Chapter 74

Vehicles coming and going in the parking lot made horn and wheel sounds.

In the distance, glaring lights could be seen.

Yang Yunran felt weak when he was touched by him. He had already racked his brains over his question and couldn’t think of how to explain it.

Yang Yunran turned his face towards the seat back and said in a trembling voice, “Can I say it’s because they’re too enthusiastic?”

Jiang Yi really wanted to hug him and kiss him on his lap, but restrained himself in the car, quietly asking, “Is inviting you to a hotel also being enthusiastic?”

“Yeah,” Yang Yunran was so sensitive he wanted to cry, leaning back forcefully. “Brother, don’t touch my waist.”

Jiang Yi’s palm landed on his back, gently stroking up and down, saying, “Answer me honestly.”

Yang Yunran had to tell the truth: “Alright, alright… um, don’t do that, I’ll say it. It’s… my dad arranged for the crew members, they’re all pilots. They all came on the same flight and want to apply for the position of my dad’s private jet captain, so…”

Jiang Yi understood, tilting his head back to scrutinize him from a certain distance.

Yang Yunran’s face was already very red and flushed. He wanted Jiang Yi to move his hand to another place but felt too embarrassed to say it.

Jiang Yi lowered his head. “So, your dad arranged for these men to come on the plane back home, hoping to impress you or even seduce you to become captains.”

“Don’t say it like that,” Yang Yunran blushed, feeling hot. “I’ve already talked to my dad. I have a boyfriend, I don’t need him to arrange these things for me. I’ve been flying for so long, just sleeping and working on the plane, it doesn’t affect me!”

Yang Yunran opened his eyes, which were shining with moisture. He asked Jiang Yi, “Could you move your hand down a bit?”

The last time they were in bed might have been over a month ago, two hours and fifteen minutes. Yang Yunran still remembered.

The previous ten minutes didn’t count.

At their age and with a long-distance relationship, both having their own jobs, it was rare for them to meet. How could they not miss each other?

Jiang Yi glanced down, not comforting Yang Yunran, starting the car and saying, “I’ll drive home faster.”

Yang Yunran asked, “Are there any supplies at home?”

Jiang Yi replied, “Um… Is it uncomfortable?”

Yang Yunran took a deep breath. “Why did you touch me? It definitely made me uncomfortable.” Jiang Yi was driving now, and not touching him made him even more uneasy. His brain seemed to be controlled by his lower body. He even considered driving to a secluded place to be alone in the car.

But considering Beijing’s traffic and surveillance, he might end up getting caught by the police.

Yang Yunran blushed and aimed the air conditioning vent at himself to cool down.

Jiang Yi asked, “What’s the meaning behind your dad arranging all this? Doesn’t he know you have a boyfriend? Have you never mentioned me to him?”

Yang Yunran calmed down a lot in the 16-degree Celsius cold air and said, “… I didn’t mention it much. Maybe he found out on his own. But he doesn’t know you!”

Jiang Yi glanced at the rear-view mirror. “Does that mean he’s not satisfied with me?”

Yang Yunran didn’t dare say.

Yang Yunran hesitated. “My dad might have a bit of an imperial attitude. My boyfriend is so outstanding, a professor at University A at such a young age, the youngest professor. How could he be unsatisfied? Maybe it’s because he doesn’t know you. Next time… when he meets you, he won’t be like this.”

Jiang Yi glanced at him. He wasn’t too worried about his position in his father’s heart.

Because Yang Yunran liked himself very much, he was unlikely to be tempted by others.

But he still had to be cautious.

After a while, Jiang Yi spoke up. “Professor Chen’s family raised you, the family you visited in Canada are your true blood relatives, right?”

He had avoided mentioning his foster parents in front of Yang Yunran before, fearing it would touch on his sadness of being abandoned.

So later, when Yang Yunran mentioned his mother being sick on the phone and needing to visit immediately, Jiang Yi thought it was his foster mother and didn’t ask much.

This was the first time he had asked directly, judging Yang Yunran’s expression through the rear-view mirror.

Yang Yunran looked calm as usual and said, “Yes, my mom has successfully undergone surgery. She will be back in a while.” Yang Yunran had thought it over carefully. “If they were both in the same city…”

He glanced at Jiang Yi’s profile while driving.

“I’ll take you home, Jiang Yi?” Yang Yunran pursed his lips. It was a decision he had pondered for days. Although he was a cannon fodder dragged out to be humiliated in a novel with a protagonist, Yang Yunran had seen Yang Wanyu again—regained.

He wanted to live well, manage his career, and look forward to tomorrow. Spend good days with Jiang Yi, and take good care of his eyes.

As for how Zhao Youmo reached the pinnacle of his life, it had nothing to do with him. He would stay out of it if he could.

Jiang Yi asked, “You want to take me to meet your family?” There was a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Yang Yunran nodded. “Is that okay? But my mom doesn’t know you yet, so I need to… prepare her early.”

Based on the original character’s personality, he understood Jiang Yi’s insecurity about the people around him. Just because a dozen handsome guys were chatting with him didn’t mean Jiang Yi should start suspecting things.

Although that scene was indeed hard to explain…

Yang Yunran wanted to tell him that he really wasn’t that flirtatious, didn’t like anyone else, and already liked Jiang Yi very much.

Jiang Yi agreed and asked when.

Yang Yunran replied, “Let’s wait until my mom returns to the country…”

Returning to Jiang Yi’s faculty dormitory, they encountered two professors who looked older. Yang Yunran wore a duckbill cap and held hands with Jiang Yi, who also pushed his dark green suitcase. He nodded to the other professors.

An amiable old professor saw them and asked, “Professor Jiang, going home? Oh, is this your younger brother?”

Before Jiang Yi could speak, Yang Yunran answered proactively, “Yes, yes, I’m his younger brother.”

The professor smiled kindly. “Are you a university student? Studying at University A?”

Yang Yunran obediently stood behind Jiang Yi and said, “Professor, I’m not studying at University A. I’ve graduated and come to visit my brother.”

“Such a good-looking child. Do you have a girlfriend?”

Yang Yunran was sweating profusely, and Jiang Yi spoke up, “He does.”

The professor sighed, “Both brothers have girlfriends now. My son is older than you guys and still doesn’t have one.”

This elevator apartment wasn’t tall. Jiang Yi lived on the fourth floor, conveniently shaded by trees.

Once inside, Jiang Yi closed all the curtains, took off his clothes, and was about to shower with him.

Yang Yunran hurried to answer the phone.

“Mom.” Yang Yunran’s voice was gentle. “I’ve arrived, it’s been over an hour. I’m at a friend’s house.”

Yang Yunran moved his face away from the screen, facing Jiang Yi who was only wearing underwear, and mouthed, “You go ahead and shower—” then quickly turned his face back to the screen.

Mom said, “Ranran, seeing you doing so well and having such close friends, I’m truly content.”

Apart from appearance, Yang Wanyu and Yang Xue were similar in personality, their smiles, their gentle way of speaking to him, and their nicknames.

Yang Yunran had been thinking about this all along. Although it was just a world in a book, it should be a parallel universe to the original timeline he was in.

He had looked up related literature and theories. Parallel universes were both a hypothesis and an unproven concept. In a parallel universe, would there be another self? It was speculation and conjecture about the structure of the universe. But Yang Yunran’s own experience was inexplicable, so he confirmed the existence of parallel universes or a multi-verse. Each universe might have different physical laws and characteristics.

This had been proposed by scientists in quantum mechanics and string theory.

But it still couldn’t be scientifically proven.

So from any perspective, the Yang Wanyu in the video was Yang Xue.

She was a version of his mother who hadn’t been burdened by Yang Yunran, hadn’t experienced much hardship or illness.

Yang Yunran poured all his hidden emotions into her. He wanted to make up for all the responsibilities he hadn’t fulfilled for his mother. He could even put aside his boyfriend.

After chatting for more than ten minutes, he handed the phone to Xu Xing. “I’m at your professor friend’s house.”

Yang Yunran nodded. Both of them knew exactly what they were talking about — her boyfriend.

Xu Xing glanced at the sofa and walls in the video, noticing the outdated and simple decor. Behind was a clothes rack with a few pieces of men’s clothing drying, beneath which was a potted broad-leaved plant.

Xu Xing: “Does Yunran dislike the arrangements I made for Dad on the crew yesterday?”

Yang Yunran glanced at Jiang Yi standing beside her with a cold expression.

Yang Yunran asserted firmly: “I dislike it!! Dad, please don’t do this in the future. They shouldn’t be long-term hires, right?”

“No, just for a few days of work.” Xu Xing had already achieved his goal. He knew Yunran had a very specific preference: East Asian boys with black hair and eyes. He certainly couldn’t let a pilot become his child’s boyfriend. But he could find someone more suitable.

Yang Yunran: “That’s great!!” His patience with Dad clearly wasn’t as abundant. They chatted for only a few minutes before he said he was tired and hung up.

“Why don’t you go take a shower?” Yang Yunran put down his phone and looked up. “You’ve been standing here without clothes for twenty minutes.”

Yang Yunran was naturally unfocused, and easily distracted, even when chatting with family via video, always unable to resist shifting his gaze up and down.

“Why don’t we shower together after you finish your call?” Jiang Yi reached out to undo his pants. “Help me take off my watch.”

“Professor Jiang, there’s no gym in this building anymore, right? How do you usually work out?” Yang Yunran hung on him, feeling his arms and chest muscles, and removed the old steel watch from his wrist, placing it on the table.

“Pull-ups and dumbbells. Morning jogging outside.” Jiang Yi carried him into the bathroom, turned on the hot water, waited a minute, then pressed Yang Yunran against the cold tiles to kiss him.

Yang Yunran initially felt a chill on his back, shivering slightly, but quickly adjusted. He tilted his head back as their tongues intertwined.

Pressed close together, they could both feel each other’s heartbeat. Even separated by a layer of fabric, it was enough to make Yang Yunran blush. His eyelashes fluttered as he hesitated, wanting and fearing: “This position… I’m afraid it’s too deep, and I’ll need to see a proctologist. Isn’t that embarrassing…”

Jiang Yi heard this and let him go.

He continued to kiss him tenderly, squeezed shower gel onto his hair, and washed Yang Yunran’s hair.

Yang Yunran lifted his chin, pinching his firm muscles. “How do you wash my hair with shower gel like this…”

“Just use this bottle. I always do it like this.” Jiang Yi’s jaw tightened. He paused, his foamy palm resting on Yang Yunran’s head. “Shall I order takeout and get a new bottle?”

Yang Yunran tilted his head back, smiling. “No need, this is fine.”

Jiang Yi: “Shall I wash it twice or three times?”

“Once is fine, just rinse it casually…” Yang Yunran was in a rush. “I have a flight to catch tomorrow.”

Jiang Yi: “And those dozen guys following you?”

Yang Yunran fell silent.

“That… isn’t important. My dad said they’re only hired for a few days, we won’t see them again.”

Jiang Yi: “No contact allowed.”

“Okay, okay.” Yang Yunran lowered his head. “Are the bubbles on my head all gone?”

Jiang Yi took down the shower head and rinsed him. “All gone.” He turned off the water, opened the bathroom door, and gently dried him with a towel. “Don’t move around, your hair’s still dripping.”

Yang Yunran found Jiang Yi’s serious expression incredibly endearing. He hugged Jiang Yi’s back and said, “Let’s go back to the room.”

Jiang Yi carried him back, checking the time on his phone. “It’s now ten fifty-five at night. What time do you want to sleep until?”

Yang Yunran tilted his head in surprise. “…Professor Jiang, are you letting me decide how long to sleep now?”

“Yes.” Jiang Yi nodded, his handsome face close. “What time is your flight tomorrow?”

Yang Yunran: “It’s scheduled for one o’clock in the afternoon…”

Jiang Yi: “Hmm.” He nodded. “I’ll make sure you get seven hours of sleep.” With that, he kissed him again, leaving Yang Yunran unable to respond as his breath was taken away.

Jiang Yi remained quiet, placing a pillow under Yang Yunran’s head to prevent him from banging it, which might hurt.

Yang Yunran was losing his rationality, his fingers clutching Jiang Yi’s shoulders like a boat tossed in a huge wave.

Yang Yunran distractedly remarked, “Jiang Yi, you seem to have… a very expensive mattress.”

Jiang Yi buried his head. “I bought it for seventy thousand yuan, quite expensive.”

Yang Yunran suppressed a few moans, opening his eyes. “With so much money, could you throw away your marathon tank top?”

“Keep it as a memento,” Jiang Yi said slowly, observing Yang Yunran’s infatuated state. “If you don’t like it, I won’t wear it in front of you… relax a bit more,” Jiang Yi held him down, “can’t move.”

Yang Yunran got his seven hours of sleep. The next day, at eleven o’clock, Jiang Yi, who had hurried back from class, took him to the airport. Jiang Yi was punctual, but to send Yang Yunran to the airport, he left five minutes early from his class. Normally, Jiang Yi had few classes, and he spent most of his time in the lab.

“During the National Day holiday, I’ll come over to accompany you.” Jiang Yi helped him carry the suitcase down, still holding his hand out of habit, stroking his smooth skin in his palm. “Next time you come back, I’ll take you to see some houses. We can buy a suitable marital home. What kind do you like?”

“A marital home?” Yang Yunran found the term a bit distant, yet it pleasantly unfamiliar, raising an eyebrow. “You want a marital home without proposing to me first?”

Jiang Yi paused, seeming to have never considered the idea of proposing.

He just felt that since they were living together naturally, it could be called a marital home.

In fact, they hadn’t even bought engagement rings because they hadn’t had the time to pick them together, and after returning to China, they had even less time and space.

“What kind of ring do you like? Think about it, I’ll go get one custom-made at the shop.” Jiang Yi finished speaking and then escorted him into the terminal.

Unlike their usual boarding point, this was the terminal for general aviation, relatively deserted.

Yang Yunran had faint traces of kisses on his neck. He discreetly went to the airport restroom and used the concealer Dot had given him to cover them up.

In the afternoon, Jiang Yi still had to go to the laboratory. After escorting Yang Yunran inside and through security, he waited until he boarded before leaving.

At that moment, Jiang Yi saw the group of over a dozen crew members in pilot uniforms, each with a different ethnic background and unique appearance, standing out like a beacon in the entire terminal.

Expressionless, Jiang Yi pulled Yang Yunran aside and helped him put on the hat that had been removed for security.

Everyone glanced at him.

Jiang Yi had come directly from class to pick up Yang Yunran today, dressed very casually.

Secretary Gao observed while recording on a tablet, visually calculating Jiang Yi’s height, body shape, weight, measurements, and fashion style.

Then she reported to Director Xu:

“Height: 190 cm; Body shape: Inverted triangle; Weight: 75-79 kg; Fashion style: Plain.”

But despite the unremarkable fashion style, his physical attributes were excellent, standing out among males selected by Director Xu worldwide. It’s no wonder the young master loved him so much.

–

At the same time, Zhao Youmo, who had been vacationing abroad for nearly two months under Chen Fangru’s close companionship, was finally returning home.

The repainted white Gulfstream slowly descended, under the guidance of the control tower onto the airport runway.

For Zhao Youmo, who had grown up in an orphanage and had always envied others for having a family and parents, this vacation with his mother fulfilled his childhood dreams.

When the plane landed, Chen Fangru answered a call from Chen Professor and heard about the recent developments of her son, Yang Yang.

“Yang Yang went to Canada to see his mother? Yang Xue?” 

Professor Chen replied: “It seems her surgery was successful. Yang Yang should be back, and he’s off to work elsewhere.”

Chen Fangru didn’t ask too much, hung up the phone, and then said to Zhao Youmo, “Roy’s mother… is she sick?”

“She had cancer, but the surgery was successful. It’s considered quite fortunate. After we get home, the three of us should get a check-up immediately.”

Thinking back, Zhao Youmo asked, “Roy’s mother… was she the one who raised me when I was a child?” But he couldn’t recall.

He was too young then, and his memories were deeper of the moment in the mountain ditch when he couldn’t open his eyes because of the sunlight.

During his growing years, he only remembered having enough to eat and wear but not being warm or full, having to swallow saliva at the sight of delicacies, and having a few dollars in pocket money each month.

Chen Fangru said with heartache, “Yes, that aunt took care of you for two years. You got lost in her hair salon and got abducted.”

Hearing Chen Fangru’s tone, Zhao Youmo knew she wasn’t happy; perhaps she minded others being called “Mom.”

He didn’t want his mother to be unhappy, so he changed his words: “How is that aunt now? Did she settle in Canada?”

“Your uncle said she might come back next month, and maybe the two families can have a meal together. She’s in the cosmetics business and has a career in China, so she hasn’t settled abroad.”

The plane taxied to a stop, and the shuttle bus halted on the runway.

In the midday sun, the two descended the stairs.

There were few planes in the entire area, separated from the adjacent public terminal. An ocean-blue, large business jet stood out.

But the sun was too dazzling, and Chen Fangru squinted at it, put on sunglasses, got on the shuttle bus, and then put on sunglasses.

Zhao Youmo, wearing sunglasses, saw a familiar Samoyed happily sticking its tongue out on the ocean-blue jet. He saw three English letters: “Roy?”

Zhao Youmo’s expression was stunned.

Chen Fangru didn’t notice at all. When she heard him mention Yang Yang, she was still puzzled, “What’s wrong, Momo? Yang Yang should be working in Changsha now.”

Zhao Youmo withdrew his gaze and said, “It’s nothing.”

He and his mother entered the small terminal, where airport staff helped them push the luggage cart. Zhao Youmo was dressed in branded clothes, with no traces of his past hardships.

Feeling somewhat uneasy, probably due to seeing the plane being painted, Zhao Youmo unexpectedly encountered Yang Yunran and his boyfriend in the terminal. There was a mixture of both inevitability and surprise in his expression…

Chen Fangru was the first to see the group of pilots from various countries and ethnic backgrounds, unable to help but lower her sunglasses.

Seeing someone even more handsome beside them, she took a closer look and recognized the slightly shorter figure wearing a duckbill cap and sunglasses, revealing a familiar pale face.

“Yang Yang?” Chen Fangru immediately took off her sunglasses and confirmed again, subconsciously glancing at Zhao Youmo.

“Is that the boyfriend next to Yang Yang? Do you know him?” Chen Fangru asked Zhao Youmo.

Zhao Youmo nodded, “Yes… he’s Roy’s boyfriend. Mom, he’s seen us.”

“Well, let’s go over.” Chen Fangru was concerned about Zhao Youmo’s feelings. Seeing his calm expression, she led the child over and greeted Yang Yunran.

Upon hearing Chen Fangru’s voice, Yang Yunran looked up, quite surprised. “Mom?”

Chen Fangru smiled, her pearl earrings sparkling, and said, “How long will Yang Yang be back in Beijing? Why didn’t you call?”

Yang Yunran remained calm, smiling gently. Chen Fangru and her husband, Yang Liming, treated him well, though their attention had shifted slightly since their biological son returned home. Phone calls had become less frequent, from once a week to every two weeks, usually revolving around routine inquiries about meals, tiredness, early rest, and reminders about health check-ups.

He had no right to complain, nor did he mind.

“I just got back today and am already heading off to work,” Yang Youran said mildly. “I’ll be taking off soon. Mom, did you and Youmo just return as well?”

“Taking off from here… ah.” Chen Fangru looked up, finally seeing up close in the airport’s UV-protected glass, a brand new and beautifully painted Bombardier Global business jet prominently displaying a Samoyed head logo and Yang Youran’s Chinese name.

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