Yan Chen stood by the roadside holding the cat, watching An Yi and Xie Nancang get into a taxi.

An Yi lowered the car window and waved goodbye to Yan Chen. When the taxi turned around the corner, his gaze shifted to Xie Nancang’s direction, and he smiled apologetically, “I didn’t expect him to come back early, so we made this trip for nothing.”

Xie Nancang looked at him deeply. “I’m curious, if we hadn’t bumped into him today, when were you planning to tell me?”

An Yi lowered his eyes in embarrassment. “We just got together, there’s nothing much to say.” He was on a business trip, and I was taking exams, and we were both busy with our own affairs. We could only chat for a few minutes via video call each day. All in all, the time we spent together face to face wasn’t even enough for us.

“No wonder his expression looks so…” Xie Nancang pondered, choosing a word to describe Yan Chen, “sulky.”

An Yi smiled and asked, “You don’t seem surprised at all.”

“Well,” Xie Nancang leaned against the car seat, smiling at him, “I’ve known since the day you came out of the snowy mountains. It was just a matter of time.”

“Is that so.” Thinking of the scene when Yan Chen said goodbye to him that night, An Yi felt a bit distracted.

“Since neither of you can let go, there’s no need to make it difficult for yourselves. Starting over isn’t a bad idea, is it? When it comes to emotions, you know best how you feel. Just remember to value your own feelings more in the future,” Xie Nancang smiled deeply, “Don’t spoil him too much.”

An Yi grinned, “Okay.”

Back in Ling’an, An Yi messaged Yan Chen to let him know he was safe, and Yan Chen immediately responded with a video call.

An Yi accepted and saw Yan Chen sitting on a large armchair covered with a white wool blanket, with flames flickering in the fireplace beside him. Qiuqiu was lying on his lap, stretched out like a long orange strip.

With one person and one cat, they looked relaxed and comfortable.

“You brought Qiuqiu back to your villa?” An Yi asked.

“Yeah,” Yan Chen, afraid that he might be unhappy, added, “It adapted in just one afternoon. I plan to turn the empty room next to the first floor into a playroom for it.”

An Yi was taken aback. “Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”

Qiuqiu heard the familiar voice, twitched its ears, and let out a “meow.”

Yan Chen translated on his own, “It says it likes it.”

Yan Chen was very efficient and started work the next day.

In order to keep Qiuqiu in the villa, he first renovated the cat room, then set aside a space in the garden specifically for the orange cat to play. Yan Chen personally handled every aspect of the renovation projects. He didn’t feel dirty or tired; instead, he found a hint of pleasure in it.

During this time, Yan Jin came to find him once, saw Qiuqiu, and raised an eyebrow. “You’re raising a pig? It’s so fat.”

That day, Yan Chen bought a cat treadmill to help Qiuqiu exercise and lose weight.

Yan Jin touched the smooth and shiny fur of the chubby orange cat with a gentle expression. “If you get any fatter, I’ll eat you.”

Qiuqiu lazily stretched and meowed in response.

“Porky.”

Yan Jin chuckled and looked at Yan Chen, who was standing with his arms crossed on the side. “Why haven’t you been to the company these days?”

“I submitted my resignation letter.”

“Did I approve it?”

“Whether you approve it or not, I’m not going back,” Yan Chen said. “I have my own things to do after the New Year. You’d better find someone else.”

Yan Jin clicked his tongue. “Careful not to exhaust yourself.”

Yan Chen said seriously, “I’m talking about serious matters. Qi Wenxing and I are going to prepare for the establishment of a branch of the Art Bank together.” The pilot project in Jin Hai has been going smoothly over the past few years, and the development model is gradually becoming stable and mature. He plans to open branches in Xichuan and Guangdong-Hong Kong.

Both cities had a rich cultural and artistic heritage, and Xichuan had the Yan family’s network background, while Guangdong-Hong Kong had the Qi family’s auction house as a support. Regardless of which aspect you consider, these two places were excellent locations for setting up branches.

After hearing his plans, Yan Jin did not comment. She already knew that Yan Chen wouldn’t stay at her foreign trade company for long, and she didn’t intend to keep him.

“I’m here to ask on behalf of the old man, are you coming home for the New Year or not?”

Since rejecting the Zhou family, Yan Chen’s relationship with his father has been strained.

At first, Yan Jingwei’s attitude was very firm. If Yan Chen didn’t come back to marry, and have children, he would pretend he didn’t have this son. Later, seeing that Yan Chen hadn’t come home for two consecutive years, the old man couldn’t hold on anymore. After observing for another year and seeing that Yan Chen was like a lost soul, not eating or sleeping properly because of An Yi, Yan Jingwei felt sorry for him.

“The old man is giving you an opportunity, so you should take it,” Yan Jin said. “Bring An Yi back with you.”

Yan Chen frowned. “It’s not quite possible.”

An Yi hadn’t even accepted living with him, let alone spending the New Year together and meeting the parents.

“I’ve passed on the message; as for what to do, it’s up to you,” Yan Jin teased the cat for a while before leaving.

Yan Chen sat quietly by the fireplace, watching Qiuqiu comfortably snuggled in the woolen blanket, sleeping.

After daydreaming for a while, he continued to lower his head and add items for it.

Almost every day during their video calls, An Yi would discover new toys for Qiuqiu.

“No more buying,” An Yi said helplessly. “I’ll be coming back tomorrow.”

Yan Chen’s eyes lit up instantly. “What time is your flight? I’ll come pick you up.”

An Yi hesitated for a moment, looking slightly embarrassed. “I’m not coming back alone.”

The excitement froze on his face, and Yan Chen’s voice became low. “Xie Nancang is coming again?”

“Yeah, and his boyfriend,” An Yi knew Yan Chen must be uncomfortable with this, so he hesitated, “Maybe you shouldn’t come this time. Nancang’s boyfriend is also a good friend of mine. It’s his first time coming to China, and I shouldn’t decline his company.”

Yan Chen’s expression eased slightly as he asked, “How long are they staying?”

“Maybe a day or two,” An Yi said, “They’ll go back to Ling’an on New Year’s Eve to be with grandpa.”

Yan Chen said, “Send me the flight details. I’ll pick you up on time tomorrow.”

An Yi wanted to say more, but the words stopped at his lips.

The next day at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, when the plane landed, the first message that caught An Yi’s eye as he opened his phone was from Yan Chen.

[Yan Chen: Take your time getting off the plane, don’t rush.]

[Yan Chen: I’m waiting for you, baby.]

An Yi’s face felt a bit warm. He couldn’t imagine what expression Yan Chen had when he typed those words.

After deleting and rewriting, he had just sent a reply when Xiao Xie’s arm draped over his shoulder. With a youthful and mischievous face, he raised his eyebrows teasingly, “Boyfriend?”

“Yeah,” An Yi smiled as he pocketed his phone. “His name is Yan Chen.”

Xiao Xie had been practicing Chinese diligently lately, thirsty for knowledge. “Chen? Is it ‘morning’?”

An Yi corrected him, “No, it’s ‘Chen,’ which means ‘treasure.'”

Xiao Xie was confused by the tones of Chinese.

Xie Nancang pulled his arm away from An Yi’s shoulder and took his hand instead, reminding Xiao Xie, “Don’t get too close to An An later. His boyfriend gets jealous easily.”

Xiao Xie chuckled, but he didn’t take the warning seriously.

As the Spring Festival travel season approached, there were many people waiting at the exit to pick up passengers.

Yan Chen, towering over the crowd with his height advantage, stood out, not to mention his extraordinarily handsome face and the deliberate coordination of his outfit with branded clothing.

An Yi’s gaze was drawn to him at once, his heart pounding as he quickened his steps. Yan Chen had also spotted him early on, opening his arms. An Yi ran over, and Yan Chen effortlessly lifted him over the railing, cradling him in his arms.

A few steps away, Xiao Xie saw this scene and whistled, making fun of it. Xie Nancang could only smile helplessly and shake his head.

The crowd waiting to pick up passengers also became excited. An Yi hugged Yan Chen tightly, feeling a bit embarrassed and unable to lift his head.

Yan Chen buttoned up An Yi’s down jacket and put a hat on him before leading him away behind a billboard where no one was looking. He cupped An Yi’s face and kissed him gently.

An Yi closed his eyes, responding with a mix of tenderness and excitement.

After kissing for half a minute, An Yi gently tapped Yan Chen’s shoulder and murmured between their lips, “They’re still waiting.”

Yan Chen made a noncommittal sound, released the hug, and instead held An Yi’s hand.

An Yi pursed his lips and introduced Yan Chen to Xiao Xie.

Xiao Xie thought Yan Chen was handsome, but he seemed a bit aloof, not someone to be messed with.

Yan Chen was driving a George Barton that day, a sturdy off-road vehicle with a rugged interior style. Few men wouldn’t love this kind of car.

As soon as Xiao Xie got into the car, he exclaimed, patting the leather seat beneath him excitedly, “Wow, Daddy, my butt feels so good on this seat!”

Xie Nancang: “…”

Yan Chen glanced at the two from the rearview mirror. An Yi was afraid that Xiao Xie would say more, so he said to Yan Chen, “Let’s go to the supermarket first. We’ll have hot pot at home for dinner, and Yuming and Muye will come over too.”

“Hmm?” Yan Chen withdrew his gaze.

“I just moved back, and they said they’ll come over to warm the house.”

“Okay, as you wish.”

The four of them went to the supermarket near the community first, bought all the pots, bowls, and utensils, as well as hot pot ingredients and seasonings.

Back home, they set up the dining table. Lin Yuming and Qin Muye arrived with wine and housewarming gifts.

Seeing that Yan Chen was also there, Qin Muye exclaimed oddly, then upon closer inspection, noticing Xie Nancang as well, he added with an exaggerated tone, “Everyone’s here!”

Yan Chen gave him a cold glance but didn’t respond.

Xie Nancang greeted Qin Muye and Lin Yuming calmly, “Long time no see.”

“Long time no see,” Lin Yuming replied casually, then nudged Qin Muye discreetly with his elbow. He put the wine on the table and asked An Yi, “Need any help? Is the wine enough?”

“It’s enough. Let’s all sit down,” An Yi said, busy preparing dipping sauces. “I’ll be done here soon.”

There was a round table at home, perfect for hot pot.

It was Xiao Xie’s first time eating hot pot. Xie Nancang and An Yi sat on his left and right, respectively, helping him with the food and sauces.

Xiao Xie was openly affectionate, saying “Thank you, Daddy” and “Love you, Daddy” without reservation, making Xie Nancang unable to shut him up. Xiao Xie then turned to An Yi and said, “I really like you.”

Qin Muye chuckled upon hearing this.

“What a coincidence, we all like each other,” he said.

Before his words could sink in, Lin Yuming’s foot had already come down heavily under the table.

An Yi looked slightly embarrassed as he glanced at Yan Chen beside him, who remained calm, showing no signs of discomfort.

Xiao Xie, unaware of the intricacies between these people, enjoyed the lively atmosphere. After a few drinks, he encouraged everyone to play a game together.

In this regard, there was no difference between Eastern and Western cultures. They started playing a game of “Never have I ever,” where each person took turns sharing something about themselves. If others had the same experience, that person had to drink.

Xie Nancang started, his content quite ordinary. Lin Yuming followed suit with something mundane. When it was Xiao Xie’s turn, he decided to spice things up.

So, in his broken Chinese, he stuttered, “I’ve only slept with one person at this table, Daddy.”

“Xiao Xie, don’t be silly,” Xie Nancang’s tone became serious, his gaze sharp.

Xiao Xie didn’t understand. He looked around and suddenly noticed that the atmosphere at the round table had become very strange, as if it had frozen in an instant.

Lin Yuming hesitated, raising his hand, trying to ease the tension.

But he found that An Yi, sitting opposite him, had been pursing his lips and hadn’t moved his hands.

Lin Yuming: “?”

Qin Muye also noticed. He was about to speak, but Lin Yuming preempted him, stepping on him under the table.

And Yan Chen, who had been silent and hadn’t spoken much, stood up at this moment and said quietly, “I’ll go have a smoke. Carry on without me.”