An Yi was stunned on the spot.

In the afternoon, Yan Chen said he wanted to eat Linji’s lotus seed soup and deliberately sent him away. It turned out to be for this.

“Traitor,” Yan Chen glanced at Qin Muye faintly.

Qin Muye shrugged innocently, “I told you earlier, with such a big commotion, it’s impossible to keep it a secret.”

Yan Chen snorted lightly and then turned his gaze to his father, correcting, “To be more accurate, it’s only a part of the assets. The equity of Art Bank, my funds and properties overseas are too much to settle now. We can only wait until after the New Year.”

Hearing the implications, Yan Jingwei was so angry that he wanted to beat him with his cane again.

“…Yan Chen,” An Yi came back to his senses, murmuring, “Did you hear what I said to Xu Jin last night?”

That was the only reason he could think of.

“Those were just lies I told him to buy time,” he didn’t care about fancy watches and cars at all, “I don’t need you to do this.”

“I understand,” Yan Chen looked up at him with a faint smile, “And I know this may seem tacky to you, but it’s the most direct and sincere way I can think of.”

He held An Yi’s hand, “Ge, I want to give you everything I can. From now on, in our family, you have the final say.”

Tears welled up in An Yi’s eyes.

He tightly held Yan Chen’s hand back, choked up, “I appreciate your intentions, but I can’t accept those assets.”

After so many years with Yan Chen, he never wanted money, fame, or fortune. All he wanted was Yan Chen’s wholeheartedness.

“Alright,” Yan Jin suddenly spoke up, “Let the couple decide on their own finances and discuss it at home.”

Yan Heng also advised, “Xiao chen is grown up now, let him handle it himself.”

Yan Jingwei glared at them, “Are you ganging up on me?!”

“A few years ago, didn’t you let Yan Chen separate his assets from the family? Now, the money he has is earned by himself. It’s none of your business how he handles it,” Yan Jin spoke frankly, “Besides, what’s the big deal with a little money? Why bother?”

Qin Muye also whispered beside him, “Yi ge’s character is quite good, he’s reliable with money.”

Yan Jingwei was so angry that he raised his cane again, “Alright, alright, everyone’s gone against me.”

An Yi was afraid that he would get sick from anger on such a big holiday, so he hurriedly said, “Uncle, please rest assured, I won’t accept it, I…”

“Don’t argue anymore,” Yan Chen interrupted him, frowning and sighing, “I have a headache.”

An Yi quickly helped him lie down, wanting to call the duty doctor to check on him. Yan Jin and Yan Heng then supported Yan Jingwei out of the room, “Let him rest and recuperate. We’ll discuss this later. A few uncles are waiting at home to play mahjong.”

Qin Muye stayed in the ward, looked at Yan Chen, confirmed that he was pretending, and winked at An Yi, smiling, “From now on, we’re family, Yi ge. If he bullies you, come to me or Big Brother and Sister, we’ll stand by your side.”

An Yi couldn’t help but laugh and cry, with more gratitude in his eyes, “Okay, we’re family.”

When the ward quieted down again, Yan Chen opened his eyes and smiled at An Yi.

An Yi sat beside him, fiddling with the ring on Yan Chen’s hand, and after a moment of hesitation, he said, “I really won’t accept it. You don’t need to go to such lengths.”

Yan Chen stared at him intently, “We can’t get married in China, and our relationship has no legal protection. Just take this as my promise to you, okay?”

An Yi pursed his lips, not saying anything.

“In fact, my dad doesn’t really care about the stuff in my hands,” Yan Chen rolled his throat, “He’s just a little impatient seeing me fail to win you over for several years, so he made a scene.”

“I understand,” An Yi smiled gently.

Parents always tend to favor their own children a bit more. He understood that Yan Jingwei’s visit today was more about seeing Yan Chen’s determination in this relationship.

An Yi wasn’t angry. To be honest, he was a bit envious. He envied Yan Chen for having such a lively and affectionate family.

“I’m feeling a bit tired,” Yan Chen shifted to make room for An Yi, “Come up and sleep, I want to hold you.”

An Yi checked the time, it wasn’t far from midnight.

After he finished washing up and climbed into bed, he held Yan Chen and chatted for a while. When midnight approached, distant firecracker sounds could be heard. An Yi looked up and kissed Yan Chen. Amidst the lingering kisses, they wished each other a “Happy New Year.”

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Yan Chen was discharged from the hospital with his right hand bandaged.

They stayed at his villa for a day first, then on the third day, Yan Heng drove to pick them up to celebrate the New Year at the old Yan family mansion. That day, Yan’s relatives from the sidelines were all there, and the two large halls on the first floor were filled with people, seated at three large round tables.

An Yi was introduced to the Yan family members with great solemnity, and then the red envelopes for that day’s meeting were so numerous that he couldn’t hold them with both hands.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, he looked towards Yan Chen, who reassured him, then turned to the rotating table on the dining table, “Ge, pass me a piece of drunken duck.”

An Yi could only pick up the dish for him.

After the banquet, An Yi was called to the tea room by Yan Heng, and Yan Chen followed.

Yan Jingwei and several uncles were sitting there drinking tea, and there were several antique porcelain pieces displayed on the cabinet behind them.

Yan Jingwei waved at him, not particularly friendly, but his attitude was much better than on New Year’s Eve.

“Let me introduce you to a few uncles, see if my collection catches your eye.”

As he spoke, he showed off the antiques like treasures, pointing at An Yi, and said to the old uncles, “This well-behaved kid of mine has held exhibitions abroad. A porcelain bottle he casually made had a bunch of foreigners bidding for it, very impressive.”

Upon hearing this, Yan Chen also smiled faintly, “Currently, half of Art Bank’s modern porcelain business is contributed by An Yi.”

“Wow, that’s impressive!” the uncles praised enthusiastically, “Your family has really hit the jackpot!”

An Yi: “…”

…………….

Throughout the day, An Yi felt like he was in a surreal yet incredibly heartwarming dream.

In the dream, he was trapped in Yan Chen’s strong and stable embrace, his body being forcefully expanded and filled by Yan Chen’s warmth and firmness. He could even clearly feel the veins on Yan Chen’s arms pulsating powerfully because of him.

He was like a seed, soaked thoroughly in Yan Chen’s love, breaking through the soil and enjoying the sunlight and rain that Yan Chen provided.

Yan Chen wanted to give him enough care and support, and while being nurtured by Yan Chen, An Yi was also doing his best to repay him with tenderness and love.

Under An Yi’s guidance, Yan Chen had recently been trying to quit drugs. When he wasn’t taking medication, he wanted to spend as much time with An Yi as possible. So after the meeting, Yan Chen rushed to Ling’an without stopping, and hugged An Yi as soon as he arrived.

Xie Nancang was used to it, but Xie Fei Nian’s face drooped long: “Young people nowadays, they make their relationships so obvious.”

Xiao Xie, who brought two fish from the lake, laughed when he entered the door and saw Xie Nancang, “Daddy! Aren’t I cool!”

Xie Nancang rubbed his forehead: “…”

An Yi chuckled, “You’re learning dirty words pretty quickly.”

Xie Fei  Nian wanted An Yi to stay a little longer, but school was about to start in Xichuan, so he had to leave.

An Yi promised the old man that he would spend more time coming back to see him before returning to Xichuan with Yan Chen.

An Yi’s days were quite fulfilling, even busier than Yan Chen, the “boss”.

He couldn’t neglect his school courses, and after returning to Yan Chen’s villa, he had to prepare for his personal exhibition this year and the annual domestic ceramic art touring exhibition.

Yan Chen specially built a small studio for him next to the villa, with enough space for Quiqui, various glazes, and tools. After school every day, Yan Chen would pick him up, and after dinner, An Yi would work in his studio on his porcelain sculptures and porcelain paintings, with Yan Chen mostly accompanying him either helping him or reading his own project proposals.

By the time of An Yi’s 33rd birthday, it was early summer in China, and several of his ceramic sculpture works were officially showcased at an international ceramic exhibition.

This was his first solo touring exhibition.

Recommended by Art Bank and in collaboration with several renowned art institutions in Europe, the exhibition started in Western Europe and ended in Berlin.

An Yi, wearing a black suit with a delicate lapel pin set with a blue diamond, stepped onto the stage of the Irish Museum of Art and introduced the inspiration and intention behind his works.

Several media outlets, auction houses, and porcelain merchants present all turned their cameras and eyes to this handsome Eastern face, amazed by his youth and demeanor.

Feeling a bit nervous, An Yi subconsciously scanned the audience. When his eyes met a pair of deep black eyes, his heart inexplicably calmed down.

Flashlights fell like a sea of stars.

A river of time stretched out before him, with the tearful nights, silent gazes, resentful slaps, tight hugs, and passionate kisses all turning into silent fragments flowing by.

He waded through this river, through the drifting and obscure rain and wind, and finally arrived on stage, amidst this glittering starlight.

An Yi thanked the hardships he had experienced, the friends who had accompanied him along the way, and remembered his family who would never come back.

It was because of all this that he cherished everything he had even more.

Applause erupted.

An Yi smiled lightly, nodding in acknowledgment.

He stepped down from the stage, walking towards that tall and upright figure.

Yan Chen opened his arms and hugged him, leaning down to kiss An Yi’s lips without regard for anyone else present, drawing cheers and blessings from all the media present.

An Yi chuckled softly and asked him, “The next stop is Berlin, will you be there?”

“Of course,” Yan Chen held his hand, “I’ll always be here.”

Not just in Berlin.

In every significant moment of An Yi’s future life, Yan Chen never missed a single one.

—End of the main text—