《Xingyuan》 premiered the day after The Legend of Cultivation ended. With He Zhiyu’s promotional efforts, it managed to ride the wave of popularity, drawing in a large crowd of netizens eager for new content after finishing The Legend of Cultivation. Within just two hours of its release, the small web series landed several trending topics.

With the growing popularity, more advertisements poured in. Song Yunjing and the male lead filmed several new commercials together to be aired during the series’ run.

Before the series even concluded, Yu Yan had already received the first portion of his profit share.

The money, earned through his own efforts, wasn’t as much as his family’s allowance, but it carried a different meaning for him.

As a result, besides buying gifts for his family, Yu Yan also planned to treat everyone to a meal.

First, he checked Yu Chen’s availability at home, knowing that he and Xi Yuan had been busy with wedding preparations.

Yu Chen messaged Xi Yuan to confirm, and after getting the green light, replied, “Let’s do tonight. Tomorrow, we’re taking wedding photos.”

Yu Lin and Jiang Mo naturally had no objections.

Yu Yan made an “OK” gesture and said, “I’ll ask Brother Chen if he’s free tonight.”

“I didn’t know when Shen Yuchen became part of our family,” Yu Chen remarked sarcastically, his dark gaze locking onto Yu Yan, who felt a bit flustered.

“Brother, I already promised him,” Yu Yan replied, his voice rising slightly, with a hint of a pleading tone.

“Fine, I didn’t say he couldn’t come.”

Sometimes, Yu Chen really felt like his silly little brother was the one eagerly throwing himself into Shen Yuchen’s arms. He had thought about having an open and honest talk with him, but in the end, with Xi Yuan’s persuasion, he reluctantly gave up on the idea.

Yu Yan always seemed carefree, so perhaps not interfering too much was the better choice.

Yu Yan let out a small sigh of relief and turned to message Shen Yuchen.

He hoped his parents and brother could gradually adapt to the situation, like a frog being slowly boiled in warm water.

[Shen Yuchen: Can I bring flowers?]
[Yu Yan: No, absolutely not!]
[Shen Yuchen: Can I bring a gift then?]
[Yu Yan: No need, just give it to me privately.]
[Shen Yuchen: How should I give it?]
[Yu Yan: I’ll come find you.]

Recalling the last time Shen Yuchen brought a pile of gifts, Yu Yan decided it was better to discuss things beforehand to avoid any mishaps.

“Mom, Dad, I’m heading to the office,” Yu Yan said, sneaking a glance at Yu Chen, who was busy texting Xi Yuan and didn’t react.

Jiang Mo looked curious. “Why are you going to the office on a weekend?”

“I invested in two web series, remember? Xingyuan is trending right now, so I want Fengchun to ride its coattails and save on promotion costs. I’m heading over to discuss it with the production team.”

Jiang Mo nodded slowly. “Alright, we’ll go to the restaurant first and wait for you. How about letting your brother take you there?”

Yu Yan shook his head furiously. “No need, the production team is sending someone to pick me up.”

Before long, Yu Yan hurried out, leaving behind an unfinished cup of milk tea.

Jiang Mo sighed. “He used to stay cooped up at home and never went out, and now he’s constantly running around. I’m still trying to get used to it.”

Yu Lin chuckled. “It’s a good thing he’s making close friends. Besides, he’s heading out for work.”

“That may be true, but I can’t help feeling like he just came back to us not long ago, and now he’s slipping away again,” Jiang Mo said wistfully, turning to Yu Chen. “And this one here is about to move out soon too.”

Yu Chen put his phone down. “Mom, Dad, why don’t you both move in with us instead?”

Having been preoccupied with Yu Chen and Xi Yuan’s wedding preparations lately, Jiang Mo no longer seemed as resistant to the idea of moving, though she didn’t immediately agree. “We’ll see.”

…

Not long after leaving the neighborhood, Yu Yan spotted Shen Yuchen’s car parked by the roadside. There was no one else in the vehicle.

“Where’s the gift?” Yu Yan asked.

Shen Yuming took out a watch from the box and carefully put it on for him.

Yu Yan pulled his hand closer and, as expected, saw that he had an identical watch on his wrist. “Matching watches?”

“Couple watches.”

The car parked here was too ostentatious, and it was hard to say when someone from home might come out. Shen Yuming eventually drove the car to the underground parking lot of a nearby mall, but the two of them didn’t get out.

There were still two hours left before dinner. Yu Yan held Shen Yuchen’s hand and took a picture, showing off the two couple watches. It was a pity they couldn’t post it on social media.

During this time, Yu Chen called to ask how things had gone, but Yu Yan brushed him off with an excuse.

“Remember to tone it down a bit during dinner.”

When he and Shen Yuchen didn’t have anything going on, he acted carefree and unbothered—he didn’t even think twice about sleeping in the same bed. But now, he felt a little guilty, worried about giving something away.

“What does toning it down mean? Give me an example.”

Shen Yuming played with Yu Yan’s hand, running his fingers over the smooth and rounded fingertips. His gaze shifted from the black watch on Yu Yan’s wrist to his T-shirt, pants, and shoes. For some reason, the clothes and pants were suddenly an eyesore—they weren’t gifts from him.

Yu Yan answered seriously, “Basically, just act a bit distant. No peeling shrimp or pouring drinks for me.”

“But we’re already good friends. Wouldn’t acting distant seem even more suspicious?” Shen Yuming raised an eyebrow and intertwined his fingers with Yu Yan’s. Only through this intimate touch could he feel the presence of the person he cared about.

Yu Yan choked, suddenly realizing Shen Yuming had a point. “Fine, just be careful not to let my parents or my brother notice anything unusual.”

Shen Yuming lowered his eyes and replied in a deep, gentle voice, “But we haven’t done anything. Why should we tone it down? Unless you want to give me an official title?”

Yu Yan lightly pinched his fingers. “In your dreams. You’ve only been pursuing me for a few days. I’m not that easy to catch.”

As he spoke, his lips parted and closed, glistening slightly. He was clearly smiling brightly, but a hint of inexplicable worry lingered in his eyes, thick and unreadable. Two conflicting emotions interwove in his gaze, neither gaining the upper hand.

The warm orange overhead light outlined his profile, leaving half of his face bathed in light and the other half swallowed by shadow.

A wild thought grew uncontrollably in Shen Yuming’s mind—an urgent desire to possess him, to monopolize him entirely.

But Shen Yuming knew he couldn’t do that. Perhaps his place in Yu Yan’s heart would never compare to the Yu family’s.

“By the way, about my brother—he…”

The sentence abruptly stopped. Yu Yan froze in place.

Shen Yuchen’s kiss landed on his eye.

The light, dragonfly-like touch left him momentarily dazed, as if his memories had been altered. A strange feeling welled up from deep within him, coursing through his veins and making it impossible to ignore.

“You…you kissed me?” Yu Yan was a little bewildered.

“Yeah.” Shen Yuming remained calm, glancing at Yu Yan’s glistening lips before finally averting his gaze.

It wasn’t time yet.

Yu Yan’s emotions surged, the unusual feeling wrapping around him like thick, sticky magma, heating him up inside.

He had so much to say, but when the words reached his lips, all that came out was a dry, “Why did you kiss my eye?”

“Is that not allowed?” Shen Yuming didn’t explain.

“I didn’t say it wasn’t.” Yu Yan lowered his gaze and didn’t press further.

He was someone who disliked trouble and avoided taking responsibility. If he were to be with Shen Yuchen, they would face many challenges—societal judgment and family pressure.

He could ignore what outsiders thought, but he couldn’t disregard his family’s opinions. That was the main reason he hesitated to take this step.

Rushing things would only backfire. He needed to test the waters gradually, to help his family come to terms with it.

Maybe Shen Yuchen thought the same, which was why he deliberately slowed down the pace.

“My brother texted me. They’re already at the restaurant,” Yu Yan explained.

Shen Yuming responded with a hum, “Should we sit together?”

“Yeah, let’s.” Yu Yan thought he made sense. Acting unfamiliar now would only backfire.

Although Yu Yan was hosting the dinner, he realized upon arriving at the restaurant that everything had already been arranged. He didn’t have to lift a finger, and the dishes perfectly catered to everyone’s tastes.

“Did Mom order the dishes?”

Jiang Mo was always meticulous, ensuring everything was just right.

“It was me. Take a look and see if you want to add anything,” Jiang Mo said from the seat of honor.

Yu Yan shook his head. “No need. A lot of these are my favorites.”

“Mom also made a cake to celebrate your first successful investment and to wish your new movie a big box office success.”

It was an eight-inch cake, with the names of two dramas written in chocolate on top.

Yu Yan hadn’t been involved in either drama; he had only provided the funding. Even the promotions were handled by other artists. Being given such importance made him feel a bit embarrassed.

Yu Yan smiled. “The new movie hasn’t even started filming yet.”

“No problem. Once it’s done, Mom will make you another one.”

“Thank you, Mom.”

Yu Chen smiled and said, “The new movie is out. Your sister-in-law and I will book the whole theater for you.”

“Thanks, brother.”

Yu Yan had the pre-ordered gifts delivered. He gave Jiang Mo a necklace, Yu Lin a wallet, and a couple’s ornament to Yu Chen and Xi Yuan, which was perfect for their new home.

He prepared a tie for Shen Yuchen, but after much hesitation, he decided not to present it at the dinner and planned to have it sent to his home later instead.

Shen Yuming remained expressionless as usual. He always had this demeanor, never showing happiness or anger, which seemed deeply rooted in his character.

But Yu Yan keenly noticed his unhappiness—his eyes were like unchanging glaciers and snowy mountains.

Under the table, Yu Yan’s hand gently hooked his finger. Shen Yuming’s brows lifted slightly, and in an instant, the glacier melted.

The two of them hardly spoke at the dinner table, but in private, Yu Yan was full of little gestures. Taking advantage of the tablecloth concealing them, he would occasionally pinch Shen Yuchen’s hand.

After drinking a few glasses of wine, Yu Yan’s face flushed with a slightly tipsy look. He leaned unsteadily, almost falling into Shen Yuchen’s arms.

“Yan Yan, drink less,” Jiang Mo said with concern. She knew that Yu Yan rarely drank and that his tolerance was even lower than hers.

Yu Lin stopped her. “Let the kid enjoy a few more drinks for once. It’s a rare occasion.”

It was Yu Yan’s first time earning such a significant amount of money, and his happiness was understandable. Jiang Mo stopped trying to dissuade him.

By the time the dinner ended, the sky was completely dark, with a few stars scattered across it.

Yu Chen drove Xi Yuan home and took Shen Yuchen along, saying they had business matters to discuss.

After the meal, Jiang Mo didn’t feel like getting into the car immediately. The three of them strolled along the street, with the driver following at a distance in the car.

Jiang Mo was particularly happy today, and Yu Yan had never seen her in such a good mood. All her happiness stemmed from him.

Because of this, Yu Yan felt even more uneasy. Perhaps it was because Jiang Mo’s emotions were so closely tied to him—whether it was seeing his torn jeans and thinking he had picked up food from the trash as a child, or seeing him successfully deliver a speech at a charity event or make a profitable investment. Whether she was sad or happy, Jiang Mo would cry. Her emotions were always straightforward.

Before fully understanding Jiang Mo and Yu Lin’s attitudes, Yu Yan didn’t dare to take the next step lightly.

“Sweetheart, are you feeling unwell?” Jiang Mo sensitively picked up on his emotional shift.

Yu Yan shook his head, carefully choosing his words. “Mom, Dad, are you happy today?”

“Of course, we’re happy! Mom is happier than anyone to see your career going so smoothly.” Jiang Mo looped one arm around Yu Lin’s and the other around Yu Yan’s, lazily saying, “You’re even better than your dad and brother.”

Yu Lin chuckled. “When Dad first started his business, my foresight wasn’t as sharp as yours. I lost money on several projects I thought were good. When your brother first graduated, he started at the grassroots level in the company. No one knew his identity, and he was sometimes excluded and had his projects taken away. Once, while handling a small project, he became overconfident, thinking it was a sure thing. But in the end, something went wrong, and it almost implicated the entire project team.”

“Brother worked hard and started from the bottom.”

Yu Yan was well aware that his success was only partially due to his own efforts. To a large extent, Yu Chen had already paved the way for him. With Shen Yuchen and the Yu family’s support, it was almost impossible for him to fail.

“You’ve already done very well. Mom and Dad are proud of you.”

Yu Lin, usually a man of few words, would only speak more when addressing Jiang Mo. But tonight, perhaps because of the alcohol and happiness, he talked more than usual.

Yu Yan lowered his head, kicking at the small stones on the road. He didn’t dare look up.

“What if… what if I’m not as good as you think?” he asked hesitantly.

“Profit and loss are normal in business. If you fail, just analyze the reasons. With your dad here, there’s no problem we can’t solve. What’s the big deal?”

Yu Lin misunderstood, thinking Yu Yan was referring to business matters.

Yu Yan knew their happiness wasn’t just because he made a profitable investment. After all, Yu Chen had made far more money over the years than he ever had.

Swallowing hard twice, Yu Yan nervously opened his mouth. “I’m not talking about business.”

Jiang Mo looked puzzled. “Sweetheart, did you encounter any difficulties? You can tell Mom and Dad. We’re not happy because you’re perfect; we’re happy because you’re happy.”

Warmth spread through his heart, flowing through his veins and filling every part of his body. Yu Yan’s emotions were intense and burning, like a fish adrift in the ocean finding its school, finally accepted and protected.

In the past, Yu Yan’s concept of home was the uncles and aunts at the orphanage who cooked for him, the grandmother who raised him for several years, and every kind-hearted person who donated supplies. He couldn’t imagine what a real home was supposed to be like.

But at this moment, everything became clear.

The deep, bright eyes glimmered with a radiant light, like countless stars shining brilliantly in the night.

Yu Yan took a sharp inhale, suppressing the sourness welling up inside.

“If the person I like is different from what you imagined, someone who doesn’t match your expectations, would you be upset?”

After finally saying it aloud, Yu Yan realized it wasn’t as difficult as he’d thought, but the process of waiting for their response was excruciatingly long and nerve-wracking.

He didn’t know what he should say or do and couldn’t bring himself to think about what to do if they rejected him. He didn’t want to make his parents sad, but he also didn’t want to let Shen Yuchen down.

In his heart, Shen Yuchen weighed just as much as his parents.

Jiang Mo understood. “So after all this beating around the bush, you’ve found someone you like? Who is it? Tell Mom.”

“Answer my question first,” Yu Yan urged.

Jiang Mo chuckled. “Who you like is your choice. It’s an important decision in your life, and your dad and I have no right to interfere. We can only offer advice, but whether you take it is up to you.”

“Getting married and having children are also significant life decisions. I hope you think it through carefully before making a choice. However, if the person you like has done anything illegal or immoral, your dad won’t agree,” Yu Lin added.

Yu Lin already had an idea of what Yu Yan was hinting at and asked, “What if I decide to be child-free? Would you object?”

After all that had been said, Yu Yan wasn’t sure if his parents had guessed his meaning. This was his way of gradually preparing them to accept it.

“Is it because the girl doesn’t want to have kids? That’s fine too. Your brother is adopted, and aren’t we still a family? And if you don’t want to adopt, that’s okay too. It’s your life,” Jiang Mo said.

To Jiang Mo, having her long-lost son back was the greatest joy of her life. She only wished for his happiness.

With that reassurance, Yu Yan felt much more confident. “Got it. Thank you, Mom and Dad.”

“Now, can you finally tell Mom who this person is?” Jiang Mo still couldn’t contain her curiosity.

Yu Yan hesitated a little. “I’ll tell you later.”