzhi, then he can forget about using the title of the Yu family’s second young master!”
Father Yu rubbed his forehead, feeling an increasingly severe headache coming on. Irritation had been building up inside him, and his anger began to smolder and flare. Waves of dizziness washed over him.
Finally, at some point, he suddenly felt his body grow light. He slowly collapsed to the ground. Just before losing consciousness, he seemed to hear several startled cries.
“Dad!”
“Honey!”
“Uncle!”
………………
The road was broad and open, with lush green trees lining both sides. Few vehicles passed by, and hardly anyone could be seen.
With Lan Jingzhi on his back, Yu Zhi walked slowly along the road. The setting sun cast its light over them, staining the entire sky red.
The sunlight was not harsh, but it still carried considerable warmth. Yu Zhi could feel the heat rising from the ground. Now and then, a gentle breeze brushed against his cheek, bringing with it a touch of coolness from the trees.
Lan Jingzhi took a blue handkerchief from his pocket. It still carried the warmth of his body and his scent, a faint orchid fragrance, delicate and serene.
He gently used it to wipe away the fine beads of sweat on Yu Zhi’s forehead, cheeks, and neck, one by one.
“Are you tired? You can put me down. I can walk for a while.”
They were in a villa district where few cars passed by. However, because it was rush hour and the area was too far from the city center, they had been unable to get a ride through the ride-hailing app for quite some time.
So Yu Zhi continued walking slowly with Lan Jingzhi on his back while keeping the ride request active on his phone.
This body had good stamina, and Lan Jingzhi was not particularly heavy.
“I’m not tired,” he replied.
Lan Jingzhi smiled, too. Deep down, he actually enjoyed this feeling. Somehow, it made him feel as though he and Yu Zhi had become one.
He lay quietly on Yu Zhi’s back, feeling the steadiness and strength of the person carrying him. It gave him a sense of security.
Once the adrenaline wore off and the impulsiveness of the moment faded, Lan Jingzhi found it hard to believe what he had done.
He had actually left with Yu Zhi in front of everyone. He had really spoken up and told those people how dissatisfied he was, revealing what he truly felt.
If he had still been uneasy and apprehensive before, now that he had finally taken this step, his heart had unexpectedly settled into peace.
It seemed that as long as he was with Yu Zhi, nothing else mattered.
He had shifted what he pursued from personal gain to Yu Zhi himself.
He could not promise what the future would bring, but as for this moment, he had no regrets.
At the thought, his heart began to itch with anticipation again.
“Little Brother Yu, you said before that if I wanted something, I would have to trade something for it. So, now, do you think I’ve already gotten what I wanted?”
He was like a child who had just received a beloved toy, impatient to hold it close and reassure himself that it was really his. He also wanted to show off a little, with barely concealed pride, in front of the person he liked.
Yu Zhi pressed his lips together in a faint smile. His voice was calm but firm. “Of course.”
Lan Jingzhi refused to let it go. “Of course what?”
Yu Zhi indulged him and gave him the answer he wanted. “You’ve gotten it. I like you. The sincere heart you wanted is yours.”
Lan Jingzhi was overjoyed and let out a soft laugh. After savoring his happiness and pride, he did not forget to lean close to Yu Zhi’s ear and whisper, as though sharing something precious, “I’m yours, too.”
Yu Zhi’s heart softened. He did not laugh aloud the way Lan Jingzhi had, but he answered just as quietly, “Mm.”
The setting sun was beautiful and bright. Bathed in its light, they felt as though warmth had spread through their entire bodies.
Lan Jingzhi could barely contain his excitement. He felt as if he had returned to his childhood, to those few happy memories that stood out from an otherwise uneventful past, when his parents would take him out to have fun.
Perhaps they would take a walk around the neighborhood, go shopping, or visit an amusement park.
Before they even left, as they walked along the road, he could not help bouncing along with excitement. The joy in his heart was impossible to suppress. He did not want to hold it back; he wanted to tell the whole world how he felt.
By letting go of everything and leaving with this person, he seemed to have gained more than just love and happiness. He had also found a deep sense of peace.
Looking back on the first half of his life, Lan Jingzhi actually found it a little absurd, almost laughable.
“Little Brother Yu.”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you…”
Thank you for liking me. Thank you for not backing away. Thank you for not giving up on me.
Before this, he had walked alone along the road of life, rushing past one day after another, always on his own.
He had never cared much about other people, much less considered having someone walk beside him.
But now, someone had come into his life and waited for him. Only then did he realize that just because he had never thought about something did not mean he did not want it.
When it finally appeared before him, when he reached out and held on to it, Lan Jingzhi realized just how frightened he was by the thought of losing it.
He did not dare imagine what might have happened if he had missed his chance.
“No one has ever…” treated him this well.
And no one had ever looked forward to being with him or waited for him the way Yu Zhi did.
Yu Zhi’s steps slowed for a moment. He felt Lan Jingzhi tighten his arms around him and keenly sensed the sorrow and emotion behind Lan Jingzhi’s sigh.
After thinking for a moment, Yu Zhi asked, “What’s your name?”
Lan Jingzhi froze. “Hmm?”
“I asked, what’s your name?”
“L-Lan Jingzhi…”
“‘Jing’ refers to sunlight. Your parents named you Jingzhi because they hoped your future would be as bright as the sun. That was their wish for you.” Yu Zhi spoke slowly. He wanted Lan Jingzhi to understand that he was not the only person who loved him. There were others who loved him and hoped for his happiness, too.
A dull ache spread through Lan Jingzhi’s heart. It was not exactly painful, but the ache was heavy and persistent.
He had used this name for more than twenty years and had long since grown accustomed to it. He had never once thought about what it meant. Now that Yu Zhi had brought it up, it was as if the clouds had parted and the sun had finally come into view. Clarity and confusion mingled in his mind, leaving him with complicated feelings.
He closed his eyes briefly, forcing back the tears that threatened to well up, then gave a bitter smile.
“But I seem to have let this name down.”
“I don’t have a gentleman’s noble character, nor do I have the brightness of sunlight.”
He had grown into someone entirely different.
Lan Jingzhi…
Lan Jingzhi…
He had such a beautiful name, yet he felt he was not worthy of it.
Yu Zhi’s voice was gentle and steady. He spoke each word as though stating an undeniable truth.
“When parents name their children, they are expressing their hopes and blessings for them. You are a child they love. Whether you live up to the name or not doesn’t matter.”
“Besides, do you think I was lying when I said those things to you before?”
“You may not be a gentleman, but you’re not a scoundrel, either. As long as you don’t break the law, harm other people, or disrupt society, you’re already a decent person.”
Yet there were still many people in this world who could not even meet that basic standard.
Lan Jingzhi suddenly felt ashamed. He had no idea whether Yu Zhi genuinely meant what he said or whether he was simply blinded by love and seeing him through rose-colored glasses.
Wanting to change the subject, he took the opportunity to ask, “What about your name?”
Yu Zhi’s steps paused.
Lan Jingzhi immediately regretted asking. He felt as though Yu Zhi had thoroughly muddled his head with all the commotion and sweet talk today.
It wasn’t as if he didn’t know what Yu Zhi’s relationship with the Yu family was like. Under the circumstances, how could that name possibly have a good meaning?
He was just about to steer the conversation elsewhere when Yu Zhi said gently, “Of course it does.”
Lan Jingzhi opened his eyes and looked at him. He was curious, but he did not press him for an answer. If Yu Zhi wanted to tell him, he would do so of his own accord.
“‘Zhi’ means to stop. To keep moving forward while knowing when to stop; to pause from time to time as you go, quiet your mind, think things over, and get some rest.”
As Lan Jingzhi listened, he did not find anything unpleasant about that meaning. He could not help wondering whether Yu Zhi’s parents had really chosen such a name for him.
In fact, Lan Jingzhi’s suspicion was correct.
Yu Zhi had chosen his own name.
Not the original owner of this body, but Yu Zhi himself.
Yu Zhi had lived for far too long. He had long since forgotten where he had first come from, as well as the name he had originally borne.
Even he could no longer remember when he had started using the name Yu Zhi.
When parents give their children names, they express their hopes and blessings for them.
Choosing one’s own name represents the hopes and expectations one has for oneself.
Yu Zhi had forgotten when he had first started using this name, but he still remembered why he had chosen it.
It was a reminder to himself to slow down. Time stretched on for far too long, and if he moved too quickly, it would be easy to lose his way and stray from his original intentions.
Only by moving forward while stopping from time to time to reflect on himself could he keep from forgetting who he was.
Otherwise, one day, he might look back and discover that he had become someone completely different.
Yu Zhi had forgotten many things, yet he felt that he himself had not changed much. He had not been swallowed up by the long river of time. To him, that was good enough.
“Little Brother Yu, put me down. My foot doesn’t hurt as much anymore,” Lan Jingzhi said sweetly into his ear.
Yu Zhi came back to himself, the corners of his lips lifting unconsciously. He felt that he had finally found that star.
He would make it his emotional anchor, something that would keep him from losing himself in the long river of time.
Instead of putting Lan Jingzhi down, he gave him a little bounce on his back. “No need. It’ll be dangerous to walk at night, and the road won’t be easy to navigate. It’s better if I carry you.”
Lan Jingzhi was baffled. “Are we really not going to find a hotel by the time it gets dark?”
Yu Zhi chuckled softly and pretended to be serious. “Since we’re eloping and running away from home, don’t you want to try sleeping on the street?”
Lan Jingzhi: “?!!!”
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Black lotus On DCHHLT Chapter 21