PTBLSI chapter 50

 

Qi Xi still hadn’t recovered from being called “aunt” when another child broke away from the group and called him “sister-in-law.” He didn’t know that there were also people calling Fu Yanchuan “brother,” nor did he know how he ended up being called “sister-in-law.” With his face red, he forced himself to go along, handing out red envelopes.

Fu Yanchuan was pushed to the side. A smile played at the corners of his mouth as he watched Qi Xi. Suddenly, Fu Wanyi stepped over and asked him, “Yanchuan, you and him?”

He blurted out, “Very well-matched?”

Fu Wanyi was so shocked that her jaw almost dropped. She couldn’t believe those words came from him. Her eyes stared straight at him as if she no longer recognized him.

She had always thought that Fu Yanchuan might never like anyone. After what happened with Qiao Ye, many in the Fu family thought Fu Yanchuan treated Qiao Ye so specially and insisted on going abroad with him because he had fallen in love with Qiao Ye.

However, after meeting Qiao Ye a few times, she realized that rather than loving Qiao Ye, it was actually Fu Yanchuan’s hatred for Fu Zhenrong.

Seeing his gaze at that moment, she finally understood what it looked like when he treated someone specially. It wasn’t about special care or what he did for the other person; it was that he changed himself.

Qi Xi finally finished handing out the red envelopes. He hurried back to Fu Yanchuan, pressed his head against his chest, pulled up his open down jacket to cover his face, and said, “Don’t make me help you hand out red envelopes anymore. They can call me whatever they want; they won’t listen to me no matter what I say.”

“Next time, I’ll tell them not to call you randomly.”

“Mm, it sounds like I married you.”

Fu Yanchuan narrowed his eyes, held Qi Xi’s head, lifted his face, and looked down at him. “How does getting married sound?”

Qi Xi answered foolishly, “When I was little, I went with my mom to other people’s weddings. It was like this—calling people aunt, and then the bride would give me red envelopes.”

Fu Yanchuan stared at Qi Xi for a long while, then pinched the corner of his mouth. Qi Xi turned his face away and shook off his hand. He asked, “Why are you pinching me?”

He didn’t respond, just pinched him again.

The nearby children were all stunned, shocked that someone actually dared to talk to their scary uncle and brother like this!

Fu Wanyi was also stunned—Fu Yanchuan could actually talk to someone like this!

Probably because men understand men better, Fu Jinghong walked over. Seeing Fu Yanchuan and Qi Xi, he whistled once, leaned against the sofa beside them, and said, “President Fu, I didn’t expect you’d have a day like this. Aren’t you going to properly introduce this kid to me?”

Qi Xi suddenly remembered that they were in someone else’s home. He quickly pushed Fu Yanchuan away and turned to Fu Jinghong. Awkwardly smiling, he said, “My name is Qi Xi. I’m Brother Yan’s best friend.”

Fu Jinghong’s laughter suddenly rang through the entire living room. Fu Yanchuan shot him a glare. Curiously, he asked, “President Fu, what kind of new play are you doing?”

“Xi Xi, don’t mind him. I’ll take you to have a look around.”

Fu Yanchuan wrapped an arm around Qi Xi and led him inside. Fu Jinghong looked at their backs and asked Wanyi in confusion, “What exactly is he doing?”

Fu Wanyi couldn’t help but smile. She understood—Fu Yanchuan had brought the person to meet the family unilaterally, without explaining anything to Qi Xi. She guessed that he probably hadn’t fully chased him down yet but already couldn’t wait to make it public to the whole world.

She began to feel again that Fu Yanchuan had truly changed. The Fu Yanchuan she knew would absolutely never do something like this.

Seeing the meaningful smile on Fu Wanyi’s face, Fu Jinghong pressed her: “You know something, don’t you? Hurry up and share it with your Brother Hong.”

“I wouldn’t dare. If you want to know, go ask him yourself!”

Fu Wanyi refused to say anything more. Fu Jinghong stood up, unconcerned. “Ask, then ask. What am I afraid of?”

Qi Xi and Fu Yanchuan visited the study. It was more like a library than a study. The books on the higher shelves required a ladder to reach.

“How can there be so many books?”

Qi Xi exclaimed as he ran in. Although he didn’t like reading, being in a place with so many books made him feel more learned. He picked up a book, couldn’t understand it, and put it back. He took another book, but still couldn’t understand it.

Immediately losing interest in the books, he discovered there was another room inside. Curious, he ran over. It wasn’t very big. A rounded sofa ran along the wall in a circle with a matching table in the middle. It looked like a place for discussion or reading.

The walls here were finally not covered in books. Several paintings were hung up. He truly liked paintings more than books. Without realizing it, he went inside.

A passageway ran behind the sofas, circling the room with openings on all four sides that led into the seating area.

Qi Xi ran around, carefully looking at every painting. Fu Yanchuan sat on the sofa and reached out to him. “Come here.”

Qi Xi flipped over the back of the sofa and landed beside Fu Yanchuan. He asked, “Brother Yan, are these paintings all originals?”

“You like them? I’ll have someone take them down and bring them back for you.”

Qi Xi was shocked and hurriedly asked, “Aren’t these someone else’s?”

“Whosever they belong to, I can give them to you.”

Qi Xi turned to look at Fu Yanchuan, admiration in his eyes. “Brother Yan, when you say things like this, you’re just like the protagonists in manga.”

Fu Yanchuan met Qi Xi’s gaze, pulled him close until he was pressed tightly against him, and lowered his voice to ask, “Do you like it?”

Qi Xi remembered that this wasn’t their home. Nervously, he glanced at the doorway and asked, “What?”

“Me.”

Qi Xi hadn’t yet figured out what Fu Yanchuan meant by this “me” when footsteps sounded outside. He hurriedly pushed Fu Yanchuan away and slid half a meter to the other side of the sofa.

Then, Fu Zhenrong’s voice came from outside. He still remembered this voice. He couldn’t quite make out what Fu Zhenrong said, and only recalled fear. He hurriedly pulled Fu Yanchuan, wanting to leave.

As soon as Qi Xi grabbed Fu Yanchuan’s hand, Fu Zhenrong approached the doorway and glanced at them.

Fu Zhenrong hadn’t yet heard the news that Fu Yanchuan had brought Qi Xi there. Seeing Qi Xi suddenly, he immediately looked at Fu Yanchuan.

Fu Yanchuan gripped Qi Xi’s hand, stood up, and whispered in Qi Xi’s ear, “Don’t be afraid. Let’s go.”

They walked past Fu Zhenrong. Only then did Fu Zhenrong shout angrily, “Stop!”

Fu Cong was standing with Fu Zhenrong. He had always wondered what Qi Xi looked like. Seeing him for the first time today, he was surprised yet not surprised at all.

In families like theirs, pure people were easily admired—just like Qin Hui back then.

Fu Yanchuan blocked Qi Xi behind him and told him to wait outside.

Qi Xi didn’t move, feeling uneasy. Fu Yanchuan lightly kissed his ear and said, “It’s fine. I’ll say a few words and come out.”

“Then be quick.”

Qi Xi secretly glanced at Fu Zhenrong out of the corner of his eye. Before he could see clearly, he was scared and pulled his gaze back. Then he ran out of the study.

Only after Qi Xi left did Fu Yanchuan turn around. As soon as he faced Fu Zhenrong, he heard his angry scolding.

“Fu Yanchuan, do you know what it means to bring him here? Do you think no one will spread the news? Do you want the whole Huo City to laugh at you?”

Fu Yanchuan sneered. “What do you mean, laugh at me? Is being openly and properly with the person I like a joke? Then what about when you forced your own wife to commit suicide?”

“Fu Yanchuan!”

Fu Zhenrong felt that the son he had raised for more than twenty years had truly rebelled. Even his exhaled breath felt like a whip, wanting to lash Fu Yanchuan.

But when he looked into Fu Yanchuan’s eyes, he realized that he had really changed. There was a firmness in his gaze that had never been there before. For a moment, he thought that his son could actually have such eyes.

For over twenty years, he believed that he had educated Fu Yanchuan perfectly. Even after Fu Yanchuan left for two years, he firmly believed that he had taught his son well and that there was nothing he didn’t understand—just as he had been certain back then that Fu Yanchuan would return.

But at that moment, he truly felt that Fu Yanchuan was breaking free from his control. The first emotion that surfaced was not anger, but confusion.

He strode over, stopped in front of Fu Yanchuan, and slapped him across the face. “Don’t even think about it! Our Fu family will never allow a man to enter the household!”

Fu Yanchuan turned his head back from the blow. Half his face was already red. He answered Fu Zhenrong indifferently, “This slap is the last respect I have for you. If your Fu family won’t allow it, then it’ll be in my Fu family.”

Qi Xi heard the sound of a slap outside the door. He wanted to go inside and see what was going on, but Fu Jinghong, who had come over, stopped him.

After a short while, Fu Yanchuan came out. Qi Xi dodged around Fu Jinghong and ran over to look at Fu Yanchuan’s face. However, the dim corridor lighting prevented him from seeing clearly, so he wasn’t sure if Fu Yanchuan had just been hit.

“Brother Yan.”

Fu Yanchuan caught Qi Xi’s hand reaching for his face. “It’s fine. Let’s go back to the room, okay?”

“Mm.”

Qi Xi responded, gripping Fu Yanchuan’s hand tightly as he followed him away. As they left, Qi Xi subconsciously glanced toward the study and heard a heavy crash, followed by the sound of books falling.

Fu Jinghong stared in shock at the departing Fu Yanchuan and Qi Xi. Only then did he realize that Fu Yanchuan was serious. Despite knowing him for so many years, he had never seen him this serious before. He felt that the Fu family was about to get lively.

Although the villa was rented out for events, the upstairs rooms were never rented out. Who stayed in which room was basically set in stone.

Fu Yanchuan’s room was on the third floor. Everything inside had been replaced with new items, and their belongings had been put away in their proper places.

After entering the room and seeing the outdoor light, Qi Xi finally saw Fu Yanchuan’s face clearly. One side of his face was red. His eyes immediately reddened.

“How could he hit you? Such a handsome face—after being hit, it’s not even that handsome anymore.”

Fu Yanchuan sat down on the chaise lounge by the window and looked at Qi Xi, who knelt up and carefully held him. He couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re upset just because it’s not that handsome anymore?”

Qi Xi thought about it. “Not entirely. My dad hit me before, too. Does it hurt a lot?”

As he asked, he sat on Fu Yanchuan’s lap and gently blew cool air onto it.

Fu Yanchuan didn’t feel much pain, but he did feel tickled. He turned Qi Xi’s face toward him and said, “Kissing me works better.”

Qi Xi suddenly understood and kissed the side of his face that had been slapped. Fu Yanchuan helplessly turned and bit Qi Xi’s lip, saying, “Kiss here, Xi Xi.”

He waited a moment, but Qi Xi didn’t kiss him. Instead, tears fell. Fu Yanchuan kissed him back and coaxed gently, “Don’t cry. It doesn’t hurt.”

Qi Xi choked back sobs for a while before asking, “Did he hit you because of me?”

He had overheard what Fu Yanchuan had said to his father. He didn’t fully understand, but he knew that Fu Zhenrong was angry because of his relationship with Fu Yanchuan.

Fu Yanchuan wiped away the tears that continuously fell from the corners of Qi Xi’s eyes. “No, it has nothing to do with you.”

Qi Xi didn’t believe him. Fu Yanchuan continued, “To him, I’m just a tool he raised to expand his business territory. I have to strictly follow his demands and live the life he planned for me. Anything that doesn’t meet his expectations makes him dissatisfied, so it really has nothing to do with you. Don’t cry, okay?”

“Then what should we do?”

Qi Xi leaned down and hugged Fu Yanchuan. “Can’t you just not listen to him? When I was little, my dad tried to control me a few times, too. I remember when I was in first grade and my grades were really bad. He punished me by making me do homework and locking me in his study until I finished. But I didn’t know how to do it, so I secretly drew and slept inside there. Anyway, he could only yell at me. He couldn’t control my brain. Whatever he didn’t allow, I’d just do secretly.”

Fu Yanchuan imagined the scene Qi Xi described. He unconsciously thought of his own childhood and suddenly realized that what bound him was not Fu Zhenrong.

Every time Fu Zhenrong punished him, he never thought about slacking off or muddling through. He had bound himself, forcing himself to become what Fu Zhenrong expected.

“Xi Xi, how are you so amazing!”

Qi Xi lifted his eyes and met Fu Yanchuan’s smiling face. He didn’t understand what Fu Yanchuan was praising him for. He answered, “How am I amazing? I’m not.”

Suddenly, Fu Yanchuan hugged him tightly and told him, “No, you are the most amazing treasure in this world.”

 

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