Chapter 53

It was said to be a topic without substance, but Yang Yunran found great solace in it.

He asked Jiang Yi, “Do you love me?”

Jiang Yi replied, “Mm.”

Yang Yunran said, “Then say, ‘I love you,’ those three words, I want to hear them.”

Jiang Yi had never said such things before, which made it difficult for him. After waiting for a few seconds, Yang Yunran became disappointed. Afraid that waiting longer would lead to despair, he straightforwardly interrupted, “Hey, let’s say it face to face! Hearing it from you in person shows more sincerity!”

Jiang Yi responded with a simple “Mm.” Then he asked, “Will you always be in Beijing in the future?”

“Most of the time, I suppose. The company is based here.”

Jiang Yi agreed, “Then I know how to choose.”

Perplexed, Yang Yunran asked, “Choose what?”

“Coming back to work.” Jiang Yi had decided which university to go to. Several universities had sent him numerous emails, saying, “If Teacher Jiang is too busy, being a visiting professor is also fine!”

Jiang Yi’s rising international academic value has drawn wide attention from the academic community.

MIT also wanted to keep him this way, but Jiang Yi still wanted to leave.

The lab was planning a farewell party for him.

Jiang Yi told Yang Yunran, “I’m planning to teach at University A. Is University A far from your company? Can we… live together?”

“University A??” Yang Yunran was stunned. “Top 2? Does the school provide staff housing? That’s amazing!”

Jiang Yi replied casually, “It’s alright.”

Yang Yunran assumed it was something like a teaching assistant position and never imagined Jiang Yi holding the title of professor.

Listening to Yang Yunran’s flattery, comparing himself to Tesla in the world, Jiang Yi laughed.

Apart from Jiang Yi’s last business trip, this was the first time they had been separated like this. They could talk for an hour or two on the phone, and Yang Yunran would fall asleep without hanging up.

That night, Yang Liming had sent him a message, but he didn’t reply.

Chen Fangru was still in great emotional turmoil, paying little attention to Yang Yunran.

In the Yang family villa, there was a new “young master.”

Zhao Youmo was visiting for the first time. Hearing the sudden truth about his background felt like a distant dream.

Yang Yunran’s mother was his mother, and Yang Yunran’s father was his father…

He and Yang Yunran were biological brothers?

The “young master” he had looked up to for so many years had now become his brother. According to his parents, they were born as twins, but they had thought one had died prematurely. It turned out that their business rival had switched them.

To protect Yang Yunran, Professor Chen and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law had agreed: “Don’t tell Yunran about this for now. Although he sometimes doesn’t listen, he has never made a fatal mistake. Despite not being blood-related, he is still our child.”

Late at night, Yang Liming smoked a full ashtray in his bedroom.

Professor Chen hadn’t left yet, and Zhao Youmo had gone back to the shared rental to pack up because Chen Fangru demanded that he move in immediately and not stay in such a poor dormitory.

In the dim room, Yang Liming asked, biting the cigarette, “That Yang Xue you mentioned, is she Yang Wanyu? What does she do? Is she Yangyang’s biological mother?”

“It’s very likely, but not confirmed one hundred percent,” Professor Chen said. “She used to work as a nurse at Renxin Hospital when she was young but later resigned. Her marriage was unhappy. She only runs a beauty and hair salon now. Ten years ago, she created the Yuduo brand, which received Series E financing last year, and there’s a big backing behind it. I’ve inquired about her investors are not simple. They’ve invested possibly hundreds of billions into her brand. They’ve acquired many scattered brands, some common cosmetics, all controlled by her registered group. Now Yuduo’s advertisements are everywhere in the subway. Conservatively estimated, her group’s market value… approaches that of Hanjiang.”

Hanjiang Group was Yang Liming’s company, which left him incredulous. He searched online, “These tens of dollars for what kind of essence water, earning so much money?”

Professor Chen said, “Lao Yang, I don’t understand your business. I’m just asking a friend. They say that, despite being inexpensive, being inexpensive makes it marketable in the sinking market. Female college students will buy it, and rural women will also buy it. Can your excavator do the same?”

“Oh, I understand now.” However, the other side was financing, and he was doing heavy industrial industry, with a high risk of financing. Yang Liming did not comment on it and continued to smoke. “When is she coming over to your place to collect samples?”

“Soon, within a week… Can you stop smoking?”

Yang Liming looked at him.

Professor Chen was also annoyed, “Forget it, give me one.”

They smoked together, and the room filled with smoke.

Yang Liming said, “Yangyang is gay. We had an argument today. I didn’t know what to do…”

Today was his first encounter with Zhao Youmo. Both were a bit unfamiliar with each other. Yang Liming wasn’t particularly emotional. Considering the benefits, a biological son could carry on the family line. As for an adopted son…

If they came to him for money when they were short, he would still give it to them.

A biological son would have better abilities and could get married and have children, which would ensure the family’s continuation. Yang Liming no longer had to worry about this.

Early the next morning,

Yang Yunran’s new assistant reported for duty. The assistant was a round-faced girl who was warm and cheerful: “Hello, Teacher Yang. I’m Dou Dou. I wasn’t your fan before, but I look forward to learning a lot from you!”

Not being a fan was the primary condition for selecting an assistant. Yang Yunran was reassured; he figured he didn’t have many fans before either.

The assistant went to walk the dog for him. Zhou Kai said, “If you need anything, just tell Dou Dou. Submit the expenses to the company and let her make the purchases.”

Yang Yunran needed a guitar and livestreaming equipment. He suddenly remembered the keyboard Jiang Yi had given him but hadn’t brought back.

He quickly messaged Jiang Yi, “You have the keys to my house. Could you please find the keyboard you gave me? It’s just gathering dust. Bring it back for me, or send it to me by sea freight.”

Due to the time difference, Jiang Yi was sleeping and didn’t respond.

Yang Yunran tapped his profile picture and posted:

【I tapped “husband” and got a kiss.】

Yang Yunran had secretly edited this on Jiang Yi’s phone, and Jiang Yi probably didn’t know yet.

In the afternoon, Professor Chen came to pick him up.

Yang Yunran got into the car with the dog and said, “Uncle!”

Professor Chen wore a meticulously light blue shirt and khaki trousers in June, his hair parted to the side, and he wore glasses.

This was Yang Yunran’s first time meeting Professor Chen, but because Professor Chen treated him so well, there was no sense of distance between them.

“Little Treasure has grown even more handsome,” Professor Chen said, patting the dog in the back seat. “This chubby boy is so well-behaved. Have you gotten his dog license?”

“Yes, the company took care of it,” Yang Yunran said.

Professor Chen said, “The company seems pretty good, helping with this too. Did they find the house for you? This neighborhood’s location is decent, and the environment is passable. Is it big?”

“I live alone, so it’s fine,” Yang Yunran said.

Professor Chen arranged dinner and took him home. His son was always away, but his young grandson was there. Yang Yunran left the dog in the living room and played with him before following Professor Chen into the study on the second floor.

“Little treasure, there’s something… I want to tell you.”

“About Zhao Youmo?” Yang Yunran sat casually and spoke casually.

“Well… you guessed right. He’s your father’s child, but what’s different is that he’s also your mother’s child. You two… are brothers.”

“…” Yang Yunran was shocked.

Yang Yunran said, “We’re the same age! Uncle, don’t tease me.”

“I’m not kidding,” he said with wide eyes, “you two are twins.” Before confirming whether Yang Wanyu was Yang Yunran’s biological mother, Yang Liming and Chen Fangru had agreed on this handling.

Yang Yunran raised his hand and said, “Wait a moment…”

He was a little slow to process this.

According to the storyline, shouldn’t he be thrown out?

He began to recall that the original owner was thrown out because Zhao Youmo revealed all the dirty things he had done out of resentment. Just suspecting that he “got a friend to crash into me on a motorcycle the day before my college entrance examination” was enough for Yang Yunran to be in serious trouble.

But now, Zhao Youmo didn’t hate him and even bought him a soufflé.

This storyline had changed.

Could Jiang Yi also deviate from the plot? Jiang Yi loved him now, so he wouldn’t abandon him! Besides, he was financially independent, although nominally he was still a rich second-generation. This kind of thing wouldn’t happen!

Yang Yunran’s eyes lit up.

Professor Chen saw this and relaxed, “Feeling better? Haha, you two are twins! He was accidentally kidnapped, and all these years, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have noticed. Also, don’t be mad at your dad. I told him, what’s wrong with Baby being gay? It’s no harm to anyone. By the way, how’s your boyfriend… still together?”

Yang Yunran didn’t know which one he was referring to, “The one I’m dating now…”

He hesitated a bit to say it was Jiang Yi, “Anyway, the relationship is pretty good. I’ll bring him to meet you next time.”

“You’re dating in the US? Keeping secrets from me, haha, I’ll ask Jiang Yi,” Professor Chen chuckled.

Yang Yunran also chuckled twice, “Uncle, I remember Jiang Yi is your student?”

“Yes, when you just went to Boston,” Professor Chen said. “I asked him to take care of you, but he annoyed you and you called me to scold him. Later, I don’t know how you two made up…”

“He’s been really good to you, right?” Professor Chen reminisced, “Mm-hmm!”

Yang Yunran nodded vigorously. “Very good.”

Professor Chen said, “That’s good. It’s not in vain that Uncle gave him a bonus.”

“Bonus?” Yang Yunran was puzzled. “What bonus?”

“Oh, it’s a bonus from successful research collaboration,” Professor Chen explained casually. “I promised him to take care of you, and next year, I’ll increase it by a fraction of a percent. Since he’s taken care of you so well and made you so happy, shouldn’t Uncle give him a little more?”

Yang Yunran was stunned for a long time.

With slightly open eyes, reflecting the fragmented light of the study lamp in his black pupils, he said, “So much…”

“Not just that,” Professor Chen continued, “I asked him to research a project in the US that’s related to you. Uncle has been wanting to do non-biological eye transplants for you, and this project is showing promise. I promised him substantial rewards for bringing back research results. I promised him that if he produces something valuable in this area, I’ll give him a lot of money and resources in return.”

Yang Yunran muttered, “Is that so… So he knows about my eyes.”

“Maybe he heard something before at my research institute, but I never told him it was because of you. He might have guessed something on his own…” Professor Chen knew that mentioning this topic always stirred up emotions in him. He had been like this since childhood. Back then, prosthetic eye technology wasn’t so advanced, and because of the difference in appearance from other children, he had a fiery temper. If anyone looked at him a little too much, it would provoke him, leading to fights. Due to his family background, his parents always smoothed things over with money.

Professor Chen didn’t want him to think the same way about Jiang Yi, saying, “Jiang Yi is really very clever, he’s a genius. For all these years in our research institute, with so many problems that couldn’t be solved, he alone could break through. He’s outstanding, mature, and composed. So even if he knows about your eyes, he would only see you as a research subject, without any other emotional attachment.”

Yang Yunran found it hard to continue listening.

Professor Chen continued, “But Jiang Yi treats you so well, it’s really beyond my expectations. With his reserved personality, after ten years of being teacher and student, not giving me any credit but commenting on your social media every day, it’s quite interesting. He even often asks me what you like, your sizes, wants to give you graduation gifts, haha.”

Yes, Yang Yunran knew all this.

Jiang Yi was exceptionally good to him. Although he almost never said “like,” “miss you,” or “love you,” his actions and body language replaced those words.

So Yang Yunran found himself falling deeper and deeper, knowing full well that he might have another side, but still unable to resist liking him…

Now, his sweet dream of love shattered so suddenly.

So fragile, and couldn’t withstand a single blow.

Thinking back, Jiang Yi had never said “love” to him. Obviously, that meant he didn’t love him.

Yang Yunran’s eyelashes trembled slightly as he softly said, “Uncle, I want to go home. My eyes are feeling uncomfortable.”

Because he felt tears were about to come, he gave Professor Chen a heads-up.

Professor Chen was alarmed, “The prosthetic eye? This is the latest technology! Is there something wrong? Let me contact them right away…”

“Maybe it’s just some secretion, no need to contact the hospital in Germany. I just want to go back and wash up, and rest.” Yang Yunran said, bowing his head.

Professor Chen quickly stood up, “Then I’ll take you home. Why stay outside? Why not stay at my place?”

“I prefer living by myself…” Yang Yunran went out to walk the dog, his eyes red. “You don’t need to send me, it’s okay, I’ll take a taxi.”

Professor Chen insisted on driving him home. Throughout the journey, Yang Yunran’s mood remained low. He wasn’t particularly concerned about whether Yang Liming and Chen Fangru recognized his situation because he hadn’t formed a deep emotional connection with his parents.

He was more concerned about… Jiang Yi.

Yang Yunran was almost out of breath.

On the way, Jiang Yi called.

Because the caller ID said “Husband,” Professor Chen saw it and quickly looked away, feeling awkward. His nephew being gay, honestly, he still wasn’t quite used to it.

If he had looked a bit closer, he would have seen that the dark avatar under “Husband” was his proud and talented disciple.

Yang Yunran hung up the phone.

Professor Chen: “Why didn’t you pick up? Are you afraid I’d hear?”

Yang Yunran turned to look out the car window and said, “I just didn’t want to pick up.”

Jiang Yi probably thought something was wrong because he hadn’t called in twenty minutes, but he sent a few messages, asking where he was, what he was doing, and if he was busy.

Yang Yunran didn’t reply to any of them.

When they arrived at his neighborhood, Professor Chen couldn’t find a parking spot, so he couldn’t come in to check on him.

He leaned out of the window and said, “Baby, send me a message when you get home. Also, if you’re not comfortable here, come to my place anytime. I’ve sent you the password. My wife is usually at home taking care of our little one. Come over whenever you need anything. I’ll buy it for you.”

Yang Yunran nodded and hurriedly entered the elevator with the dog, as if escaping.

Because no one was around, his emotions inevitably collapsed.

When he entered the password and opened the door, he completely lost control.

Yang Yunran grabbed a pack of tissues to wipe his nose, then collapsed on the sofa, crying softly, his eyes stinging.

Harry nudged him with a moist nose. Yang Yunran hugged the dog’s head to his chest. “Harry! I don’t have a boyfriend anymore, I want to break up with him, how could he do this? He was nice to me because I was his research subject, he was nice to me because he could earn millions each year.”

Yang Yunran’s tears were streaming, his emotions in turmoil.

Jiang Yi’s calls kept coming, showing he was very worried.

Yang Yunran hung up on many of them. Finally, in the early hours of the morning, wiping his tears, he answered.

“Youran?” Jiang Yi’s voice sounded anxious, “You finally picked up, why have you been hanging up on me? Are you on a date?”

“Mm…” Yang Yunran sniffled.

Jiang Yi sensed something was wrong, “Why are you unhappy?”

Yang Yunran had considered how to tell him, should he reveal what he had found out about Jiang Yi’s actions?

No, perhaps Jiang Yi could explain everything away. Like, “I admit I started out that way, but later I really developed feelings for you.”

Yang Yunran imagined it and felt he might relent if he gave Jiang Yi a chance to explain.

He wanted to be a ruthless man!

Yang Yunran said, “Jiang Yi, let’s break up.”

Jiang Yi might have thought he misheard. He was driving and slammed on the brakes to pull over to the side of the road, “You said break up, are you doing something or is this a program? Truth or dare?”

“No, it’s not a game or program. I really want to break up with you, we shouldn’t date anymore.” Yang Yunran’s voice was icy.

“Yang Yunran, wait for me, I’ll buy a plane ticket back immediately. What nonsense are you talking about?” Jiang Yi’s tone sounded forcedly calm.

Yang Yunran kept his head down, his voice weak, “Jiang Yi, I mean it, let’s break up, you’re living a lie.”

—He hung up the phone.